LINDSBORG - The Aglow Trio of Karen McLaughlin Large (on flute), Alyssa Morris (on oboe), and Amanda Arrington (on piano), will perform works by Peter Cohn, Madeleine Dring, Tony Rodriguez, and more at the Sandzén Gallery (401 North First St.)&nbsp;on Sunday, December 7 at 2:00 pm.

Combining their extensive experience as soloists, chamber musicians, and educators with years of close friendship, they form a special trio and are dedicated to bringing light and optimism to their audiences.

 By carefully curating programs aimed at highlighting new and unique voices and promoting positivity, the trio strives to leave their audiences feeling inspired and uplifted. They have performed multiple tours in the US and abroad, are American Prize Finalists, and recorded and released two albums.

There is no charge for the concert, however, donations are appreciated.

Karen McLaughlin Large enjoys performing in concerto, solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings. She is Assistant Professor of Flute at Florida State University, College of Music and teaches flute lessons, flute ensemble, low flutes, Baroque flute, and Wind and Percussion Pedagogy. She is passionate about helping students navigate their unique paths in the music world. Dr. Large's research interests include performing classical works inspired by popular genres, flute transcriptions of Romantic music, and more. She has earned DM, MM, and BM degrees at Florida State University.

Alyssa Morris serves as Associate Professor of Oboe at Kansas State University, along with being the principal oboist of the Topeka Symphony and Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley. She has appeared in performances around the world and as a concerto soloist at the Kennedy Center. Additionally, she is an American Prize finalist and PEO Scholar. Alyssa has been an International Barlow Composition Commission Winner, ROCO’s 2021 Composer-in-Residence, and her music is performed worldwide.

Amanda Arrington serves as Senior Professor of Practice at Kansas State University. She maintains an active concert schedule, collaborating with artists, faculty, and students in performances across the country and abroad. An advocate of new music, you can find her premiering works and performing in renowned venues, including the Sydney Opera House, the Kennedy Center, and the National WWI &amp; National WWII museums.

For further information, please call the Gallery at 785-227-2220 or email:&nbsp;sandzengallery@gmail.com.

Trio of musicians sharing close friendships and major accomplishments to perform at Sandzén Gallery

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

NAME:&nbsp;Barleen, Maddison Payge

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner; Burglary; Dwelling to commit felony, theft, domestic violence or sexually motivated crime; Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner

NAME:&nbsp;Hernandez, Diego Alfonso

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; Improper driving on laned roadway; Liquor; Purch/poss/consume 18-20 yrs; unkn conv; Taxation; Possession of cigarettes, electronic cigarette/tobacco by minor &lt; 18; Transporting an open container

Saline County Jail Bookings, November 30

NEW CAMBRIA - Peace Lutheran Church (212 1st St.) in New Cambria will be hosting their annual community Christmas potluck. 

Inside the Parish Hall on Saturday, December 13&nbsp;at 12:00 pm, the potluck will take place.

Table service and drinks will be provided. The event is free and open to anyone in the public.

The church encourages you to bring your family and friends for a wonderful time of sharing memories and enjoy many types of delicious foods.

This community in tradition New Cambria has lasted for over 100 years.&nbsp; 

For more information contact Jean Curry at 785-452-5207.

Peace Lutheran in New Cambria to host annual Christmas potluck with table service 

Abilene Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau

ABILENE - Abilene is welcoming visitors and locals to celebrate the season during Cowtown Christmas, a three-day holiday experience filled with beloved traditions, festive lights, live entertainment, and seasonal activities for all ages.

Recognized as one of the Best Historic Small Towns by USA TODAY, Abilene becomes the center of holiday celebration as the community comes together for this special weekend.

From Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7, guests can enjoy a full schedule of seasonal activities throughout town, including a magical train ride aboard the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad’s Cowtown Santa Express, the Heritage Homes Association’s 48th Homes for the Holidays Tour, live theatre at Great Plains Theatre, Christmas markets, family-friendly events, and holiday light displays.

“Cowtown Christmas brings together the very best of Abilene in one meaningful celebration,” said Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. “From our historic homes and holiday events to our welcoming local businesses, it is a weekend that showcases why Abilene continues to be a destination people love to visit.”

Classic holiday experiences include Old Fashioned Christmas at the Dickinson County Heritage Center, complete with carolers, bell choirs, carousel rides, Santa visits, kids' crafts, and homemade goodies. 

The Historic Seelye Mansion will welcome guests for tours of the beautifully decorated home, featuring festive trees throughout, hundreds of nutcrackers, and vibrant poinsettias.

The weekend also features Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn The Musical at Great Plains Theatre, Cowboy Christmas at Old Abilene Town with chili and cinnamon rolls, the 50th Annual Abilene Handcrafters Winter Market, and the Festival of Trees benefiting Abilene Core Community.

“Cowtown Christmas highlights so much of what makes Abilene special during the holidays,” Roller Weeks said. “It is a time when families create traditions and visitors see firsthand why our community continues to be a holiday destination.”

Saturday evening includes the Christmas Cruise for Food and the Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown, where guests can vote for their favorite Griswold-style decorations while donating canned goods to the Abilene Area Food Bank. Festivities continue at Little Ike Park with the Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting, Santa visits, and a performance by AHS Singers.

Guests are invited to enjoy the full weekend of holiday activities while supporting Abilene’s local businesses and celebrating the season with family and friends.

A complete schedule of events and details can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.abilenekansas.org/Christmas">www.AbileneKansas.org/Christmas</a>

Celebrate the holiday joy this December at Abilene's "Cowtown Christmas" 

NAME:&nbsp;Drown, Brittany Lauren

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Driving While Suspended; Interfere w/ LEO; Conceal/destroy fel evidence; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving While Suspended; Outside warrant/NCIC hit

&nbsp;NAME:&nbsp;Smith, Zachary Allen

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; Possess of firearm while under the influence; Speeding; maximum limits

Saline County Jail Bookings, November 29

Traces of snowfall have touched down in Central Kansas, with more snow expected for Monday, plus cold air throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Throughout Central Kansas, colder air will spread southward across the region for Saturday along with strong and gusty northwest winds. Wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph are likely.

Rain will change to snow briefly over parts of central Kansas through mid-morning on Saturday. Minor accumulations on elevated and grassy surfaces are possible.

Low of 7 degrees is expected for Sunday, with a high of 30 in Salina.

Salina is also under a wind advisory until 6:00 pm for Saturday.

According to the US National Weather Service, light to moderate snow is expected to move-in from the west on Monday and provide many locations with the first measurable snow of the season. 

 Snow will start around or shortly after sunrise and continue through the Monday afternoon hours with travel impacts likely, especially across central and northeast Kansas.

Highs are expected to be between 27-32 degrees, with the low expected to be around 14 degrees throughout the region.

Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.

Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.

For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Traces of snow have touched down in Central Kansas, more snow expected for Monday

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Lindsborg Community Hospital/Memorial Health System

Memorial Health System in Abilene and Lindsborg Community Hospital were&nbsp; both recognized with 2025 Performance Leadership Awards from The Chartis Center for Rural Health as&nbsp; part of National Rural Health Day on November 20.&nbsp;

Both hospitals earned Top Quartile recognition in Patient Perspective, reflecting strong patient&nbsp; experience performance compared to rural hospitals nationwide. In addition, Lindsborg Community&nbsp; Hospital received a Top Quartile Performance Leadership Award in Quality, further highlighting its&nbsp; clinical excellence.&nbsp;

The annual Performance Leadership Awards are based on results from the Chartis Rural Hospital&nbsp; Performance INDEX, a comprehensive benchmarking tool used across the country to evaluate rural&nbsp; hospital performance. INDEX results are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems, hospital&nbsp; associations and state offices of rural health to assess performance in areas critical to hospital&nbsp; operations, finance and community care.&nbsp;

“These recognitions reflect the commitment, professionalism and compassion of our teams,”&nbsp; said Kimberly Haverly, Administrator at Memorial Health System. “Every day, our staff works to provide patient-centered, accessible care close to home, and this recognition underscores those efforts.” Lindsborg Community Hospital Administrator, Mark Rooker, echoed the sentiment. “This&nbsp;recognition places LCH among the top quartile of rural and Critical Access Hospitals nationwide and&nbsp; reflects the dedication of our entire team — from physicians and nurses, to support staff and volunteers&nbsp; — who work each day to provide compassionate, high-quality care to our community. Earning awards in&nbsp; both Quality and Patient Perspective demonstrates that our commitment goes beyond clinical&nbsp; excellence. It speaks to the personal, patient-centered experience that defines who we are as a hospital."

“These awards affirm that even as a small rural hospital, we continue to deliver big results — ensuring that exceptional care and genuine compassion remain at the heart of everything we do,” Rooker said.&nbsp;

Michael Topchik, executive director of the Chartis Center for Rural Health, said the awards&nbsp; reflect the excellence found across rural communities.&nbsp;

“The areas of quality, outcomes and patient perspective are cornerstones of health care delivery&nbsp; across rural America, and this year’s Performance Leadership Award recipients are establishing a&nbsp; standard of excellence for their rural peers to follow,” Topchik said. “We are delighted to shine a&nbsp; spotlight on such strong performance and honor the achievement of these hospitals on National Rural&nbsp; Health Day.”&nbsp;

Both Memorial Health System and Lindsborg Community Hospital are affiliates of Salina Regional Health Center in a partnership that supports local access to care and enhances specialty and&nbsp; service options across the region. The shared affiliation presents the opportunity to jointly celebrate this&nbsp; achievement and demonstrate the strength of health care collaboration across central Kansas.&nbsp;

For more information about the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, contact Billy Balfour at wbalfour@chartis.com.&nbsp;

Lindsborg and Abilene hospitals recognized for excellence in patient care 

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact

NAME:&nbsp;Eilrich, Jessica Coraleann

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Failure to appear; Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner; Criminal trespass; Unknown circumstance; Violation of protection order; Unknown circumstance

NAME:&nbsp;Greer, Annie Laura Love

Saline County Jail Bookings, November 28

<a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 28 - December 1

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

Salina Post obituary policy (subject to change)

Salina Post understands the importance of honoring the deceased and welcomes all submissions of obituaries with a full summary of their life, survivors, services, website of the funeral home and a photo.

Salina Post accepts all obituaries&nbsp;free of charge&nbsp;and you can email all obituaries:&nbsp;<a href="https://newstips@salinapost.com/">newstips@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>&nbsp;and will be posted on the website within 24 business hours.

If you have an issue outside of business hours, if your obituary has not been published within 24 business hours, or if have any questions, please email:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://newstips@salinapost.com/">newstips@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>

Recent obituaries and service times, how to submit an obituary

Salina and parts of Central Kansas will experience a cold front, along with below freezing temperatures and a possibility of snow this upcoming weekend.

According to the US National Weather Service, a cold front is expected to occur this upcoming weekend. Showers are possible Friday and Saturday, along with a light wintry mix on Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.

Lows for Saturday night are in the teens, with wind chills expected to be near 0 degrees into Sunday morning.

Highs will struggle to even make it above freezing temperatures as well.

Salina has a 47% chance of traces of snow on Saturday afternoon. The low is expected to 17 degrees on Saturday night, with a high of 29 on Sunday.

Stay updated with local weather on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a> Facebook page.

Cold front, below freezing temps, possibility of snow anticipated for Salina and Central Kansas

Three day weather forecast Salina, November 26 - November 28

Three day weather forecast Salina, November 24 - November 26

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 21 - November 24

The US National Weather Service (USNWS) has issued Saline County a "Dense Fog" advisory until 11:00 am Wednesday morning.

The USNWS posted on Facebook&nbsp;a screenshot from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), of dense fog along I-70 near mile marker 229, at Lincoln Hill in central KS at 7:46 am (see above).

Please be cautious on the roads and drive safely during this advisory.

Saline County under "Dense Fog" advisory Wednesday morning

Three day weather forecast Salina, November 19 - November 21

Three day weather forecast Salina, November 17 - November 19

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 14 - November 17

MIAMI COUNTY—A Kansas man is in custody after a high-speed chase in a reported stolen vehicle.

Just after 1p.m. Friday, police located a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Overland Park, according to a media release.&nbsp;

Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the vehicle at the intersection of Holly Lane and Baptiste Drive. The vehicle fled and traveled onto U.S. 169 northbound. With the assistance of Miami&nbsp; County Sheriff deputies, the vehicle was pursued until U.S. 169 and 215th Street where stop sticks were deployed by Spring Hill police.&nbsp; The driver of the fleeing vehicle lost control and the vehicle came to a stop in the median just north of 215th Street.

Police took the driver identified as 23-year-old Skyler Chacon into custody. He is being held in the Miami County Jail on requested charges of flee and elude, reckless driving, no drivers license and other alleged traffic violations. He is expected to face additional charges. There were no injuries reported.

Police jail Kan. suspect after chase in reported stolen vehicle

NEW YORK (AP) —A judge on Wednesday dismissed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-indictment-fani-willis-b9000b28e65fc8ebe57f6f9cca5cc3ef">Georgia election interference case</a>&nbsp;against President Donald Trump and others, bringing an end to the last of four criminal cases filed against him that threatened to upend his finances and take away his freedom as he sought a return to the White House.

The Georgia dismissal came after a new prosecutor in the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-indictment-fani-willis-b9000b28e65fc8ebe57f6f9cca5cc3ef">declined to pursue the charges</a>.

Since Trump’s reelection last year, four separate criminal cases — including his hush money conviction and federal allegations of election interference and illegally hoarding classified documents — have either been dropped, resolved or put aside. On the civil side, several high-profile lawsuits against Trump have been quietly working their way through the appeals process.

Here’s a look at some of Trump’s criminal and civil cases and where they stand now:

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0">became the first former U.S. president</a>&nbsp;convicted of felonies when a New York jury found him guilty in May 2024 of falsifying business records to cover up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-opening-stormy-daniels-6beee9b99114898ee0dd60185d43bac5">a hush money payment to a porn actor</a>&nbsp;who said the two had sex.

Though Trump could have faced jail time, Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan in January&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-stormy-daniels-33e070bd3c1acb609bba13f23d784a3a">sentenced</a>&nbsp;him instead to what’s known as an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction on the books but sparing him any punishment.

Trump was set to take office just days later, and Merchan said he had to respect Trump’s upcoming legal protections as president, even wishing him “Godspeed as you assume your second term in office.”

Trump is trying to get the conviction erased, a push that was given new life in November when a federal appeals court ordered a lower court&nbsp;<a href="https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/166b3213-136f-462d-b518-a40538e74103/1/doc/24-2299_opn.pdf#xml=https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/166b3213-136f-462d-b518-a40538e74103/1/hilite/" target="_blank">to reconsider its decision</a>&nbsp;to keep the case in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-new-york-immunity-a905207c7db9fc48d022d68ac6cc12e1">state court</a>&nbsp;instead of moving it to federal court.

In August 2023, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">charged Trump and 18 others</a>&nbsp;with participating in a scheme to illegally try to overturn his narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Willis cited Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mug-shot-donald-trump-indictment-839920116a244df3e55bdedf33820a80">January 2021 phone call</a>&nbsp;to Georgia’s secretary of state, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-presidential-elections-election-2020-electoral-college-311f88768b65f7196f52a4757dc162e4">effort to replace</a>&nbsp;Georgia’s Democratic presidential electors with ones who would vote for Trump, harassment of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-2022-midterm-elections-georgia-election-recounts-5cffe294a372eb32dc68588784202314">Fulton County election worker</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-lawsuits-donald-trump-voting-6a1324cc6cf45c95ca086a5c81617b15">unauthorized copying</a>&nbsp;of data and software from elections equipment.

But the case stalled over revelations Willis had been in a relationship with the man she appointed to prosecute it. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fani-willis-georgia-election-indictment-removed-0aa6db3b7abed22eb08ed9323f687972">state appeals court in December</a>&nbsp;removed Willis from the case and the state Supreme Court later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-appeal-georgia-supreme-court-trump-7be50feee272612484490b53592e7e08">declined to hear her appeal</a>.

Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, took over the case in November after he said several prosecutors declined to take it. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee issued a brief order dismissing the case in its entirety Wednesday after Skandalakis said he has decided not to pursue it further.

Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">in August</a>&nbsp;2023 with conspiring to overturn the results of his election loss to President Joe Biden in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors allege Trump and his allies knowingly promoted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">election fraud lies</a>&nbsp;in a bid to push state officials to overturn Biden’s win and pressure Vice President Mike Pence to disrupt the ceremonial counting of electoral votes.

But Smith moved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-justice-department-jack-smith-d6172cf98d8e03e099571c908267456c">to drop the case</a>&nbsp;after Trump won reelection in November. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">criminal prosecution</a>.

In a separate prosecution,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">Smith charged Trump in June 2023</a>&nbsp;with illegally retaining classified documents he took from the White House to Mar-a-Lago after he left office in January 2021, and then obstructing government demands to give them back. Prosecutors filed additional charges the following month, accusing Trump of showing a Pentagon “plan of attack” to visitors at his golf club in New Jersey.

Smith also moved to drop that case after Trump’s election victory.

In May 2023, a federal jury found that Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defamed her. The jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db">awarded Carroll $5 million</a>.

In January 2024, a second jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888">awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million</a>&nbsp;in damages for comments Trump had made about her while he was president, finding that they were defamatory. A federal appeals court panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-appeal-award-d587004df6f7c46ec4a17b563a38bfa9">upheld the jury’s finding</a>&nbsp;in September. Trump has since asked the full appellate court to hear arguments and reconsider the ruling.

Trump also appealed the first jury decision, but a federal appeals court in December&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-78e4196024539653a6de492312770ff2">upheld</a>&nbsp;it and then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-e-jean-carroll-sexual-abuse-appeal-8e2db7bdb881ff0b9353b6fb17750f48">declined in June to reconsider</a>. In November, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-abuse-defamation-supreme-court-be62982deb6821b62e0471f5bea3e64d">asked the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to hear his appeal.

New York Attorney General Letitia James&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deposition-new-york-lawsuit-letitia-james-8071b5cff84c1eaad7a4dc02f71191f1">sued Trump</a>&nbsp;in 2022, alleging he habitually exaggerated his wealth and the value of marquee assets like Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago.

In February 2024, a New York judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-engoron-244024861f0df886543c157c9fc5b3e4">ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties</a>, but an appeals court in August&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-appeal-db39d93feff322eeeeedbc1ff75ccaf3">threw out</a>&nbsp;that massive financial penalty while narrowly endorsing a lower court’s finding that he engaged in fraud by padding his wealth on financial statements provided to lenders and insurers.

The appeals court judges ruled that the penalty — which had soared to $515 million with interest tacked on each day — violated the U.S. Constitution’s ban on excessive fines. At the same time, they left in place other punishments, including bans on Trump and his two eldest sons from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-letitia-james-new-york-engoron-38bc3a7f2ccb22555c026e9bf70fd5bb">serving in corporate leadership</a>&nbsp;for a few years.

James&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-york-fraud-penalty-billions-appeal-b613dacb27d64644bde94fe96da1cc9d">filed a notice of appeal</a>&nbsp;with the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, in September.

 Here's where all the legal cases against Trump stand since his return to the White House

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;visited Istanbul’s iconic Blue Mosque on Saturday but didn't stop to pray, as he focused more on bolstering ties with Orthodox patriarchs and promoting courageous steps for Eastern and Western churches to be united.

Leo took his shoes off and, in his white socks, toured the 17th-century mosque, looking up at its soaring tiled domes and the Arabic inscriptions on its columns as an imam pointed them out to him.

The Vatican had said Leo would observe a “brief moment of silent prayer” in the mosque, but he didn't. An imam of the mosque, Asgin Tunca, said he had invited Leo to pray, since the mosque was “Allah's house,” but the pope declined.

Later, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: “The pope experienced his visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer.”

Leo, history's first American pope, was following in the footsteps of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2444bfb0a63143d19605055b29ceba6d">recent predecessors,</a>&nbsp;who all made high-profile visits to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, as it is officially known, in a gesture of respect to Turkey’s Muslim majority.

Papal visits to Blue Mosque often raise questions

But the visits have always raised questions about whether the pope would pray in the Muslim house of worship, or at the very least pause to gather thoughts in a meditative silence.

When Pope Benedict XVI visited Turkey in 2006, tensions were high because Benedict had offended many in the Muslim world a few months earlier with a speech in Regensburg, Germany that was widely interpreted as linking Islam and violence.

The Vatican added a visit to the Blue Mosque at the last minute in a bid to reach out to Muslims. He observed a moment of silent prayer, head bowed, as the imam prayed next to him, facing east.

Benedict later thanked him “for this moment of prayer" for what was only the second time a pope had visited a mosque, after St. John Paul II visited one briefly in Syria in 2001.

There were no doubts in 2014 when Pope Francis visited the Blue Mosque: He stood for two minutes of silent prayer facing east, his head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped in front of him. The Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Rahmi Yaran, told the pope afterwards, “May God accept it.”

With Leo, though, even the Vatican seemed caught off guard by his decision not to pray. The Holy See had to correct the official record of the visit after it originally kept the planned reference to him pausing for prayer.

Speaking to reporters after the visit, the imam Tunca said he had told the pope: “It’s not my house, not your house, (it’s the) house of Allah.” He said he invited Leo to worship "But he said, ‘That’s OK.’”

“He wanted to see the mosque, wanted to feel (the) atmosphere of the mosque, I think. And was very pleased,” he said.

In the afternoon, Leo prayed with the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew, at the patriarchal church of Saint George.

There, they prayed the doxology, a hymn of praise and glory to God, and signed a joint declaration vowing to take courageous steps on the path to unity including to find a common date for Easter.

Eastern and Western churches split in the Great Schism of 1054, a divide precipitated largely by disagreements over the primacy of the pope. While ties have warmed, they remain divided and other schisms have formed.

“It is our shared desire to continue the process of exploring a possible solution for celebrating together the Feast of Feasts every year,” the joint statement said, referring to Easter.

The Vatican said in his remarks to the patriarchs gathered, Leo pointed to the next Holy Year to be celebrated by Christians, in 2033 on the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion, and invited them to go to Jerusalem on “a journey that leads to full unity.”

Leo's final event was a Catholic Mass in Istanbul's Volkswagen Arena for the country's Catholic community, who number 33,000 in a country of more than 85 million people, most of whom are Sunni Muslim.

Renato Marai was among a group of 26 visitors from Florence, Italy, who traveled to Istanbul to see the pope. “It’s wonderful to see him on his first foreign trip, a really important moment for our group,” he said.

Tarcin Unlu, meanwhile, was among many Turkish attendees, a recent convert to Christianity from Islam. "I became Christian because I thought it was the best religion for me but my family is definitely not happy,” Unlu said.

Her friend, Rodrick Nuel, originally from Nigeria’s Biafra region but now living in northern Cyprus, said the papal visit sent a “a powerful message for the global Christian community.”

“Also, as Turkey is 99.9% Muslim and just 0.1% Christian, it shows the pope is reaching out to other religions as well,” he added.

The Airbus software update doesn't spare pope

While Leo was focusing on bolstering relations with Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Muslims, trip organizers were dealing with more mundane issues.

Leo's ITA Airways Airbus A320neo charter was among those caught up in the worldwide Airbus software update, ordered by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The order came after an analysis found the computer code may have contributed to a sudden drop in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetblue-flight-emergency-landing-florida-4b5d0809c2a11a197634a4b0cdf343f1">altitude of a JetBlue plane</a>&nbsp;last month.

The Vatican spokesman, Bruni, said the necessary monitor to update the aircraft was on its way to Istanbul from Rome along with the technician who would install it.

Leo is scheduled to fly from Istanbul to Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday afternoon for the second leg of his inaugural trip as pope.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Surprise move by the Pope in visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque 

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a missing persons case say it is now a homicide investigation.

The victim, according to Independence police, Elayjah Murray, was reported missing on Nov. 28. Police learned Murray had possibly been shot. He was found dead in South Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday.

Police want to speak with 28-year-old Eric Phillips II in connection with the homicide investigation.

Police: Missing person case now a KC homicide investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-friday-shopping-sales-prices-deals-bbefeb75238596fa23ee59c3f647c361">wider economic uncertainty</a>&nbsp;hovering above this year's holiday season, shoppers turned out in big numbers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-friday-deals-holiday-shopping-2d85fcbab82d71ecd930b6fe1060f3c1">for Black Friday</a>&nbsp;— spending billions of dollars both in stores and online.

Adobe Analytics, which tracks e-commerce, said U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online Friday, marking a 9.1% jump from last year. Traffic particularly piled up between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time nationwide, when $12.5 million passed through online shopping carts every minute.

Consumers also spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, per Adobe. Top categories that saw an uptick in sales across both days included video game consoles, electronics and home appliances. Shopping services powered by artificial intelligence and social media advertising have also particularly influenced what consumers choose to buy, the firm said.

Meanwhile, software company Salesforce — which tracks digital spending from a range of retailers, including grocers — estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $18 billion in the U.S. and $79 billion globally. And e-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $6.2 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $5.1 million per minute — with top categories including cosmetics and clothing, according to the Canadian company.

Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 4.1% from a year ago. The retail sales indicator, which is not adjusted for inflation, showed online sales jumped by double digits (10.4%), while in-store purchases inched up 1.7%.

Michelle Meyer, chief economist at the Mastercard Economics Institute, said consumers are “navigating an uncertain environment” this holiday season “by shopping early, leveraging promotions, and investing in wish-list items.”

Black Friday is far from the sales event that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-is-black-friday-2024-holiday-shopping-7a1d3de4b7eeebe9a93d0aef29b12ac1">created midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem</a>&nbsp;just decades ago. More and more consumers have instead turned to online deals to make post-Thanksgiving purchases from the comfort of their own homes — or opt to stretch out spending across longer promotions now offered by retailers.

In-store traffic has dwindled over the years. Initial data from RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in physical stores, found that U.S. Black Friday traffic fell 3.6% compared to 2024. Still, the firm noted that was “notably better” than a sharper 6.2% decline it saw in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, found that in-store retail visits dipped 2.1% — but said that was in line with expectations and trends already seen this year. Traffic over the week of Black Friday was up nearly 57% compared to the week prior, per Sensormatic.

“Black Friday has really turned into like a full week event, or even further,” said Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions. And “Black Friday is really the start of just a really and critical stretch for retailers,” he added — noting that the weekend following Thanksgiving, as well as the days leading up to Christmas next month, will also be some of the busiest in terms of in-store traffic.

Meanwhile, in terms of e-commerce, Adobe expects U.S. shoppers to spend another $5.5 billion Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday — before reaching an estimated $14.2 billion peak on Cyber Monday, which would mark yet another record.

Still, rising prices could be contributing to some of those numbers. U.S. President Donald Trump’s barrage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tariffs">tariffs</a>&nbsp;on foreign imports&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de-minimis-tariffs-small-business-d4df6f00651eb33ea5d97fad5d7273d6">have strained businesses</a>&nbsp;and households alike over the last year. And despite spending more overall, Salesforce found U.S. shoppers purchased fewer items at checkout on Black Friday (down 2% from last year). Order volumes also slipped 1%, the firm noted, as average selling prices climbed 7%.

This year’s holiday spending rush arrives amid heightened economic uncertainty for consumers. Beyond tariffs, workers across public and private sectors are also struggling with anxieties over job security — amid both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-us-economy-job-numbers-cd9d657cb7d7b4429f2c8346e18f8840">corporate layoffs</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-snap-thanksgiving-holiday-7a812cfb02cadf5f61ebab0b4784d8e2">after-effects of the 43-day government shutdown</a>.

An uptick in budget-conscious behavior can also be seen in store traffic. While Sensormatic doesn’t track spending, “we do track consumer footsteps,” Gustafson notes — and “consumers are thinking a little bit harder about their purchases” this year, he explains, “to make sure that they’re getting their very best deals.”

For the November-December holiday season overall, the National Retail Federation estimates U.S. shoppers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-retail-federation-holiday-forecast-tariffs-inflation-de5b851a009fed78b446676c1d944853">will spend more than $1 trillion</a>&nbsp;for the first time this year. But the rate of growth is slowing — with an anticipated increase of 3.7% to 4.2% year over year, compared to 4.3% in 2024’s holiday season.

At the same time, credit card debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buy-now-pay-later-missed-payments-regulation-f7fd30f2a0e900460919fad76a1e0dbf">delinquencies on other short-term loans</a>&nbsp;have been rising. And more and more shoppers are turning to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buy-now-pay-later-loans-installments-02852578a991fb0d31879acd0b687e0d">“buy now, pay later” plans</a>, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items.

Shoppers spend billions on Black Friday to snag holiday deals, despite wider economic uncertainty

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man who admitted to charges in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a motorcyclist is going to prison.

Last Friday, Judge William Woolley sentenced 31-year-old Nathan Luck&nbsp;to 69 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;On September 26, Luck pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence and failure to stop at the scene of a crash, according to the district attorney's office.

Just before 10p.m. July 28, 2024, police responded to a 2-vehicle collision the area of East Central and Bristol in Wichita.

Police determined a motorcycle driven by 64-year-old Steven Golik was westbound on Central Avenue in Wichita when an eastbound Honda CR-V driven by Luck failed to yield the right of way, struck the motorcycle and fled the accident scene. EMS transported Golik to to a local hospital. He died days later.

Officers later located the Honda&nbsp; CR-V in the 500 block of Bristol Court and took Luck into custody.

Prison for SUV driver in deadly hit-and-run crash

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City, Missouri, woman was sentenced this week to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jennifer L. Cabral, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to 60 months in federal prison on for one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering to run concurrently and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $306,034.28 to her former employer and to forfeit $1,393.50.

As part of her plea, Cabral admitted that she stole money from the checking account of her employer and used those funds for her personal benefit, including purchasing a 2019 Mazda CX-9 automobile, in which she has since agreed to forfeit all interests.

According to information presented in court, Cabral made unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments to herself&nbsp;using her employer’s online account at a local financial institution.&nbsp; Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to&nbsp;her personal bank accounts at two other financial institutions. Once those funds were deposited in her personal accounts, she used them for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.

KC woman admits stealing money from employer to buy a car

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Saturday said that the airspace “above and surrounding”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;should be considered as “closed in its entirety,” an assertion that raised more questions about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-cartel-soles-us-drugs-terrorist-f778922c04b4f514092bd29b91e77358">U.S. pressure</a>&nbsp;on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. His government accused Trump of making a ”colonial threat" and seeking to undermine the South American country's sovereignty.

The White House did not respond to questions about what Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, and it was unclear whether he was announcing a new policy or simply reinforcing the messaging around his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-us-trump-drugs-strikes-negotiations-70e6017cdde101d06ebbc15cbb5a44fd">campaign against Maduro</a>, which has involved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-drugs-25000-lives-c6e4c750b0dc6f15d397d598c9bd169f">multiple strikes</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean on small boats accused of ferrying drugs as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-venezuela-trump-ford-strikes-drugs-241ea9e039d717b9f80f793922cb7cc9">buildup of naval forces</a>&nbsp;in the region. More than 80 people have been killed in such strikes since early September.

The Republican president addressed his call for an aerial blockade to “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” rather than to Maduro.

Venezuela’s government said it “forcefully rejects” Trump’s claim about closing the airspace and that it was a “colonial threat” intended to undermine the country's "territorial integrity, aeronautical security and full sovereignty.”

The Foreign Ministry said “such declarations constitute a hostile, unilateral and arbitrary act.”

The statement also said that U.S. immigration authorities had unilaterally suspended biweekly deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants. Following negotiations between the two governments, more than 13,000 Venezuelans have been deported to Venezuela this year on dozens of chartered flights, the latest of which arrived late Friday in Caracas, the capital, according to flight-tracking data.

International airlines last week began to cancel flights to Venezuela after the Federal Aviation Administration told pilots to be cautious flying around the country because of heightened military activity.

The FAA’s jurisdiction is generally limited to the United States and its territories. The agency does routinely warn pilots about the dangers of flying over areas with ongoing conflicts or military activity around the globe, as it did earlier this month with Venezuela. The FAA works with other countries and the International Civil Aviation Organization on international issues. The FAA and ICAO did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.

Trump's administration has sought to ratchet up pressure on Maduro. The U.S. government does not view Maduro as the legitimate leader of the oil-rich but increasingly impoverished South American nation and he faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.

U.S. forces have conducted bomber flights near Venezuela and the USS Gerald R. Ford, America's most advanced aircraft carrier, was sent to the area. The Ford rounds off the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-buildup-caribbean-venezuela-ships-troops-810f6181371f53536c723ea562c5277c">buildup of U.S. firepower</a>&nbsp;in the region in generations. With its arrival, the “Operation Southern Spear” mission includes nearly a dozen Navy ships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines.

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