The Junction City Police Department has been made aware of a scam currently targeting members of the community. Police said an individual is spoofing the Junction City Police Department’s phone number and claiming to be Chief of Police Nichols. The caller states that Homeland Security has notified them of a warrant for the recipient’s arrest and demands immediate payment to avoid arrest. They may also claim officers are being sent if payment is not made.

This is a scam! Important reminders include the following: 

- JCPD will never call to demand payment or threaten arrest 

- They will never request money, gift cards, or financial information over the phone

-- Phone numbers can be spoofed to appear legitimate.If you receive a call like this, do not engage with the caller, do not provide personal or financial information, hang up, and contact the Junction City Police Department using a verified phone number.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Junction City police issue scam alert

&nbsp;In observance of the Christmas holiday, the Geary County Public Works Departments will follow the hours listed below: 

--The Geary County Public Works Department, HHW / Recycling Center and Geary County Landfill will be closed Thursday &amp; Friday, December 25 &amp; 26. . They will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 29, 2025.

--The Geary County Transfer Station will only be closed on Thursday, December 25, 2025. The Transfer Station will resume normal business hours on Friday, December 26, 2025.&nbsp;

Geary County Public Works Holiday Schedule Notice: 

Rotary Club of Junction City&nbsp;

Junction City, KS — The Junction City Rotary Club recently donated shoes to students at Grandview Elementary School, providing much-needed support to local children and families.

The donation, made earlier this week, was part of Rotary’s ongoing commitment to serving the Junction City community through practical, meaningful acts of service. Access to properly fitting shoes can make a significant difference in a child’s comfort, confidence, and ability to focus at school.

“We are grateful to our Rotary members and community supporters who made this donation possible,” said Sam Steiner, President of the Junction City Rotary Club. “This project reflects Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self and our dedication to meeting real needs right here in our community.”

The Junction City Rotary Club regularly partners with local schools and organizations to support education, health, and community well-being through service projects, donations, and volunteer efforts.

For more information about the Junction City Rotary Club or to get involved, visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JCRotaryClub">facebook.com/JCRotaryClub</a>.

Junction City Rotary Club Donates Shoes to Grandview Elementary Students

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Friday in Riley&nbsp; County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Chevy Lumina driven by Stephen Lynn&nbsp;Williams, 63, Green, Kansas, was southbound&nbsp;on U.S. 77 at U.S. 24 and struck pedestrian identified as Thomas William&nbsp;McHugh, 77, Riley, in the southbound lane. McHugh landed in the northbound lane. A northbound 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by Jude Lewis Benson, 20, Clay Center, also struck McHugh.

EMS transported McHugh, Williams and a passenger in the car Brenda Lynn Williams, 71, Green, Kansas, to Via Christi in Manhattan. McHugh was pronounced deceased. Benson was not injured. The occupants of both vehicles were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Riley Co. man dies after struck by a car and a pickup

Geary County Fire was dispatched to the 2400 block of West Lyon Creek Road around 1:10 p.m. on Thursday afternoon for a grass fire.  Due to the extreme winds, 5 trucks were dispatched to respond. Upon arrival, three trucks were used to extinguish the fire, including our new brush unit. The other two trucks were cancelled and were able to return back to their response areas.

 The resident had discarded ashes from his fireplace outside Thursday morning.  The high winds helped expose some embers, starting the grass on fire.  Units were on scene for approximately 40 minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Rural Fire responded and quickly put out Grass Fire on Thursday

Live Well Geary County works to provide funds to partners to create a healthier community. They are a Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathway to a Healthy Kansas participant.

Local Grant Cooordinator Susan Jagerson said that they are working on a placemaking project for the Library. "The Library is doing some renovations and expansions. We're going to provide funding to them to be able to install an outdoor play area for kids."

They work with Junction City Main Street to form a Farmer's Market organization that will allow them to manage both markets. There is an effort to improve the 12th Street Community Market and put a new shed there. They are also looking at some options to put a new greenhouse there.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Live Well is working with the Geary County Mental Health Task Force to address mental health issues in the community.

Duing recent months they have served an average of 204 meals at the Healthy Together community meals on Monday evenings at the Larry Dixon Center.

Live Well Geary County works to support the community

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.

Brian Rios-Corbett, Unlawful restraint; Criminal deprivation of property, arrested 12/18

Lendell Fleming, Resisting arrest; Disorderly conduct, arrested 12/18

Jordan Smith, Cancelled/suspended/revoked driver's license, arrested 12/19

Geary County Booking Photos Dec. 20

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to author Ted Harbin about his book, "The World's Toughest Rodeo."

🎙 Forward Ever: Ted Harbin, author of 'World's Toughest Rodeo'

On Thursday community partners came together for a two-part emergency preparedness exercise focused on responding to a large tornado strike in the&nbsp; area. This training was organized and conducted by Geary County Emergency Management.

A tabletop exercise was held at the C.L. Hoover Opera House, bringing together every local first responder agency along with many major local organizations. Participants worked through coordinated response, communication, and recovery efforts following a simulated tornado impact. The exercise went very well and highlighted the strong collaboration that exists across our community.

In the afternoon, a functional exercise was conducted at Konza Community Health Center. During this portion of the exercise, the facility received multiple simulated tornado victims with a variety of injuries. The staff at Konza Community Health Center handled the sudden influx of patients professionally and managed the entire situation extremely well, demonstrating strong preparedness and dedication to patient care.

USD 475 provided five student volunteers who participated in the exercise. The students, all juniors and seniors in the Health and Human Services pathway at the high school, had the opportunity to see firsthand how medical triage works during an emergency situation.&nbsp;

Emergency preparedness exercise was held

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating alleged forgery in Manhattan.

Just after 2p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of theft of property of services and forgery in the 1600 block of Charles Place, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp; Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center reported that two business checks were stolen and cashed by unknown suspects.

 The total estimated loss associated with this case is $7,756.42. 

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: 2 business checks stolen, cashed in Manhattan

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement investigating a homicide that occurred&nbsp; in the 800 Block of Colorado Street in Manhattan on December 6, have made additional arrests.

On Thursday, police arrested Danielle Sanchez, 47, of Manhattan, in the 1000 block of Pottawatomie Court on requested charges of interference with a law enforcement officer; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case and attempted obstruction of apprehension of prosecution; committed or charged with a felony, according to al media release from the Riley County Police Department.

On December 10, police arrested Joleann Killham, 24, and Eli Smith, 22, both of Manhattan on requested charges of interference with a&nbsp;law enforcement officer; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case and obstructing apprehension of prosecution; committed or charged with a felony. 

Sanchez and Killham and Smith met the requirement of a $10,000 bond and are no longer in custody. Smith remains confined, according to the RCPD.

These arrests are the results of continued investigative efforts following the apprehension of Erick Sanchez-Chavez, 29, of Manhattan, who was arrested on Dec. 8 and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal threat in the death of 36-year-old Mark Rickenbaker. Sanchez-Chavez is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.

3 more accused in connection with homicide in Manhattan

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-boak">JOSH BOAK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The “Warrior Dividend” that President Donald Trump announced during his televised address to the nation Wednesday is not a Christmas bonus made possible by tariff revenues, as the president suggested.

Instead, the $1,776 payments to troops are coming from a congressionally-approved housing supplement — money they were already set to receive — that was a part of tax cut extensions and expansions bill signed into law in July. Trump’s administration identified the source of the “dividend” payments Thursday.

In his remarks, Trump alluded to his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” playing a role, but suggested that tariffs were largely responsible for the payments already on the way to 1.45 million members of the military.

“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs and the bill helped us along. Nobody deserves it more than our military,” he said in announcing what he described as a “dividend.”

Trump has teased the idea of using his sweeping tariffs on imports to give Americans dividends ever since he imposed them in April. But these new payments are being disbursed by the Pentagon from a $2.9 billion military housing supplement that was part of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to augment existing housing allowances, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity to describe the payments.

The amount of the payments is a nod to next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. In total, the measure is expected to cost $2.6 billion.

Trump’s announcement comes as he’s faced pressure to show he’s working to address rising costs for Americans, with prices remaining stubbornly high as the president has imposed double-digit tariffs on imports from almost every country. Trump has promised to lower prices, but he has struggled to do so. Inflation hit a four-decade high in June 2022 during Joe Biden’s presidency and then began to fall. But inflation has stayed elevated under Trump in part because of his tariffs.

Separately, members of the U.S. Coast Guard will be getting a similar one-time payment, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday. The “Devotion to Duty” payments, authorized by Secretary Kristi Noem a day earlier, will be $2,000 because, unlike the “Warrior Dividend,” they are subject to taxes. The amount Coast Guard members take home will be closer to $1,776.

The payments, according to the Coast Guard, will be classified as “special duty pay.” They will be paid for with money in a measure Trump signed in November, after a 43-day shutdown, that funds the government through January.

It’s not the first time Trump has brandished ‘dividends’

Sending money to voters is a timeworn tool for politicians and one that Trump has repeatedly tried to use, including this year.

Trump has for months suggested every American could receive a $2,000 dividend from the import taxes — an effort that seemed designed to try to shore up support for tariffs, which the president has said protect American industries and will lure manufacturing back from overseas.

But that particular pledge appeared to exceed the revenues being generated by his tariffs, according to a November analysis by the right-leaning Tax Foundation. The analysis estimated that the $2,000 payments being promised to taxpayers could add up to between $279.8 billion and $606.8 billion, depending on how they were structured.

The analysis estimated that Trump’s import taxes would produce $158.4 billion in total revenue during 2025 and another $207.5 billion in 2026. That’s not enough money to provide the payments as well as reduce the budget deficit, which Trump has also claimed his tariffs are doing.

Earlier this year, as his Department of Government Efficiency was slashing the U.S. government and its workforce, Trump had briefly proposed sending a DOGE “dividend” back to U.S. citizens.

Neither the tariff dividend or DOGE dividend has come to fruition, and members of Trump’s own party as well as officials in his administration have expressed some skepticism about the idea. There is also the risk that the payments being promised by Trump could push up inflation, as they would likely spur greater consumer spending. Republican lawmakers argued in 2021 that the pandemic relief package from then-President Biden — which included direct payments — helped trigger the run-up in inflation.

Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana, Konstantin Toropin and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

How Trump is paying for the $1,776 ‘Warrior Dividend’ to troops 

CRAWFORD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1:30a.m. Sunday in Crawford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Hyundai Elantra driven by Melinda Canet, 54, Pittsburg, was northbound on S 260th Street just north of E 510th Avenue.&nbsp; The car struck a pedestrian identified as Nicklas&nbsp;Thompson, 37, Pittsburg, who walking in the roadway.

Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Derfelt Funeral Home.&nbsp; EMS transported Cannet to Mercy Hospital. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after struck by a car 

The Powerball® holiday jackpot streak continues! No ticket matched all six numbers drawn last night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $1.60 billion for Monday night’s drawing, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $735.3 million.

Monday’s jackpot ranks as the fourth largest in Powerball history and the fifth largest among U.S. lottery jackpots.

“Powerball is giving players a chance to dream bigger than ever this holiday season,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “Every ticket sold not only offers the chance at a life-changing prize but also supports important public programs and services in communities nationwide. We encourage everyone to enjoy the thrill responsibly.”

The jackpot rolled last night after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn – white balls 4, 5, 28, 52, 69 and red Powerball 20. The Power Play® multiplier was 3.

Although there was no jackpot winner, U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully, as many tickets won cash prizes in last night’s drawing.

Nationwide, eight tickets matched all five white balls. The winning Match 5 tickets were sold in California, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan (2), New Hampshire and Ohio. The Match 5 prize is a set cash prize of $1 million in all jurisdictions except California, where prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.

The drawing also produced 112 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 22 tickets that won $150,000 prizes.

In the Double Play® drawing, a ticket in New Jersey won a $500,000 prize after matching all five black balls. Double Play is a $1 add-on feature that allows players to player their Powerball numbers, again, in a separate drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million. The Double Play drawing is live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;following the main Powerball drawing.

Monday’s Powerball drawing will be the 46th in the current jackpot run – a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.

This marks only the second time in Powerball history that the game has produced back-to-back jackpots exceeding $1 billion. The only other occurrence was in 2023, when a $1.08 billion jackpot was won on July 19, followed by a $1.765 billion jackpot on Oct. 11. Both jackpots were won in California.

If a player wins Monday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.60 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $735.3 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $37 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball jackpot jumps up to 4th largest prize in game’s history

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 — Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert will step down from her position at the start of the new year and retire within weeks, she announced Friday.

Luckert, the second woman appointed to the state Supreme Court, suffered a stroke in October and temporarily withdrew from her public-facing duties. She said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NGjIp0AL_U" target="_blank">a video address</a>&nbsp;the decision to resign and retire was one of the hardest of her life.

“I am on a path to recovery,” she said in the video, “but I have had to face a difficult truth.”

She is unable to fully fulfill the demands of chief justice, she said. Luckert said she will resign from the office of chief justice Jan. 2 and retire weeks later, in late January or early February. As the most senior member on the court, Justice Eric Rosen, who has been serving as interim chief justice while Luckert was on medical leave, will step into the role Jan. 2.

Luckert’s retirement will give Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a fifth installation on the court before her term is up at the end of 2026. Justices Dan Biles and Rosen will be required to retire after completing the term during which they turn 75 years old, per state law. Justice Evelyn Wilson retired in July, citing a Lou Gehrig’s disease diagnosis, and her replacement,<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/21/newest-addition-to-kansas-supreme-court-promises-to-be-the-justice-all-kansans-deserve/">&nbsp;Justice Larkin Walsh, took the bench</a>&nbsp;in November.&nbsp;Voters in August 2026 will decide if they want to change the way state Supreme Court justices are selected. They will have the choice of switching to a popular vote system or retaining the current nomination and gubernatorial appointment process.

Luckert, 70, also announced her resignation from three national committees.

Before the Supreme Court, she was a district judge in Shawnee County, becoming the first woman in Kansas to be a chief district judge.

“I wanted small town Kansas children, including girls, to see themselves reflected in positions of leadership and to know their voices, their intelligence and their perseverance matter,” she said.

Luckert was born in Goodland, and she obtained undergraduate and law degrees at Washburn University in Topeka. She worked in private practice before Gov. Joan Finney appointed her to the district court.

Gov. Bill Graves appointed Luckert to the Supreme Court in 2003, where she has sat for 22 years. She became chief justice in 2019 following the retirement of former Chief Justice Lawton Nuss.

“Serving as chief justice has given me a front row seat to the courage and compassion that define our judicial system,” Luckert said. “I have watched judges make difficult decisions with integrity. Courts staff treat people with dignity during their most vulnerable moments, and employees adapt to change with grace and resolve.”

Rosen said in a news release Luckert’s time on the bench has been “fraught with challenge.” He lauded her efforts to build relationships in state government and overcome major obstacles. She made the court system “stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future,” he said.

Luckert said Kansas’ three branches of government have come together during her tenure to create a “more accessible, more efficient and better equipped” judiciary that can “respond to complex issues such as mental illness and the needs of children in care.”

“That spirit of cooperation gives me great hope for the future,” Luckert said, “and confidence that the three branches can continue to build upon that foundation, and to continue to strengthen a dedicated court system designed to bring accessible justice to all.”

Kansas Supreme Court chief justice to retire by early February

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 3:30a.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a silver Chevrolet Malibu crossed the double yellow line and was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Independence Avenue. In the area of Independence Avenue and Jackson Street, the Chevrolet struck an eastbound Ford Taurus head-on.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver of the Chevrolet to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and they were pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

EMS transported the driver of the Ford and a front seat passenger of the Chevrolet to local hospitals. Both had life-threatening injuries and were listed in critical condition. This is fatality #65 compared to #89 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the driver who died or additional details.

Driver dies, 2 critically injured after head-on crash in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) —Four moderate House Republicans — from swing districts Democrats are already eyeing for next year’s midterms — have broken ranks with Speaker Mike Johnson, signing on to Democrats’ petition to force a vote on extending health care subsidies that expire at the end of this year.

From battleground districts in Pennsylvania and New York, the members on Wednesday sided against their party on the Democratic-led measure to force a vote on subsidy extensions related to Affordable Care Act — a move that came after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-house-health-care-plan-obamacare-subsidies-208b30670d0486c8d27ceb59c59003e0">GOP health care bill</a>&nbsp;that does not address impending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-tax-credits-affordable-care-act-2b5ae3651ff16783a00e00dc1ce264bf">soaring monthly premiums</a>.

Acknowledging “these are not normal times,” Johnson said his party’s razor-thin majority allows a small number of GOP members to have an outsize influence in some of the chamber’s mechanics.

Meet the four Republicans bucking their party’s leadership over health care:

Fitzpatrick, who has been part of several bipartisan pushes this year, represents a perennial swing district in the presidential battleground state. Amassing bipartisan signatures for his own discharge petition related to ACA subsidy extension, earlier this year he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-trading-ban-congress-7467604e26652de32687442bcb277774">part of a coalition</a>&nbsp;that spanned the political spectrum to rally support for a bill that would prohibit members of Congress and their families from owning and trading individual stocks.

“It’s not every day you see this cast of characters up here,” Fitzpatrick said. “You’re all smirking out there. That’s a good thing. It speaks to the power of this cause.”

Mackenzie drew an opponent barely 48 hours after voting for the House budget bill earlier this year.

Part of a bipartisan group pressing for an eleventh-hour compromise over the ACA subsidies, Mackenzie&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-tax-credits-congress-trump-swing-districts-e030d7a0dd61ca8815fe4722ddbe94b7">told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;earlier this month that lawmakers needed to understand that, “even if you have a broken system, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t provide or offer relief to individuals who are dealing with those high costs right now.”

Bresnahan and Mackenzie, both freshmen, won in November by some of the smallest margins in all of Congress. Already a top target for Democrats in next year’s midterms, Bresnahan and his district have already had high-level political attention.

Last week, President Donald Trump was in his district for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-affordability-pennsylvania-speech-6a7884b814f448ab6b17b9d924a356ba">an official White House event</a>&nbsp;that seemed more like one of his signature campaign rallies that officials said he would hold regularly ahead of next year’s midterms.

Lawler’s district has been considered a crucial swing seat in recent elections, and Democrats are expected to again dedicate heavy resources to flip it next year. A moderate who last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-congress-long-island-election-2024-d9971985ba0440117d41b1fd0d921e56">won a second term</a>, he openly expressed interest in running for governor but backed off those plans, saying he wanted to defend his battleground district.

Earlier this year, while many House Republicans shunned holding town halls in their districts as the Trump administration’s aggressive actions roiled constituents, Lawler instead sought to put himself in front of voters, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-congress-lawler-trump-dc074f165919c3d5305b3fa0e382c2b0">peppered him with questions</a>&nbsp;and devolved into a chaotic chorus of boos.

Meet the 4 Republicans who defied House Speaker on ACA subsidies

GRAHAM COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Saturday in Graham County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Escape driven by Cody Harmon, 33, Phillipsburg, was westbound on J Road just east of 390th Avenue. The driver lost control of the SUV.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled into the south ditch, continued westbound in the&nbsp; ditch and struck a tree.

Harmon was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Stinemetz Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after SUV strikes a tree

INDIANAPOLIS — Austin Ryan Lauless, 31, of Colorado, has been sentenced to 84 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In September 2025, Lauless pleaded guilty to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the United State's Attorney.

As of Dec. 17, 84 victims have been identified from nearly every state in the United States and at least five foreign countries. Investigators believe additional victims may still be unidentified. If you or someone you know has been a victim of Lauless, also known online as Cason Fredrickson or APOPHIS, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

According to court documents, between late 2019 and May 19, 2023, Lauless used social media applications such as Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, Yubo, Purp, and others to coerce, exploit, and threaten at least 84 minor victims into producing thousands of sexually explicit images and videos. The victims ranged in age from 13 to 17 at the time of the offenses.

Using these social media platforms, Lauless misrepresented his identity, posing as “Cason Fredrickson,” a teenager from New York or other cities. In reality, Lauless was in his late 20s, unemployed, and living in hotels and motels in Texas and Colorado. To conceal his identity, he accessed the public Instagram page of Individual A and, without their knowledge or consent, saved images and videos to impersonate Individual A while posing as “Cason Fredrickson.”

Lauless’ criminal methods included misrepresenting his age, identity, background, and likeness to groom minors and create a false sense of safety in online communications. He also used voice modulators and third-party image and video applications to edit content, making it appear as though it was recorded live through social media platforms such as Snapchat.

He feigned romantic interest in victims, told them they were attractive, and pretended to be in online relationships. He purchased items for many victims through Amazon — including fishnet stockings, sexual devices, and customized t-shirts — which he instructed them to wear while producing sexually explicit material. These items were shipped either directly to victims or to designated Amazon lockers for pickup.

To prolong his exploitation and avoid detection, Lauless threatened victims with dissemination of their images and videos if they failed to comply with his demands or sought help from parents or law enforcement. At least one victim reported to Lauless that she was contemplating suicide.

Lauless also sex trafficked at least five minor victims by forcing them to engage in oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse with adult males, producing numerous videos of these commercial sex acts. Some victims were forced to endure sadomasochistic abuse at his direction.

Once he obtained images and videos, Lauless advertised and sold the sexually explicit material on platforms such as Discord, Instagram, Telegram, and MEGA. He engaged in at least 141 transactions, receiving payment through Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin, and CashApp. He admitted that his collection of child sexual abuse material included thousands of images and videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, as well as children subjected to bestiality and sadomasochistic abuse.

“The sheer scale of this investigation and prosecution underscores the relentless commitment of federal law enforcement to dismantle networks of exploitation that prey on our children,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Childress &nbsp;for the Southern District of Indiana. “Austin Lauless orchestrated a campaign of abuse that spanned nearly every state and multiple countries, leaving behind profound harm. While no punishment can erase the trauma these young survivors endured, today’s sentence sends a clear message: we will pursue predators across every platform, every jurisdiction, and every border until justice is served.”

“This case represents one of the most egregious forms of exploitation the FBI investigates,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “This was not an isolated crime - it was a nationwide and international campaign of exploitation that victimized at least 84 people, including children, and involved the trafficking of human beings. The FBI is committed to identifying offenders who use technology to abuse, manipulate, and control others, and to ensuring they are held fully accountable. Today’s sentence delivers justice for the victims and reinforces that these crimes will not go unanswered.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Preston and Carolyn Haney for the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted this case with invaluable assistance from Victim Witness Coordinators Stephanie Lloyd and Johnna Preidt.

The FBI conducted the investigation, with additional support from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker for the Southern District of Indiana.

Additionally, 13 U.S. Attorney’s Offices provided cooperation during the investigation. Without their assistance, bringing Lauless to justice and legally resolving the harm he imposed on the victims would have been delayed. They include: Southern District of Iowa, Eastern District of Missouri, Northern District of Florida, Northern District of Texas, Western District of Kentucky, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of New York, District of South Carolina, Southern District of Texas, District of Colorado, Central District of California, District of Arizona, and Eastern District of Tennessee.

This case was brought as part of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-sdin%2Fproject-safe-childhood%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019b3255de7f-81fd8676-bf36-42a7-83e8-c9dd44707b6f-000000/WGKNo-oy2wVyroINc20x1rCDx4ka1avklk2VRvhddBw=436">Project Safe Childhood</a>, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state,&nbsp;and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Predator coerced 84 minors to send him explicit videos, sold them online

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas teen who admitted her role in an acid attack on another girl is going to prison.

On Friday Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced Tayronnia West, who was 18 at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post release supervision,&nbsp; according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The judge followed the state’s recommendations and denied a motion for a departure to probation.

In September, West pled guilty to Reckless Aggravated Battery, severity level 5, person felony, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

In June Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced West's accomplice Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. A&nbsp;jury found Hollins guilty of aggravated battery. She is being held in the Topeka Correctional facility and has been disciplined five times since June, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a fight.&nbsp;

In June Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced West's accomplice Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Immediately following the acid attack incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for the suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested Hollins and accomplice Tayronnia Jontashia West. In March of 2025, police also arrested a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case.

Prison for throwing acid on Kansas teen's face during a fight

SEWARD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 8:30a.m. Saturday in Seward County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Ford F350 driven by Stanley Wayne&nbsp; De Weerd, 73, Rock Valley, Iowa, was westbound on U.S. 54 just east of U.S. 83.&nbsp; The pickup struck the drivers side of a 2022 Kenworth semi driven by Emmanuel Terrell Lee&nbsp;Jimmerson, 41, North Las Vegas, Nevada, who was exiting from the Love's Travel Stop Western entrance, initiating a left turn to travel east on U.S 54.&nbsp;

A passenger in the pickup identified as Arlis Kay&nbsp;De Weerd, 72, Rock Valley, Iowa was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Hornung Mortuary. EMS transported&nbsp;Stanley De Weerd to Wesley Medical Center and&nbsp;Jimmerson to Southwest Medical Center. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the K HP.

Woman killed in pickup, semi crash on Kansas highway

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — PJ Haggerty scored 24 points, leading five in double figures, and Kansas State rolled past South Dakota 106-76 on Saturday.

The Wildcats (8-4) shot 68% in the first half and scored 57 points with Haggerty making all eight of his shots for 16 points before halftime. He finished 10-for-12 from the field to go with six rebounds and three assists.

K-State spotted South Dakota the first basket but the Wildcats were soon up 19-7. Their largest lead of the half was 44-20 near the six-minute mark and they led 57-34 at halftime.

A 10-0 run early in the second half pushed the lead to 31 points and K-State led 87-51 with 9 1/2 minutes remaining.

David Castillo scored 16 points, Nate Johnson and Abdi Bashir Jr. 15 each and Khamari McGriff 10 for the Wildcats. Johnson had five steals and McGriff blocked four shots.

Isaac Bruns scored 19 points, Cameron Fens 17 and Jesse McIntosh 15 for the Coyotes (7-7). Uzziah Buntyn contributed nine assists.

K-State has won all 11 games in the series.

Kansas State: The Wildcats host Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 28.

South Dakota: Mount Marty visits on Dec. 28. ___

🏀 Haggerty scores 24 points, Kansas State dumps South Dakota

The Junction City Blue Jay boys basketball program hosted the St. Mary's Academy Crusaders in boys only action on Wednesday night at Junction City High School. The JCHS boys went 3-0 as a program, with the Freshman, JV, and Varsity all winning in their final action before Christmas break.&nbsp;

Varsity boys - Junction City 48, St. Mary's Academy 22

By no means was it a clean game, but the Junction City Blue Jays win their final game of 2025, 48-22. St. Mary's Academy scored the first basket of the game, and that's the only time the Crusaders led. Following that early basket and a sluggish start for JCHS, the Blue Jays went on an 11-0 run and then led 13-4 at the end of the first period.&nbsp;

The second quarter is when Junction City began to find their groove. Senior Lovell Autry and junior Brody Boeckman both got rolling in this period, and the Blue Jays went on a 13-0 run, capped off by a Boeckman right-wing three pointer with less than a minute to go in the first half. JC led 34-9 at the half.

Second half saw the Blue Jays get some of their younger players on the floor with a 30 plus point lead, and a continuous running clock in the fourth quarter. JC led 46-12 at the end of the third quarter and won the game 48-22.&nbsp;

With the win, Junction City improved to 3-2 on the season and heads into Christmas break with a winning record.&nbsp;

Senior Lovell Autry finished with a game high 17 points, and Brody Boeckman finished with 13 points.&nbsp;

*On our KJCK Radio broadcast, our Blu restaurant player of the game was Junior Brody Boeckman. (For being our player of the game, Brody receives a $20 free meal voucher from Blu Restaurant in Junction City).&nbsp;

🏀 Blue Jay boys basketball Wins big in Final game before Christmas Break

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

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Flory Bidunga had 18 points and 10 rebounds to spur No. 17 Kansas to a 73-49 victory over Towson on Tuesday night.

Tre White had 16 points and a career-high six assists for the Jayhawks (9-3). Melvin Council, coming off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-melvin-council-3fa0e92a24fea40c9d072d54ec3bb826">a career-best 36-point performance</a>&nbsp;in Saturday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-nc-state-score-c3e0319a94dd9632ac2f4d0108979da0">overtime win</a>&nbsp;over N.C. State, added 15 points.

Kansas improved to 273-9 at home against unranked opponents under coach Bill Self.

Sophomore guard Jamari McDowell started for preseason All-American Darryn Peterson, who missed an eighth game due to injury. Self said Peterson had quadriceps cramps.

Bidunga, who entered the night as the Big 12’s leading shot blocker, had two blocks in the first seven minutes and finished with three. He also scored KU’s first six points en route to his seventh career double-double.

A 6-foot-10 sophomore forward from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bidunga was 7 of 8 from the field and 4 of 7 from the line.

Dylan Williamson scored 19 points for Towson (6-5), which never led. The Tigers drew within nine early in the second half before KU went on a 10-2 run. Kansas led by 25 in the second half and held an opponent below 50 points for the second time this year.

Bryson Tiller added 11 points for the Jayhawks.

The Tigers managed just four assists, although they did finish with a 22-12 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Still, Towson shot only 27.5% from the field and finished 3 of 12 from 3-point range against the stingy Jayhawks.

KU didn’t commit a foul until 9:11 remained in the first half. The Jayhawks hit 10 of their first 13 field-goal attempts.

🏀 Flory Bidunga has 18 points, 10 rebounds as KU beats Towson 

Junction City High School girls wrestling competed in two separate tournaments over the weekend, earning strong team finishes and multiple individual honors.

The JCHS girls varsity wrestling team participated in the Christmas Clash tournament in Great Bend. Junction City placed 4th in the tournament, out of 33 teams. (JCHS finished 2.5 points out of 3rd place).&nbsp;

Individual medalists are listed below.

Medal winners below - (Listed from highest to lowest finish)

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