High School Sports LIVE STREAMS

Salina Parks &amp; Recreation has announced they will begin removing the current playground at Kenwood Park and replacing it for a brand new play experience.

According to Salina Parks &amp; Rec Director, Jeff Hammond the current playground will be demolished on Monday, October 13. He added the City has a playground replacement plan for all 29 playgrounds and the Kenwood playground was chosen to be replaced due to 'age and condition.'

The current playground is 35 years old. Hammond stated a playground's longevity is about 15-20 years.

Installation of the new playground is expected to begin in November (weather permitting and possibility of delays from manufacturers).

Hammond added the playground at Bill Burke Park will be replaced as well. There was no date given for demolition or completion on that.

Playground at Kenwood Park set to be demolished and replaced

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; who admitted to vandalizing a&nbsp; church in Wichita learned his fate on Friday.

&nbsp;Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Michael Gonzalez, 23, of Saline County,&nbsp;to 34 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections&nbsp; for his role in the significant vandalism and criminal desecration at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In July Gonzalez pleaded guilty to felony charges: of burglary and criminal desecration and two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal damage to property.

Just after 8:30a.m. March 15, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.

Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.

Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.

Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. March 16, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.

&nbsp;Gonzalez remains jailed on bonds totaling over $500,000, according to online jail records.

Prison time for for extreme vandalism at Kansas church

DICKINSON COUNTY - After a ten month long illegal drug investigation, Dickinson County law enforcement arrested four suspects with a possibility of more.

According to the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office, on December 2024 the Sheriff's Drug Enforcement Unit began the investigation after an alleged distribution of&nbsp;Methamphetamine that occurred in Herington.

This investigation took approximately 10 months, until on Thursday, October 9, 2025, deputies conducted a search warrant at a residence in the 500 Block of South A Street in Herington. Reportedly, the search revealed&nbsp;Methamphetamine, Drug Paraphernalia, Cocaine, Marijuana, and other controlled substances inside the home.

Deputies also arrested four people from the home with the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Junction City Police Department and the Herington Police Department.&nbsp;

Those suspects arrested were identified as:

- Charles Miller, 48, Woodbine, KS (requested charges:&nbsp;Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Distribution of Controlled Substance using communication facility; No Drug Tax Stamp)

-&nbsp;Tyrone Wynne, 44, Herington, KS (requested charges:&nbsp;Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute; Distribution of Controlled Substance using communication facility; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Intent to Distribute; No Drug Tax Stamp)

-&nbsp;Jessica Christyauntie, 44, Herington, KS (requested charges:&nbsp;Distribution of Methamphetamine; Distribution of Controlled Substance using communication facility; No Drug Tax Stamp)

-&nbsp;AnneMarie Foxx-Cupp, 48, Florence, KS (requested charges:&nbsp;Distribution of Methamphetamine; No Drug Tax Stamp; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute)

Each suspect was booked into the Dickinson County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests, as well as charges are possible.&nbsp;

Anyone with information regarding the use/distribution of illegal drugs or any other crime can contact the Dickinson County Sheriff’s office at (785) 263-4081.

People can submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Dickinson County at 1-888-535-8477 or the Crime Stoppers online/mobile app via <a href="http://www.p3tips.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExb0hCOW41ZWFJMktvSUhjMwEe9ZmBmayRRSkleZWieJwkIWAiLlCLyXYov33cZr7q7kwh4D0ntiU9dQ5JTAY_aem_VllhKqeZ7Pr1AQdMv_Y9Bw" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com.</a>

Ten month long illegal drug investigation results in 4 arrests

I am Dr. Trent Davis, and I’m running for re-election to the Salina City Commission.

I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. After high school, I planned to become a Lutheran minister—but life had other plans, and I was blessed instead to become a physician. I have called Salina my home since 1999 and am still actively practicing Neurology. I also serve as a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the KU School of Medicine–Salina, and I’ve been honored to serve on the City Commission since 2014.

My wife, Dr. Pamela B. Davis, is a Radiologist in Salina and also active in activities that build the social fabric of our community. Pam is the sister of Dr. Mace Braxton who started the heart surgery program at SRHC in 1998. We have a blended family of six children, one of whom we sadly lost in September 2024. Our three sons were raised here in Salina and graduated from Salina Central High School; their two older sisters live in the Washington, D.C. area. Our doggie is the famous Halle Berry, nine pounds of Pompoo royalty!

Our families have long emphasized character development, confidence, and education. Among our children are four physicians (three KU graduates!) and one MPH who was ordained a minister in 2024.

My introduction to civic engagement came in the early 2000s, when I helped lead the charge for Kansas’ first Clean Indoor Air Act—banning smoking in local businesses—an initiative that later became state law. Since then, I’ve served on the Salina–Saline County Board of Health (as its last chair before restructuring), as well as the Boards of Salina Community Access TV, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the NAACP, and as President of the SRHC Medical Staff. I also worked on the successful

petition to expand the Saline County Commission from three to five members. Other activities include the Church Council at St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Salina Downtown Lions Club.

Appointed to the City Commission in 2014, I’ve since been re-elected three times. To prepare for my term as Mayor in 2019, I completed KU’s Certified Public Management program to strengthen my communication and analytical skills while serving as Vice Mayor in 2018. I have ardently pushed for economic incentives that have resulted in expansion of Salina’s commercial air service and related aerospace industries.

My favorite color is cerulean blue, my favorite pastime is throwing a Frisbee on the beach, some of my favorite books are The Power of Positive Thinking and Leading When You’re Not in Charge. And, of course, my favorite football team—no surprise—is the Chiefs!

I am a modest person, and my life is full and rewarding, but because I love this city I want to continue the momentum and progress that make Salina such a special place.

Since 2014, I’ve been proud to help guide Salina’s downtown renaissance—from the early talks about a Downtown Fieldhouse, through growing pains, to the vibrant destination we now enjoy.

The Commission’s work often involves balancing big ideas and tough realities—supporting job growth, small business expansion, the arts, housing development, public safety, and infrastructure. Much of it’s work is reactive – issues brought to us, rather than from us -- from neighborhood concerns to complex social challenges like homelessness and public health. I have a calm, steady presence—quick to listen, slow to anger—to navigate it all.

A friend once suggested Salina’s motto could be “Salina … in the Middle of Everywhere.” That “everywhere” reflects more than geography: it’s our diversity,

opportunity, and drive to grow. Salina’s competition isn’t just nearby towns—it’s the world. We need leaders unafraid to engage it.

As I see it, the City Commission is like the old BASF ad: “We don’t make the products you use; we make them better.” Our role is to be the catalyst—helping the people and organizations who make Salina thrive. Government isn’t about grabbing the spotlight, but about creating the conditions where others can shine. And while rules are necessary to protect fairness and safety, it’s our job to recognize when they’re outdated and adapt them for the future.

I want to be your City Commissioner because Salina deserves steady leadership—someone experienced, patient, and committed to managing your tax dollars responsibly. This is a dynamic city, and the Commission faces a constant stream of new challenges. Experience matters and you deserve someone honorable and dependable.

We don’t need single-issue candidates or those quick to shout that their way is the only way. I believe in listening first, learning always, and respecting every viewpoint brought to the table. As my father-in-law wisely said:

“If you have to yell louder, you need a better argument.”

Salina’s future depends on investing wisely—not in a fantasy of “no taxes,” but in sustainable progress that exceeds the length of our terms and serves generations to come. I believe it’s time to focus on our human infrastructure:

· Keeping our kids in school and out of jail

I’ve been here, working with our community to make these goals real. I’d be honored to continue that work.

I appreciate your confidence and your vote—early or on November 4, 2025—to keep Salina moving forward.

Meet City Commission Candidate: Dr. Trent Davis

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Doug Johnson, director of public relations at Colby Community College.

🎤 Forward Ever: Doug Johnson of Colby Community College

<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, October 10 - October 12

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;Viol protection order; Abuse order

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact

NAME:&nbsp;Cunningham, Nathan Michael

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGES: (2 requested charges)&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit;&nbsp;Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose misd warrant

NAME:&nbsp;Higgins, Bastian Raymond Edwards

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Viol protection order; Pre-trial order

NAME:&nbsp;Holmes, Wallace Macintosh

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

*No image available for&nbsp;McClure, Heather Ann*

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Criminal Damage to Property; Misdemeanor; Duty of driver to report; Unattended veh/prop;unkn; Use/poss drug paraphernalia/human body; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

NAME:&nbsp;Spillman, Garrett Clay

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Failure to appear; Outside warrant/NCIC hit

NAME:&nbsp;Wagoner, Michael Joseph

NAME:&nbsp;Yungeberg, Gavven Charles Emil

Saline County Jail Bookings, October 10

The Salina Police Department are currently seeking tips for a high in value Camaro that was reportedly stolen from the Long McArthur Ford dealership.

ORIGINAL:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/672a1af8-f86a-4a24-94e8-e73ed4176fb8">High in value Camaro stolen from Salina Ford dealership, investigation ongoing</a>

On Sunday, September 28, between 10:50 pm and 11:00 pm, an unknown suspect stole a red 2013 Chevrolet Camaro from the car lot of Long McArthur Ford (3450 S. 9th). 

The vehicle had an unknown dealer tag on at the time of the theft. There were no missing keys to the vehicle. 

The suspect may have been dropped off across the street from the business by a suspect driving a pick-up truck.

The vehicle left south on 9th street from the business. The vehicle has a 6.2L V8 Supercharged engine with a 6-speed manual transmission and is valued at $44,900.

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 2025-26789.

UPDATE: Salina Police seeking tips for stolen high value Camaro

Here is the preview for the Saturday Morning Show with Dave Foor &amp; Nicolas Fierro on&nbsp;910 AM/107.5 FM KINA Salina for&nbsp;October 11:

- Amy Paden, Packages for Warriors&nbsp;

- Kirsty Hartley, Local Food Works Foundation

- Eric Townsend, Executive Producer for Chiefs Radio Network

Saturday Morning Show with Dave Foor & Nicolas Fierro preview, October 11

A man who has been traveling across the country to acquire signatures for an iconic movie prop, is planning to stop in Salina to receive the last one from a well-renowned celebrity.

John Miller, acquired the original canoe of the very first “Friday the 13th” movie and has been traveling across the country to get signatures from all who have been apart of the iconic horror franchise.

Miller is planning on making a stop in Salina on Saturday, October 25 to get his last signature from Kevin Bacon, during "The Bacon Brothers" concert at the Stiefel Theatre. Bacon played as "Jack Burrell" in the 1980 film.

According to Miller, this canoe has the most signatures with 80 plus, than any other Friday the 13th movie prop in history. He has acquired other signatures from celebrities such as Robert Englund, Alice Cooper, Crispin Glover, all the actors who played Jason Voorhees and Corey Feldman.&nbsp;

Miller started this journey 5 years ago. As time progressed, he stated that he “put it in his will" to donate back to the original campsite of where the first movie of the franchise was filmed.

“Everytime a Friday the 13th person pops up that I don’t have, I go and get them,” said Miller. “It is very well known in the convention circuit, very well known around the country to Friday the 13th collectors, there has been YouTube videos done on it. It is a pretty big thing.”

He got the canoe by acquiring it from a junkyard in Iowa, after visiting the original Boy Scout camp in New Jersey, where the movie was filmed. He contacted the Boy Scout camp in Iowa to get the canoe.

When he arrived to Iowa, he was looking for a canoe that had the “#6.” He found it and officially acquired the original canoe of the first movie.

“We have had offers from people that were in Friday the 13th to buy this canoe, but I just can’t sell it, I can’t do it,” Miller said.

Miller added, he received an offer of $100,000, but declined.

Not only does he have the original canoe, but he also has collections like the “Nightmare on Elm Street” motorcycle and gas cans from the films. In his spare time outside of his fulltime job of being a social worker, he collects items from Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street.

Once Miller arrives to Salina, he invites all Friday the 13th fans to check out the canoe.&nbsp;

Man travels nationwide to acquire celebrity signatures for iconic Friday the 13th canoe, plans to stop in Salina

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 8 - October 10

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 6 - October 8

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 3 - October 5

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 1 - October 3

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 29 - October 1

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 26 - September 28

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/">weathe</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 24 - September 26

As Tuesday morning's showers continue throughout Central Kansas,&nbsp; flooding remains a possibility.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS) the severity remains low for these scattered showers and storms throughout the region on Tuesday. However, heavy rainfall amounts and flooding are a possibility.&nbsp;

Please stay alert on the roadways and be safe while driving.

Flooding remains possible with Tuesday morning's showers 

The US National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita forecasts severe thunderstorms are expected to develop after midnight tonight and continue into Tuesday morning across Central Kansas.

According to NWS Wichita, these storms are likely to produce high rainfall rates, which may lead to flooding. Storms are expected to move in from the west after midnights, with most locations in Saline County after 3:00 am. The heaviest rainfall is likely between 4:00 am and noon Tuesday.

Saline County Emergency Management stated there is slightly lower confidence on how large hailstones may get, but the confidence is in the heavy rainfall and flooding potential has been increasing.

Severe storms with heavy rainfall amounts expected after midnight in Central Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — A monthslong calm on Wall Street shattered Friday, and U.S. stocks tumbled after President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-cc47e258cfc6336dfddcc20fa67a3642">threatened to crank tariffs much higher</a>&nbsp;on China.

The S&amp;P 500 sank 2.7% in its worst day since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 878 points, or 1.9%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 3.6%.

Stocks had been heading for a slight gain in the morning, until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;took to his social media platform and said he’s considering “a massive increase of tariffs” on Chinese imports. He’s upset at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">restrictions China has placed on exports of its rare earths</a>, which are materials that are critical for the manufacturing of everything from consumer electronics to jet engines.

“We have been contacted by other Countries who are extremely angry at this great Trade hostility, which came out of nowhere,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He also said “now there seems to be no reason” to meet with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-tiktok-china-united-states-e6b6334aef2946b5b8c809be4240cad1">earlier agreeing to do so</a>&nbsp;as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea.

The ratchet higher in tensions between the world’s largest economies led to widespread drops across Wall Street, with roughly six out of every seven stocks within the S&amp;P 500 falling. Nearly everything weakened, from Big Tech companies like Nvidia and Apple to stocks of smaller companies looking to get past uncertainty about tariffs and trade.

The market may have been primed for a slide. U.S. stocks were already facing criticism that their prices had shot too high following the S&amp;P 500’s nearly relentless 35% run from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-gold-ai-yen-3b5d8a978d326c59cbf484a14868ce66">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set earlier in the week.

Critics say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-records-shutdown-earnings-ai-251fefd075ac658ce498c9d1953efc70">the market looks too expensive</a>&nbsp;after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry</a>, where pessimists see echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded. For stocks to look less expensive, either their prices need to fall, or companies’ profits need to rise.

Levi Strauss dropped 12.6% for one of the market’s larger losses, even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

Its forecast for profit over the full year was also within range of Wall Street’s estimates, but the jeans and clothing company could simply be facing the challenge of heightened expectations after a big run. Its stock price came into the day with a surge of nearly 42% for the year so far.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 182.60 points to 6,552.51. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 878.82 to 45,479.60, and the Nasdaq composite sank 820.20 to 22,204.43.

Some of Friday’s strongest action was in the oil market, where the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude sank 4.2% to $58.90.

It fell as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-shelling-ceasefire-israel-c832ff32cf332805ffb50bffa35e8220">ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect</a>&nbsp;in Gaza. An end to the war could remove worries about disruptions to oil supplies, which had kept crude’s price higher than it otherwise would have been.

Losses accelerated following Trump’s tariff threat, which could gum up global trade and lead the economy to burn less fuel. Brent crude, the international standard, dropped 3.8% to $62.73 per barrel.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury sank to 4.05% from 4.14% late Thursday.

It had already been lower before Trump made his threats, as a report from the University of Michigan suggested that sentiment among U.S. consumers remains in the doldrums.

“Pocketbook issues like high prices and weakening job prospects remain at the forefront of consumers’ minds,” according to Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers. “At this time, consumers do not expect meaningful improvement in these factors.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jobs-openings-unemployment-inflation-federal-reserve-60b8f481cdbc56f96829817a2992e508">job market has slowed so much</a>&nbsp;that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-powell-federal-reserve-jobs-da274909e44aed4ac4c78625db587026">Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;cut its main interest rate last month for the first time this year. Fed officials have penciled in more cuts through next year to give the economy additional breathing room. But Chair Jerome Powell has also said they may change course&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-trump-tariffs-prices-consumer-0a10b8f245eb90115c84026d7061d2b0">if inflation stays high</a>. That’s because lower interest rates can push inflation even higher.

One potentially encouraging signal from the University of Michigan’s preliminary survey said consumers’ expectations for inflation in the coming year edged down to 4.6% from 4.7% the month before. While that’s still high, the direction of change could help the Fed and limit upward pressure on inflation.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across much of Europe and Asia.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.7%, and France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.5% for two of the bigger moves. But South Korea’s Kospi leaped 1.7% after trading reopened following a holiday.

Wall Street drops to its worst day since April 

MANHATTAN, KAN. – The Riley County Police Department executed a search warrant at Chill Vibez Smoke and Vape and made an arrest during its investigation on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in the 100 block of Sarber Lane in Manhattan, Pottawatomie County.

According to a media release from the RCPD, the warrant was issued as part of a larger overall investigation that began earlier this year into the distribution of illegal marijuana and THC products in Manhattan. This was an independent investigation by the RCPD and not currently linked to recent enforcement by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).

Police make arrest at smoke and vape shop in Manhattan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers in the ongoing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">government shutdown</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-russell-vought-project-2025-f403174299933b7e3a3b6ebd779c146c">Russ Vought</a>, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on the social media site X that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government.

A spokesperson for the budget office said the reductions are “substantial” but did not offer more immediate details.

The Education Department is among the agencies hit by new layoffs, a department spokesperson said Friday without providing more details. The department had about 4,100 employees when Trump took office in January, but its workforce was nearly halved amid mass layoffs in the Republican administration’s first months. At the start of the shutdown, it had about 2,500 employees.

The White House previewed that it would pursue the aggressive layoff tactic shortly before the government shutdown began on Oct. 1, telling all federal agencies to submit their reduction-in-force plans to the budget office for its review. It said reduction-in-force plans could apply for federal programs whose funding would lapse in a government shutdown, are otherwise not funded and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities.”

This goes far beyond what usually happens in a government shutdown, which is that federal workers are furloughed but restored to their jobs once the shutdown ends.

Democrats have tried to call the administration’s bluff, arguing the firings could be illegal, and seemed bolstered by the fact the White House had yet to carry out the firings.

But President Donald Trump had said earlier this week that he would soon have more information about how many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-government-shutdown-firings-layoffs-vought-1fd57313272ec4db5984f653b095be33">federal jobs</a>&nbsp;would be eliminated.

“I’ll be able to tell you that in four or five days if this keeps going on,” he said Tuesday in the Oval Office as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-trump-carney-white-house-59b735b719247c7063777c1edcb10328">he met with Canada's prime minister</a>, Mark Carney. “If this keeps going on, it’ll be substantial, and a lot of those jobs will never come back.”

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-johnson-government-shutdown-grijalva-526647b57faa2710382674646dfd2b37">the halls of the Capitol were quiet</a>&nbsp;on Friday, then 10th day of the shutdown, with both the House and the Senate out of Washington and both sides digging in for a protracted shutdown fight. Senate Republicans have tried repeatedly to cajole Democratic holdouts to vote for a stopgap bill to reopen the government, but Democrats have refused as they hold out for a firm commitment to extend health care benefits.

There was no sign that the top Democratic and Republican Senate leaders were even talking about a way to solve the impasse. Instead, Senate Majority Leader John Thune continued to try to peel away centrist Democrats who may be willing to cross party lines as the shutdown pain dragged on.

“It’s time for them to get a backbone,” Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said during a news conference.

AP Education Writer Collin Binkley contributed to this report.

Government shutdown: Mass firings of federal workers begins

LONDON (AP) — John Lodge, the singer and bassist of British rock band The Moody Blues for more than 50 years, has died. He was 82.

<a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/john-lodge-obituary?pid=210066954">Click here to read the full obituary</a>

In a statement Friday, his family said “with the deepest sadness” that Lodge died “suddenly and unexpectedly.” It added that Lodge “peacefully slipped away surrounded by his loved ones and the sounds of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly.”

Birmingham-born Lodge joined the band in 1966, two years after its formation, along with fellow singer Justin Hayward, following the departure of Denny Laine and Clint Warwick. He remained with it until it stopped performing live in 2018.

Lodge featured on some of the band’s best-known work, including 1967’s psychedelic album “Days Of Future Passed,” which is widely regarded as one of rock’s first concept albums, and its follow-up a year later, “In Search Of The Lost Chord.”

Lodge also featured on the 1977 album “Octave,” which saw The Moody Blues embrace a more pop-oriented sound.

He continued to make records with the group until their final studio album in 2003, “December,” a collection of Christmas songs.

The group continued to perform live until 2018, the same year the band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Moody Blues singer and bassist John Lodge dead at 82

RILEY COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Thursday in Riley County.

A 2017 Buick Encore driven by Sharon Sando, 74, Leonardville was traveling&nbsp; in the 12000 block of Green-Randolph Road, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity report. The SUV veered off the road and rolled into a ditch. 

Sando was pronounced dead at the scene. The RCPD released no additional details.

Kansas woman dies in SUV rollover accident

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — University of Kansas indigenous studies director Alex Red Corn said a $1.5 million grant would allow a five-year collaboration with tribal nations and school districts in three states to broaden the pipeline of K-12 teachers working in schools serving Native American students.

The difficulty of attracting and retaining teachers to serve Native American students has been fueled from insufficient funding, isolation of rural communities and lack of job-market recruiting.

KU was awarded the grant from the Office of Indian Education in the U.S. Department of Education. The program involves&nbsp;the Southern Plains American Indian Teaching Pathways Project, which is a partnership that included Haskell Indian Nations University, or HINU, in Lawrence.

The goal is to work with Native Nations and school districts in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma to prepare and mentor 15 teachers in elementary or secondary education.

“We look forward to getting started recruiting folks from Native communities and offer them a funded pathway to full teacher licensure through&nbsp;KU&nbsp;and Haskell and continuing to grow our longstanding partnership with Haskell in new and exciting ways,” said Red Corn, an Osage member, the lead principal investigator on the project and a KU associate professor.

Under the program, researchers plan to recruit individuals who earned or were approaching completion of an associate’s degree and want to pursue teaching certification by earning a bachelor’s degree at HINU or KU.

Upon graduation, these certified teachers would be required to work in Native-serving schools, where they would receive career mentorship from experienced teachers and cultural leaders.

KU officials said students involved in the program would be eligible for financial support in the form of tuition and fees, monthly living stipends, books, laptops and academic conference travel.

“We’re very appreciative of this opportunity from the Office of Indian Education, which is such a critical resource for tribal nations looking to advance sovereignty in education,” Red Corn said.

He said tribe and school partners in the region were eager to participate in work on a sustained program to bolster the teacher-development pipeline.

Project partners on the grant application included HINU, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Osage Nation, Quapaw Nation, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

Other partners in the teacher development effort would be&nbsp;Royal Valley Schools and South Brown County Schools as well as Daposka Ahnkodapi (Osage Nation School), Darlington Public Schools, Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation Public School and the Tribal Education Departments National Assembly.&nbsp;

University of Kansas collaborates on $1.5M grant to train teachers for Native-serving schools

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect, captured on June 17, after hiding from police for weeks will will return to court Friday.

Jaden Watts, 19, is scheduled for an arraignment hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He may be asked to enter a plea for charges of second-degree murder in the March shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess.

In August, Judge Tyler Roush rejected a motion from Watt's attorney to dismiss the case because the fatal shooting was in self defense, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; 

Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody June 17 in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police. He remains jailed&nbsp;on bonds totaling over $500,000.

Plea hearing: Kan. murder suspect who hid from police for weeks

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

The former opposition presidential candidate was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.

“In the past year, Ms. Machado has been forced to live in hiding,” Watne Frydnes said. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”

He told the AP that the committee was able to reach Machado just before the announcement and “it came as a surprise.”

Machado’s ally, Edmundo González, who lives in exile in Spain, posted a short video of himself speaking by phone with Machado.

“I am in shock,” she said, adding, “I cannot believe it.”

González celebrated Machado’s Nobel win in a post on X, calling it a “very well-deserved recognition for the long fight of a woman and of a whole people for our freedom and democracy.”

Maduro’s government has routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents.

Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro, but the government disqualified her. González, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations.

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