RENO COUNTY — The Hutchinson Police Department has made an arrest in connection with the burglary that occurred at Dough Co. Donuts,&nbsp;228 E 4th Avenue in Hutchinson,  earlier in the week.

After an investigation, police reported the arrest of&nbsp; 35-year-old Zackery L. Reaves on requested charges of Burglary;Locked non-dwelling to commit felony, theft, dv, or sex; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999; Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or post release supervision.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734017343606.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Dough Co. Donuts - Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Dough Co. Donuts - Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — The Hutchinson Police Department has made an arrest in connection with the burglary that occurred at Dough Co. Donuts,&nbsp;228 E 4th Avenue in Hutchinson, earlier in the week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734043777314.png" alt="Reaves-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Reaves-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdoughcodonuts%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0VnXwfqeaN4x9754yEWppVfPq8KigwUFR5xmJSj88BKiLfBHQ5cTcaiX2teFh4tNyl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="689" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>After an investigation, police reported the arrest of&nbsp; 35-year-old Zackery L. Reaves on requested charges of Burglary;Locked non-dwelling to commit felony, theft, dv, or sex; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999; Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or post release supervision.

Police make arrest in Kansas donut shop burglary

WASHINGTON (AP)—The large mysterious drones reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks appear to avoid detection by traditional methods, like helicopters and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security.

The United State Northern Command based in Colorado Springs said in a statement on Wednesday they were aware of and monitoring reports of the unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations. "The U.S. Northern Command conducted a deliberate analysis of the events in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners and have not been requested to assist with these events."

In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. The Morris County Republican was among several state and local lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the spate of sightings that range from the New York City area through New Jersey, eastward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia.

The devices do not appear to be being flown by hobbyists, Fantasia wrote.

Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month and have raised growing concern among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">initially being spotted</a>&nbsp;near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility; and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.

Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists.

The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once.

Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-1bf2b36e8617d46da711dae602708be2">don’t appear to threaten public safety.</a>&nbsp;The FBI has been investigating and has asked residents to share any videos, photos or other information they may have.

Many municipal lawmakers have called for more restrictions on who is entitled to fly the unmanned devices. At least one state lawmaker proposed a temporary ban on drone flights in the state.

“This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated," Murphy said earlier this week. A spokesman for the Democratic governor said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting.

Republican Assemblyman Erik Peterson, whose district includes parts of the state where the drones have been reported, said he also attended Wednesday's meeting at a state police facility in West Trenton. The session lasted for about 90 minutes.

Peterson said DHS officials were generous with their time, but appeared dismissive of some concerns, saying not all the sightings reported have been confirmed to involve drones.

So who or what is behind the flying objects? Where are they coming from? What are they doing? “My understanding is they have no clue,” Peterson said.

A message seeking comment was left with the Department of Homeland Security.

Most of the drones have been spotted along coastal areas and some were recently reported flying over a large reservoir in Clinton. Sightings also have been reported in neighboring states.

James Edwards, of Succasunna, New Jersey, said he has seen a few drones flying over his neighborhood since last month.

“It raises concern mainly because there's so much that's unknown,” Edwards said Wednesday. “There are lots of people spouting off about various conspiracies that they believe are in play here, but that only adds fuel to the fire unnecessarily. We need to wait and see what is really happening here, not let fear of the unknown overtake us."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733944475274.png" alt="Federal law enforcement officials and private sector stakeholders testified Tuesday on threats posed by unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones, before a joint hearing held by two House Homeland Security subcommittees. Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Federal law enforcement officials and private sector stakeholders testified Tuesday on threats posed by unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones, before a joint hearing held by two House Homeland Security subcommittees. Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—The large mysterious drones reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks appear to avoid detection by traditional methods, like helicopters and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734002450175.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The United State Northern Command based in Colorado Springs said in a statement on Wednesday they were aware of and monitoring reports of the unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations. "The U.S. Northern Command conducted a deliberate analysis of the events in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners and have not been requested to assist with these events."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">First, a Chinese spy balloon drifted across U.S. airspace for a week. Now, unidentified drones are flying over New Jersey, avoiding radar detection. Gaps in our airspace are being exploited, and because of it, the safety of Americans is at risk. <a href="https://t.co/cqnhdLchtg">pic.twitter.com/cqnhdLchtg</a>&mdash; Congressman Jeff Van Drew (@Congressman_JVD) <a href="https://twitter.com/Congressman_JVD/status/1866506612560793919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. The Morris County Republican was among several state and local lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the spate of sightings that range from the New York City area through New Jersey, eastward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia.The devices do not appear to be being flown by hobbyists, Fantasia wrote.Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month and have raised growing concern among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">initially being spotted</a>&nbsp;near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility; and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists.The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once.Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-1bf2b36e8617d46da711dae602708be2">don’t appear to threaten public safety.</a>&nbsp;The FBI has been investigating and has asked residents to share any videos, photos or other information they may have.Many municipal lawmakers have called for more restrictions on who is entitled to fly the unmanned devices. At least one state lawmaker proposed a temporary ban on drone flights in the state.“This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated," Murphy said earlier this week. A spokesman for the Democratic governor said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting.Republican Assemblyman Erik Peterson, whose district includes parts of the state where the drones have been reported, said he also attended Wednesday's meeting at a state police facility in West Trenton. The session lasted for about 90 minutes.Peterson said DHS officials were generous with their time, but appeared dismissive of some concerns, saying not all the sightings reported have been confirmed to involve drones.So who or what is behind the flying objects? Where are they coming from? What are they doing? “My understanding is they have no clue,” Peterson said.A message seeking comment was left with the Department of Homeland Security.Most of the drones have been spotted along coastal areas and some were recently reported flying over a large reservoir in Clinton. Sightings also have been reported in neighboring states.James Edwards, of Succasunna, New Jersey, said he has seen a few drones flying over his neighborhood since last month.“It raises concern mainly because there's so much that's unknown,” Edwards said Wednesday. “There are lots of people spouting off about various conspiracies that they believe are in play here, but that only adds fuel to the fire unnecessarily. We need to wait and see what is really happening here, not let fear of the unknown overtake us."——

U.S. Northern Command, Colorado, issues statement on mysterious drones

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

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago.

Travis Pete Timmerman appears to have been among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people</a>&nbsp;released from the country's notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing President Bashar Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family's 54-year rule.

As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist</a>&nbsp;who went missing in Syria 12 years ago.

In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said that he was being treated well and would be safely returned home.

This year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as Pete Travis Timmerman, 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement saying that Timmerman was last seen at a church in Hungary's capital, Budapest.

Missouri court records indicate that Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state.

There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials traveling with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Aqaba, Jordan.

Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago before being detained.

He said that he was treated well in detention, but could hear other young men being tortured.

“It was OK. I was fed. I was watered. The one difficulty was that I couldn’t go to the bathroom when I wanted to,” he said. He said he was only allowed to go three times a day.

“I was not beaten and the guards treated me decently,” he added.

The U.S. government’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, traveled to Lebanon earlier this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged on Sunday that “we have no direct evidence” of his status.

Tice, who has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and others, disappeared at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus in August 2012 as the Syrian civil war intensified.

A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn't been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad's government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734009338567.png" alt="Image of a bulletin from the Missouri State Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Image of a bulletin from the Missouri State Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago.Travis Pete Timmerman appears to have been among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people</a>&nbsp;released from the country's notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing President Bashar Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family's 54-year rule.As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist</a>&nbsp;who went missing in Syria 12 years ago.In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said that he was being treated well and would be safely returned home.This year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as Pete Travis Timmerman, 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement saying that Timmerman was last seen at a church in Hungary's capital, Budapest.Missouri court records indicate that Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state.There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials traveling with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Aqaba, Jordan.Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago before being detained.He said that he was treated well in detention, but could hear other young men being tortured.“It was OK. I was fed. I was watered. The one difficulty was that I couldn’t go to the bathroom when I wanted to,” he said. He said he was only allowed to go three times a day.“I was not beaten and the guards treated me decently,” he added.The U.S. government’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, traveled to Lebanon earlier this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.U.S. President Joe Biden has said his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged on Sunday that “we have no direct evidence” of his status.Tice, who has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and others, disappeared at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus in August 2012 as the Syrian civil war intensified.A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn't been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad's government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.

Missouri man found in Syria after imprisoned for months

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board approved change orders for the Hays High School softball field on Monday night.

The board tabled change orders on the high school so they could speak about them further with representatives of its architectural firm, DLR Group.

The change orders for the softball field include a dugout similar to the HHS baseball fields. The dugouts were planned as chain link, and now they will be CMU dugouts with roofs.

&nbsp;Extra lanes for the bullpen and batting cages, electrical upgrades, and infrastructure for a grandstand and pressbox were also added.

Superintendent Ron Wilson said the administration plans to bring a plan to add the grandstand and pressbox to the field as a capital outlay project.

The changes will allow all of the softball players to practice at the same field.

The cost of the softball upgrades is $228,000. These funds will be taken from the Hays High School bond contingency fund and will not increase the overall budget for the Hays High project.

The other order, at a cost of $208,000, was for structural and finish changes identified as construction progressed.

These types of changes are very common on large construction projects, Wilson said. They account for a fraction of the project's total $100 million cost.

The change order cost will be paid from the contingency fund and will not increase the total cost of the Hays High School project.

The Hays High School project continues to be on schedule, and the school is set to open in August.

The Nabholz Construction representative said some plan revisions are only identified once construction begins. This can require minor modifications to the architectural drawings. A $1 million contingency fund has been built into the HHS project budget to allow for these anticipated changes.

Even with structural and softball change orders, more than half of that contingency fund will remain.

School board members questioned why any changes needed to be made and expressed frustration that the school district needed to pay for the change order.

The Nabholz representative said the number of change orders and design adjustments were consistent with a project of the high's shool's size. He said some of the changes were structurally important to complete the building.

Wilson, who has also been involved in two other bond-funded projects in his career, said change orders are to be expected, and the requested change orders align with the project's scope.

"This is a $100 million high school," he said. "You are thinking very small right now."

He said Nabholz, the district construction manager at risk, has 20 to 30 full-time staff managing all the project details.

"I don't think you are giving them enough credit," Wilson said.

Board member Jayme Goetz said she did not think the school district should have to foot the bill for the whole change order.

She said she thought DLR should be present to discuss the change order.

The Nabholz representative said there could be more change orders but added he thought most of the design change orders had been addressed.

The Hays High project is more than 55 percent complete, he said.

The high school change orders were tabled to be considered at a special meeting that would include representatives of DLR.

The softball field change orders were approved on a vote of 5-2, with board members Allen Park and Derek Yarmer voting against.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733947132041.png" alt="Conceptual drawing of Hays High School. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Conceptual drawing of Hays High School. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board approved change orders for the Hays High School softball field on Monday night.The board tabled change orders on the high school so they could speak about them further with representatives of its architectural firm, DLR Group.The change orders for the softball field include a dugout similar to the HHS baseball fields. The dugouts were planned as chain link, and now they will be CMU dugouts with roofs.&nbsp;Extra lanes for the bullpen and batting cages, electrical upgrades, and infrastructure for a grandstand and pressbox were also added.Superintendent Ron Wilson said the administration plans to bring a plan to add the grandstand and pressbox to the field as a capital outlay project.The changes will allow all of the softball players to practice at the same field.The cost of the softball upgrades is $228,000. These funds will be taken from the Hays High School bond contingency fund and will not increase the overall budget for the Hays High project.The other order, at a cost of $208,000, was for structural and finish changes identified as construction progressed.These types of changes are very common on large construction projects, Wilson said. They account for a fraction of the project's total $100 million cost.The change order cost will be paid from the contingency fund and will not increase the total cost of the Hays High School project.The Hays High School project continues to be on schedule, and the school is set to open in August.The Nabholz Construction representative said some plan revisions are only identified once construction begins. This can require minor modifications to the architectural drawings. A $1 million contingency fund has been built into the HHS project budget to allow for these anticipated changes.Even with structural and softball change orders, more than half of that contingency fund will remain.School board members questioned why any changes needed to be made and expressed frustration that the school district needed to pay for the change order.The Nabholz representative said the number of change orders and design adjustments were consistent with a project of the high's shool's size. He said some of the changes were structurally important to complete the building.Wilson, who has also been involved in two other bond-funded projects in his career, said change orders are to be expected, and the requested change orders align with the project's scope."This is a $100 million high school," he said. "You are thinking very small right now."He said Nabholz, the district construction manager at risk, has 20 to 30 full-time staff managing all the project details."I don't think you are giving them enough credit," Wilson said.Board member Jayme Goetz said she did not think the school district should have to foot the bill for the whole change order.She said she thought DLR should be present to discuss the change order.The Nabholz representative said there could be more change orders but added he thought most of the design change orders had been addressed.The Hays High project is more than 55 percent complete, he said.The high school change orders were tabled to be considered at a special meeting that would include representatives of DLR.The softball field change orders were approved on a vote of 5-2, with board members Allen Park and Derek Yarmer voting against.

Hays USD 489 BOE members hesitant about high school change orders

PAWNEE COUNTY —Roy Gene Robinson, 46 of Great Bend, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court Tuesday morning for a combined jury trial regarding two separate felon complaints for incidents that occurred during the Summer of 2023, according to. Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. The matters were scheduled for a three day trial.

The defendant was charged in one case with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, a severity level 8 nonperson felony, alleged to have occurred on or about August 1, 2023. In the second case he was charged with one count of Burglary of a Non-Dwelling, a severity level 7 nonperson felony, and two counts of misdemeanor Theft alleged to have occurred on or about July 10, 2023.

Prior to jury selections, the parties announced they had reached a plea agreement whereby Roy Robinson entered a plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. In exchange for the plea the State agreed to dismiss the Burglary case.

The defendant’s brother, Dale R. Robinson, 54, of Hutchinson, was also charged as a co-defendant in the Burglary case. Dale Robinson pleaded guilty to the charges on January 18, 2024, and was ordered to pay full restitution as a condition of probation. 

Initially Roy Robison was not a suspect in the burglary/thefts as boot impressions found at the scenes matched Dale Robinson, but subsequent review of cellular telephone records by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department suggested Roy Robinson was present at the time of the alleged crimes.

In support of the firearm plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that on the morning of July 10, 2023, the Pawnee County Sheriff received a report of theft of agricultural diesel from an irrigation unit south of Larned. 

Later that same morning the Sheriff received reports of multiple truck batteries being stolen from vehicles parked in a shed a few miles from the site of the fuel theft. Tire tracks at both crime scenes suggested a light duty pickup had been involved. A witness indicated they had seen Roy Robinson driving a similar style pickup in the area. 

When the Sheriff’s department executed a search warrant at the Robinson rural Pawnee County residence, they discovered the missing batteries. They also witnessed several firearms and notified State Parole. At the time, Roy Robinson was on postrelease supervision as a result of a Pawnee County jury conviction for aggravated burglary. 

He had been released from prison on or about August 8, 2022. The Kansas Department of Corrections conducted their own search of the Robinson residence on August 1, 2023, and discovered .22 caliber rifle under a mattress.

Robinson was arrested by Kansas Department of Corrections personnel at the scene on August 1, 2023, without incident. He posted a bond on March 23, 2024, and was released.

After accepting the defendant’s plea Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman ordered a presentence investigation report be completed to determine the defendant’s criminal history. Sentencing was scheduled for February 20, 2025.

Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a sentence between 7 months and 23 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Based on the parties’ understanding of that criminal history, it is anticipated that Robinson will be subject to a presumptive prison sentence

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733851589790.png" alt="Roy Robinson-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Roy Robinson-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —Roy Gene Robinson, 46 of Great Bend, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court Tuesday morning for a combined jury trial regarding two separate felon complaints for incidents that occurred during the Summer of 2023, according to. Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. The matters were scheduled for a three day trial.The defendant was charged in one case with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, a severity level 8 nonperson felony, alleged to have occurred on or about August 1, 2023. In the second case he was charged with one count of Burglary of a Non-Dwelling, a severity level 7 nonperson felony, and two counts of misdemeanor Theft alleged to have occurred on or about July 10, 2023.Prior to jury selections, the parties announced they had reached a plea agreement whereby Roy Robinson entered a plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. In exchange for the plea the State agreed to dismiss the Burglary case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733851673236.png" alt="Dale Robinson-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Dale Robinson-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The defendant’s brother, Dale R. Robinson, 54, of Hutchinson, was also charged as a co-defendant in the Burglary case. Dale Robinson pleaded guilty to the charges on January 18, 2024, and was ordered to pay full restitution as a condition of probation. Initially Roy Robison was not a suspect in the burglary/thefts as boot impressions found at the scenes matched Dale Robinson, but subsequent review of cellular telephone records by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department suggested Roy Robinson was present at the time of the alleged crimes.In support of the firearm plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that on the morning of July 10, 2023, the Pawnee County Sheriff received a report of theft of agricultural diesel from an irrigation unit south of Larned. Later that same morning the Sheriff received reports of multiple truck batteries being stolen from vehicles parked in a shed a few miles from the site of the fuel theft. Tire tracks at both crime scenes suggested a light duty pickup had been involved. A witness indicated they had seen Roy Robinson driving a similar style pickup in the area. When the Sheriff’s department executed a search warrant at the Robinson rural Pawnee County residence, they discovered the missing batteries. They also witnessed several firearms and notified State Parole. At the time, Roy Robinson was on postrelease supervision as a result of a Pawnee County jury conviction for aggravated burglary. He had been released from prison on or about August 8, 2022. The Kansas Department of Corrections conducted their own search of the Robinson residence on August 1, 2023, and discovered .22 caliber rifle under a mattress.Robinson was arrested by Kansas Department of Corrections personnel at the scene on August 1, 2023, without incident. He posted a bond on March 23, 2024, and was released.After accepting the defendant’s plea Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman ordered a presentence investigation report be completed to determine the defendant’s criminal history. Sentencing was scheduled for February 20, 2025.Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a sentence between 7 months and 23 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Based on the parties’ understanding of that criminal history, it is anticipated that Robinson will be subject to a presumptive prison sentence

Kansas felon agrees to plea deal in burglary case

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

HAYS - The Hays High wrestling team's hosted Garden City to open Western Athletic Conference action Tuesday at the Hays High gym. The Buffs came away win wins in both the boys and girls' duals.

BOYS: Garden City 57, Hays 24 106 - Cyler Luck def. Izaac Gonzalez by fall, 2:26 113 - Camden Luck lost to Braydon Pacheco by fall, 2:55 120 - Ethan Pfannenstiel lost to Matt Long by fall, 1:06 126 - Ethan Branaman lost to Adriel Sancez by fall, 1:41 132 - Grady Lind lost to Romeo Garcia by fall, 5:58 138 - Devin Quack lost to Brandon Moreno by fall, 1:32 144 - Cade Lind lost to Logan Avalon by fall, 0:25 150 - Gabriel Campbell lost to Saben Herrera by fall, 1:19 157 - Roberto Macias Gabriel Gurrola lost by fall, 0:41 165 - Brian Prough lost to Juan Ortiz by fall, 3:11 175 - Lane Geist lost to Evan Meza-McDermott by dec., 8-7 190 - Jonathan Rigler def. Dio Holguin, injury time 215 - Boston Brungardt lost to David Holguin by fall, 1:05 285 - Jacinto Carillo lost to Brayden Hill by fall, 0:23

GIRLS: Garden City 52, Hays 27 (Hays wrestlers listed first)

100 - Emersyn Cooper def. Kaylea Resendiz by fall, 0:24 105 - Chassidy Carlisle lost to Kaira Acosta by fall, 3:05 110 - Chlore Robben lost to Nicole Abrego by tech fall, 19-2 115 - Jacely Dolan lost to Marina Loeran by fall, 0:57 120 - Kenlee Vehige lost to Julissa Rodriguez by fall, 2:36 125 - Reese Vehige lost to Crystal Loera by fall, 5:27 130 - Ivana Wiesener lost to Maya Tarbet by fall, 1:12 135 - Addison Nueberger lost to Alyxia Serrano by tech fall, 16-0 140 - Ava Ruiz def. Oliva Dunlapo by dec., 4-2 145 - Timber Lovewell def. Jaslene Moncada by fall, 3:24 155 - Lexi Barnett def. Aaliyah Garza by fall, 3:57 170 - Audrey Gutierrez lost to Mary Condo by fall, 0:53 190 - Hays wins by forfeit 235 - Janessa Carillo lost to Maribel Hernandez won by fall, 1:57

Hays PostHAYS - The Hays High wrestling team's hosted Garden City to open Western Athletic Conference action Tuesday at the Hays High gym. The Buffs came away win wins in both the boys and girls' duals.BOYS: Garden City 57, Hays 24 106 - Cyler Luck def. Izaac Gonzalez by fall, 2:26 113 - Camden Luck lost to Braydon Pacheco by fall, 2:55 120 - Ethan Pfannenstiel lost to Matt Long by fall, 1:06 126 - Ethan Branaman lost to Adriel Sancez by fall, 1:41 132 - Grady Lind lost to Romeo Garcia by fall, 5:58 138 - Devin Quack lost to Brandon Moreno by fall, 1:32 144 - Cade Lind lost to Logan Avalon by fall, 0:25 150 - Gabriel Campbell lost to Saben Herrera by fall, 1:19 157 - Roberto Macias Gabriel Gurrola lost by fall, 0:41 165 - Brian Prough lost to Juan Ortiz by fall, 3:11 175 - Lane Geist lost to Evan Meza-McDermott by dec., 8-7 190 - Jonathan Rigler def. Dio Holguin, injury time 215 - Boston Brungardt lost to David Holguin by fall, 1:05 285 - Jacinto Carillo lost to Brayden Hill by fall, 0:23GIRLS: Garden City 52, Hays 27 (Hays wrestlers listed first)100 - Emersyn Cooper def. Kaylea Resendiz by fall, 0:24 105 - Chassidy Carlisle lost to Kaira Acosta by fall, 3:05 110 - Chlore Robben lost to Nicole Abrego by tech fall, 19-2 115 - Jacely Dolan lost to Marina Loeran by fall, 0:57 120 - Kenlee Vehige lost to Julissa Rodriguez by fall, 2:36 125 - Reese Vehige lost to Crystal Loera by fall, 5:27 130 - Ivana Wiesener lost to Maya Tarbet by fall, 1:12 135 - Addison Nueberger lost to Alyxia Serrano by tech fall, 16-0 140 - Ava Ruiz def. Oliva Dunlapo by dec., 4-2 145 - Timber Lovewell def. Jaslene Moncada by fall, 3:24 155 - Lexi Barnett def. Aaliyah Garza by fall, 3:57 170 - Audrey Gutierrez lost to Mary Condo by fall, 0:53 190 - Hays wins by forfeit 235 - Janessa Carillo lost to Maribel Hernandez won by fall, 1:57

🤼‍♂️🤼‍♀️ HHS is swept by Garden City in WAC opener

Ellis Police Chief Avery Smith said Wednesday morning that the student who made the threats had been referred for intake into the juvenile justice system. The case has been referred to the Ellis County Attorney.

Two angry parents appeared before the Ellis USD 388 school board meeting Monday after they said their son was targeted in a school threat on Thursday.

One of the parents, who is not being identified in this story to protect the identity of his children, said a junior high student threatened to shoot up the school and then specifically identified people he intended to target, including his son and another student.

The parent said the junior high student was temporarily removed from class but was sent back to class that day.

The parent said when his children informed him of the threats after they came home from school on Thursday, he called the police.

The parent said his children, including his son are afraid to go to school or school activities.

The parent said he kept his children home from school on Friday because of safety concerns.

The school released a statement on the incident on Monday night.&nbsp;

Last week, there was a threat made by a student at the Jr/Sr HS. We immediately began investigating. It was determined that this threat posed no danger to students or staff.

Keeping people safe requires that we follow emergency response procedures without fail, which includes quickly notifying the law enforcement agency and working with them to determine how to protect our students and staff.

As needed, we also must take proper disciplinary action for fair and consistent consequences.

Please understand that we cannot share any details about the student involved in this situation. This is the result of both confidentiality laws and our district’s commitment to respecting the privacy of students and their families.

We sincerely regret that our communication about the incident was delayed, falling short of informing and reassuring our staff and families about the safety measures that we followed. Please accept our apology for any additional worry or stress our omission may have caused you or your family.

Please take this opportunity to talk to your student about the importance of reporting anything unusual, even if it might be a joke or hoax. Remind them if they hear or see anything, they should tell you, share with a school employee or call the police.

The father whose son was threatened told the school board Monday he did not think the administration had done a good job in dealing with the student in question.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724351835621.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE 9 a.m. Dec. 11:&nbsp;Ellis Police Chief Avery Smith said Wednesday morning that the student who made the threats had been referred for intake into the juvenile justice system. The case has been referred to the Ellis County Attorney.----By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostTwo angry parents appeared before the Ellis USD 388 school board meeting Monday after they said their son was targeted in a school threat on Thursday.One of the parents, who is not being identified in this story to protect the identity of his children, said a junior high student threatened to shoot up the school and then specifically identified people he intended to target, including his son and another student.The parent said the junior high student was temporarily removed from class but was sent back to class that day.The parent said when his children informed him of the threats after they came home from school on Thursday, he called the police.The parent said his children, including his son are afraid to go to school or school activities.The parent said he kept his children home from school on Friday because of safety concerns.The school released a statement on the incident on Monday night.&nbsp;That statement is below:Last week, there was a threat made by a student at the Jr/Sr HS. We immediately began investigating. It was determined that this threat posed no danger to students or staff.Keeping people safe requires that we follow emergency response procedures without fail, which includes quickly notifying the law enforcement agency and working with them to determine how to protect our students and staff.As needed, we also must take proper disciplinary action for fair and consistent consequences.Please understand that we cannot share any details about the student involved in this situation. This is the result of both confidentiality laws and our district’s commitment to respecting the privacy of students and their families.We sincerely regret that our communication about the incident was delayed, falling short of informing and reassuring our staff and families about the safety measures that we followed. Please accept our apology for any additional worry or stress our omission may have caused you or your family.Please take this opportunity to talk to your student about the importance of reporting anything unusual, even if it might be a joke or hoax. Remind them if they hear or see anything, they should tell you, share with a school employee or call the police.— Janice Wilson, superintendentThe father whose son was threatened told the school board Monday he did not think the administration had done a good job in dealing with the student in question.He said this student had been involved in multiple incidents since grade school.The parent alleged the student had made a previous bomb threat against the school and had thrown chairs in the classroom at other students.The parent also alleged the student had picked on other students."My kids are scared to go to school," the parent said. "They shouldn't be. You have not created a safe environment by letting one individual ruin it for 20 to 30 kids every day.&nbsp;"I speak on behalf of a lot of people who are not here but who I talked to throughout the day. I can't say names, but we all feel the same way.""We have been failed by every one of you," the parent said. "It's disturbing. There are warning signs there. If we don't do something about it now, we're going to be a statistic that makes nationwide news."He said he did not want to change schools, adding that his children are the fourth generation to attend Ellis schools. However, he said he would send his children to another school unless the school district does something more to address this situation.Board president Randy Honas told the parent he appreciated him expressing his thoughts."I just want you to understand that we will proceed as best we can as quickly as we can, following all the rules and regs we need to follow," Honas said.The parent alleged that the student was receiving special treatment because he is in the special education program."I was told by two separate administrators that had it been a different kid who wasn't on a program, they would have been kicked out immediately. I find that to be very disturbing," the parent said.The parent said the student in question showed up at the basketball game on Friday night. His son called and asked to be picked up from the game because he was scared of the student.The parent said an administrator told him the student would be placed in out-of-school suspension. He later learned that the student had been placed in in-school suspension and was back at the school.Honas said, "We will do our best to address some of the issues you brought up. Obviously, there are certain things we can and can't do. We will get there as quick as we can."The school board held an executive session on Monday to discuss a student issue. The board president did not say if the session pertained to the student who made the threats, and the board did not take public action after the executive session.