Missouri was already unlikely to ever collect a dime, legal experts agree, and the countersuit could expose U.S. assets to retaliation

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has cast news that she is being sued by the Chinese government as a badge of honor, pointing to the lawsuit as proof that her&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-wants-to-seize-chinese-assets-to-recover-24-billion-judgment-in-covid-case/">aggressive push to collect on a roughly $25 billion</a>&nbsp;court judgment tied to the COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact.

But experts in international law say the lawsuit, filed in China earlier this year and announced last week by Hanaway, is more likely to do the opposite — making an already remote chance that Missouri will ever collect that money even slimmer, while potentially exposing U.S. assets abroad to retaliation.

Hanaway said last week in a news release that China is demanding a public apology from the state in a complaint filed in the Intermediate People’s Court of Wuhan, along with damages equivalent to $50.5 billion, legal fees and the right to seek additional compensation.

“This lawsuit is a stalling tactic and tells me that we have been on the right side of this issue all along,” Hanaway said.

The suit was filed after Missouri secured a default judgment earlier this year in a federal case alleging that China hoarded personal protective equipment during the early months of the pandemic. A judge ruled for Missouri after China declined to participate in the trial, awarding the state roughly $25 billion in damages.

Hanaway has since asked the U.S. State Department to notify China that Missouri intends to pursue assets with full or partial Chinese government ownership to satisfy the judgment. Her office is also assembling a list of Chinese properties that could be targeted, focusing on assets owned outright by the Chinese government or by companies in which it has a stake.

Legal scholars say those efforts face steep, and likely insurmountable, obstacles.

Chimène Keitner, director of the U.C. Davis Center for International Law &amp; Policy, said government-owned property is generally protected by sovereign immunity — meaning Chinese government assets in the United States are shielded from seizure, just as U.S. government property is protected abroad.

China’s countersuit, she said, also appears unlikely to result in any recovery. But it carries legal and diplomatic implications that could further complicate Missouri’s case.

International law recognizes a doctrine known as “countermeasures,” Keitner said, which allows a country to take actions it otherwise could not as a way of pressuring another country to comply with international law.

If the U.S. government were to authorize Missouri’s efforts to seize Chinese assets, she said, it could expose American property in China to reciprocal action.

“So if Missouri violates China’s sovereign immunity,” Keitner said, “China could have a good argument for doing the same thing — not just against Missouri, but against the United States as a whole.”

William Dodge, a law professor at George Washington University who specializes in international law a, said neither lawsuit “has a prayer of being enforced.”

Even if Missouri were allowed to pursue assets, Dodge said, the scope would be narrow. Only property owned by the defendants named in the lawsuit — including the Chinese government, the Communist Party of China, several national agencies, provincial and local governments around Wuhan and the Wuhan Institute of Virology — could potentially be targeted.

And the state would still have to show that those specific entities were involved in hoarding personal protective equipment, he said.

Dodge, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://tlblog.org/author/william-dodge/" target="_blank">written extensively about Missouri’s lawsuit and a similar effort in Mississippi</a>, agreed that China’s complaint further reduces the already slim likelihood that Missouri will be able to collect because it raises the risk of retaliation.

“China’s law has a reciprocity provision,” he said. “It basically says that if a foreign country gives China less immunity than Chinese law provides, China can respond by giving that foreign country less immunity. In other words: whatever the U.S. does to us, we can do to them.”

U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh initially dismissed Missouri’s lawsuit in 2022, ruling that the state could not sue China. An appeals court later allowed one claim to proceed — the allegation that China hoarded items such as respirator masks, medical gowns and gloves.

After Chinese officials failed to respond, Limbaugh accepted Missouri’s estimate of past and future damages of more than $8 billion, tripled it as federal law allows, and added 3.91% interest until the judgment is paid.

In an emailed statement last month, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said China’s pandemic response involved “acts of national sovereignty” that are not subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. courts.

China will not pay, Liu said, and “will retaliate if necessary.”

The lawsuit filed in China accuses Missouri of “fabricating enormous disinformation” and spreading “stigmatizing and discriminating slanders” that it says have damaged China’s reputation.

“We stand undeterred in our mission to collect on our $24 billion judgment that was lawfully handed down in federal court,” she said.

Neither side’s claims are likely to result in any tangible recovery, Keitner said, leaving the dispute largely symbolic.

“Unfortunately, this all seems to be a lot of unhelpful political theater,” she said, “with no clear off-ramp for either side to save face.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656529671105.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri was already unlikely to ever collect a dime, legal experts agree, and the countersuit could expose U.S. assets to retaliation</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has cast news that she is being sued by the Chinese government as a badge of honor, pointing to the lawsuit as proof that her&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-wants-to-seize-chinese-assets-to-recover-24-billion-judgment-in-covid-case/">aggressive push to collect on a roughly $25 billion</a>&nbsp;court judgment tied to the COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact.But experts in international law say the lawsuit, filed in China earlier this year and announced last week by Hanaway, is more likely to do the opposite — making an already remote chance that Missouri will ever collect that money even slimmer, while potentially exposing U.S. assets abroad to retaliation.Hanaway said last week in a news release that China is demanding a public apology from the state in a complaint filed in the Intermediate People’s Court of Wuhan, along with damages equivalent to $50.5 billion, legal fees and the right to seek additional compensation.“This lawsuit is a stalling tactic and tells me that we have been on the right side of this issue all along,” Hanaway said.The suit was filed after Missouri secured a default judgment earlier this year in a federal case alleging that China hoarded personal protective equipment during the early months of the pandemic. A judge ruled for Missouri after China declined to participate in the trial, awarding the state roughly $25 billion in damages.Hanaway has since asked the U.S. State Department to notify China that Missouri intends to pursue assets with full or partial Chinese government ownership to satisfy the judgment. Her office is also assembling a list of Chinese properties that could be targeted, focusing on assets owned outright by the Chinese government or by companies in which it has a stake.Legal scholars say those efforts face steep, and likely insurmountable, obstacles.Chimène Keitner, director of the U.C. Davis Center for International Law &amp; Policy, said government-owned property is generally protected by sovereign immunity — meaning Chinese government assets in the United States are shielded from seizure, just as U.S. government property is protected abroad.China’s countersuit, she said, also appears unlikely to result in any recovery. But it carries legal and diplomatic implications that could further complicate Missouri’s case.International law recognizes a doctrine known as “countermeasures,” Keitner said, which allows a country to take actions it otherwise could not as a way of pressuring another country to comply with international law.If the U.S. government were to authorize Missouri’s efforts to seize Chinese assets, she said, it could expose American property in China to reciprocal action.“So if Missouri violates China’s sovereign immunity,” Keitner said, “China could have a good argument for doing the same thing — not just against Missouri, but against the United States as a whole.”William Dodge, a law professor at George Washington University who specializes in international law a, said neither lawsuit “has a prayer of being enforced.”Even if Missouri were allowed to pursue assets, Dodge said, the scope would be narrow. Only property owned by the defendants named in the lawsuit — including the Chinese government, the Communist Party of China, several national agencies, provincial and local governments around Wuhan and the Wuhan Institute of Virology — could potentially be targeted.And the state would still have to show that those specific entities were involved in hoarding personal protective equipment, he said.Dodge, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://tlblog.org/author/william-dodge/" target="_blank">written extensively about Missouri’s lawsuit and a similar effort in Mississippi</a>, agreed that China’s complaint further reduces the already slim likelihood that Missouri will be able to collect because it raises the risk of retaliation.“China’s law has a reciprocity provision,” he said. “It basically says that if a foreign country gives China less immunity than Chinese law provides, China can respond by giving that foreign country less immunity. In other words: whatever the U.S. does to us, we can do to them.”U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh initially dismissed Missouri’s lawsuit in 2022, ruling that the state could not sue China. An appeals court later allowed one claim to proceed — the allegation that China hoarded items such as respirator masks, medical gowns and gloves.After Chinese officials failed to respond, Limbaugh accepted Missouri’s estimate of past and future damages of more than $8 billion, tripled it as federal law allows, and added 3.91% interest until the judgment is paid.In an emailed statement last month, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said China’s pandemic response involved “acts of national sovereignty” that are not subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. courts.China will not pay, Liu said, and “will retaliate if necessary.”The lawsuit filed in China accuses Missouri of “fabricating enormous disinformation” and spreading “stigmatizing and discriminating slanders” that it says have damaged China’s reputation.Hanaway scoffed at China’s criticism.“We stand undeterred in our mission to collect on our $24 billion judgment that was lawfully handed down in federal court,” she said.Neither side’s claims are likely to result in any tangible recovery, Keitner said, leaving the dispute largely symbolic.“Unfortunately, this all seems to be a lot of unhelpful political theater,” she said, “with no clear off-ramp for either side to save face.”

China’s lawsuit makes Missouri’s $25 billion COVID judgment even harder to collect

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after suddenly discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents, further delaying compliance with last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline.

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

The Christmas Eve announcement came hours after a dozen U.S. senators called on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine its failure to meet the deadline. The group, 11 Democrats and a Republican, told Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume in a letter that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.

The Justice Department said in a social media post that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that could be related to the Epstein case — a stunning 11th hour development after department officials suggested months ago that they had undertaken a comprehensive review that accounted for the vast universe of Epstein-related materials.

In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” had been delivered to her after she ordered the Justice Department to “deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office” — a directive she said she made after learning from an unidentified source that the FBI in New York was “in possession of thousands of pages of documents.”

In July, the FBI and Justice Department indicated in an unsigned memo that they had undertaken an “exhaustive review” and had determined that no additional evidence should be released — an extraordinary about face from the Trump administration, which for months had pledged maximum transparency. The memo did not raise the possibility that additional evidence existed that officials were unaware of or had not reviewed.

Wednesday’s post did not say when the Justice Department was informed of the newly uncovered files.

In a letter last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Manhattan federal prosecutors already had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, though many were copies of material already turned over by the FBI.

The Justice Department said its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and remove victims names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">open its files</a>&nbsp;on Epstein and Maxwell.

“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

The announcement came amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-epstein-files-trump-nassar-justice-department-101ba03107c32ba88869bc37e1d01849">increasing scrutiny on the Justice Department’s staggered release</a>&nbsp;of Epstein-related records, including from Epstein victims and members of Congress.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, one of the chief authors of the law mandating the document release, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.” Another architect of the law, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he and Massie will “continue to keep the pressure on” and noted that the Justice Department was releasing more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.

“A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after DOJ’s announcement. “The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding -- and WHY?”

The White House on Wednesday defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein records.

“President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team — like Deputy Attorney General Blanche — who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

After releasing an initial wave of records on Friday, the Justice Department posted more batches to its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.

Records that have been released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context. Records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.

Other records made public in recent days include 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 and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.” They contain other references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

The senators’ call Wednesday for an inspector general audit comes days after Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in leading the call for an inspector general audit. Others signing the letter were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota., Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”

Sisak reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766094706592.png" alt="Image from the Epstein files released by the Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Image from the Epstein files released by the Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after suddenly discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents, further delaying compliance with last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here to see</a>&nbsp;the files and do a search<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The DOJ has received these documents from SDNY and the FBI to review…&mdash; U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept/status/2003901580341334257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Christmas Eve announcement came hours after a dozen U.S. senators called on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine its failure to meet the deadline. The group, 11 Democrats and a Republican, told Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume in a letter that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.The Justice Department said in a social media post that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that could be related to the Epstein case — a stunning 11th hour development after department officials suggested months ago that they had undertaken a comprehensive review that accounted for the vast universe of Epstein-related materials.In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” had been delivered to her after she ordered the Justice Department to “deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office” — a directive she said she made after learning from an unidentified source that the FBI in New York was “in possession of thousands of pages of documents.”In July, the FBI and Justice Department indicated in an unsigned memo that they had undertaken an “exhaustive review” and had determined that no additional evidence should be released — an extraordinary about face from the Trump administration, which for months had pledged maximum transparency. The memo did not raise the possibility that additional evidence existed that officials were unaware of or had not reviewed.Wednesday’s post did not say when the Justice Department was informed of the newly uncovered files.In a letter last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Manhattan federal prosecutors already had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, though many were copies of material already turned over by the FBI.The Justice Department said its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and remove victims names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">open its files</a>&nbsp;on Epstein and Maxwell.“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”The announcement came amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-epstein-files-trump-nassar-justice-department-101ba03107c32ba88869bc37e1d01849">increasing scrutiny on the Justice Department’s staggered release</a>&nbsp;of Epstein-related records, including from Epstein victims and members of Congress.Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, one of the chief authors of the law mandating the document release, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.” Another architect of the law, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he and Massie will “continue to keep the pressure on” and noted that the Justice Department was releasing more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.“A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after DOJ’s announcement. “The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding -- and WHY?”The White House on Wednesday defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein records.“President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team — like Deputy Attorney General Blanche — who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.After releasing an initial wave of records on Friday, the Justice Department posted more batches to its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.Records that have been released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context. Records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.Other records made public in recent days include 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 and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.” They contain other references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”The senators’ call Wednesday for an inspector general audit comes days after Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in leading the call for an inspector general audit. Others signing the letter were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota., Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”___Sisak reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Why the DOJ says it needs a 'few more weeks' to finish release of Epstein files 

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.

<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.