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

Just after&nbsp;2 a.m. December 11, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Toyota Corolla for a traffic infraction on 150th near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, Gilbert Benjamin Kent, 38, of Topeka, was arrested after a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics within the vehicle. 

Kent was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of no driver’s license and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733947797324.png" alt="Kent -photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Kent -photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after&nbsp;2 a.m. December 11, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Toyota Corolla for a traffic infraction on 150th near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, Gilbert Benjamin Kent, 38, of Topeka, was arrested after a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics within the vehicle. Kent was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of no driver’s license and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Kansas sheriff's K9 found illegal drugs during traffic stop

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Shortly before 3a.m. Dec. 9, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2002 GMC Envoy on U.S. Hwy 75 near 214th&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 During the traffic stop, the driver, Michael Owen Bennett, 46, of Topeka, was initially arrested for driving while suspended.&nbsp;

A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;The front seat passenger Elaine Elizabeth Anne Moore, 27, of Horton, was arrested with an outstanding Brown County felony warrant.&nbsp; Moore allegedly had a 9mm Glock pistol in her waistband. During a search of the vehicle, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located.

Moore was booked into the Jackson County Jail on the Brown County felony warrant and requested charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of weapons.

Bennett was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733948371193.png" alt="Bennett-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bennett-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Shortly before 3a.m. Dec. 9, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2002 GMC Envoy on U.S. Hwy 75 near 214th&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the traffic stop, the driver, Michael Owen Bennett, 46, of Topeka, was initially arrested for driving while suspended.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733948333710.png" alt="Moore-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Moore-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;The front seat passenger Elaine Elizabeth Anne Moore, 27, of Horton, was arrested with an outstanding Brown County felony warrant.&nbsp; Moore allegedly had a 9mm Glock pistol in her waistband. During a search of the vehicle, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located.Moore was booked into the Jackson County Jail on the Brown County felony warrant and requested charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of weapons.Bennett was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no insurance.

Kan. woman with pistol in her waistband was transporting heroin

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen charged as an adult in a deadly double murder made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.

Judge Shawn Elliot charged 15-year-old Elias Cerda with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In January, poli e responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested a 14-year-old from Wichita later identified as Cerda. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He is being held on a one million dollar bond and is due back in court January 6, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734098604588.png" alt="Cerda-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Cerda-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen charged as an adult in a deadly double murder made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.Judge Shawn Elliot charged 15-year-old Elias Cerda with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In January, poli e responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested a 14-year-old from Wichita later identified as Cerda. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He is being held on a one million dollar bond and is due back in court January 6, according to the district attorney's office.

15-year-old goes to court for Kansas double murder

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

Just before 10:30a.m December 11, special agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested Brian W. Black, 40, without incident at his residence in Arkansas City, according to a media release from the KBI.

 Black was arrested on a warrant on requested charges that include three counts of rape, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of exploitation of a child, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, abuse of a child, and battery.

  In September 2023, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance with a sexual assault investigation involving a 16-year-old girl who had reported that Black had raped her. 

Special agents began investigating. They conducted interviews, executed search warrants and gathered evidence. Following the arrest, Black was booked into the Cowley County Jail. Bond was set at $500,000. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734044955692.png" alt="Black photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Black photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.Just before 10:30a.m December 11, special agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested Brian W. Black, 40, without incident at his residence in Arkansas City, according to a media release from the KBI. Black was arrested on a warrant on requested charges that include three counts of rape, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of exploitation of a child, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, abuse of a child, and battery. In September 2023, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance with a sexual assault investigation involving a 16-year-old girl who had reported that Black had raped her. Special agents began investigating. They conducted interviews, executed search warrants and gathered evidence. Following the arrest, Black was booked into the Cowley County Jail. Bond was set at $500,000.

KBI: Teen accused Kansas man of sex crimes

By NATE KING Salina Post

The sounds of big brass instruments will once again ring out at the Salina Central Mall as the 12th annual Salina TubaChristmas concert returns on Dec. 14, 2024. This free event will feature tubas and euphoniums performing holiday favorites in rich, four-part harmony.

The concert begins at 12:30 p.m. in the mall’s food court, featuring a community brass ensemble led by retired KWU music instructor Steven Leuth. The event brings together brass musicians from across central Kansas and beyond, including high school students, college musicians, and experienced adult players.

Salina’s TubaChristmas is part of a long-standing national tradition founded more than 50 years ago by professional tuba player Harvey Phillips and his instructor, William J. Bell, from Indiana University.

The first TUBACHRISTMAS® was conducted by Paul Lavalle in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974. Traditional Christmas music performed at the first TUBACHRISTMAS® was arranged by American composer Alec Wilder who ironically died on Christmas Eve, 1980.

“We’ve held it for 12 years here in Salina,” said retired Salina Symphony tuba player and event organizer Ron McWilliams. “Last year, we had 32 tubas and euphoniums playing and we’re excited to do it again.”

When asked, "Why tubas and not clarinets or saxaphones?" McWilliams said it's thanks to the rich, resonant tones of tubas and euphoniums&nbsp;

“It’s a deep, mellow sound, kind of like a men’s quartet,” McWilliams said. “When you’re in a big place like the food court, it feels like you’re sitting in the middle of a church organ.”

McWilliams said part of the fun with TubaChristmas is getting to make music with longtime friends like Leuth.

"Steven is a well-known entertainer. He plays with the group The Blades. He's taught at KWU and Bennington. He's our director and has been a friend of mine for 50-plus years," McWilliams said. "We met at college at Fort Hays State University."

TubaChristmas is a nationwide event, and with Salina positioned at the "Crossroads of America," McWilliams said tuba and euphonium players from across the state are coming to town.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Last year we had someone from Oklahoma City. We have had tuba players from south of Wichita come up on a regular basis," McWilliams said. "We have also had several players from Concordia and players from all over central Kansas come into this and look forward to it."

High school and adult tuba and euphonium players are encouraged to participate. Registration is $10, with music books available for $15. Participants should bring a music stand and arrive at the Friendship Center’s upper level, 746 Comanche Ave., between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Rehearsal runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

“It’s a lot of fun,” McWilliams said. “We rehearse in the morning and perform for an hour. It’s a great way for musicians to come together and share their love of music."

The Salina Area Christmas Brass Choir, a dynamic ensemble of up to 70 community musicians, including trumpets, trombones, tubas, French horns, baritones, and percussionists KWU Dean Krantzler and Hannah Applequist, will perform a holiday concert on Dec. 21 at the same location in the Salina Central Mall.

This concert is also free to the public.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733853728931.jpeg" alt="Steven Leuth directs the 2023 TubaChristmas . Photo Courtesy TubaChristmas Salina" />
 <figcaption>Steven Leuth directs the 2023 TubaChristmas . Photo Courtesy TubaChristmas Salina</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostThe sounds of big brass instruments will once again ring out at the Salina Central Mall as the 12th annual Salina TubaChristmas concert returns on Dec. 14, 2024. This free event will feature tubas and euphoniums performing holiday favorites in rich, four-part harmony.The concert begins at 12:30 p.m. in the mall’s food court, featuring a community brass ensemble led by retired KWU music instructor Steven Leuth. The event brings together brass musicians from across central Kansas and beyond, including high school students, college musicians, and experienced adult players.<h2>A Tradition of Holiday Music</h2>Salina’s TubaChristmas is part of a long-standing national tradition founded more than 50 years ago by professional tuba player Harvey Phillips and his instructor, William J. Bell, from Indiana University.The first TUBACHRISTMAS® was conducted by Paul Lavalle in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974. Traditional Christmas music performed at the first TUBACHRISTMAS® was arranged by American composer Alec Wilder who ironically died on Christmas Eve, 1980.“We’ve held it for 12 years here in Salina,” said retired Salina Symphony tuba player and event organizer Ron McWilliams. “Last year, we had 32 tubas and euphoniums playing and we’re excited to do it again.”When asked, "Why tubas and not clarinets or saxaphones?" McWilliams said it's thanks to the rich, resonant tones of tubas and euphoniums&nbsp;“It’s a deep, mellow sound, kind of like a men’s quartet,” McWilliams said. “When you’re in a big place like the food court, it feels like you’re sitting in the middle of a church organ.”McWilliams said part of the fun with TubaChristmas is getting to make music with longtime friends like Leuth."Steven is a well-known entertainer. He plays with the group The Blades. He's taught at KWU and Bennington. He's our director and has been a friend of mine for 50-plus years," McWilliams said. "We met at college at Fort Hays State University."TubaChristmas is a nationwide event, and with Salina positioned at the "Crossroads of America," McWilliams said tuba and euphonium players from across the state are coming to town.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Last year we had someone from Oklahoma City. We have had tuba players from south of Wichita come up on a regular basis," McWilliams said. "We have also had several players from Concordia and players from all over central Kansas come into this and look forward to it."<h2>How to Participate</h2>High school and adult tuba and euphonium players are encouraged to participate. Registration is $10, with music books available for $15. Participants should bring a music stand and arrive at the Friendship Center’s upper level, 746 Comanche Ave., between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Rehearsal runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m.“It’s a lot of fun,” McWilliams said. “We rehearse in the morning and perform for an hour. It’s a great way for musicians to come together and share their love of music."<h2>Upcoming Brass Performance</h2>The Salina Area Christmas Brass Choir, a dynamic ensemble of up to 70 community musicians, including trumpets, trombones, tubas, French horns, baritones, and percussionists KWU Dean Krantzler and Hannah Applequist, will perform a holiday concert on Dec. 21 at the same location in the Salina Central Mall.This concert is also free to the public.&nbsp;

Salina's 12th TubaChristmas set for Saturday at Central Mall

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q: How did Harrison Butker look in practice yesterday?

TOUB: “He (Harrison Butker) looked good. You know, we have to see how he responds. He’s going to kick again today, and we’ll put a little bit more on him. I think he looks pretty good – we’ll see.”

Q: On Nikko Remigio’s return game.

TOUB: “He (Nikko Remigio) did a really good job, showed a lot of poise out there, good square catches, good decisions. That great hit was really good, that pooch punt where they – you know, the middle – he even tricked some of our guys. Some of our guys were like – they thought he made a fair catch, and he stole it. It was a great decision on his part. We have to do a better job of blocking for him, finishing it up and keep blocking till the whistle with him because he will take a little bit more of a risk but he’s smart too at the same time – really, really good job I thought.”

Q: On Matt Araiza and James Winchester being able to adjust with each of the kickers.

TOUB: “It says a lot. I think I said something last week about that, those guys deserve a lot of credit. Matt (Araiza) being able to adjust – the holder is huge with new kickers. They want that ball a certain way and he’s able to just dial it up real quick. Then, James (Winchester) being consistent with his snaps as he always is. You know, they’re both veterans. Those guys were a huge part of our success with the backup kickers.”

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, I don’t have any wild words of wisdom so I’m going to just open it up and let you guys fire away.”

Q:&nbsp;On the younger defensive backs.

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Yeah, it’s not going to be much different than it was this past week. We’re starting to play a number of people. I mean, you saw Jaden Hicks has played quite a bit, Josh (Joshua Williams) and NJ (Nazeeh Johnson) have both been in there. (I’d) like to try to keep working Chris Roland-Wallace in there, that hasn’t happened as much, but I think it’s probably time to do that. You never know when we’re going to have an injury and (when) we’re going to need these guys, so I think the experience is really good. Quite frankly, some of those guys have deserved it so we’ll get them in there.”

Q:&nbsp;Where do you think your pass rush needs to be in order to be playoff ready?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I don’t know. We have to take it – we still have four more games. Right now, I don’t go too far forward. I know everything that’s lined up and I realize we won the division – that’s all great, but we’re playing the Cleveland Browns and that’s all we worry about. We’re hoping every game that the pass rush is intense and violent, and we do really well and then we evaluate at the end of each game so we keep putting guys out there and see what we can get.”

Q:&nbsp;How do you coach eye discipline beyond the game?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think it comes back to the practice field, like even (during) yesterday’s practice – I mean, I began yesterday’s meeting with eye discipline – big power point, because I think that’s really important now. Back-end guys especially get their eyes tested. I mean, play action pass is supposed to test the eyes, right? They want you to think they’re running the football. We come – we’ve been harping on what we’re calling the two D’s – details and discipline, and the eye discipline is one of them. If you’re going to be a zone coverage team – or even if you’re in man (coverage), your eyes have to be on your man. When you play back there at linebacker or DB (defensive back) – at those two spots, it is all about the eyes. It begins there.”

Q: Patrick Mahomes said some of the hits he’s taken are on him. How do you coach that part?

NAGY:&nbsp;“There’s certainly a fine balance there because – especially (when) you look at third down, he (Patrick Mahomes) extends plays with his legs so if he has a good feel of getting it and he’s going to use his legs, that’s great. I think when you’re a quarterback and there’s so many elements that go into the play. Sometimes you see it for afar where it’s a guy (that) is open and for a different reason the ball is not thrown and it’s sometimes on the quarterback to trust it and sometimes it’s not. There’s different things that happen within your view from down there on the field with different games that the (defensive) line does. Trusting where to go with the football and really not trying to make – if they do a good job on defense, don’t make a bad play worse and balancing trying to do something because what we’ve all seen from Pat is the really crazy plays that not many people can do (but) he does it. It’s one of those deals where you say, ‘No, no, no, no, yes,’ that’s what he does a lot. In the general basic foundation of the offense, just staying true to your feet, staying true to your progression and trusting everybody, coaches and players.”

Q: What’s it like watching Patrick Mahomes try to problem solve in real time?

NAGY:&nbsp;“You feel good about it because he has a history of doing those things in his (Patrick Mahomes) career – in big time moments, that’s the other thing. It’s usually not when you’re down 20 when he makes a play like that, it’s usually a critical moment that he makes that play. That’s who he is. We want to feel good when we put in a play – do we like it? Then, on top of that, when do we call that play? If we all feel good as players and coaches then whatever they do, we’ve got to react. In that case, they dropped eight and played zone (coverage), (which was) difficult for that play that we called but it still worked. So, if you’re a defensive coordinator and you see that, I’m sure there’s some frustration but that’s Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes making a play in a big moment to win us a game. For us as coaches, there’s a balance and there’s also a trust in them knowing that if that throw wasn’t there to Travis, we feel good that Pat’s going to make the right decision and not make a poor decision and that’s important.”

Q: What would make this game a success in your book offensively?

Chiefs Coordinator QuotesDecember 12, 2024ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUBQ: How did Harrison Butker look in practice yesterday?TOUB: “He (Harrison Butker) looked good. You know, we have to see how he responds. He’s going to kick again today, and we’ll put a little bit more on him. I think he looks pretty good – we’ll see.”Q: On Nikko Remigio’s return game.TOUB: “He (Nikko Remigio) did a really good job, showed a lot of poise out there, good square catches, good decisions. That great hit was really good, that pooch punt where they – you know, the middle – he even tricked some of our guys. Some of our guys were like – they thought he made a fair catch, and he stole it. It was a great decision on his part. We have to do a better job of blocking for him, finishing it up and keep blocking till the whistle with him because he will take a little bit more of a risk but he’s smart too at the same time – really, really good job I thought.”Q: On Matt Araiza and James Winchester being able to adjust with each of the kickers.TOUB: “It says a lot. I think I said something last week about that, those guys deserve a lot of credit. Matt (Araiza) being able to adjust – the holder is huge with new kickers. They want that ball a certain way and he’s able to just dial it up real quick. Then, James (Winchester) being consistent with his snaps as he always is. You know, they’re both veterans. Those guys were a huge part of our success with the backup kickers.”DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, I don’t have any wild words of wisdom so I’m going to just open it up and let you guys fire away.”Q:&nbsp;On the younger defensive backs.SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Yeah, it’s not going to be much different than it was this past week. We’re starting to play a number of people. I mean, you saw Jaden Hicks has played quite a bit, Josh (Joshua Williams) and NJ (Nazeeh Johnson) have both been in there. (I’d) like to try to keep working Chris Roland-Wallace in there, that hasn’t happened as much, but I think it’s probably time to do that. You never know when we’re going to have an injury and (when) we’re going to need these guys, so I think the experience is really good. Quite frankly, some of those guys have deserved it so we’ll get them in there.”Q:&nbsp;Where do you think your pass rush needs to be in order to be playoff ready?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I don’t know. We have to take it – we still have four more games. Right now, I don’t go too far forward. I know everything that’s lined up and I realize we won the division – that’s all great, but we’re playing the Cleveland Browns and that’s all we worry about. We’re hoping every game that the pass rush is intense and violent, and we do really well and then we evaluate at the end of each game so we keep putting guys out there and see what we can get.”Q:&nbsp;How do you coach eye discipline beyond the game?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think it comes back to the practice field, like even (during) yesterday’s practice – I mean, I began yesterday’s meeting with eye discipline – big power point, because I think that’s really important now. Back-end guys especially get their eyes tested. I mean, play action pass is supposed to test the eyes, right? They want you to think they’re running the football. We come – we’ve been harping on what we’re calling the two D’s – details and discipline, and the eye discipline is one of them. If you’re going to be a zone coverage team – or even if you’re in man (coverage), your eyes have to be on your man. When you play back there at linebacker or DB (defensive back) – at those two spots, it is all about the eyes. It begins there.”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGYQ: Patrick Mahomes said some of the hits he’s taken are on him. How do you coach that part?NAGY:&nbsp;“There’s certainly a fine balance there because – especially (when) you look at third down, he (Patrick Mahomes) extends plays with his legs so if he has a good feel of getting it and he’s going to use his legs, that’s great. I think when you’re a quarterback and there’s so many elements that go into the play. Sometimes you see it for afar where it’s a guy (that) is open and for a different reason the ball is not thrown and it’s sometimes on the quarterback to trust it and sometimes it’s not. There’s different things that happen within your view from down there on the field with different games that the (defensive) line does. Trusting where to go with the football and really not trying to make – if they do a good job on defense, don’t make a bad play worse and balancing trying to do something because what we’ve all seen from Pat is the really crazy plays that not many people can do (but) he does it. It’s one of those deals where you say, ‘No, no, no, no, yes,’ that’s what he does a lot. In the general basic foundation of the offense, just staying true to your feet, staying true to your progression and trusting everybody, coaches and players.”Q: What’s it like watching Patrick Mahomes try to problem solve in real time?NAGY:&nbsp;“You feel good about it because he has a history of doing those things in his (Patrick Mahomes) career – in big time moments, that’s the other thing. It’s usually not when you’re down 20 when he makes a play like that, it’s usually a critical moment that he makes that play. That’s who he is. We want to feel good when we put in a play – do we like it? Then, on top of that, when do we call that play? If we all feel good as players and coaches then whatever they do, we’ve got to react. In that case, they dropped eight and played zone (coverage), (which was) difficult for that play that we called but it still worked. So, if you’re a defensive coordinator and you see that, I’m sure there’s some frustration but that’s Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes making a play in a big moment to win us a game. For us as coaches, there’s a balance and there’s also a trust in them knowing that if that throw wasn’t there to Travis, we feel good that Pat’s going to make the right decision and not make a poor decision and that’s important.”Q: What would make this game a success in your book offensively?

Chiefs Quotes: 12-12-24

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a teen on drug allegations.

On December 10, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 1994 Toyota Celica for a traffic infraction near U.S. Hwy 75 and 158th Road in southern Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, 18-year-old Thomas Jay Holcomb, of Hoyt was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733947870275.png" alt="Holcomb-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Holcomb-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a teen on drug allegations.On December 10, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 1994 Toyota Celica for a traffic infraction near U.S. Hwy 75 and 158th Road in southern Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, 18-year-old Thomas Jay Holcomb, of Hoyt was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Sheriff: Kansas teen caught transporting meth, marijuana

Kansas Wesleyan men's basketball coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/389d95fd-55c5-4d2e-8af5-ff4151914747?elinkdata=16610">Anthony Monson</a> was searching for something positive from his team.

Entering their Kansas Conference game against York on Wednesday night, the Coyotes had lost their last two games and five of seven. Judging by the results he found what he was looking for - at least for one night.

Senior forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/56dfed94-fb7c-4593-bf0a-c79380fc401e?elinkdata=16610">Alex Littlejohn</a> had 20 points and 11 rebounds, freshman forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/31db2d3d-74dd-484e-885a-cbb95678b212?elinkdata=16610">Carson Jones</a> scored 22 in his second start of the year, and sophomore guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e43d2b50-d77f-480c-ac17-ee556683d47d?elinkdata=16610">Tucker Bowman</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b36abc1a-0377-46de-935d-95cf6bc30d18?elinkdata=16610">Aiden Leckband</a> had 14 apiece as the Coyotes steamrolled the Panthers 100-61 inside Mabee Arena.

Littlejohn also broke the school's career record for field goals made. His shot under the basket with 6:07 left gave him 567 for his career and surpassed Gary Cassell's 566 total set in 1955.

"We've been struggling, been pretty inconsistent all year," Monson said. "We've been struggling just trying to find some rhythm of what works with this group and then you have your starting two-guard (<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e86c3016-4efe-4aee-990a-46c07dccc01f?elinkdata=16610">Easton Hunter</a>) go down with an ankle injury in practice.

"We made some adjustments of how we're going to play offensively and really dictated a lot of the offense basically the entire night. The guys bought into it, we got the (defensive) stops we needed, and we were able to push that lead up and frustrate them."

Trailing 32-30 with 3½ minutes left in the first half the Coyotes (7-5, 2-4 KCAC) took control with a 10-0 run the rest of the way and led 40-32 at the break.

They continued to pour it on the final 20 minutes. Jones scored 11 consecutive points early in the second half sparking a 17-4 surge that made it 57-36 with just under 15 minutes remaining.

Leading 65-46 KWU made it a rout with a 16-2 run and led 81-48 with 6 minutes left.

"We watched film, broke some stuff down and we kind of aired out some things as a team - what we wanted to change," said Littlejohn who was 10 of 15 shooting and had three assists and two steals.

"We took what we did in practice and we did it in the game. We played unselfishly. We hadn't been moving the ball, not getting everybody involved. Carson had what he had, Aiden came off the bench and played really good and Tucker had seven assists and no turnovers. Everybody was getting some action."

While pleased to break the record Littlejohn said his focus is elsewhere.

"It was kind of cool that I was able to get it but I'm only worried about the wins and I want our team to do well," he said.

"He's going to go down as one of the best players ever to put on a KW uniform," Monson said. "There's no doubt his name's going to be over the record book when it's all said and done."

Jones was 7 of 11 shooting including 5 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc and had four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

"It's a big shoutout to my teammates for always having the confidence in me," he said. "I don't make every shot that I take but the ones I do I believe are going to go in. You make one, make two and they always pile on. It's a lot easier to shoot when you get stops on defense and your team brings energy."

Leckband was 5 of 8 shooting (2 of 4 from beyond the arc) and had five assists. Bowman was 6 of 10 shooting (2 of 5 from deep) and had four steals.

"What Aiden and Carson and Tucker do really well is they move the ball better than pretty much anybody on the team," Monson said. "Some of the older guys need to learn from the young guys the way to move the ball, the way to pass the ball. It made everything more efficient and made things better."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/799a58ed-242d-49c6-bbfd-96a00d46af33?elinkdata=16610">Evens Appolon</a>, KWU's 6-foot-8 center, had another big night inside finishing with 10 points, seven blocks, three rebounds and two steals.

Carl Thorpe Jr. paced York (4-7, 1-5 KCAC) with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Kansas Wesleyan men's basketball coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/389d95fd-55c5-4d2e-8af5-ff4151914747?elinkdata=16610">Anthony Monson</a> was searching for something positive from his team.Entering their Kansas Conference game against York on Wednesday night, the Coyotes had lost their last two games and five of seven. Judging by the results he found what he was looking for - at least for one night.Senior forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/56dfed94-fb7c-4593-bf0a-c79380fc401e?elinkdata=16610">Alex Littlejohn</a> had 20 points and 11 rebounds, freshman forward <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/31db2d3d-74dd-484e-885a-cbb95678b212?elinkdata=16610">Carson Jones</a> scored 22 in his second start of the year, and sophomore guards <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e43d2b50-d77f-480c-ac17-ee556683d47d?elinkdata=16610">Tucker Bowman</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b36abc1a-0377-46de-935d-95cf6bc30d18?elinkdata=16610">Aiden Leckband</a> had 14 apiece as the Coyotes steamrolled the Panthers 100-61 inside Mabee Arena.Littlejohn also broke the school's career record for field goals made. His shot under the basket with 6:07 left gave him 567 for his career and surpassed Gary Cassell's 566 total set in 1955."We've been struggling, been pretty inconsistent all year," Monson said. "We've been struggling just trying to find some rhythm of what works with this group and then you have your starting two-guard (<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e86c3016-4efe-4aee-990a-46c07dccc01f?elinkdata=16610">Easton Hunter</a>) go down with an ankle injury in practice."We made some adjustments of how we're going to play offensively and really dictated a lot of the offense basically the entire night. The guys bought into it, we got the (defensive) stops we needed, and we were able to push that lead up and frustrate them."Trailing 32-30 with 3½ minutes left in the first half the Coyotes (7-5, 2-4 KCAC) took control with a 10-0 run the rest of the way and led 40-32 at the break.They continued to pour it on the final 20 minutes. Jones scored 11 consecutive points early in the second half sparking a 17-4 surge that made it 57-36 with just under 15 minutes remaining.Leading 65-46 KWU made it a rout with a 16-2 run and led 81-48 with 6 minutes left."We watched film, broke some stuff down and we kind of aired out some things as a team - what we wanted to change," said Littlejohn who was 10 of 15 shooting and had three assists and two steals."We took what we did in practice and we did it in the game. We played unselfishly. We hadn't been moving the ball, not getting everybody involved. Carson had what he had, Aiden came off the bench and played really good and Tucker had seven assists and no turnovers. Everybody was getting some action."While pleased to break the record Littlejohn said his focus is elsewhere."It was kind of cool that I was able to get it but I'm only worried about the wins and I want our team to do well," he said."He's going to go down as one of the best players ever to put on a KW uniform," Monson said. "There's no doubt his name's going to be over the record book when it's all said and done."Jones was 7 of 11 shooting including 5 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc and had four rebounds, two assists and two steals."It's a big shoutout to my teammates for always having the confidence in me," he said. "I don't make every shot that I take but the ones I do I believe are going to go in. You make one, make two and they always pile on. It's a lot easier to shoot when you get stops on defense and your team brings energy."Leckband was 5 of 8 shooting (2 of 4 from beyond the arc) and had five assists. Bowman was 6 of 10 shooting (2 of 5 from deep) and had four steals."What Aiden and Carson and Tucker do really well is they move the ball better than pretty much anybody on the team," Monson said. "Some of the older guys need to learn from the young guys the way to move the ball, the way to pass the ball. It made everything more efficient and made things better."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/799a58ed-242d-49c6-bbfd-96a00d46af33?elinkdata=16610">Evens Appolon</a>, KWU's 6-foot-8 center, had another big night inside finishing with 10 points, seven blocks, three rebounds and two steals.Carl Thorpe Jr. paced York (4-7, 1-5 KCAC) with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Littlejohn breaks 70-year-old record as Coyotes crush York 100-61

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/bell">opening bell</a>&nbsp;Thursday at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/history-of-nyse">New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized for the second time by Time magazine as its person of the year.

The honors for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump's remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November.

Before he rang the opening bell at 9:30 a.m., a first for him, Trump spoke at the exchange and called it “a tremendous honor.”

“Time Magazine, getting this honor for the second time, I think it like it better this time actually,” he said.

He talked up some of the people he has named to his incoming administration, including Treasury pick Secretary Scott Bessent, and some of his announced policies, including a promise this week that the federal government will issue expedited permits, including environmental approvals, for projects and construction worth more than $1 billion.

“I think we’re going to have a tremendous run. We have to straighten out some problems, some big problems in the world,” he said.

Sam Jacobs, Time's editor in chief, announced on NBC's “Today” show that Trump was Time’s 2024 Person of the Year. Jacobs said Trump was someone who “for better or for worse, had the most influence on the news in 2024.”

“This is someone who made an historic comeback, who reshaped the American presidency and who’s reordering American politics," Jacobs said. "It’s hard to argue with the fact that the person who’s moving into the Oval Office is the most influential person in news."

He added that “there’s always a hot debate” at the magazine over the honor, "although I have to admit that this year was an easier decision than years past.”

In an interview with the magazine published Thursday, Trump spoke about his final campaign blitz and election win.

“I called it ‘72 Days of Fury,’” Trump said. “We hit the nerve of the country. The country was angry.”

Trump was on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stock-markets">Wall Street</a>&nbsp;to mark the ceremonial start of the day’s trading. The Time magazine cover featuring him was projected onto a wall at the stock exchange, flanked by American flags.

Trump took the stage at the exchange flanked by family members and members of his incoming administration while his favored walk-on song, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” played.

Trump was also Time's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He was listed as a&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7200122/person-of-the-year-2024-shortlist/">finalist for this year’s award</a>&nbsp;alongside notables including Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales.

The NYSE regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the 9:30 a.m. ceremonial opening trading. Thursday will be Trump's first time doing the honors, which have become a marker of culture and politics.

Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the NYSE opening bell to unveil the magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Taylor Swift</a>.

Trump has long had a fascination with being on the cover of Time, where he first made an appearance in 1989. He has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-time-magazine-with-trump-on-the-cover-hangs-in-his-golf-clubs-its-fake/2017/06/27/0adf96de-5850-11e7-ba90-f5875b7d1876_story.html">The Washington Post reported in 2017</a>&nbsp;that Trump had a fake picture of himself on the cover of the magazine hanging in several of his golf country clubs.

Earlier this year, Trump sat for interviews with the magazine for a story that ran in April. Time’s billionaire owner, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, criticized Trump’s Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, for not granting the magazine an interview.

"Despite multiple requests, Time has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris—unlike every other Presidential candidate,” Benioff said in a post on X. “We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full. Why isn’t the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?”

In his latest interview published Thursday, Trump reiterated that he’s going to pardon most of those convicted in riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.”

Trump said he would not ask members of his administration to sign a loyalty pledge. “I think I will be able to, for the most part, determine who’s loyal,” he said. But he said he will fire anyone who doesn’t follow his policies.

On the war in Gaza, Trump said he wants to end the conflict and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows it. When Trump was asked whether he trusted Netanyahu, he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.”

The incoming president also discussed his plans for mass deportations and argued he will have the authority to use the military to assist with the effort, even though, as the magazine notes, the Posse Comitatus Act forbids the deployment of the military against civilians.

“It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country,” he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows.”

Trump crafted his image as a wealthy real estate developer, which he played up as the star of the TV reality show “The Apprentice” and during his presidential campaign. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-economy-immigration-11db37c033328a7ef6af71fe0a104604">won the election in part by channeling Americans' anxieties</a>&nbsp;about the economy’s ability to provide for the middle class.

The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests.

The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-stocks-volatility-bonds-economy-retirement-59201a39bffd596b253021a6526a4b60">regardless of which party wins</a>&nbsp;the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wins-second-term-policies-de3dcf0f173b42602b258042fd7aaafb">higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation</a>&nbsp;that Trump favors will mean.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734014095189.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/bell">opening bell</a>&nbsp;Thursday at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyse.com/history-of-nyse">New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized for the second time by Time magazine as its person of the year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President-elect Donald Trump rings opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. <a href="https://t.co/r4SgQ0vEFT">pic.twitter.com/r4SgQ0vEFT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1867217065917960537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div>30<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump on being Time Magazine Person of the Year: &quot;Time Magazine, getting this honor for the second time, I think I like it better this time.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/D1fSNNIG87">pic.twitter.com/D1fSNNIG87</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1867212436895367196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump is TIME&#39;s Person of the Year <a href="https://t.co/IjP5W2otV5">https://t.co/IjP5W2otV5</a> <a href="https://t.co/CVHX9o0DB3">pic.twitter.com/CVHX9o0DB3</a>&mdash; TIME (@TIME) <a href="https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1867187660814504285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The honors for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump's remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November.Before he rang the opening bell at 9:30 a.m., a first for him, Trump spoke at the exchange and called it “a tremendous honor.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734012038807.png" alt="President-elect Donald Trump signs the NYSE guest book and learns he is the first President to ring the bell since Ronald Reagan&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Donald Trump signs the NYSE guest book and learns he is the first President to ring the bell since Ronald Reagan&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Time Magazine, getting this honor for the second time, I think it like it better this time actually,” he said.He talked up some of the people he has named to his incoming administration, including Treasury pick Secretary Scott Bessent, and some of his announced policies, including a promise this week that the federal government will issue expedited permits, including environmental approvals, for projects and construction worth more than $1 billion.“I think we’re going to have a tremendous run. We have to straighten out some problems, some big problems in the world,” he said.Sam Jacobs, Time's editor in chief, announced on NBC's “Today” show that Trump was Time’s 2024 Person of the Year. Jacobs said Trump was someone who “for better or for worse, had the most influence on the news in 2024.”“This is someone who made an historic comeback, who reshaped the American presidency and who’s reordering American politics," Jacobs said. "It’s hard to argue with the fact that the person who’s moving into the Oval Office is the most influential person in news."He added that “there’s always a hot debate” at the magazine over the honor, "although I have to admit that this year was an easier decision than years past.”In an interview with the magazine published Thursday, Trump spoke about his final campaign blitz and election win.“I called it ‘72 Days of Fury,’” Trump said. “We hit the nerve of the country. The country was angry.”Trump was on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stock-markets">Wall Street</a>&nbsp;to mark the ceremonial start of the day’s trading. The Time magazine cover featuring him was projected onto a wall at the stock exchange, flanked by American flags.Trump took the stage at the exchange flanked by family members and members of his incoming administration while his favored walk-on song, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” played.Trump was also Time's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He was listed as a&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7200122/person-of-the-year-2024-shortlist/">finalist for this year’s award</a>&nbsp;alongside notables including Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales.The NYSE regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the 9:30 a.m. ceremonial opening trading. Thursday will be Trump's first time doing the honors, which have become a marker of culture and politics.Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the NYSE opening bell to unveil the magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Taylor Swift</a>.Trump has long had a fascination with being on the cover of Time, where he first made an appearance in 1989. He has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-time-magazine-with-trump-on-the-cover-hangs-in-his-golf-clubs-its-fake/2017/06/27/0adf96de-5850-11e7-ba90-f5875b7d1876_story.html">The Washington Post reported in 2017</a>&nbsp;that Trump had a fake picture of himself on the cover of the magazine hanging in several of his golf country clubs.Earlier this year, Trump sat for interviews with the magazine for a story that ran in April. Time’s billionaire owner, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, criticized Trump’s Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, for not granting the magazine an interview."Despite multiple requests, Time has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris—unlike every other Presidential candidate,” Benioff said in a post on X. “We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full. Why isn’t the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?”In his latest interview published Thursday, Trump reiterated that he’s going to pardon most of those convicted in riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.”Trump said he would not ask members of his administration to sign a loyalty pledge. “I think I will be able to, for the most part, determine who’s loyal,” he said. But he said he will fire anyone who doesn’t follow his policies.On the war in Gaza, Trump said he wants to end the conflict and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows it. When Trump was asked whether he trusted Netanyahu, he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.”The incoming president also discussed his plans for mass deportations and argued he will have the authority to use the military to assist with the effort, even though, as the magazine notes, the Posse Comitatus Act forbids the deployment of the military against civilians.“It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country,” he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows.”Trump crafted his image as a wealthy real estate developer, which he played up as the star of the TV reality show “The Apprentice” and during his presidential campaign. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-economy-immigration-11db37c033328a7ef6af71fe0a104604">won the election in part by channeling Americans' anxieties</a>&nbsp;about the economy’s ability to provide for the middle class.The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests.The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-stocks-volatility-bonds-economy-retirement-59201a39bffd596b253021a6526a4b60">regardless of which party wins</a>&nbsp;the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wins-second-term-policies-de3dcf0f173b42602b258042fd7aaafb">higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation</a>&nbsp;that Trump favors will mean.___

🎥Trump named Time's Person of the Year, rings opening bell at NYSE

President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has filled the key posts for his second term in office, prioritizing loyalty to him after he felt bruised and hampered by internal squabbling during his first term.

Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation fights in the Senate, even with Republicans in control, and two candidates have already withdrawn from consideration.

Trump would turn a former critic into an ally as the nation's top diplomat.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marco-rubio-trump-latin-america-secretary-of-state-87aff0ce93f638fb69e30b067ecd84fb">Rubio</a>, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate before the slot went to JD Vance. Rubio is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

His selection punctuates the hard pivot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-marco-rubio-secretary-of-state-25664371f80dcf3332838352165e4d48">Rubio</a>&nbsp;has made with Trump, whom the senator once called a “con man" during his own unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-defense-secretary-pentagon-2d8030921ecef933778cf92afd40ec72">Hegseth</a>, 44, was a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends Weekend” and had been a contributor with the network since 2014. He developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-pete-hegseth-trump-defense-secretary-2e2bdd16c8e90f5d037f763cfadbde94">Hegseth</a>&nbsp;served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011 and earning two Bronze Stars. He lacks senior military and national security experience and would oversee global crises ranging from Europe to the Middle East.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-assault-allegations-police-report-trump-e6ebec0a1a5c7fb51cb5e2198f5e12a5">A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted</a>&nbsp;in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report recently made public. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and has denied any wrongdoing.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-election-scott-bessent-trump-e4df1ef61309ee78f2affc2d9eabeff1">Bessent</a>, 62, is a former money manager for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-soros">George Soros</a>, a big Democratic donor, and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/budget-deficit-trump-harris-kamala-debt-1ee3ff65e22ccf19d19b792ee22c46da">advocate for deficit reduction</a>. He founded the hedge fund Key Square Capital Management after having worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary.

He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending.

Director of national intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard, 43, is a former Democratic House member from Hawaii who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tulsi-gabbard-intelligence-director-russia-putin-0f661dd39bd16e248b16c049e6aa26c5">accused of echoing Russian propaganda.</a>&nbsp;She unsuccessfully sought the party’s 2020 presidential nomination and left the party in 2022. Gabbard endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-466dfdfe2f949ea20bc2f4ef13e21438">Gabbard</a>&nbsp;has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades and deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. If confirmed she would come to the role as an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, spent several years in top national security and intelligence positions.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaetz-trump-fbi-justice-department-248b46ba0c882dd46d661568e8bd3bd7">Bondi</a>, 59, was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020.

Considered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/things-to-know-pam-bondi-eec1d16075c7debda62223b475e3977d">a loyalist</a>, Bondi also has served with the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-allied group that has helped lay the groundwork for his future administration.

Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush-money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appeared on Fox News and has been critical of the criminal cases against him.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-labor-secretary-lori-chavezderemer-feaa4672efac644aa60722d3a3215df1">Republican U.S. House member</a>&nbsp;narrowly lost her reelection bid on Nov. 5 but had received strong backing from union members in her district.

As a potential labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer would oversee the department's workforce and budget and put forth priorities that affect workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employees, among other responsibilities.

Chavez-DeRemer is one of a few House Republicans to endorse&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3c776a12a97468341bcfe8178638f127">the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act</a>&nbsp;that would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and penalize companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws in more than half the states.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/howard-lutnick-trump-crypto-economy-elon-musk-a03d95e323f7d2d4b722184d83e7b388">Lutnick</a>&nbsp;heads the brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and is a cryptocurrency enthusiast. He is co-chair of Trump's transition operation, charged along with Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration, with helping the president-elect fill key jobs in his second administration.

As secretary, Lutnick would play a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. He would oversee a sprawling Cabinet department whose oversight ranges from funding new computer chip factories and imposing trade restrictions to releasing economic data and monitoring the weather.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transition-white-house-staff-huckabee-f51121db5b18814bbab014e872c2a736">Noem</a>&nbsp;is a well-known conservative who used her two terms as South Dakota's governor to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions like other states, instead declaring South Dakota “open for business.” More recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-immigration-trump-homeland-security-border-60d998d6c973411c020fd5824456c860">Noem</a>&nbsp;faced sharp criticism for writing in her memoir about shooting and killing her dog.

She is set to lead a department crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda as well as other missions. Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ratcliffe-cia-e5fe61f5e79206357085932f1252a852">Ratcliffe</a>, a former U.S. House member from Texas, was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term. He led U.S. government’s spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. If confirmed, Ratcliffe will have held the highest intelligence positions in the U.S.

Health and human services secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-hhs-health-kennedy-f40ee2398e3a280c1586eecdd80bdf7c">Kennedy</a>, 70, ran for president as a Democrat, then as an independent before he dropped out and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-trump-speech-arizona-a2638f89ddcb5de03edbe4574ca17d45">then endorsed Trump</a>. He's the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-things-to-know-explained-who-is-hhs-5288a4a7277d1a0b4a7ede8f57a971ce">son of Democratic icon</a>&nbsp;Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his own presidential campaign.

Kennedy's nomination alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">unfounded fears about vaccines</a>. For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transition-cabinet-agriculture-75911e79188c48e27d6c3c12f1a58e80">Rollins</a>, 52, is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for Trump's second administration.

She is a Texas attorney who was Trump's domestic policy adviser and director of his office of American innovation during his first term.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brooke-rollins-trump-agriculture-179e8163568c723afe6d27848ce04c22">Rollins</a>&nbsp;previously was an aide to former Texas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rick-perry">Rick Perry</a>, who also served in Trump's first term. Rollins also ran the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-duffy-cabinet-transportation-secretary-c465bbc516b5f898233f86bee31a7a45">Duffy</a>&nbsp;is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-duffy-cabinet-transportation-b673a7ef72b5633f731b088ce26e4832">served in the House for nearly nine years</a>, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business.

Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doug-collins-veterans-affairs-va-georgia-f9a14a486cb12fd5ac3f07b3068eb20a">Collins</a>&nbsp;is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential campaign, but was acquitted by the Senate.

Collins also served in the armed forces himself. He is a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doug-burgum-interior-cabinet-2af5f4c0b891a2705c6132fbff16f278">North Dakota governor</a>, 68, is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump after he dropped out of the running. Burgum then became a serious contender to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vice-president-rubio-vance-burgum-scott-8b6a3a22eecdfff668a5002ddfd3af18">be Trump’s vice presidential choice</a>&nbsp;in part because of his executive experience and business savvy. He also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs.

Trump said Burgum would chair a new National Energy Council and have a seat on the National Security Council, which would be a first for the Interior secretary.

A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-election-energy-secretary-d546f5f81d7b2347b49905be924dfcd7">Wright</a>&nbsp;is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market.

He also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-chris-wright-energy-cabinet-4161f363d59013339d5b444ddf123d45">Wright</a>&nbsp;said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The department is responsible for advancing the energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States.

McMahon,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-trump-education-secretary-wwe-613016d0c164b89765af761404cbb123">a billionaire professional wrestling mogul</a>, would make a return appearance in a second Trump administration. She led the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 in Trump’s first term and twice ran unsuccessfully in Connecticut as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University. She has expressed support for charter schools and school choice.

Environmental Protection Agency administrator: Lee Zeldin

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stephen-miller-policy-immigration-9cc6ad3118779b23bff88022ca5e2260">Zeldin</a>&nbsp;does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LeeMZeldin/status/1856068555865026956">X</a>, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI" and "we will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”

Trump often attacked the Biden administration’s promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referred to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often said his administration would “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration.

Housing and Urban Development secretary: Scott Turner

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-secretary-trump-scott-turner-nfl-727417b56d0e1f85a40eaf5f7d13d42f">Turner</a>&nbsp;is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.”

U.S. Trade Representative: Jamieson Greer

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trade-nec-economics-trump-elections-7a0be4a246256bc468fb7c0e8bff8639">Greer</a>&nbsp;is a partner at King &amp; Spalding, a Washington law firm. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be responsible for negotiating directly with foreign governments on trade deals and disputes, as well as memberships in international trade bodies such as the World Trade Organization. He previously was chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, who was the trade representative in Trump's first term.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-susie-wiles-32df8958bedde5f3f2d55fd071979692">Wiles</a>, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager.

She has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-susie-wiles-32df8958bedde5f3f2d55fd071979692">background in Florida politics</a>, helping Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor. Six years later, she was key to Trump’s defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary.

Wiles’ hire was Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with him. Wiles is said to have earned Trump’s trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump’s three presidential campaigns.

Waltz is a three-term Republican congressman from east-central Florida.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-security-adviser-mike-wlatz-0c81d044c9ffe18dfd745202e8351b9c">A former Army Green Beret</a>, he served multiple tours in Afghanistan and worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.

He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population.

Hassett, 62, is a major advocate of tax cuts who was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the first Trump term. In the new role as chairman of the National Economic Council, Trump said Hassett will play an important role in helping American families recover from inflation as well as in renewing and improving tax cuts Trump enacted in 2017, many of which are set to expire after 2025.

Homan, 62,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-homan-ice-border-czar-7dea915b5ea43896390b8020d254f887">has been tasked</a>&nbsp;with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.

He led the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Trump's first administration. Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings in the first term, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border.

Office of Management and Budget: Russell Vought

Vought, 48, held the position during Trump’s first presidency. He founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank whose mission is to “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought also was closely involved with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-american-revolution-6e02a297fb91b55de01ba7e86615bb08">Project 2025</a>, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that Trump tried to distance himself from during the campaign.

Deputy chief of staff for policy: Stephen Miller

Miller, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stephen-miller-policy-immigration-9cc6ad3118779b23bff88022ca5e2260">immigration hardliner</a>, was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump’s priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump’s first term.

Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump’s policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation’s economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people living illegally in the U.S.

Scavino was an adviser in all three of the president-elect's campaigns and was described by the transition team as one of “Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides." He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino previously ran Trump’s social media profile in the White House.

Blair was political director for Trump’s 2024 campaign and the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and an assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump’s economic messaging during the campaign.

Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump’s 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president.

White House press secretary: Karoline Leavitt

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-press-secretary-4c550e04334e87d2075dc6bbe2e244bd">Leavitt</a>, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term. In 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-inflation-donald-trump-51418003338eb89abfbfc6aac6909abd">she ran for Congress in New Hampshire,</a>&nbsp;winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.

Warrington has served Trump as his personal attorney and lawyer for the campaign. Trump initially had tapped William McGinley to be White House counsel, but three weeks later said he instead was dispatching McGinley to work with his new Department of Government Efficiency. That panel will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending.

Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump’s first administration. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency.

Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-new-york-donald-trump-brooklyn-united-arab-emirates-461c7dd912445be7a6837a2cdd4ff9c0">a federal trial</a>&nbsp;in 2022.

Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump’s 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.”

Updated list of Trump's picks for key positions in his administration

NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., who was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89.

Kreskin's friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, told news outlets that he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey, where he spent much of his life. Galway did not provide additional details.

Inspired by the crime-fighting comic book character Mandrake the Magician, Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, making guest appearances on talk shows hosted by everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon.

Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted his own show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books, including “Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin” and “Mental Power Is Real.”

Although he was a talk show regular, one host wasn't amused by a Kreskin stunt. In 2002, he claimed that a UFO would appear over Las Vegas on the night of June 2, and added that he would donate $50,000 to charity if he was wrong. Hundreds of people gathered in the desert, in vain. Kreskin acknowledged to radio personality Art Bell that his prediction was a hoax, a way of proving that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks the year before had made people susceptible to manipulation. Bell called the ruse “lame, lame, lame” and banned him from his show.

NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., who was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of The Amazing Kreskin, born George Kresge, at the age of 89. Performing for all of you brought immense joy to his life, and it was something he deeply cherished. The family kindly asks for privacy during this difficult time. <a href="https://t.co/42kmVAOPE6">pic.twitter.com/42kmVAOPE6</a>&mdash; The Amazing Kreskin (@Kreskin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kreskin/status/1866657870173049126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kreskin's friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, told news outlets that he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey, where he spent much of his life. Galway did not provide additional details.Inspired by the crime-fighting comic book character Mandrake the Magician, Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, making guest appearances on talk shows hosted by everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon.Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted his own show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books, including “Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin” and “Mental Power Is Real.”Although he was a talk show regular, one host wasn't amused by a Kreskin stunt. In 2002, he claimed that a UFO would appear over Las Vegas on the night of June 2, and added that he would donate $50,000 to charity if he was wrong. Hundreds of people gathered in the desert, in vain. Kreskin acknowledged to radio personality Art Bell that his prediction was a hoax, a way of proving that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks the year before had made people susceptible to manipulation. Bell called the ruse “lame, lame, lame” and banned him from his show.

Amazing Kreskin, TV star master of mind games, dies at 89

SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733408993196.png" alt="Emperley-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Emperley-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.Just before 3:15 a.m. Dec. 6, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a silver 2001 Toyota Avalon near SW 21st Street and South Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located. The driver, Kent A. Emperley, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Driving under the influence of drugs, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant,&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernaliaEmperley also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest for a probation violation through Shawnee County.