According to the Saline County Election office, the unofficial votes for "not" repealing the&nbsp;Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) pitbull ban have been favored.

The total number of "no" votes were&nbsp;5,329 and "yes" were&nbsp;4,123.&nbsp;

This means the BSL ban in Salina will still be in place.

The Provisional ballots will be tallied up on Monday, March 2 at 9:00 am and&nbsp;there are about 270.&nbsp;

Part of the provisional ballots include voters who may have forgotten to sign the ballot. Saline County Clerk, Jamie Doss stated she encourages those who are apart of that to come to the Saline County Election office (300 W. Ash) before March 2nd.

Around noon or 1:00 pm will be the final results of the provisional ballots.

After the final results, this issue cannot be revisited until 2036.

<a href="https://www.salinecountyks.gov/election#docaccess-0307ff30186567622f426012b26185dcd6279143301dfa281fb9b890607ce444">Click here to see the results from the Saline County Election Office and select the "Unofficial Results" option.</a>

Results are in: Breed Specific Legislation special election

A 3-2 vote from Salina Commissioners, denied a sales tax abatement for a nonprofit company.

During Monday's meeting, <a href="https://kmea.com/mid-states-about-us/">Kansas Municipal Energy Agency-Mid States&nbsp;(KMEA)</a> were seeking a possible sales tax exemption for an expansion project consisting of three new buildings.

The proposal was for a share of the City, Saline County and the State to take portions of a sales tax abatement, which totaled $250,000.

Commissioner Doug Rempp was one of three who denied as he stated, KMEA has enough income already since the average salary for an employee is $110,000.

He further stated this is triple the amount of the average annual income for a taxpayer in Salina.

Commissioner Mike Hoppock voted to deny as well, and he stated his reason was that he would feel the City would have a disadvantage.

"The reason I voted nay, because it seems like we are giving other municipalities a break but yet cutting ourselves out of the loop," he said.&nbsp;

Salina Community Economic Development Organization Executive Director, Mitch Robinson stated the City has done abatements over the past 10 years for existing companies. Some include Schwan's, GeoProbe, Great Plains/Kubota and Superior&nbsp;Plumbing &amp; Heating. The newest company was for Beck's Hybrids.

Those abatements were done if there was a projected revenue increase from the company.&nbsp;

KMEA purchased Mid States Energy Works in 2020, becoming KMEA-Mid States.&nbsp;

KMEA-Mid States currently employs 20 employees and are currently located in north Salina. KMEA provides a range of services consisting of <a href="https://kmea.com/mid-states-about-us/">electricity, natural gas supply, engineering support and more.</a>

City Commission: 3-2 vote denies sales tax abatement for nonprofit company 

Kansas Department of Transportation

The new 2026-28 Official State Bicycle Map of Kansas is now available from the Kansas Department of Transportation. 

Whether riding a few miles or cycling across the state, this edition offers a variety of information to help active transportation users plan a short trip or a long ride.

State bicycle maps and educational flyers with bicycle safety tips are free and can be ordered on KDOT’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.gov%2FKSBikeMap%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019c905a8d54-bd897f15-5be6-4b6b-a147-79936c3ce9b7-000000/snB9tF1vNXXat8kX6P-utpLRlocVbcwyYYVW_VTDztg=445">http://www.ksdot.gov/KSBikeMap</a>.

“Rail-Trails and the U.S. Bicycle Route System maps are included in the publication and showcase historic and unique places to visit along these routes,” said KDOT’s Active Transportation Manager Jenny Kramer. “We want residents and visitors alike to experience a few of the many venues and sights Kansas offers by bike while participating in active lifestyles.”

The map features color-coded highways to help riders distinguish traffic levels and varying route widths to show where shoulders are paved and wider than 3 feet. For those wanting to avoid highways, county roads are also shown using the same color coding for traffic ranges and denote whether they are paved or unpaved.

- Hospitals with 24-hour emergency care. 

In addition, details and contact information on the new Kansas Trails Inc. organization are available. According to the group, its mission is to provide the resources, support and community connections needed to make trails across the state accessible and sustainable for everyone.

For more information or to order maps, send an email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KATE@ks.gov">KATE@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call Kramer at 785-296-5186.

KDOT provides new bicycle maps and safety tips for 2026-2028

Law enforcement are investigating a home invasion, where a female victim was stabbed multiple times.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) at 3:00 am Tuesday morning, a 28-year old female arrived to Salina Regional Health Center with stab wounds on her leg.

Reportedly, the victim was at her home in north Salina when a known associate forced their way into the residence through a door and stabbed her multiple times.

SPD stated they have a suspect identified, but are not releasing any more information throughout this investigation.

Police: Woman suffers multiple stab wounds during home invasion

Salina PD are currently investigating two burglaries that occurred sometime over the weekend.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD), officers received report of a carry-on trailer that was stolen between the evening hours of February 19 and the morning of February 23.

The trailer was stolen from the 700 block of Charles and was parked in an alley.

The carry-on trailer is black in color 2001 5' x 8' (valued $1,700).

The second reported burglary occurred at the 100 block of Iowa. Reportedly, Hutton Construction was doing work at a building in the area and sometime between Friday evening and Monday morning the burglary happened.

Sometime between the evening hours of February 20 and morning of February 23, unknown suspect(s) broke into the building by cutting a lock. 

The suspect(s) once entered, stole an undetermined amount of work tools.

Both burglaries are currently under investigation.

Salina PD investigating two separate burglaries, carry-on trailer and work tools stolen

What does Indian Territory have to do with Kansas? Well, actually a lot. 

Join Jancita Warrington, Tribal historian, as she explains how Kansas was part of the original Indian Territory and the tribes that were affected. Warrington was born and raised on the Menominee Reservation in northern Wisconsin. She descends from the Menominee, Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk Nations. She holds an undergraduate degree in American Indian Studies and degrees in Tribal Law &amp; Policy and Cultural Preservation-Museum Management from the University of Kansas.

This free presentation is offered via Zoom only, Thursday, March 5, 5:30-6:30 pm.

Register for your Zoom link at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.smokyhillmuseum.org/">www.smokyhillmuseum.org</a>.

This free presentation is offered in conjunction with the Smithsonian traveling exhibition&nbsp;Americans.

Smoky Hill Museum announces first Thursday presentation featuring tribal historian discussing Indian territory

Kansas Wesleyan University will conclude this year’s celebration of Black History Month with the Black Leadership Symposium at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, in Peters Science Hall 201.

Seven Black leaders from throughout the region and country are slated to speak on their experiences. 

Admission is free and the event is open to the public.&nbsp;

“Any time we get to bring highly accomplished, community-connected leaders to campus it’s a great experience for the students, and we’re excited to do that once again for Black History Month,” said Bridget Weiser, vice president for student and community engagement. “Bringing leaders from all walks of life to campus creates discussions and opens perspectives our students may not otherwise have access to.”

The featured speakers include:&nbsp;

Keynote speaker&nbsp;Ashley Holt is currently a program manager for TikTok. Her resume includes writing and production experience at BuzzFeed and NBCUniversal, among others. She possesses a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri and a master’s in Marketing Communication from the University of South Carolina. Her television career took her to Tulsa, Okla., Chicago, Ill., and Dallas, Texas, where she specialized in telling the stories of underrepresented communities. Holt continues to adjust to the shifting media landscape and now applies her skills in journalism to tech spaces.&nbsp;

Angelo C. Banks is a family law attorney based in Kansas City, Mo., with licenses in his state of residence and Kansas. He served in the United States Airforce for a decade and was honored as one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen in 2012. He earned his master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling while serving, becoming a family law attorney following his second tour of service.

Also joining the roster&nbsp;is Salina local Dr. Ralita Cheeks ’07. Dr. Cheeks is a freelance contractor, school counselor, educational consultant, and inclusion and belonging leader. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Religion from Kansas Wesleyan, a master’s in School Counseling and Student Development and a Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from Kansas State University. She has been a school counselor, district mental health liaison, behavioral health consultant, and cultural and climate strategist and authored the book “Cracking the Code: Building Inclusive Culture and Climate.”&nbsp;

Another Salina local, Robert M. Cunningham Jr., serves the community as the Assistant Pastor of Lift Church of God in Christ alongside his wife, Vesa. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of R.M. Cunningham Consulting, LLC. Since 2009, he’s been involved in Salina’s The City Teen Center and is currently its director of special programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ascendra Donald is the founder of MDA Partners, based out of Olathe, Kan. MDA specializes in helping property managers and landlords with their resident experience, creating communities and increasing retention of tenants. She has two decades of experience as a student services director, special education director and school psychologist. She co-founded Ascend Krystal Clear Education Consulting Group, where she’s served as a consultant since 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Coming to KWU from Nashville, Tenn., is Carleigh Frazier, senior program manager with the Office of Community Health and Engagement at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She holds a Master of Public Health from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She leads the Community Health Needs Assessment process across six counties in Tennessee, helping facilitate community partnerships, monitor community grant programs and providing health equity training internally and externally as part of her role. She additionally serves on the boards of Senior Ride Nashville, Sisters Sharing With a Purpose, the Diversity Committee for the VUSM Master of Public Health program and the SENT Community Health Committee in Topeka.&nbsp;

Rounding out the roster is another Salina native, Reginald A. Moore, PhD, LPC, ACS, who currently leads a non-profit that provides transitional housing and services to marginalized, under-represented and low-income individuals, families and former felons in the Five Points and Northeast communities of Denver, Colo. His background includes 23 years of educating and supervising counselor education programs at various universities in Colorado.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information on this event, please contact Weiser at 785-833-4325.

Kansas Wesleyan to host Black History Month leadership symposium

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;Probation Violation; Failure to appear (2); Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500; Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGES: Failure to appear (4)

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Domestic battery: Knowing/reckless bodily harm

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Poss of marijuana; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Saline County Jail Bookings, February 24

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

In August of 2025, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office received tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators determined the tips were associated with a case that began in 2023. Investigators continued the investigation and with the new information executed a search warrant on September 3, 2025, at a residence in the 100 Block of West Walnut Street, Herington, Kansas. 

Additional search warrants were executed and an arrest warrant was issued on February 18, 2026, for Loren Michael Jones.

On February 20, Sedgwick County Sheriff's office deputies arrested Jones on the warrant issued through the Dickinson County District Court. Jones was later booked into the Dickinson County Detention Facility on multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Cyber tip led to arrest of Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes

A official new site for the upcoming Boys and Girls Club of Salina facility has been proposed.

Original: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/8b535049-79d3-4176-b3e0-cc0177c233a9">Boys &amp; Girls Club of Salina facility considering other options for installment</a>

On Monday, the proposed location presented to City Commissioners was north of Sunset Park where the former tennis courts were located.

This decision comes after the Mexican-American baseball league community that uses the field frequently, voiced concerns of restricting field use.

City Manager Jacob Wood confirmed&nbsp;several hundred people use the field.

The Boys and Girls Club requests support from city on the following aspects:

- Establishment of a long-term lease agreement for the portion of land just south of Sunset Park.&nbsp;

- Extension of water and sewer services to the property line.&nbsp;

- Grounds maintenance and snow removal.&nbsp;

- Formal partnership to guide the collaborative agreement.

Commissioners would need to approve the consideration in a separate public meeting, before anything is finalized.

UPDATE: New site proposed for Boys & Girls Club of Salina facility 

A hotel manager reports to law enforcement of a residential burglary that resulted in an arrest.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Saturday evening, officers were dispatched to the Hasting Inn (217 S. Broadway) for the report of a residential burglary.

A 39-year old female manager of the hotel reported the burglary took place inside her home connected to the Hastings Inn. The victim stated a female suspect was inside the home when she was gone. Her 14-year old son was at the home when the suspect entered.

Officers came in contact with the suspect at the area of the home and arrested <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9cc7d2d5-2f53-4353-95e8-792b10a2fdf5">40-year old, Sandra Sekela</a>.

Sekala reportedly stole two dog leashes and a single shower curtain hook.&nbsp;

She was booked into the Saline County Jail for the requested charges of Aggravated Burglary, Theft and Interference with Law Enforcement.

Hotel manager reports residential burglary resulting in arrest 

<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 23 - February 25

According to the US National Weather Service, light snow will impact much of the central Kansas area Friday evening.&nbsp;Between 1-2 inches of snow is expected across central Kansas, with locally higher amounts possible.&nbsp;

Salina is in the area where it could receive 1 - 2 inches of snow. 

Use extra caution if traveling tonight as slick spots are possible, especially on elevated surfaces.

Additionally, wind chills are are expected to be in the single digits across central Kansas. 

Salina's chills could get as low as 5, with a 23 degree low temperature.

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.

Single digit wind chills, light snow across central Kansas Friday evening 

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 20 - February 22

Thursday's cold front is expected to cause flurries and wintry mix for Friday across Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service, light snow or flurries will impact central Kansas Friday night with a rain/snow mix further south. 

Snow accumulations up to a dusting are possible as well.

Furthermore, the cold front that moved across the region Thursday will lead to much cooler temperatures and even a chance for some light snow. Friday's highs will generally be in the 40s and lows in the upper teens and 20s.

Weather: Cold front expected to cause flurries and wintry mix across Kansas 

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 18 - February 20

Gusty winds and dry conditions throughout central Kansas resulting in extreme grassland fire danger on Tuesday

According to the US National Weather Service, these gusty southwest winds will result in extreme grassland fire danger in the afternoon and evening throughout central Kansas.

Salina is in the area of the extreme grassland fire danger.

West winds are expected to increase late in the day gusting to around 45 mph at times in the region. 

However, clouds may limit fire weather concerns further east in south central and southeast Kansas although a very high grassland fire danger is still expected.

Gusty winds and dry conditions causing extreme grassland fire danger in central Kansas

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 16 - February 18

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 13 - February 15

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 11 - February 13

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 9 - February 11

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — They typically start the day as low-profile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-promises-patel-kennedy-bessent-rollins-b86a6dd08ab08f4b54e1a4d18fce11be">Cabinet secretaries</a>. They end it that way, too, God willing.

But when the rest of the government is gathered together for a big event, like President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-state-union-speech-economy-midterms-affordability-d31fc47a200d159a2d24833bd378ec56">State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;Tuesday night, a designated survivor is kept away to ensure someone in the line of leadership succession stays alive.

Picking a fail-safe in case of a cataclysmic event that wipes out everyone else dates back to the Cold War. It’s been dramatized in novels and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8696f0dd99ec4e008e75a26ffc1d8b9b">an ABC series starring Kiefer Sutherland</a>&nbsp;that aired from 2016 to 2019. When Trump addressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speech-congress-immigration-tariffs-guests-93f6107ede260854f90c65c4bde60de8">a joint session of Congress</a>&nbsp;last March, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins was chosen as the designated survivor.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">The president’s</a>&nbsp;pick to sit out this time hasn’t yet been announced.

Taking on the role of designated survivor brings extra adrenaline jolts and humbling thoughts about being unwittingly catapulted into the presidency and unthinkable tragedy — though the minute-to-minute details usually don’t feature the high drama of fictional portrayals, those who have done it say.

“It focuses your mind. It also enhances your prayer that it doesn’t happen to you,” James Nicholson, who was President George W. Bush’s veterans affairs secretary and designated survivor during the 2006 State of the Union, said of possibly becoming president after a cataclysmic event.

Historian and journalist Garrett M. Graff said the concept of a designated survivor has long captivated people because it combines the public’s inherent fascination with danger and the romance of an “everyman” being thrust into the presidency.

“The idea of, you’re just a random Cabinet official, and then something terrible happens and, all of a sudden, you’re president of the United States,” said Graff, author of “Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself — While the Rest of Us Die.”

Until the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, designated survivors had more control over where they went outside Washington. President Bill Clinton’s energy secretary, the late Bill Richardson, was picked in 2000 and simply moved up a planned weekend trip to Oxford, Maryland, a waterfront town about 80 miles (130 kilometers) away, so he’d be there during the State of the Union.

When Dan Glickman, Clinton’s agriculture secretary, was tapped during the 1997 State of the Union, his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, was too far away, so he chose New York, where his daughter lived.

“I thought it was kind of exciting. But I wasn’t hyped up from a dangerous perspective,” Glickman said. “I don’t even think anybody told me to be careful.”

Alberto Gonzales, Bush’s attorney general, was the designated survivor during the 2007 State of the Union. He said White House chief of staff Josh Bolten called a few days before and offered a couple of options for where he could hunker down.

Gonzales chose to be in flight, and he arrived at what was then called Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland to find “members of every major department and agency” there to ride with him. They carried thick binders stuffed with memos and protocol instructions, just in case.

He recalled a series of briefings that may have stretched right into Bush’s speech, which he watched from the air.

“It was during that time that it sort of suddenly hit me, if something happened in the Capitol and everyone’s killed, that I’d be president,” Gonzales said. “It’s sort of sobering. And you wonder, ‘Would I be up to governing a wounded nation?’”

In “Raven Rock,” Graff details how the designated survivor idea was formalized by the Carter and Reagan administrations amid fears that Soviet subs just off the Atlantic coast could fire nuclear missiles and wipe out Washington with barely 10 minutes’ warning.

Beginning in April 1980, the White House Military Office tasked the Federal Emergency Management Agency with ensuring succession. An aide was directed to recommend to the president who should skip events when all possible successors were together outside the White House.

Officials still prepare for a massive attack or disaster. The military helicopter that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-cebb142d24859ba0c4e0e4fd6c33773f">collided with a regional jet</a>&nbsp;outside Reagan National Airport in January 2025 was on a continuity of government mission — training to keep the federal government functioning in case of catastrophe.

The first time that a Cabinet member being kept away from a presidential speech to Congress was publicly divulged was President Ronald Reagan’s Education Secretary Terrel Bell in 1981. But Bell wasn’t identified until afterward. Today, TV images from the House chamber allow political junkies to spot the missing Cabinet member within minutes.

‘If this awful thing happened, you’d be well fed’

Nicholson said Bush’s chief of staff Andy Card had asked him a few weeks before the State of the Union to be the designated survivor. He was a natural fit given that his agency played an important role in continuity of government exercises due to its numerous hospitals and clinics nationwide.

Nicholson flew by helicopter to a destination only divulged once he was in the air and later sat in a command center, where he underwent briefings before watching Bush’s speech.

He was served a “wonderful” dinner, prepared on-site by personnel from the White House mess, though he said he couldn’t recall if it was T-bone steak or prime rib or something similar. “It made you think that, at least if this awful thing happened, you’d be well fed,” he said.

“The enormity of that job. You think about, remote as it is, this is something you might have to do,” Nicholson said of becoming president. Nicholson’s wife was attending the State of the Union, meaning that if something happened, she could be among the victims, which only added to the pressure.

When it was over, Nicholson wasn’t asked to fill in future designated survivors like Gonzales on what to expect.

“We don’t have a club,” he laughed. “We should.”

Glickman recalls boarding an Air Force G-3 from Andrews along with Secret Service agents, a military official and a series of advisers not on his usual staff. A three-car motorcade later carried him from LaGuardia Airport to his daughter’s apartment near Union Square.

She wanted to invite others to watch the speech with them, but Glickman nixed that. “This was not a party,” he said.

It wasn’t all serious, though. Glickman said he was told he didn’t need to dress up, so he didn’t wear a suit. Instructions not to study up spared him from reading briefing books or memorizing security protocols.

After the speech, the Secret Service asked if Glickman wanted a ride to the airport. He declined, saying he planned to have dinner with his daughter. It was sleeting when the motorcade left without him, making taxis scarce — and the sudden return to real life especially abrupt.

“I was the most powerful man on the face of the earth, theoretically,” Glickman remembered joking at the time. “And then I can’t even get a cab.”

Kansan knows about being the designated survivor for President's address

SEDGWICK COUNTY —On March 6, 2024, at nearly the exact same moment, eight Wichita Police Department officers each used deadly force against Luis Rivera. Due to the&nbsp; multiple injuries, it cannot be determined which particular gunshot wound could be&nbsp; considered the fatal shot. Further, and for the same reason, it cannot be determined&nbsp; which particular officer(s)’ fired such fatal shot(s), according to a report released Monday by Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.

However, under these particular&nbsp; circumstances, the inability to determine that information does not impact the assessment of criminal liability. 

Under K.S.A. 21-5222(b), a person may employ deadly force when the person reasonably&nbsp; believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent risk of great bodily harm to himself or another.

Since 2011, under the Kansas "stand your ground" law, one who acts in defense of himself or to protect a third party is immune from prosecution. See K.S.A. 21-5231. Meaning, a&nbsp; person may not be charged or prosecuted unless the state can establish that the person who&nbsp; utilized deadly force was not acting reasonably under the circumstances. In Graham v.&nbsp; Connor, the United States Supreme Court made clear that assessment as to the&nbsp; reasonableness of an officer’s decision to utilize deadly force must be made within the context in which the officer found himself – not from the perspective of “20/20 hindsight.” 

The investigation established that while apparently suffering from mental depression and having consumed amphetamine and methamphetamine, Mr. Rivera entered a thirdparty’s residence, threatened the residents with a handgun, forcibly took the cell phones of others, and forced one resident to remove his clothes so that Mr. Rivera could confirm&nbsp; that the resident was not a police officer wearing a recording device. 

When officers arrived, Rivera walked out of the residence with a handgun to his head&nbsp; and, despite repeated orders to stop and drop the weapon, proceeded to lead officers on a 10-minute foot pursuit to 21st Street and Arkansas, all the while threatening to shoot&nbsp; himself and to shoot the officers. When officers attempted to disarm Mr. Rivera with a less lethal foam projectile, Mr. Rivera pointed his handgun at the officers and fired 3 times.

Eight different law enforcement officers reacted to the situation, determined that when Rivera turned toward the gathered officers and&nbsp; fired his handgun three times, that his actions posed an immediate threat to them and to the other officers stationed in the area, and they each made the near-simultaneous decision to fire their respective weapons. That all eight officers made the same decision to shoot in the same moment, without coordination or communication with one another in the moment, speaks to the reasonableness of their individual assessments and the reasonableness of the determination that a lethal risk was posed by Rivera. 

Under the totality of the circumstances, all eight officers are immune from prosecution under Kansas law. 

Under Kansas law and the facts of the case, conclude that no criminal charges will be filed

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on March 6, in the area of 21st&nbsp;Street North and Arkansas in Wichita.

Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County 911 received a call reporting someone was in a house pointing a gun at another person in the 2300 block of North Fairview, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

The suspect left the residence prior to the officer’s arrival. Several Wichita Police Officers arrived in the area at approximately 7:54 PM and located a man later identified as 35-year-old Luis A. Rivera, in the street holding a gun to his head, according to Gibbs.

Officers attempted to talk to Rivera and get him to put the gun down. He walked away from the officers, going south on Fairview, still holding a gun to his head and yelling at the officers.

Some officers followed Rivera on foot while others followed in police vehicles. A Crisis Negotiator was on scene and utilized the patrol car’s public address speaker to communicate with Rivera and ordered him to drop the gun.

Rivera walked west on 21st&nbsp;Street, continuing to hold the gun to his head and refusing to comply with the multiple requests to drop the gun. Other officers in the area attempted to divert traffic on 21st&nbsp;street to reduce the danger to the public, officers, and Rivera.

At approximately 8:04 PM a supervisor requested less lethal munitions as Rivera walked to a parking lot of a vacant building at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas. An officer deployed a less lethal 40mm foam projectile, striking the suspect in the back in an attempt to have him comply.

While the officer was announcing the deployment of the less lethal round, Rivera stated he was going to make it lethal. Rivera turned toward the officers, leveling his gun toward the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Eight officers returned fire and struck Rivera multiple times.

Officers rendered aid to Rivera until the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS arrived on scene at approximately 8:14 PM. Rivera was pronounced dead on scene at approximately 8:21 PM.

No officers were injured during this incident.

DA: 8 Kan. officers made same decision; no charges in police shooting

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Amazon doing that new fast, drone delivery thing, Kansas City, Kansas reported on their social media page.

"Yes, Kansas City, Kansas we are now on the cutting edge in shopping as one of only eight markets for Amazon's new ultra-fast delivery system - Prime Air! Other cities include Phoenix, Pontiac, MI, Dallas–Fort Worth, Waco, San Antonio, Tampa, and Detroit. Look at us."

"Amazon's Prime Air drone, based at the MKC6 fulfillment center at 6925 Riverview Ave., delivers packages up to 5 pounds to Prime members within a 7.5-mile radius (during daylight hours) for $4.99 - in under 60 minutes!!! The KCKPD, which has a long-standing relationship with Amazon and was included in pre-launch planning, operates its own drones and believes that Amazon's advanced testing and technology will address any public safety concerns which residents may have."

"So, the next time you’re out walking your dog and notice a large drone zipping past to land on your neighbor's lawn, don’t be alarmed. It's merely Amazon delivering 500 popsicle sticks and a tube of E600 glue for that science project their 11-year-old forgot is due tomorrow."

"Shooting down a drone is a federal crime in the U.S., as they are legally considered aircraft, potentially resulting in up to 20 years in prison, heavy fines, and civil liability for damages. It is illegal to destroy, damage, or disable a drone, regardless of whether it is flying over private property."

🎥Amazon making drone deliveries in parts of Kansas

HIGHLANDVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Two Missouri sheriff’s deputies were fatally shot, one during a traffic stop and the other hours later during an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, who was also killed, authorities said.

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said the initial shooting happened during a traffic stop south of Highlandville on Monday in southwest Missouri, news outlets reported.

About 100 officers, deputies, and state troopers helped with the search for the suspect, Cole said. He says U.S. Marshals and FBI and ATF agents were also involved.

The suspected shooter’s truck was found abandoned several miles south near Reeds Spring and law enforcement officers searched the area nearby, Cole said. Early Tuesday, after a heat signature was detected in the woods, deputies moved in. Cole said the suspect opened fire, striking three deputies.

One Christian County deputy was killed and two other deputies, from Christian and Webster counties, were wounded with injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening, Cole said. Law enforcement officers on the scene returned fire and the suspect was killed, he said.

Cole identified the deputy killed in the initial shooting as Deputy Gabriel Ramirez.

“Deputy Ramirez was always kind to everybody, Cole said. “He was always a friend, was always there for anybody who needed a shoulder to lean on.”

2 Missouri sheriff's deputies fatally shot, 2 others wounded

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is set to invalidate about 1,700 driver’s licenses held by transgender residents and roughly as many birth certificates under a new law that goes beyond Republican-imposed restrictions in other states on listing gender identities in government documents.

The new law takes effect Thursday. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the measure but the Legislature's GOP supermajorities overrode it last week as Republican state lawmakers across the U.S. have pursued another round of measures to roll back transgender rights.

The bill prohibits documents from listing any sex other than the one assigned birth and invalidates any that reflect a conflicting gender identity. Florida, Tennessee and Texas also don't allow driver's licenses to reflect a trans person's gender identity, and at least eight states besides Kansas have policies that bar trans residents from changing their birth certificates.

But only Kansas' law requires reversing changes previously made for trans residents. Kansas officials expect to cancel about 1,700 driver's licenses and issue new birth certificates for up to 1,800 people.

“It tells me that Kansas Republicans are interested in being on the vanguard of the culture war and in a race to the bottom,” said Democratic state Rep. Abi Boatman, a transgender Air Force veteran appointed in January to fill a vacant Wichita seat.

Kansas' new law enjoyed nearly unanimous GOP support. It is the latest success in what has become an annual effort to further roll back transgender rights by Republicans in statehouses across the U.S., bolstered by policies and rhetoric from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-rights-lawsuit-e0c462aeb4662576e3569dfdf91b0a9c">President Donald Trump's administration.</a>

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