JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. —A Jackson County sheriff's deputy struck by a car while investigating an accident was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'. 

Just after 6p.m. December 17, a 2012 Mercedes driven by a 69-year-old Lee's Summit woman was southbound at South Buckner Tarsney at E. Ryan Road. The vehicle traveled into the crash scene and struck the the 53-year-old deputy, according to the MSHP.

Central Jackson County EMS transported the deputy to Centerpoint Medical Center where he underwnt several medical procedures.

"He’s in good spirits, has a positive mindset, and is expected to fully recover.&nbsp; He’s blessed to be surrounded by a caring family," according to Forte'

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766358531941.png" alt="photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. —A Jackson County sheriff's deputy struck by a car while investigating an accident was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'. Just after 6p.m. December 17, a 2012 Mercedes driven by a 69-year-old Lee's Summit woman was southbound at South Buckner Tarsney at E. Ryan Road. The vehicle traveled into the crash scene and struck the the 53-year-old deputy, according to the MSHP.Central Jackson County EMS transported the deputy to Centerpoint Medical Center where he underwnt several medical procedures."He’s in good spirits, has a positive mindset, and is expected to fully recover.&nbsp; He’s blessed to be surrounded by a caring family," according to Forte'

Merry Christmas: Deputy struck by a car released from hospital

The Powerball® jackpot has been won in Arkansas, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. A single ticket sold in Arkansas matched all six numbers drawn last night to win a $1.817 billion jackpot. The jackpot has a cash option of $834.9 million.

The winning numbers in the Wednesday, Dec. 24 Powerball drawing were white balls 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and red Powerball 19. The Power Play® multiplier was 2.

With final ticket sales, the Powerball jackpot reached $1.817 billion, making it the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won and the largest Powerball prize this year.

“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak – every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”

This marks the second time the Powerball® jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Arkansas; the first was in 2010.

The lucky ticket holder will have the choice between an annuitized prize of $1.817 billion or a lump sump payment of $834.9 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If a winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

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, Indiana, Michigan, New York (2), Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Match 5 prize is a set cash prize of $1 million except in California, where prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.

The drawing also produced 114 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 31 tickets that won $100,000 prizes.

In the Double Play® drawing, two tickets sold in Colorado and South Carolina won $500,000 prizes 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<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">&nbsp;Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;following the main Powerball drawing.

Last night’s Powerball drawing was the 47th in the jackpot run – a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was previously won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.

For the next drawing on Saturday night, the Powerball jackpot resets to $20 million. The Power Play® 10X multiplier will be available for play since the advertised jackpot is below $150 million.

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.

The Powerball® jackpot has been won in Arkansas, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. A single ticket sold in Arkansas matched all six numbers drawn last night to win a $1.817 billion jackpot. The jackpot has a cash option of $834.9 million.The winning numbers in the Wednesday, Dec. 24 Powerball drawing were white balls 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and red Powerball 19. The Power Play® multiplier was 2.With final ticket sales, the Powerball jackpot reached $1.817 billion, making it the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won and the largest Powerball prize this year.“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak – every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”This marks the second time the Powerball® jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Arkansas; the first was in 2010.The lucky ticket holder will have the choice between an annuitized prize of $1.817 billion or a lump sump payment of $834.9 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If a winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.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, Indiana, Michigan, New York (2), Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Match 5 prize is a set cash prize of $1 million except in California, where prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.The drawing also produced 114 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 31 tickets that won $100,000 prizes.In the Double Play® drawing, two tickets sold in Colorado and South Carolina won $500,000 prizes 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<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">&nbsp;Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;following the main Powerball drawing.Last night’s Powerball drawing was the 47th in the jackpot run – a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was previously won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.For the next drawing on Saturday night, the Powerball jackpot resets to $20 million. The Power Play® 10X multiplier will be available for play since the advertised jackpot is below $150 million.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.Record U.S. Lottery Jackpots<ol>
 <li>$2.04 Billion – Powerball – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA</li><li>$1.817 Billion – Powerball – Dec. 24, 2025 – AR</li><li>$1.787 Billion – Powerball – Sept. 6, 2025 – MO, TX</li><li>$1.765 Billion – Powerball – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA</li><li>$1.602 Billion – Mega Millions – Aug. 8, 2023 – FL</li><li>$1.586 Billion – Powerball – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN</li><li>$1.537 Billion – Mega Millions – Oct. 23, 2018 – SC</li><li>$1.348 Billion – Mega Millions – Jan. 13, 2023 – ME</li><li>$1.337 Billion – Mega Millions – July 29, 2022 – IL</li><li>$1.326 Billion – Powerball – April 6, 2024 – OR</li>
 </ol>

Single ticket wins $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two Indian nationals with allegedly defrauding a victim while posing as federal law enforcement officials.&nbsp;

According to court documents, Venkateswara Reddy Chagamreddy, 27, of San Antonio, Texas, and Sai Praveen Kommana, 29, of Frisco, Texas, were indicted on one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of interference with commerce by threat.

From May 2025 through September 2025, Chagamreddy and Kommana are accused of conspiring with others to defraud a victim in Kansas. The members of this conspiracy posed as agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They allegedly convinced the individual to purchase $255,287 in gold and give it them, falsely thinking it was going to a government agency for safe keeping.

The members of this conspiracy, including the indicted men, allegedly primarily target elderly retired individuals, falsely asserting they are with a government agency and telling victims that their identity has been compromised in ways that could result in jail time and major financial loss for victims. Prosecutors accuse the members of this conspiracy of convincing victims to transfer their assets, primarily in gold, to the federal government to protect themselves against further crimes.

The FBI will never call, email or otherwise contact private citizens to demand payment, threaten arrest, or request personal or sensitive information. Fraud can be reported via<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">&nbsp;tips.fbi.gov&nbsp;</a>or 1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI encourages people who have been victims of internet crimes and/or financial fraud and schemes to report via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/">ic3.gov</a>.&nbsp;

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758654102753.png" alt="Sai Praveen Kommana from his Sept. arrest in Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Sai Praveen Kommana from his Sept. arrest in Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two Indian nationals with allegedly defrauding a victim while posing as federal law enforcement officials.&nbsp;According to court documents, Venkateswara Reddy Chagamreddy, 27, of San Antonio, Texas, and Sai Praveen Kommana, 29, of Frisco, Texas, were indicted on one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of interference with commerce by threat.From May 2025 through September 2025, Chagamreddy and Kommana are accused of conspiring with others to defraud a victim in Kansas. The members of this conspiracy posed as agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They allegedly convinced the individual to purchase $255,287 in gold and give it them, falsely thinking it was going to a government agency for safe keeping.The members of this conspiracy, including the indicted men, allegedly primarily target elderly retired individuals, falsely asserting they are with a government agency and telling victims that their identity has been compromised in ways that could result in jail time and major financial loss for victims. Prosecutors accuse the members of this conspiracy of convincing victims to transfer their assets, primarily in gold, to the federal government to protect themselves against further crimes.The FBI will never call, email or otherwise contact private citizens to demand payment, threaten arrest, or request personal or sensitive information. Fraud can be reported via<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">&nbsp;tips.fbi.gov&nbsp;</a>or 1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI encourages people who have been victims of internet crimes and/or financial fraud and schemes to report via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/">ic3.gov</a>.&nbsp;The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a&nbsp;

2 accused of posing as FBI agents to scam Kansans

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

Just after&nbsp; 7:00 a.m. Dec. 18, a Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives served a search warrant at the residence of 16399 R. Road, just north of the City of Mayetta, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse. In October law enforcement responded to a shooting at the same address.

 The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received information late Tuesday evening reporting a domestic altercation and criminal damage to a vehicle at the location.&nbsp; On Wednesday, deputies served the search warrant taking two men into custody.

Deputies arrested 22-year-old Cody M. Smith and 21-year-old Cole Alexander Thompson both of Mayetta.

Deputies seized cocaine and weapons from the residence. Smith was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thompson was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic battery and criminal damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766096515535.png" alt="Smith photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;Just after&nbsp; 7:00 a.m. Dec. 18, a Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives served a search warrant at the residence of 16399 R. Road, just north of the City of Mayetta, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse. In October law enforcement responded to a shooting at the same address.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766096470916.png" alt="Thompson photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Thompson photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure> The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received information late Tuesday evening reporting a domestic altercation and criminal damage to a vehicle at the location.&nbsp; On Wednesday, deputies served the search warrant taking two men into custody.Deputies arrested 22-year-old Cody M. Smith and 21-year-old Cole Alexander Thompson both of Mayetta.Deputies seized cocaine and weapons from the residence. Smith was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.Thompson was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic battery and criminal damage to property.

Sheriff: Suspects were selling cocaine from Kansas home

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 33-year-old Johntrel L Vickers, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the intersection of Admiral and Paseo on a reported shooting, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders found Vickers lying in the street near the intersection, unresponsive, and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene&nbsp; and pronounced him deceased.

There is no preliminary information indicating what led up to the shooting and a subject of interest has not been identified.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766337684429.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryle Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryle Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 33-year-old Johntrel L Vickers, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the intersection of Admiral and Paseo on a reported shooting, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.First responders found Vickers lying in the street near the intersection, unresponsive, and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene&nbsp; and pronounced him deceased.There is no preliminary information indicating what led up to the shooting and a subject of interest has not been identified.

Police ID homicide victim found on Kansas City street

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street closed higher and reached more records Wednesday on a holiday-shortened trading day.

The S&amp;P 500 index rose 22.26 points, or 0.3%, to 6,932.05. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 288.75, or 0.6%, to close at 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq composite added 51.46, or 0.2%, to 23,613.31

Trading was extremely light as markets closed early for Christmas Eve and will be closed for Christmas Thursday. Roughly 1.8 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, which is roughly a third of the average trading day.

Markets will reopen for a full day of trading on Friday; however volumes are expected to remain light this week with most investors having closed out their positions for the year.

The S&amp;P 500 is up more than 17%&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-bonds-crypto-tariffs-ai-539ae5ec338d19f52116e97d38300c28">this year</a>, as investors have embraced the deregulatory policies of the Trump administration and been optimistic about the future of artificial intelligence in helping boost profits for not only technology companies but also for Corporate America. Some of the strongest performers this year include Nvidia and Micron Technologies, both companies that make chips or other components that power the proliferation of data centers across the country.

Much of the focus for investors for the next few weeks will be on where the U.S. economy is heading and where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;will move interest rates. Investors are betting the Fed will hold steady on interest rates at its January meeting.

The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter, the most rapid expansion in two years, driven by consumers who continue to spend in the face of ongoing inflation. There have also been recent reports showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">shaky confidence among consumers</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-economy-inflation-groceries-costs-trump-affordability-d27635d279b27e5e2c19700c006ebb1d">worried about high prices</a>. The labor market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-trump-unemployment-federal-reserve-cf1280a8466d92fbbc1b5ace7b80bffc">has been slowing</a>&nbsp;and retail sales&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-industry-inflation-cd9c68bb96ea0f1bfc6a3c0be6be1a90">have weakened</a>.

The number of Americans applying for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-ba15107bd53911c23c1a694c3dd09f18">unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;fell last week and remain at historically healthy levels despite some signs that the labor market is weakening.

U.S. applications for jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 20 fell by 10,000 to 214,000 from the previous week’s 224,000, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. That’s below the 232,000 new applications forecast of analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Dynavax Technologies soared 38.2% after Sanofi said it was acquiring the California-based vaccine maker in a deal worth $2.2 billion. The French drugmaker will add Dynavax’s hepatitis B vaccines to its portfolio, as well as a shingles vaccine that is still in development.

Novo Nordisk's shares rose 1.8% after the weight-loss drug company got approval from U.S. regulators for a pill version of its blockbuster drug Wegovy. However, Novo Nordisk shares are still down almost 40% this year as the company has faced increased competition for weight-loss medications, particularly from Eli Lilly. Shares of Eli Lilly are up 40% this year.

European markets moved between slight gains and losses. Asian markets were also quiet, with Hong Kong moving up 0.2% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.1%

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street closed higher and reached more records Wednesday on a holiday-shortened trading day.The S&amp;P 500 index rose 22.26 points, or 0.3%, to 6,932.05. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 288.75, or 0.6%, to close at 48,731.16, and the Nasdaq composite added 51.46, or 0.2%, to 23,613.31Trading was extremely light as markets closed early for Christmas Eve and will be closed for Christmas Thursday. Roughly 1.8 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, which is roughly a third of the average trading day.Markets will reopen for a full day of trading on Friday; however volumes are expected to remain light this week with most investors having closed out their positions for the year.The S&amp;P 500 is up more than 17%&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-bonds-crypto-tariffs-ai-539ae5ec338d19f52116e97d38300c28">this year</a>, as investors have embraced the deregulatory policies of the Trump administration and been optimistic about the future of artificial intelligence in helping boost profits for not only technology companies but also for Corporate America. Some of the strongest performers this year include Nvidia and Micron Technologies, both companies that make chips or other components that power the proliferation of data centers across the country.Much of the focus for investors for the next few weeks will be on where the U.S. economy is heading and where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;will move interest rates. Investors are betting the Fed will hold steady on interest rates at its January meeting.The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter, the most rapid expansion in two years, driven by consumers who continue to spend in the face of ongoing inflation. There have also been recent reports showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">shaky confidence among consumers</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-economy-inflation-groceries-costs-trump-affordability-d27635d279b27e5e2c19700c006ebb1d">worried about high prices</a>. The labor market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-trump-unemployment-federal-reserve-cf1280a8466d92fbbc1b5ace7b80bffc">has been slowing</a>&nbsp;and retail sales&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-industry-inflation-cd9c68bb96ea0f1bfc6a3c0be6be1a90">have weakened</a>.The number of Americans applying for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-ba15107bd53911c23c1a694c3dd09f18">unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;fell last week and remain at historically healthy levels despite some signs that the labor market is weakening.U.S. applications for jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 20 fell by 10,000 to 214,000 from the previous week’s 224,000, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. That’s below the 232,000 new applications forecast of analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.Dynavax Technologies soared 38.2% after Sanofi said it was acquiring the California-based vaccine maker in a deal worth $2.2 billion. The French drugmaker will add Dynavax’s hepatitis B vaccines to its portfolio, as well as a shingles vaccine that is still in development.Novo Nordisk's shares rose 1.8% after the weight-loss drug company got approval from U.S. regulators for a pill version of its blockbuster drug Wegovy. However, Novo Nordisk shares are still down almost 40% this year as the company has faced increased competition for weight-loss medications, particularly from Eli Lilly. Shares of Eli Lilly are up 40% this year.European markets moved between slight gains and losses. Asian markets were also quiet, with Hong Kong moving up 0.2% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.1%

US stocks drift to more records on a holiday-shortened day of trading

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-hanna">JOHN HANNA</a> Associated Press

The University of Oklahoma has fired an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-oklahoma-gender-bible-essay-demonic-0fd51985c123737cd372ba609b730541">a failing grade</a>&nbsp;on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”

The university said in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UofOklahoma/status/2003209457195741653" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;posted Monday on X that its investigation found the graduate teaching assistant had been “arbitrary” in giving 20-year-old junior Samantha Fulnecky zero points on the assignment. The university declined to comment beyond its statement, which said the instructor had been removed from teaching.

Through her attorney, the instructor, Mel Curth, denied Tuesday that she had “engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student’s work.” The attorney, Brittany Stewart, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that Curth is “considering all of her legal remedies.”

Conservative groups, commentators and others quickly made Fulnecky’s failing grade an online cause, highlighting her argument that she’d been punished for expressing conservative Christian views. Her case became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over academic freedom on college campuses as President Donald Trump pushes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives</a>, and restrict how campuses discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-compact-higher-education-trump-b883cf9c23eaed7ee1ba9819430d33d8">race, gender and sexuality.</a>

Fulnecky appealed her grade on the assignment, which was worth 3% of the final grade in the class, and the university said the assignment would not count. It also placed Curth on leave, and Oklahoma’s conservative Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, declared the situation “deeply concerning.

“The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty’s rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students’ right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer’s impermissible evaluative standards,” the university’s statement said. “We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-education-379c55d6a9487381d48d8450a639bd13">A law approved this year</a>&nbsp;by Oklahoma’s Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by Stitt prohibits state universities from using public funds to finance DEI programs or positions or mandating DEI training. However, the law says it does not apply to scholarly research or “the academic freedom of any individual faculty member.”

Home telephone listings for Fulnecky in the Springfield, Missouri, area had been disconnected, and her mother — an attorney, podcaster and radio host — did not immediately respond Tuesday to a Facebook message seeking comment about the university’s action.

Fulnecky’s failing grade came in an assignment for a psychology class on lifespan development. Curth directed students to write a 650-word response to an academic study that examined whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.

Fulnecky wrote that she was frustrated by the premise of the assignment because she does not believe that there are more than two genders based on her understanding of the Bible, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qxnVi_yaJ-Fb9u1-A1Vy2vQT3Aiw8Nix/preview" target="_blank">a copy of her essay</a>&nbsp;provided&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2025/11/25/ou-oklahoma-samantha-fulnecky-read-essay-gender-bible/87463858007/" target="_blank">to The Oklahoman</a>.

“Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth,” she wrote, adding that it would lead society “farther from God’s original plan for humans.”

In feedback obtained by the newspaper, Curth said the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”

“Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs,” Curth wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766531024175.png" alt="File photo courtesy University of Oklahoma" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy University of Oklahoma</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-hanna">JOHN HANNA</a> Associated PressThe University of Oklahoma has fired an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-oklahoma-gender-bible-essay-demonic-0fd51985c123737cd372ba609b730541">a failing grade</a>&nbsp;on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from the University of Oklahoma: <a href="https://t.co/FzcjByOjpp">pic.twitter.com/FzcjByOjpp</a>&mdash; University of Oklahoma (@UofOklahoma) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofOklahoma/status/2003209457195741653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The university said in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UofOklahoma/status/2003209457195741653" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;posted Monday on X that its investigation found the graduate teaching assistant had been “arbitrary” in giving 20-year-old junior Samantha Fulnecky zero points on the assignment. The university declined to comment beyond its statement, which said the instructor had been removed from teaching.Through her attorney, the instructor, Mel Curth, denied Tuesday that she had “engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student’s work.” The attorney, Brittany Stewart, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that Curth is “considering all of her legal remedies.”Conservative groups, commentators and others quickly made Fulnecky’s failing grade an online cause, highlighting her argument that she’d been punished for expressing conservative Christian views. Her case became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over academic freedom on college campuses as President Donald Trump pushes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives</a>, and restrict how campuses discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-compact-higher-education-trump-b883cf9c23eaed7ee1ba9819430d33d8">race, gender and sexuality.</a>Fulnecky appealed her grade on the assignment, which was worth 3% of the final grade in the class, and the university said the assignment would not count. It also placed Curth on leave, and Oklahoma’s conservative Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, declared the situation “deeply concerning.“The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty’s rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students’ right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer’s impermissible evaluative standards,” the university’s statement said. “We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-education-379c55d6a9487381d48d8450a639bd13">A law approved this year</a>&nbsp;by Oklahoma’s Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by Stitt prohibits state universities from using public funds to finance DEI programs or positions or mandating DEI training. However, the law says it does not apply to scholarly research or “the academic freedom of any individual faculty member.”Home telephone listings for Fulnecky in the Springfield, Missouri, area had been disconnected, and her mother — an attorney, podcaster and radio host — did not immediately respond Tuesday to a Facebook message seeking comment about the university’s action.Fulnecky’s failing grade came in an assignment for a psychology class on lifespan development. Curth directed students to write a 650-word response to an academic study that examined whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.Fulnecky wrote that she was frustrated by the premise of the assignment because she does not believe that there are more than two genders based on her understanding of the Bible, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qxnVi_yaJ-Fb9u1-A1Vy2vQT3Aiw8Nix/preview" target="_blank">a copy of her essay</a>&nbsp;provided&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2025/11/25/ou-oklahoma-samantha-fulnecky-read-essay-gender-bible/87463858007/" target="_blank">to The Oklahoman</a>.“Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth,” she wrote, adding that it would lead society “farther from God’s original plan for humans.”In feedback obtained by the newspaper, Curth said the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”“Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs,” Curth wrote.

OU instructor fired after giving failing grade to a Bible-based essay on gender

WICHITA, KAN. –&nbsp;Alex Emillano Jaramillo, 45, a minimum-custody resident of the Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF) has been apprehended.

Jaramillo was taken into custody Wednesday morning, December 24, after surrendering to authorities at a local hospital, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. He was arrested without incident.

Jaramillo was placed on escape status after not returning to the facility Wednesday, December 24, 2025, from his night job.

Jaramillo is listed a violent Kansas offender and has previous convictions for aggravated assault; use of a deadly weapon, burglary, driving while suspended, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, violation of the offender registration act and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766595016819.png" alt="Jaramillo photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Jaramillo photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. –&nbsp;Alex Emillano Jaramillo, 45, a minimum-custody resident of the Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF) has been apprehended.Jaramillo was taken into custody Wednesday morning, December 24, after surrendering to authorities at a local hospital, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. He was arrested without incident.Jaramillo was placed on escape status after not returning to the facility Wednesday, December 24, 2025, from his night job.Jaramillo is listed a violent Kansas offender and has previous convictions for aggravated assault; use of a deadly weapon, burglary, driving while suspended, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, violation of the offender registration act and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Violent Kan. offender captured after Christmas Eve escape

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino, a white Mack concrete truck entered the on-ramp for southbound U.S. 71 Highway from eastbound MO 150 Highway at a high rate of speed. 

The driver was unable to maintain the curvature of the entrance ramp and due its height and weight, the truck rolled over. The truck then slid into the concrete retaining wall located along the east side of the ramp before coming to rest. The driver and sole occupant of the truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. This is fatality #67 compared to #92 at this time last year, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; The name of the driver has not been released.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.According to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino, a white Mack concrete truck entered the on-ramp for southbound U.S. 71 Highway from eastbound MO 150 Highway at a high rate of speed. The driver was unable to maintain the curvature of the entrance ramp and due its height and weight, the truck rolled over. The truck then slid into the concrete retaining wall located along the east side of the ramp before coming to rest. The driver and sole occupant of the truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. This is fatality #67 compared to #92 at this time last year, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; The name of the driver has not been released.

KCPD: Driver killed after concrete truck rollover crash

A Christmas Eve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/powerball-lottery-players-dream-big-as-jackpot-reaches-1-6-billion-6ff5647e15794b4c890f1fd5d3e111a5">Powerball drawing</a>&nbsp;could add new meaning to holiday cheer as millions of players hope to cash in on the $1.7 billion prize, which comes after months without a jackpot winner.

The United States'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ec46e188305c9425cb555eef00a89d37">4th-largest jackpot</a>&nbsp;on record comes after 46 consecutive draws without someone claiming to have all six numbers. The last contest with a jackpot winner was on Sept. 6. The game’s long odds have people decking the halls and doling out $2 — and sometimes more — for tickets ahead of Wednesday night's live drawing at 10:59 p.m. EST.

It's a sign the game is operating as intended. Lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-f3d841745b774492a03983e8f4bdc719">made the odds tougher</a>&nbsp;in 2015 as a mechanism for snowballing jackpots, all the while making it easier to win smaller prizes.

The Christmas holiday is not expected to impact the drawing process should there be a winning ticket, a Powerball spokesperson said.

Here is what to know about Wednesday’s drawing:

That ticket placed in a stocking or under the tree could be worth a billion bucks — but with some caveats.

Powerball is played in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of those areas require players to be 18 or older, though some states have steeper requirements. In Nebraska, players have to be at least 19 years old, and in Louisiana and Arizona, people can't buy tickets until they are 21.

Winning tickets also must be cashed in the states where they were bought. And players can't buy tickets in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada or Utah.

Other than that, lottery officials argue there is a chance a lucky Powerball ticket could be a gift that keeps on giving.

Charlie McIntyre, the New Hampshire Lottery's executive director, said Tuesday: “Just think of the stories you can tell for generations to come about the year you woke up a billionaire on Christmas.”

Wednesday's $1.7 billion jackpot has a cash value of $781.3 million.

A winner can choose to be paid the whole amount&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, with an immediate payment and then annual payments over 29 years that increase by 5% each time. Most winners, however, usually choose the cash value for a lump sum.

The odds are high for the top prize, but there are smaller prizes players can reap.

At the last drawing, players in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin each won $1 million. There are also prizes outside the jackpot, ranging from a few dollars to $2 million.

One woman told Powerball officials that she already made plans for her $1 million win: “We’re going to pay off our cars and credit cards and get a bigger house!”

And Thomas Anderson of Burlington, North Carolina, said he intended to use his $100,000 Powerball win from earlier this month to go back to school, according to Powerball.

Long odds for the billion-dollar jackpots

Lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">set the odds</a>&nbsp;at 1 in 292.2 million in hopes that jackpots will roll over with each of the three weekly drawings until the pool balloons so much that more people take notice and play.

The odds used to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-f3d841745b774492a03983e8f4bdc719">notably better</a>, at 1 in 175 million. But the game was made tougher in 2015 to create the out-of-this-world bounties. The tougher odds partly helped set the stage for back-to-back record-breaking sweepstakes this year.

The last time someone won the Powerball pot was on Sept. 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198">$1.787 billion</a>, which was the second-highest top prize in U.S. history.

The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. The biggest U.S. jackpot ever was $2.04 billion back in 2022.

It’s hard to explain what odds of 1 in 292.2 million mean. Even if halved, they remain difficult to digest.

In the past, one&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-lottery-jackpot-b2471a4d796af84fc8628b2c3fa4f4e2">math professor</a>&nbsp;described the odds of flipping a coin and getting heads 28 straight times.

Tim Chartier, a Davidson College math professor in North Carolina, on Monday compared the odds of a winning lottery ticket to selecting one marked dollar bill from a stack 19 miles (31 kilometers) high.

“It’s true that if you buy 100 tickets, you are 100 times more likely to win. But in this case, ‘100 times more likely’ barely moves the probability needle,” Chartier said. “Using the time analogy, buying 100 tickets is like getting 100 guesses to name that one chosen second over nine years. Possible — but wildly improbable.”

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a>&nbsp;is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated PressA Christmas Eve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/powerball-lottery-players-dream-big-as-jackpot-reaches-1-6-billion-6ff5647e15794b4c890f1fd5d3e111a5">Powerball drawing</a>&nbsp;could add new meaning to holiday cheer as millions of players hope to cash in on the $1.7 billion prize, which comes after months without a jackpot winner.The United States'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ec46e188305c9425cb555eef00a89d37">4th-largest jackpot</a>&nbsp;on record comes after 46 consecutive draws without someone claiming to have all six numbers. The last contest with a jackpot winner was on Sept. 6. The game’s long odds have people decking the halls and doling out $2 — and sometimes more — for tickets ahead of Wednesday night's live drawing at 10:59 p.m. EST.It's a sign the game is operating as intended. Lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-f3d841745b774492a03983e8f4bdc719">made the odds tougher</a>&nbsp;in 2015 as a mechanism for snowballing jackpots, all the while making it easier to win smaller prizes.The Christmas holiday is not expected to impact the drawing process should there be a winning ticket, a Powerball spokesperson said.Here is what to know about Wednesday’s drawing:<h2>Christmas Eve cha-ching</h2>That ticket placed in a stocking or under the tree could be worth a billion bucks — but with some caveats.Powerball is played in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of those areas require players to be 18 or older, though some states have steeper requirements. In Nebraska, players have to be at least 19 years old, and in Louisiana and Arizona, people can't buy tickets until they are 21.Winning tickets also must be cashed in the states where they were bought. And players can't buy tickets in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada or Utah.Other than that, lottery officials argue there is a chance a lucky Powerball ticket could be a gift that keeps on giving.Charlie McIntyre, the New Hampshire Lottery's executive director, said Tuesday: “Just think of the stories you can tell for generations to come about the year you woke up a billionaire on Christmas.”<h2>A range of prizes can be presents</h2>Wednesday's $1.7 billion jackpot has a cash value of $781.3 million.A winner can choose to be paid the whole amount&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, with an immediate payment and then annual payments over 29 years that increase by 5% each time. Most winners, however, usually choose the cash value for a lump sum.The odds are high for the top prize, but there are smaller prizes players can reap.At the last drawing, players in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin each won $1 million. There are also prizes outside the jackpot, ranging from a few dollars to $2 million.One woman told Powerball officials that she already made plans for her $1 million win: “We’re going to pay off our cars and credit cards and get a bigger house!”And Thomas Anderson of Burlington, North Carolina, said he intended to use his $100,000 Powerball win from earlier this month to go back to school, according to Powerball.<h2>Long odds for the billion-dollar jackpots</h2>Lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">set the odds</a>&nbsp;at 1 in 292.2 million in hopes that jackpots will roll over with each of the three weekly drawings until the pool balloons so much that more people take notice and play.The odds used to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-f3d841745b774492a03983e8f4bdc719">notably better</a>, at 1 in 175 million. But the game was made tougher in 2015 to create the out-of-this-world bounties. The tougher odds partly helped set the stage for back-to-back record-breaking sweepstakes this year.The last time someone won the Powerball pot was on Sept. 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198">$1.787 billion</a>, which was the second-highest top prize in U.S. history.The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. The biggest U.S. jackpot ever was $2.04 billion back in 2022.<h2>More about those unfavorable odds</h2>It’s hard to explain what odds of 1 in 292.2 million mean. Even if halved, they remain difficult to digest.In the past, one&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-lottery-jackpot-b2471a4d796af84fc8628b2c3fa4f4e2">math professor</a>&nbsp;described the odds of flipping a coin and getting heads 28 straight times.Tim Chartier, a Davidson College math professor in North Carolina, on Monday compared the odds of a winning lottery ticket to selecting one marked dollar bill from a stack 19 miles (31 kilometers) high.“It’s true that if you buy 100 tickets, you are 100 times more likely to win. But in this case, ‘100 times more likely’ barely moves the probability needle,” Chartier said. “Using the time analogy, buying 100 tickets is like getting 100 guesses to name that one chosen second over nine years. Possible — but wildly improbable.”___Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a>&nbsp;is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Powerball’s jackpot could make Christmas Eve unforgettable for a winner

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage driven by John Franklin&nbsp;Harris, 68, St. George, was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The car struck a pedestrian identified as Thalonda Marie&nbsp;Lashley, 45, Junction City,&nbsp;who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

Lashley was transported to&nbsp;Via Christi-Manhattan where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Harris was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.

RILEY COUNTY —The Kansas HIghway Patrol is investigating a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.

The Patrol reported a vehicle was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The vehicle struck a pedestrian who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

The Patrol released no additional details early Wednesday. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley CountyThe Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage driven by John Franklin&nbsp;Harris, 68, St. George, was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The car struck a pedestrian identified as Thalonda Marie&nbsp;Lashley, 45, Junction City,&nbsp;who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.Lashley was transported to&nbsp;Via Christi-Manhattan where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Harris was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.---------------RILEY COUNTY —The Kansas HIghway Patrol is investigating a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.The Patrol reported a vehicle was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The vehicle struck a pedestrian who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.The Patrol released no additional details early Wednesday. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP: Kansas woman killed after struck by a car

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/wyatte-grantham-philips">WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS</a> Associated Press

This&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/holidays">holiday season</a>, many U.S. drivers are getting the gift of lower gas prices.

According to data from motor club AAA, December has been the cheapest month for prices at the pump this year. The national average for unleaded gasoline has stayed below the $3 mark since Dec. 2, falling to its lowest level of about $2.85 a gallon on Monday.

That figure has inched up slightly since, sitting at closer to $2.86 a gallon Tuesday — but overall, consumers hitting the road ahead of the Christmas holiday will likely continue to see mild prices.

As always, some states have cheaper averages than others, due to factors ranging from nearby refinery supply to local fuel requirements. Hawaii had the highest average of about $4.44 a gallon on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" target="_blank">per AAA</a>&nbsp;— followed by $4.30 in California and $3.92 in Washington. Meanwhile, Oklahoma had the lowest average at about $2.30 per gallon, followed by nearly $2.42 in both Arkansas and Iowa.

Still, nationwide, unleaded gasoline is down more than 18 cents than it was at this time last year, and 21 cents from a month ago. So far, AAA says that prices seen this month mark the cheapest December for gas prices since 2020, when the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/covid-19-pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;roiled the economy.

The travel organization notes that this month’s cheaper prices arrive as supply remains strong. Crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, has also been at a relatively mild level — with West Texas Intermediate remaining below the $60 per barrel mark for most of December.

Relief at the pump is welcome for consumers who have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-economy-inflation-groceries-costs-trump-affordability-d27635d279b27e5e2c19700c006ebb1d">feeling higher prices</a>&nbsp;in other parts of their budgets — as worries about the costs of goods ranging from groceries to holiday gifts rise amid ongoing inflation and U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tariffs">tariffs</a>&nbsp;on foreign imports.

Government data actually showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumer-prices-economy-trump-tariffs-e26c4b6ee05533fd6686555e125b2e53">consumer prices cooled</a>&nbsp;in November, rising at just 2.7% from a year earlier. But year-over-year inflation still remains well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target — and economists quickly warned that last month’s numbers were suspect because of delays and possible distortions from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">43-day federal shutdown</a>.

Most Americans have continued to express anger and frustration about the high cost of living — as well as an uncertain job market. On Tuesday, the Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">fell in December</a>&nbsp;to its lowest level since April.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761252636913.png" alt="Photo by Rudi Keller" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Rudi Keller</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/wyatte-grantham-philips">WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS</a> Associated PressThis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/holidays">holiday season</a>, many U.S. drivers are getting the gift of lower gas prices.According to data from motor club AAA, December has been the cheapest month for prices at the pump this year. The national average for unleaded gasoline has stayed below the $3 mark since Dec. 2, falling to its lowest level of about $2.85 a gallon on Monday.That figure has inched up slightly since, sitting at closer to $2.86 a gallon Tuesday — but overall, consumers hitting the road ahead of the Christmas holiday will likely continue to see mild prices.As always, some states have cheaper averages than others, due to factors ranging from nearby refinery supply to local fuel requirements. Hawaii had the highest average of about $4.44 a gallon on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" target="_blank">per AAA</a>&nbsp;— followed by $4.30 in California and $3.92 in Washington. Meanwhile, Oklahoma had the lowest average at about $2.30 per gallon, followed by nearly $2.42 in both Arkansas and Iowa.Still, nationwide, unleaded gasoline is down more than 18 cents than it was at this time last year, and 21 cents from a month ago. So far, AAA says that prices seen this month mark the cheapest December for gas prices since 2020, when the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/covid-19-pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;roiled the economy.The travel organization notes that this month’s cheaper prices arrive as supply remains strong. Crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, has also been at a relatively mild level — with West Texas Intermediate remaining below the $60 per barrel mark for most of December.Relief at the pump is welcome for consumers who have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-economy-inflation-groceries-costs-trump-affordability-d27635d279b27e5e2c19700c006ebb1d">feeling higher prices</a>&nbsp;in other parts of their budgets — as worries about the costs of goods ranging from groceries to holiday gifts rise amid ongoing inflation and U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tariffs">tariffs</a>&nbsp;on foreign imports.Government data actually showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumer-prices-economy-trump-tariffs-e26c4b6ee05533fd6686555e125b2e53">consumer prices cooled</a>&nbsp;in November, rising at just 2.7% from a year earlier. But year-over-year inflation still remains well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target — and economists quickly warned that last month’s numbers were suspect because of delays and possible distortions from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">43-day federal shutdown</a>.Most Americans have continued to express anger and frustration about the high cost of living — as well as an uncertain job market. On Tuesday, the Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">fell in December</a>&nbsp;to its lowest level since April.

US drivers getting gift of lower gas prices this holiday season

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating after two adults were found deceased inside a home in the 1600 block of North Glendale Monday morning.

Just before 9:30a.m. EMS responded to the residence for a medical call involving a 46-year-old man reporting chest pain. He was transported to Wesley Medical Center in stable condition, according to a media release.

A short time later, a neighbor became concerned after realizing the man taken to the hospital did not live at the residence. The neighbor entered the home and discovered an adult man and an adult woman unresponsive in the basement. The neighbor called 911 at 9:53 a.m.

Officers arrived and located the two individuals. EMS pronounced both deceased at 10:04 a.m. The deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Eric Taylor,&nbsp;who lived in the home, and 38-year-old Regina Reynolds.

The case is currently being treated as an overdose investigation. Detectives are continuing to gather information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766426677371.png" alt="Police on the scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating after two adults were found deceased inside a home in the 1600 block of North Glendale Monday morning.Just before 9:30a.m. EMS responded to the residence for a medical call involving a 46-year-old man reporting chest pain. He was transported to Wesley Medical Center in stable condition, according to a media release.A short time later, a neighbor became concerned after realizing the man taken to the hospital did not live at the residence. The neighbor entered the home and discovered an adult man and an adult woman unresponsive in the basement. The neighbor called 911 at 9:53 a.m.Officers arrived and located the two individuals. EMS pronounced both deceased at 10:04 a.m. The deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Eric Taylor,&nbsp;who lived in the home, and 38-year-old Regina Reynolds.The case is currently being treated as an overdose investigation. Detectives are continuing to gather information.

Police ID two found dead at Kansas home

FINNEY COUNTY—With just a day before Christmas, a crash involving an alleged DUI ensured one "driver’s spot on the naughty list," according to a social media report from Garden City Police.

Just before 11p.m. Dec. 18, Police, Fire, and EMS responded to an injury accident in the 1300 block of N. 13th Street in Garden City. First responders found that a garage and a parked pickup truck in the driveway had been struck. The suspected vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was located across the street with extensive front‑end damage.

The driver, identified as Nickolas Asebedo, 23, ran from the crash as Officers arrived, jumping several fences to escape the area. 

Officers located Asebedo at his home, and further investigation determined he was driving under the influence and registered a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit. 

Asebedo was arrested and booking into the Finney County Jail on requested charges of DUI, Interference LEO, Tampering with an Ignition Interlock Device, and Duty Upon Striking an Unattended Vehicle. There were no injuries reported from the incident.

"We’ve said it before, and we'll keep saying it - please do not drink and drive and risk lives unnecessarily, not just during the holidays, but at any time of the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766264098179.png" alt="Photo Garden City Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Garden City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—With just a day before Christmas, a crash involving an alleged DUI ensured one "driver’s spot on the naughty list," according to a social media report from Garden City Police.Just before 11p.m. Dec. 18, Police, Fire, and EMS responded to an injury accident in the 1300 block of N. 13th Street in Garden City. First responders found that a garage and a parked pickup truck in the driveway had been struck. The suspected vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was located across the street with extensive front‑end damage.The driver, identified as Nickolas Asebedo, 23, ran from the crash as Officers arrived, jumping several fences to escape the area. Officers located Asebedo at his home, and further investigation determined he was driving under the influence and registered a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit. Asebedo was arrested and booking into the Finney County Jail on requested charges of DUI, Interference LEO, Tampering with an Ignition Interlock Device, and Duty Upon Striking an Unattended Vehicle. There were no injuries reported from the incident."We’ve said it before, and we'll keep saying it - please do not drink and drive and risk lives unnecessarily, not just during the holidays, but at any time of the year.

Police: SW Kansas driver sure to make 'the naughty list'

LYON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire in Emporia.

Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, crews were dispatched to fire at 801 Clark Street Lot 5 in Emporia, according to Battalion Chief Ryan Conley.

Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the west side of the home. On entry into the structure, heavy fire was found throughout. A vehicle nearby was also involved. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by fire crews utilizing two hand lines. On the primary search of the structure, one fatality victim was found.

Heavy fire damage was found throughout the home. Officials did not release the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766547093678.png" alt="Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire in Emporia.Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, crews were dispatched to fire at 801 Clark Street Lot 5 in Emporia, according to Battalion Chief Ryan Conley.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766589695494.png" alt="-Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE" />
 <figcaption>-Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the west side of the home. On entry into the structure, heavy fire was found throughout. A vehicle nearby was also involved. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by fire crews utilizing two hand lines. On the primary search of the structure, one fatality victim was found.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766589739310.png" alt="-Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE" />
 <figcaption>-Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE</figcaption>
 </figure>Heavy fire damage was found throughout the home. Officials did not release the name of the victim.

One dead in Kansas house fire

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela’s</a>&nbsp;parliament on Tuesday approved a measure that criminalizes a broad range of activities that can hinder navigation and commerce in the South American country, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noem-venezuela-tanker-drugs-33c28cded78df44207602668be768838">the seizure of oil tankers</a>.

The bill — introduced, debated and approved within two days in the National Assembly — follows this month’s seizures by U.S. forces of two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters. The seizures are the latest strategy in U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">four-month pressure campaign</a>&nbsp;on Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro.

The tankers are part of what the Trump administration has said is a fleet Venezuela uses to evade U.S. economic sanctions.

The unicameral assembly, which is controlled by Venezuela’s ruling party, did not publish drafts on Tuesday nor the final version of the measure. But as read on the floor, the bill calls for fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in “acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts” against commercial entities operating with the South American country.

Venezuela’s political opposition, including Nobel Peace laureate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-peace-prize-machado-ceremony-oslo-a26f4170c905d8b7a78bccb95fda83b8">María Corina Machado</a>, has expressed support for Trump’s Venezuela policy, including the seizure of tankers.

The bill, which now awaits Maduro’s signature, also instructs the executive branch to come up with “incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections” for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts.

The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-vessel-merchant-international-waters-e87bf43475ae27e5ec22239dd8150e06">seized a Panama-flagged vessel</a>&nbsp;called Centuries that officials said was part of the fleet moving sanctioned cargo. With assistance from the U.S. Navy, it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized a rogue tanker called Skipper</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 10. That ship was registered in Panama.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump,</a>&nbsp;after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela. He has repeatedly said that Maduro’s days in power are numbered.

“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump said of Maduro Monday as he took a break from his Florida vacation to announce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-tankers-shipbuilding-3c711c500a627243329807df42fa6ef8">plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765413532331.png" alt="Image from the Attorney General's video" />
 <figcaption>Image from the Attorney General's video</figcaption>
 </figure>CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela’s</a>&nbsp;parliament on Tuesday approved a measure that criminalizes a broad range of activities that can hinder navigation and commerce in the South American country, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noem-venezuela-tanker-drugs-33c28cded78df44207602668be768838">the seizure of oil tankers</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, 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… <a href="https://t.co/dNr0oAGl5x">pic.twitter.com/dNr0oAGl5x</a>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1998875795151024337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The bill — introduced, debated and approved within two days in the National Assembly — follows this month’s seizures by U.S. forces of two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters. The seizures are the latest strategy in U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">four-month pressure campaign</a>&nbsp;on Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro.The tankers are part of what the Trump administration has said is a fleet Venezuela uses to evade U.S. economic sanctions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765413070566.png" alt="Image from the Attorney General's video" />
 <figcaption>Image from the Attorney General's video</figcaption>
 </figure>The unicameral assembly, which is controlled by Venezuela’s ruling party, did not publish drafts on Tuesday nor the final version of the measure. But as read on the floor, the bill calls for fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in “acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts” against commercial entities operating with the South American country.Venezuela’s political opposition, including Nobel Peace laureate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-peace-prize-machado-ceremony-oslo-a26f4170c905d8b7a78bccb95fda83b8">María Corina Machado</a>, has expressed support for Trump’s Venezuela policy, including the seizure of tankers.The bill, which now awaits Maduro’s signature, also instructs the executive branch to come up with “incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections” for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts.The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-vessel-merchant-international-waters-e87bf43475ae27e5ec22239dd8150e06">seized a Panama-flagged vessel</a>&nbsp;called Centuries that officials said was part of the fleet moving sanctioned cargo. With assistance from the U.S. Navy, it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized a rogue tanker called Skipper</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 10. That ship was registered in Panama.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump,</a>&nbsp;after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela. He has repeatedly said that Maduro’s days in power are numbered.“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump said of Maduro Monday as he took a break from his Florida vacation to announce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-tankers-shipbuilding-3c711c500a627243329807df42fa6ef8">plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship</a>.

Venezuela takes steps to criminalize U.S. oil tanker seizures 

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 10 p.m. Dec. 21, an police conducted a traffic stop in the 3600 block of 10th&nbsp;Street in Great Bend for an equipment violation, according to a media release.

During this traffic stop, Great Bend K9 Neo was utilized for a free-air sniff of the vehicle. With the assistance of a Barton County Sheriff's deputy, the officer began to conduct a search of the vehicle after a positive alert from K9 Neo.

While removing the two occupants from the vehicle, the male passenger, Jason Sohm, 46, became confrontational and attempted to run.&nbsp; Sohm was unsuccessful and was detained by the two officers. During his attempted flight on foot, Sohm received minor injuries and was treated on scene by Great Bend Fire and EMS.

During the search of the vehicle, a large quantity of a crystal-like substance belonging to Sohm was located. Officers conducted a field test of the substance, which tested positive for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. 

Sohm was placed under arrest and transported to the Barton County Jail, where he was booked on requested charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl/Methamphetamine, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Drug Tax Stamp. Following the initial investigation, the driver of the vehicle was released at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766451132827.png" alt="Sohm photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Sohm photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 10 p.m. Dec. 21, an police conducted a traffic stop in the 3600 block of 10th&nbsp;Street in Great Bend for an equipment violation, according to a media release.During this traffic stop, Great Bend K9 Neo was utilized for a free-air sniff of the vehicle. With the assistance of a Barton County Sheriff's deputy, the officer began to conduct a search of the vehicle after a positive alert from K9 Neo.While removing the two occupants from the vehicle, the male passenger, Jason Sohm, 46, became confrontational and attempted to run.&nbsp; Sohm was unsuccessful and was detained by the two officers. During his attempted flight on foot, Sohm received minor injuries and was treated on scene by Great Bend Fire and EMS.During the search of the vehicle, a large quantity of a crystal-like substance belonging to Sohm was located. Officers conducted a field test of the substance, which tested positive for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. Sohm was placed under arrest and transported to the Barton County Jail, where he was booked on requested charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl/Methamphetamine, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Drug Tax Stamp. Following the initial investigation, the driver of the vehicle was released at the scene.

Kan. man transporting fentanyl ran from traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has released tens of thousands more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a tranche that included multiple mentions of President Donald Trump but added little new revelatory information to the long-anticipated public file on the late financier and convicted sex offender.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here to see</a>&nbsp;the files and do a search

The release is the most voluminous so far and comes after a massive public campaign for transparency into the U.S. government’s Epstein investigations.

Many of the mentions of Trump in the file came from news clippings, though it includes an email from a prosecutor pointing out the flights that Trump took on Epstein’s private jet during the 1990s.

The two men were friends for years before a falling out. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The Justice Department issued a statement that some documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump made shortly before the 2020 election.

Prosecutor flagged Trump’s travel on Epstein's jet

Among the mentions of Trump in the latest batch of the Epstein files is a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known.

An assistant U.S. attorney from the Southern District of New York said in an email that flight records the office received on Jan. 6, 2020, showed that Trump was on Epstein’s jet “many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware).”

The prosecutor who flagged the Trump mentions in the flight logs said they did so because lawyers “didn’t want any of this to be a surprise down the road.”

His travels on Epstein’s plane spanned the time that would likely be covered in any criminal charges against Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, and on at least four of those flights, Maxwell was also there, according to the email.

On one of those eight flights, in 1993, Trump and Epstein were the only two passengers listed in the flight logs. On another flight, the three passengers listed in records are Epstein, Trump, and a redacted individual, who was 20 years old at the time. Two other flights included two women -- whose names were redacted in follow-up emails — identified as potential witnesses in a Maxwell case.

Several additional Trump trips on Epstein’s plane&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article256740662.html.">had been previously disclosed</a>&nbsp;during Maxwell’s criminal proceedings.

Asked for comment about the email, the White House pointed to a Justice Department statement saying Monday’s release contained “unfounded and false” claims against the president submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election, but they were nevertheless being released for full transparency.

The Justice Department specifically raised questions about the validity of a document mentioning Trump that was styled as a letter from Epstein to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/larry-nassar">Larry Nassar</a>, the sports doctor convicted of sexually abusing Olympic athletes. The department pointed out that it was processed three days after Epstein's death.

Meanwhile, the latest release also shows that Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s southern Florida club, was served with a subpoena in 2021 for its employment records. The disclosure came as part of an email chain in which lawyers for the Southern District of New York and an attorney in touch with representatives for the Trump Organization discussed the employment status of someone whose name was redacted.

Trump complained that the files were a distraction from the work he and other Republicans are doing for the country.

Speaking during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-navy-golden-fleet-battleship-0940368b39b19f03abe8689ebad08380">an unrelated event</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, the president blamed Democrats and some Republicans for the controversy.

“What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has,” Trump said.

He also expressed frustration about the famous people shown with Epstein in photos released by the Justice Department — people who he said may not have known him but ended up in the shot anyway.

“You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago. And they’re, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others,” Trump said.

Other high-profile people are showing up in the files

Well-known people shown in the files include former President Bill Clinton, the late pop star Michael Jackson and singer Diana Ross. The mere inclusion of someone’s name or images in files from the investigation does not imply wrongdoing.

The latest release also includes files that put the U.K.'s former Prince Andrew back in the headlines.

Among those documents is correspondence between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.”

The email exchange includes other references that suggest Maxwell’s correspondent may be Andrew. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has released tens of thousands more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a tranche that included multiple mentions of President Donald Trump but added little new revelatory information to the long-anticipated public file on the late financier and convicted sex offender.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766179219604.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here to see</a>&nbsp;the files and do a searchThe release is the most voluminous so far and comes after a massive public campaign for transparency into the U.S. government’s Epstein investigations.Many of the mentions of Trump in the file came from news clippings, though it includes an email from a prosecutor pointing out the flights that Trump took on Epstein’s private jet during the 1990s.The two men were friends for years before a falling out. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The Justice Department issued a statement that some documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump made shortly before the 2020 election.Here are some takeaways:<h2>Prosecutor flagged Trump’s travel on Epstein's jet</h2>Among the mentions of Trump in the latest batch of the Epstein files is a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known.An assistant U.S. attorney from the Southern District of New York said in an email that flight records the office received on Jan. 6, 2020, showed that Trump was on Epstein’s jet “many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware).”The prosecutor who flagged the Trump mentions in the flight logs said they did so because lawyers “didn’t want any of this to be a surprise down the road.”His travels on Epstein’s plane spanned the time that would likely be covered in any criminal charges against Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, and on at least four of those flights, Maxwell was also there, according to the email.On one of those eight flights, in 1993, Trump and Epstein were the only two passengers listed in the flight logs. On another flight, the three passengers listed in records are Epstein, Trump, and a redacted individual, who was 20 years old at the time. Two other flights included two women -- whose names were redacted in follow-up emails — identified as potential witnesses in a Maxwell case.Several additional Trump trips on Epstein’s plane&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article256740662.html.">had been previously disclosed</a>&nbsp;during Maxwell’s criminal proceedings.Asked for comment about the email, the White House pointed to a Justice Department statement saying Monday’s release contained “unfounded and false” claims against the president submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election, but they were nevertheless being released for full transparency.The Justice Department specifically raised questions about the validity of a document mentioning Trump that was styled as a letter from Epstein to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/larry-nassar">Larry Nassar</a>, the sports doctor convicted of sexually abusing Olympic athletes. The department pointed out that it was processed three days after Epstein's death.Meanwhile, the latest release also shows that Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s southern Florida club, was served with a subpoena in 2021 for its employment records. The disclosure came as part of an email chain in which lawyers for the Southern District of New York and an attorney in touch with representatives for the Trump Organization discussed the employment status of someone whose name was redacted.<h2>Trump calls the files a distraction</h2>Trump complained that the files were a distraction from the work he and other Republicans are doing for the country.Speaking during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-navy-golden-fleet-battleship-0940368b39b19f03abe8689ebad08380">an unrelated event</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, the president blamed Democrats and some Republicans for the controversy.“What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has,” Trump said.He also expressed frustration about the famous people shown with Epstein in photos released by the Justice Department — people who he said may not have known him but ended up in the shot anyway.“You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago. And they’re, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others,” Trump said.<h2>Other high-profile people are showing up in the files</h2>Well-known people shown in the files include former President Bill Clinton, the late pop star Michael Jackson and singer Diana Ross. The mere inclusion of someone’s name or images in files from the investigation does not imply wrongdoing.The latest release also includes files that put the U.K.'s former Prince Andrew back in the headlines.Among those documents is correspondence between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.”The email exchange includes other references that suggest Maxwell’s correspondent may be Andrew. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The August 2001 email from someone identified only as “The Invisible Man,” said he is “up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family,” an apparent reference to the Scottish estate where the royal family have traditionally taken their late summer holidays.“A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”The writer says he has left “the RN” and refers to the challenges of looking after “the Girls.” Andrew retired from the Royal Navy in 2001 and has two daughters.Andrew, one of King Charles III’s younger brothers, was stripped of the right to be called a prince and his other royal titles and honors in October, amid continued publicity about his links to Epstein and concerns about the potential damage to the rest of the royal family. He is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-settlement-8b04c775aa46f761d81c05ef12e3a94f">Andrew has repeatedly denied</a>&nbsp;committing any crimes, including having sex with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-book-memoir-c05a382e3505f23eef5288bcdcba328a">Virginia Giuffre</a>, who alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with Andrew when she was 17.<h2>Biggest information dump yet</h2>Trump tried for months to keep the records sealed before relenting to political pressure, including from some fellow Republicans, though he eventually signed a bill mandating the release of most of the Justice Department’s files on Epstein.Monday's release was the biggest dump yet, including nearly 30,000 more pages. The data released by the law's Friday deadline contained a fraction of that amount, mostly photographs taken during FBI searches of Epstein’s homes.The new cache includes news clippings, emails and surveillance videos from the New York jail where Epstein was held before taking his own life in 2019, much of which was already in the public domain.The law called for the files to be released within 30 days, but the Justice Department has instead released them in stages starting Friday. Officials have said they’re going slowly to protect victims, though some women assaulted by Epstein have spoken out publicly to call for greater transparency.And the administration is facing fierce accusations that it is withholding too much information. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the tens of thousands of files released still left “more questions than answers.” He pointed to a 2019 FBI email that mentions 10 people under investigation as possible co-conspirators but contains few additional details.___Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.