After the Salina Family YMCA was awarded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.praesidiumaccreditation.com/">Praesidium Accreditation</a>®,&nbsp;a prestigious honor that publicly demonstrates the organization has worked to achieve the highest industry standards in abuse prevention, staff of the Y gave their comments on the accreditation.

Read more: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/028d2e75-228f-4e26-8f7c-e5f35497e419">Salina YMCA accredited highest honor for abuse prevention practices</a>

Senior Director of Youth Development, Marti Higdon said the accreditation gives those come to the Y "extra reassurance" the facility is a safe place to be.

Higdon works with the youth on a daily basis and she stated she is the "Praesidium Guardian," meaning she earned her own personal accreditation in the past. Her key takeaways were that it is highly important to be observant and connected.

Marketing Director, Zach Gilig commented he hopes this accreditation will reach out to other families and people of the surrounding area to join in on the safe, fun and welcoming environment the Salina YMCA provides.&nbsp;

🎥 Salina YMCA staff share comments after earning highest honor for abuse prevention practices

From a video courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deercreekdronesLLC/">Deer Creek Drones LLC</a>, the log jam near Bill Burke and Indian Rock Parks is officially cleared.

The log jam started its pileup on <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5d56e5f3-429d-4518-891d-2809c660271d">July 19</a> and after significant rain events, eventually accumulated stacks of logs clogging the Smoky Hill River.

On <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/483d033a-a3aa-4b22-8041-02404862faa1">July 28</a>, the City of Salina&nbsp;approved a quote of&nbsp;$411,231 with a (10%) construction contingency from&nbsp;DIEHL Enterprises Inc. (Salina based) to remove the log jam. However, heavy rainfall continued to occur and worsen the pileup causing the City to put in&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a7c9bfa0-1573-46f0-80b5-236552b0ada9">additional costs to the project</a>,&nbsp;resulting in&nbsp;upwards of $1 million.

The City <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/dc461e5b-c714-4956-be7b-7ea7fa8515a1">will receive federal assistance</a> after suffering from July's significant weather events.

Watch the video courtesy of Deer Creek Drones LLC below:

🎥 Log jam near Bill Burke & Indian Rock Parks officially cleared 

With Salina under a Dense Fog Advisory until noon on Christmas Eve, the US National Weather Service is advising the public to be cautious on the roads.

Visibility on Wednesday morning has dropped rapidly in many locations across central Kansas, with less than 1/4 of a mile of visibility range.

Dense fog will gradually dissipate from south to north by around midday on Wednesday, with more dense fog developing again this evening and tonight.

The&nbsp;US National Weather Service advises the public to slow down when traveling, and use low beam headlights.

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

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

&nbsp;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>.

Dense fog advisory for Christmas Eve in central Kansas, US National Weather Service cautions public

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 24

<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>

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>.

Christmas Eve & Day, Dec. 26 Salina weather forecast

DICKINSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Tuesday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Equinox driven by Benjamin John&nbsp;Shafer, 26, Abilene, was&nbsp;&nbsp;westbound on Kansas 18 one half mile east of Mink Road.

The SUV rear-ended a 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp;Hock, Matthew Warren Hock, 43, Abilene, who was&nbsp;slowing to turn north into a driveway.

EMS transported Shafer to Memorial Health System. Hock was not injured. Shafer was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after rear-end crash

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

Salina Post obituary policy (subject to change)

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

Salina Post accepts all obituaries&nbsp;free of charge (subject to change)&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.

Recent obituaries and service times, how to submit an obituary

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

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.

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

A Christmas Eve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/powerball-lottery-players-dream-big-as-jackpot-reaches-1-6-billion-6ff5647e15794b4c890f1fd5d3e111a5">Powerball drawing</a>&nbsp;could add new meaning to holiday cheer as millions of players hope to cash in on the $1.7 billion prize, which comes after months without a jackpot winner.

The United States'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ec46e188305c9425cb555eef00a89d37">4th-largest jackpot</a>&nbsp;on record comes after 46 consecutive draws without someone claiming to have all six numbers. The last contest with a jackpot winner was on Sept. 6. The game’s long odds have people decking the halls and doling out $2 — and sometimes more — for tickets ahead of Wednesday night's live drawing at 10:59 p.m. EST.

It's a sign the game is operating as intended. Lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-f3d841745b774492a03983e8f4bdc719">made the odds tougher</a>&nbsp;in 2015 as a mechanism for snowballing jackpots, all the while making it easier to win smaller prizes.

The Christmas holiday is not expected to impact the drawing process should there be a winning ticket, a Powerball spokesperson said.

Here is what to know about Wednesday’s drawing:

That ticket placed in a stocking or under the tree could be worth a billion bucks — but with some caveats.

Powerball is played in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of those areas require players to be 18 or older, though some states have steeper requirements. In Nebraska, players have to be at least 19 years old, and in Louisiana and Arizona, people can't buy tickets until they are 21.

Winning tickets also must be cashed in the states where they were bought. And players can't buy tickets in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada or Utah.

Other than that, lottery officials argue there is a chance a lucky Powerball ticket could be a gift that keeps on giving.

Charlie McIntyre, the New Hampshire Lottery's executive director, said Tuesday: “Just think of the stories you can tell for generations to come about the year you woke up a billionaire on Christmas.”

Wednesday's $1.7 billion jackpot has a cash value of $781.3 million.

A winner can choose to be paid the whole amount&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, with an immediate payment and then annual payments over 29 years that increase by 5% each time. Most winners, however, usually choose the cash value for a lump sum.

The odds are high for the top prize, but there are smaller prizes players can reap.

At the last drawing, players in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin each won $1 million. There are also prizes outside the jackpot, ranging from a few dollars to $2 million.

One woman told Powerball officials that she already made plans for her $1 million win: “We’re going to pay off our cars and credit cards and get a bigger house!”

And Thomas Anderson of Burlington, North Carolina, said he intended to use his $100,000 Powerball win from earlier this month to go back to school, according to Powerball.

Long odds for the billion-dollar jackpots

Lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">set the odds</a>&nbsp;at 1 in 292.2 million in hopes that jackpots will roll over with each of the three weekly drawings until the pool balloons so much that more people take notice and play.

The odds used to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-f3d841745b774492a03983e8f4bdc719">notably better</a>, at 1 in 175 million. But the game was made tougher in 2015 to create the out-of-this-world bounties. The tougher odds partly helped set the stage for back-to-back record-breaking sweepstakes this year.

The last time someone won the Powerball pot was on Sept. 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198">$1.787 billion</a>, which was the second-highest top prize in U.S. history.

The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. The biggest U.S. jackpot ever was $2.04 billion back in 2022.

It’s hard to explain what odds of 1 in 292.2 million mean. Even if halved, they remain difficult to digest.

In the past, one&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-lottery-jackpot-b2471a4d796af84fc8628b2c3fa4f4e2">math professor</a>&nbsp;described the odds of flipping a coin and getting heads 28 straight times.

Tim Chartier, a Davidson College math professor in North Carolina, on Monday compared the odds of a winning lottery ticket to selecting one marked dollar bill from a stack 19 miles (31 kilometers) high.

“It’s true that if you buy 100 tickets, you are 100 times more likely to win. But in this case, ‘100 times more likely’ barely moves the probability needle,” Chartier said. “Using the time analogy, buying 100 tickets is like getting 100 guesses to name that one chosen second over nine years. Possible — but wildly improbable.”

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a>&nbsp;is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Powerball’s jackpot could make Christmas Eve unforgettable for a winner

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage driven by John Franklin&nbsp;Harris, 68, St. George, was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The car struck a pedestrian identified as Thalonda Marie&nbsp;Lashley, 45, Junction City,&nbsp;who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

Lashley was transported to&nbsp;Via Christi-Manhattan where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Harris was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.

RILEY COUNTY —The Kansas HIghway Patrol is investigating a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.

The Patrol reported a vehicle was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The vehicle struck a pedestrian who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

The Patrol released no additional details early Wednesday. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP: Kansas woman killed after struck by a car

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/wyatte-grantham-philips">WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS</a> Associated Press

This&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/holidays">holiday season</a>, many U.S. drivers are getting the gift of lower gas prices.

According to data from motor club AAA, December has been the cheapest month for prices at the pump this year. The national average for unleaded gasoline has stayed below the $3 mark since Dec. 2, falling to its lowest level of about $2.85 a gallon on Monday.

That figure has inched up slightly since, sitting at closer to $2.86 a gallon Tuesday — but overall, consumers hitting the road ahead of the Christmas holiday will likely continue to see mild prices.

As always, some states have cheaper averages than others, due to factors ranging from nearby refinery supply to local fuel requirements. Hawaii had the highest average of about $4.44 a gallon on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" target="_blank">per AAA</a>&nbsp;— followed by $4.30 in California and $3.92 in Washington. Meanwhile, Oklahoma had the lowest average at about $2.30 per gallon, followed by nearly $2.42 in both Arkansas and Iowa.

Still, nationwide, unleaded gasoline is down more than 18 cents than it was at this time last year, and 21 cents from a month ago. So far, AAA says that prices seen this month mark the cheapest December for gas prices since 2020, when the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/covid-19-pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;roiled the economy.

The travel organization notes that this month’s cheaper prices arrive as supply remains strong. Crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, has also been at a relatively mild level — with West Texas Intermediate remaining below the $60 per barrel mark for most of December.

Relief at the pump is welcome for consumers who have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-economy-inflation-groceries-costs-trump-affordability-d27635d279b27e5e2c19700c006ebb1d">feeling higher prices</a>&nbsp;in other parts of their budgets — as worries about the costs of goods ranging from groceries to holiday gifts rise amid ongoing inflation and U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tariffs">tariffs</a>&nbsp;on foreign imports.

Government data actually showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumer-prices-economy-trump-tariffs-e26c4b6ee05533fd6686555e125b2e53">consumer prices cooled</a>&nbsp;in November, rising at just 2.7% from a year earlier. But year-over-year inflation still remains well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target — and economists quickly warned that last month’s numbers were suspect because of delays and possible distortions from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">43-day federal shutdown</a>.

Most Americans have continued to express anger and frustration about the high cost of living — as well as an uncertain job market. On Tuesday, the Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">fell in December</a>&nbsp;to its lowest level since April.

US drivers getting gift of lower gas prices this holiday season

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating after two adults were found deceased inside a home in the 1600 block of North Glendale Monday morning.

Just before 9:30a.m. EMS responded to the residence for a medical call involving a 46-year-old man reporting chest pain. He was transported to Wesley Medical Center in stable condition, according to a media release.

A short time later, a neighbor became concerned after realizing the man taken to the hospital did not live at the residence. The neighbor entered the home and discovered an adult man and an adult woman unresponsive in the basement. The neighbor called 911 at 9:53 a.m.

Officers arrived and located the two individuals. EMS pronounced both deceased at 10:04 a.m. The deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Eric Taylor,&nbsp;who lived in the home, and 38-year-old Regina Reynolds.

The case is currently being treated as an overdose investigation. Detectives are continuing to gather information.

Police ID two found dead at Kansas home

FINNEY COUNTY—With just a day before Christmas, a crash involving an alleged DUI ensured one "driver’s spot on the naughty list," according to a social media report from Garden City Police.

Just before 11p.m. Dec. 18, Police, Fire, and EMS responded to an injury accident in the 1300 block of N. 13th Street in Garden City. First responders found that a garage and a parked pickup truck in the driveway had been struck. The suspected vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was located across the street with extensive front‑end damage.

The driver, identified as Nickolas Asebedo, 23, ran from the crash as Officers arrived, jumping several fences to escape the area. 

Officers located Asebedo at his home, and further investigation determined he was driving under the influence and registered a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit. 

Asebedo was arrested and booking into the Finney County Jail on requested charges of DUI, Interference LEO, Tampering with an Ignition Interlock Device, and Duty Upon Striking an Unattended Vehicle. There were no injuries reported from the incident.

"We’ve said it before, and we'll keep saying it - please do not drink and drive and risk lives unnecessarily, not just during the holidays, but at any time of the year.

Police: SW Kansas driver sure to make 'the naughty list'

LYON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire in Emporia.

Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, crews were dispatched to fire at 801 Clark Street Lot 5 in Emporia, according to Battalion Chief Ryan Conley.

Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the west side of the home. On entry into the structure, heavy fire was found throughout. A vehicle nearby was also involved. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by fire crews utilizing two hand lines. On the primary search of the structure, one fatality victim was found.

Heavy fire damage was found throughout the home. Officials did not release the name of the victim.

One dead in Kansas house fire

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela’s</a>&nbsp;parliament on Tuesday approved a measure that criminalizes a broad range of activities that can hinder navigation and commerce in the South American country, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noem-venezuela-tanker-drugs-33c28cded78df44207602668be768838">the seizure of oil tankers</a>.

The bill — introduced, debated and approved within two days in the National Assembly — follows this month’s seizures by U.S. forces of two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters. The seizures are the latest strategy in U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">four-month pressure campaign</a>&nbsp;on Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro.

The tankers are part of what the Trump administration has said is a fleet Venezuela uses to evade U.S. economic sanctions.

The unicameral assembly, which is controlled by Venezuela’s ruling party, did not publish drafts on Tuesday nor the final version of the measure. But as read on the floor, the bill calls for fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes, requests, supports, finances or participates in “acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts” against commercial entities operating with the South American country.

Venezuela’s political opposition, including Nobel Peace laureate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-peace-prize-machado-ceremony-oslo-a26f4170c905d8b7a78bccb95fda83b8">María Corina Machado</a>, has expressed support for Trump’s Venezuela policy, including the seizure of tankers.

The bill, which now awaits Maduro’s signature, also instructs the executive branch to come up with “incentives and mechanisms for economic, commercial and other protections” for national or foreign entities doing business with Venezuela in the event of piracy activities, a maritime blockade or other unlawful acts.

The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-vessel-merchant-international-waters-e87bf43475ae27e5ec22239dd8150e06">seized a Panama-flagged vessel</a>&nbsp;called Centuries that officials said was part of the fleet moving sanctioned cargo. With assistance from the U.S. Navy, it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized a rogue tanker called Skipper</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 10. That ship was registered in Panama.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump,</a>&nbsp;after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela. He has repeatedly said that Maduro’s days in power are numbered.

“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump said of Maduro Monday as he took a break from his Florida vacation to announce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-tankers-shipbuilding-3c711c500a627243329807df42fa6ef8">plans for the Navy to build a new, large warship</a>.

Venezuela takes steps to criminalize U.S. oil tanker seizures 

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.”

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