Watch the 30th Annual Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Parade!&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KJCK1079/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE PARADE</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;(The livestream will begin around 5:45 P.M. when the parade nears Heritage Park.) -&nbsp;We are streaming the parade live on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK Radio Facebook Page.

** To watch the parade you must click on the link and be logged into your Facebook account.&nbsp;

* The parade route begins at 6th Street and Eisenhower. They will parade down 6th Street and meet in Heritage Park for the Tree Lighting following the parade.&nbsp;

This year's theme for the Christmas Parade is Elves on the Loose: Santa's Secret Helpers.&nbsp;

WATCH LIVE: 30th Annual Junction City Chamber Christmas Parade

With Thanksgiving behind us, all eyes are now set on Christmas! Tonight in Junction City, the Chamber of Commerce will host their 30th annual Christmas Parade followed by a Tree lighting Ceremony in Heritage Park.&nbsp;

This year's theme for the Christmas Parade is Elves on the Loose; Santa's Secret Helpers. The Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and will proceed down 6th street and end up in Heritage Park.&nbsp;

We will be livestreaming the Parade on the 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio Facebook Page. We will begin the Livestream around 5:45, once the parade nears Heritage Park. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KJCK1079/">Click here to watch the parade.&nbsp;</a>

As mentioned above, the Parade ends in Heritage Park where Santa will be present, and Junction City Mayor Pat Landes will flip the switch to light up the new 20 ft tree.&nbsp;

United Way of Junction City / Geary County will be providing free hot chocolate in the park.&nbsp;

Junction City Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting will be Tonight

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at JC Post, 107.9 and 1420 KJCK Radio and all of our Eagle Media Team!&nbsp;

If you are looking for a Thanksgiving Meal, there are two local free options in Junction City. 

1. The First Presbyterian Church in Junction City is hosting a Thanksgiving Day Meal today from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at their church - 113 W. 5th Street, in Junction City. (The Thanksgiving Meal Flyer is posted below.)

2. The Marker Family is hosting a Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Rosebud's Bar in Junction City. The address is 215 East 8th Street, in Junction City. Doors open at Noon, and dinner will be served from 2:00-6:00 P.M. (The Thanksgiving Meal flyer is posted below.)

We hope you all have a great Day celebrating this Thanksgiving Holiday!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Free Community Meals are being offered Today

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas-based chapters of nonprofit organizations focused on wildlife conservation or promoting hunting and fishing have a special fundraising opportunity thanks to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission. Through the Commission’s Big Game Permit program, administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), eligible organizations can enter a random drawing for one of seven special big game hunting permits, which may then be sold to raise funds for conservation projects. Applications are due by December 26, 2025.

Each year, the program offers up to seven Commission Big Game permits (no more than one elk and one antelope, and up to seven deer permits), depending on the applicants’ preferences. Deer permits are either-species/either-sex and are valid statewide during any season with the legal equipment for that season; and they do not count against other big game permits the license holder may obtain.

“Organizations that win a Commission Big Game Permit typically raffle or auction it, which does two important things,” said&nbsp;Sarah Navarro, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ chief of licensing. “It helps them raise funds for its mission, and it generates dedicated dollars for a mutually agreed-upon conservation project that KDWP and the organization approve together.”

Winning organizations keep 15 percent of their sale price of the Commission Big Game Permit to support their missions. The remaining 85 percent is held by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks until a mutually agreed-upon conservation project is approved. (If Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry is drawn, they may keep 85 percent of their sale price in order to offset donated deer processing fees.) Organizations may not win a Commission Big Game Permit more than once in a three-year period.

Application Period for Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission Big Game Hunting Permits Now Open

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

Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, police arrested 54-year-old&nbsp;Dean Garvin of Ogden in the 3200 block of Kimball Avenue, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp; 

He is being held on a $50,000 bond on requested charges that include&nbsp;. two counts of distribution of opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant 3.5 grams but less than 100 grams; two counts of distribution/possession with intent to distribute heroin/certain stimulants/fentanyl 3.5-100 grams; two counts of use/possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; distribution of a controlled substance with a dosage 10 to 100 units, two counts of possession of marijuana; one count of distribution or possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia for illegal use; ; one count of driving while suspended/cancelled/revoked; ; one count of possession of opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant; and one count of use of communication facility in the commission of a felony drug violation.&nbsp; County Jail at the time of this report.

Garvin has a previous drug conviction in Dickinson County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. felon accused of selling fentanyl, other drugs in Riley County

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State fans coming to Manhattan on Saturday for the Wildcats’ Senior Day contest against Colorado are alerted to a partial closure of Anderson Avenue through the weekend.

The closure zone on Anderson is from Connecticut Avenue to Canfield Drive. Only local access will be available to Timberlane Drive and Bellehaven Road residents, emergency vehicles and those with driveways in the work zone.

 K-State Fans Alerted to Anderson Avenue Closure

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Paul Goodman, Domestic battery, arrested 11/25

Geary County Booking Photos Nov. 26

Jerry Petty, soldier, real estate agent with Coldwell Banker/Patriot Realty and member of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club. “I am not in real estate sales for the money, but to give back to the community – especially the kids”, he said.

From October until December 20, Jerry is donating a portion of his commission after selling a house to the JC Breakfast Optimist Club. By November 25, Jerry had completed the sale of two houses and donated $600.00 to the Club. The money will be used in the Club’s support of 15 different Geary County youth organizations and 3 scholarships.

Jerry stated that “My wife and I have fallen in love with the community and want to give back.” Jerry’s wife works at the Central Kitchen in USD 475.

Optimists Receive Donation

&nbsp;Donna Porter, Library Director

The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday. The outside book drop will remain open during the closure. Also, the digital library is always open! Libby and Hoopla will be available for you to checkout material anytime the library is closed.

Questions? Contact the Director at 785-238-4311.

Dorothy Bramlage Public Library closed this Thursday and Friday

WICHITA — Thanksgiving and the day before are the top two days in this country for the chance of a cooking fire to happen in someone’s home.

Cooking causes an average of 158,400 home fires per year, which is 44% of all home fires in the United States.&nbsp;The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas offers safety steps everyone can follow if they will be preparing their family’s Thanksgiving feast.

“Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, home fire injuries and the second leading cause of home fire deaths,” said Jane Blocher, Executive Director of the Red Cross of Greater Kansas. “Most happen because people leave cooking food unattended. We want everyone to have a safe, enjoyable holiday, so don’t leave the kitchen while you’re cooking.”

COOKING SAFETY TIPS&nbsp;Follow these safety tips and visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cisionone-email.us.redcross.org/c/eJwsy0uO6yAQheHVwAyLR1HAgEEm2UaEqSJB15Zzweqoe_WtRD39zvkpa89QquRsArqUEKKXj4wtrIlWMMU2j9QogQvJVowmrT6S7BmTheAcok5gbwbXSBFBA7MAPTvxv_5f7aVvPKYK1VNF3wjU_uMRlvcgt_w4z6dwF2Gvwl5fr9cymOo45lyOcRf22vpguTP1ogZvXCarTvkDtz8Q7mKiCcnIkR_lez6PeQrQXO4bf45LPXY5z8G8v2PfmkFnQa26JAXBokquNRUTe6uJI4KRX9n-BgAA__96VFX5">redcross.org/fire</a>&nbsp;for more information, including a fire escape plan to practice with your family.

Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year. If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cisionone-email.us.redcross.org/c/eJwsy01uwyAQxfHTwA6LjwHDgkU2uUaEmSFGxXUKbq309FWibn_v_TFKS5Ayp6hmZ0Jw4C1fY1gWGSBLKAGtQV_8okCinlUykMHzGl3QMBvjnAygb8otHr0DCUQM5KhIH_VLbKk26kPM2WJ2tiCI7dc6mF4Db3E9jsdg5sL0lenreZ5TJ8x9H2Pa-53pa6mfKJ77dxdtz6mJvKbHQX1aj63xjbAm0alRGiQqxjfc_oGZi_JqDor3uKbneOzjYCAp3Ru9j1PeNz6OTrS9YluKckaDWGQKAmbtRDClCB_IaonkHSj-E_VfAAAA___Z1l9J">local Red Cross</a>&nbsp;for more information.

Red Cross offers steps to help avoid a Thanksgiving cooking fire

 Confidence is increasing for a regional winter storm to impact the Central Plains and Midwest Friday-Saturday. Initial rain over northeast Kansas will transition to light snow through the day Saturday.  Little to no snow accumulations are anticipated at this time for northeast Kansas, but that could change in the coming days. 

Accumulating snow resulting in hazardous travel is most likely towards portions of Iowa, eastern Missouri, and into Illinois.  If you plan to travel across these areas this weekend, it's important to stay up to date on the latest weather forecast and prepare for alternate travel plans.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Monitor the weather for the holiday peiod

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a domestic incident in Shawnee County

Just after 12:30 p.m., November 24, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center was notified of a second domestic disturbance at a residence in the 6700 block of SW Fieldwood Drive, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The first was reported around 11:30 a.m.

Shaun L. Kendall, 40, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a weapon by felon and Stalking; reckless conduct causing fear person/family. He remains in custody on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kan. felon jailed after 2nd domestic incident within an hour

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;– The Cheney Police Department reported that 76-year-old Martha Brenneis was located and is in good condition. The statewide silver alert is now canceled.

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;– The Cheney Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Cheney woman, according to a media release from the KBI.

The whereabouts of 76-year-old Martha Brenneis are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate her.

Brenneis is likely driving a black 2019 Dodge Caravan bearing Kansas tag 1207ACD. She was last seen at her residence in Cheney on Nov. 27, at approximately 8 a.m.

Brenneis is a white female who is around 5 foot 1 inch tall and weighs approximately 120 pounds. She has white hair and light hazel eyes.&nbsp;

If you see Brenneis, or her vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, please call the Cheney Police Department at (316) 542-3173.

Statewide Silver Alert canceled; missing Kansas woman is safe

WASHINGTON (AP) —Democratic state attorneys general are suing the Trump administration to keep&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-how-it-works-cards-e061c2af0f3cc997b69a24296238783c">SNAP food aid</a>&nbsp;from being taken away from groups of permanent residents in the U.S., including people granted asylum or admitted as refugees.

The top state government lawyers from 21 states and the District of Columbia say in Wednesday’s suit that the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance to states in October calling for groups to be denied help from the food aid program even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-stamps-snap-states-trump-2c604216d26a9edf84fe502136be6d6f">Trump’s sweeping tax and policy law</a>&nbsp;this summer didn’t specifically exclude them.

The states say the penalties for providing the benefits to excluded groups are so severe that they put states in danger of shutting down their SNAP programs entirely.

The filing in federal court in Oregon is the latest chapter in a battle over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-shutdown-reopening-food-aid-a11b6c83934d9c718cc413fc1f9435d3">tried to pause</a>&nbsp;during the government shutdown.

States sue to keep SNAP benefits for some lawful immigrants

By Barbara Ortutay and Matt O'Brien&nbsp; &nbsp;Associated Press

They’re cute, even cuddly, and promise learning and companionship — but artificial intelligence toys are not safe for kids, according to children’s and consumer advocacy groups urging parents not to buy them during the holiday season.

These toys, marketed to kids as young as 2 years old, are generally powered by AI models that have already been shown to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbot-teens-congress-chatgpt-character-ce3959b6a3ea1a4997bf1ccabb4f0de2" target="_blank">harm children and teenagers</a>, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://fairplayforkids.org/pf/aitoyadvisory" target="_blank">advisory published Thursday</a>&nbsp;by the children’s advocacy group Fairplay and signed by more than 150 organizations and individual experts such as child psychiatrists and educators.

“The serious harms that AI chatbots have inflicted on children are well-documented, including fostering obsessive use, having explicit sexual conversations, and encouraging unsafe behaviors, violence against others, and self-harm,” Fairplay said.

AI toys, made by companies including Curio Interactive and Keyi Technologies, are often marketed as educational, but Fairplay says they can displace important creative and learning activities. They promise friendship but disrupt children’s relationships and resilience, the group said.

“What’s different about young children is that their brains are being wired for the first time and developmentally it is natural for them to be trustful, for them to seek relationships with kind and friendly characters,” said Rachel Franz, director of Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline Program. Because of this, she added, the trust young children are placing in these toys can exacerbate the types of harms older children are already experiencing with AI chatbots.

<a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ai-ratings/ai-chatbots-for-mental-health-support" target="_blank">A separate report Thursday</a>&nbsp;by Common Sense Media and psychiatrists at Stanford University’s medical school warned teenagers against using popular AI chatbots as therapists.

Fairplay, a 25-year-old organization formerly known as the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, has been warning about AI toys for years. They just weren’t as advanced as they are today. A decade ago, during an emerging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/70165102258e4d18aabc5247e284058a" target="_blank">fad of internet-connected toys</a>&nbsp;and AI speech recognition, the group helped lead a backlash against Mattel’s talking Hello Barbie doll that it said was recording and analyzing children’s conversations.

This time, though AI toys are mostly sold online and more popular in Asia than elsewhere, Franz said some have started to appear on store shelves in the U.S. and more could be on the way.

“Everything has been released with no regulation and no research, so it gives us extra pause when all of a sudden we see more and more manufacturers, including Mattel, who recently partnered with OpenAI, potentially putting out these products,” Franz said.

It’s the second big seasonal warning against AI toys since consumer advocates at U.S. PIRG last week called out the trend in its annual “&nbsp;<a href="https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/trouble-in-toyland-2025-a-i-bots-and-toxics-represent-hidden-dangers/" target="_blank">Trouble in Toyland</a>&nbsp;” report that typically looks at a range of product hazards, such as high-powered magnets and button-sized batteries that young children can swallow. This year, the organization tested four toys that use AI chatbots.

“We found some of these toys will talk in-depth about sexually explicit topics, will offer advice on where a child can find matches or knives, act dismayed when you say you have to leave, and have limited or no parental controls,” the report said. One of the toys, a teddy bear made by Singapore-based FoloToy, was later withdrawn, its CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/tech/folotoy-kumma-ai-bear-scli-intl" target="_blank">told CNN this week.</a>

Dr. Dana Suskind, a pediatric surgeon and social scientist who studies early brain development, said young children don’t have the conceptual tools to understand what an AI companion is. While kids have always bonded with toys through imaginative play, when they do this they use their imagination to create both sides of a pretend conversation, “practicing creativity, language, and problem-solving,” she said.

“An AI toy collapses that work. It answers instantly, smoothly, and often better than a human would. We don’t yet know the developmental consequences of outsourcing that imaginative labor to an artificial agent — but it’s very plausible that it undercuts the kind of creativity and executive function that traditional pretend play builds,” Suskind said.

Beijing-based Keyi, maker of an AI “petbot” called Loona, didn’t return requests for comment this week, but other AI toymakers sought to highlight their child safety protections.

California-based Curio Interactive makes stuffed toys, like Gabbo and rocket-shaped Grok, that have been promoted by the pop singer Grimes. The company said it has “meticulously designed” guardrails to protect children and the company encourages parents to “monitor conversations, track insights, and choose the controls that work best for their family.”

In response to the earlier PIRG findings, Curio said it is “actively working with our team to address any concerns, while continuously overseeing content and interactions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for children.”

Another company, Miko, based in Mumbai, India, said it uses its own conversational AI model rather than relying on general large language model systems such as ChatGPT in order to make its product — an interactive AI robot — safe for children.

“We are always expanding our internal testing, strengthening our filters, and introducing new capabilities that detect and block sensitive or unexpected topics,” said CEO Sneh Vaswani. “These new features complement our existing controls that allow parents and caregivers to identify specific topics they’d like to restrict from conversation. We will continue to invest in setting the highest standards for safe, secure and responsible AI integration for Miko products.”

Miko’s products are sold by major retailers such as Walmart and Costco and have been promoted by the families of social media “kidfluencers” whose YouTube videos have millions of views. On its website, it markets its robots as “Artificial Intelligence. Genuine friendship.”

Ritvik Sharma, the company’s senior vice president of growth, said Miko actually “encourages kids to interact more with their friends, to interact more with the peers, with the family members etc. It’s not made for them to feel attached to the device only.”

Still, Suskind and children’s advocates say analog toys are a better bet for the holidays.

“Kids need lots of real human interaction. Play should support that, not take its place. The biggest thing to consider isn’t only what the toy does; it’s what it replaces. A simple block set or a teddy bear that doesn’t talk back forces a child to invent stories, experiment, and work through problems. AI toys often do that thinking for them,” she said. “Here’s the brutal irony: when parents ask me how to prepare their child for an AI world, unlimited AI access is actually the worst preparation possible.”

Advocacy groups urge parents to avoid AI toys this holiday season

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Park Service said Tuesday it is going to start charging the millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular sites, while leaving them out of fee-free days that will be reserved for American residents.

The announcement declaring “America-first entry fee policies” comes as national parks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-national-parks-burgum-superintendents-trash-b5109ba06f1cb3baef9370f585650136">deal with the strain</a>&nbsp;of a major staff reduction and severe budget cuts, along with recovering from damage during the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopening-process-df0388b2d685bab9aa61edce0eb51a15">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;and significant lost revenue due to fees not being collected during that time.

The fee change will impact 11 national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

As part of the changes, which are set to take effect Jan. 1, foreign tourists will also see their annual parks pass price jump to $250, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80, according to the department's statement.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on the social platform X that the changes make sure U.S. taxpayers who support the park service “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations!”

A White House post on X laying out the increased fees ended with the phrase, “AMERICANS FIRST.”

The announcement follows a July executive order in which President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;directed the parks to increase entry fees for foreign tourists.

“There’s a lot to unpack in this announcement, including many questions on its implementation – all which NPCA will raise with the Department of Interior,” Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for National Parks Conservation Association, said in an email.

The U.S. Travel Association estimated that in 2018, national parks and monuments saw more than 14 million international visitors. Yellowstone reported that in 2024, nearly 15% of its visitors were from outside the country, which was down from 30% in 2018.

The money made off the new fees will help support the national parks, including with upgrading facilities for visitors and maintenance, according to the statement.

The “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” next year include Veterans Day, which was one of the parks' eight free days open to everyone in 2025. The Department of the Interior had announced those days by saying they wanted to ensure that “everyone, no matter their ZIP code, can access and enjoy the benefits of green spaces and our public lands.”

National Parks to raise fees for international tourists

JOHNSON COUNTY —Last week, while on patrol, a State Trooper observed a stolen vehicle that had recently failed to stop for the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, according to a social media report from KHP Troop A.

When the Trooper initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle fled, prompting a pursuit. Thankfully, the Trooper was able to successfully conduct a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), bringing the vehicle to a stop. The driver was then taken into custody on requested charges of felony flee and elude, felony possession of stolen property, misdemeanor interference, driving without a valid license, and a $5,000 fail to appear warrant out of the Johnson County, KS Sheriff's Office

🎥KHP Trooper uses Tactical Vehicle Intervention to stop suspect

KANSAS C ITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a Thanksgiving house fire.

Just before 3:30a.m., crews responded to a reported house fire in the 9500 block of Olmstead Road, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

 On arrival, crews reported heavy smoke and fire through the roof,&nbsp; from a 1-story residence. Interior operations were initiated on an offensive fire attack with 3 hose lines. Companies did encounter a broken natural gas line and power lines down in the rear of the structure and eventually evacuated. 

Moving to a defensive mode, fly piping operations of the structure began. After knocking down the majority of the fire, the aerial was eventually shut down, and the 3 hose lines resumed extinguishing the remaining fire and hot spots. 

Utility crews were on scene and secured their hazards.Searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear. The fire was brought under control at 4:35 a.m.

One firefighter was briefly evaluated by an ambulance on scene but was not transported. No other injuries or patients have been reported.&nbsp;

Dangerous Thanksgiving Day house fire in Kansas City

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-white-house-afghan-national-138fbe6872d7ac30b20973783b39002c">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;vowed on Thanksgiving to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations in a blistering late-night, anti-immigrant screed posted to social media.

The extended rant came in the wake of the Wednesday shooting of two National Guard members who were deployed to patrol Washington, D.C. under Trump’s orders,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-washington-shooting-suspect-b37bc92853ba14625678236318f80751">one of whom died</a>&nbsp;shortly before the president spoke to U.S. troops by video on Thursday evening.

A 29-year-old Afghan national who worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War is facing charges for the shooting. The suspect emigrated as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-afghan-operation-allies-welcome-b11c48fb0b807e8f519c266e2a004d8e">a program to resettle</a>&nbsp;those who has helped American troops after U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “Other than that, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for — You won’t be here for long!”

Trump’s threat to stop immigration would be a serious blow to a nation that has long defined itself as welcoming immigrants.

Elected on a promise to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-violent-crime-trump-republican-convention-bd40d14546bc7eb9a1dbbadfcb190950">crack down on illegal migration</a>, Trump’s raids and deportations have disrupted communities across the U.S. as construction sites and schools have been targets. The prospect of more deportations could be economically dangerous as America’s foreign-born workers account for nearly 31 million jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The president said on Truth Social that “most” foreign-born U.S. residents “are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels” as he blamed them for crime across the country that is predominantly committed by U.S. citizens.

The perception that immigration breeds crime “continues to falter under the weight of the evidence,” according to a review of academic literature last year in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-criminol-030421-033048" target="_blank">Annual Review of Criminology</a>.

“With few exceptions, studies conducted at both the aggregate and individual levels demonstrate that high concentrations of immigrants are not associated with increased levels of crime and delinquency across neighborhoods and cities in the United States,” it said.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w31440" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;by economists initially released in 2023 found immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than people born in the U.S. Immigrants have been imprisoned at lower rates for 150 years, the study found, adding to past research undermining Trump’s claims.

But Trump seemed to have little interest in a policy debate in his unusually lengthy social media post, which the White House, on its own rapid response social media account, called “one of the most important messages ever released by President Trump.”

Trump pledged to “terminate” millions of admissions to the country made during the term of his predecessor, Joe Biden. He also wants to end federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens, denaturalize people “who undermine domestic tranquility” and deport foreign nationals deemed “non-compatible with Western Civilization.”

Trump claimed immigrants from Somalia are “completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota” as he used a dated slur for intellectually disabled people to demean that state’s governor, Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee last year, calling him “seriously retarded.”

Trump has ramped up his rhetoric since the shooting. On Wednesday night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-guard-washington-shooting-6548fbcba4b6efce59a38eeed32b4865">Trump called for the reinvestigation</a>&nbsp;of all Afghan refugees who had entered under the Biden administration.

On Thursday, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said the agency would take additional steps to screen people from 19 “high-risk” countries “to the maximum degree possible.”

Edlow didn’t name the countries.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-travel-ban-exceptions-immigrants-visa-4d5a4d07a4430dd1e1cf24511370bc0e">But in June</a>, the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-travel-ban-d4d74e856e06f1a2626cc1ddbdfaa9f7">banned travel to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;by citizens of 12 countries and restricted access from seven others, citing national security concerns.

The shooting of the two National Guard members appeared to trigger Trump’s anger over immigrants, yet he did not specifically refer to the event in his social media posting.

The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is accused of driving across the country to Washington and shooting two West Virginia National Guard members, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Beckstrom died on Thursday from the shooting, while Wolfe remains in critical condition.

The suspect, currently in custody, was also shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Asked by a reporter on Thursday if he blamed the shootings on all Afghans who came to the U.S., Trump said: “No, but we’ve had a lot of problems with Afghans.”

Trump: U.S. to ‘pause migration from Third World Countries’ after DC shooting

FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. on Thanksgiving in Finney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Kason D. Ramsey, 18, Holcomb, was westbound on Railroad Avenue one mile west of Garden City. The vehicle struck a pedestrian identified as Lance R. Stucky, 31, Garden City, who was walking in the westbound lane.

Stucky was pronounced deceased. Ramsey was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

Man dies after struck by a pickup in southwest Kansas

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is facing multiple charges for the alleged theft of multiple packages from residences since September.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2765/Bennett-RED-COMPLAINT-CB">Curtis D. Bennett&nbsp;</a>faces six counts of Stealing a Postal or Delivery Item, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. Each count of Stealing a Postal or Delivery Item is a class E felony, carrying one to four years in prison upon conviction. If convicted, he could face up to 24 years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2764/Bennett-RED-PC-CB">According to court records</a>, Kansas City detectives received reports from four different victims stating they had packages stolen from their homes. In total, the six packages were worth more than $1,100. Detectives were able to identify and connect Bennett to each incident through victim surveillance video. Bennett admitted to stealing the packages from the residences.&nbsp;

“We take package theft seriously because we understand our community works hard each day to be able to purchase holiday gifts and everyday necessities for their families,”&nbsp;Prosecutor Johnson said. “We’re committed to holding these repeat offenders accountable, but we need the community’s help to bring these cases to our office.”

With the holiday season underway, Prosecutor Johnson urges residents to take proactive steps to protect their deliveries. Install doorbell cameras and surveillance cameras around your home, which provide critical evidence for investigations.&nbsp;

Retrieve your packages immediately after delivery or ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect them if you will not be home. Consider having items delivered to your workplace or request that the post office or delivery service hold packages for pickup if you will be traveling. Requesting a signature requirement for valuable deliveries or using secure package lockers are other ways to ensure packages are protected.&nbsp;

“If you believe your package or mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency and provide any video or photo evidence,”&nbsp;Prosecutor Johnson said. “It’s crucial to report these crimes. Unless these cases reach our desk, we cannot do our job, prosecute, and protect our community.”

Bennett is being held on a $3,000 cash-only bond. &nbsp;

Porch Pirate: KC man admits theft of packages from multiple homes

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Devon Dampier threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns, Elijah Davis returned an interception 97 yards for another score, and No. 14 Utah came from behind to beat Kansas 31-21 on Friday and keep its slim Big 12 championship hopes alive.

Larry Simmons caught two TD passes, Wayshon Parker ran for 95 yards and Utah (10-2, 7-2, No. 13 CFP) picked off Jalon Daniels three times in the final game of his college career, helping the Utes reach the 10-win mark for the third time in the last five years.

More importantly, the Utes can still play for a conference title. They need Arizona State to beat Arizona on Friday night, then Texas Tech to lose to West Virginia and BYU to beat UCF on Saturday — a long-shot scenario, to be sure, but a reason to turn on TVs.

“We hope 10-2 gets us to what we want to do, but from my standpoint, we were not happy with how last season went," said Dampier, who transferred in from New Mexico after the Utes had finished 5-7 in their first season in the Big 12.

“Just happy it all came together,” he said. “We finished strong, and it was all that work we put in.”

Utah won despite allowing 290 yards rushing, one week after beating Kansas State after allowing 472 on the ground.

“It took a while to get going, and really get into a rhythm. We started to get some things going in the second half,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “We kept finding ways to make plays, stay in the game, and that's kind of the way it went in the end.”

Daniels finished with 187 yards passing and a touchdown, and also rushed for a TD, though his turnovers led to a smattering of boos from Kansas fans, many of whom have endured the QB's highs and lows over the past six seasons.

Daniel Hishaw Jr. had 107 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Jayhawks (5-7, 3-6). Leshon Williams ran for 104.

“Obviously as a team we didn’t play well enough to win the football game,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said.

Utah looked as if it might turn Senior Day into a rout in the opening minutes, but the Kansas defense — which had let Leipold's team down so often this season — finally seemed to find its fight. The Jayhawks bottled up the Utes, who had been averaging 279.6 yards on the ground, and early on Dampier was having little success through the air, twice misfiring on fourth-down attempts.

Utah led just 10-7 at halftime in a game it desperately needed to win.

The Jayhawks briefly pulled ahead after the break, when Whittingham went for it on fourth down rather than kick a field goal on a cold, blustery day. Kansas made a stop, drove 67 yards, and Daniels' scoring sneak gave them a 14-10 advantage.

But the momentum swung for good on his two red-zone blunders early in the fourth quarter.

First, Daniels was picked off while trying to throw the ball out of the end zone, and Utah needed just four plays to go 80 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. Then, after Kansas marched downfield again, Daniels was picked off by Davis near the goal line, and the junior cornerback returned it 97 yards to give the Utes a 24-14 lead with 7:52 remaining.

Utah wound up scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

“We had two little hiccups throughout the season, but I'm really proud of how our guys have played, bouncing back from adversity, whether it's after a loss or in game,” Utah safety Jackson Bennee said. “It's been a good season. We'll see what happens.”

Utah only ran for 164 yards but finished with 417 in total offense, and that was enough to make Kansas pay for its mistakes.

Kansas started the season 4-2 before a loss to Texas Tech. It wound up losing five of its last six games.

Utah watches how the Big 12 race plays out on Saturday.

Kansas watches bowl season on TV for the second straight year.

🏈 Utah rallies to beat KU and keep slim Big 12 championship hopes alive

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys still face long odds in trying to rally for a spot in the playoffs.

They won't be short on confidence with a win over last season's Super Bowl runner-up just four days after beating the defending champs.

Prescott threw for two touchdowns, Malik Davis sprinted 43 yards for a score and the Cowboys overcame two fourth down TD throws from Patrick Mahomes in a 31-28 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday.

CeeDee Lamb scored the first Dallas touchdown and finished with 112 yards on seven catches after drops plagued the star receiver in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-cowboys-score-c327c03d384190ed8a067c9936f3cab3">24-21 victory over reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia</a>.

The Cowboys (6-5-1) have won three straight and dropped the defending AFC champion Chiefs (6-6) back to .500 in a matchup of playoff-chasing teams.

Dallas is 3-0 since 24-year-old defensive end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cowboys-kneeland-schottenheimer-04061190c64246d3c8ce90ef025f501b">Marshawn Kneeland</a>&nbsp;was found dead of an apparent suicide during the club's open week. The Cowboys came back from the emotion-filled break with a 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

“On top of where we put ourselves right before these games and just the place that we’re in, having to get these wins against two elite teams,” Prescott said. “I mean, two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year. Last year’s last year, but you’re talking about two organizations that obviously know how to win and we just beat them both in two great games.

“On top of everything that we've been through.”

Mahomes had four touchdown passes in his first professional game at the home of the Cowboys, where he played three times for Texas Tech not far from his East Texas roots.

“They’re the same desperation that we are and they play better over four quarters than we did,” said Mahomes, who threw for 261 yards and was sacked three times, twice by Jadeveon Clowney. “So even though we have good plays here and there, we have be more consistent at the end of the day.”

Travis Kelce caught Mahomes' first fourth-down TD toss on a 2-yarder, and Rashee Rice's second scoring catch came on fourth-and-3 early in the fourth quarter.

Kansas City was down 10 when Mahomes was almost tripped in the backfield by Quinnen Williams but kept his feet and found Xavier Worthy wide-open down the field for 42 yards, setting up a 10-yard scoring toss to Hollywood Brown with 3:27 remaining.

Prescott and company didn't give Mahomes another chance.

After two pass interference penalties gave Dallas first downs, Prescott hit George Pickens for 13 yards and a clinching first down at the two-minute warning. Prescott knelt three times after that.

The Chiefs had five pass interference penalties, one that was declined, and another defensive holding that gave Dallas a first down. Kansas City finished with 10 penalties for 119 yards.

“Bottom line is we’re having too many penalties, and we have to make sure to take care of that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “No excuses with it. We’re going to clean it up.”

Rice had eight catches for 92 yards, his first score coming on a 27-yard catch-and-run on the sideline two plays after Prescott was intercepted by Jaylen Watson on the first Dallas possession.

Davis had just three carries, but his long run gave Dallas its first lead at 17-14 late in the second quarter. Lead running back Javonte Williams scored on a 3-yard catch early in the fourth quarter, and Pickens' catch on a 2-point conversion put Dallas back in front 28-21.

The Cowboys were 10th in the NFC entering the game, same as the Chiefs in the AFC coming off nine consecutive AFC West titles. The schedule doesn't get much easier, although two of the next four opponents — all playoff teams from a year ago — aren't in the postseason picture at the moment.

“We've got to continue with the same mentality,” Lamb said. “Obviously it's been a short week. Now we get a little time to rest, a regular week so to speak. We get our bodies back, relax, build, grow, get better and on to next week.”

Chiefs: The Chiefs lost two offensive linemen to injuries after beginning the game without RG Trey Smith, who was inactive because of an ankle injury. RT Jawaan Taylor injured an elbow, and rookie LT Josh Simmons went out with a wrist injury. ... S Bryan Cook injured an ankle in the first half.

Cowboys: CB Caelen Carson, who had started the previous two games, was inactive after being listed as questionable. He was added to the injury report during the week. ... CB DaRon Bland injured a foot in the second half.

Chiefs: Play host to Houston in prime time on Dec. 7.

🏈 Cowboys overcome Mahomes' 4th down magic in Thanksgiving win over Chiefs

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mevlin Council Jr. and Elmarko Jackson each scored 17 points and Kansas defeated previously unbeaten No. 17 Tennessee 81-76 in the third-place game of the Players Era Championship on Wednesday night.

Tre White added 14 points for Kansas (6-2) before fouling out and Florey Bidunga scored 13.

Nata Ament led Tennessee (7-1) with 20 points. Jaylen Carey and Ja’Kobe Gillespie each scored 11 points and J.P. Estrella added 10.

Kansas, which trailed most of the second half, took the lead with 5:36 remaining on Paul Mbiya's layup and extended the lead to four points at 68-64 on a driving layup by Jackson with 5:08 left.

The Jayhawks extended the lead to seven points at 75-68 with 2:02 left before Tennessee cut the lead to 75-73 with 56 seconds left. Bidunga made two free throws and stole a pass with 20 seconds left, and the Jayhawks held on for the win.

With 15:06 remaining the second half, Tennessee had built a 12-point lead. But, the Jayhawks ran off eight straight points on two 3-pointers and two free throws by Jackson to pull within 55-51 with 12:09 remaining.

Tennessee built back a six-point advantage with 8:21 left, but the Jayhawks’ Melvin Councill Jr. made two layups and two free throws to tie the game at 62-62 with 7:25 left.

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