Following the Kansas Department of Agriculture inspection on the Salina Animal Shelter that was deemed "unsatisfactory," a board meeting took place to provide public transparency and solve current issues.

Read more: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/8079a182-2093-4fdc-a3ea-901cae4efada">Salina Animal Shelter releases statement after receiving "unsatisfactory" results in state inspection</a>

At the meeting, City Manager Jacob Wood, Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Hammond and Operations Superintendent of the animal shelter Andrea Murphy were present along with the animal board members.

Wood addressed the public about the report and gave his comments. 

He stated that he was glad the inspection took place, so the City can provide solutions moving forward. Moreover, he said the blame should not all be put on the animal shelter, but the City Manager's office.

He said most of the problems brought up in the inspection were "suggestions" per the state inspector, and were not all state requirements.

Wood commented the animal shelter has been working hard and said he does not eye to eye with most of the issues expressed from the public.

"They (animal shelter) are working hard and they are good people," said Wood. "Being an animal shelter officer is a hard job and I don't see the same issues the way they are expressed," said Wood.

Transparency and hopeful improvements moving forward

As the animal board questioned Murphy several times regarding the state of the shelter, there was a consensus to provide more transparency to the public and have hopes on improvements moving forward.

Murphy stated there have been updates made to the the laundry aspect and improvements on the overall cleanliness.

On January of this month, Murphy brought up they have already made progress on bringing volunteers back to the shelter.

According to Murphy, there were a total of 26 applications that went through the volunteer process. Seven of those never responded to their attempt, while eight declined to move forward with the process and two volunteers that were accepted did not show up to orientation.

However, five have successfully gone through the whole process and are expected to start shifts this weekend.

Towards the end of the meeting, the board motioned and passed for the shelter to provide the public with transparency surrounding euthanasia reports.&nbsp;

Rosemary Mai who is one of the board members, requested that Hammond and Wood ask the Salina Commissioners to look into bringing <a href="https://www.prairiepaws.org/about-us">Prairie Paws</a> to oversee the shelter. A motion was made by the board, which it passed as well.

The next board meeting will be on April 8. Depending on the status of the animal shelter, the board will decide when to meet next.

Salina Post will continue to provide updates and finding regarding the animal shelter.

More articles will be published regarding "anonymous letters, Prairie Paws and past animal shelter reports."

Watch the full board meeting below:

🎥 Animal shelter board meeting provides transparency and plans to solve current issues

Rolling Hills Zoo is looking for you to join their team

They are hiring for a limited number of seasonal positions including gift shop and admissions, tram drivers, landscape and restaurant team members.

Employment begins as early as March but is flexible for high school and college students.

Qualifications include excellent people skills, available to work weekends and Holidays, and must be 16 years of age or older.

There's no better place to spend your summer so don't delay

Rolling Hills Zoo is a drug-free workplace and values diversity in our workforce.

<a href="https://www.rollinghillszoo.org/employment">For more details and to apply go click here</a>.

Former KWU professor arrested after shoplifting over $3,000 of trading cards

Following is recent booking activity for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salinecountyks.gov/Sheriff-Office/Online-search/Booking-Activities">Saline County Jail</a>, 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.

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Crim damage to prop;w/o consent &lt;$1K; Criminal discharge of firearm; Recklessly at occupied dwelling; Crim poss weapon by a convicted felon

NAME:&nbsp;Bussart,Alexandria Marie

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving While Suspended

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Failure to appear (2);&nbsp;Interfere w/ LEO; unknown circ; misd

NAME:&nbsp;Platte-Evans,Heather Renea

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

Saline County Jail Bookings, February 12

The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/304759803960474">Granny Brigade</a>&nbsp;will host several local charitable organizations to speak to the public about their mission, goals and current needs.

On February 17, 2026, 7:00 pm at the Carver Center (315 N 2nd St.) the following organizations will be featured:

- <a href="https://www.salinaambucs.com/">AMBUCS Breakfast Bandits</a>

- <a href="https://www.noonambucs.com/">AMBUCS Noon Network</a>

- <a href="https://www.ashbyhouse.org/">Ashby House</a>

- <a href="https://www.dvack.org/">Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas (DVACK)</a>

- <a href="https://www.salinashares.org/">Salina Shares</a>

There will be a question and answer time at the end of the event. This event is free and open to the public.

Several local charitable organizations to speak at Granny Brigade February meeting

The family of the late Riley Dean Faris, is questioning why no criminal charges were placed on an individual involved in the crash that took away his life.

Riley Faris passed away at age 30 on&nbsp;October 17, 2025 after riding his motorcycle, when he was hit from behind on a Brookville road. The crash happened at approximately 6:53 pm on K-140 Highway at Perry Street. Faris was headed westbound when a 2003 Subaru Forester operated by Kiley Barnett (39) from Kanopolis, hit him from behind.&nbsp;

Barnett was booked into the Saline County Jail that same night with requested charges of No Proof of Insurance, Driving While Suspended (DWS) and Following Too Close. She was then released.

According to Kansas Court records, Barnett has 40 traffic violations.

Colton Faris, brother of Riley <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DZBboGCVw/">made a Facebook video on February 3, 2026</a>&nbsp;discussing a conversation he had with Saline County Attorney, John Reynolds.

Colton stated his mother got in contact via phone with Reynolds and wondered why they have not received an accident report after three and a half months since the incident.&nbsp;During the phonecall, Colton said Reynolds explained to his mother the charges placed on Barnett and further said "that is just what happens when you ride a motorcycle."

Colton then called Reynolds on why he made the comment. According to Colton, Reynolds described to him that he thinks there was no evidence to place any sort of murder or involuntary manslaughter charge on Barnett.

"He (Reynolds) said, yes she killed him but it was not criminal. I don't understand that when you don't have a license, you are not supposed to be driving and when you don't have insurance, which is required to drive a car, how killing him is not a criminal offense," said Colton Faris on the video.

Reynolds told Salina Post he did not make explicitly make the comment of "that is just what happens when you ride a motorcycle," but instead was "taken out of context."

He said the context was he explained how "when cars and motorcycles collide, it always ends up bad for the motorcyclist."

Saline County Sheriff's Office on accident report

The Saline County Sheriff's Office told Salina Post why the Faris family received the accident report 3.5 months later.

According to the Sheriff's Office, reports are available through the <a href="https://www.dol.ks.gov/labor-relations/kansas-open-records-act-kora">Kansas Open Records Act</a>, but with fluid cases (evolving) and cases with the potential to result in criminal charges without a criminal court disposition, are two of the several exemptions to the act.

In this case, the law enforcement agency did not have a court disposition, or any information if criminal charges were not going to be filed by the County Attorney until the week of Feb. 2 - 6, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office wanted to confirm there were not going to be criminal charges filed prior to releasing a narrative report that could potentially interfere with criminal prosecution. 

Once this was learned, the Sheriff's Office encouraged the Faris family to request the case again and the report was disseminated within 48 hours.

"We strive to provide the appropriate information at the appropriate time while adhering to the Kansas Open Records Act," said the Sheriff's Office.

Reynolds stated the charges placed on Barnett were "traffic violations" and not criminal charges.

Reynolds provided details on what happened in the accident.

According to Reynolds, there was a vehicle going southbound leaving Brookville and got onto K-140 westbound. He said the vehicle got right in front of Faris, which caused him to slow down. Barnett coming from behind was headed westbound and once she became aware of Faris slowing down, she had a "very narrowed reaction time, because she closed the gap between him and the vehicle in front," according to Reynolds.

Reynolds said Barnett tried to avoid colliding with Faris during this time.

"By the time she realizes what's going on, she goes to take evasive maneuvers to move over into the other lane to go around Faris," Reynolds said. "She almost missed him."

Reynolds further said he knew this happened, because he not only visited the accident scene, but also by determining the marks on the vehicles, roadway and review of law enforcement body cameras.

"There were two state troopers out there, they came to the same conclusion of the deputies and what I had," said Reynolds.

Additionally, Reynolds said Barnett should have been farther back before the crash. He placed the Following Too Close charge, because the crash resulted in a fatality.&nbsp;

He also said Faris was not wearing a helmet.

For Barnett to have been placed a requested charge of Involuntary Manslaughter, Reynolds stated the following would need to include:&nbsp;

- Killing someone while committing or attempting to commit a felony.   

- During to commission of an unlawful act in an unlawful manner; Or in attempting to commit, or in flight from, an act described in KSA 8-1567.

"I did not see any of these elements in the affidavit filed in this case," said Reynolds.

<a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/260102531/">Click here to view the full accident report.</a>

Petition started to demand felony charges and removal County Attorney

The cousin of the late Riley Faris, started a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-riley-demand-felony-charges-and-removal-of-saline-county-attorney-j-reynolds">petition</a> titled "JUSTICE FOR RILEY: Demand Felony Charges and Removal of Saline County Attorney J. Reynolds."

Stated in the petition, the writer brought up Kansas statutes for upgraded charges on Barnett.

"The charges against Kiley Barnett be upgraded to the highest extent of the law. Under&nbsp;K.S.A. 21-5403, a killing committed unintentionally but recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life is Second-Degree Murder.&nbsp;At a minimum, this must be prosecuted as Involuntary Manslaughter&nbsp;(K.S.A. 21-5405), a Level 5 Person Felony."

Furthermore, it stated Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct for the removal of Reynolds.

The petition currently has over 4,000 signatures.

Barnett is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on March 25. 

The Saline County court will determine to either take the Barnett case to trial on if she will be convicted for DWS, No Proof of Insurance and Following Too Close.

🎥 Family of late motorcyclist speaks after fatal crash, no criminal charges on individual involved

The KidWind Challenge has shared a full list of all the Kansas schools competing in the state competition.

The first competition occurred in Dodge City on Tuesday and the next one will be held in Colby on Thursday, February 12.

The state finals are set to take place in Salina on April 11.

Read more:<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/81db6ae8-4675-4ec6-b29e-41150da28115"> KidWind Challenge has begun with record number of teams competing throughout Kansas, state finals in Salina</a>

Below you will find the full list of Kansas schools competing:

Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School (USD 383)

Nemaha Central Elementary/Middle School (USD 115)

Olathe West High School - Green Tech Academy (USD 233)

Shawnee Mission South High School (USD 512)

Uniontown Junior High and High School (USD 235)

White City Elementary/High School (USD 481)

More information about KidWind is available at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kcc.ks.gov%2Fenergy-education%2Fkidwind%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019c4486183a-1178de64-c7c4-4d9b-bdf7-7eb5471da49a-000000/5TBULwuSnAncO9zJHBDhW_aMyFMHRvq7A7cRaA994HU=443">https://www.kcc.ks.gov/energy-education/kidwind</a>.

List of Kansas schools competing in 2026 KidWind Challenge, state finals in Salina

<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>

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>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 11 - February 13

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Assault; Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose felony warrant; Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Driving While Suspended

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Magenheimer,Maredith Ann

REQUESTED CHARGE: Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp;Ruffin,Marquez Dayqwaun

REQUESTED CHARGE: Probation Violation

Saline County Jail Bookings, February 11

After a year’s hiatus, a special retreat designed to help children navigate the world of grief is back.

The Healing Kids’ Hearts Retreat has a new sponsor and will be held in a new location. But organizers say its purpose remains the same—to offer children who have suffered the loss of someone close to them a safe place where they can ask questions, express their emotions, and connect with other children going through the same thing.

This year’s retreat will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury Dr.&nbsp;

Parents must register their children by&nbsp;Sunday, March 1.&nbsp;Families may call Jordan at (785) 623-6200, and a registration form will be mailed to them, she said.

The free retreat is designed for children ages 7 through 12 and will include lunch, said Myrna Jordan with Hospice of HaysMed, the new sponsor.

The day will include crafts, games, and other activities. Each child will be assigned a specially trained adult “buddy” for the day.

Doris Schmidt of Victoria, who helped organize the first retreat in 2015, said the event began after a grief support group called Healing Hearts was established in Ellis County to help families who had lost a child.

“This group brought together mothers, fathers, siblings, and grandparents, allowing them to share stories of their beloved child who had passed away. These families, united by grief, sought to support one another through the sharing of experience of their loss.&nbsp;

&nbsp;“Discussion many times was about the feelings the child’s siblings had. How could we create a space where children could express their emotions, ask questions, and connect with other children who were going through the same thing?” Schmidt recalled.

A task force was created, and soon the first retreat took form. 

“The retreat would provide healing activities and guided conversation with a caring adult. Each child has an adult buddy with them to listen when they talk about their loss because so often the children don’t want to talk to mom or dad because they may make them cry.” The kids have already seen their parents cry a lot.

The retreat “quickly gained support from various community organizations, excited to help with the funding to help the children find healing,” Schmidt said.

That community support is still there, which is one reason the retreat has never charged families any registration fees through the years, Schmidt said.

In 2015, that first year, 17 children attended the retreat. Organizers now put a cap on enrollment at 20 children. These can be children who have lost a sibling, parent, grandparent, teacher, or close friend. Children who have attended previous retreat are welcome to attend again, as long as they fall within the 7-to-12 age range, organizers said.

One “adult buddy” recalled that the last time the retreat was held in 2024, the children made memorial stepping-stones to honor their lost loved ones.

One little boy asked if he could make some additional stones. When the “buddy” asked him why, the little boy replied that Grandpa had died, but his grave didn’t yet have a marker. There just hadn’t been enough money to pay for one, the little boy said.

The child wanted additional stones to make a marker for his grandpa’s grave. He got them, and the “adult buddy,” a senior citizen, got a big hug.

Healing Kids' Hearts designs retreat to help children deal with grief

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 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

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 9 - February 11

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 6 - February 8

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 4 - February 6

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 1 - February 3

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 30 - February 1

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 28 - January 30

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 26 - January 28

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 23 - January 25

Saline County Emergency Management&nbsp;

The National Weather Service in Wichita reports an&nbsp;Arctic outbreak and winter weather&nbsp;will impact Saline County&nbsp;beginning Friday and continuing through Monday morning, bringing&nbsp;dangerous cold, hazardous travel conditions, and&nbsp;accumulating snow.

Arctic air is expected to move into the area early Friday morning and persist through the weekend, with&nbsp;dangerous wind chills between -10°F and -20°F&nbsp;likely from Friday morning through Monday morning. The coldest conditions are expected during the overnight and early morning hours.

Snow&nbsp;is expected to begin late Friday afternoon or Friday evening and continue through Saturday night, with&nbsp;slick roads&nbsp;and&nbsp;hazardous travel&nbsp;possible. While higher snowfall totals are more likely south of Saline County, confidence is high that snow will affect the area.&nbsp;Travel impacts are expected&nbsp;due to&nbsp;reduced visibility, slick roads,&nbsp;and&nbsp;prolonged cold conditions.

A&nbsp;Winter Storm Watch&nbsp;remains in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday night, and an&nbsp;Extreme Cold Watch&nbsp;has been issued for the entire forecast area through Monday morning. Confidence is high in the timing and severity of the cold, with medium confidence in exact snowfall amounts due to potential shifts in the heaviest snow band.&nbsp;

<a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/55d47694801/2b6fb17f-1676-4697-ac6f-7c32ed6b5928.pdf?rdr=true">Click here to view the full packet of the upcoming severe weather</a>

Arctic outbreak & winter weather to impact Saline Co. Friday - Monday

WASHINGTON —President Trump invited Kansas 4th district Congressman Ron Estes to the Oval Office for the official&nbsp;signing of the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act.

On his social media page, Rep. Estes wrote, " I’m pleased to see this common sense legislation signed into law – President Trump and Republicans are leading with results and fighting to support the American taxpayer."

"By permanently allowing the SSA to share full death data with the Treasury’s "Do Not Pay" service, we are stopping erroneous payments to the deceased. This will stop hardworking Americans from footing the bill for waste, fraud, and abuse."

"The Fiscal Service estimates that by December 2026, this data exchange will save $330 MILLION in improper payments across the federal government."

Estes has served the 4th Congressional District since April 2017.

Kan. Congressman invited to Oval Office signing ceremony

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/"></a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — More money could be flowing to the Kansas Water Plan under a new House bill, expanding the impact of a popular 2023 law aimed at addressing the growing water crisis.

Republicans, Democrats and proponents pointed to Kansas’ lack of funding for water projects and asked lawmakers to pass the bill Tuesday before the House Water Committee. There were no opponents.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/20/new-laws-increase-accountability-for-kansas-water-districts-set-aside-conservation-funding/">2023 law</a>&nbsp;established the Water Projects Grant Fund and the Water Technical Assistance Fund, two funds that help municipalities build and maintain water infrastructure.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2558/" target="_blank">House Bill 2558</a>&nbsp;would expand annual funding for the Kansas Water Plan from $35 million to $60 million.

The extra $25 million for the Kansas Water Plan would come from the State General Fund. Most of the increase would be earmarked to add $10 million to both the Water Projects Grant Fund and Water Technical Assistance Fund.

Made with Flourish&nbsp;•&nbsp;<a href="https://flourish.studio/visualisations/line-bar-pie-charts/?utm_source=showcase&amp;utm_campaign=visualisation/22038093" target="_blank">Create a chart</a>

Since the 2023 law,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li_2024/b2023_24/measures/hb2302/" target="_blank">House Bill 2302</a>, was adopted, there have been more applications for the grants than money available. Wendi Stark, legislative liaison for the League of Kansas Municipalities&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_water_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_water_1_20260210_07_testimony.html" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;about 37% of the cities who applied received some money.

Connie Owen testified on behalf of three of the state’s big water-related agencies: the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Water Office. She characterized her testimony as neutral, but admitted it was more “neutral positive.”

“The 2302 grants really made a difference for people and their communities all over the state,” Owen said. “All we continue to hear is, ‘Keep it coming, we need more,’ ” Owen said.

Last session,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/13/kansas-house-bill-would-add-20m-for-state-water-plan-projects/">a more modest version</a>&nbsp;of the bill made it through the House but was never heard by the Senate. Both that bill and the one in the current session were introduced by Rep. Jim Minnix, a Republican farmer from Scott City and chair of the House Water Committee.

Owen is in the&nbsp;<a href="https://westernstateswater.org/" target="_blank">Western States Water Council</a>, a group of 18 states that meets three times a year to discuss water solutions. Minnix asked Owen to share what she has heard from other states.

“Kansas is doing incredible things. But in terms of the comparison to what we could be doing, and the investment that other states make, it’s enormous,” Owen said. “And I’m sure that’s why you asked me that question, Mr. Chair.”

Minnix smiled in acknowledgement, and brought up the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/04/texas-elections-2025-water/" target="_blank">Texas vote</a>&nbsp;to make a $20 billion investment in water. He said even for a state whose population and economy dwarfs those of Kansas, the investment was still significant.

“We kicked the can down the road for a lot of years, but when we have done programs we’ve been extremely efficient,” Minnix said.

“I definitely think the program is successful and worth continuing,” added Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, a Democrat from Overland Park.

While water issues sometime&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/29/kansas-house-bill-would-push-state-to-recycle-wastewater-into-tap-water/">fall along party lines</a>, the issue of the water crisis itself is rarely partisan.

Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/10/30/southeast-kansas-town-is-almost-out-of-water-and-signs-of-crisis-are-everywhere/">towns</a>&nbsp;are running out of water. The Ogallala Aquifer, which much of western Kansas relies on for daily life,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/28/ogallala-aquifer-drops-by-more-than-a-foot-in-parts-of-western-kansas/">dropped</a>&nbsp;by more than a foot last year. Gov. Laura Kelly has identified the crisis as&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/24/kansas-governors-legislative-priorities-in-2026-center-on-budget-water-and-children/">a top priority</a>&nbsp;for her final year in office.

Last year a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/02/kansas-water-task-force-to-gauge-current-and-future-supply-modernize-policy/">bipartisan</a>&nbsp;taskforce was created to fight the crisis. Sen Kenny Titus, a Republican from Wamego&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/15/kansas-lawmakers-outline-vision-for-finding-solutions-to-water-crisis-and-paying-for-them/">said in July</a>&nbsp;the water issue has been exacerbated in large part because of a “lack of past efforts.”

Minnix is the other taskforce co-chair. He said he typically gives the House committee a week to review bills before they’re brought back for discussion, but told the committee he wanted to discuss this one earlier than usual.

“This committee has been an extreme leader on water issues since ’23,” Minnix said. “I want you folks all to sleep on this, think about it and come back on Thursday so we can have a robust discussion on this.”

Rep. Doug Blex, a Republican farmer from Independence, said that while he will miss Thursday’s discussion, the bill has his full support. He was on the Water Committee in 2017, when the decade-long streak of governors not funding the Kansas Water Plan Fund was active.

“We have come a long way,” Blex said. “And even though we are not ranking on dollars with other states, I think we’re ranking with what we’ve got done and accomplished in many ways and the quality.”

House bill would add $25 million to annual spending on Kansas water crisis

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen who admitted his role in a deadly drive-by shooting is going to prison.

On Wednesday, Judge Christopher Magana sentenced 15-year-old Elias Cerda to&nbsp;260 months in prison and 36 months of post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November, Cerda, who was charged as an adult, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, second degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery, according to the district attorney's office.

In January 2024, police responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested Cerda, who was 14 at the time. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

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