As the anticipation continues to boil for updates on the current lawsuit the <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/fc7ed532-a1ba-46b6-85c3-4ed867abb15a">Cozy Inn filed against the City of Salina</a>, the bench trial set for October 7 is reportedly canceled and an in-person status conference has been scheduled.

According to a docket entry from the United States District Court District of Kansas, on Thursday, August 21, both the Cozy Inn and the City of Salina participated in a telephone conference regarding the formerly scheduled bench trial for October 7.&nbsp;

The attorneys representing Cozy Inn during this conference was&nbsp;Samuel MacRoberts and Jeffrey Shaw. Attorneys representing the City of Salina was&nbsp;Todd Messenger, Amanda Jokerst and Aaron Martin.

As stated in the document, it was determined both parties agreed "that all the issues presented in the parties’ summary judgment papers are legal questions that can be resolved without a trial."

The statement continued stating "the parties’ remaining pretrial obligations are suspended and the current trial setting is cancelled."

Moreover, an&nbsp;in-person status conference is set to occur at 9:00 am on October 22, 2025 to address any remaining claims surviving the anticipated summary judgment ruling.

UPDATE: Bench trial canceled for Cozy Inn lawsuit, in-person status conference scheduled

The preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for the case of <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/3e716804-4732-43e4-a3cf-086e2bdc9859">Kayla Errebo</a> (32), who is currently being charged with 2nd-degree murder.&nbsp;

According to Noah Morgan from the Saline County Attorney's office, the preliminary hearing that was set to occur on Friday, August 22nd has been rescheduled.

Morgan said this decision was made due to Errebo's attorney, who stated they needed "more time for evidence."

The rescheduled preliminary hearing date is set for&nbsp;Tuesday, October 21st&nbsp;at&nbsp;9:00 am&nbsp;inside the&nbsp;City of Salina-Saline County building (300 W Ash St), Room 301.

Errebo was arrested back on Friday, August 8th for a <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/3e716804-4732-43e4-a3cf-086e2bdc9859">head-on collision</a> into Mark Sommerfeld (61) and Deanna Sommerfeld (55) on a rural Saline County road.&nbsp;Errebo was not at the scene of the crash, but deputies located her at an address in Ellsworth.&nbsp;

ORIGINAL: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/3e716804-4732-43e4-a3cf-086e2bdc9859">UPDATE: Woman accused of second degree murder after fatality crash in Saline County</a>

After the crash, Mark Sommerfeld was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center for injuries he sustained.

Deanna Sommerfeld was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/16cf6185-08c6-4d20-bb08-a68e920be200">GoFundMe</a> has been set up for the Sommerfeld family. Click <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-mark-and-sons-after-tragic-loss?attribution_id=sl:2fcd1cd9-fb62-4e9f-9f17-0891a643f033&amp;lang=en_US&amp;ts=1755028317&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_content=amp13_c&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=facebook">here</a> to donate to "Support Mark and Sons After Tragic Loss"

Errebo is booked into the Saline County Jail and is currently facing requested charges of: Murder in the second degree, Failure to report an injury accident, Circumvention of ignition interlock device and Probation violation.

She also plead guilty back on October 2024 for <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/fca0f97b-593e-429a-8d0d-ebba84210fe7">fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving under the influence (DUI) and leaving the scene of an accident.</a>

Errebo's bond is currently set at $1 million.

The preliminary hearing for October 21 is open to the public.

UPDATE: Fatal crash suspect's preliminary hearing date rescheduled for October

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced a new round of funding totaling $341,000 is available through the Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. Now entering its fourth round, the SEED initiative continues to support economic development and quality-of-life improvements in Kansas’ smallest communities.

“Having strong communities is what draws families, businesses and travelers to our state,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “SEED funding empowers local leaders to invest in amenities that make their towns stand out — creating communities where businesses grow, families settle down, and visitors seek out as their next destination.”

Administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, SEED grants are available to communities in 78 eligible counties, with populations of 5,000 or fewer. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded in the following categories:

Eligible applicants include local governments, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and other community-based organizations in towns that have not received a SEED grant in the past year.

A 10% local match is required, and all funded projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving grant funds. Grants will be distributed in two installments: half at the start of the grant cycle and the remainder upon project completion.

SEED grant applications will open Friday, August 29, and close at 11:59 pm Tuesday, October 28. Grant awardees will be announced in December.

A webinar to learn more about this opportunity will take place at 10 am Thursday, August 28. Those interested in participating can register&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2FWN_EJ0kPD6jS06JfOxtZq0SpA%23%2Fregistration/1/01010198d2f21bbd-4e823125-7e00-4d33-bab7-9e0889f6ae90-000000/5cAJUFVcU003lRrNPbATw1NmxCp9xKb735i_UpKwLU4=419">here</a>.

For information about program guidelines, the list of eligible counties or to view previous awardees, visit the SEED Grant webpage&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kansascommerce.gov%2Fseedgrants%2F/1/01010198d2f21bbd-4e823125-7e00-4d33-bab7-9e0889f6ae90-000000/ol7J8-RWH41sUPbcVENQc99A-SnQutrCHdSPSsviUiM=419">here</a>.

To further support applicants, there will be virtual office hours from 10 to 11 am September 4, September 18, October 2 and October 16.

To register, click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FcXXmjzU9Q8OjjEhaAWlYYw%23%2Fregistration/1/01010198d2f21bbd-4e823125-7e00-4d33-bab7-9e0889f6ae90-000000/EEbF3Hg5JIm9ZGQOiD0IWYXE-hRrV7K5TlIewpLmWwk=419">here</a>.

Commerce Secretary announces open applications for funding of over $300,000 to Kansas small communities 

On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly has directed for flags be lowered to half-staff at the State Capitol Complex and all court buildings and facilities to honor 18th&nbsp;Judicial District Division 10 Judge Bruce Brown.

“Judge Brown had a long career of service to his community and commitment throughout his tenure on the bench,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “On behalf of the State of Kansas, I thank him for his dedication to upholding the law. My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.”

Judge Brown passed away on Thursday, August 21 and flags will remain half-staff until he is interred.

According to a biography from the <a href="https://www.dc18.org/division-10">18th Judicial District Court</a>, Judge Brown started his career as an Assistant D.A. in Woodward, OK from 1986-1987. In 1987 he went to work as an Assistant D.A. in Tulsa, OK until 1988. He worked as an Attorney for Pray, Walker, Jackman, et, al., in Tulsa, OK in 1989.

In 1990 Judge Brown worked as an Attorney for the U.S. Army JAG Corps until he became a Prosecutor for the Salina Municipal Court in 1994. 1995 saw Judge Brown become a prosecutor for the Wichita Municipal Court until 1997, where he became a Judge of the Wichita Municipal Court serving until 2009.&nbsp; 

Judge Brown received his undergraduate degree from ORU receiving his B.A in 1983&nbsp;and his Juris Doctorate from the Pepperdine University School of Law in 1986.

This flag order will be updated when the date of interment is determined.&nbsp;

Governor directs flags lowered at half-staff in honor of Judge Bruce Brown, date TBA

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&nbsp;and you can email all obituaries:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@salinapost.com">admin@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>&nbsp;and will be posted on the website within 24 business hours.

If you have an issue outside of business hours, if your obituary has not been published within 24 business hours, or if have any questions, please email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@salinapost.com">admin@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>

You can also call:&nbsp;(785) 656-9856 during business hours.

Recent obituaries and service times

No suspects were arrested after two vehicles were reportedly burglarized in Salina.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Thursday, August 21, two vehicle burglaries were reported to occur between the evening hours of Wednesday, August 20 and into early morning on Thursday.

Reportedly, the first burglary happened in the 1100 block of Harbor. SPD stated an unlocked parked vehicle was burglarized in the driveway of residence in the area. Stolen was a wallet,&nbsp;backpack containing miscellaneous documents and an iPad. Total loss was valued to be over $600.

The second reported burglary occurred in the 1200 block of Nautical. This burglary was to another unlocked parked vehicle in the same area. Stolen was a&nbsp;Playstation 4 and several small hand tools. Total loss was valued at over $300.

SPD confirmed the stolen iPad from the first burglarized vehicle was tracked to be in Lindsborg. The Lindsborg Police Department assisted SPD and located the vehicle to be at an apartment complex in Lindsborg.

No further information was provided and SPD stated they are currently&nbsp; investigating burglaries.

The Salina Police Department reminds community members to lock their vehicles and remove all valuables, ensuring nothing of value is left in plain sight. Taking these simple precautions can help prevent theft and protect your property.

ONGOING INVESTIGATION: No suspects arrested after two vehicles were reportedly burglarized

Salina Police are informing the public and seeking tips about an <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9ccf5557-d44c-4c0d-8ae5-0496b27ccd65">armed suspect that robbed a Kwik Shop.</a>

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Friday, August 8 at around 10:30 pm, an armed robbery was reported at Kwik Shop (657 Fairdale). Reportedly, a store clerk was conducting job duties outside of the store, when an armed man demanded money.

The clerk was then forced back into the store, where the suspect stole an undisclosed amount of money before leaving Kwik Shop.

SPD are currently searching the suspect who is described to be about 5'7" and around 180 pounds. 

Surveillance video showed the suspect wearing an all black attire with gloves and a face mask.

ORIGINAL:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9ccf5557-d44c-4c0d-8ae5-0496b27ccd65">Salina PD currently searching for suspect who allegedly robbed a convenience store</a>

If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an online tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>.

You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. 

Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, case 2025-21250.

UPDATE: Salina PD still searching for armed robbery suspect 

<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, August 22 - August 24

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, 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 CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp;Clark, Jaran Langdon Rayne

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Criminal restraint; Domestic Battery: rude physical contact

Saline County Jail Bookings, August 22

Thousands of vehicles will travel the Kansas roadways during the Labor Day weekend. Many families will head out for the long weekend as summer ends and the school year begins. 

"Safe Kids Kansas," which is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), State Farm Insurance and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), want to encourage families to buckle up and drive safely to protect their most important cargo, their families.

This year, from Monday,&nbsp;August 25 through Sunday, September 7, a safety belt awareness campaign called “Bucks for Buckles” will be held in 41 cities across Kansas. Local volunteers will distribute dollar bills to drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicles.

Those riding unrestrained will receive educational materials about the effectiveness of seat belts and child safety seats in saving lives and reducing injuries.

“No one can predict when they will be involved in a motor vehicle crash, yet almost all of us will be involved in a crash in our lifetime. In 2024, 339 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways, and approximately 30 percent were unbuckled,”&nbsp;Cherie Sage, State Director for Safe Kids Kansas, said.&nbsp;“The single most effective means of protecting the lives of you and your passengers is wearing seat belts and using appropriate child safety seats every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”

According to the 2023 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Seat Belt Use Survey, 85 percent of Kansans surveyed were wearing their seat belts,, compared to the national average of 90 percent.&nbsp;Kansas saw a nearly 2 percent decline in seat belt usage from 2022 to 2023. Seat belts save more than 15,000 lives yearly and are the best defense against drunk, aggressive and distracted drivers.

“Seat belts reduce your chances of serious injury from a vehicle crash by as much as 50 percent,”&nbsp;Sage said. “It’s such a simple thing, so take your life into your own hands and buckle up.”

For more information about safety belts or child safety seat use, call (785) 296-1223 or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.safekidskansas.org%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce0218b8-a022dd25-0b42-4171-ac1d-87899b7f5283-000000/1pqJkZkDo3mhsZB7LYMn0Bwm5xFU0e37Mk8JD7fiYpk=419">SafeKidsKansas.org</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.safekids.org%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce0218b8-a022dd25-0b42-4171-ac1d-87899b7f5283-000000/Qbfl28mIw7qjhDDPiXZKXhM10q_aF9fS1_in7i6GQkk=419">SafeKids.org</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsafekidskansas%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce0218b8-a022dd25-0b42-4171-ac1d-87899b7f5283-000000/8N7j4cZ_8FsCLraOPzU5TgSWRM2JyYnYncQWZNmOHQY=419">Facebook.com/safekidskansas</a>.

"Safe Kids Kansas": Bucks rewarded to drivers who buckle up

Kansas Wesleyan’s endowment reached a historic financial milestone in recent weeks as it surpassed the $50 million mark for the first time in school history. The endowment, which provides a cornerstone of long-term stability for the institution, has more than doubled in the past decade and increased by more than $20 million since 2018.&nbsp;

“The KWU community continues to propel us to incredible heights,” said Dr. Matt Thompson, KWU president. “Ten years ago, this would have been difficult to fathom, but here we are! Reaching the $50 million level in our endowment provides us with a platform, a marker, that everyone can see — Kansas Wesleyan University is ready for the next chapter, the next steps and to lead this community into the future.”

Recent increases in the endowment are part of the Power of AND campaign, which is approaching $50 million, as well. The campaign has been crucial in sweeping improvements across campus, including new student housing (Coyote Village), new academic facilities (Bieber Hall, Nursing Education, Jack Wilson Criminal Justice labs) and the renovation of Sams Chapel, as well as the Bieber Dining Hall project.&nbsp;

“This is a tremendous moment for our institution,” said Ken Oliver, KWU executive vice president and foundation board administrator. “It is an indicator that, in a shifting landscape, our community, alumni and friends value what it means to be a Coyote. This figure is among the top private institutional endowments in the state. We are thankful for every individual, business and partner who has invested time, energy and financial support into helping provide this long-term stability to Kansas Wesleyan.

“KWU is fortunate to have both our Board of Trustees, the group that sets the overall direction of the institution, and our Foundation Board, which monitors and works to grow the endowment,” said Oliver. “This is a rarity among small colleges, but having different leaders — including Bob Meyer and Ken Ebert, past Foundation Board presidents — working toward these goals has proven to be a winning formula for Kansas Wesleyan. With the Scholarship Gala coming up in April, we know there’s more to come, but for now, we say thank you to everyone who got KWU to this point.”

Current KWU Foundation Board members are:&nbsp;

Steve Scofield ’65 (chair, finance committee)

For more information on Kansas Wesleyan, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kwu.edu/news">www.kwu.edu/news</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KWU endowment hits historic $50 million mark for first time

Cooler temperatures are looking to transpire with isolated storms for this upcoming weekend in Central Kansas.

According to the&nbsp;US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS) after Friday, August 22, temperatures are expected to drop, starting Saturday - Monday. Isolated storms are anticipated to occur in the event of the cooler weather this weekend.

Monday, August 25 is listed as the coolest day with highs only reaching to the mid 70's.

Cooler temps with isolated storms expected for the weekend in Central Kansas

Three day weather forecast Salina, August 20 - August 22

After the high temperatures and over 100 heat indices, a possibility of rain is expected to occur throughout Central Kansas this week.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), an anticipation of showers and thunderstorms are expected to happen throughout Central Kansas. Reportedly, there is a better chance on Tuesday, August 19 and into the following day on Wednesday.

Slightly cooler weather is expected for Wednesday and Thursday with highs being in the range of 89-93.

Chances of showers and t-storms expected for Tuesday & Wednesday

Three day weather forecast Salina, August 18 - August 20

High temperatures and breezy winds are expected to occur throughout Central Kansas this weekend and into Monday, August 18.&nbsp;

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), heat indices are expected to reach as high as 105 in Central Kansas this weekend. Breezy conditions are anticipated to occur as well.

Hot and dry weather will remain through the weekend before chances rain return moving into next week on Monday.

High temps returning this weekend with breezy conditions, rain expected on Monday  

Three day weather forecast Salina, August 15 - August 17

Three day weather forecast Salina, August 13 - August 15

After isolated scattered storms until Wednesday, heat indices are expected to reach back up to the 100's from Thursday and into the weekend in Central Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service, isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms will remain possible areawide on Tuesday and over southeast Kansas till Wednesday. 

A return to triple digit heat indices is expected by Thursday and persisting through at least the weekend.

Central Kansas Weather Forecast: August 12 - August 16

Three day weather forecast Salina, August 11 - August 13

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-053ad2ae16f31b9d7300340d5f9349c5">Jeffrey Epstein's imprisoned former girlfriend</a>&nbsp;repeatedly denied to the Justice Department witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions with Donald Trump, according to records released Friday meant to distance the Republican president from the disgraced financer.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/maxwell-interview">Click here</a> to listen to and or read the transcripts

The Trump administration issued hundreds of pages of transcripts from interviews that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted with Ghislaine Maxwell last month as the administration was scrambling to present itself as transparent amid a fierce backlash&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">over an earlier refusal to disclose a trove of records from the sex-trafficking case.</a>

The records show Maxwell repeatedly showering Trump with praise and denying under questioning from Blanche that she had observed Trump engaged in any form of sexual behavior. The administration was presumably eager to make such denials public at a time when the president has faced questions about a long-ago friendship with Epstein and as his administration has endured continued scrutiny over its handling of evidence from the case.

The transcript disclosure represents the latest Trump administration effort to repair self-inflicted political wounds after failing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracy-theories-bondi-bongino-fbi-a143076353acbc1193cb9697e7fc4a90">deliver on expectations that its own officials had created</a>&nbsp;through conspiracy theories and bold pronouncements that never came to pass. By making public two days worth of interviews, officials appear to be hoping to at least temporarily keep at bay sustained anger from Trump’s base even as they send Congress evidence that they had previously kept from view.

“I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting,” Maxwell said, according to the transcript. “I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.”

Maxwell recalled knowing about Trump and possibly meeting him for the first time in 1990, when her newspaper magnate father, Robert Maxwell, was the owner of the New York Daily News.

She estimated that she hadn’t seen Trump since the mid-2000s, again in a social setting. Asked if she ever heard Epstein or anyone else say Trump “had done anything inappropriate with masseuses” or anyone else in their orbit, Maxwell replied, “Absolutely never, in any context.”

Maxwell, a onetime socialite who was convicted in 2021 of helping lure teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, was interviewed over the course of two days last month by Blanche at a Florida courthouse.

Blanche prefaced the interview by saying Maxwell had been given limited immunity, allowing her to speak freely without fear of prosecution for anything she said. The only exceptions, he said, were if she lied or gave statements inconsistent with what she’d previously said.

After her interview,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">Maxwell was moved from the low-security federal prison in Florida</a>&nbsp;where she had been serving a 20-year sentence to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. Neither her lawyer nor the federal Bureau of Prisons have explained the reason for the move.

The Epstein case had long captured public attention in part because of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-documents-prince-andrew-harvey-weinstein-1e20f426af0c610db7963cdaf85c209f">wealthy financer’s social connections over the years to prominent figures</a>, including Prince Andrew, former President Bill Clinton and Trump, who has said his relationship with Epstein ended years before. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges, accused of sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls, and was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">found dead a month later in a New York jail cell in what investigators described as a suicide.</a>

The saga has consumed the Trump administration over the last month following an abrupt two-page announcement from the FBI and Justice Department that Epstein had killed himself despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, that a “client list” that Attorney General Pam Bondi had intimated was on her desk did not actually exist and that no additional documents from the high-profile investigation were suitable to be released.

The announcement produced outrage from conspiracy theorists, online sleuths and Trump supporters who had been hoping to see proof of a government coverup. That expectation was driven in part by comments from officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, who on podcasts before taking their current positions had repeatedly promoted the idea that damaging details about prominent people were being withheld.

Patel, for instance, said in at least one podcast interview before becoming director that Epstein’s “black book” was under the “direct control of the director of the FBI.”

The administration had an early stumble in February when far-right influencers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-pam-bondi-trump-1a6af3e9fa1cfb6d267985a971a4929a">invited to the White House in February</a>&nbsp;and provided by Bondi with binders marked “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified” that contained documents that had largely already been in the public domain.

After the first release fell flat, Bondi said officials were poring over a “truckload” of previously withheld evidence she said had been handed over by the FBI and raised expectations of forthcoming releases.

But after a weekslong review of evidence in the government’s possession, the Justice Department said last month that no “further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.” The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and “only a fraction” of it “would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.”

Faced with fury from his base, Trump sought to quickly turn the page, shutting down questioning of Bondi about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting and deriding as “weaklings” supporters who he said were falling for the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.”

The kerfuffle also created bitter divisions within the administration, as Bondi and Bongino angrily clashed at a White House meeting last month. Bongino was uncharacteristically silent on social media for several days after that.

🎙Read, listen to the DOJ interview with Epstein's girlfriend

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-release-deportation-tennessee-maryland-9789a9ff1e8bd2dcf1e7a22d8ce2a7ff">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;was released from jail in Tennessee on Friday so he can rejoin his family in Maryland while awaiting trial on human smuggling charges.

The Salvadoran national’s case became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deportation-mistake-salvadoran-prison-40ce4ab7e93517e018715943afa0464e">a flashpoint</a>&nbsp;in President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda after he was mistakenly deported in March. Facing a court order, the Trump administration brought him back to the U.S. in June, only to detain him on criminal charges.

Although Abrego Garcia was deemed eligible for pretrial release, he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-release-jail-deportation-trial-c17d7ba538530a668e4f55358e83c0fe">remained in jail</a>&nbsp;at the request of his attorneys, who feared the Republican administration could try to immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deportation-trump-ms13-maryland-5e68f22f5526d748322fe287d87ee457">deport him again</a>&nbsp;if he were freed. Those fears were somewhat allayed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deportation-ice-27fa028f2bcc7ceb6667963f1fb04c74">a recent ruling</a>&nbsp;in a separate case, which requires immigration officials to allow Abrego Garcia time to mount a challenge to any deportation order.

On Friday, after two months, Abrego Garcia walked out of the Putnam County jail wearing a short-sleeved white button-down shirt and black pants and accompanied by defense attorney Rascoe Dean and two other men. They did not speak to reporters but got into a white SUV and sped off.

The release order from the court requires Abrego Garcia to travel directly to Maryland, where he will be in home detention with his brother designated as his third-party custodian. He is required to submit to electronic monitoring and can only leave the home for work, religious services and other approved activities.

An attorney for Abrego Garcia in his deportation case in Maryland, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said in a statement Friday his client had been “reunited with his loving family” for the first time since he was wrongfully deported to a notorious El Salvador prison in March.

“While his release brings some relief, we all know that he is far from safe,” Sandoval-Moshenberg said. “ICE detention or deportation to an unknown third country still threaten to tear his family apart. A measure of justice has been done, but the government must stop pursuing actions that would once again separate this family.”

Earlier this week, Abrego Garcia's criminal attorneys filed a motion asking the judge to dismiss the criminal case, claiming he is being prosecuted to punish him for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">challenging his removal to El Salvador</a>.

Abrego Garcia has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-deportation-error-2bf259d9de88334bbdfb6d565b36e633">pleaded not guilty</a>&nbsp;to the smuggling charges, which stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-traffic-stop-tennessee-91bc2890768163671c71eb55420b59ee">Body camera footage</a>&nbsp;from a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer shows a calm exchange with Abrego Garcia. There were nine passengers in the car, and the officers discussed among themselves their suspicions of smuggling. However, Abrego Garcia was allowed to continue driving with only a warning.

A Department of Homeland Security agent testified he did not begin investigating the traffic stop until this April, when the government was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-c21e54f77c1e6716e2998c2463f6650b">facing mounting pressure</a>&nbsp;to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

Abrego Garcia has an American wife and children and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-abrego-garcia-e1b2af6528f915a1f0ec60f9a1c73cdd">lived in Maryland</a>&nbsp;for years, but he immigrated to the U.S. illegally. In 2019, an immigration judge denied his application for asylum but granted him protection from being deported back to El Salvador, where he faces a “well-founded fear” of violence, according to court filings. He was required to check in yearly with Immigration and Customs Enforcement while Homeland Security issued him a work permit.

Although Abrego Garcia can’t be deported to El Salvador without violating the judge’s order, Homeland Security officials have said they plan to deport him to an unnamed third country.

Abrego Garcia freed from jail to await trial for human smuggling

The Kansas State Wildcats open the college football season Saturday against Iowa State at Aviva Stadium as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly challenged Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds&nbsp; on Farmageddon or more like "Farm O'Gedden in Dublin, Ireland.

Governor Laura Kelly wrote, "Hey Governor Reynolds, K-State is ready to take on the Cyclones&nbsp;in Ireland, and I’m confident that my 'Cats will emerge victorious. I’ll bet you Creekstone Premium Black Angus steaks that K-State comes out on top in Farmageddon. I don’t lose, so don’t get too excited. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/EMAW?src=hashtag_click">#EMAW</a>

Kansas and Iowa Governors make 'Farm O'Gedden' football wager

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rallied to its best day in months on Friday after the head of the Federal Reserve hinted that cuts to interest rates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powell-trump-interest-rates-jackson-hole-b4095cd609a747337a98cce885912609">may be on the way</a>, along with the kick they can give the economy and investment prices.

The S&amp;P 500 leaped 1.5% for its first gain in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-powell-tariffs-trump-30c411cd18bf6a43cb787ac838b897f6">six days</a>&nbsp;and finished just shy of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asia-shares-japan-bessent-wall-street-02e8aa1fa772ad3570249dc81f917325">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set last week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 846 points, or 1.9%, to its own record after topping its prior high from December. The Nasdaq composite jumped 1.9%.

“Ka-Powell” is how Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management, described the reaction to Jerome Powell’s highly anticipated speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. “The Fed isn’t going to be the party-pooper.”

The hope among investors had been that Powell would hint that the Fed’s first cut to interest rates of the year may be imminent. Wall Street loves lower rates because they can goose the economy, even if they risk worsening inflation at the same time.

Trump has angrily been calling for lower rates, often insulting Powell while doing so. And a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-trump-federal-reserve-68a15f89d68793a6cf88a522ff33246c">surprisingly weak report</a>&nbsp;on job growth this month pushed many on Wall Street to assume cuts may come as soon as the Fed’s next meeting in September.

Powell encouraged them on Friday after saying he’s seen risks rise for the job market. The Fed’s two jobs are to keep the job market healthy and to keep a lid on inflation, and it often has to prioritize one over the other because it has just one tool to fix either.

But Powell also would not commit to any kind of timing. He said the job market looks OK at the moment, even if “it is a curious kind of balance” where fewer new workers are chasing after fewer new jobs. Inflation, meanwhile, still has the potential to push higher because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-deadline-delay-d8ffef07d944dc1d460b472e4ffd2f57">Trump’s tariffs</a>.

In sum, Powell said that “the stability of the unemployment rate and other labor market measures allows us to proceed carefully as we consider changes to our policy stance.”

Treasury yields tumbled in the bond market as bets built that the Fed would cut its main interest rate in September. Traders see an 83% chance of that, up from 75% a day earlier, according to data from CME Group.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.33% late Thursday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for Fed action, sank to 3.69% from 3.79% in a notable move for the bond market.

On Wall Street, stocks of smaller companies led the way. They can benefit more from lower interest rates because of their need to borrow money to grow. The smaller stocks in the Russell 2000 index surged 3.9% for its best day since April and more than doubled the S&amp;P 500's rally.

Homebuilders jumped on hopes that easier interest rates could encourage more people to buy homes. Lennar, PulteGroup and D.R. Horton all rose more than 5%.

Travel companies, meanwhile, climbed amid hopes that easier interest rates could help U.S. households spend more. Norwegian Cruise Line rallied 7.2%, Delta Air Lines flew 6.7% higher and Caesars Entertainment rose 7%.

Shares of Nio, a Chinese electric-vehicle maker, that trade in the United States leaped 14.4% after it began pre-sales of its flagship premium SUV model, the ES8.

Intel climbed 5.5% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-intel-us-equity-stake-b538526b6698f7ebd31e99effd727693">Trump said the chip company has agreed</a>&nbsp;to give the U.S. government a 10% stake in its business.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-chip-export-explainer-8c723003498b773b7fd3b266f5afa923">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;rose 1.7% to trim its loss for the week. The company, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move in to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial-intelligence technology</a>, had seen its stock struggle recently amid criticism that it and other AI superstars shot too high, too fast and became too expensive.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Friday that the company is discussing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-tsmc-nvidia-chips-huang-trump-51467ac87644089788b2447c912552d3">potential new computer chip designed for China</a>&nbsp;with the Trump administration. The chips are graphics processing units, or GPUs,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-chatgpt-ai-chips-stock-jump-9eee108170a799986c066f70829a7215">a type of device</a>&nbsp;used to build and update a range of AI systems. But they are less powerful than Nvidia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-gtc-jensen-huang-ai-457e9260aa2a34c1bbcc07c98b7a0555">top semiconductors</a>&nbsp;today, which cannot be sold to China due to U.S. national security restrictions.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 jumped 96.74 points to 6,466.91. The Dow Jones Industrial Average leaped 846.24 to 45,631.74, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 396.22 to 21,496.53.

In stock markets abroad, Germany’s DAX returned 0.3% after government data showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-economy-gdp-shrank-second-quarter-ed5a0ca6732d3cf92828e045144defc2">its economy shrank</a>&nbsp;by 0.3% in the second quarter compared with the previous three-month period.

Wall Street soars, Dow surges to another record

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a pedestrian accident that occurred just 5:30a.m. Friday in Douglas County.

A 27-year-old Lawrence man who was running eastbound on N 1400 Road&nbsp; suffered serious injuries when a westbound 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier struck him, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman George&nbsp;Diepenbrock.

The accident occurred in the 1900 block of N 1400 Road, between Lawrence and Eudora.

Medics transported the injured runner via ground ambulance to a Kansas City-area hospital. 

The driver of the Cavalier, a 70-year-old Eudora man, suffered injuries believed to be minor, and medics transported him to LMH Health, where he was later released.

Deputies closed the road in the area for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office&nbsp; Crash Reconstruction Team to examine the scene. They reopened the road at 9:25 a.m.

Runner seriously injured after struck by car on rural Kan. road 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is calling national security and privacy concerns related to TikTok and its Chinese parent company “highly overrated” and said Friday he’ll keep extending the deadline for the popular video-sharing platform until there’s a buyer.

Congress approved a U.S. ban on TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, sold its controlling stake. But Trump has so far extended the deadline&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-trump-delay-executive-order-3211a98113615be44cf92b32dca69a8e">three times</a>&nbsp;during his second term — with the next one coming up on Sept. 17.

“We’re gonna watch the security concerns,” Trump told reporters, but added, “We have buyers, American-buyers,” and “until the complexity of things work out, we just extend a little bit longer.”

The first extension was through an executive order on Jan. 20, his first day in office, after the platform went dark briefly when a national ban —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-fire-congressmans-office-wisconsin-a815e6592bea4c028b1c7748491461ed">approved by Congress</a>&nbsp;and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court — took effect. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-china-bytedance-social-media-tariffs-665e46fd5bb555e97c4d7301e07230df">second was in April</a>, when White House officials believed they were nearing a deal to spin off TikTok into a new company with U.S. ownership that fell apart after China backed out following Trump’s tariff announcement.

His comments follow the White House starting a TikTok account this week.

“I used TikTok in the campaign,” Trump said.

“I’m a fan of TikTok,” he said. “My kids like TikTok. Young people love TikTok. If we could keep it going.”

As the extensions continue, it appears less and less likely that TikTok will be banned in the U.S. any time soon. The decision to keep TikTok alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but the administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-china-supreme-court-37284ac35241b1822c9f5da7c9d719d2">not faced a legal challenge in court</a>&nbsp;— unlike many of Trump’s other executive orders.

Americans are even more closely divided on what to do about TikTok than they were two years ago.

A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/25/fewer-americans-now-support-tiktok-ban-see-the-platform-as-a-national-security-threat-than-in-spring-2023/" target="_blank">Pew Research Center survey</a>&nbsp;found that about one-third of Americans said they supported a TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly one-third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they weren’t sure.

Among those who said they supported banning the social media platform, about 8 in 10 cited concerns over users’ data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision, according to the report.

President Trump: I'm a fan of TikTok; he may delay the ban again

WICHITA, Kan. – A violent Kansas drug offender accused&nbsp; of ramming a Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy's patrol vehicle will return to court Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

Thomas Torrez, 38, will attend a preliminary hearing in Judge Eric Williams courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 1a.m. May 4, Wichita Police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of E. 21st Street North. During the recovery, Torrez—an occupant of the vehicle—fled the scene in the stolen car. He was not located during the initial incident.

Just before 8p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway in Wichita. Torrez was behind the wheel with a female passenger.

The deputy positioned his patrol vehicle to block the stolen car, but Torrez accelerated, ramming the patrol unit. He then reversed into the building, drove over a curb and landscaping, and fled onto 47th Street. The deputy’s vehicle was disabled from the impact, and he was unable to pursue. The deputy sustained minor injuries as a result.

The deputy was “put out in trouble,” and charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer were broadcast to responding units.

While responding with lights and sirens, a second deputy collided with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 47th Street and Hydraulic. The civilian vehicle was carrying five people—a 37-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and three children ages 6, 8, and 10. All suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. No officers were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. This deputy sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention.

Shortly after fleeing McDonald’s, the female passenger escaped the vehicle near Laura Street, north of 47th. She was located by officers and cooperated with the investigation. According to her statement, she tried to surrender during the initial stop and attempted multiple times to exit the vehicle, even using mace on Torrez.

Torrez later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot. He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur and led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.

During his escape, Torrez caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly, where Torrez ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.

On Tuesday, May 6, after extensive efforts by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrant Section, deputies identified Torrez at a multi-family housing unit in the 2500 block of N. Park Place, a location previously associated with him. Entry was made into the residence, where Torrez was found barricaded inside a refrigerator.

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