Ronna Larson, Al Gordon and Ricardo Gutierrez participated in their final Juncion City Commission meeting Tuesday night. Three new&nbsp; commissioners will be seated in January.

Larson has served on the governing body for six years. "It's been a great six years. I learned so much."

Al Gordon said that he learned quite a bit.

Gutierrez thanked the staff for their knowledge and open door policy.

Terry Butler, Sam Yoskowitz and Kelly Niemczyk will join the commission in January.

Three city commissioners approach the end of their term

Something global, exciting, and selfie-worthy is headed down Kansas I-70. The official FIFA World Cup Kansas City Countdown Clock will be on display outside the Abilene Visitors Center, 201 NW 2nd, at the historic Union Pacific Depot from December 22 through December 27, 2025.

Standing nearly 10 feet tall and weighing more than 450 pounds, the illuminated clock is traveling across Kansas as part of a statewide tour celebrating Kansas City’s role as a host location for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The clock counts down in real time to opening day and has already made appearances in Dodge City, &nbsp;Wichita, Colby and Hays as excitement builds across the state.“

This is an incredible opportunity for our community,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Director of the Abilene Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau. “The World Cup is one of the most-watched global events, and having the countdown clock in Abilene invites residents, visitors, and travelers along I-70 to join in the excitement.”

Kansas City will host six World Cup matches in June and July 2026, joining select cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico as part of the largest FIFA World Cup in history. With 48 teams and 104 matches, this tournament is expected to ignite record-setting tourism, international visibility, and celebration across North America.

The clock will be outside the Abilene Visitor Center and fully lit, making it ideal for daytime and nighttime photos. Visitors are invited to stop by anytime during the six-day display and share photos using the hashtags:#KCCountdown

“We’re excited to welcome this special attraction and encourage everyone to stop by, take a photo, and be part of World Cup history,” Roller Weeks added.

FIFA World Cup Countdown Clock on Display&nbsp;

Abilene to Host Official FIFA World Cup Countdown Clock December 22–27

The formal announcement&nbsp; on development of a new Casey's at 18th and and Washington occurred Tuesday night at the Junction City Commission meeting. Economic Development Director Mickey Fornaro-Dean made the announcement.

They have worked with the company for 24 months. The company looked at a minimum of 13 potential sites in Junction City before choosing the 18th and Washington site.

--Michelin is very pleased with their facility in Junction City.

--Golden Shovel, the Chamber's website developer, has started doing a comprehensive website refresh.

--The Chamber was represented at the Association of the United States Army meeting in Washington D.C.

--Junction City was a finalist for an Amazon warehouse that is apparently going to Manhattan.

City Commission hears about Chamber of Commerce topics

Flint Hills aTa Bus' NEW K-18 Connect route will begin January 5.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce said that this redesigned regional service enhances mobility between Manhattan, Ogden, and Junction City, bringing “three communities, one route for supporting greater access to jobs, business, education, healthcare, and community resources across the Flint Hills.

There will be $1 fares (FREE all January!) Monday through Friday from 6:00AM-6:30PM

The route starts and ends at the Walmarts in Manhattan and Junction City.

Visit <a href="https://www.fhata.org/regional-services?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExV1ZjVThHRjVCUnlGY3luZHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4phx_WKmKnHIL97bhQLfyy2NlgFI4Y_e9ENIeNOuR60Wzl2QNP7OcgF1N65A_aem_LGCQabkJGwxPLt6Fh6xRWw" target="_blank">https://www.fhata.org/regional-services</a> for more information.

New route begins in January

Main Street | Downtown JC Happenings | Dec 15 - Dec 21, 2025

● <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://www.gemstudiosjc.com/#xpUBXQ">GEM Studios Art Classes and Workshops:</a>

- Kids Oh Christmas Tree: Sat, Dec 20 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

- Brushes and Booze Winter Busted Canvas: Sat, Dec 20 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

- Cookies and Craft Ornaments: Sun, Dec 21 from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

- Kids Sitting Deer: Sat, Dec 27 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

- Brushes and Booze Winter Forest: Sat, Dec 27 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

- Brushes and Booze New Years All Nighter Just Breathe: Wed, Dec 31 from 6:00 PM - 11:45 PM

- Kids Winter Fox: Sat, Jan 3, 2026 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

<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.

Highwind events: Taco Tuesday | Trivia Night, Wednesday @ 6:30PM | New Beer Release, Thursday | Highwind Holiday Bash, Saturday @ 5PM | 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>

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

Support local. Stay connected. Love where you live.

Downtown JC Happenings | Dec 15 - Dec 21, 2025

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a Fire Weather Watch for potential extreme fire danger, which is in effect from Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;

The affected area covers Clay, Riley, Ottawa, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Wabaunseee and Lyon counties.

&nbsp;Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 to 50 mph are in the forecast. Relative humidity is forecast as low as 20 percent. 

Any fire that develops will have the potential to catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning will not be recommended

Fire Weather Watch will be in effect for Thursday

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

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Mark Pope, Violate offender registration act (2nd conviction), arrested 12/11

Luis Ramos-Oquendo, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 12/11

Jassim Al-Tubalil, Unlawful damage to property; Domestic battery, arrested 12/12

Darcy Barricklow, Interference with LEO, Obstruct/resist/oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution; Domestic battery, Knowing rude physical contact with family member or dating relationship, arrested 12/12

Natalya Bronaugh, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 12/13

Morlu Fobay, Failure to appear, arrested 12/14

Joseph Tinin, Domestic battery; Minor in possession/consumption of alcoholic beverage, arrested 12/14

Trey Mays, Possession of firearm while under influence of alcohol or drugs; Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, arrested 12/14

Kurry Hull, Failure to appear, arrested 12/15

Joshua Phipps, Unlawful restraint, arrested 12/16

Geary County Booking Photos Dec. 12-16

Junction City Blue Jay head football coach Randall Zimmerman will serve as an assistant coach for the West team in the 53rd Kansas Shrine Bowl on Saturday, June 27th in Emporia.

Zimmerman will be making his Kansas Shrine Bowl record 9th appearance on the sidelines. Zimmerman has been an assistant coach five times previously (1988, 1995, 2009, 2015, 2021) and the West Head Coach on three previous occasions (1996, 2010, 2016).&nbsp;2015, 2021-Junction City); West Head Coach (1996, 2010, 2016-Junction City) “I am very honored to be a part of this game this year.&nbsp; I have great respect for Shriners and their families for what they do for the children of the hospital.&nbsp; The Shrine Bowl experience is very humbling, bringing an incredible appreciation for the talents and gifts we have been given.”

Zimmerman currently ranks in the top 10 overall amongst active head coaches in the entire state in coaching wins with 238 career victories. Zimmerman, who wrapped-up his 32nd season as head coach of the Blue Jays this fall, led the JCHS to the Centennial League title in 2025 and a 7-3 overall record.

&nbsp; The Kansas Shrine Bowl announced the coaching staffs for the game. The West team is led by&nbsp;Daniel Myears&nbsp;(Mulvane) and his staff will include in addition to Zimmerman,&nbsp;Erin Beck&nbsp;(Great Bend – 5A),&nbsp;Dawson Elliott&nbsp;(Augusta – 4A),&nbsp;Brent Hoelting&nbsp;(Pratt – 3A),&nbsp;Todd Rice&nbsp;(Garden Plain – 2A), and&nbsp;Brent Schneider&nbsp;(Sterling – 1A).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The East team will be led by&nbsp;Mike Berg&nbsp;(Wellsville) who was announced earlier this summer as the 2026 East Head Coach. The East coaching staff assistants will be&nbsp;Kurt Webster&nbsp;(Shawnee Mission Northwest – 6A),&nbsp;Rod Stallbaumer&nbsp;(Basehor-Linwood – 5A),&nbsp;Bradley Argabright&nbsp;(Labette County – 4A),&nbsp;Greg Slade&nbsp;(Santa Fe Trail – 3A),&nbsp;Andrew Gantenbein&nbsp;(Osage City – 2A), and&nbsp;Derick Hammes&nbsp;(Rossville – 1A).&nbsp;

The 53rd Kansas Shrine Bowl will be played at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University in Emporia at 7 p.m. June 27th. Proceeds from the game benefit Shriner's Children's.

Shriner's Children's, previously Shriners Hospitals for Children, is a&nbsp; healthcare system with hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers and outreach locations across the globe. Shriners Children's is dedicated to improving the lives of children every day by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay.

Randall Zimmerman will coach in the Shrine Bowl

Geary County Commissioners received two options for a new or improved Detention Center facility during their meeting on Monday. Option one would involve retention of the south or newest side of the existing jail and stretching north for the rest of the bkock. There would be 162 beds. The second option with 188 beds would run east to the juvenile dtetention center. Ninth Street would be closed at that location and both options would require finding additional parking.

Shawn Harding of HMN Architects said the commission wanted an option looking at the existing site. "So after evaluating the building and determining that the two older portions had structural issues that had problems that were just insurmountable we kept the south, newer addition as the anchor. " They then planned all new space to the north and tried&nbsp; to incorporate spaces requested by the Sheriff's Department that would be more staff efficient.&nbsp;

Option two would include the current parking lot between the County Office Building, the Junction City Police Department building and the existing jail. "What that does is displace some parking. We thought we could recoup that if we tear down the old jail." The administrative portion of the structure would separate the juvenile facility from adult housing, " said Harding. There would be an alley between the two buildings.&nbsp;

Harding explained that the second option does include closing a portion of Ninth Street and there would need to be a determination on a method of making a dropoff to satisfy the current police department facility and a receiving area for the new jail.

County officials are not close to making any final decisions right now. Commissioner Trish Giordano said this will be a large project. She had one suggestion.&nbsp; "Maybe having some public involvement would be appreciated because this is going to be a huge undertaking."

Giordano noted that during the remodel housing of inmates would have to be considered, and what would the County do with the employees for an 18-monyh period. Construction design would take an estimated five months and the construction 16 months. Harding estimated that the facility could be completed and up and running in the 2029 - 2030 time frame

Commission Chairman Keith Ascher commented,"This going to take some real thinking through."

No cost estimate is available right now but it could be expected to be in the millions. Bond or sales tax elections would be a strong possibility.

County hears options on new jail

By&nbsp;K-State News and Communications Services

Division of Communications and Marketing



MANHATTAN —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/band/about/staff/associatedirector.html">Alex Wimmer</a>, assistant professor and associate director of bands at Kansas State University, has been appointed as the director of bands effective June 7, 2026.&nbsp;As director of bands, Wimmer will provide visionary leadership and management for K-State’s comprehensive band program, including directing the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/band/ensembles/marchingband/">Pride of Wildcat Land</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;the Kansas State University Marching Band.&nbsp;“Dr. Wimmer’s leadership is defined by excellence, humility and a genuine investment in students’ growth as musicians and people,” said Bryan&nbsp;Pinkall, director of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/mtd/">School of Music, Theatre, and Dance</a>. “He understands the responsibility of stewarding our storied program while ensuring it continues to innovate and lead at the highest level.”&nbsp;

A native of Gretna, Nebraska, Wimmer has already devoted 13 years to the K-State band program as a graduate student, assistant director of bands and associate director of bands. He directs the Wind Symphony, Cat Band, Volleyball Band and&nbsp;assists&nbsp;with the Pride of Wildcat Land, along with Pub Crawl Bands. He instructs undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting, wind band arranging, and marching band techniques, and also serves as the faculty sponsor for Kappa&nbsp;Kappa&nbsp;Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. &nbsp;“I am incredibly humbled and grateful for the opportunity to continue the legacy that has meant so much to generations of K-Staters,” said Wimmer. “Dr.&nbsp;Frank&nbsp;Tracz’s mentorship over the past 13 years has helped me become the musician,&nbsp;teacher&nbsp;and human being I am today. The foundation he built over his 33-year career is why the K-State&nbsp;band program is&nbsp;still as&nbsp;strong and successful now."&nbsp;

Wimmer received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a Master of Music degree&nbsp;in education&nbsp;with an emphasis in&nbsp;wind conducting&nbsp;and a Doctorate in Philosophy in&nbsp;curriculum and instruction&nbsp;from Kansas State University. 

K-State’s band program is nationally recognized for excellence in both athletic and concert ensembles and has been led by Frank Tracz for the last 33 years. The acclaimed&nbsp;Pride of Wildcat Land&nbsp;Marching Band,&nbsp;comprising&nbsp;more than 425 members, received the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 2015. The Wind Ensemble, K-State’s premier concert band, has been invited to perform at the American Bandmasters Association&nbsp;Conference, two regional&nbsp;College Band Directors National Association&nbsp;conferences, and a National Association for Music Education&nbsp;Conference, as well as at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and on&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;national and international tours.&nbsp;

 Wimmer to lead K-State band program 

FORT RILEY, Kansas – It was a bittersweet moment when Lt. Col. Jon Ryder and Command Sgt. Maj. Damir Hodzic placed a canvas sleeve over the colors of the 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment during a ceremony held at King Field House Dec. 10.

As part of the Army Transformation Initiative, the Army is inactivating its Air Cavalry Squadrons, including the 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, in accordance with guidance from Headquarters, Department of the Army. Soldiers from 1-6 CAV will be transferred across Fort Riley to fill vacancies and increase operational readiness across the formation. Equipment is being transferred in the same fashion.

“Standing in front of you today is the oldest serving cavalry regiment in the United States Army,” said Col. Eric Megerdoomian, commander of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He lauded the 164-year history of the unit, the dedication of its soldiers, and the pride and esprit de corps they’ve carried throughout their past.

The guest speaker for the ceremony was retired Major Gen. Lonnie Hibbard, senior mentor for the Mission Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth. Among his many assignments, Hibbard served as the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade Commander and as a member of the 6th Cavalry Regiment.

Hibbard spoke on the many accolades the Fighting Sixth has received from Antietam and Gettysburg to Normandy and the Ardennes, the jungles of Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. “The only constant in the Army is change, everything is evolving and nothing is truly static,” he said, adding that adaptation is the name of the game.

He highlighted the metamorphosis of cavalry units, from horse mounted, to armored, to rotary wing, cavalry squadrons were present in every conflict the U.S. Army has fought in, “… providing rapid movement, reconnaissance, scouting, and shock attacks.”

As Ryder took to the podium to deliver his final remarks as commander of 1-6 CAV, he reflected on the solemn significance of casing the colors of the storied unit, while expressing confidence in the enduring legacy and future of the cavalry.

“The Fighting Sixth is a unit being deactivated during this time in our Army’s history, but you cannot case the cavalry mind set,” Ryder intoned. He spoke on the history and significance of the cavalry swag, the Stetson and Spurs, and what earning those tokens of achievement meant to the men and women who completed their spur rides. He signed off the net with confidence, knowing when America needs her cavalry units back, the Fighting Sixth will be ready.

Following the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Monté Rone, 1st Infantry Division Commander, highlighted the importance of recognizing excellence and dedication throughout the formation. “Today we thank every Soldier and Family who stood behind 1-6 Air Cavalry Squadron. Your service, resilience and support built a legacy that will endure.”

Rone added, “Although the squadron is deactivating, the lessons learned, the bonds formed, and the missions flown live on in the units and leaders past and present. The story of 1-6 ACS remains part of BRO history, and we honor each of you for writing it. The Fighting Sixth will always be CAV tough!”

Fort Riley - 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment cases colors at Marshall Army Airfield

Less than two months after pleading guilty in the deaths of 32-year-old Kalsey Payton and a 4-year-old girl, 37-year-old Wendell Payton was sentenced Monday afternoon to consecutive life terms in Reno County District Court.

27th Judicial District Judge Daniel Gilligan ordered two 50-year sentences for first-degree murder to run consecutively, resulting in a controlling sentence of 100 years without the possibility of parole. Payton will not be eligible for parole consideration until after serving 50 years. Additional sentences related to aggravated arson, child endangerment, and interference with law enforcement were ordered to run concurrently with the homicide sentences.

Payton pleaded guilty on Oct. 17 to two counts of intentional, premeditated first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated endangering of a child, two counts of interference with law enforcement officers, and domestic battery against Kalsey Payton. As part of the plea agreement, Payton waived his right to appeal the sentence.

The charges stem from a Feb. 1 fire at a residence in the 1000 block of East Third Avenue in Hutchinson. Kalsey Payton and the 4-year-old girl were found inside the home after firefighters responded to the reported blaze.

Kan. man sentenced for murder of wife and 4-year-old daughter

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department says it has upgraded its investigation into Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over a video where he and other members of Congress told members of the military they didn’t need to follow illegal orders.&nbsp;

“The Office of the Secretary of War, in conjunction with the Department of War’s Office of the General Counsel, is escalating the preliminary review of Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.), to an official Command Investigation,” a spokesperson for the department wrote in an email Monday night.&nbsp;

“Retired Captain Kelly is currently under investigation for serious allegations of misconduct,” the spokesperson continued. “Further official comments will be limited to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.”

Paul J. Fishman, an attorney at the Arnold &amp; Porter law firm who is representing Kelly, wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26379142-ltr-to-secretary-phelan-dec-15-2025/#document/p1" target="_blank">a Monday letter</a>&nbsp;to the secretary of the Navy that “there is no legitimate basis for any type of proceeding against Senator Kelly, and any such effort would be unconstitutional and an extraordinary abuse of power.”

“If the Executive Branch were to move forward in any forum—criminal, disciplinary, or administrative—we will take all appropriate legal action on Senator Kelly’s behalf to halt the Administration’s unprecedented and dangerous overreach,” Fishman wrote.&nbsp;

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had set Dec. 10 as the deadline for the secretary of the Navy to recommend what to do about Kelly’s appearance in the video, but that came and went without any public announcements.

Hegseth also remained silent on the matter after rebuking Kelly weeks ago for posting the video where he and five other Democrats warned against illegal orders.

Kelly said on Dec. 9, one day before the deadline, he hadn’t received any information from the Navy or other administration officials.&nbsp;

“Forget about an update. I haven’t heard anything from the guy,” Kelly told reporters. “That’s a good question for you guys to ask the Navy.”

The secretary of the Navy’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment from States Newsroom.&nbsp;

The Department of Defense posted in late November that officials were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pentagon-investigates-arizona-sen-mark-kelly-after-he-appears-video-blasted-trump" target="_blank">looking into</a>&nbsp;“serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly for appearing in the video.&nbsp;

It didn’t detail how Kelly might have violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice but stated that “a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”&nbsp;

Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/1993436056008507865/photo/1" target="_blank">referred</a>&nbsp;the issue to Navy Secretary John Phelan for any “review, consideration, and disposition” he deemed appropriate. Hegseth then asked for a briefing on the outcome of the review “by no later than December 10.”

Kelly said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/arizonas-kelly-vows-stay-outspoken-despite-threats-over-illegal-order-video" target="_blank">during a press conference</a>&nbsp;in early December the military’s investigation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democrats-threatened-trump-over-video-say-theyre-now-being-probed-fbi" target="_blank">a separate one</a>&nbsp;by the FBI were designed to intimidate the six lawmakers in the video from speaking out against President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

The lawmakers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenatorSlotkin/status/1990774492356902948" target="_blank">video</a>, who have backgrounds in the military or intelligence agencies, told members of those communities they “can” and “must refuse illegal orders.”

“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. We know this is hard and that it’s a difficult time to be a public servant,” they said. “But whether you’re serving in the CIA, in the Army, or Navy, or the Air Force, your vigilance is critical.”

The other Democrats in the video — Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, Pennsylvania Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander — are not subject to the military justice system.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-accuses-6-democratic-lawmakers-seditious-behavior-punishable-death" target="_blank">railed against the video</a>&nbsp;a couple days after it posted, saying the statements represented “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

Pentagon ‘escalating’ investigation into Sen. Kelly for illegal-orders video

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A driver charged in a crash that killed two Kansas women decided she did not want to return to Judge Rodger Woods courtroom on Monday for a preliminary hearing. Clowie&nbsp; Ann McLaughlin, 80, Augusta, waived her right to the hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

McLaughlin is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, severity level 4 person felonies, in the deaths of 42-year-old LaShea Bell and her daughter, 25-year-old A’Niah Bell.

The crash happened around 9:35 p.m.&nbsp; August 30, at the intersection of Central and Webb Road in Wichita

According to Wichita police, McLaughlin’s black Chevrolet truck collided with a white BMW carrying the Bells and a gray Jeep driven by a 41-year-old man. LaShea Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, while A’Niah Bell later died at a local hospital. The Jeep driver was treated at the scene and released.

Police said speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the collision. McLaughlin was taken to a hospital for treatment of her own injuries and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail after being medically cleared. She bonded out of jail the following day after posting a $100,000 bond. She is scheduled to return to court January 8.

Kan. woman avoids preliminary hearing in fatal DUI crash

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities have asked the public for any footage they might have of the gunman who fatally shot two students and wounded nine others&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-investigation-b08f1fdf5e71542f6e93bbba05fa043c">at Brown University</a>, even as they released a new video timeline and a slightly clearer image of a possible suspect.

Investigators provided no indication Tuesday that they were any closer to zeroing in on his identity. In all the videos made public, the suspect’s face was masked or turned away, and authorities have only been able to give a vague description of him as being stocky and about 5 feet, 8 inches (173 centimeters) tall.

Officers have been canvassing around Providence in search of clues that might help them figure out who was behind Saturday’s campus shooting.

Surveillance video the FBI posted online before it was removed showed a person in dark clothing walking along multiple sidewalks for about an hour starting shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday. The streets were all within a few blocks of the Brown University engineering building where the shooting occurred.

Some clips show the person walking in front of some properties several times. In one, the person abruptly turns around and runs in the other direction when someone approaches.

Two clips taken minutes after the shooting show the person walking away from a parking lot and then along a street.

Police have received about 200 tips, and Col. Oscar Perez, the Providence police chief, asked the public on Tuesday to look at their camera systems in the area to see if they have footage that might help officials identify the suspected gunman.

“We’re looking for a moment that is shorter than someone taking a breath,” Perez said.

A lack of cameras and clear video of the gunman has continued to frustrate both authorities and the community. While Brown President Christina Paxson confirmed Tuesday that the campus has 1,200 cameras, law enforcement says there is no clear video of the shooter from inside the engineering building.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha defended the investigation as going "really well" as he pleaded for public patience in locating the suspected killer.

Large questions remain, particularly about the shooter's motive. When pressed about a connection to ethnicity, political motive or culture, Neronha said, “That is a dangerous road to go down.”

Brown alumnus Chris Kremer joined about 200 others at a somber church service on campus for the victims Tuesday. He lives a block from the scene and often goes to the building where the shooting happened. Many in the community are thinking how easily they could have been among the shot, he said.

He said it was better to attend the service than to sit alone being sad, depressed and scrolling through his phone.

“It’s always nice to be in a big exalted space when you’re thinking kind of big heavy thoughts," Kremer said. “I guess people for thousands of years have found that to be something of a salve, so I’m hoping that a little bit of that works for me tonight.”

The attack and the shooter’s escape have raised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-security-64e1e19e7a4ce2039912107071035247">questions about campus security</a>, including a lack of cameras, and led to calls for better locks on campus doors.

Paxson said the university has two security systems. One system, activated at a time of emergency, sent out text messages, phone calls and emails that reached 20,000 people. The other system features three sirens across the campus and was not activated Saturday, a decision Paxson defended because doing so would have caused people to rush into buildings, including the one where the shooting was happening.

"So that is not a system we would ever use in the case of an active shooter," she said.

Brown's website says the sirens can be used when there is an active shooter, but Paxson said it “depends on the circumstances" and the location of the shooter.

Providence remained tense on Tuesday as additional police were sent to city schools to reassure worried parents that their kids would be safe. Ten state troopers were assigned to support police sent to beef up security at schools, district Superintendent Javier Montañez said.

Providence public schools canceled after-school activities and field trips for the week as a precaution.

Locals expressed fear as well as defiance as the investigation continued Tuesday.

“Of course it feels scary. But at the same time, I think that if the person really wanted to scare us, we shouldn’t allow him or her to win," said Tatjana Stojanovic, a Providence parent who lives next door to the Brown campus.

Others say the attention on security measures does little to address the real issue.

“The issue isn’t the doors, it’s the guns,” said Zoe Kass, a senior who fled the engineering building as police stormed in Saturday.

After spending of her life in schools where every door was locked and school shootings continued to persist, Kass said such security measures only created “the illusion of safety.”

Details have emerged about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-victims-e5b40e867f1a349c5c9b7c4f0e866af8">the victims</a>, who were in the first-floor classroom in the school's engineering building studying for a final.

Two of the wounded students had been released as of Tuesday, Brown spokesperson Amanda McGregor said. Of the seven people that remained hospitalized, Mayor Brett Smiley said one remained in critical condition, five were in critical but stable condition and one was in stable condition.

One of the wounded students, 18-year-old freshman Spencer Yang of New York City, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/us/brown-shooting-witness-spencer-yang.html">The New York Times</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2025/12/live-updates-active-shooter-at-brown-university">Brown Daily Herald</a>&nbsp;that there was a mad scramble after the gunman entered the room. Yang said he wound up on the ground between some seats and was shot in the leg.

Jacob Spears, 18, a freshman from Evans, Georgia, was shot in the stomach, “but through sheer adrenaline and courage, he managed to run outside, where he was aided by others," according to a GoFundMe site organized for him.

Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore who was one of the two students killed, was vice president of the Brown College Republicans and was beloved in her church in Birmingham, Alabama.

The other student killed was MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Brandermill, Virginia, who was majoring in biochemistry and neuroscience. His family immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan when he was a kid.

Contributing were Associated Press journalists Jennifer McDermott, Matt O'Brien and Robert F. Bukaty in Providence; Brian Slodysko in Washington; Michael Casey in Boston; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu.

Enhanced video released: Brown University gunman still at large

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas sheriff's deputy for alleged crimes.&nbsp;

Just before 2a.m. Monday, 34-year-old Shawn Swanson was booked in the Shawnee County jail on a requested charge of&nbsp; Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship, according to online jail records.

Just before 11a.m. Monday he met the requirement of a $1,000 bond and is no longer in custody.&nbsp; He has been placed on administrative leave, according to the sheriff's department.

The Topeka Police Department is in charge of the investigation.

Kansas sheriff's deputy is out of jail after arrest

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

just before 8a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 4000 block of Brooklyn Avenue on two separate calls for reported ShotSpotter activations, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Responding officers canvassed the area for any victims, or damage to property, as a result of potential gunfire. When officers arrived on scene, they located a vehicle that sustained gunshot damage and located a man later identified as 34-year-old Demetrius L. Hall inside, unresponsive, and suffering from multiple apparent gunshot wounds. 

&nbsp;EMS pronounced him deceased on scene.

Crime scene personnel, and Homicide detectives responded to the scene to begin canvassing the area for any evidence and to gather witness statements. There is not any preliminary information currently available that indicates what led up to the shooting, and police do not currently have a subject of interest identified.

This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Roselyn Temple, KC Mothers in Charge, and department social workers responded to the scene to begin providing assistance and resources to those impacted as a result of this incident.&nbsp;

Gunshot detection alert led KCPD to location of homicide victim

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro in a move that seemed designed to put a tighter chokehold on the South American country's economy.

Trump's escalation comes after U.S. forces last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized an oil tanker</a>&nbsp;off Venezuela’s coast, an unusual move that followed a buildup of military forces in the region. In a post on social media Tuesday night announcing the blockade, Trump alleged Venezuela was using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes and vowed to continue the military buildup until the country gave the U.S. oil, land and assets, though it was not clear why he felt the U.S. had a claim.

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform. “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”

Pentagon officials referred all questions about the post to the White House.

Venezuela’s government released a statement Tuesday accusing Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” with “a reckless and grave threat” against the South American country.

“On his social media, he assumes that Venezuela’s oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property,” the statement said of Trump’s post. “Consequently, he demands that Venezuela immediately hand over all its riches. The President of the United States intends to impose, in an utterly irrational manner, a supposed naval blockade on Venezuela with the aim of stealing the wealth that belongs to our nation.”

Maduro’s government, according to the statement, plans to denounce the situation before the United Nations.

(On Dec. 10, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations. 

The U.S. buildup has been accompanied by a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-us-military-drugs-pacific-108d10bbd3d19c34b8959602222e22e6">military strikes on boats</a>&nbsp;in international waters in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The campaign, which has drawn bipartisan scrutiny among U.S. lawmakers, has killed at least 95 people in 25 known strikes on vessels.

Trump has for weeks said that the U.S. will move its campaign beyond the water and start strikes on land.

The Trump administration has defended the strikes as a success, saying they have prevented drugs from reaching American shores, and pushed back on concerns that they are stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.

The Trump administration has said the campaign is about stopping drugs headed to the U.S., but Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-wiles-chief-staff-interview-cabinet-bondi-5c995a046318973b1a3dfe8ed89cf3cf">chief of staff Susie Wiles</a>&nbsp;appeared to confirm in a Vanity Fair interview published Tuesday that the campaign is part of a push to oust Maduro.

Wiles said Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”

Tuesday night's announcement seemed to have a similar aim.

Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves and produces about 1 million barrels a day, has long relied on oil revenue as a lifeblood of its economy.

Since the Trump administration began imposing oil sanctions on Venezuela in 2017, Maduro’s government has relied on a shadowy fleet of unflagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains.

The state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., commonly known as PDVSA, has been locked out of global oil markets by U.S. sanctions. It sells most of its exports at a steep discount in the black market in China.

Francisco Monaldi, a Venezuelan oil expert at Rice University in Houston, said about 850,000 barrels of the 1 million daily production is exported. Of that, he said, 80% goes to China, 15% to 17% goes to the U.S. through Chevron Corp., and the remainder goes to Cuba.

In October, Trump appeared to confirm reports that Maduro has offered a stake in Venezuela’s oil and other mineral wealth in recent months to try to stave off mounting pressure from the United States.

“He’s offered everything,” Trump said at the time. “You know why? Because he doesn’t want to f—- around with the United States.”

It wasn't immediately clear how the U.S. planned to enact what Trump called a “TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”

But the U.S. Navy has 11 ships, including an aircraft carrier and several amphibious assault ships, in the region.

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