The Salina Police Department (SPD) have provided the full details regarding the deceased body that was found and recovered&nbsp;in a wooded area near the YMCA building.

Original: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/006ab16a-3978-4a7a-ab9a-0ec47fe0c7f0">Deceased body found and recovered in wooded area near YMCA</a>

According to SPD, the individual was identified as 60-year old, Shane T. Duffy (Salina).&nbsp;

The cause of death was a heart attack (<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350569#:~:text=Atherosclerosis%20is%20a%20specific%20type,leading%20to%20a%20blood%20clot.">atherosclerotic</a>) and the contributing factors were chronic substance abuse.

Manner of death was accidental, as there was no&nbsp;indication of foul play.

There was no home address listed for Duffy, as he was deemed to be homeless.

A passerby found the deceased body and contacted police on Nov. 20

UPDATE: Salina PD provide full details of deceased body found and recovered near YMCA

SkyWest Airlines, the world’s largest regional air carrier, has selected the Salina Regional Airport (SLN) to establish an aircraft maintenance facility. 

This will help support maintenance on some of SkyWest’s fleet of 500+ regional jets, including the aircraft currently operating United Express flights in and out of Salina.

SkyWest's maintenance base will initially create several new, high-paying jobs at the Salina Airport and is expected to be operational by early spring 2026. These new positions are in addition to existing customer service staff based at the airport. 

Those interested in joining the SkyWest team of technicians can apply today at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.skywest.com/skywest-airline-jobs/career-guides/a-and-p-mechanic?utm_source=CC&amp;utm_medium=Release&amp;utm_campaign=SLNMX" target="_blank">https://www.skywest.com/mechanic</a>.

This new location will support SkyWest’s reliable and safe passenger service for business and leisure travelers from across the state and nation. SkyWest operates multiple daily flights as United Express to Denver, Chicago, and Houston from Salina. These flights provide vital connectivity by allowing travelers to easily connect to United’s global network.

SkyWest’s decision to open the Salina maintenance base is aligned with Governor Kelly’s initiative to expand&nbsp;aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations across Kansas, and was made possible by support from the Kansas Department of Commerce, City of Salina, Saline County, Salina Airport Authority, and the Salina Community Economic Development Organization.

The expenditures between the agencies as a whole were around $750,000.

“SkyWest’s decision to establish a maintenance base in Salina reflects Kansas’ ability to compete and deliver for world-class aviation partners,” Kansas Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Joshua Jefferson said. “We’ve made deliberate investments in workforce, infrastructure and airport readiness, and this announcement shows that those efforts are paying off. Salina is positioned to support SkyWest’s growth today and well into the future.”

Salina Airport Authority executive director Pieter Miller said, “SkyWest adds to a growing aviation ecosystem that includes the Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus, Textron, and Garmin.” He added that, “the SkyWest Salina maintenance facility will support the development and growth of Salina flights to United Airlines’ hubs at Denver, Chicago, and Houston.”

“We are excited to establish a maintenance presence in Salina,” said Joe Sigg, SkyWest’s VP of Maintenance. “We appreciate the local and statewide support and look forward to building a team of technicians dedicated&nbsp; to SkyWest’s standards of excellence here in Salina.”

<a href="https://www.skywest.com/">SkyWest Airlines</a> operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines carrying over 42 million passengers in 2024. Headquartered in St. George, Utah, SkyWest’s fleet of 500+ aircraft connects passengers to 258 destinations throughout North America.&nbsp;

World's largest regional air carrier, SkyWest Airlines to establish aircraft maintenance facility in Salina

HARVEY COUNTY – Trevon Cole, 20, of Salina, was sentenced December 22, by Chief Judge Wilder in Harvey County District Court for the crime of rape, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.

Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, Cole faced a presumptive prison sentence ranging from 147 to 165 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. Harvey County Attorney Heather Figger requested that the Court impose the standard sentence of 155 months in prison.

After considering a defense motion for durational departure, the Court sentenced Cole to 78 months in prison. The Court cited Cole’s acceptance of responsibility, his age at the time of the offense, his performance while on bond, and his consistent attendance at court proceedings as factors supporting the reduced sentence. Cole will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime registration as a sexual offender.

Cole was convicted of rape on September 19, 2025. The offense occurred in August of 2023 in the victim’s dorm room on the Bethel campus in Harvey County.

HARVEY COUNTY – On September 19, 2025, Trevon Cole, 20, of Salina,&nbsp; entered a guilty plea in Harvey County District Court to one count of Rape, according to the Harvey County District Attorney's office.

At the time of the offense, Cole was a student at Bethel College and the crime occurred in the dorms located on the Bethel College campus.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place before Chief Judge Marilyn Wilder on December 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Cole remains out of custody on bond pending sentencing. 

He faces a potential prison sentence of 147 to 653 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime post-release supervision. He will also be subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender.

The successful prosecution of this case was made possible with the dedicated assistance of the North Newton Police Department. 

Prison for sex crime in Bethel college dorm

Quality acoustic guitars are set to get into the hands of US Military veterans, thanks to two people who care about our servicemen and women.

Kathy McCandless, Junior Vice President for the <a href="https://vfwauxks.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp?nid=1">VFW Auxiliary Department of Kansas</a>&nbsp;also apart of the VFW Post 1432 Auxiliary in Salina, and Black Blackim, drummer of<a href="https://sunsetsinners.com/"> Sunset Sinners</a>&nbsp;collaborated to help initiate a generous gift of guitars going to veterans in the <a href="https://vfwnationalhome.org/">VFW National Home</a>&nbsp;at Eaton Rapids, MI.

This was made possible through the <a href="https://vfwnationalhome.org/blog/offering-the-healing-power-of-music/">Guitars for Vets</a>&nbsp;program, which offers veterans, particularly those dealing with PTSD and service-related trauma, free, weekly one-on-one guitar lessons over a 10-week period, culminating in a graduation where they receive a new acoustic guitar and accessory kit.

McCandless reached out Blackim to see about donating several guitars to veterans at the National Home. Blackim did not hesitate to help, and so he contacted his guitar vendor and was able receive a large amount of guitars to be given to the veterans.

"Sunset Sinners is all about supporting veterans and active military," said Blackim.

The could not have been done without generous donations from the public as well. McCandless stated she wanted to let the public know that their donations are being well spent.

"People are enthused and give more when they see where their money goes," she said.

While the organization of Guitars for Vets started in 2007, it wasn't until 2023 that the program got into the VFW National Home. 

Just this year, the VFW chapter in Kansas was able to get into the mix and opened the doors for McCandless and Blackim to help donate the guitars.

The guitars are planned to arrive to the veterans at the VFW National Home in Spring 2026.

Sunset Sinners are scheduled to perform at the Stiefel Theatre on February 13, 2026. Click <a href="https://www.stiefeltheatre.org/shows/sunset-sinners">here</a> to purchase tickets.

For more information about Guitars for Vets, click <a href="https://guitars4vets.org/">here</a>.

More information about the VFW National Home, click <a href="https://vfwnationalhome.org/">here</a>.

Kansas VFW and Sunset Sinners collaborate to provide guitars to US Veterans

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO - A Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) student from Gypsum was named in the university's extended Fall 2025 Dean's List.

Caden Kickhaefer was named in the list, which are for students who&nbsp;earned at least a 3.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 hours of standard graded credit.

These students received no grade below a B and received no failing grades in enrolled, credit/no credit or pass/fail courses.

View the complete fall 2025&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://email.meritpages.com/ss/c/u001.3mwyRU0XBxezL593SP0TzsJrfHiQFwjw1i7s9wh_ksJ5_lZPp06hln7-ra_5OQ5z0IDU22Evxy27E1gFk06NkQ/4mo/GYmzBe9eQBScVro5f1ECZw/h0/h001.czYtWD_6jqmnPJ2iHYoVzFQl8oTTnLhyh5Gyy-jTRgY">Dean's List</a>.

SEMO State student from Gypsum named in university's extended Fall 2025 Dean's list

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 23

The demolition process of the former Ambassador Hotel on W. Crawford has been still been stalling since it began in 2024, and the City of Salina has denied the request from the property owner's legal counsel to lower the landfill disposal fee.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/33f1c24d-e281-4bda-a21b-b9f28534cd09">Former Ambassador Hotel debris removal taking some time, but moving forward to completion</a>

Andrea Investments LLC is the company responsible for the debris removal. Andrea Investments has stumbled across some issues during this process that includes equipment and availability of staff/contractors.

Due to the long process, legal counsel for Andrea Investments has requested the City to lower the landfill disposal fee on the remaining demolition debris from the special rate for heavy demolition materials ($96/ton) to the standard secured waste rate ($48/ton).

During Monday's City Commission meeting, legal counsel for Andrea Investments and City of Salina staff conversed about the request in executive session.

After session was over, Commissioners voted to deny the request.

Andrea Investments is still obligated to fully remove the debris since they are the property owners, however the City also has the ability to stop the removal process and take full control of the process if they wish to.

City of Salina denies request from property owner of former Ambassador Hotel to lower landfill disposal fees

The City of Salina has approved a "Strategic Plan for Homeless Solutions" from an out of state consulting firm that helps with addressing the issues of homelessness.

In the past, the City has had interest in working with local agencies to address homelessness. Moreover, the City has applied for the Federal&nbsp;Emergency Solutions Grant, which is a federal grant provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support street outreach, emergency shelter operations, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

From there, the City&nbsp;have managed that grant to distribute funds to local agencies who work directly with this issue in the community. Also, the City has provided general funding dollars to local agencies who serve the homeless in various capacities.

Currently, homelessness has increased specifically in the downtown area.&nbsp;

On September, Salina released&nbsp;a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking consultants interested in providing a “Strategic Plan for Homeless Solutions."

There were a total of 12 proposals, as costs ranged from $53,332 to $1,170,000.&nbsp;

The City approved the proposal from SHG Advisors (out of Colorado) with a total of $71,899.

The fee of $71,889 will only be based on planning processes and travel expenses. Funding for the proposed consulting services is available from&nbsp;Sales Tax Capital Fund.

"All of the members of the SHG team seemed to have the best understanding of what was requested in the RFP," as stated from Monday's city commission packet. "They demonstrated experience with working in rural communities, and the designated leader for this proposal seemed adept at working with communities like Salina."

Due to the fact that there are several agencies in Salina that address with the problem with homelessness, the City of Salina still works closely with those agencies.

City Manager Jacob Wood stated he wants all agencies to unite that help address homelessness, which he commented they seem to work "individually."&nbsp;

He also added the local agencies will be part of the discussions with SHG Advisors to combat the issues of homelessness.

Out of state consulting firm addressing problems of homelessness to assist Salina 

Salina Commissioners have approved an application from a local nonprofit be to under property tax exemption status.

<a href="https://www.breakthroughwichita.org/resilience-clubhouse/">Resilience Clubhouse</a>&nbsp;in Salina on 1111 W. South Street, was formed in 2024 and is a membership organization that provides essential services to individuals impacted by serious mental illness, housing instability, unemployment and social isolation.

The organization made an application to the Saline County Treasurer (to be forwarded to the state of Kansas) to consider a nonprofit property tax exemption.

Resilience&nbsp;Clubhouse has a proven track record of improving mental health outcomes, reducing hospitalization costs and increasing successful employment and housing stability. Members work alongside each other with staff to rebuild confidence, develop job skills, secure employment and restore connections to community life.

Historically, the City of Salina has provided similar letters for other local nonprofit organizations.

For example, the City adopted a resolution in 2023 in support of Salina Grace Foundation’s application for tax credits with the state.

For more information about Resilience Clubhouse, click <a href="https://www.breakthroughwichita.org/resilience-clubhouse/">here</a>.

Local nonprofit providing services for individuals in need now under property tax exemption status

Saline County along with 11 other Kansas counties, will receive federal assistance after suffering from July's significant weather events.

President Trump&nbsp;has granted&nbsp;Governor Kelly’s&nbsp;request for a major presidential disaster declaration for public assistance regarding damage to public infrastructure caused by severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred during the period of July 17-22, 2025.

“I am grateful that this request for federal assistance has been approved,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly&nbsp;said. “These federal funds will go a long way in supporting these counties as they rebuild their infrastructure.”

The declaration allows state and local levels of government, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations that provide vital and essential services, such as rural electric cooperatives, to apply for Public Assistance funds for emergency and permanent work for the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

Twelve counties are included in the disaster declaration: 

Barton, Comanche, Edwards, Hodgeman, Logan, Morris, Ottawa, Rawlins, Saline, Stevens, Sumner, and Wyandotte.

It has not yet been classified as to how much funding each county will receive, because no projects have been developed, only preliminary damage assessments. 

Project development will take several months to complete.

Saline County and 11 other Kansas counties to receive federal assistance after July's significant weather events

KSU College&nbsp;of Veterinary Medicine

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html">Respiratory syncytial virus</a>, more commonly known as RSV, sends thousands of young children to the hospital each year, and treatment options remain limited.

New research from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/">Kansas State University</a>&nbsp;is helping address and mitigate the effects of the troublesome virus.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/academics/dmp/faculty-staff/faculty/baral/">Pankaj Baral</a>, associate professor of immunology in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/academics/dmp/">Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology</a>, and doctoral student Sandeep Adhikari recently published a paper in the journal&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>&nbsp;detailing the role of the beta-adrenergic signaling pathway in RSV infections.

Using an animal model of RSV infection, the researchers tested how a drug that targets a common airway adrenergic&nbsp;receptor affects infection and inflammation.

How the nervous system helps young lungs fight RSV

The sympathetic nervous system is a critical aspect of the body-brain connection and organismic defense. These neurons are involved in the "fight-or-flight" response and secrete neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which binds to beta-adrenergic receptors in smooth muscle and immune cells.

“The role of the nervous system in antiviral immunity during early-life infections is not well understood,” Baral said. “Our study produces insight into the role of sympathetic neurons and beta-2 adrenergic receptor&nbsp;signaling in promoting antiviral defense mechanisms during neonatal infection with RSV, a respiratory virus that causes mild to severe infections in young children and animals.”

The virus is the most common cause of infection and other acute respiratory disorders in children under 5 years of age, Baral said, although RSV can occasionally be problematic for older people and animals.

RSV infections are characterized by lung inflammation, viral expansion and destruction of airway barriers, so it’s critically important to find ways to inhibit infections from occurring.

“It is unknown whether beta-adrenergic signaling can regulate antiviral immunity during early-life infections,” Baral said. “In our research, we find that stimulation of adrenergic signaling via Beta-2-adrenergic agonist increases viral clearance and anti-inflammatory responses, two major aspects of antiviral immunity.”

Beta-2-adrenergic agonists, also known as beta agonists, are widely used Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for bronchodilation in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Despite being a commonly used drug, its immune regulatory and antiviral potential in viral infection is less understood. While more research is needed before the findings can influence patient care, Baral's work opens the door to new ways of protecting infants during their most vulnerable months.

“Our study generates a proof-of-concept regarding the potential therapeutic role of beta-2 agonist for improving disease morbidity and viral clearance during RSV infections,” Adhikari said. “Our findings are significant as current monoclonal antibody therapies and maternal vaccines do not provide long-term protection against RSV.”

“It’s a significant recognition of our graduate program that a graduate student-led study got published in one of the most prestigious and high-impact journals,” said T.G. Nagaraja, program director of the doctoral pathobiology program in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

This newly published work was supported by funding from the American Lung Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Heart Association to the Baral Laboratory. 

The research article is titled, “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-66401-8">β2-adrenergic signaling controls neonatal respiratory syncytial virus infection by promoting viral clearance and airway protection</a>,” in the Dec. 18. issue of Nature Communications.&nbsp;

New K-State research seeks to help children breathe easier and avoid respiratory infection

<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, December 22 - December 24

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 19 - December 21

With the current strong windy weather across central Kansas, Saline County Emergency Management issues warnings and I-70 between Colby and Goodland are reportedly closed.&nbsp;

Saline County Emergency Management statement:

Northwest winds will increase and persist through the afternoon, with sustained speeds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts approaching 60 mph. These conditions will create widespread hazards throughout Saline County.

The combination of strong winds and very dry conditions will result in extreme fire danger. Any grass fire that starts could spread rapidly and be difficult to control. Blowing dust may also reduce visibility, particularly along and west of Salina near I-70.

Kansas Department of Transportation statement:

KDOT has closed both directions of I-70 between Goodland and Colby due to reduced visibility from blowing dust as of 10:22 am on Thursday.

This statement comes after the freeway reopened at around 5:00 am, when it was closed late Wednesday evening.

Motorists are advised to delay non-essential travel until conditions improve.

For the latest updates on road closures and conditions, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.kandrive.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019b32451255-66bf87ed-2388-4d16-a916-7ad1cd6cb05e-000000/-WTaKRS3IZhaitvuvGXNomZD2QUr6_IU549OuSP-qyY=436">kandrive.gov</a>, or call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas.

Salina Post will provide updates on the reopening of the freeway.

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.

Windy weather and road closures: Saline Co. Emergency Management issues warning, I-70 between Colby & Goodland closed

Very strong northwest winds and a grassland fire danger are expected to occur Thursday morning most of western and central Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service, wind gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range will commonly occur throughout the central Kansas region.

Strong winds will combine with dry conditions to elevate the grassland fire danger into the extreme category on Thursday with peak timing from around 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Any fires that start will be difficult to control.

Moreover, some locations may see visibility reduced which may result in dangerous driving conditions, especially along Interstate 70 west of Salina.

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and grassland fire danger expected Thursday 

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 17 - December 19

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 15 - December 17

Four day weather forecast Salina, December 12 - December 15

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 10 - December 12

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 8 - December 10

Four day weather forecast Salina, December 5 - December 8

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 10 p.m. Dec. 21, an police conducted a traffic stop in the 3600 block of 10th&nbsp;Street in Great Bend for an equipment violation, according to a media release.

During this traffic stop, Great Bend K9 Neo was utilized for a free-air sniff of the vehicle. With the assistance of a Barton County Sheriff's deputy, the officer began to conduct a search of the vehicle after a positive alert from K9 Neo.

While removing the two occupants from the vehicle, the male passenger, Jason Sohm, 46, became confrontational and attempted to run.&nbsp; Sohm was unsuccessful and was detained by the two officers. During his attempted flight on foot, Sohm received minor injuries and was treated on scene by Great Bend Fire and EMS.

During the search of the vehicle, a large quantity of a crystal-like substance belonging to Sohm was located. Officers conducted a field test of the substance, which tested positive for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. 

Sohm was placed under arrest and transported to the Barton County Jail, where he was booked on requested charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl/Methamphetamine, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Drug Tax Stamp. Following the initial investigation, the driver of the vehicle was released at the scene.

Kan. man transporting fentanyl ran from traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has released tens of thousands more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a tranche that included multiple mentions of President Donald Trump but added little new revelatory information to the long-anticipated public file on the late financier and convicted sex offender.

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

The release is the most voluminous so far and comes after a massive public campaign for transparency into the U.S. government’s Epstein investigations.

Many of the mentions of Trump in the file came from news clippings, though it includes an email from a prosecutor pointing out the flights that Trump took on Epstein’s private jet during the 1990s.

The two men were friends for years before a falling out. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The Justice Department issued a statement that some documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump made shortly before the 2020 election.

Prosecutor flagged Trump’s travel on Epstein's jet

Among the mentions of Trump in the latest batch of the Epstein files is a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known.

An assistant U.S. attorney from the Southern District of New York said in an email that flight records the office received on Jan. 6, 2020, showed that Trump was on Epstein’s jet “many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware).”

The prosecutor who flagged the Trump mentions in the flight logs said they did so because lawyers “didn’t want any of this to be a surprise down the road.”

His travels on Epstein’s plane spanned the time that would likely be covered in any criminal charges against Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, and on at least four of those flights, Maxwell was also there, according to the email.

On one of those eight flights, in 1993, Trump and Epstein were the only two passengers listed in the flight logs. On another flight, the three passengers listed in records are Epstein, Trump, and a redacted individual, who was 20 years old at the time. Two other flights included two women -- whose names were redacted in follow-up emails — identified as potential witnesses in a Maxwell case.

Several additional Trump trips on Epstein’s plane&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article256740662.html.">had been previously disclosed</a>&nbsp;during Maxwell’s criminal proceedings.

Asked for comment about the email, the White House pointed to a Justice Department statement saying Monday’s release contained “unfounded and false” claims against the president submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election, but they were nevertheless being released for full transparency.

The Justice Department specifically raised questions about the validity of a document mentioning Trump that was styled as a letter from Epstein to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/larry-nassar">Larry Nassar</a>, the sports doctor convicted of sexually abusing Olympic athletes. The department pointed out that it was processed three days after Epstein's death.

Meanwhile, the latest release also shows that Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s southern Florida club, was served with a subpoena in 2021 for its employment records. The disclosure came as part of an email chain in which lawyers for the Southern District of New York and an attorney in touch with representatives for the Trump Organization discussed the employment status of someone whose name was redacted.

Trump complained that the files were a distraction from the work he and other Republicans are doing for the country.

Speaking during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-navy-golden-fleet-battleship-0940368b39b19f03abe8689ebad08380">an unrelated event</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, the president blamed Democrats and some Republicans for the controversy.

“What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has,” Trump said.

He also expressed frustration about the famous people shown with Epstein in photos released by the Justice Department — people who he said may not have known him but ended up in the shot anyway.

“You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago. And they’re, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others,” Trump said.

Other high-profile people are showing up in the files

Well-known people shown in the files include former President Bill Clinton, the late pop star Michael Jackson and singer Diana Ross. The mere inclusion of someone’s name or images in files from the investigation does not imply wrongdoing.

The latest release also includes files that put the U.K.'s former Prince Andrew back in the headlines.

Among those documents is correspondence between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.”

The email exchange includes other references that suggest Maxwell’s correspondent may be Andrew. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The August 2001 email from someone identified only as “The Invisible Man,” said he is “up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family,” an apparent reference to the Scottish estate where the royal family have traditionally taken their late summer holidays.

“A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

The writer says he has left “the RN” and refers to the challenges of looking after “the Girls.” Andrew retired from the Royal Navy in 2001 and has two daughters.

Andrew, one of King Charles III’s younger brothers, was stripped of the right to be called a prince and his other royal titles and honors in October, amid continued publicity about his links to Epstein and concerns about the potential damage to the rest of the royal family. He is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-settlement-8b04c775aa46f761d81c05ef12e3a94f">Andrew has repeatedly denied</a>&nbsp;committing any crimes, including having sex with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-book-memoir-c05a382e3505f23eef5288bcdcba328a">Virginia Giuffre</a>, who alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with Andrew when she was 17.

Trump tried for months to keep the records sealed before relenting to political pressure, including from some fellow Republicans, though he eventually signed a bill mandating the release of most of the Justice Department’s files on Epstein.

Monday's release was the biggest dump yet, including nearly 30,000 more pages. The data released by the law's Friday deadline contained a fraction of that amount, mostly photographs taken during FBI searches of Epstein’s homes.

The new cache includes news clippings, emails and surveillance videos from the New York jail where Epstein was held before taking his own life in 2019, much of which was already in the public domain.

The law called for the files to be released within 30 days, but the Justice Department has instead released them in stages starting Friday. Officials have said they’re going slowly to protect victims, though some women assaulted by Epstein have spoken out publicly to call for greater transparency.

And the administration is facing fierce accusations that it is withholding too much information. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the tens of thousands of files released still left “more questions than answers.” He pointed to a 2019 FBI email that mentions 10 people under investigation as possible co-conspirators but contains few additional details.

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.

New batch of Epstein files include many references to Trump

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security is continuing to deliver this holiday season on its promise to help illegal aliens in the United States return home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Illegal aliens who sign up to self-deport through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/cbphome" target="_blank">CBP Home app</a>&nbsp;by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend in addition to a free flight home. Using the CBP Home app also qualifies recipients for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Since January 2025, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program. During the Christmas Season, the U.S. taxpayer is so generously TRIPLING the incentive to leave voluntarily for those in this country illegally- offering a $3,000 exit bonus, but just until the end of the year,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.&nbsp;“Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.”&nbsp; &nbsp;

Self-deportation through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/cbphome" target="_blank">CBP Home app</a>&nbsp;is the best gift that an illegal alien can give themselves and their families this holiday season. It’s a fast, free, and easy process: Just download the app, fill out your information, and DHS will take care of the rest – including arranging and paying for your travel back home.&nbsp;

Those illegal aliens who don’t take advantage of this special offer today have only one alternative: They will be arrested, deported, and they will never be able to return to the United States.&nbsp;

DHS offers cash stipend for illegal aliens to go ‘Home for the Holidays’

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Wichita police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with a fatal shooting Monday afternoon in north Wichita.

Officers were dispatched at 3:16 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, to a reported shooting in the 2600 block of N. Fairview. A RAVEN gunshot-detection alert was recorded at about 3:15 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a 14-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. Officers and EMS immediately began life-saving measures.&nbsp;

The teen was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and later died.

Preliminary information indicates four boy, ages 14 to 18, were in a backyard when the shooting occurred.

A 15-year-old was taken to be interviewed and later booked into the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center (JIAC) on a charge of second-degree murder. A firearm was located at the scene, and further testing will be completed to determine if it was the firearm used in the homicide.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.

15-year-old Kansas boy accused in deadly shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed at another record on Wall Street Tuesday following a surprisingly strong report on economic growth over the summer.

The U.S. government's first assessment of economic growth during the third quarter also showed that inflation remains high. A separate report showed that consumer confidence continued fading in December. All of it added to a complicated picture of the economy.

The latest record for the S&amp;P 500 came even as most stocks within the benchmark index lost ground. Technology stocks, which have been the main force pushing major indexes to records all year, once again were able to counter weakness elsewhere in the market.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 31.30 points, or 0.5%, to 6,909.79, surpassing the record set earlier in December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 79.73 points, or 0.2%, to 48,442.41. The Nasdaq composite rose 133.02 points, or 0.6%, to 23,561.84.

Nvidia jumped 3% and was the biggest force helping to push the market higher. It is among several big tech companies with outsized valuations that tend to have more impact on the broader market’s direction. Google's parent company, Alphabet, rose 1.5%.

Novo Nordisk jumped 7.3% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wegovy-pill-fda-approval-dd32754cc0c388822378e4a9411843e9">U.S. regulators approved a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy</a>, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity.

Wall Street received the latest economic updates during an otherwise quiet holiday-shortened week. Markets in the U.S. will close early Wednesday for Christmas Eve and remain closed for Christmas on Thursday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-gdp-growth-spending-inflation-c660fb571421c48d2e91fa18bf4633d7">The U.S. economy grew at a 4.3% annual rate during the third quarter</a>. That builds on 3.8% growth during the second quarter and marks a sharp turnaround from the first quarter, when the U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years.

The latest report also showed that stubborn inflation continues to hover over the economy. The Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge — called the personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE — climbed to a 2.8% annual pace last quarter, up from 2.1% in the second quarter.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.16% from 4.15% just before the report on gross domestic product for the third quarter was released. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely tracks expectations for Fed actions, rose to 3.53% from 3.49% just prior to the report’s release.

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