An annual holiday
concert takes place this weekend at the Missouri Theater in downtown St.
Joseph.

The Holiday Cheer
concert will feature familiar, classic Christmas music along with more
contemporary music.

St. Joseph
Symphony conductor, Chris Kelts, expects a packed crowd Saturday night.

“This tends to be
one of our very popular concerts, because we get a lot of returning symphony
lovers and also a lot of new people trying us out,” Kelts tells KFEQmmunity. “These
songs that we’ll perform are pretty familiar.”

During the concert
this year, the St. Joseph Symphony will be joined by soprano, Anna Mandina, who
will sing such classics as “Rejoice Greatly,” from Handel’s Messiah to more
modern songs such as “Mary Did You Know?”

Kelts says the
symphony tries to strike a balance that hits on cultural nostalgia during the
concert.

“A holiday memory,
a Christmas memory, whatever people might have or they remember when they were
kids. Something exciting and festive for the moment,” Kelts says. “Also, trying
to feature something different and exciting; something that people can
experience in that moment and remember it for years to come.”

Kelts says this
type of concert stirs emotions in the audience.

“They love singing
Christmas carols and Winter Wonderland. That appeals to them. They can grasp on
to that as a memory,” Kelts says. “That’s a good thing, because it allows them
to experience live, symphonic music and have a very unique experience for
themselves, which is absolutely what we’re all about.”

The Holiday Cheer
concert begins at seven o’clock Saturday evening at the Missouri Theater. There
will be a pre-concert reception at six with complimentary wine, Cherry Mashes,
donuts, and holiday punch.

Click <a href="https://saintjosephsymphony.org/digital-program.html">HERE</a> for a digital program.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

St. Joseph Symphony invites you to its annual Holiday Cheer concert

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Saturday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Dodge Ram driven by an 18-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, man was northbound on Interstate 29 approximately three and one half miles northeast of Oregon. The pickup traveled off the road, struck an embankment and returned to the road. The driver overcorrected and the pickup traveled off the road again, struck an embankment and came to rest in the ditch.

Atchison Holt ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic in St. Joseph. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas man hospitalized in St. Joe after pickup crash

BUCHANAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chevy Malibu driven by an 87-year-old Platte City man was southbound on Interstate 29 in St. Joseph. The driver merged from the driving lane to the passing lane and the car struck the passenger side of a southbound 2008 Kenworth semi driven by a 67-year-old St. Joseph man.

After impact the car traveled off the east side of the road. The semi traveled off the east side of the road and struck a cable barrier, continued into the northbound lanes and overturned.

Buchanan County EMS transported the semi driver to Mosaic Life Care. The 87-year-old driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joseph man injured after semi overturns

The Missouri Department of Transportation has released its schedule for highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Dec. 22 - 28, 2025.

To accommodate increased holiday travel, officials say most projects will be suspended beginning at noon Wednesday, Dec. 24. Work is expected to resume as early as 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 26.

While most active crews will be off the road during the holiday break, MoDOT warns that some long-term traffic impacts and work zones will remain in place.

Motorists should also be alert for moving operations throughout the region that may not be listed on the formal schedule, which can be found <a href="https://traveler.modot.org/map/">here</a>.

All planned work is subject to change due to inclement weather.

Atchison County:&nbsp;Route F – closed at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through January 2026.

Buchannan County:&nbsp;Gene Field Road Bridge will be closed due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The bridge is scheduled to be let for contractor bidding in January 2026.:&nbsp;

Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;closed from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through the remainder of 2025.

Caldwell County:&nbsp;Route D closed for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.

Carroll County:&nbsp;Route B closed at the Sambo Creek Bridge through mid-January 2026 for a bridge deck replacement project.

Chariton County:&nbsp;Route CC closed at the Yellow Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the <a href="https://www.modot.org/projects/northwest-missouri-design-build-bridge-bundle">Northwest Bridge Bundle</a> through December.

Route PP closed at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Bridge and Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.

Route KK closed at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026. Route KK will also be closed at the Little Chariton River Bridge, north of Glasgow, for a deck replacement project through March 2026.

Route O closed at Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

Harrison County:&nbsp;Route W closed for a culvert replacement from 195th Avenue to Route F, Dec. 22, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route W also closed for a culvert replacement from 267th Street to 255th Street, Dec. 23, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mercer County:&nbsp;U.S. Route 136 – Bridge maintenance at the Weldon River Bridge, Dec. 22, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. MoDOT says the bridge will be narrowed to one lane with temporary traffic signals to guide motorists through the work zone.

Nodaway County:&nbsp;Route C will see shoulder work from Caravan Road to Route KK heading north out of Elmo, Dec. 22.

Sullivan County:&nbsp;Route T closed at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026.

Worth County:&nbsp;U.S. Route 169 closed for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

Route W closed for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

MoDOT is reminding drivers to buckle up, put your phone down, and slow down and move over in work zones.

Planned MoDOT roadwork for Northwest Missouri

&nbsp; We have 5 Powerball numbers we want to share with you. Enter below to be a part of the pool as we share the numbers and hope of winning an estimated $1.5 billion dollars! Find the rules <a href="http://www.myqcountry.com/2015/09/24/lottery-ticket-numbers-to-share-rules/">HERE</a> (by entering this pool you have read, agreed to, and completely understand all of the rules of this pool). Deadline to enter is 9:27 pm central time Saturday, December 20th, 2025. Below the entry form you will find the 5 numbers that are being played for the pool.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Find what the numbers are <a href="https://www.myqcountry.com/2025/12/19/powerball-pool-share-our-numbers/">HERE</a>!

Powerball Pool

A chronicler of
veteran stories, retired Army Lt. Colonel Milt Toratti of St. Joseph, is
working on five books with several requests pending.

Toratti recently
finished telling the story of veteran, Larry Ralston, who grew up in Carthage
and served in World War II. Toratti says Ralston served in a division that came
in behind the initial surge at Normandy, a unit that lost 3,887 men with
another 347 missing. It suffered 15,541 wounded.

“Over 20,600
soldiers in that division. So, it turned over a few times. His regiment alone
turned over six times,” Toratti tells KFEQmmunity. “All of the bodies, the
numbers of soldiers and he survived. And I was able to write his story.”

Ralston received
his book in October as he celebrated his 101st birthday. Now in
hospice, Ralston shares his book with visitors.

Toratti recently
helped 102-year-old Harold Searcy of Dearborn commit his story to paper. Searcy
entered the Navy after graduating from Weston High School, serving in the V-5
Program, a training program designed to rapidly train combat pilots.

Toratti says he
finds the stories of veterans fascinating.

“Piece of history;
people just don’t know about it until you sit with a soldier and then you start
doing the research and research and research and put it all together,” Toratti
says.

Toratti says
veterans tend to struggle to tell their families about their service, but will
open up to him.

“We just start
talking, because it’s a veteran-to-veteran conversation,” Toratti says. “It’s
not an inquisition. It’s not an interrogation. It’s simply talking veteran to
veteran.

Toratti has helped
more than 100 men tell their tales of serving in the military. Now, he is
working with two women to tell theirs.

Toratti has
co-authored “Angel of Mercy,” the story of Carolyn Joyce “Abby” Auclair of Ohio
who served as a nurse in the Vietnam War.

Toratti also is
working with the Vietnam interpreter for Gen. William Westmoreland, the
commander of US forces in Vietnam, to tell her story.

Toratti says the
veterans who chronicle their stories have to be ready. Toratti acknowledges
that now that he is in his 80s, he likely won’t be able to get to the 34 requests
from veterans to help tell their stories.

St. Joseph author still working to help veterans tell their stories

A 33-year old Savannah, MO man has pleaded guilty to charges of child sex trafficking involving two minors.

Ross Rutherford entered a plea to two counts of second-degree child sex trafficking on Dec. 12 in Andrew County Circuit Court.

According to court documents, Rutherford admitted that a victim under age 18 sent him suggestive pictures in May 2024. Rutherford stated in his plea that he sent the victim money on several occasions.

In a separate court filing, Rutherford admitted to asking a second victim, also a minor, to send nude pictures of herself in January 2025.

Rutherford could face 10 years to life in prison.

A judge denied bond for Rutherford, who is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 26, 2026.

Savannah man pleads guilty to child sex trafficking

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

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

It will not be a white Christmas in the Midland Empire.

Meteorologist Dan Holiday says to expect temperatures to be in the low to mid 60s. "The computer models are showing we should be somewhere around 62 degrees Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day its going to be closer to 64 degrees."

Holiday says travel should not be impacted by the weather. Travelers heading to Southeast Kansas or Central and Southern Missouri could see temperatures closer to 70 degrees.

The warmer weather is expected to last through at least mid-January, however, Holiday notes, "If you get beyond fourteen days, there are just things that can upend the long-range forecast, but for now we can expect well above average temperatures and below-average precipitation."

Midland Empire can expect unseasonably warm holiday week

KFEQ Morning Sports 12/19/2025

KFEQ Morning News 12/19/2025

March corn closed down 3/4 cents and May corn was down 3/4 cents. January soybeans closed down 3 cents and March soybeans were down 2 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed down 1 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was up 5 cents.

March corn closed up 3 cents and March corn was up 2 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 27 1/2 cents and March soybeans were down 27 1/4 cents. March KC wheat closed down 2 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 19 1/2 cents and March Minneapolis wheat was up 2 1/4 cents.

Row-crop futures were mostly moderately lower to close the week, with little fresh news to break the fall in soybean futures or encourage corn traders to challenge nearby price resistance. In outside markets, energy futures were mixed with higher crude oil and gasoline futures but sluggish diesel prices, which contributed to the pressure on oilseed markets to close the week. Equity markets were higher in quiet trade, with a higher U.S. Dollar Index as well for the third straight session.

Things were heating up in the cattle complex as the live cattle contracts were again pressing up against the market's 100-day moving average. Traders are seeming to hold their breath, patiently waiting to see what's going to develop in the Southern Plains as still no cattle have traded in that region. Bids are on the table in Kansas at $227, which is far below the asking price of $232 to $233, and asking prices in the North are holding steady at $358-plus. There was a light movement of trade in Nebraska at $358 Thursday afternoon, which is $4.00 higher than last week's weighted average. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $3.61 ($360.89) and select up $3.57 ($347.54) with a movement of 69 loads (43.73 loads of choice, 8.34 loads of select, 11.09 loads of trim and 6.32 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle complex pushed a dynamite rally into Friday's closing bell, as contracts were trading anywhere from $5.00 $6.00 higher. The spot March contract is currently trading above its 100-day moving average, seeming to feel well supported since the live cattle contracts are higher, fed cash cattle prices are stronger this week, and hopeful this afternoon's Cattle on Feed report will be bullish too. Time will tell.

The lean hog complex was back to trading higher as traders seemed to have regained some faith in the market but are also feeling additionally supported by the day's slight uptick in pork cutouts. It's unlikely the market will challenge resistance at $90.00, but a steady tone could be maintained through the early parts of next week.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/19140646/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

The Energy Information Administration said ethanol output jumped to a new record high in the seven days ending on December 12. U.S. production rose to an average of 1.131 million barrels a day, which the agency said is up from 1.105 million the previous week and eclipsed a record set two weeks earlier. In the Midwest, output rose to an average of 1.078 million barrels a day, up from 1.046 million the prior week. 

That was all the gains for the week. East Coast production was steady at 11,000 barrels a day, on average, for the fourth-straight week. West Coast output held steady at 9,000 barrels a day. Gulf Coast production dropped by 4,000 barrels to an average of 28,000 per day, and Rocky Mountain output dropped by 2,000 barrels a day to 9,000. Inventories during the week fell to 22.353 million barrels.

Ethanol production hits another record high

China has secured at least seven million tons of U.S. soybeans after multiple purchases during the past two weeks. Bloomberg said that puts the Asian country over halfway to meeting the 12-million-ton purchase agreement it made with the Trump administration. People familiar with the deals say the total comes from purchases by Sinograin, the state company in charge of managing China’s strategic grain stockpiles. 

The company purchased about two million tons in the last week alone, with buys continuing into this week. Bloomberg reports that at least seven soybean cargoes were purchased, totaling over 400,000 tons. Officially, the USDA has reported under four million tons of soybeans sold to China, but industry insiders say the total is likely much higher. Unfortunately, prices will likely stay under pressure, even though U.S. sellers and Chinese buyers expect the target to be met. It’s unknown exactly when the beans will ship.  

China halfway to soybean purchase commitment

March corn closed up 4 cents and May corn was up 4 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 6 cents and March soybeans were down 6 3/4 cents. March KC wheat closed up 9 1/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 1 1/2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was up 11 cents.

The corn market extended its recovery to two days on Thursday, reclaiming lost technical ground in the process on rumors that China may have bought some U.S. corn off the PNW this week. Meanwhile, the soybean complex was again lower with the exception of meal futures. Wheat futures led the charge higher on Thursday, attracting bargain buying as futures had approached and, in some cases set, new 2025 and contract lows across markets earlier this week. In macroeconomic news, the November Consumer Price Index reading of 2.7% annual inflation was firmly and surprisingly lower than the 3% reading in September. Market reaction to the news was mixed with slightly higher Treasuries but yield futures flat to only a touch lower as some economists had offered a word of warning that the data collection during the government shutdown may have resulted in a skewed inflation measure this month.

The live cattle complex was again trading lower, as though some light cash cattle trade has been reported at higher prices again this week, traders still don't believe they possess enough well-rounded support to successfully conquer the market's 100-day moving average. This left the complex only one way to go, which was lower. Even though packers bought the largest weekly trade volume of 2024 and 2025 last week at just over 103,000 head, fed cash cattle prices are trending a tick higher again this morning as packers are still in need of more cattle. Some light trade has been reported in the North by a regional packer at $358, which is $4.00 higher than last week's weighted average. A few more bids are on the table in parts of Kansas, but no Southern trade has developed yet. Asking prices remain firm in the South at $232 to $233, and in the North at $360 plus. Boxed beef prices are mixed: choice up $0.95 ($357.04) and select down $2.38 ($344.05) with a movement of 46 loads ($31.77 loads of choice, 6.76 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 7.52 loads of ground beef).

Continuing to follow the direction of the live cattle complex, the feeder cattle contracts traded lower into Thursday's closing bell. Although the market continues to see adequate fundamental support, it's likely the complex could keep with this steady/somewhat lower trend as traders don't believe this is the best time to advance the complex over a major resistance threshold with the Christmas holiday just days ahead.

The lean hog complex was traded mostly higher as traders are to see pork cutout values up over $2.00 higher. And with Wednesday's lower technical close, the market is no longer up against immediate resistance pressure.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/18135625/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The U.S. isn’t the only country seeing a decline in ag equipment purchases. Brazil saw a double-digit percentage drop in tractor sales in November. That’s according to data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Total tractor shipments in the country were down five percent on an annual basis last month. Sales of high-horsepower and low-horsepower tractors were down 15 percent year over year in November, which followed another ten percent decline in October. 

High-horsepower tractor sales in Brazil plunged 28 percent in November and are down 15 percent year to date, according to a report from Truist Securities. Deere said it expects flat year-over-year tractor and combine sales in South America, AGCO said it expects modest growth in South America in 2026, and CNH said industry volumes will be flat. “Demand remains uncertain, due in part to the U.S.-China trade agreement, high interest rates, and strong crop yields,” Truist added.

Ag equipment sales are also falling outside the U.S. 

The National Corn Growers Association announced the winners of the 2025 Yield Contest. With growing conditions that led to a projected record corn crop, this year’s participants delivered impressive yields, once again showcasing the ingenuity of U.S. agriculture. In the 61st year of the contest, it saw almost 7,800 entries from farmers in 47 states. Entrants across the ten production categories had verified yields averaging 269 bushels an acre. 

The highest yield for this year came out of Charles City, Virginia, at 572.25 bushels per acre in Class H (strip-till irrigated) for David Hula. “The Yield Contest is really about finding out what this crop is capable of,” said NCGA President Jed Bower. ‘’And as corn farmers, we get to show what we’re made of too.”Winners will be honored at the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, February 25–27.&nbsp; A complete list of the winners can be found at <a href="https://ncga.com/get-involved/yield-contest">ncga.com/YieldContest</a>.

NCGA announces yield contest winners

March corn closed up 4 cents and May corn was up 3 1/4 cents. January soybeans closed down 4 1/2 cents and March soybeans were down 3 cents. March KC wheat closed up 2 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 3 1/4 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 3 cents.

It was another mixed to bearish session for U.S. row crops on Wednesday as South American weather bears continue to lead liquidation efforts in the soybean complex, although prices ultimately found interested buyers over the last couple of hours of trade and are oversold from a technical viewpoint. Meanwhile, corn futures found support when March prices fell below the 100-day moving average on Tuesday, rebounding to recapture those losses Wednesday. Wheat markets in the meanwhile fell to new lows in Chicago and Minneapolis. Energy markets turned higher from early 2021 lows set on Tuesday, going largely ignored in the ag sector other than positive influence on corn futures, especially following a mostly positive weekly ethanol report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Equities were again weaker on Wednesday as well on profit-taking following last week's surge to a new record for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

After rallying throughout Tuesday's trade, the live cattle complex has again settled to trade lower as the resistance at the market's 100-day moving average simply remains too stiff of a barrier to challenge at this point. Are you seeing the trend in the market right now? One day the market rallies and trades higher, but then on the next day, it steps lower as traders don't believe that either they possess enough support or that it's the right time to challenge the market's resistance. Either way, the complex is trading merely steady, holding a position just below the 100-day moving average. No cash cattle trade has developed yet. Boxed beef prices are lower: choice down $1.96 ($356.92) and select down $0.26 ($348.84) with a movement of 91 loads (72.72 loads of choice, 7.09 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 11.61 loads of ground beef).

After closing above the market's resistance at its 100-day moving average, the feeder cattle complex is tradeda tick lower into Wednesday's close. The market still remains above that threshold, which is significant. With the live cattle contracts trading lower, it was not surprising to see the feeder cattle contracts dip back below the market's resistance at its 100-day moving average.

The lean hog complex got back to trading lower as the market remains nervous to trade any higher following the substantial gains made last week. Given that the market is just days away from Christmas, it's likely that a slower, lower trend could develop in the lean hog complex.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/17140429/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. The legislation provides schools with the flexibility to offer flavored and unflavored whole and 2% milk options, helping to make sure children get the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and succeed in the classroom. “I’ve worked for a decade to restore whole milk to our school cafeterias, which have been limiting healthy choices for students, but that changes today,” said bill author GT Thompson of Pennsylvania.

 “Whole milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, and students should have the option to choose the milk they love.” Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, said, “By restoring schools’ ability to serve whole and reduced-fat milk, dairy farmers and their cooperatives can further expand their positive impact in school lunchrooms and provide more nutritious outcomes for the next generation.”  

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act awaits presidential signature 

Green Plains Inc. has reached a major operational milestone at its three Nebraska ethanol plants. The company confirmed that biogenic carbon from all three locations is now being captured and permanently stored. The captured emissions are transported by the Trailblazer pipeline and are taken to southeastern Wyoming and injected at Tallgrass’s carbon storage hub, completing an end-to-end carbon capture and sequestration chain. 

The company says this achievement marks an important step for both the company's operations and the broader Nebraska bioeconomy, positioning low-carbon ethanol more competitively in regulated fuel markets. With the capture infrastructure now fully operational, Green Plains plans to advance a broader decarbonization strategy while targeting long-term performance gains. Management views carbon capture as a core lever for future growth in an increasingly carbon-constrained fuel market.

Nebraska ethanol plants reach carbon milestone

March corn closed down 3 1/4 cents and May corn was down 3 1/4 cents. January soybeans closed down 9 cents and March soybeans were down 9 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed down 7 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 11 1/4 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 3 3/4 cents.

Row-crop prices continued to deteriorate from November highs on Tuesday. January soybeans have now given back roughly 70% of market gains from the Sept. 30 low close to the Nov. 17 high close, a frustrating turn of events as bearish traders focus on widespread South American rainfall and begin to bank on another record soybean crop in Brazil for 2026 and the potential for record corn production in Argentina as well. Outside markets for Tuesday leaned negative in regard to influence on ag futures, with crude oil prices sliding yet again and officially setting new lows for 2025 amid high world production and lower perceived geopolitical risk as Russia, Ukraine, and world leaders work toward a peace solution in the Black Sea. Equity markets were also lower on a higher-than-expected unemployment reading for November in Tuesday's report.

The live cattle complex trading softly higher into Tuesday's closing bell as the market is pleased with the continued support of strong beef demand. The market's 100-day moving average remains a stiff resistance threshold for the market and even with the support from higher boxed beef prices, traders don't firmly believe that they have enough support to currently trade above that threshold. No cash cattle trade has developed yet, but asking prices are noted in the South at $233 plus but still remain elusive in the North. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $0.78 ($360.24) and select up $1.73 ($349.03) with a movement of 48 loads (33.79 loads of choice, 8.30 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 5.98 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle complex was off to a bold start this morning as the market is currently trading above its 100-day moving average in most of the nearby contracts. Fueled by strong buyer demand in the countryside and by the continued support of traders, the market is tiptoeing into territory that hasn't been traded at since late October.

And even with midday pork cutout values a tick lower, the lean hog complex continued to trade higher as traders remain committed to supporting the lean hog market. The market could soften later this week if fundamental support doesn't arise.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/16142313/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🎥US forces stop a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The former administrator, maintenance contractor, and company owner of a Monett, Mo., skilled nursing facility were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to impede the EPA, a related state agency, and OHSA, and violate the Clean Air Act regarding the removal of asbestos-containing materials.

Juan Carlos Aguilar Gomez, 45, a citizen of Honduras, residing in Lawrence, N.Y., who was previously charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 1, 2025, with one count of violating the Clean Air Act, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency.

Rebecca Massey, 46, of Granby, Mo., was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency.

Goldner Capital Management, LLC (GCM), a limited liability company located in the state of New York, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, and six counts of violating the Clean Air Act.

“The Department of Justice, working in partnership with the EPA, will seek to hold accountable those who violate environmental laws, as evidenced by the charges returned today,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

“Conspiring to violate our nation’s environmental laws to prevent exposure to the lethal dangers of asbestos is a betrayal of trust that puts the most defenseless members of our society at risk. By neglecting proper asbestos inspections and precautions, the defendants have not only violated laws but endangered the health of over 150 residents and staff,” said Cate Holston, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Missouri.

According to today’s indictment, in Dec. 2018, Gomez’s company was contracted to do maintenance and renovation work at nursing homes within GCM’s investment portfolio, including a long-term care facility in Monett, Mo. The services in their signed agreement included planning and overseeing all construction, alteration, maintenance, and repair projects at the facilities.

The facility provided senior and other assisted-living care to at least 67 residents and was staffed by approximately 80 employees between 2018 and 2021 and was owned and operated as part of an investment portfolio owned by GCM, which funded all capital improvements to facilities owned by the parent company.

As early as July 2020 GCM agents and employees, including Massey, began plans to renovate the facility, including plans to remove the existing linoleum flooring and replace it with new flooring. This flooring contained at least 6-12% chrysotile asbestos, was in poor condition and crumbled easily, making the tile a regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) under EPA guidelines. The removal of RACM requires special handling and disposal precautions and procedures.

GCM, Massey, and Gomez were advised during the bidding process by other construction contractors and maintenance employees that the floor needed to be tested for the presence of asbestos and that an asbestos certified contractor needed to remove any flooring containing asbestos.

Despite receiving at least one bid from a reputable contracting company, which advised that the floors likely contained asbestos, no testing or asbestos abatement was conducted at the facility. Instead, GCM agents and employees engaged Gomez to conduct the proposed renovations. Neither Gomez, nor any of his employees were qualified asbestos abatement contractors, workers, or supervisors.

Renovations began around Oct. 2020 and continued through Jan. 2021. During renovations, Gomez and his employees used an electrical/mechanical floor stripper, other scrapers, chippers, and other abrading or grinding machinery to remove the tile flooring. This process generated visible emissions throughout the facility’s hallways, dining areas, and residents’ rooms. Additionally, Gomez and his employees posted no signs regarding potential asbestos exposure, erected no containment, used no water to mitigate visible emissions, had no decontamination units constructed, did not use negative air machines, and disposed of RACM waste in an unlined, unsealed dumpster that was sent to a landfill not authorized to accept RACM.

Massey, knowing that no asbestos analysis/inspection had occurred and that one was needed, permitted the work to continue even though as the Administrator she was empowered, and obligated, under law to shut down any operations that posed a health or safety hazard to the facility’s residents.

On Jan. 20, 2021, officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) inspected the facility and obtained a bulk floor sample from the hallway. MDNR conveyed to Massey that they were concerned that the materials contained RACM and that, if they did, the owners of the facility would need to evacuate the residents. Gomez told MDNR inspectors that he had no knowledge of the presence of asbestos or permitting requirements prior to their inspection, both of which were false statements.

The indictment alleges that on April 30, 2021, Massey falsely told OSHA inspectors that she was unaware of the renovation project involving the flooring prior to Gomez and his workers beginning work in Dec. 2020. She also claimed that she knew nothing about asbestos until MDNR arrived at the facility.&nbsp; Both were false statements.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark, who was significantly assisted by former Environmental Crimes Section Senior Litigation Counsel Todd W. Gleason. It was investigated by the EPA – Criminal Investigations Division and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

3 indicted for conspiracy to violate asbestos-related laws at Mo. long-term care facility

KANSAS CITY—A person injured in an accident that occurred just before 10 a.m. Wednesday in Kansas City has died.

According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a blue Dodge Dart was&nbsp; westbound on Interstate 70 and swerved into the impact attenuator to northbound US 71 Highway. 

EMS transported the driver and sole occupant to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; On Friday, Officer Gonzalez reported the driver died.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the driver or additional details.

Driver dies after car strikes impact attenuator on I-70

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Topeka. Just after 11:45p.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a possible shooting in the 900 block of SW Lincoln Avenue in Topeka, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.

First responders located 2 victims who were deceased. Police believe all people involved in this incident are accounted for. Police did not report the names of the victims or possible suspect details.

Homicide: 2 found dead in Kansas shooting

RUSSELL COUNTY —Multiple fire departments and first responder agencies responded to two large grass fires in southeast Russell County on Thursday, according to Russell County Emergency Management.

At noon, the first fire was located eight miles southwest of Bunker Hill in the area of 189th Street and Lincoln Road. Russell County Rural Fire District Five responded, but almost immediately requested more Russell County rural fire departments respond due to high winds with gusts in the 60 to 70 mph range. The cause of the first fire was electrical power lines.

The second fire to the north started approximately a mile south of US Highway 40 on 193rd Street south of Bunker Hill. It was caused by a responding fire truck losing a tire and crashing into the ditch.

All told, approximately 2,000 acres of grassland were burned in both fires. There were no injuries due to the fires and a handful of structures and residences were threatened, but none were damaged.

Russell County EMS responded to a crash involving a Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy vehicle and a Dorrance Fire Department fire truck. No one was transported to the hospital and the Kansas Highway Patrol investigated both vehicle crashes, the other being the fire truck that lost a tire.

Early in the process, a verbal disaster declaration for Russell County was requested and approved by the Russell County Commission, thereby allowing the request of mutual aid resources from the state.

All fire departments from Russell County were involved in the response, as well as fire departments and additional agencies from multiple surrounding counties.

Both fires were declared under control at around 5 PM Thursday evening with some firefighters remaining on scene to put out hot spots and monitor the area.

Russell County Emergency Management, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office and Russell County Rural Fire District Five thank all local and state agencies that responded to assist, as well as private citizens and businesses.

2,000 acres of Kansas grassland burned in windy wildfire

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — President Donald Trump took the first step Thursday to reclassify marijuana, but the move won’t affect Kansans unless the state changes its laws, a law enforcement professional said.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research/" target="_blank">signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;to drop marijuana from a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act to a Schedule III drug.&nbsp;

In 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the change, indicating marijuana has medical use.

“Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision,” the order said. “Schedule III drugs are classified as having a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a potential for moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence in the event of drug abuse.”

The change doesn’t take immediate effect on the federal level, but it will not affect Kansans unless laws are changed, said Ed Klumpp, a retired Topeka police chief and a lobbyist for the Kansas Peace Officers Association.

“Under state law, it’s still under Schedule I,” he said. “If this happens and it sticks, then there would need to be some kind of bill run to move it from Schedule I to Schedule III on the state schedule, and then it’s still a controlled substance.”

If marijuana moves to become a Schedule III drug, it could be prescribed through pharmacies for medicinal use, Klumpp said.&nbsp;

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation urged Kansans to remember that marijuana is still illegal and that rescheduling it is “not the same as legalization.”&nbsp;

“Marijuana products sold today are highly potent and pose a direct threat to public health,” the news release said. “Rescheduling will allow qualified scientists to conduct reliable research on the long-term impact on the human brain of the use of high-concentration THC products. We believe this will conclusively prove the connection between marijuana use and mental health disorders, especially in children and teens.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, was one of 24 Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26382687-12172025-budd-letter-on-marijuana-rescheduling/" target="_blank">who signed a letter</a>&nbsp;asking Trump not to change marijuana’s classification.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age,” the letter said. “The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill.”

Kansas marijuana laws remain unchanged, despite Trump promoting looser regulations

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

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

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

Kansas man dies after struck by a car and a pickup

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 4:30a.m. December 15, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Ford F-150 that was northbound on U.S. Highway 75 near 318th&nbsp;Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver of the vehicle, David John Remmers, 40, of Salina was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, driving while suspended, tampering with an interlock device, possession of drug paraphernalia, no insurance and for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear out of Washington County.

The passenger of the vehicle, Jennifer Rose Martin, 40, of Marysville, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charges possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas man jailed for skipping court, drug possession

Late Friday afternoon,&nbsp; the U.S. Department of Justice Department&nbsp; began releasing a portion of the long awaited files on&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein.

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

See the files: Some long-awaited Epstein files finally released

Following a trade that sent left handed reliever Angel Zerpa to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Kansas City Royals turned up the search to find new left handed help in their bullpen, and turned to a familiar face, acquiring Matt Strahm from the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In return, the Royals sent right hander Jonathan Bowlan to Philadelphia.&nbsp; The 29 year old&nbsp;Bowlan pitched in parts of the last three seasons with the Royals, appearing in a career-high 34 games last season. The club transitioned him to a full-time reliever over the past year and he bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the Majors for much of the year.

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