Final results are in for the November school board and city commission elections. The canvass of the votes was held Monday.

Geary County Clerk Courtney Gilbert released the final totals.

Elected to four year terms on the USD 475 Board of Education were Dr. Beth Hudson with 1,436, Thomas Wesoloski 1,277 and Mark Hatcher with 1,103 votes.

Elected to the Junction City Commission were Terry Butler with 1,052, Sam Yoskowitz 807 and Kelly Niemczyk with 726 votes. Butler and Yoskowitz were elected to four year terms while Niemczyk will serve a two year term.

Brad Roether received 56 votes and was reelected to be the mayor in Milford.

For Milford City Council, William Noveroske received 55 votes while both Joey King and Tammy Himelick received 7 write in votes. More research will be necessary on the second place tie.

Marvin Edison with 44 votes was elected to be the mayor of Grandview Plaza. Harlan Lofthus Jr. with 66 votes and Arthur Potter with 57 votes were elected to the city council in Grandview Plaza.

There 29 provisional ballots reviewed and 22 were accepted and counted. A total of 2,278 ballots were cast by registered voters. The turnout of registered voters was calculated at 12.32%.

Vote canvass is held in Geary County

Junction City Public Works has announced there will be a Water disruption alert&nbsp; for tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18, from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. Customers between Jefferson Street to Franklin Street and also first Street to third Street may experience low water pressure or no water while repairs are being made. 

Please call Junction City Public works with any questions at 785-238-7142.

Water service disruption

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged vehicle theft in Manhattan.

Just before 11a.m. Friday, officers filed a report of vehicle theft in the 1700 block of Airport Road, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 A 40-year-old woman reported a 2019 Honda CRV was taken from a rental car parking lot without permission. The total estimated loss associated with this case is $12,000. 

Anyone with information, contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward up to $1,000.

RCPD: Rental car taken from airport lot without permission

The final numbers have been reported for the 7th Annual Greater Geary Community Match Day. In 2025, there were 660 donors contributing to 60 nonprofit organizations.

From the general public, a total of $488,391.36 was donated. These donations were made by mail, online, or in person on October 21 at the Junction City Municipal Building. In addition to the public donations, there was $165,000 in matching funds. The grand total for this year's Match Day was $653,391.36. *This is the highest amount ever received, up from $605,000 in 2024.

“The Greater Geary County community came together again this year and opened their hearts and pocketbooks to support 60 local nonprofits on Match Day,” said Calvin Pottberg, Chairman of the Greater Geary Community Foundation. “Thank you to all the donors, the volunteers who participated, and the Greater Geary Community Foundation Board of Directors for helping make this happen. Thanks also to the City of Junction City employees for setting up the auditorium and providing all the technical assistance and equipment. We could not make this event happen without everyone working together, including the four local area foundations that provided the $165,000 in matching funds. It was a very successful effort by all involved. Thank you.”

The four local foundations that provided the matching funds were the R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation, the Central Charities Foundation, the Crosby Family, and the Hoover-Koken Foundation.

Greater Geary Community 2025 Match Day Final Numbers Reported

The Felix Snipes Foundation presents a community event for people of all ages to share smiles, warmth, movement, and to celebrate what unites us on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (CST).

Please note: Children ages eight (8) and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Admission (Cash Only):
• $7.00 per skater or
• Bring one non-perishable food item and skate for $5.00.

All skaters will receive a wristband or stamp.

Concessions will be available for purchase.

💥 Volunteers/Chaperones Needed
If interested, please contact us at: <a>FelixSnipesFoundation@yahoo.com</a>

Additional Notice:
No alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or weapons are permitted. Thank you for your cooperation.

*All non-perishable food items will be donated to a local food bank.

Felix Snipes Foundation hosting a Skating Event - Will benefit Geary County Food Pantry

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Every Friday morning at Junction City Middle School after the first bell rings, the sixth-grade pods transform. Instead of the usual shuffling of students settling into the day, the hallways fill with voices, shared laughter and pairs of students working together during advisory.

“I have always wanted to create a peer mentoring program, so last year Lauren Davis and I talked about using our eighth graders in our leadership team to mentor sixth graders that need some extra support and maybe even more of a connection to school. We identified the students that we thought it would help and then it took off,” said Chez McClellan, JCMS sixth grade counselor.This is the second year of JCMS’s peer mentoring program, a project long imagined and finally brought to life during the 2024-25 school year. 

It started when Davis and McClellan looked at their eighth-grade leadership team and saw something more than a group of responsible students, they saw the potential of young leaders who could make a real impact on students who needed a little extra support and a stronger connection to school.The results were immediate. And powerful.“I recently talked to a lot of the students who were involved last year, and they all loved the program. What we’ve found out is that both groups gained knowledge, growth and benefits from being involved. Because of the impact it had, we decided to continue with the program this year at the middle school,” said McClellan.

As you can see both the mentors and mentees gained something. The eighth-grade leaders learned the kind of skills that don’t come from a textbook like how to encourage someone or how to adapt when one approach doesn’t work. They also learned how to listen with empathy, and how they could help another student reach their goals by growing in their interpersonal skills. They discovered new ways to motivate and a new confidence in their own abilities.

The sixth graders meanwhile gained habits and skills that ultimately have helped set them up for success, daily, at Junction City Middle School as now seventh graders like organization, study routines and time management.More importantly they gained what so many middle-schoolers quietly hope for, which is someone in their corner. Someone older who cares about them, checks in on them, believes in them and cheers for their progress.

This school year the mentorship program has grown. Between 15 and 20 leadership students participate weekly with each paired with a sixth-grade student. The changes are noticeable. According to McClellan and Davis, teachers hear and now see sixth graders waiting eagerly for that connection that has become a steady and positive presence in their school lives.The mentors are changing too. Their empathy is growing, their interpersonal skills strengthening, and their decision-making becoming more thoughtful. They’re learning to advocate not only for themselves, but for others.

For the Wildcats the peer mentoring program has become more than an advisory activity. It’s a resource and another way to help students feel supported, connected and invested in JCMS and the community. It has sparked moments of kindness, students stepping up for one another and positive interactions that have spread beyond advisory time.

 An Everlasting Impact at JCMS

With holiday travel beginning to increase, Chief of Police Kirt D. Nichols offers the following safety message. “As we enter the holiday season and begin to see travel increase, I want to remind everyone in our community to make seat belt use a priority. This time of year brings heavier traffic and a higher risk of crashes, and something as simple as buckling up can prevent serious injuries and save lives.

&nbsp; Whether you are driving across town or heading out to visit family, take a moment to ensure every person in your vehicle is properly restrained and that children are secured in the correct car seats or boosters. Your safety and the safety of your loved ones depends on it. Please drive responsibly, stay alert, and buckle up every trip, every time. I want everyone in Junction City to enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Buckle your seat belt

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.

Raul Delgado Ramirez, Interference with Law enforcement; Driver's license without valid DL, arrested 11/13

Chrystopher Hope, Possession of controlled substance; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, arrested 11/13

Geary County Booking Photos Nov. 14

It was a SPECIAL night on Thursday as Dr. Reginald Eggleston, USD 475 Superintendent of Schools, was honored at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasSupts?__cft__[0]=AZUhAuIH05sRIo5kX8l68Vwq_REvEVBtJDO2k1tTQ0je1aj4LNwGGK_lFY37TblKyC9GVI05mSeKLD7JUx5wRu0LnvGw8jQ1NM0TjKxF3N9Do3ci1y77vtUwaW2kLJyVebq4JEW0gVJALBfwa8hZNOEWKYIVkhkhAfu2f_R43X6DCw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas School Superintendents' Association</a>’s Superintendent of the Year Awards Gala in Wichita.

 By being named the 2026 Kansas Superintendent of the Year, Eggleston was recognized at the Hudson Commerce in Wichita alongside fellow finalists Dr. Jessica Dain of Piper USD 202 and Jamie Rumford of Scott County USD 466. Eggleston is only the third USD 475 Superintendent all-time to be named Kansas Superintendent of the Year, joining Mary Devin who claimed the award in 1999 and Max Heim who received the honor in 1990&nbsp;&nbsp;

USD 475 Superintendent of Schools is honored

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club will be having a fundraiser at JC's BBQ &amp; Grill on East Chestnut in Junction City on Monday, November 17 from 11:00 AM until close.&nbsp;

 Ten percent of the cost of purchases will be returned to the club to support Geary County youth activities and three scholarships.&nbsp; Donations will also be accepted.&nbsp;

Fundraiser plans are set for the Breakfast Optimists

Grandview Plaza needs a new building to house that city's police department and mostly volunteer fire department operations. But there are questions ranging from how big to make it and what should go in it to where to put it and most of all how to pay for it?

A number of citizens met with the city council Wednesday night to give them input on this topic since the current facility is wearing out. No final decisions have been made but one proposal was reviewed. It would cost approximately $4.2 million dollars and would include amenities for the Fire Department such as fire gear lockers, a chief's office, day room, space for two fire trucks, EMS/Medical supply space, a dormitory for 4-6 people,&nbsp; and space for a future ambulance. For the Police Department there would be space for two Sheriff's Department officers, holding and booking area, an officer room with six desks and an evidence storage area.

This idea included an area for shared needs such as a radio room for each department, a break room, gym / workout space, secure public lobby, a training room and IT.

Public reaction varied but most agreed the $4.2 million price tag was too high. Some opinions included that it would be a waste of tax dollars. Putting Grandview Plaza police and fire in a facility that also included representation from Junction City and Geary County Fire departments was ridiculous when they were just a minute away.

Comments from others in attendance included "You're going to make everybody bankrupt," to "I am for it," and "I do believe there's a need." It was noted that the Junction City Fire Department gets calls all day long so a bigger station could be helpful. "Something has to be done. That ( current ) building is about to fall down." One half of the current building does not follow code. "An upgrade needs to happen. We need to figure out where that is."

There was not any agreement on a floor plan for a new facility. The proposal discussed Wednesday was a conversatiion starter but was not final. 

The population of Grandview Plaza was placed at 1,660 people. The question was posed about whether a dormitory or future ambulance was needed? It was noted that police are running out of space for evidence. There was a consensus that something is needed but not this.There is not any storage for the fire department. The fire trucks do not fit in the current building.

The population of Grandview Plaza was placed at 1,660 people.The possibility of seeking grants was suggested but it was noted that it was difficult for a small city to obtain a large grant.

City Clerk Janet Young felt the funding should be capped at $1 million. Otherwise taxes would go up and the isssue would then have to be placed on an election ballot. More study annd discussion are sure to follow.&nbsp;

But it remains clear, something must be done!

Grandview Plaza talks about a new Police - Fire Building

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man is going to prison for a fatal crash that killed a passenger in his vehicle.

This week, Charles Smith, Jr., 31, was&nbsp;&nbsp;sentenced to to 128 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In September, Smith pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery. He was&nbsp;originally charged with driving under the influence.&nbsp;

Just after 2:30a.m. December 14, 2024, police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 1700 block of S. Mosley in Wichita, according to a media release.

First responders located a white 4-door sedan that had collided with multiple trees.&nbsp; Lanashia Clay, 22, from Wichita was seated in the front passenger seat and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A 25-year-old woman from Wichita was the rear seat passenger. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.

The 30-year-old driver later identified as Smith was also transported to a local hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was taken into custody on requested charges of&nbsp;Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Battery-DUI, and Driving after suspended.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. man going to prison for crash that killed passenger

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Democratic leader favors candidate she labels ‘true middle-of-the-road’ politician

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly formally endorsed state Sen. Ethan Corson’s campaign for governor on Monday, favoring a “true middle-of-the-road” politician she believed capable of drawing enough votes from Kansas Republicans, Democrats and independents to prevail in 2026.

Kelly, a popular governor forbidden from seeking reelection to a third term, said the Democrat from Fairway was the candidate most capable of being a voice of reason in terms of the state budget, protecting K-12 public school funding, lowering taxes and delivering economic growth. These themes, and a relentless critique of former Gov. Sam Brownback, anchored Kelly’s gubernatorial victory over Republican nominee Kris Kobach in 2018 and narrow defeat of GOP candidate Derek Schmidt in 2022.

“Kansas is in good shape right now. And that is why I am enthusiastically endorsing Ethan&nbsp;Corson,” Kelly said in a statement. “Ethan will build on my work, but he will also bring visionary and bold new ideas to the job. His allegiance will be to Kansans, not party or politics. Ethan is a good man. He wants to be governor for the right reasons. He is a true public servant.”

Kelly’s endorsement of Corson wasn’t a surprise, given her statement in July that he would be a “very strong candidate” and pointing to Corson as “someone laser focused on the issues Kansans really care about.”

“Ethan is a true middle-of-the-road candidate who will attract that same broad base of support that is necessary to win but also to then govern effectively. He is the most qualified and most suited to be our next governor,” Kelly said.

In the Kansas Democratic Party’s primary set for August, Corson’s main rival would appear to be Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park. Democrat Marty Tuley of Lawrence also declared his candidacy.

Corson, an attorney and former director of the Kansas Democratic Party, was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2020 and reelected in 2024 to serve a northeast Johnson County district. In the Senate, Corson said, he joined bipartisan efforts to cut property and income taxes, eliminate a state sales tax on groceries and end the state tax on Social Security benefits. He also sought to target tax relief for the benefit of seniors, veterans and working Kansans.

“I’m honored to have Gov. Kelly’s endorsement and grateful for her confidence in my ability to keep Kansas moving forward,” Corson said.

Corson entered the race for governor in July. He reported Nov. 5 the campaign raised $500,000 from nearly 2,000 donors in the initial 100 days of the campaign. During an 8,000-mile, crisscross journey of Kansas, Corson emphasized lowering the cost of living for working-class families, creating good-paying jobs and strengthening investment in public schools. He said his goal was to bring “both parties to the table to deliver results for all Kansans.”

“Our campaign is about creating a Kansas where the next generation can build a life right here,”&nbsp;he said. “That means lower costs for families, the best public schools in America, safer communities and a growing economy in all 105 counties.”

Corson, 43, earned a law degree at Washington University in St. Louis and worked seven years for a firm in Washington, D.C. He was employed by the U.S. Department of Commerce before returning to Kansas in 2019 to be executive director of the state Democratic Party.

Kansas candidates for governor must maneuver through an electorate that delivered double-digit victories in 2016, 2020 and 2024 for President Donald Trump.

In addition, no political party in Kansas has retained the governorship for more than eight consecutive years since the 1950s.

Candidates for the Republican Party’s nomination for governor include former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Senate President Ty Masterson, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, businessman Philip Sarnecki, former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara and former Wichita school board member Joy Eakins.

Gov. Kelly offers formal endorsement of Democratic Sen. Ethan Corson for governor

MITCHELL COUNTY —Investigators determined the cause of a home explosion in Mitchell County on Wednesday was an accidental gas leak inside the home, according to Mitchell County Sheriff Anthony Perez. An issue with a furnace may have contributed to the accident, according to the State Fire Marshal's office.

Just before 6:30pm, the Mitchell County Communication Center received calls of a house explosion had occurred at the corner of Elkhorn Street and Wisconsin Street in Simpson, Kansas.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and located two adult victims with severe injuries. Both victims were transported to the Mitchell County Health Hospital Systems ER initially. The victims were then flown to a Wichita hospital burn unit. Authorities have not released an update on the two who were injured.

Faulty furnace may have caused Kansas home explosion 

HOUSTON – A 50-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement, according to a media release from the office of U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

In July 2019, Summer Heather Worden alleged her estranged spouse, NASA Astronaut Anne McClain, had guessed the password and illegally accessed her bank account while McClain was deployed to the International Space Station. &nbsp;

However, Worden had actually opened the account in April 2018. Both parties had accessed it until January 2019 when Worden changed the credentials. &nbsp;

The investigation revealed Worden had granted McClain access to her bank records from at least 2015, including her login credentials.&nbsp;

U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea Nov. 13. He will impose sentencing&nbsp;Feb. 12, 2026. At that time, Worden faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.&nbsp;

Worden was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.&nbsp;

NASA-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.&nbsp;

Kan. woman admits lying about astronaut wife accessing bank account from Space Station

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen learned his fate on Friday.

Judge Quentin Pittman sentenced 22-year-old Samuel Loredo to 174 months in prison with Lifetime Post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In October, Loredo pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the District Attorney's office.

Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Years in prison for Kan. man in sex assault of runaway 14-year-old

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 8:30a.m. Sunday, Kansas City Police responded to report of an armed robbery at a gas station in the 8200 Block of North Church Road in Kansas City, Missouri, according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The suspect allegedly threatened a store clerk with a handgun. the suspect fled before officers arrived. Through an on scene investigation, a suspect description and suspect vehicle description were obtained. This information led officers to the 1200 Block of Northeast Parvin Road.

Just after 10a.m. Sunday, one officer arrived at that location and saw the suspect vehicle and the suspect involved in the armed robbery. The officer confronted the suspect outside of an apartment building. The suspect presented a handgun. The officer fired shots and struck the suspect.&nbsp;

EMS transported the suspect to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The officer was not injured. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation. The investigation will forward the details to the the Clay County Prosecuting attorney's office.

Officer shot Kansas City armed robbery suspect 

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday that the U.S. “may be having some discussions” with Venezuelan President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>, a potential diplomatic avenue as the U.S. further builds up its military presence near the South American country with the arrival of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-ford-aircraft-carrier-drugs-military-trump-a86ddc6f5f51e12c87cbd9c55978c911">most advanced aircraft carrier</a>.

Trump didn't offer details about the possible discussions with Maduro, but he said “Venezuela would like to talk."

The development comes as the Trump administration has carried out a series of military strikes against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">vessels suspected of transporting drugs</a>. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-hegseth-drugs-boat-strikes-6c3316b2852723e26c39dc701bba9d52">arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;and other warships, announced by the Navy in a statement, marks a major moment in what the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-boat-strikes-drugs-cocaine-trafficking-95b54a3a5efec74f12f82396a79617ea">insists is a counterdrug operation</a>&nbsp;but has been seen as an escalating pressure tactic against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Maduro</a>.

When asked Sunday what he meant when he said Maduro wants to talk, Trump simply said: “What does it mean? You tell me, I don’t know.”

“I’ll talk to anybody," he added a few moments later. "We’ll see what happens.”

Venezuela’s government didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

The Ford rounds off the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-buildup-caribbean-venezuela-ships-troops-810f6181371f53536c723ea562c5277c">buildup of U.S. firepower</a>&nbsp;in the region in generations. With its arrival, the “Operation Southern Spear" mission includes nearly a dozen Navy ships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines.

The carrier’s arrival came as the military announced its latest deadly strike on a small boat it claims was engaged in ferrying illegal drugs. The military’s Southern Command posted a video on X on Sunday showing the boat being blown up, an attack it said took place Saturday in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and killed three men. The military did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

Since early September, such strikes by the U.S. in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strike-drugs-venezuela-military-trump-3a13baec2e07a75af9cd9eafb3cc99e7">killed at least 83 people in 21 attacks</a>.

The carrier strike group, which includes squadrons of fighter jets and guided-missile destroyers, transited the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands on Sunday morning, the Navy said.

Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, who commands the strike group, said it will bolster an already large force of American warships to "protect our nation’s security and prosperity against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.”

Adm. Alvin Holsey, the commander who oversees the Caribbean and Latin America, said in a statement that the American forces “stand ready to combat the transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region.”

Holsey,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alvin-holsey-southern-command-boat-strikes-venezuela-7cf34c822b56945129baf7f0d2635f95">who will retire next month</a>&nbsp;after just a year on the job, said the strike group's deployment is "a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American Homeland.”

In Trinidad and Tobago, which is only 7 miles from Venezuela at its closest point, government officials said troops have begun “training exercises” with the U.S. military that will run through much of the week.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sean Sobers described the joint exercises as the second in less than a month and said they are aimed at tackling violent crime on the island nation, which has become a stopover point for drug shipments headed to Europe and North America. The prime minister has been a vocal supporter of the U.S. military strikes.

The exercises will include Marines from the 22nd Expeditionary Unit who have been stationed aboard the Navy ships that have been looming off Venezuela's coast for months.

Venezuela’s government has described the training exercises as an act of aggression. It had no immediate comment Sunday on the arrival of the aircraft carrier.

Meanwhile, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said Sunday that U.S. troops have been training in Panama, underscoring the administration’s increasing focus on Latin America.

“We’re reactivating our jungle school in Panama. We would be ready to act on whatever” Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth needed, he told CBS’ “Face the Nation."

The administration has insisted that the buildup of American forces in the region is focused on stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S., but it has released no evidence to support its assertions that those killed in the boats were “narcoterrorists.” Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-venezuela-middle-east-a458b9c4f1a5690e19d7c532dd6b7fd7">indicated military action would expand beyond strikes by sea</a>, saying the U.S. would "stop the drugs coming in by land.”

On Friday, Trump was asked by reporters if he had made up his mind on what he intended to do about Venezuela. He did not offer details but said, “I sort of have made up my mind."

The U.S. has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-venezuela-middle-east-a458b9c4f1a5690e19d7c532dd6b7fd7">long used aircraft carriers</a>&nbsp;to pressure and deter aggression by other nations because their warplanes can strike targets deep inside another country. Some experts say the Ford is ill-suited to fighting cartels, but it could be an effective&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-ford-aircraft-carrier-drugs-military-trump-a86ddc6f5f51e12c87cbd9c55978c911">instrument of intimidation</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Maduro</a>&nbsp;in a push to get him to step down.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States does not recognize Maduro, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-tally-sheets-actas-oas-carter-center-41d1000926d0ab99e522e53bf6c2b916">widely accused of stealing last year’s election</a>, as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. Rubio has called Venezuela's government a “transshipment organization” that openly cooperates with those trafficking drugs.

Rubio said in a statement released Sunday evening that the State Department intends to designate Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, a foreign terrorist organization. Rubio said the cartel is headed by Maduro and other high-ranking members of his government and is among those “responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.” When the designation takes effect on Nov. 24, it will be a crime to provide “material support” to the cartel or its members.

Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S., has said the U.S. government is “fabricating” a war against him. On his Facebook page, Maduro wrote on Sunday that the “Venezuelan people are ready to defend their homeland against any criminal aggression.”

Venezuela’s government recently touted a “massive” mobilization of troops and civilians to defend against possible U.S. attacks. Maduro and other officials in Venezuela’s socialist party also have been attending rallies this weekend to back the creation of neighborhood committees that will be in charge of increasing membership in Venezuela’s socialist party, and promoting the party’s policies.

Trump has justified the attacks on drug boats by saying the U.S. is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">“armed conflict” with drug cartels</a>&nbsp;while claiming the boats are operated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-foreign-terrorist-organizations-eb35567b69fc66f13f7f79fb90906a50">foreign terrorist organizations</a>.

He has faced pushback from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-trump-drug-strikes-intelligence-2424e84a97f3a584a491143627dfdaa7">leaders in the region</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-military-strikes-south-america-ed0ce092af5ad2c64b34ed51f8ab59cc">U.N. human rights chief</a>&nbsp;and U.S. lawmakers, including Republicans, who have pressed for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-boat-strikes-trump-cartels-democrats-briefing-40cd5b30897ba97de824af7b76f22b46">more information on who is being targeted</a>&nbsp;and the legal justification for the boat strikes.

Senate Republicans, however, recently voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-strikes-congress-6c0061bf5a9c417e66f76fcc6ee57405">reject legislation that would have put a check</a>&nbsp;on Trump’s ability to launch an attack against Venezuela without congressional authorization.

Experts disagree on whether or not American warplanes may be used to strike land targets inside Venezuela. Either way, the 100,000-ton warship is sending a message.

“This is the anchor of what it means to have U.S. military power once again in Latin America,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for the Andes region. “And it has raised a lot of anxieties in Venezuela but also throughout the region. I think everyone is watching this with sort of bated breath to see just how willing the U.S. is to really use military force.”

Finley reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Anselm Gibbs in Port of Spain, Trinidad,, Gabriela Molina in Caracas, Venezuela, and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.

US show of force: Venezuelan President may want to talk with Trump

NEMAHA COUNTY —The Nemaha County Sheriff on Sunday released the name of a Kansas teen who died in an accident over the weekend in Nemaha County.

Just after 7a.m. Sunday Nemaha County Communications received a call to respond to the scene of a one vehicle crash, according to a media release.

A 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Kenton L. Farwell, 17, Sabetha was westbound on 192nd Road just east of V Road. The pickup traveled off the road, struck a culvert and overturned into a ditch.  The exact time of the crash has not been determined.&nbsp;

Sheriff IDs Kansas teen who died in rollover crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said House Republicans should vote to release the files in the Jeffrey Epstein case, a startling reversal after previously fighting the proposal as a growing number of those in his own party supported it.

“We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on social media late Sunday after landing at Joint Base Andrews following a weekend in Florida.

Trump's statement followed a fierce fight within the GOP over the files, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-marjorie-taylor-greene-republicans-maga-feud-f4b0dffe06440dfed16d336d08a05422">an increasingly nasty split with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>, who had long been one of his fiercest supporters.

The president’s shift is an implicit acknowledgement that supporters of the measure have enough votes to pass it the House, although it has an unclear future in the Senate.

It is a rare example of Trump backtracking because of opposition within the GOP. In his return to office and in his second term as president, Trump has largely consolidated power in the Republican Party.

“I DON’T CARE!” Trump wrote in his social media post. “All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT.”

Lawmakers who support the bill have been predicting a big win in the House this week with a “deluge of Republicans” voting for it, bucking the GOP leadership and the president.

In his opposition to the proposal, Trump even reached out to two of the Republican lawmakers who signed it. One, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, met last week with administration officials in the White House Situation Room to discuss it.

The bill would force the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in federal prison. Information about Epstein’s victims or ongoing federal investigations would be allowed to be redacted.

“There could be 100 or more” votes from Republicans, said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., among the lawmakers discussing the legislation on Sunday news show appearances. “I'm hoping to get a veto-proof majority on this legislation when it comes up for a vote.”

Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced a discharge petition in July to force a vote on their bill. That is a rarely successful tool that allows a majority of members to bypass House leadership and force a floor vote.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had panned the discharge petition effort and sent members home&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338eded">early</a>&nbsp;for their August recess when the GOP's legislative agenda was upended in the clamoring for an Epstein vote. Democrats also contend the seating of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adelita-grijalva-arizona-house-epstein-files-johnson-da75c9f0e362291f3d0edb1da99e019d">Rep. Adelita Grijalva</a>, D-Ariz., was stalled to delay her becoming the 218th member to sign the petition and gain the threshold needed to force a vote. She became the 218th signature moments after taking the oath of office last week.

Massie said Johnson, Trump and others who have been critical of his efforts would be “taking a big loss this week.”

“I'm not tired of winning yet, but we are winning,” Massie said.

Johnson seems to expect the House will decisively back the Epstein bill.

“We’ll just get this done and move it on. There’s nothing to hide,” adding that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has been releasing “far more information than the discharge petition, their little gambit.”

The vote comes at a time when new documents are raising fresh questions about Epstein and his associates, including a 2019 email that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-emails-trump-house-democrats-db7df1042a73e610fb5deddf2f90bd3a">Epstein wrote</a>&nbsp;to a journalist that said Trump “knew about the girls.” The White House has accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the Republican president.

Johnson said Trump “has nothing to hide from this.”

“They’re doing this to go after President Trump on this theory that he has something to do with it. He does not,” Johnson said.

Trump's association with Epstein is well-established and the president's name was included in records&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-pam-bondi-trump-1a6af3e9fa1cfb6d267985a971a4929a">that his own Justice Department released in February</a>&nbsp;as part of an effort to satisfy public interest in information from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-epstein-trump-testify-congress-4faaafceba09bec37dae8422a5171b49">sex-trafficking investigation</a>.

Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and the mere inclusion of someone’s name in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise. Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial, also had many prominent acquaintances in political and celebrity circles besides Trump.

Khanna voiced more modest expectations on the vote count than Massie. Still, Khanna said he was hoping for 40 or more Republicans to join the effort.

“I don't even know how involved Trump was,” Khanna said. “There are a lot of other people involved who have to be held accountable.”

Khanna also asked Trump to meet with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-survivors-congress-trump-5d980740245f935c994a90b8ce824642">those who were abused</a>. Some will be at the Capitol on Tuesday for a news conference, he said.

Massie said Republican lawmakers who fear losing Trump's endorsement because of how they vote will have a mark on their record, if they vote “no,” that could hurt their political prospects in the long term.

“The record of this vote will last longer than Donald Trump's presidency," Massie said.

On the Republican side, three Republicans joined with Massie in signing the discharge petition: Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Boebert.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-endorsement-trump-attack-epstein-db357b20a1ed419318e9486f55345875">publicly</a>&nbsp;called it quits with Greene last week and said he would endorse a challenger against her in 2026 “if the right person runs.”

Greene attributed the fallout with Trump as “unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files.” She said the country deserves transparency on the issue and that Trump's criticism of her is confusing because the women she has talked to say he did nothing wrong.

"I have no idea what’s in the files. I can’t even guess. But that is the questions everyone is asking, is, why fight this so hard?” Greene said.

Trump’s feud with Greene escalated over the weekend, with Trump sending out one last social media post about her while still sitting in his helicopter on the White House lawn when he arrived home late Sunday, writing “The fact is, nobody cares about this Traitor to our Country!”

Even if the bill passes the House, there is no guarantee that Senate Republicans will go along. Massie said he just hopes Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., “will do the right thing.”

“The pressure is going to be there if we get a big vote in the House," Massie said, who thinks “we could have a deluge of Republicans.”

Massie appeared on ABC's “This Week,” Johnson was on “Fox News Sunday,” Khanna spoke on NBC's “Meet the Press” and Greene was interviewed on CNN's “State of the Union.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

In reversal, Trump says House Republicans should vote to release Epstein files

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for five counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Jeremy Weber, 47, of Topeka uploaded photographs of women and children he knew into a publicly available Artificial Intelligence platform. He then utilized AI to manipulate and merge their images into hundreds of depictions of child sexual abuse material (or CSAM). &nbsp;Weber also uploaded previously trafficked images of CSAM to the same platform. Weber morphed the original CSAM image with the face of the adult or minor female, creating a new image of CSAM.&nbsp;

The investigation identified approximately 32 women whose images were used to produce the new CSAM. &nbsp;In addition, Weber utilized the same AI program to produce adult pornographic images of 50-60 women without their consent. &nbsp;

The investigation into Weber began after an IT professional observed criminal activity on Weber’s computer and reported it to local law enforcement. &nbsp;A subsequent search warrant led to a search of Weber’s residence and the discovery of an encrypted hard drive containing a folder titled “AI Swap.” In the folder was a large number of files organized into folders named after women. Each of the named folders contained anywhere from a handful to hundreds of newly manufactured sexually explicit images of each individual.

“While it is still an emerging technology, I believe there can be many wonderful and beneficial aspects of artificial intelligence, but there is also a dark side. Unfortunately, child predators are using AI for twisted and perverse activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The fact that Jeremy Weber was able to create realistic looking images of child pornography using the faces of children and adults should remind us that we are all vulnerable to this type of violation. Although the images were ‘fake’, the harm he inflicted on the victims and the consequences were very real.”&nbsp;

Prison: Kan. man used Artificial Intelligence to make child porn

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Big 12 Conference and ESPN have announced&nbsp; that Kansas State’s game this Saturday at Utah will kick at 3 p.m. (CT) and be televised on ESPN2.

This is the first ever meeting between the Wildcats and Utes as Utah is in its second season in the Big 12. The Wildcats will be in search of their first win in the state of Utah after going 0-4 in Provo (BYU) and 0-1 in Logan (Utah State).

Following the game at Utah, K-State hosts Colorado on Saturday, November 29, for the Wildcats’ annual Senior Day contest.&nbsp;

K-State - Utah will play an afternoon game on Saturday

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — At this point in the season, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are usually cruising toward another division title and being touted as Super Bowl favorites.

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