A juvenile was arrested after allegedly stabbing a teenage boy, threatening a teenage girl and pushing a male child.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) in the evening hours of Friday, August 29th, a 17-year old boy was reportedly transported to the ER at Salina Regional Hospital, after he suffered a stab wound to his stomach. An officer interviewed the boy and further information revealed that there was a 'large gathering at Indian Rock Park' before he was stabbed.

Reportedly, a disturbance occurred during the midst of the gathering, which led to a 17-year female suspect who allegedly stabbed the boy in the stomach with a small knife. SPD stated the suspect also threatened to 'slit the throat' of a 17-year old girl and pushed an 8-year old boy.

Later that same night, authorities were able to locate the suspect at a home in South Salina. Authorities arrested the suspect without incident for the following requested charges of:

Aggravated Battery, Possession of Marijuana, Battery and Criminal Threat.

The 17-year old suspect was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City, KS.

Juvenile arrested after stabbing teenage boy, along with multiple offenses

MCPHERSON COUNTY —A dangerous storm with very large hail up to baseball size and damaging winds up 70mph moved through portions of central and southeastern Kansas Wednesday evening.

Baseball size hail was reported in portions of Saline County northwest of Smolan; Marion County near Lost Springs; McPherson County near Moundridge; Harvy County near Halstead and in portions of Wichita, according to the National Weather Service.

&nbsp;Elyria Christian School in McPherson is closed Thursday due to the storm damage and some of the sports activities were postponed. On social media the school wrote, 'while there is damage, we are so thankful for the many hands that showed up to help clean up the outside."

Late summer storm brought large hail to portions of Kansas

The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at Gills Point S Tires grand opening Wednesday.&nbsp;

Located on South Front street, Gills Point S Salina is the newest in twelve different Gills locations in the state of Kansas. 

Formerly Peerless Tires, Eric Gill, owner of the Gills brand, purchased the prior chain of Peerless in 2024. With this purchase, the store underwent a complete remodel. The opening marks the finished facility.

Present at the opening were both Area Manager for Gills, Matt Rook, and current store manager, Adam McMillin. Previously the manager for Peerless Tires, McMillin kept his staff in the transition to Gills Point S Tires, of which has a collected more than fifty years of experience in tire service.

The Chamber of Commerce welcomed the new business to the local community with the cutting of the red ribbon, performed by McMillin.

Chamber of Commerce celebrates grand opening of new tire shop

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaltandLightHomestead/">Salt &amp; Light Homestead</a>, a local vegetable produce and farm from Saline County is inviting the community to attend a fun-filled, pumpkin patch event full of activities every Saturday for the month of October.

Starting Saturday, October 4 and then every Saturday for the month, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaltandLightHomestead/">Salt &amp; Light Homestead</a>&nbsp;will host their inaugural "Pumpkin Patch" from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on their farm at 4325 E. Humbargar Rd.&nbsp;This event will consist of a kids petting zoo, corn pit, pumpkin launcher, hay rides and much more. Concessions will be set up as well.

Pumpkins and mums will be up for sale during the event. All the pumpkins will be grown and baked from Salt &amp; Light Homestead, with the rest from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jirakbros/">Jirak Brothers Produce</a>.

Owner, Daniel Miller anticipates a couple thousand people to attend the event on the first day. He commented on starting this event due to the support from the community.&nbsp;

"We have really been blessed to get a good connection with the community," said Daniel.

He added that Salt &amp; Light Homestead has about 3,000 local customers.

"I am hoping those people we have been meeting and getting to know with the produce, will be seen again at the pumpkin patch and they get to experience something different," he said.

Daniel has been dreaming big, as he and his wife, Lauren plan to expand their local produce farm in the future. Daniel stated he plans to grow fruits and upgrade the Miller farmland.

Both Kansas Wesleyan and K-State Salina's agriculture programs have toured the Miller's farm in the past. Daniel hopes to start an internship program with the universities as part of the expansion.

After the pumpkin patch concludes, Daniel aims to makes this an annual event and add more to it. But before this even becomes a reality, 'humble beginnings' must take place.

"The best way I can summarize this event is humble beginnings, but I would like to see it grow depending on the community interest," said Daniel.&nbsp;

Admission is $20 a vehicle (family present) and $10 per person (no family present).&nbsp;

Salt &amp; Light Homestead is a locally grown vegetable produce farm, that specializes in growing tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and more.&nbsp;

Follow Salt &amp; Light Homestead on Facebook at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaltandLightHomestead/">https://www.facebook.com/SaltandLightHomestead/</a>

Local farmers host inaugural pumpkin patch starting every Saturday in October 

A round of severe storms are expected to occur later this evening on Wednesday, September 3 in Salina.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), widely scattered storms are anticipated to occur in Salina from the hours of 4:00 - 7:00 pm. These storms reportedly are expected to develop in Central Kansas, move south and east throughout the evening and nighttime hours.

Accordingly, +2 inch sized hail and 60-70 mph wind gusts are possible.&nbsp;

The US National Weather Service advises you to a plan ahead if you have outdoor activities late this afternoon or early this evening of Wednesday.

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>.

Severe storms expected Wednesday evening in Salina

As the new school year begins, Salina Public Library continues to provide students and educators in Saline County with tools and resources that make learning engaging and accessible. From homework help and digital collections to hands-on classroom kits, the library is a hub for academic support and enrichment.

Salina Public Library provides more than 8,876 free Student Library Cards to students across several Saline County schools, giving easy access to physical and digital materials that support both classroom assignments and personal interests. These cards allow students to borrow physical items like books, movies, games and use library technology such as computers and gaming systems. Students have 24/7 library access with digital resources, including thousands of eBooks and audiobooks through Hoopla and Libby, as well as research databases and HelpNow for live tutoring and test prep.

Saline County educators also benefit from the library’s Educator Library Cards. Designed for teachers, administrators, librarians, licensed childcare providers, after-school program providers and homeschooling parents, these cards give educators the ability to check out STEM kits, classroom sets, 3D pens, Sphero coding robots, and daycare kits. Educators can borrow multiple copies of materials, bringing engaging resources directly to their classrooms and programs.

“Our library is committed to supporting both students and educators,” said Melanie Hedgepeth, Salina Public Library Director. “Whether it’s a student exploring a new topic or a teacher bringing hands-on STEM activities to the classroom, our resources are designed to make learning exciting, accessible, and stress-free for everyone in our community.”

Families and educators can explore these programs and other back-to-school resources by visiting&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://salinapubliclibrary.org/">salinapubliclibrary.org</a>&nbsp;or stopping by Salina Public Library at 301 W. Elm Street.

Salina Public Library supports back to school learning for students and educators

<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>

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 3 - September 5

The Salina Symphony’s 70th Anniversary Season will open with a stellar multimedia concert on Sunday, October 5&nbsp;at 4:00 pm at the Stiefel Theatre.&nbsp;

The concert will open with a breathtaking performance of Holst’s majestic The Planets, featuring world renowned projection artist Camilla Tassi’s visual interpretation of the iconic score, including images from the Boom! Salina Street Art &amp; Mural Festival.&nbsp;

Following intermission, Daniel Slatkin’s evocative “Voyager 130” will transport you to the farthest reaches of space. The concert will culminate in a thrilling trio of themes from Star Wars: Imperial March, Duel of the Fates, and Main Title.&nbsp;

“This program offers a rare opportunity to experience the grandeur of Holst’s The Planets alongside the iconic scores of Star Wars,” said Yaniv Segal, music director. “Enhanced by striking visual elements, the performance invites audiences to explore the intersection of music, outer space, and cinematic storytelling on a truly cosmic scale.”&nbsp;

The orchestra will be joined by the KWU Philharmonic Choir and select ensembles from Salina Central, Salina South, and Southeast of Saline High Schools.&nbsp;

This project is funded in part by the Horizons Grants Program of the Salina Arts and Humanities Foundation. Funding is provided by Horizons, a private donor group.&nbsp;

Guest artist - Camilla Tassi, Projection Designer

Combining her background in computer science and music, Tassi has built a career telling powerful stories through projection design for opera, theater, dance, and beyond. Her impressive credits include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Berlin Opera Academy.&nbsp;

Tickets start at $42 and may be purchased at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office, by calling (785) 827-1998 or online at <a href="http://www.salinasymphony.org">www.salinasymphony.org</a>.&nbsp;

Season tickets may be ordered by phone at (785) 823-8309 or in person at the Symphony Office, located on the second floor of the Stiefel Theatre.&nbsp;

On concert day, join us for a pre-concert talk with Maestro Segal and Tassi at 3:00 pm Please enter through the main theatre doors. Doors will open at 2:45 pm.&nbsp;

The Salina Symphony is dedicated to enriching lives through artistic music performance and education. 

For more information, contact Adrienne Allen at (785) 823-8309 or visit <a href="http://salinasymphony.org">salinasymphony.org</a>.

"Beyond the Planets:" Salina Symphony opens 70th anniversary season, tickets on sale now

Beginning Thursday, September 4, the Utilities Department will be working in the 400 block of W. South Street. Pavement will be removed to replace a water service. W. South Street will be closed to traffic between S. 9th Street and S. 10th Street. Eastbound W. South Street traffic will be detoured north on S. 10th Street and then east on Walnut Street.

Westbound W. South Street traffic may turn north or south at S. 9th Street. Residents will be provided access from S. 10th Street. 

Work is expected to last two weeks, weather permitting.&nbsp;

Appropriate barriers will be in place to ensure the safety of workers. Motorists may encounter minor delays and are encouraged to find alternate routes.&nbsp;

For additional information, please contact the City of Salina Utilities Department at (785) 309-5725.

City of Salina expects two weeks of construction work to occur north of town

A Texas man was cited for allegedly exposing himself towards a woman in West Salina.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Tuesday, September 2nd at around 7:30 pm, a female employee of Subway (676 Westport Blvd.) reported about a man who allegedly exposed himself to her when she was outside the restaurant during her break.&nbsp;

After the man exposed himself, he entered a semi-truck and fled the scene. The woman then called SPD about the incident and shortly after, an officer on patrol located the semi that matched the description of her report.

The officer conducted a traffic stop at the 86 mile marker (Smolan Rd.). The driver of the semi was identified as the same man who exposed himself to the woman.

The suspect was identified as 37-year old, Decorius Haynes (Missouri City, TX) and was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) citation for Lewd and Lasciviousness.&nbsp;

Haynes was released from the Saline County Jail that same evening, and is expected to appear at the Salina Municipal Court.

Texas man cited for allegedly exposing himself in West Salina

The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) is releasing its Labor Day Weekend Holiday Activity Report. The reporting period for the holiday ran from 6:00 pm on Friday, August 29 to 11:59 pm on Monday, September 1.

KHP worked one fatal DUI related crash involving two DUI related fatalities over the holiday. 

Information for the fatal crash can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.gov/khp-crashlogs/search/viewDetail/2025-011199">Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log</a>

KHP releases 2025 Labor Day activity report

A series of showers and possible thunderstorms, along with mild temperatures are expected for this week.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS) showers are expected to occur throughout the morning of Tuesday, September 2nd, Wednesday, Thursday evening and into the morning of Friday.

Mild temperatures are anticipated as well. The hottest day of the week being Wednesday with highs ranging from 83-90 degrees. 

Highs of 72-80 are expected for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Series of showers along with mild temperatures expected for this week

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 1 - September 3

Labor Day weekend weather forecast Salina, August 29 - September 1

Cool weather and isolated showers are expected to occur this Labor Day weekend in Central Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), the highs for this upcoming Labor Day weekend are only expected to reach 80 degrees in Central Kansas. Friday, August 29th is looking to only be around 75-79, with Saturday - Monday being 77-83 degrees.

Rain chances are anticipated to occur on Saturday and last into the start of next week.

Cool weather and isolated showers expected Labor Day weekend 

The US National Weather Service has issued a "Flood Watch" throughout parts of Central Kansas until Thursday afternoon.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), many locations in Central Kansas are expected to see heavy rainfall tonight (Wednesday, August 27) and into Thursday morning, with some areas likely observing over 2 inches.

Salina is listed to have a 77% chance of rainfall over 1 inch and low chance for it to be over 2 inches.

Wichita is listed to have 62% chance, while Hutchinson a 47% chance of rainfall to be over 2 inches.&nbsp;

Saline County Emergency Management is informing county residents to prepare for at least two rounds of thunderstorms. The first round this Wednesday afternoon is expected to be less severe. 

However, a stronger system is forecast to move in late tonight (Wednesday) through Thursday morning with a higher risk of heavy rainfall and localized flooding.

Safety tips by Saline County Emergency Management include:&nbsp;

"Flood Watch" issued throughout Central Kansas: Heavy rainfall expected Wednesday night into Thursday

Three day weather forecast Salina, August 27 - August 29

Fall-like temps, along with isolated and scattered showers are expected to occur this week throughout Central Kansas.

Temperatures are listed to drop this week, along with isolated and scattered showers in Central Kansas. According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), the best chances for rainfall will be on Wednesday, August 27 and into Thursday, August 28, after Monday's showers.

Severe weather is not expected, but there are possibilities some of the weather could produce brief periods of heavy rainfall.&nbsp;

Temperatures drop this week, along with isolated and scattered showers throughout Central Kansas 

Three day weather forecast Salina, August 25 - August 27

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another mass shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 9p.m. Wednesday, emergency crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Harrison Street and Armour Boulevard, according to KC Fire Department Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

Emergency crews encountered 4 gunshot victims.&nbsp;All four patients were transported to area hospitals. 3 of the patients were in critical condition and 1 was in stable condition, according to Riley.

Police have not released ages of those injured or additional details.

Police investigating another mass shooting in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration took the fight over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-court-ruling-trade-1c5a02ad38597c3629eff5977490813a">tariffs</a>&nbsp;to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking the justices to rule quickly that the president has the power to impose sweeping import taxes under federal law.

The government called on the court to reverse an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-appeals-court-b714cfc8dff51289b1d5291f46d71f3f">appeals court ruling</a>&nbsp;that found most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs are an illegal use of an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45618">emergency powers law</a>.

It's the latest in a series of Trump administration appeals to a Supreme Court he helped shape, and one that is expected to put a centerpiece of the president's trade policy before the justices.

<a href="https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/25-1812.OPINION.8-29-2025_2566151.pdf">The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit</a>&nbsp;left the tariffs in place for now, but the administration nevertheless called on the high court to intervene quickly in a petition filed electronically late Wednesday and provided to The Associated Press. It was expected to be formally docketed on Thursday.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the justices to take up the case and hear arguments in early November.

“That decision casts a pall of uncertainty upon ongoing foreign negotiations that the President has been pursuing through tariffs over the past five months, jeopardizing both already negotiated framework deals and ongoing negotiations,” he wrote. “The stakes in this case could not be higher.”

But the stakes are also high for small businesses battered by tariffs and uncertainty, said Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel and director of litigation at the Liberty Justice Center.

“These unlawful tariffs are inflicting serious harm on small businesses and jeopardizing their survival. We hope for a prompt resolution of this case for our clients,” he said.

The businesses have twice prevailed, once at a federal court focused on trade and again with the appeals court's 7-4 ruling.

Their lawsuit is one of several challenging the tariffs and erratic rollout that have shaken global markets, alienated U.S. trading partners and allies and raised fears of higher prices and slower economic growth.

But Trump has also used the levies to pressure the European Union, Japan and other countries into accepting new trade deals. Revenue from tariffs totaled $159 billion by late August, more than double what it was at the same point the year before.

Most judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, did not let Trump usurp congressional power to set tariffs. The dissenters, though, said the law does allow the president to regulate importation during emergencies without explicit limitations.

The ruling involves two sets of import taxes, both of which Trump justified by declaring a national emergency:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933">the tariffs first announced in April</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade-china-mexico-canada-inflation-753a09d56cd318f2eb1d2efe3c43b7d4">ones from February</a>&nbsp;on imports from Canada, China and Mexico.

The Constitution gives Congress the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. But over the decades, lawmakers have ceded authority to the president, and Trump has made the most of the power vacuum.

Some Trump tariffs, including levies on foreign steel, aluminum and autos, weren’t covered by the appeals court ruling. It also does not include tariffs Trump imposed on China in his first term that were kept by Democratic President Joe Biden.

Trump can impose tariffs under other laws, but those have more limitations on the speed and severity with which he could act.

The government has argued that if the tariffs are struck down, it might have to refund some of the import taxes that it’s collected, delivering a financial blow to the U.S. Treasury.

Battle over President Trump's tariffs moves to the  Supreme Court 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a carjacking and wrong-way crash on Interstate 70.

Just after 7:30p.m. Tuesday, Kansas City Fire Department crews responded to a crash involving an eastbound vehicle in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the Paseo, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.&nbsp;

Police investigators revealed that a Buick Encore was possibly involved in a carjacking, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. After a short police pursuit, the Buick Encore entered the wrong way on Interstate 70 westbound from Locust causing a head on collision with a&nbsp; BMW. 

No police vehicles were in pursuit of the Buick when it entered the wrong way on the highway, according to Gonzalez. The driver of the Buick ran from the crash scene and the passenger from the Buick attempted to carjack another motorist but did not succeed. The passenger from the Buick then jumped on I- 70 Eastbound where he was struck by an unknown vehicle who left the scene. 

Police then apprehended the passenger. The driver of the BMW suffered minor injuries. A total of 5 patients were treated on scene, according to Riley. Two were transported to the hospital for treatment.

2 hospitalized after carjacking, wrong-way I-70 crash

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after yet another drawing passed without a big winner Wednesday.

The numbers selected were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22.

Since May 31, there have been 41 straight drawings without a big winner.

The next drawing will be Saturday night, with the prize expected to be the third-largest in U.S. lottery history.

Powerball’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">terrible odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-c750b32664d0b02d318ae8030f671952">three drawings each week</a>.

The estimated $1.4 billion jackpot from Wednesday night’s drawing would have been for a winner who had opted to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the game’s cash option, which would have been an estimated $634.3 million.

Powerball tickets cost $2 and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball jackpot skyrockets to $1.70 billion; no big winner Wednesday

KANSAS CITY— Sheriff's deputies were involved in a shooting on Saturday afternoon in the 5200 block of North Oak Trafficway in Kansas City, Missouri. The deputies were unharmed, and the individual they shot had non life-threatening injuries.

Aaron M. Perez-Engel, 38, has been charged with first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and armed criminal action in the incident, according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff's office. Perez-Engel is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a $200,000 bond. 

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department investigated the incident.

Just after 2p.m. August 30, Kansas City Missouri Police Officers were called to a reported disturbance involving a man later identified as Perez-Engel who armed with a large knife in the shopping center at the intersection of NE Englewood Road and N. Oak Trafficway. 

Perez-Engel had left the scene prior to police arrival. A suspect description was provided to dispatch via police radio and broadcasted out to other patrol officers, to include the Clay County Sheriff’s Office." 

At approximately 2:27 p.m., a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy was patrolling the area of NE 50th Street and N. Oak Trafficway and located the described suspect involved in the disturbance. 

The deputy attempted to contact the Perez-Engel for further investigation. Perez-Engel presented a large knife from within his waistband and began running northbound on N. Oak Traffickway. A foot chase was initiated, and additional deputies were called to assist with apprehending the suspect.

Perez-Engel refused to comply with verbal commands and ran into a wooded area while being pursued by multiple Clay County Sheriff’s deputies. 

Perez-Engel stopped and was given further verbal commands to drop the knife. The suspect charged at the deputies before coming to a stop again. 

"Additional resources, to include Sheriff K-9’s, were being called to the scene to de-escalate the situation. Deputies continued giving verbal commands for the Perez-Engel to drop the knife and peacefully surrender. He&nbsp; refused to comply and ran towards the deputies a second time while armed with the weapon. 

At 2:33 PM, two Clay County Sheriff’s deputies discharged their duty weapons, striking the Perez-Engel. Deputies on scene immediately began rendering medical aid until EMS responded and transported the suspect to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

A large knife was recovered from the scene where the suspect had been shot. No deputies were injured during this incident."

KCPD: Man wounded in officer shooting threatened them with a knife

SEDGWICK COUNTY– A woman found guilty of killing her 2-year-old son is going to prison.

On Monday, Sedgwick County Judge Eric Williams sentenced 30-year-old Stephanie Aviles to life up to 25 years, plus 34 months for abuse of a child, and 7 months for aggravated endangering a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July, a jury convicted&nbsp; Aviles of first-degree murder in the&nbsp;death of 2-year-old Jacob Aviles.&nbsp;

Aviles former boyfriend, Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia is scheduled for a jury trial on similar charges in the boy's death in December.

In September of 2019, officers responded to assist EMS on the report of a toddler not breathing at a home near Kellogg and Seneca in Wichita, according to a media release from Wichita Police. The child was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after they arrived.&nbsp;.

Two other children were taken into protective custody after Aviles and Gonzalez-Mejia were arrested.

Prison for Kansas woman in abuse death of her 2-year-old son

WASHINGTON (AP) — Survivors of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein's</a>&nbsp;sexual abuse made their voices heard Wednesday on Capitol Hill, pressuring lawmakers to force the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier and pushing back on President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;effort to dismiss the issue as a “hoax.”

In a news conference on the Capitol lawn that drew hundreds of supporters and chants of “release the files,” the women shared — some publicly for the first time — how they were lured into Epstein's abuse by his former girlfriend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>. They demanded that the Trump administration provide transparency and accountability for what they endured as teenagers.

It was a striking stand as the push for disclosure of the so-called Epstein files reaches a pivotal moment in Washington. Lawmakers are battling over how Congress should delve into the Epstein saga while the Republican president, after initially signaling support for transparency on the campaign trail, has been dismissing the matter as a “Democrat hoax.”

“No matter what you do it’s going to keep going,” Trump said Wednesday. He added, “Really, I think it’s enough."

But the survivors on Capitol Hill, as well as at least one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, disagreed. Some of the women pleaded for Trump to support their cause.

“It feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real. We’re here in person,” said Haley Robson, one of the survivors who said she is a registered Republican.

Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6184561-Jeffrey-Epstein-indictment.html">was accused</a>&nbsp;of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them.

Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidant and former girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-guilty-what-next-5082bd54ec442632c53319e6c43c2dd4">luring teenage girls</a>&nbsp;for him to abuse. Four women testified at her trial that they were abused by Epstein as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at his homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. The allegations have also spawned dozens of lawsuits.

Georgia Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-marjorie-taylor-greene-bffe84ad45cdb140ec81b353238b1242">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>, who is usually closely aligned with Trump, described her support for a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the information it has compiled on Epstein and Maxwell as a moral fight against sexual predation.

“This isn’t one political party or the other. It’s a culmination of everyone working together to silence these women and protect Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal,” Greene said at the news conference.

She also told reporters that she had spoken with Trump on Wednesday to tell him that he should host the survivors in the Oval Office, “not any of Jeffrey Epstein's rich, powerful friends.”

Greene is one of four Republicans — three of them women — who have defied House GOP leadership and the White House in an effort to force a vote on their bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quash the effort by putting forward his own resolution and arguing that a concurrent investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the best way for Congress to deliver transparency.

“I think the Oversight probe is going to be wide and expansive, and they’re going to follow the truth wherever it leads," Johnson, R-La., said.

He added that the White House was complying with the committee to release information and that he had spoken with Trump about it Tuesday night. “He says, ‘Get it out there, put it all out there,’" Johnson told reporters.

The Oversight Committee on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-congress-justice-department-trump-3e0d2146ce0cd0f6cecaab0198402ac7">Tuesday night released</a>&nbsp;what it said was the first tranche of documents and files it has received from the Justice Department on the Epstein case. The folders posted on Google Drive contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, but contained practically nothing new.

Meanwhile, the White House was warning House members that support for the bill to require the DOJ to release the files would be seen as a hostile act. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kentucky-thomas-massie-primary-iran-55252ce7fbda9c27f6fbd9123927b1b4">Thomas Massie</a>, a Kentucky Republican who is pressing for the bill, said that the White House was sending that message because “They’ve dug in.”

“They decided they don’t want it released,” he said. “It’s a political threat.”

But with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracies-97200cfab77572a36bc9ab25841a8833">Trump sending a strong message</a>&nbsp;and Republican leadership moving forward with an alternative resolution, Massie was left looking for support from at least two more Republicans willing to cross political lines. It would take six GOP members, as well as all House Democrats, to force a vote on their bill. And even if that passes the House, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by Trump.

Still, the survivors saw this moment as their best chance in years to gain some justice for what had been done by Epstein. One survivor, Chauntae Davies said that she remembered feeling powerless when she saw how Epstein was connected to some of the most rich and powerful people in the world. Davies said she once traveled to Africa with Epstein on a trip that included former President Bill Clinton and other notable figures.

“He bragged about his powerful friends, including current President Donald Trump. It was his biggest brag, actually,” Davies said.

Now, the women say it's time to reveal a full accounting of everyone involved or complicit in Epstein's behavior. Several of them are compiling a list of people who may have been involved, but are still deliberating whether to release that publicly, fearing potential repercussions.

Bradley Edwards, an attorney who has represented many of the survivors, refuted the notion that Epstein kept a list of clients, but said others were still involved.

“His scheme was to personally abuse women,” Edwards said. “When they reached a certain age, he did farm a section of them, some of them, out to some of his friends. That doesn’t mean all of his friends.”

Ultimately, the women said they spoke out in hope that lawmakers and federal officials would act to ensure that abusers like Epstein are not let off lightly or allowed to continue their abuse. They were especially affronted that Maxwell had recently been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">moved to a minimum-security prison camp</a>&nbsp;in Texas.

“Justice and accountability are not favors from the powerful. They are obligations decades overdue” Jess Michaels, a survivor who said she was first abused by Epstein in 1991, told the rally on the Capitol lawn. “This moment began with Epstein’s crimes. But it’s going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability.”

🎥Epstein survivors implore Congress to act as push for disclosure builds

WICHITA, Kan. — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 63-year-old male inmate who was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday night at the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.

Just after 10p.m. Tuesday, deputies discovered the inmate, according to sheriff's office spokesman Branden Stitt. Detention staff and on-site medical personnel immediately began life-saving measures. Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department responded and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:44 p.m.

The inmate, identified from county booking records as Timothy Reid Cullen was a resident of Blanchard, Oklahoma, and had been in the custody since Jun 21, 2025, on charges of aggravated assault, criminal threat, violation of a protective order, and possession of narcotics.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has been notified, and detectives are conducting a thorough investigation.

Preliminary evidence indicates the death was the result of suicide through self-asphyxiation. This incident marks the fifth in-custody death at the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility in 2025.

5th in custody death of 2025 reported at Sedgwick Co. Jail

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide at a Kansas City area park and have identified the victim as&nbsp;44-year-old Sean Booth, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just before 8a.m. August 27,&nbsp;&nbsp;patrol officers were dispatched to 23rd and Topping on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they were directed towards Blue Valley Park, to the south end of the park. There, in a wooded area, officers located an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

KCFD EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital with critical injuries. A short time later hospital personnel declared the victim deceased, according to DiMartino.

This is being investigated as a homicide. While officers were on scene they received information about the involvement of a vehicle and a subject of interest.

A short distance away, officers took a subject of interest into custody pending further investigation. Detectives are still working to determine what led up to the shots being fired and the victim being struck.&nbsp;

Police ID homicide victim found near Kansas City park

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/steve-karnowski">STEVE KARNOWSKI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-vancleave">MARK VANCLEAVE</a>

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vance-leo-vatican-ukraine-russia-trump-c1572b31e231e4eee61baaaad5c1445f">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday met with families and victims of a shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis that killed two schoolchildren and injured 21 people.

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