USD 475 Communications Coordinator

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Twelve outstanding Junction City High School students competed in the SkillsUSA Northeast District 3 Leadership Competition, showcasing their talent, professionalism and career-ready skills.

Earning gold at the District Three competition were Edward Paskow in Extemporaneous Speaking, Zane Rock in Job Skill Demonstration A, Elizabeth Edgerton in Job Skill Demonstration Open, Joseph Ondrashek in Pin Design and Kennedy Moreland in Prepared Speech.

“I am so proud of all the students. They represented Junction City High School well. We’re excited to move on to the state competition in March,” said Aaron Yoder, JCHS SkillsUSA advisor. 

In all, JCHS participated in seven of the nine events and proudly returned home with five gold medals and multiple qualifying placements for the 2025-26 Kansas State SkillsUSA Championships, which will take place this March at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.

Junction City High School State Medal Winners and State Qualifiers

Extemporaneous Speaking&nbsp;Gold:&nbsp;Edward Paskow

Job Skill Demonstration A&nbsp;Gold:&nbsp;Zane Rock

Job Skill Demonstration Open&nbsp;Gold:&nbsp;Elizabeth Edgerton

Pin Design&nbsp;Gold:&nbsp;Joseph Ondrashek

Prepared Speech&nbsp;Gold:&nbsp;Kennedy Moreland

Promotional Bulletin Board&nbsp;Silver:&nbsp;Gabrielle Delory, Alison Dobbs and Kara Houck

Blue Jays Shine at SkillsUSA Competition

Main Street Monday | Downtown JC Happenings | Nov 24 - Nov 30, 2025

Give the gift of local and get a little extra for yourself with Downtown Bonus Bucks! From November 21 to December 5, shoppers can earn free Downtown Bonus Bucks just by purchasing a Junction City Main Street Yiftee gift card. Visit our Yiftee portal to buy a $50 gift card and receive $25 free, or purchase a $100 gift card and receive $50 free. (Limit one bonus card per person; only 80 bonus cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis.) Gift cards can be redeemed at any participating downtown business listed on the Yiftee portal. With Shop Small Saturday on November 29th, it’s the perfect time to support local businesses, enjoy a little extra spending power, and celebrate the holiday season downtown. <a href="https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/junction-city-main-street--kansas?fbclid=IwY2xjawOQsT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFVYTFGV1B0UEg4U013S2hSc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpuz_vQYbYPbfxVY9Oaq5AmcaAaRTDlKOV1cvIjOS8DjJu3HHA1fm8p-vGja_aem_xIOlSny7GTOuhBj4NhCl6g">Get your Bonus Bucks before they’re gone!</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/1AQXVm1zJV/">Join the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce for the 30th Annual Junction City Christmas Parade!</a> On Friday, November 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM in Junction City from 6th Street &amp; Eisenhower to Heritage Park. This year’s theme is “Elves on the Loose: Santa’s Secret Helpers”. Bring your family, friends, and holiday spirit, you won’t want to miss this festive kickoff to the Christmas season! And don’t forget, Santa will be joining the community in Heritage Park after the parade to greet families and spread even more holiday cheer!

● <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/event/hometown-christmas/">Hometown Christmas:</a> December 6 | 4–8 PM! Step into a winter wonderland at Junction City Main Street’s Hometown Christmas! Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, live music, carolers, dance performances, a Christmas market, photos with Santa, and festive lights all throughout downtown. Warm up with hot cocoa, cider, s’mores, and sweet treats as you shop and celebrate the season. Bring the whole family and make it a night to remember, and don’t miss our Wine &amp; Wassail Walk happening the same evening and time, for extra holiday cheer!

● <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/event/wine-wassail-2/">Wine &amp; Wassail Walk</a> — Tickets on Sale! Join Junction City Main Street for a magical evening of wine, wassail, and holiday cheer. Ticket holders will receive a map of participating downtown businesses and enjoy festive samples as they shop and stroll. Held alongside our family-friendly, Hometown Christmas, the night will feature carriage rides, carolers, and sparkling lights downtown. 18+ event, get your tickets before they’re gone!

● <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/event/santas-downtown-dash-meet-mr-mrs-claus/">Santa’s Downtown Dash: Meet Mr. &amp; Mrs. Claus:</a> The Clauses are dashing through Downtown Junction City! On Wednesday, December 17, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are making special stops at your favorite local shops to find the perfect gifts for their hardworking elves — and they’d love to see you along the way!

○ From 2:45 to 5:00 p.m., follow their merry route and snap a photo, share a smile, and soak in the Christmas spirit as the Clauses spread holiday cheer through downtown.

○ Stops include: Central National Bank, Military Outlet, Highwind, Key Office Products, Godfrey’s Tactical, Messenger, Blu, Simply 115, and the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

○ Bring your Christmas list and join the fun — Santa’s on the move, and the magic is downtown!

<a href="https://godfreystactical.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHs4pleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3azdKYjl2RWk5ZmtmZXd1AR7vhwSejcARqGfdIgGQkNIKI-9W1f8wAp9LA6zYmUh9BA_zvjKanVPtC7NwRw_aem_f0i9mu0uejSZDFi2oo4DVA">Did you know?:</a> Every Wednesday is Ladies Night at Godfrey’s Indoor Ranges and Tactical Supply! And Fridays are Free Rental Friday!

Flag a Friend for the Holidays with <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/flag-fundraiser/">Flags of Geary County:</a> “Proudly United, Community Ignited”

- 2026 is America’s 250th birthday! To celebrate, Junction City Main Street invites you to take part in the Flag Project supporting multiple local organizations. For a small donation, Main Street will place and remove a leased 3x5 ft U.S. flag on a 10 ft pole in front of your home or business on seven major holidays, throughout the year. Flags will not be displayed in the event of rain.

Have you explored Downtown JC yet?! We’ve created a brand-new “Explore” page on our website so you can discover all the amazing businesses that make our downtown special. <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/explore/visit/">Check it out here!</a>

<a href="https://junctioncityartscouncil.org/art-classes-for-adults-and-kids-sept-oct-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMq8eNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6R0RpUnMyYmtEZEtpeEhjAR6wLe3Ym7QmV2br47ww1BrEGTClZBwj82SITnHCGJalXDv-9zmg2sXkAULYdQ_aem_pmbLu49swjlam765416_xA">Junction City Arts Council Classes:</a> Reserve your spot today!

Saturday, December 7th - Silent Night on the Prairie - Adults ages 16+ at 2PM

Saturday, December 13th - Holiday Clay Class - Adults at 2PM

C.L. Hoover Opera House Upcoming Events: <a href="https://www.jcoperahouse.org/tickets?fbclid=IwY2xjawNsdoJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFhWlFKR1A4NGlqVm9adUpqAR4ldTZ-IOPUxpOTPakoSF1QPhaed5auXzr6hdM6xgsmalacfj3P_opwb5tOng_aem_sO3_ymmqw5OTXwrGeIITdg">Buy Tickets Here!</a>

● Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - The Musical: Set in the wake of World War II, White Christmas follows song-and-dance duo Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. While pursuing romance and new show opportunities, they meet the talented Haynes sisters, Betty and Judy. The pair head to perform at a Vermont lodge only to discover that it’s owned by their former army commander, General Waverly—who’s unaware that the inn is facing serious financial trouble. Together, Bob, Phil, Betty, Judy—and even the General’s granddaughter Susan—conspire to stage a spectacular Christmas show, recruiting the General’s old soldiers to perform and revive the inn’s fortunes through holiday cheer and the power of music. Thursday, December 4th-Sunday, December 7th at 7:30PM. (Sunday's Show on the 7th is at 2:00 PM).

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555597640369&amp;sk=events">Blu Restaurant and Bar Weekly Events:</a> Margarita Monday, Taco ‘Bout a Tuesday, Wing Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Cheers to the Weekend on Fridays.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086549072848&amp;sk=events">Highwind events:</a> Steak Night, Tuesday @ 4PM | Music Bingo, Wednesday @ 6:30PM | 20% Off All Merch, Friday &amp; Saturday | Brunch, Sunday @ 9:30AM-2PM

The karaoke bug is going around and The Spot Karaoke is the place to be! Pick from 4 private karaoke suites, all with different themes, and enjoy a private jam session with you + 11 other people per room. Check them out and reserve a karaoke suite here: <a href="https://thespot785.com/">https://thespot785.com/</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17RW4ZKfqd/">Community Thanksgiving Dinners:</a>

D’z Lounge- Saturday, November 22nd @ 5PM

Unedited Life/Root &amp; Bloom Mercantile- Thursday, November 27th @ 5PM

The Magdalene Project at the Knights of Columbus Building- Sunday, November 30th @ 1PM

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/holidayhamperjc">Holiday Hamper</a> is happening on Saturday December 13th from 9:30AM-1PM at the First Baptist Church located at 624 N Jefferson St. Holiday Hamper is a free giveaway of clothing, hygiene, baby products, etc. Free printed photos with Santa, soup/chili, cookies, childcare while "shopping', and free xmas stockings for children 12 and under!

Follow <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/">Junction City Main Street</a> for event updates and more.

Support local. Stay connected. Love where you live.

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Riley County.

A 2015 Nissan Altima, driven by Bimel Kanti Paul, 76, of Manhattan, struck Edward Thompson, 82, of Manhattan, while in a crosswalk near the 400 Block of Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley County. Police Department activity report.

After impact, Ed Thompson then fell into Susan Thompson, 82, of Manhattan. 

EMS transported Edward Thompson to Via Christi for treatment of minor injuries. Paul was issued a citation for failure to yield right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

RCPD: Car struck Manhattan couple in crosswalk

The First Presbyterian Church will host their annual Community Thanksging Meal on Thursday.

Delivery, Indoor Pickup, or Dine-In Eating will be available. 

**Delivery time is from 11:00 am to 11:30 am.

** Dine-in eating time is from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

 **Pick-up time is from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm.

** *Meal orders are required for delivery and pickup. To place an order, call 785-238-1191 between 9:00 am and 2:30 pm. Meal orders must be placed no later than 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 25.

Community Thanksging Meal

At the recent meeting of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club held at the Hampton Inn, Sue Gwaltney and Rachel Richmond explained the Early Childhood Block Grant. “Through the Early Childhood Block Grant, the Junction City Family YMCA offers Free Parents as Teachers (PAT) services for families with children birth to 5 years old and the free Triple P – Positive Parenting Program for additional parent support. In partnership with USD 475, the school district provides space for the program and their activities, office space and equipment. The mission is to help parents be their child’s first and most important teacher!” Rachel said.

In tandem, Sue and Rachel shared that “there are 160 children enrolled and 2,000 more reached through community outreach. Ninety percent of the families qualify for free/reduced lunch; thirty one percent of the families identified speak a language other than English at home and nineteen percent of the children served are in foster care, living with a relative or are in some type of out-of-home care.”

The presenters also shared that “eighty percent of a child’s brain growth occurs from birth until 3. Early Childhood Block Grant staff teach parenting skills; are encouraged to read to and with their child; help parents better understand child development and the milestones established at growth points to monitor progress; help parents deal with stress; identify family goals and others. Fun activities are also an important part of the work being done with families, which may be done on home visits or in groups at Franklin Elementary School. Franklin Elementary School is located at 410 W. 2nd Street in Junction City. For more information the contact number is 785-717-6900.

Early Childhood Block Grant Was Explained To The Optimists

Kansas hospital sues family over $230 medical bill. Some patients went to court for less

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kansas State coach Chris Klieman broke down in tears while reflecting on criticism of his job performance after the Wildcats allowed No. 13 Utah to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-kansas-state-football-score-1f3fbe558f7dad783831ac1926011ce2">rally for a 51-47 win</a>&nbsp;on Saturday.

Klieman, who led the Wildcats to the Big 12 title in 2022, became choked up near the end of his postgame opening statement. Kansas State, considered a contender to win the league this season, fell to 5-6 and needs a win over Colorado next Saturday to become bowl eligible.

Athletic director Gene Taylor walked to the lectern and put his arm around the embattled coach.

“I’ve given my ... life for this place for seven years,” Klieman said. “I’ve given everything for seven years and I think I deserve a little bit of respect.”

Utah scored two touchdowns in the final 2:47 to complete its rally after Kansas State gashed the Utes on the ground all day.

Kansas State ran for a program-record 472 yards and five touchdowns — also a record for an opponent in Rice-Eccles Stadium — while averaging 11.2 yards per carry. Joe Jackson led the way with a school-record 293 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.

The last time a Division I team ran for more yards in a loss was on Nov. 18, 2017, when Army had 534 yards rushing in a 52-49 loss to North Texas.

“One of the greatest efforts I’ve been a part of as a coach and it’s hard to say this because we lost the game,” Klieman said. “We’re down so many players and I know a lot of people thought we’d come over here and lay down and that maybe the kids have cast it in because I’ve heard it enough. I’ve heard I’ve cast it in. I’ve heard the players have cast it in. (They say) we need new leadership here. We need to get new players, new coaches. I’m tired of it.”

Jackson broke Darren Sproles' Wildcats single-game rushing record by 1 yard.

K-State coach Klieman chokes up as he defends job performance after loss 

Discussion about increasing the number of members on the Geary County Commission to five is an agenda item for the governing body on Monday. The discussion is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. until noon.

There are currently three members on the commission.

A check with Commissioner Trish Giordano revealed that she was asked to have a discussion about the pros and cons of increasing the number of members on the board. A small number nearby counties do have five members, including Saline County.

Geary County Commission discussion planned

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Did you know that middle school students at Junction City Middle School and Fort Riley Middle School now have the opportunity to be offered a variety of introductory Career and Technical Education courses designed to spark interest in future academic and career pathways at Junction City High School?“These early-access courses give students hands-on exposure to high-demand fields and helps prepare them for advanced learning at JCHS and beyond,” said Kate Stewart, USD 475 Director of Secondary Education.

In Geary County Schools USD 475, middle school students can explore subjects such as STEM and Intro to Engineering, Business Essentials and Computer Applications, which helps them gain foundational skills and insights that support informed pathway choices before they become a Blue Jay. These exploratory courses are aligned with JCHS’ CTE programs, ensuring a smooth transition into more specialized coursework.

“In addition to CTE offerings, students have access to honors and advanced courses, providing an opportunity to experience the rigor and relevance of high school–level academics. These classes challenge students to develop higher thinking skills while building confidence in their ability to succeed in advanced coursework,” said Stewart.

To further support student growth, both Fort Riley Middle and Junction City Middle School have implemented an advisory model like the structure used at the high school. Each student is paired with a dedicated homeroom teacher who offers ongoing guidance, mentorship and academic support. Through this advisory program, students begin developing their Individual Plan of Study, which is a personalized roadmap that evolves as they move through secondary grades and explore future goals.“By providing early exposure to both CTE and advanced coursework, we’re helping students connect what they learn today to the possibilities of tomorrow,” said Stewart.&nbsp;

USD 475 Middle School Students Gain Early Access to CTE Courses

United Way announced that Day of Caring has been postponed due to weather.

&nbsp; United Way of Junction City-Geary County has announced that they will&nbsp; participate in the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce's 30th Annual Christmas Parade. This year, they will have helpers from Valor Automotive to share some Christmas cheer including hot cocoa and marshmellows.

There will also be candy canes and for young children Dolly Parton Imagination Library books as you gather near Santa's workshop in Heritage Park.&nbsp; Donations will be appreciated to support the United Way local initiatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also, the&nbsp; United Way Day of Caring is this Saturday. Twelve home projects are on the list and volunteers are still needed. This event runs from 7:30 a.m. until noon. Volunteers can meet at the United Way Office at 139 East 8th Street at 7:30.

United Way announces their Day of Caring has been Postponed

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade is scheduled Friday, Nov. 28.

Previewing the event the Chamber announcd that this year, the elves have slipped out of Santa’s workshop and are popping up everywhere! Some are lending a hand in surprising ways, while others are up to playful mischief. From toy-making and decorating to helping in the community or stirring up holiday fun, the parade theme invites floats to imagine elves bringing the Christmas spirit to life in all kinds of creative and unexpected places.

Elves on the Loose: Santa's Secret Helpers

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/nicky-forster">NICKY FORSTER</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. flu season is starting slowly, and it’s unclear if it will be as bad as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-flu-season-cdc-a640e8fe0bffa4a8f6bdbd7ea8e5608a">last winter’s</a>, but some health experts are worried as U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Friday shows a new version of the virus has emerged.

An early analysis suggests current vaccines may still be somewhat effective against the new version of the flu, which has been the main driver of recent infections, CDC data shows.

Some scientists and medical professionals are more worried about disappointing vaccination rates, a main reason why flu hospitalizations and deaths were unusually bad during last year’s flu season — one of the deadliest this century.

“I think we’re going to see a really severe season,” said Asefeh Faraz Covelli of the George Washington University School of Nursing.

Last winter, the overall flu hospitalization rate was the highest seen since the H1N1 flu pandemic 15 years ago. Flu was the underlying or a contributing cause of more than 18,000 deaths, and one seven-day stretch early this year saw more than 1,800 deaths — the highest one-week spike in at least a decade.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-deaths-children-cdc-e79b1e4169d629ad4bc1095d95d82110">Child flu deaths</a>&nbsp;also were far higher than usual.

CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/usmap.html" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;posted Friday showed low flu activity so far, with only one state — Louisiana — reporting moderate activity. Most of the reported infections have been in children, said the CDC’s Alicia Budd, who tracks flu infections for the Atlanta-based agency.

Most also have been a new version of the type A H3N2 virus that historically has caused the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. That type is responsible for most flu infections so far this year, and more than half have been a new subclade K variant that is different from the strain this year’s flu shots were built to fight.

A preliminary&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691349457a0ccd6a3aad7fa9/_Flu_interimVE_2526_.pdf" target="_blank">analysis</a>&nbsp;from the United Kingdom suggests the shots do provide at least partial protection, although it will take some time for scientists to know exactly how effective they are. Experts say any protection that softens the blow of a flu infection is important to get.

Flu seasons tend to get bad between December and February, and illnesses likely will accelerate as people travel and gather for Thanksgiving, Covelli said.

“I think it’s going to start picking up here,” she said. “This is the ideal time to get vaccinated.”

Researchers this year have been facing an unusual struggle to get a handle on how respiratory infection and vaccination rates have been trending.

They usually rely on the CDC for data, but a recent government shutdown halted data collection and reporting just as respiratory infections started ramping up.

Meanwhile, government efforts to promote disease-preventing shots have been more limited since U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was put in charge of the CDC and other federal health agencies. Kennedy, a leading anti-vaccine activist, has fostered uncertainty about the safety of vaccines, including flu shots that contained a preservative called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-flu-vaccine-thimerosal-c5696bbc19f345323153d5336cb5e798">thimerosal</a>.

Indeed, vaccination rates against COVID-19 clearly continue to plummet, with about 6% of children and 14% of adults up to date on their shots, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/vaccination-trends.html" target="_blank">other CDC data</a>&nbsp;posted Friday. Each figure is about 3 percentage points less than it was at this point last fall.

For the flu, vaccination trends are a little muddier. Some sources have suggested flu vaccinations are down. Over two million fewer flu shots were given at U.S. pharmacies through the end of October compared to last year, according to data from IQVIA, a health information and research company.

But the latest CDC data indicates that for children, the vaccination rate this year is about the same as it was at this point last fall, at 34%. And the vaccination rate for adults is up a few percentage points to about 37%, according to the CDC data, which relies on survey information.

It is early in the season and too early to know if the increase will be sustained or what is causing it, CDC officials said.

As of the beginning of November, the U.S. flu hospitalization rate is about the same as it was at the same point in 2024. Hospitalization rates for COVID-19 and another respiratory virus, RSV, are lower so far this season, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/index.html" target="_blank">another set</a>&nbsp;of CDC data.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Health experts worry about a new strain of flu and vaccination rates

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday dismissed the criminal cases against former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/james-comey-charged-lying-congress-a2c72e1a5bb73d588f3af7fdb56caa82">FBI Director James Comey</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/letitia-james-justice-department-trump-pam-bondi-3da6cd432be74bab32b2ecbfb2e2b451">New York Attorney General Letitia James</a>, concluding that the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging was illegally appointed by the Justice Department.

The rulings from U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie halt at least for now a pair of prosecutions that had hastened concerns that the Justice Department was being weaponized to pursue the president’s political adversaries and amount to a stunning rebuke of the Trump administration's legal maneuvering to install a loyal, and inexperienced, prosecutor willing to file the cases.

The orders make Lindsey Halligan the latest Trump administration prosecutor to be disqualified because of the manner in which they were appointed. Both defendants had asked for the cases to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the Justice Department would not be able to bring them again. But the judge instead dismissed them without prejudice, though it was not immediately clear if or how the Justice Department might attempt to revive the prosecutions.

The challenge to Halligan's appointment was one piece of a multiprong assault on the indictments by both Comey and James, who had each sought to have their cases dismissed on grounds that the prosecutions were vindictive. Comey's lawyers had also seized on irregularities in the grand jury process in seeking to get the prosecution thrown out. Each of those requests remains pending.

Monday's order deals exclusively with the mechanism the Trump administration employed to appoint Halligan, a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience, to lead one of the Justice Department’s most elite and important offices.

Halligan was named to the job in September after a different interim U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, was effectively forced out amid pressure from the Trump administration to file charges against Comey and James.

After Siebert resigned, Comey’s lawyers argued, the judges of the federal court district should have had exclusive say over who got to fill the vacancy. Instead, Trump nominated Halligan while publicly imploring Bondi in a social media post to take action against his political opponents, saying in a Truth Social post that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

Comey was indicted days later on charges of making a false statement and obstructing Congress, and James was charged soon after that in a mortgage fraud investigation.

In a statement, James said, “I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country.”

“I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day,” the New York attorney general, a Democrat, said.

Judges have separately disqualified interim U.S. attorneys in New Jersey, Los Angeles and Nevada, but have permitted cases brought under their watch to move forward. But lawyers for Comey and James had argued that Currie’s ruling needed to go even further because Halligan was the sole signer of the indictments and the driving force behind them.

Comey has for years been one of Trump’s chief antagonists. Appointed to the job in 2013 by President Barack Obama, Comey, at the time of Trump’s 2016 election, was overseeing an investigation into whether his presidential campaign had conspired with Russia to sway the outcome of the race. Furious over that investigation, Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and the two officials have verbally sparred in the years since.

James has also been a frequent target of Trump’s ire, especially since she won&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-letitia-james-new-york-engoron-38bc3a7f2ccb22555c026e9bf70fd5bb">a staggering judgment</a>&nbsp;against him and the Trump Organization in a lawsuit alleging he defrauded banks by overstating the value of his real estate holdings on financial statements. An appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-appeal-db39d93feff322eeeeedbc1ff75ccaf3">overturned the fine</a>, which had ballooned to more than $500 million with interest, but upheld a lower court’s finding that Trump had committed fraud.

Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in New York and Lindsay Whitehurst and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.

Cases dismissed against former FBI Director and NY Attorney General

WILSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 1a.m. Monday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Ram ProMaster van driven by Bradley&nbsp;Plec, 32,&nbsp; Graniteville, South Carolina was westbound on U.S. 400 nine and one half miles north west of Fredonia. The van veered left of center into the eastbound lane and struck a 2025 Volvo semi driven by Sergiu&nbsp; Ionas, 50, Morton Grove, Illinois,&nbsp;head-on near the eastbound shoulder.

Plec was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Ionas to the hospital in Fredonia. Plec was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver killed after van, semi head-on crash on Kansas highway

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged scam that cost a Kansas woman nearly $10,000.

On November, 22, a 72-year-old Salina woman reported receiving an email reportedly from PayPal indicating she had spent $399.99 in Bitcoin purchases on October 29, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

 There was a number attached to the email indicating if she did not make the purchase to call. The victim called and the person they spoke with asked for access to their computer which was granted. 

The suspect advised she had been hacked and he needed to fix the account. A short time later the victim received an email saying the $399.99 was being returned but they had accidentally sent $40,000 to her account. 

When the victim looked at her checking account she observed $40,000. The email asked her to return the money. The person the victim was communicating with asked for a “good Faith” payment of $20,000. The victim refused, then the suspect asked for $9,900. The suspect told her to download Whatsapp and the Bitcoin app for communication purposes.

 The victim also sent pictures of her driver’s license and provided her social security number. The suspect then had the victim drive to Snak Attack at 1619 W. Magnolia in Salina and deposit $9,900 in the Bitcoin machine. The suspect was on the phone with the victim the entire time, according to Captain Feldman.

It was determined the suspect had been able to access the victim’s bank account and move funds to make it look like $40,000 had been transferred into her account. The suspect was reported to have a foreign accent. Total loss was valued at $9,900.

The Salina Police Department remind citizens to not allow anyone to access your computer or provide personal information. If you receive suspicious emails please do not reply or call the numbers attached to the emails. If you have any concerns please call your local police department or contact your bank directly.

Police: Kan. woman lost nearly $10,000 in computer scam

CHELSEA, Mich. (AP) — Old Brick Farm, where Larry Doll raises chickens, turkeys and ducks, was fortunate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/labubu-stranger-things-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-floats-unveiled-cbd2dfc34ff349e4b40df3bcd67a2f1a">this Thanksgiving season</a>.

Doll’s small farm west of Detroit had no cases of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bird-flu">bird flu</a>, despite an ongoing outbreak that killed more than 2 million U.S. turkeys in the last three months alone. He also avoided another disease, avian metapneumovirus, which causes turkeys to lay fewer eggs.

“I try to keep the operation as clean as possible, and not bringing other animals in from other farms helps mitigate that risk as well,” said Doll, whose farm has been in his family for five generations.

But Doll still saw the impact as those diseases shrank the U.S. turkey flock to a 40-year low this year. The hatchery where he gets his turkey chicks had fewer available this year. He plans to order another 100 hatchlings soon, even though they won’t arrive until July.

“If you don’t get your order in early, you’re not going to get it,” he said.

The shrinking population is expected to cause wholesale turkey prices to rise 44% this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Despite the increase, many stores are offering discounted or even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alaska-turkeys-dropped-from-airplanes-9865b07e98826a77dd3570c679600f1a">free turkeys</a>&nbsp;to soften the potential blow to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/grocery-chains-vie-for-a-place-on-thanksgiving-tables-with-turkey-dinner-deals-and-store-brands/" target="_blank">Thanksgiving meal budgets</a>. But even if the bird is cheaper than last year, the ingredients to prepare the rest of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-safety-holidays-3584c4cf4d6a7c8bf9d5d6b55e3af66b">the holiday feast</a>&nbsp;may not be.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steel-aluminum-tariffs-trump-70479a1206f9d57a3b65747c17f46b52">Tariffs on imported steel</a>, for example, have increased prices for canned goods.

As of Nov. 17, a basket of 11 Thanksgiving staples — including a 10-pound frozen turkey, 10 Russet potatoes, a box of stuffing and cans of corn, green beans and cranberry sauce – cost $58.81, or 4.1% more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/thanksgiving-dinner-inflation-groceries-buying-power/">than last year</a>, according to Datasembly, a market research company that surveys weekly prices at 150,000 U.S. stores. That’s higher than the average price increase for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-coffee-beef-fruit-4fe084c2724ec6d92096efa263fdcf76">food eaten at home</a>, which rose 2.7% in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Datasembly showed a 2% decline in the retail price of a 10-pound turkey as of Nov. 17. Pricing out Thanksgiving meals isn’t an exact science, and the firm’s tally differed from other estimates.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/news-release/cost-of-thanksgiving-dinner-declines" target="_blank">American Farm Bureau Federation</a>, which uses volunteer shoppers in all 50 states to survey prices, reported that Thanksgiving dinner for 10 would cost $55.16 this year, or 5% less than last year. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wellsfargo.com/com/insights/agri-food-intelligence/thanksgiving-food-report/" target="_blank">Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute</a>, using NielsenIQ data from September, estimated that feeding 10 people on Thursday using store-brand products would cost $80 this year, which is 2% to 3% lower than last year’s estimate.

Grocery chains are also offering deals to attract shoppers. Discount grocer Aldi is advertising a $40 meal for 10 with 21 items. Kroger said shoppers could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vegetarian-vegan-thanksgiving-tips-19dc237fa13270d9c8fb87b4e9991d8e">feed 10 people</a>&nbsp;for under $50 with its menu of store-brand products.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump touted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-thanksgiving-meal-cost-discounts-0005c70022b7701e0ec0531220673942">Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal basket</a>, which he said was 25% cheaper than last year. But that was because Walmart included a different assortment and fewer products overall this year.

“We’re seeing some promotions being implemented in an effort to draw customers into the store,” David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, said.

That’s despite a sharp increase in wholesale turkey prices since August. In the second week of November, frozen 8-16 pound hens were averaging $1.77 per pound, up 81% from the same period last year, according to Mark Jordan, the executive director of Leap Market Analytics, which closely follows the poultry and livestock markets.

Avian viruses are the main culprit. But another reason for turkey’s higher wholesale prices has been an increase in consumer demand as other meats have gotten more expensive, Jordan said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/us-news/beef-prices-rising-us">Beef prices</a>&nbsp;were up 14% in September compared to last year, for example.

“For a big chunk of the population, they look at steak cuts and say, ‘I can’t or I don’t want to pay $30 a pound,’” Jordan said.

That’s the case for Paul Nadeau, a retired consultant from Austin, Texas, who plans to smoke a turkey this week. Nadeau said he usually smokes a brisket over Thanksgiving weekend, but the beef brisket he buys would now cost more than $100. Turkey prices are also up at his local H-E-B supermarket, he said, but not by as much.

“I don’t know of anything that’s down in price since last year except for eggs,” Nadeau said.

Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum are also raising prices. Farok Contractor, a distinguished professor of management and global business at the Rutgers Business School, said customers are paying 10 cents to 40 cents more per can when companies pass on the full cost of tariffs.

Tariffs may be partly to blame for the increased cost of jellied cranberry sauce, which was up 38% from last year in Datasembly’s survey. But weather was also a factor.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cranberries-bog-conservation-wetlands-massachusetts-wisconsin-harvest-ea0af5630d7234d78b361d72d228717f">U.S. cranberry production</a>&nbsp;is expected to be down 9% this year, hurt by drought conditions in Massachusetts, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In Illinois, where most of the country’s canning pumpkins are grown, dry weather actually helped pumpkins avoid diseases that are more prevalent in wet conditions, said Raghela Scavuzzo, an associate director of food systems development at the Illinois Farm Bureau and the executive director of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association. Datasembly found that a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix cost 5% less than last year.

Back at Old Brick Farm, which has been in his family since 1864, Doll walked among his turkeys the week before Thanksgiving, patting their heads as they waddled between their warm barn and an open pasture. In a few days, he planned to deliver them to an Amish butcher.

Doll sold all 92 turkeys he raised this year, with customers paying $6.50 per pound for what many tell him is the best turkey they’ve ever tasted. He enjoys a little profit, he said, and the good feeling of supplying a holiday meal.

“I just love it, to think that, you know, not only are we providing them food, but the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.

Stores keep prices down in a tough year for Thanksgiving turkey

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal weekend hit-and-run have made an arrest.

Just after 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, officers responded to a call about a pedestrian hit near Central and Hillside in Wichita, according to a media release from Wichita Police. First responders found a a man who had been struck by multiple vehicles. Wichita Fire Department personnel extricated the victim and took him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Initial investigation indicated the pedestrian was hit by three different vehicles. Two drivers stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The third vehicle fled but was later located by officers. The driver, identified in booking records as 27-year-old Chance M. Flores-Leach was initially outstanding but was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Felony Hit and Run Resulting in a Death.&nbsp;

Anyone with more information is urged to contact Accident Follow-Up detectives at 316-350-3686. Tips can also be anonymously submitted to Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Fatal crash: Pedestrian struck by 3 vehicles, 1 Kan. driver arrested

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an incident involving three individuals who entered private property without authorization, climbed a secured tower, and parachuted from the structure, according to a statement from the Shawnee County Sheriff.

"While no injuries were reported, this type of activity is extremely dangerous and illegal."

"Climbing restricted towers poses significant risks, including electrocution, falls from great heights, and structural failures."

"Unauthorized parachute jumps endanger not only the individuals involved but also nearby residents and first responders who must address the situation."

The sheriff's office reminded the public that trespassing on private or secured property is a criminal offense, and high-risk stunts like this can quickly turn deadly.

If you have any information on this incident or if you see suspicious activity, please notify law enforcement immediately.Thank you for helping us keep Shawnee County safe!

Sheriff: 3 parachute from secured Kan. tower on private property

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Cliff, the charismatic reggae pioneer and actor who preached joy, defiance and resilience in such classics as “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get it If You Really Want” and “Vietnam” and starred in the landmark movie “The Harder They Come,” has died at 81.

His family posted a message Monday on his social media sites that he died from a “seizure followed by pneumonia.” Additional information was not immediately available.

“”To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career,” the announcement reads in part. “He really appreciated each and every fan for their love.”

Cliff was a native Jamaican with a spirited tenor and a gift for catchphrases and topical lyrics who joined Kingston’s emerging music scene in his teens and helped lead a movement in the 1960s that included such future stars as Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert and Peter Tosh. By the early 1970s, he had accepted director Perry Henzell’s offer to star in a film about an aspiring reggae musician, Ivanhoe “Ivan” Martin, who turns to crime when his career stalls. Henzell named the movie “The Harder They Come” after suggesting the title as a possible song for Cliff.

“Ivanhoe was a real-life character for Jamaicans,” Cliff told Variety in 2022, upon the film’s 50th anniversary. “When I was a little boy, I used to hear about him as being a bad man. A real bad man. No one in Jamaica, at that time, had guns. But he had guns and shot a policeman, so he was someone to be feared. However, being a hero was the manner in which Perry wanted to make his name — an anti-hero in the way that Hollywood turns its bad guys into heroes.”

“The Harder They Come,” delayed for some two years because of sporadic funding, was the first major commercial release to come out of Jamaica. It sold few tickets in its initial run, despite praise from Roger Ebert and other critics. But it now stands as a cultural touchstone, with a soundtrack widely cited as among the greatest ever and as a turning point in reggae’s worldwide rise.

For a brief time, Cliff rivaled Marley as the genre’s most prominent artist. On an album that included Toots and the Maytals, the Slickers and Desmond Dekker, Cliff was the featured artist on four out of 11 songs, all well placed in the reggae canon.

“Sitting in Limbo” was a moody, but hopeful take on a life in restless motion. “You Can Get it If You Really Want” and the title song were calls for action and vows of final payments: “The harder they come, the harder they fall, one and all.” Cliff otherwise lets out a weary cry on “Many Rivers to Cross,” a gospel-style testament that he wrote after confronting racism in England in the 1960s.

“It was a very frustrating time. I came to England with very big hopes, and I saw my hopes fading,” he told Rolling Stone in 2012.

Cliff’s career peaked with “The Harder They Come,” but, after a break in the late 1970s, he worked steadily for decades, whether session work with the Rolling Stones or collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Sting and Annie Lennox among others. Meanwhile, his early music lived on. The Sandinistas in Nicaragua used “You Can Get it If You Really Want” as a campaign theme and Bruce Springsteen helped expand Cliff’s U.S. audience with his live cover of the reggae star’s “Trapped,” featured on the million-selling charity album from 1985, “We Are the World.” Others performing his songs included John Lennon, Cher and UB40.

Cliff was nominated for seven Grammys and won twice for best reggae album: in 1986 for “Cliff Hanger” and in 2012 for the well-named “Rebirth,” widely regarded as his best work in years. His other albums included the Grammy-nominated “The Power and the Glory,” “Humanitarian” and the 2022 release “Refugees.” He also performed on Steve Van Zandt’s protest anthem, “Sun City,” and acted in the Robin Williams comedy “Club Paradise,” for which he contributed a handful of songs to the soundtrack and sang with Elvis Costello on the rocker “Seven Day Weekend.”

In 2010, Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He was born James Chambers in suburban Saint James and, like Ivan Martin in “The Harder They Come,” moved to Kingston in his youth to become a musician. In the early 1960s, Jamaica was gaining its independence from Britain and the early sounds of reggae — first called ska and rocksteady — were catching on. Calling himself Jimmy Cliff, he had a handful of local hits, including “King of Kings” and “Miss Jamaica,” and, after overcoming the kinds of barriers that upended Martin, was called on to help represent his country at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City.

“(Reggae) is a pure music. It was born of the poorer class of people,” he told Spin in 2022. “It came from the need for recognition, identity and respect.”

His popularity grew over the second half of the 1960s, and he signed with Island Records, the world’s leading reggae label. Island founder Chris Blackwell tried in vain to market him to rock audiences, but Cliff still managed to reach new listeners. He had a hit with a cover of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World,” and reached the top 10 in the UK with the uplifting “Wonderful World, Beautiful People.” Cliff’s widely heard protest chant, “Vietnam,” was inspired in part by a friend who had served in the war and returned damaged beyond recognition.

His success as a recording artist and concert performer led Henzell to seek a meeting with him and flatter him into accepting the part: “You know, I think you’re a better actor than singer,” Cliff remembered him saying. Aware that “The Harder They Come” could be a breakthrough for Jamaican cinema, he openly wished for stardom, although Cliff remained surprised by how well known he became.

“Back in those days there were few of us African descendants who came through the cracks to get any kind of recognition,′ he told The Guardian in 2021. “It was easier in music than movies. But when you start to see your face and name on the side of the buses in London that was like: ‘Wow, what’s going on?’”

Jimmy Cliff, reggae legend, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer dead at 81

CARACAS (AP) — International airlines increasingly canceled flights to Venezuela on Sunday after t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-airline-pilots-warning-trump-military-1a612d86f5271c2f99ee9446680a2198">he U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots</a>&nbsp;to use caution when flying in the country’s airspace because of worsening security and heightened military activity.

Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Airlines Association in Venezuela, told The Associated Press that six carriers have indefinitely suspended flights: TAP, LATAM, Avianca, Iberia, Gol and Caribbean. Turkish Airlines suspended flights from Nov. 24 to 28.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote Sunday on X that “there must be regular flights to all Latin American countries and from Latin America and the world.”

“Countries are not blocked, because blocking countries means blocking people, and that is a crime against humanity,” Petro added.

On Friday, the FAA warned pilots that unspecified threats “could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes” as well planes taking off and landing in the country and even aircraft on the ground.

The warning came as the Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. military has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-maduro-supersonic-bombers-03b246ca6cf7ed9fa6d39e1f716b1754">conducted bomber flights</a>&nbsp;up to the coast of Venezuela, sometimes as part of a training exercise to simulate an attack, and sent the aircraft carrier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-venezuela-trump-ford-strikes-drugs-241ea9e039d717b9f80f793922cb7cc9">USS Gerald R. Ford into the region</a>.

The Ford aircraft carrier and several destroyers were just the latest addition to the largest U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">force assembled in the Caribbean Sea</a>&nbsp;near Venezuela in generations. The Trump administration does not see Maduro, who faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.</a>, as the legitimate leader of the South American country.

The Trump administration also has carried out a series of strikes on small boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that it accuses of ferrying drugs to the U.S., killing over 80 people in total since the campaign began in early September.

Airlines cancel flights after FAA warns of military activity in Venezuela

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at an apartment fire in Kansas&nbsp; City.

Just before 6p.m. Sunday, crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 10604 E. 98th Terrace, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

&nbsp;Crews reported smoke showing from a three-story apartment building. Interior operations were initiated using multiple handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. The fire was contained to a single apartment on the third floor; however multiple apartments received water and smoke damage.&nbsp;

There were no injuries reported&nbsp; Red Cross is assisting a number of those who were displaced.

Local

Region

Sports