Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in August. This is unchanged from 3.8% in July and an increase from 3.7% in August 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.0% in August, according to a media release from the KDOL.

The unemployment rate in Saline County remained steady at 3.8 percent in August. The rate in Dickinson County is up a tick from 4.3 percent in July to 4.4 percent in August.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,700 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 1,300 over the month, while government decreased by 3,400. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;leisure and hospitality&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(-2,100 jobs).

Jobless rate remains steady in Saline County

High School Sports LIVE STREAMS

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.

NAME:&nbsp;Cortez Landaverde, Andiro Yahir

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Operate a MV w/o a valid license; Speeding; maximum limits

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Failure to appear; Criminal trespass; Unknown circumstance

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Failure to appear; Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner

NAME:&nbsp;Garcia, Wilfredo Waldmar

REQUESTED CHARGES: Failure to appear (2 requested charges)

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact; Robbery

NAME:&nbsp;Langston, Karen Michelle

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Luebbert, Brian William

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Return for court testimony

NAME:&nbsp;Phouthavong, Saysouphan

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Driving While Suspended; No Proof Of Insurance; Unlawful acts: vehicle registration violation

Saline County Jail Bookings, September 20

LINDSBORG - On May 15, 2025, Dr. Chienyn Chi, Assistant Professor of English at Bethany College, was invited to speak at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan about her book,&nbsp;Madness, Psychiatry, and Empire in Postcolonial Literature. The event highlighted interdisciplinary scholarship and global academic collaboration which Dr. Chi is integrating into her teaching at Bethany College.

The joint book talk featured a discussion between Dr. Chi and historian Dr. Harry Yi-Jui Wu, Associate Professor in the Cross College Elite Program at National Cheng Kung University. The conversation expanded during a Q&amp;A session, where a psychiatrist, a public health activist, and a film scholar shared their insights. Topics included the history of psychiatry, the political suppression of trauma, and the Western-colonial biases in the scientific study of mental health.

“This discussion was an amazing celebration of interdisciplinary thinking,” Dr. Chi said. “It has inspired me to bring these conversations into my teaching at Bethany College, encouraging students to explore complex topics from multiple perspectives.”

Inspired by her research and its global impact, Dr. Chi incorporates interdisciplinary approaches in Bethany College’s ID 203 course. For example, in the Mythbusters class co-taught with Dr. Gayani Wijegunawardena of the Chemistry Program, students from science and humanities majors collaborate to investigate the myth of sciences and the science of myths.

Looking ahead, Dr. Chi and Dr. Wijegunawardena are excited to offer a new course, “What Would Yoda Do?,” which explores the politics of space colonization and artificial intelligence through science fiction in film and TV, fostering critical thinking and ethical inquiry among students.

Through her research, international engagement, and innovative teaching, Dr. Chi exemplifies how Bethany College faculty bring world-class expertise directly to the classroom, enriching students’ learning experiences and preparing them for thoughtful, interdisciplinary scholarship.

For more information about the Bethany College English Program, visit:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bethanylb.edu/english" target="_blank">www.bethanylb.edu/english</a>

For more information about&nbsp;Madness, Psychiatry, and Empire in Postcolonial Literature, visit the publisher’s page:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ChienynChi" target="_blank">bit.ly/ChienynChi</a>

From Taiwan to Lindsborg: Scholarship inspires new interdisciplinary courses at Bethany College

A newly released economic impact study by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University confirms the Salina Regional Airport and Airport Industrial Center (SLN/AIC) are powerful economic engines for Saline County—generating over $1.62 billion in economic activity and supporting 12,376 jobs in 2024.

Commissioned by the Salina Airport Authority, the study highlights the contributions of more than 100 businesses, public institutions, educational organizations, and military units that call SLN/AIC home. Together, they are responsible for 41.4% of Saline County’s total economic output and 31.1% of local employment.

“SLN and the Airport Industrial Center continue to be the hub of innovation, education, commerce, and defense activity in Salina,” said Pieter Miller, C.M., Executive Director for the Salina Airport Authority. “This study quantifies the economic significance of the Salina Regional Airport and Airport Industrial Center, unmatched in our region.”

Since the last study released in 2021, the total economic output of SLN/AIC has grown by 25%, increasing from $1.30 billion in 2020 to $1.62 billion in 2024. Jobs have surged by 77%, growing from 7,005 in 2020 to 12,376 in 2024. Notably, private business output alone rose from $1.1 billion to $1.55 billion—a $450 million increase—while job growth in the private sector jumped from 5,209 to 8,700. This substantial progress reflects a thriving ecosystem of tenants, employers, and support organizations continuing to invest in Salina.

Key Findings from the 2025 Economic Impact Report:

In a related Chamber of Commerce survey, local business leaders emphasized the vital role of SLN’s commercial air service in supporting economic growth, business travel, and visitor spending—estimating $437,000 in direct spending from inbound travelers alone.

“This study reaffirms that investments in infrastructure, air service, and tenant support at SLN/AIC directly translate into stronger jobs, local income, and a more vibrant economy,” said Executive Director Miller. “We’re proud of our tenants and partners and grateful to the Docking Institute for this in-depth analysis.”

The complete Docking report is available on the Salina Airport Authority website at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salinaairport.com/media/37581/sln-and-aic-economic-impact-report-2025v3.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.salinaairport.com/media/37581/sln-and-aic-economic-impact-report-2025v3.pdf.</a>

SLN & Airport Industrial Center contribute over $1.62 billion in local economic impact

Nearly 50 years after Hal Holbrook first brought Mark Twain to life on the McCain Auditorium stage, Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas brings "Mark Twain Tonight!" back to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series</a>.

See the star-powered evening of storytelling, wit and humor on Thursday, October 2.

Beloved by generations for his portrayal of John-Boy Walton in "The Waltons," Thomas has also graced stages and screens as Mr. Webb in the Broadway musical "Our Town," Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird," and Nathan Davis on Netflix's "Ozark.

"As the first and only actor to perform "Mark Twain Tonight!" since Holbrook, Thomas is earning critical acclaim for his portrayal of the legendary one-man show. The New York Times praised his masterful embodiment of "the nation's one true comic genius," while Time Magazine highlighted Twain's "uproariously funny" and "pungently wise" humor brought to life through Thomas's performance.

Audiences will experience a front-row glimpse into the life of Mark Twain as Richard Thomas blends comedy and social commentary into an unforgettable evening of laughter, insight and theatrical brilliance.

For discount details, contact the box office. 

Visit the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series website</a>&nbsp;for additional information.

Mark Twain show returns to McCain Performance Series

Abilene Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau

ABILENE - Kansas Tourism’s Sunflower Summer program once again brought thousands of visitors to Abilene in 2025, creating unforgettable memories for families and showcasing why Abilene is celebrated as one of the best small towns in America.

This season, 7,583 tickets were claimed&nbsp;at Abilene’s attractions, resulting in $94,559 in reimbursements&nbsp;for local museums, historic sites, theatres, and experiences. Kansas Tourism extends its heartfelt thanks to the community for making this year’s program a resounding success.

“Sunflower Summer is one of the best programs our state has ever done,” said one participant through the mobile app. “It encouraged our family to explore new communities and try new things we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Abilene’s attractions were top performers in the program, drawing visitors from across the state:

From train rides on the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad to exploring presidential history at the Eisenhower Library and Museum, enjoying live performances at Great Plains Theatre, and stepping back in time at Old Abilene Town and the Seelye Mansion, Abilene offered a full menu of adventures.

“Programs like Sunflower Summer make a big difference for both Kansas families and the communities they visit,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Director of the Abilene Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau. “We are thrilled that thousands of Kansans chose Abilene for their summer adventures, helping us grow tourism while providing quality educational experiences for families.”

Sunflower Summer is a Kansas Tourism initiative that provides free admission to participating attractions across the state for Kansas students (Pre-K through 12th grade) and an accompanying adult. In 2025, the program recorded 197,375 total tickets claimed statewide, benefiting 98,283 adults and 131,495 students.

For more information about Abilene attractions and events, visit <a href="http://www.AbileneKansas.org">www.AbileneKansas.org</a>.

Abilene attractions shine in 2025 Sunflower summer program

Construction work for road upgrades taking place near the Schwan's Pizza Plant is nearing completion.

According to the City of Salina, the construction work is part of a project meant to improve the roads along Centennial road, the intersections of Schilling and Arnold, as well as airport terminal upgrades. Some of the improvements along the Centennial road portion, is the addition of widening the road, with two driving lanes (north and south) and a turning lane to help facilitate traffic going in and out of the Schwan's Pizza Plant.

Apart of this project, is the extension of the sidewalk along Centennial near Schwan's.&nbsp;

Additionally, other improvements will include a crosswalk for the Schwan's employees. 

Three phases are required to complete this project. Phase 1 consisted of the Arnold road improvements, along with completing the Schilling intersections and upgrades to the airport terminal. Phase 2 involved the construction of Arnold from Scanlan to Centennial. The final phase is where the project is at currently, which is the construction work along Centennial Rd.

Accordingly, the project costs were a total $4,696,000 million. The City received a grant from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) totaling $3,756,800. The City of Salina contributed matching funds of $939,200.

City of Salina staff stated the purpose of this project is to enable better traffic flow and have safer usage of the roadways. Reportedly, city staff experienced various occurrences of traffic disruption before the project.&nbsp;

City staff stated the project has been prolonged, due to the recent weather activity of heavy rainfall.

City staff is expecting construction to be fully completed by October of this year.

Construction work along Centennial road nearing completion

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;September 20:

- Susan Hawksworth, Smoky Hill Museum&nbsp;

- James Marlow, Local Contest Fundraiser

- Devon James aka "Dee Eazy," local hip-hop/rap artist and studio engineer

All episodes are recorded and uploaded on the&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?CFID=05fb1ecb-7d68-4542-adb3-9b7c11d9b5e5&amp;CFTOKEN=0&amp;stationCallSign=KINA&amp;onDemandAutoStart=true&amp;p92136680=true&amp;relocateURL=true">910 AM and 107.5 FM KINA website</a>, under the 'KINA Saturday Mornings'&nbsp;tab.

Saturday Morning Show with Dave Foor & Nicolas Fierro preview, September 20

It is with pleasure that the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) recognizes hospital trustees who provide an exemplary contribution through their leadership and governance. Hospitals across the state nominated individuals for the Trustee of the Year Award, because they routinely go above and beyond the call of duty. 

Seven trustees from hospitals and health systems across Kansas were nominated as Trustees of the Year:

- Marciel Cloud, Satanta District Hospital, Satanta

- Kris Enneking, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca

- Lon R. Frahm, Citizens Health, Colby

- Phil Gilliland, North Central Kansas Medical Center, Concordia and Salina Regional Health Center, Salina

- Merl Page, Wamego Health Center, Wamego

- Jim Parker, Kiowa District Hospital and Manor Foundation, Inc., Kiowa

- Mike Williams, Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Wichita

Based on the recommendation from a committee of KHA member CEOs and hospital trustees, the KHA Board of Directors selected Phil Gilliland, North Central Kansas Medical Center, Concordia and Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, as the 2025 Trustee of the Year. 

He was recognized during the KHA Awards Ceremony on Friday, September 5. The Cloud County Foundation for Health Care will receive a $500 donation in his honor.

KHA recognizes trustee for support towards Salina Regional Health Center with award

Office of the Kansas State Treasurer

The Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities (KCDD), in partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), the Office of State Treasurer Steven Johnson, and Kansas Council on Economic Education proudly announces the launch of a new statewide educational campaign designed to increase awareness and enrollment in the Kansas ABLE savings program for youth with disabilities in the foster care system.

This innovative initiative is made possible through a new grant awarded by KCDD to the Kansas State Treasurer’s Office and the Kansas ABLE Savings Program. The campaign will specifically focus on foster youth with disabilities, their caregivers and support networks, with the goal of equipping them with tools to build financial independence and plan for their future. 

In the first year, it is estimated that this initiative will impact the lives of at least 700 Kansans in our foster care system.

“Far too many youth with disabilities in foster care age out of the system without access to the financial education or tools they need to thrive independently,” said Sara Hart Weir, Executive Director of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities. “Through this new partnership with the Kansas State Treasurer’s Office and the Kansas Department for Children and Families, we are taking a major step forward in closing that gap and ensuring that these young people know about and can access the benefits of an ABLE account.”

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act allows individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-advantaged account without jeopardizing their eligibility for public benefits like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. The Kansas ABLE program enables Kansans with disabilities to save for future expenses such as education, housing, and health care — now with a special focus on those transitioning out of foster care. 

In January 2025, Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 25-01, a first of its kind executive order to reform the allocation of federal benefits to children in foster care.

Under this executive order, DCF has stopped using foster youths’ benefits to reimburse itself for the cost of providing their basic needs. Instead, the agency is preserving federal benefits on behalf of the youth in care and providing youth access to financial literacy education.

Youth who meet the eligibility requirements have their benefits placed in an ABLE account. For youth who do not qualify for an ABLE account, their federal benefits are preserved in a personal needs account. While in foster care, a young person may access their funds for expenses such as extracurricular activities, school trips or to make purchases like a laptop or vehicle. The young person may also save their funds for future expenditures when they’re no longer in foster care.

“Having the education and tools needed to save and invest starting at an early age will be life changing for these young people and put them on a path for success when they leave foster care,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.

The grant funding will be used to develop specialized outreach materials, host educational workshops and create partnerships with foster care agencies, case managers and advocates across the state to ensure ABLE account resources reach those who need them most.

“The ABLE account can be an empowering tool for an individual living with a disability,” said Treasurer Johnson. “Thanks to the hard work of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities and Kansas Council on Economic Education, our foster youth will have access to resources designed to help them step into a more financially secure future.”

The Kansas ABLE Foster Youth campaign will begin rolling out this fall, with resources becoming available statewide through schools, child welfare agencies, and community partners. 

For more information about Kansas ABLE accounts, visit <a href="https://savewithable.com/ks/home.html">https://savewithable.com/ks/home.html</a>.

Multiple KS agencies partner to assist youth with disabilities in the foster care system

Scattered storms are possible to develop this evening across Central Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), these storms have a chance of occurring late tonight with stronger storms capable of producing hail up to quarter size. However, the severity is marginal and chances are low throughout the region.

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>.

Scattered storms possible to occur late tonight in Central Kansas

<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>

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 19 - September 21

Showers and thunderstorms expected to continue today and into Thursday throughout the Central Kansas region.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms have impacted central and north-central Kansas this morning. Locally heavy rainfall will be the primary hazard. However, activity should tend to gradually dissipate as the morning progresses.

A few strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible after 4:00 pm today, mainly along the west of Flint Hills.&nbsp;

These showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue into Thursday.

Showers and thunderstorms expected to continue into Thursday, heavy rainfall anticipated

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 17 - September 19

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 15 - September 17

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 12 - September 14

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 10 - September 12

The US National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Saline County, that has officially taken into effect now and will remain until Wednesday of this week.

According to Saline County Emergency Management, water levels for rivers and creeks have continued to rise from Monday's heavy rainfall. It was estimated between 4 to 10 inches of rain have already fallen across the county, leading to&nbsp;flooded roadways in Brookville&nbsp;and&nbsp;many rural routes that are waterlogged or impassable.

Additional rainfall is expected to occur late tonight (Monday, September 8) into Tuesday morning.&nbsp;Scattered showers and storms are possible, mainly east of Saline County.

Moreover, additional showers and storms are expected to develop from the west on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, bringing extra heavy rainfall.

Then late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, another round of storms are possible.

Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, allow extra time for commutes and use alternate routes where needed.

Expected to crest at 26.5 feet late tonight into Tuesday afternoon (Moderate Flood Stage). At this level, widespread agricultural flooding is expected. If high flow continues on the Saline River, water could back up on Mulberry Creek, flooding properties including the KOA campground.

Expected to crest at 26.6 feet late Wednesday morning or early afternoon (Minor Flood Stage).

UPDATE: Flood warning issued through Wednesday in Saline County

Storms from this morning throughout Central KS are expected to now continue past noon.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS) the scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout Central KS are expected to now continue past noon on Monday.

The National Weather Service also expects a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms to occur tonight in Salina.

Please be aware of the roads as localized flooding is possible.

UPDATE: Central KS storms continue past noon

W. Old 40 Highway between S. Reese and S. Wyman roads in Saline County, are reportedly closed due to flooding.

According to the Saline County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has placed road-closed barricades on W. Old 40 Highway between S. Reese and S. Wyman due to flooding.

The Sheriff's Office will update Salina Post once the highway reopens.

Flooding causes Saline County highway to close

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman who admitted responsibility for a fight that broke out in Sedgwick County Chief Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom will spend time in jail.

This week 49-year-old Janet Dees pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. She was sentenced to five days in jail.

The fight occurred in April of&nbsp; 2022 &nbsp;during after a sentencing hearing for 19-year-old Te’Bryis Robinson had concluded, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

Detectives with the sheriff's office presented their findings to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration against Robinson in connection with shooting at Towne East Mall.

The District Attorney originally charged Dees, 48, with one count of disorderly conduct under Kansas Statute 21-6203(a)(3), defined as using fighting words or engaging in noisy conduct likely to arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.

In addition, Derrick E. Parker, Jr., 33; Trentasia Hutton, 24; Trentez Hutton, 21; Trentavies Hutton, 18; and a 16-year-old boy — all of Wichita — were each charged with one count of disorderly conduct under Kansas Statute 21-6203(a)(1), defined as brawling or fighting.

&nbsp;The incident prompted an immediate response from court security deputies to restore order to the courtroom.

Woman gets jail time for fight in Kansas courtroom

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a case of arson and vandalism at the St. Anne’s Catholic school in Olmitz have made an arrest.

Just after 5 p.m. on July 10, the Barton County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to St. Anne's Catholic School in the rural Barton County community of Olmitz, located approximately 17 miles northwest of Great Bend, for a report of vandalism, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Deputies found the school had been broken into. Unknown persons entered the building causing extensive damage to the interior of the building and other property inside the building.

 The Sheriff’s Office has been conducting investigation that involved out-of-state agencies as well as the Russell Kansas Police Department and Russell County Sheriff’s Office.

On September 17, 2025, the Russell County Sheriff’s office arrested 30-year-old Matthew Clampit on requested charges of criminal damage to property, arson and burglary of a non-dwelling for his involvement in the case. 

Clampit is being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond. Three more suspects have been developed, and arrest warrants are being sought by the Barton County Attorney’s office. Further arrests are expected in this case, according to Sheriff Bellendir

Suspect jailed for racist graffiti, vandalism at Kan. Catholic school

WASHINGTON (AP) — When it was all over,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;couldn’t believe it. “I could barely breathe,” she writes in her new book about learning she had lost the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">presidential election</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

One of her aides peeled “Madame President” off celebratory cupcakes before serving them to crushed staffers. Harris kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-election-ddeae9fb378530159201ef4196cba9b3">next morning</a>&nbsp;was no easier. “I was ashamed to realize I was in the denial and bargaining stages of grief, a very long way from acceptance,” she wrote.

It’s one of several raw admissions in Harris’ book, “107 Days,” that is scheduled for release Tuesday. The title refers to the length of the hyperspeed campaign that the former vice president launched against Trump after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">Joe Biden dropped out</a>&nbsp;of the race.

Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue. She concedes mistakes, reveals frustrations and details some of the stranger moments from her race.

The book isn’t a winding memoir or a political treatise, and Harris doesn’t disclose any future plans. Instead, it reads like a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down to Election Day.

Harris insists in the book that she had no concerns about Biden’s ability to serve as president. “If I believed that, I would have said so.”

“But at eighty-one, Joe got tired,” Harris wrote. “That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”

Harris wrote that Biden’s inner circle “should have realized that any campaign was a bridge too far.” However, “it seemed that the worse things got, the more they pushed him.”

The tenuous situation unraveled when Biden and Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9">faced off</a>&nbsp;with each other. “As soon as he walked onto the debate stage in Atlanta, I could see he wasn’t right,” Harris wrote.

Biden’s team appeared to be in denial. Afterward, they gave Harris talking points that said “JOE BIDEN WON.”

Harris wrote warmly of her partnership with Biden, but there were frosty moments too. As Biden faced calls to drop out of the race, he invited Harris to join him for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.

First lady Jill Biden pulled Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff aside. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you supporting us?”

Later, in private, Emhoff erupted in anger. “They have to ask if we’re loyal?”

Another difficult episode came after Harris had replaced Biden at the top of the ticket and was preparing for her own debate with Trump.

Shortly before she took the stage, Biden called to say he heard from his brother that Harris had been badmouthing him, upsetting some power brokers in Philadelphia. Then he rambled about his own debate performances while Harris was “barely listening.”

“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me, right now, and make it all about himself,” she wrote.

Harris admits some mistakes of her own, particularly a damaging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">appearance on “The View”</a>&nbsp;talk show. When one of the hosts asked what she would have done differently than Biden during the previous four years, Harris blanked on the talking points she had prepared and simply said, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”

“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris writes. Around the studio, “my staff were besides themselves” about how she had just given a “gift to the Trump campaign.”

Harris wrote that she didn’t want to criticize Biden or litigate any of the areas where they disagreed. But she also didn’t understand how much her association with the president was holding back her candidacy.

David Plouffe, a senior adviser, told Harris bluntly that “people hate Joe Biden.”

There’s plenty of grist in the book that could make the next Democratic convention a little more awkward.

Harris wrote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, Biden’s transportation secretary and a former mayor from Indiana, was her first choice to be her running mate. He’s also gay, and Harris thought it was “too big of a risk” to pick him while already asking voters to accept a Black woman as president.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another possibility. But Harris “had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.”

She ended up going with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz</a>, but his debate performance against JD Vance left her yelling at the television screen. “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate,” she said.

There’s only one reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the book. When Harris reached out to him after Biden ended his reelection campaign, he texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” but he never did.

Harris’ brother-in-law is Tony West, a former top Justice Department official and member of her inner circle of political advisers. While Harris was serving as vice president, West put together what was known as the “Red File,” a collection of plans in case something happened to Biden.

West argued that it would be foolish not to prepare. Harris writes that she “didn’t want to dwell on such an eventuality” and “I left it in his hands.”

He kept refreshing the document as people pressured Biden to drop out, which came in handy when Biden finally pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.

Harris writes that Biden was planning to wait a day before endorsing her as his successor, an idea that horrified her.

“If you want to put me in the strongest position, you have to endorse me now,” she recalled telling him. Harris prevailed, and the endorsement happened shortly after Biden announced that he was done.

Campaigns can be hallucinatory affairs, and this one was full of bizarre moments.

Harris writes that she warmed up for her convention speech with a professional voice coach who “wanted me to stand there and emit animal noises.” A little hesitant, Harris got her entire team to make “hums, grunts and trills” with her.

Harris also writes about talking with Trump after a second assassination attempt against him. Despite tearing into her on the campaign trail, Trump proceeded to flatter his opponent.

“How do I say bad things about you now?” he said. “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.” Then Trump said that his daughter Ivanka “is your big fan.”

Kamala Harris reveals what Biden told her just before debate with Trump

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge has struck down a ballot summary for an anti-abortion amendment backed by Republican state lawmakers while concluding that it presented an unfair and insufficient description to voters.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Friday that the ballot summary must be rewritten, but he rejected a request by abortion-rights advocates to block the proposed constitutional amendment from going to voters.

The judge said the summary prepared by Republican lawmakers failed to inform voters that the new measure would repeal an abortion-rights amendment adopted by voters last year. He directed the secretary of state's office to write a new summary.

The ruling marks the latest in a series of twists and turns in Missouri’s abortion policies over the past three years.

When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;in 2022, that triggered a Missouri law to take effect banning abortions “except in cases of medical emergency.” But abortion-rights activists then gathered initiative petition signatures to put their own measure on the ballot.

Last November, Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy</a>. That measure, known as Amendment 3, also allows later abortions to protect the life or health of pregnant women and creates a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” that includes birth control, prenatal and postpartum care and “respectful birthing conditions.”

In May, the Republican-led Legislature shut down Democratic opposition and approved a new referendum that would repeal Amendment 3 and instead allow abortions only for a medical emergency or fetal anomaly, or in cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. That proposed amendment also would prohibit gender transition surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors, which already are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">barred under state law</a>.

Abortion-rights advocates had argued in a lawsuit that the entire measure should be stricken, alleging that the combination of abortion and transgender policies violated a constitutional requirement that amendments contain only one subject. But Green agreed with Republican lawmakers that both topics fit under the measure's title of “reproductive health care.”

The court order provided both sides an opportunity to claim victory.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's office said in a statement that the court upheld “the central constitutional issues.”

Tori Schafer, director of policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said abortion-rights advocates are “pleased that the judge saw through the legislature’s deceitful language” in the ballot summary.

Both the attorney general's office and Republican state Rep. Brian Seitz, who championed the latest measure, said they are confident in Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' ability to revise the ballot summary.

If it’s a simple wording change, “I think we would be fine with that, because we do want the Missouri voters to know what they are voting on,” Seitz said Friday.

The proposed amendment will appear on the November 2026 ballot, unless Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe schedules the vote for sooner. The new measure is slated to be listed as Amendment 3 — the same number as the original abortion amendment.

Mo. judge strikes down ballot summary for anti-abortion measure 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a Labor Day weekend homicide have arrested a second teen suspect.

At 4:33 p.m., August 31, police were dispatched to the 2100 block of North Arkansas in Wichita for a reported shooting, according to a media release.