James Denton, Career Specialist for JAG-K (Jobs for America’s Graduates – Kansas), recently joined Willie Woods (JAG-K Program Director), Jaden Exantus, and Jae'Lynn Dennard in delivering a presentation to the local Rotary Club. The group spoke about the mission and impact of JAG-K and how the program is helping prepare students for success beyond high school. Also outlined was how there is a full year follow up program for all seniors. Checking in on seniors to make sure that they have jobs, are in college, or just being active in their community.

Denton was joined by students Exantus and Dennard, as they outlined the program’s focus on leadership development, civic and social awareness, service learning, and career preparation. The students discussed several projects they have completed, sharing how JAG-K allows them to take ownership of their learning through a student-led classroom model.

They emphasized that students in the program are encouraged to develop, plan, and lead their own service-learning projects and community presentations—skills that build confidence, responsibility, and real-world experience.

“Our class is designed so we, as students, take the lead,” - Jae'Lynn Dennard.

“We come up with the ideas, we plan the events, and we do the work. It’s preparing us for what’s ahead.” - Jaden Exantus.

Willie Woods, a JAG-K Program Director, outlined the JAG-K transitions program and how they serve students who are in foster programs and how they can team up to help them still be successful by presenting the students with a JAG-K specialist when they move from home to home. He also briefed on the Mike Rowe Credentials and how JAG-K is piloting that program for the 2025-2026 school year.

Rotary Club members expressed appreciation for the engaging and informative presentation, commending the students for their professionalism and passion.

JAG-K Program presents to Junction City Rotary Club 

It’s almost time for The House of Ruth Inc. and its community partners’ 5th Annual 2025 New Winter Coat Drive for Kids! This year's New Winter Coat Drive runs October 4th-November 14th.&nbsp;

We invite everyone to join us in helping families keep their children warm this winter right here in our local schools.

We’re proud to share that since our first Winter Coat Drive in October 2021, together, we’ve donated 850 brand-new coats, hats, and gloves to students in USD 475 schools. Thank you to everyone in the Junction City community for your generous support over the past four years!

A special thank you goes out to our 2025 community partners who are joining us again this year. We appreciate your continued support in making this event a success.

Lastly, thank you in advance to the JC Post and the Junction City community for supporting The House of Ruth Inc. and our community partners in this 5th Annual New Winter Coat Drive for Kids. Your support means everything!

House of Ruth Inc.'s 5th Annual New Coat Drive is nearing 

MANHATTAN, KAN. --Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegtions.

Just after 2p.m. Wednesday, police arrested 20-year-old Kyle Tarpey of Ogden in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Tarpey is being held on a $100,000 bond on 27 counts of violating the offender registration act, five counts of perjury and one count of aggravated violation of the offender registration act.

Riley Co. man accused of multiple offender registration violations

&nbsp; Saturday, October 25th will be National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Junction City Police Department will be participating. Bring unused or expired prescriptions to Dillon’s Food Store, 618 W 6th Street from 10 am to 2 pm, October 25th. They will not be accepting any sharps or needles&nbsp;&nbsp;

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

MANHATTAN — Nearly 50 years after Hal Holbrook first brought Mark Twain to life on the McCain Auditorium stage, Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas brings "Mark Twain Tonight!" back to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series</a>.

See the show on Thursday, Oct. 2.Beloved by generations for his portrayal of John-Boy Walton in "The Waltons," Thomas has also graced stages and screens as Mr. Webb in the Broadway musical "Our Town," Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird," and Nathan Davis on Netflix's "Ozark."

As the first and only actor to perform "Mark Twain Tonight!" since Holbrook, Thomas is earning critical acclaim for his portrayal of the legendary one-man show. The New York Times praised his masterful embodiment of "the nation's one true comic genius," while Time Magazine highlighted Twain's "uproariously funny" and "pungently wise" humor brought to life through Thomas's performance. Audiences will experience a front-row glimpse into the life of Mark Twain as Richard Thomas blends comedy and social commentary into an evening of laughter, insight and theatrical brilliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Mark Twain show returns to McCain Performance Series

Cox Communications announced that YurView, its regional sports and lifestyle network, has selected the Junction City - Wichita Northwest Football game as its Cox Yurview&nbsp;Game of the Week. The game is Friday, September 19th, at Blue Jay Stadium in Junction City. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp;

“Our focus remains on telling local stories that help people connect to the things they love,” said Rachel Aja, market vice president for Cox Communications in Kansas. “High school football is more than just a game; it's a community event that brings people together, and we're proud to be a part of that tradition.”

Viewers can access the game through Cox Contour TV channel 22 or by downloading the YurView App, available on Google Play, Roku, and Fire TV. Additionally, replays of regular season and select playoff games will be available for streaming at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://watch.yurview.com/">watch.yurview.com</a>.

Junction City Blue Jay Football game to be televised by Cox TV this Friday

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.

Geary County Booking Photos Sept. 18

For the last twenty years the Kansas Music Hall of Fame has recognized and honored the best in music from Kansas and Greater Kansas City with an annual Induction Ceremony and Concert. For 2025, this will be a two-day weekend event taking place over November 21st and 22nd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. 

Friday the 21st will be a Red Dog Inn Tribute Concert featuring THE FLIPPERS, THE RED DOGS, THE RISING SONS, and THE YOUNG RAIDERS, all of whom were previous Kansas Music Hall of Fame inductees. On Saturday, the Kansas Music Hall of Fame's 20th Anniversary Induction Ceremony and Concert will feature nine new inductees comprising the Class of 2025 including DELISA DAWN, BOKO MARU, and GARY CHARLESON who will each perform, plus a special Anniversary Encore performance by KELLEY HUNT &amp; THE 5.

Single tickets for each night are $40 and available through Ticketmaster, or for cash only at the Liberty Hall Box Office. For a limited time, a single ticket price of $50 for both nights is offered with the purchase of a Kansas Music Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary Weekend Pass. The offer will expire at midnight on November 13th so it's recommended to get your tickets soon.

Kansas Music Hall of Fame announces '20th Anniversary Weekend' event

The second&nbsp;Annual Hot Dogs and Hot Rods Vintage Car Show and Ice Cream Social will be held on the Geary County Historical Society grounds at 530 N Adams this Saturday, September 20th from 10am-2pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;The event combines the Historical Society's traditional Ice Cream Social with a Vintage Car Show for a full community event.&nbsp;

Musical performances by the Kansas Brigade Band, the JCHS Pep Band, and Brian Clark will take place throughout the event. A STEAM Saturday hands-on education table, sponsored by United Way Junction City/Geary County will be open for anyone interested in participating and concessions including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, popcorn, kettle corn, homemade pies by local 4-H organizations and ice cream will be available for sale.&nbsp;

The Vintage Car Show is open to all pre-1990s cars with a donation to the Historical Society. Car show spaces are first-come-first-serve and priority is given to those who pre-registered. Registration for the Car Show is still open at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.gearyhistory.org/hot-dogs-and-hot-rods">www.gearyhistory.org/hot-dogs-and-hot-rods</a>. A People's Choice Award will be given at the end of the event.

 Gates will open on the west side of the alley at 9am for cars to arrive and a coffee hour for car owners will be held from 9am-10am.&nbsp;The museum will be open for visitors throughout the event, and a raffle will be held with a chance to win tickets to the upcoming Murder on Mainstreet Mystery Event.&nbsp; All new and renewing Friends of the Historical Society at the event will be automatically entered for a chance to win.&nbsp;

All funds raised from Hot Dogs and Hot Rods benefits the Historical Society's annual operating fund. Special thanks to sponsors for the event: United Way Junction City/Geary County, Smithfield, Walmart and the Sterling Family.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Historical Society hosts annual event Saturday

With warmer weather and recent flooding creating ideal conditions, wildlife officials are reporting more rattlesnake activity than usual across Kansas.

Field staff say the uptick comes at a time when many hunting seasons are underway or about to begin, making it especially important for outdoor enthusiasts to stay alert.

Venomous snakes found in Kansas include several rattlesnake species and copperheads. However, officials emphasize that most snakes encountered in the state are nonvenomous and play a valuable role in maintaining balanced ecosystems. Snakebites in Kansas are rarely fatal, thanks to effective medical treatments available at hospitals.

Tips for Staying Safe Outdoors •&nbsp; Watch your step, especially in tall grass or brush. •&nbsp; Be cautious around logs, rocks, or other debris where snakes may be hiding. •&nbsp; Give snakes space if you encounter one—don’t attempt to catch or kill it.

If Bitten by a Venomous Snake •&nbsp; Stay calm to slow the spread of venom. •&nbsp; Call 911 or get to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible, but avoid driving yourself if symptoms progress. •&nbsp; Do not attempt to catch or kill the snake. Antivenoms used in the U.S. are effective for all pit viper bites, including rattlesnakes and copperheads.

Kansas wildlife officials encourage residents and visitors to continue enjoying the outdoors this season—just with added awareness and preparation.

Dept. of Wildlife and Parks warns on increased rattlesnake activity

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club has support for the Geary County Historical Society with a donation to their Hands-on-History programs.&nbsp; Heather Hagedorn, Executive Director/Curator shared information about the work she and her staff of Kim Neptune, Director of Programs and Education and John Sterling, Maintenance and craftsman, do to preserve and protect the history of Geary County.&nbsp; 

Hagadorn stated that there are 100,000 items from prehistoric fossils to current items.&nbsp; There are 10,000 photos from tin type to recent photos and newspapers and directories from their beginning.&nbsp; &nbsp;The most recent gallery display is the Black History Trail Gallery.&nbsp; "I have a passion for creating displays about history.&nbsp; History is also fun, interesting&nbsp;and remembered more when people get to physically touch and see things from the past", Heather said.&nbsp; 

This philosophy is evidenced&nbsp;in programs like 'History Alive!'&nbsp;which included tepis for visitors to go inside of, reenactors who shared information about&nbsp; fur trapping and trading and even a sheriff who "arrested" visitors and took them to jail. All of this and more took place at the historic site at the corner of K-18 and Spring Valley Road.&nbsp; One thousand visitors experienced this event and 350 of them were students.&nbsp; 

There will be another opportunity to experience 'History Alive!' next spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;Other activities put on by the Historical Society include an upcoming Ice Cream Social and Car show on September 20 titled Hot Dogs and Hot Rods.&nbsp; This will take place on the grounds outside of the Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets.&nbsp; There will be a Murder Mystery (Encore) in October; STEAM Saturdays; a sports history event; Acoustic Junction at the St. Joseph's Church site in eastern Geary County, and a cleanup day at the Highland Cemetery.&nbsp;

For more information about events, visitation or questions about Geary County History, please contact Heather Hagedorn at 785-238-1666.&nbsp; The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 until 4:00 PM.&nbsp; Admission is free.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Optimists Support The Historical Society

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Four service members were aboard a U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, the Army said in a release Thursday. The Army did not release their conditions.

The helicopter was on a routine training mission when it crashed at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, an Army official said in a statement. The soldiers were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Airborne, officials said. The cause of the crash was under investigation, the Army said.

“This remains an active, ongoing situation,” the release said.

The crash sparked a small wildfire that had grown to 1 acre (0.4 hectares) by Thursday morning, the Washington Department of Natural Resources said.

This is “currently a search mission” involving the “most professional and skilled addressing the situation,” Army spokesperson Ruth Castro told The Associated Press in an email. They were fully cooperating with law enforcement, she said. No details were released about the helicopter.

The base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tacoma under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.

The Thurston County sheriff’s office, based in Olympia, posted online late Wednesday that deputies were dispatched to reports of a possible helicopter crash in the Summit Lake area, west of Olympia.

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“We have been advised that the military lost contact with a helicopter in the area,” the department said. It said it was working with the base and that no further details were available.

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said on Facebook that deputies located the crash site, “but have been unable to continue rescue efforts as the scene is on fire.”

The King County Guardian 1 helicopter and special operation rescue units responded to the crash site, the sheriff said.

Staff with the state natural resources were working with multiple agencies, including the military and the local fire protection district, to battle the fire started by the crash, said Thomas Kyle-Milward, DNR wildfire communications manager.

4 service members were aboard Army helicopter that crashed in Washington state

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement in Kansas City, Missouri investigating another homicide have identified the victim as 36-year-old&nbsp; Ashton Hams.

Just t before 9:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to 10th and Prospect in Kansas City on a sound of gunshots call, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed to the east side of the intersection where they located Hams on the ground unresponsive. Officers ordered EMS to the scene who declared him deceased.

Numerous callers reported hearing the sound of gunshots near the intersection of 10th and Prospect and looking out and seeing the victim down on the ground.&nbsp; Preliminary investigation indicates that one or more suspects fired shots that struck the victim at the location where the victim was located by officers. This occurred outside an apartment complex so detectives are hopeful that someone heard or saw something.

Homicide detectives are making headway piecing together the sequence of events that led up to the shooting and identifying involved persons, according to Becchina.

KCPD: Body of shooting victim found outside apartment complex

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rolled to more records on Thursday as Nvidia and Intel led a rally for technology stocks after announcing a deal that includes a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvida-intel-chips-investment-73c307d2f6ceccd6854d6666775358f3">$5 billion investment.</a>

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.5% and is on track for a third straight winning week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 124 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.9%. All three set all-time highs.

Intel soared 22.8% for its best day since 1987 after Nvidia said it would buy $5 billion of the chipmaker’s stock. It’s part of a collaboration where the pair will develop products for data centers and personal computers. Nvidia climbed 3.5% and was by far the strongest force lifting the S&amp;P 500 because it’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-stock-price-ai-02816a386ae377de199dbf1158a50801">Wall Street’s most valuable company</a>.

Encouraging reports on the economy sent Treasury yields climbing in the bond market, meanwhile, including one that said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-2106a9631d17b6bd9c7a55edcf210837">fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;last week than expected.

That could indicate the pace of layoffs is slowing, and it was a relief after the prior week’s data showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-a69fc3afbbebe731c29824b855e3c83f">a disconcerting leap</a>&nbsp;to a four-year high. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">job market has slowed so much</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-trump-2d05401d7c9cb2393925f494aac71d89">the Federal Reserve on Wednesday</a>&nbsp;cut its main&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-federal-reserve-rate-cut-9351815c29cea1e27b531dec88d3e4da">interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time this year in order to give it some help.

The Fed also indicated more cuts may be on the way, though Chair Jerome Powell warned that the Fed is in a precarious position and may have to change course quickly. That’s because the economy is in an unusual situation where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">job market is slowing</a>&nbsp;while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">inflation is remaining stubbornly high</a>&nbsp;at the same time.

The Fed is in charge of fixing both, but it has only one tool to do so. And helping one by moving interest rates often hurts the other in the short term.

Expectations are high on Wall Street that the Fed will keep cutting interest rates, and an unexpected halt could send stocks tumbling. Critics say stock prices have already shot too high and become too expensive, in part because of heavy bets on continued cuts in rates.

On Wall Street, smaller stocks led the way. They can be some of the biggest beneficiaries of easier interest rates, and the Russell 2000 index of small stocks rallied 2.5% to join its bigger rivals in setting all-time highs. It topped its prior record, which was set in 2021.

Stocks in the cryptocurrency industry jumped to strong gains, including rises of 7% for Coinbase Global, 20.7% for Bullish and 7.2% for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/circle-ipo-stablecoin-usdc-tether-nyse-b39736690f28824bdd06cfd2ad98dcf3">Circle Internet Group.</a>&nbsp;Bitcoin climbed above $117,500 following the Fed’s cut to interest rates.

Novo Nordisk saw its stock that trades in the United States rise 6.3% after the Danish company said a newly published study showed its once-a-day pill version of Wegovy helped people lose significant weight. It also said that its Ozempic product reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke and death for patients versus another treatment for some people with type 2 diabetes.

On the losing end of Wall Street, the company behind Olive Garden and other restaurant chains sank 7.7% after it reported a profit for the latest quarter that was below analysts’ expectations. Darden Restaurants also raised its forecast for revenue growth this fiscal year, but not by much more than analysts expected.

Live Nation fell 2.8% after the Federal Trade Commission and a group of state attorneys general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ticketmaster-live-nation-ftc-tickets-lawsuit-16e87186902b029f2a4fda5334f12baf">sued its Ticketmaster business</a>, accusing it of forcing fans to pay more to see live events through a variety of illegal tactics.

The Walt Disney Co. slipped 1.1% after the entertainment giant announced that its ABC television division had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-kimmel-show-suspended-charlie-kirk-a2bfa904429c318fe52e7d3493c6883d">suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely</a>&nbsp;after comments that he made about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">Charlie Kirk’s killing</a>&nbsp;led a group of ABC-affiliated stations to say they would not air the show.

Earlier in the day, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments “truly sick” and said his agency has a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC and Disney accountable for spreading misinformation.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 31.61 points to 6,631.96. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 124.10 to 46,142.42, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 209.40 to 22,470.73.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose in Europe following a mixed performance in Asia.

London’s FTSE 100 added 0.2% after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bank-of-england-interest-rate-inflation-225d722f5ade89d1579afe2b675f2209">Bank of England held its main interest rate steady</a>.

South Korea’s Kospi rallied 1.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.4% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury jumped to 4.11% from 4.06% late Wednesday. It’s a notable move after it had briefly dropped below 4% on Wednesday, weighed down by expectations for continued cuts to interest rates by the Fed.

Nvidia and Intel lead Wall Street to more records

DETROIT (AP) —Toyota and Hyundai are recalling a combined 1.1 million vehicles due to problems with the instrument panel displays and seat belts, U.S. auto regulators said Thursday.

Toyota is recalling 591,377 automobiles because the instrument panel display can fail and not show the driver critical information including vehicle speed, brake system and tire pressure warning lights, which could lead to a crash and injury.

Models included in the Toyota recall are the 2023-2024 Venza, RAV 4 Prime, RAV 4, GR Corolla and Crown; 2024-2025 Lexus TX and LS and Toyota Tacoma and Grand Highlander; 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 plug-in hybrid and 4 Runner.

Dealers will update the instrument panel software for non-plug-in hybrid vehicles free of charge. For plug-in hybrids, dealers will replace the panel display or update the software, also free of charge.

Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus’ numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.

The Hyundai recall includes 568,580 Palisade SUVs in which the seat belt buckles may fail to latch and not properly restrain passengers in a crash, increasing the possibility of injury.

Until a fix is performed, passengers are being advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to ensure the seat belt is fully secured. Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 283. Owners can search for their vehicle identification number, or VIN, on NHTSA.gov.

Toyota and Hyundai recall vehicles for seat belt, panel display problems

AYLESBURY, England (AP) —Beyond his social media comment, President Trump on Thursday made his first public comments about the ABC television network's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's late night show. Trump argues that the show was pulled because of "bad ratings."

“And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” Trump said.

The president was asked if free speech is more under attack in Britain or the United States. He repeated his view that Kimmel isn’t talented. Kimmel has sharply criticized Trump and Trump’s administration in many of his routines.

“He had very bad ratings, and they should have fired him a long time ago,” Trump said. “So, you know, you could call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent.”

🎥President Trump on why Jimmy Kimmel's show was pulled 

OREM, Utah (AP) — Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">assassinating Charlie Kirk</a>, was afraid of being shot by police and eventually agreed to surrender only if it was done peacefully, a sheriff involved with taking him into custody said Wednesday.

Robinson appeared quiet and somber when he arrived with his parents to turn himself in last Thursday at the Washington County Sheriff’s office, a day after Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University, said Sheriff Nate Brooksby.

“He didn’t want a big SWAT team at his parent’s house or his apartment,” said the sheriff, who was only involved with the surrender and not the broader investigation. “He was truly fearful about being shot by law enforcement.”

On Tuesday, prosecutors charged the 22-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-suspect-d893cc16fb0937d507283c710c551ef0">Robinson</a>&nbsp;with capital murder and announced they will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">seek the death penalty</a>&nbsp;while revealing a series of incriminating messages and DNA evidence that they say connect Robinson to the killing of Kirk, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">prominent conservative activist</a>&nbsp;and confidant of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-russia-china-disinformation-putin-trump-bce0174644351c70811ae4a847ffa767">Donald Trump</a>.

Robinson also faced his first hearing in the case Tuesday where a judge said he would appoint an attorney to represent him. A message was left Wednesday with the county’s public defender office.

Robinson’s family has declined to comment to The Associated Press since his arrest.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-timeline-robinson-arrest-bab1ccce01dbacb449b79fd52c3de94f">Sept. 10 shooting</a>&nbsp;that stunned the nation and exposed deep political divides also left the Utah Valley campus reeling. On Wednesday, students returning for the first day of classes since then gathered silently and stared at the barricaded courtyard where Kirk was hit while speaking to students.

Care stations offering stuffed animals, candy and connections to counseling dotted the campus.

Matthew Caldwell, 24, said his classmates were quieter and seemed more genuine about being in class even with sadness still in air.

“The way that we treat each other in our words can ultimately lead to things like this,” he said. “And I think everybody sort of understands that a little bit better now.”

Since the shooting, the Republican president has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-radical-left-political-opposition-3875efd0674ed2a22a719dfb42ace6ab">threatened to crack down</a>&nbsp;on what he calls the “radical left” and classify some groups as domestic terrorists. Former Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obama-charlie-kirk-trump-political-violence-faa0b07e88e4236daaee78bca4f569e8">President Barack Obama</a>&nbsp;said this week that Trump has further divided the country rather than work to bring people together.

ABC&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-kimmel-show-suspended-charlie-kirk-a2bfa904429c318fe52e7d3493c6883d">suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show</a>&nbsp;indefinitely following comments he made about Kirk’s killing.

On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee called on the chief executives of Discord, Steam, Twitch and Reddit to testify on how they are regulating their platforms to prevent violence.

“Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence,” said GOP Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-congress-investigation-4fc0c0a64e3634e83e8df8b1c959281b">James Comer</a>, the committee chair, signaling a shift for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monarez-cdc-vaccines-kennedy-rfk-jr-194fd4336aaa74cb6e7c715d0605b47e">congressional Republicans</a>, who had previously scrutinized online platforms for policing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-workplace-speech-firing-29717a8612ccedebabc7cba29e7ef627">free speech</a>.

Robinson knew his capture was inevitable, sheriff says

The shooting at Utah Valley happened more than a three-hour drive from where Robinson grew up near St. George.

That's why the sheriff in Washington County said he was stunned when a retired detective and a friend of the Robinson family called to say he knew the shooter's identity and they were trying to convince him to come in voluntarily.

“I couldn’t fathom what actually came out of his mouth,” Brooksby said.

The sheriff said he was told that Robinson was possibly suicidal and in a remote area of the southwestern Utah county. An hour later, Robinson arrived at the sheriff’s office where he was greeted by plainclothes detectives.

“He knew it was inevitable that he would be caught," said the sheriff. "If at the end of the day we accomplish him surrendering peacefully on his own, I’m going to make some concessions to make that happen.”

Investigators say that after Robinson fired the single fatal shot, he texted his romantic partner and said to look under a keyboard for a note.

“I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” it said according to court documents.

After expressing shock, his partner who lived with Robinson, asked if he was the shooter. Robinson responded, “I am, I’m sorry.”

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said DNA on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk matched Robinson.

Investigators looking at whether Robinson had help

Law enforcement officials say they are looking at whether others knew about Robinson's plans or helped, but they have not said if his partner is among those being investigated, only expressing appreciation for the partner sharing information.

The partner apparently never went to law enforcement after receiving the texts. Robinson remained on the run for more than a day until his parents recognized him in a photo released by authorities.

Also getting a closer look is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-campus-security-utah-colleges-universities-0a68ac679546f88076b53323421591f5">security the day of the attack</a>. Utah Valley is conducting a review, university President Astrid S. Tuminez said Wednesday.

Was Charlie Kirk targeted over anti-transgender views?

Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but Gray said that Robinson wrote in a text about Kirk to his partner: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was credited with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">energizing the Republican youth movement</a>&nbsp;and helping Trump win back the White House in 2024. His political organization, Arizona-based Turning Point USA, brought young, evangelical Christians into politics through social media, his podcast and campus events.

While court documents said Robinson wrote in one text that he planned the attack for more than a week, authorities have not said what they believe that entailed.

Gray declined to answer whether Robinson targeted Kirk for his anti-transgender views. Kirk was shot while taking a question that touched on mass shootings and transgender people.

Robinson was involved in a romantic relationship with his roommate, who investigators say is transgender.

Parents said their son became more political

Robinson’s mother told investigators that their son had turned hard left politically in the last year and became more supportive of gay and transgender rights, Gray said.

She recognized him when authorities released a picture of the suspect and his parents confronted him, at which time Robinson said he wanted to kill himself, Gray said.

Robinson detailed movements after the shooting

In a text exchange with his partner released by authorities, Robinson wrote about planning to get his rifle from his “drop point,” but that the area was “locked down.”

The texts, which Robinson later told his partner to delete, did not include timestamps, leaving it unclear how long after the shooting Robinson sent the messages.

“To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you,” Robinson wrote.

New details on suspect accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk 

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a scam that cost a woman thousands of dollars.

On Wednesday, a 60-year old woman reported she was a victim of fraud in connection with a scam on Facebook Dating, according to Salina. Police.

In November 2023, the victim met a man on Facebook Dating from Kansas City, before the fraudulent occurrences started.

Reportedly, the man told the victim he was on his way to 'Malaysia for a work trip.' He allegedly advised her that he needed money to pay for 'taxes and other issues.' The victim then sent him $10,000 to cover the costs 'he needed.'

She later sent an additional $5,000 for other issues and after more requests for money, the victim eventually cut off contact with him. However, the man sent money to her, where she then redistributed the funds back to him. During that time, she received over $66,000 where she redistributed the full amount back through various payment apps.

After this, the victim contacted Salina Police about the situation. According to Salina Police, the victim currently out a total of $14,694.

Police: Kan. woman lost $14,000 in Facebook Dating scam

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A Yellowstone National Park trail remained closed Wednesday after a possible grizzly bear attacked a hiker, leaving him with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The 29-year-old man suffered injuries to his chest and arm in Tuesday’s attack on the Turbid Lake Trail northeast of Yellowstone Lake.

The man encountered the bear 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) into the backcountry and sprayed bear repellent as it began to attack, park officials said in a statement.

National Park Service medics walked out with the hiker. He was then taken to a park clinic and flown to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released.

Park officials said Wednesday they had no more information, including the man’s name and where he was from, but later found grizzly bear tracks and an animal carcass in the area of the attack.

It was the park’s first bear attack since a grizzly injured a hiker in the Mammoth Hot Springs area in 2021. That hiker was able to hike out on his own.

The bear in the latest attack will not be relocated or killed because it attacked during a surprise encounter and did not exhibit unnatural behavior, according to park officials.

DNA analysis could determine the species. The man believed it was a black bear but its location, size and behavior suggested it was a grizzly, according to the statement.

Grizzlies and black bears can be difficult to tell apart at times. But grizzlies grow much larger — as much as twice as big — and black bears usually have darker coloring.

Grizzlies are federally protected as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-protections-rocky-mountains-86eeeb24a408d008313d115a9ce75a3b">threatened species</a>&nbsp;in the lower 48 U.S. states, where their numbers have rebounded from about 700 in the 1970s to around 2,000 today.

The National Park Service reminds hikers to be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/backcountrysafety.htm">bear aware</a>&nbsp;to help avoid surprise bear encounters

Hiker hospitalized after bear attack at Yellowstone National Park

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

TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court swore in a new justice Wednesday, marking Gov. Laura Kelly’s fourth appointee to the bench.

After an informal ceremony Wednesday morning at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, Larkin Walsh succeeded Evelyn Wilson, another Kelly appointee who resigned from the court in July.&nbsp;

“The informal swearing-in allows Walsh to begin her official duties ahead of a formal swearing-in ceremony,” said court spokesperson Lisa Taylor in a press release.

The formal ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 21.

Walsh was a private practice attorney from Leawood before her appointment to the state Supreme Court. She specialized in appellate, civil rights, consumer protection, and labor and employment law, and she has argued and briefed cases on multiple levels, from Kansas appellate courts to the U.S. Supreme Court. She is one of three Kelly appointees on the bench. Wilson officially resigned on July 4, citing ALS as her reason. She served for roughly five years

Walsh’s first oral arguments as a state Supreme Court justice are scheduled for late October, according to the court’s docket.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/07/gov-laura-kelly-selects-leawood-attorney-to-fill-vacancy-on-kansas-supreme-court/">Kelly, a Democrat, appointed Walsh</a>&nbsp;in August through a merit-based review process that involves a panel of attorneys and gubernatorial appointees, which selects three nominees for the governor to choose from. Walsh will be on voters’ ballots after a year of service for a retention vote, as is constitutionally required. Republican legislators are attempting to change the judicial selection process by way of an August 2026 ballot measure proposing popular vote elections for state Supreme Court justices.

New Kansas Supreme Court justice takes the bench

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a priest from a Catholic church in Leawood, according to the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas.

On Wednesday, Father Richard Storey advised the Archdiocese of his decision to resign as the pastor of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, according to a statement on the diocese website.

The Prairie Village Police Department has informed the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas of a criminal investigation involving Father Storey concerning another adult. The Archdiocese is fully cooperating with authorities so they can investigate the serious allegations being made against Father Storey.

In addition, Archbishop McKnight has initiated a preliminary canonical investigation.

Due to Father Storey’s decision to resign, and in compliance with archdiocesan policy, he has been temporarily suspended from the public exercise of priestly ministry. He is not allowed to function publicly as a priest during this time, which includes celebrating Mass and performing pastoral duties. He is presumed innocent until the investigations are concluded.

As is normative for such a process, the diocese will not provide any further information on the matter during the investigation.

Father John Riley, vicar general of the archdiocese, has been appointed as temporary administrator of the parish.

We are devastated by this situation. While we cooperate with law enforcement and engage in our own efforts to understand the circumstances and to determine next steps for the community, we also ask for prayers for all affected.

If you have any information you believe the police should know, please contact the Prairie Village Police Department at 913-642-6868.

Our archdiocese takes all allegations of abuse and misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect, and compassion. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when it may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://archkck.org/protection-and-care/reportabuse/">www.archkck.org/reportabuse</a>.

To learn more about our archdiocesan safe environment policies and procedures, click&nbsp;<a href="https://archkck.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Creating-Safe-Enviroment-Explainer.pdf">here</a>.&nbsp;

Kansas priest resigns amid police investigation

The Lady Jay tennis team traveled to Topeka for the Topeka High Varsity Tennis Invite on Wednesday.  The Lady Jays put together several strong performances to finish in 4th place as a team.  Ten teams were represented in the tournament. 

Two events went 4-1 on the day.  Skylor O’Sullivan earned 2nd place in #2 singles.  The doubles team of Hannah Micheel and Maddi Sedderlin finished in 3rd place in the top flight of doubles. 

Zoey Micheel went 3-2 at the #1 singles spot earning 5th place, while Hannah Huddleston and Kara Houck teamed up to go 2-3 on the day finishing in 6th place at #2 doubles. 

The Lady Jays have a quick turnaround as they travel to Olathe for the Olathe Northwest Quadrangular on Thursday.  The matches will be held at the College Boulevard Activity Center and will start at 3 pm.

Lady Jays Tennis Finishes 4th at Topeka High Invite

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adam Frazier hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals went on to beat Seattle 7-5 on Wednesday night and snap the Mariners' 10-game winning streak.

Eugenio Suárez snapped an 0-for-32 skid with four hits, two RBIs and two runs for Seattle, which, with Houston's win, dropped a half-game back of the Astros in the AL West.

Lucas Erceg (8-4) earned the win despite giving up the lead on J.P. Crawford's homer in eighth. Carlos Estévez allowed a ninth-inning run, but picked up his MLB-best 40th save.

Seattle's Matt Brash (1-3) gave up four runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Cole Ragans, making his first start for Kansas City since June 5, allowed two runs on one hit through 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two. He had been on the IL with a strained left rotator cuff. He threw his first six pitches for strikes and struck out the side on 10 pitches in the first inning.

Seattle's Bryce Miller allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings.

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