By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

South and Central have shared Salina since 1863, but the city has never felt big enough for the two of them.

For over 150 years, fierce battles between the Mustangs and the Cougars have delighted Salina on the gridiron, the court, and the diamond, and tonight, the next chapter in this storied rivalry will be written.

In week one of the high school football season, Central defeated South 31-21 to claim the Mayor’s Cup for a fifth-straight year.

When the Cougars finished the regular season 1-7, few around the 5A world could have fathomed that the two would meet in the state quarterfinals, but despite the odds, that’s exactly where we stand.

Central’s path to this moment has been one of triumph.&nbsp;

On the heels of a disappointing 4-5 campaign, the Mustangs rallied behind junior quarterback Griffin Hall and bruising tailback Cooper Reves to right the ship and post a 7-1 record in the regular season against an identical schedule.

The Mustangs picked up right where they left off in the first two rounds of the playoffs, dominating Topeka West 68-22 and doing the same to Goddard 62-32 to reach the sectional round.

For South, this run has been rightfully defined as one of destiny.

The Cougars had won just four games in the five seasons leading up to this one, and won just one contest, a lopsided affair against a hapless Campus team, to finish the 2025 regular season at 1-7.

Then, the pieces that had spent the entire season floating around their intended targets began to snap into place.

South needed to play their best football to survive against an Andover team that just three weeks prior rolled over the Mustangs 48-21.

They did just that, holding the Trojans well under their averages in a stunning 24-20 upset.

The Cougars would have to play another nearly-perfect game of football on the road at Liberal the following week, and yet they found a way, handing the Redskins their third loss of the season in a thrilling 22-16 victory.

Those four wins for two schools have led us here, to the first postseason meeting between South and Central football since 2005.

Anyone who has lived in Salina for long knows the story, but there was an era where the road to a 5A state title ran through Salina.

From 1999-2005 the Mustangs and Cougars met in six-straight playoffs with the winner appearing in the state championship game every year, and a champion from Salina being crowned in five of those six seasons.

Now, for the first time in 20 years, that road will be re-paved in Salina’s quest for a return to immortality.

Central’s stars will be on full display today, led by quarterback Griffin Hall and tailback Cooper Reves, who combined have accounted for over 4,300 yards of total offense, 53 touchdowns, and just three turnovers.

That tandem will need to outpace a South passing attack anchored by sophomore standout Izzy Telles, who has over 2,000 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, thanks in large part to a combination of star wideouts Jaxon Myers and Jae Curtis.

This game has everything, from a made-for-Hollywood script with primetime-level stars to a title-starved community eager to show out and support their teams at the top of their game.

Tonight’s game will be streamed live on Salina Post and on the Salina Post YouTube page 100% free to the public. This game will also be available to watch back on-demand any time.

You can tune in tonight in the window below.

🏈 South and Central square off in quarterfinal clash for the first time in 20 years 

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;Briscoe, Haiden Geraldine

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Desmornes, Medjine Amanie

REQUESTED CHARGES: Agg assault; w/ deadly weapon; Agg battery; Knowingly cause angry phys contact; Criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption; Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose misd warrant

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Return for court testimony

NAME:&nbsp;Shinn, Jonathan Steven

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose felony warrant; Aggravated burglary; Vehicle; to commit felony, theft, domestic violence or sexually motivated crime; Crim damage to prop;w/o consent &lt;$1K; Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500

NAME:&nbsp;Williams,Katie Angel Lee

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

Saline County Jail Bookings, November 14

OCCK Inc. Transportation invites the public to upcoming Public Forums to discuss the approaching 81 Connection route changes, officially launching on December 1st, 2025.

Salina Public Forum&nbsp;- November 20, 11:00 am, OCCK Inc. Transportation Building, 340 N. Santa Fe, Salina

Concordia Public Forum -&nbsp;November 21, 11:00 am, OCCK Inc. Building, 1502 Lincoln St., Concordia

During these sessions, OCCK Transportation staff will outline the upcoming route changes, answer questions, and provide resources including travel training information and updated ride guides.

“These forums are an important opportunity for riders and community members to learn what’s changing and share feedback before the new route goes into effect,” said Trell Grinter, OCCK Transportation Director.&nbsp; “Everyone is welcome – bring your questions.”

For more information about OCCK, Inc., visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.occk.com/">www.occk.com</a>.&nbsp;

For more information about CityGo and OCCK Transportation, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.salinacitygo.com/">www.salinacitygo.com</a>&nbsp;Or contact the OCCK Transportation Center at 785-826-1583.

OCCK inviting community to public forums discussing 81 Connection route changes

The&nbsp;Salina Fire Department (SFD) has announced they be hosting their Holiday Open House and Honor Guard Fundraiser.

On Saturday&nbsp;November 22, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Fire Station 1 (222 W Elm St.), SFD will be holding their open house and fundraiser.

The open house and fundraiser is meant for the community to view their&nbsp;new fire apparatus, a chance to meet the fire crews and accepting donations for new uniforms and equipment.

Coffee, hot chocolate and snacks will be provided as well.

Salina FD to host community holiday open house and fundraiser

The Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Salina (BGCS) has announced they are officially hiring Vision Leaders and accepting AmeriCorps applicants for their brand new site at Oakdale Elementary in Salina.

According to BGCS Vision Leaders will work approximately 15 hours per week, helping guide and mentor youth through engaging, meaningful programs focused on Academic Success, Character &amp; Leadership, Health &amp; Well-Being, and Life &amp; Workforce Readiness.

AmeriCorps members will serve approximately 25 hours per week supporting programs in the priority areas of education and youth development and mentoring.

“This is an incredible opportunity for anyone passionate about working with youth,” shared Site Director Heather Neuhofel-Tracy. “It’s a great way to begin a journey in youth development or education—and a fun, rewarding second job for those already in the field.”

Both positions offer a rewarding opportunity to help shape the future of young people in Salina while gaining valuable professional experience.

To learn more or apply, visit <a href="http://bgchutch.com/s/careers">bgchutch.com/s/careers</a>.

Newly Boys & Girls Club of Salina seeking for Vision Leaders  

<a target="_blank" href="http://salina.ksu.edu/">Kansas State University Salina</a>&nbsp;student pilots recently took to the skies in St. Louis, MO, to demonstrate their aviation skills, and thanks to a valiant team effort, they'll soon be competing for a national title.

The K-State Salina Flight Team's success at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, or NIFA, Region 6/7 competition has qualified them for the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nifa.aero/safecon">NIFA SAFECON</a>&nbsp;national competition in May 2026 — the K-State team's 12th national qualification in the last 15 years.

For the regional competition, the team flew against eight other colleges. With outstanding individual and team performances in the flying events that tested the preparation and skills of the collegiate pilots, K-State's team finished in third place.

"We had an internal goal as a team to improve from our fourth-place finish in regionals from last year, so to finish third and be so close to the top two teams was very exciting," said Michael Einwich, senior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Bel Aire, and team captain. "There is a lot of studying and preparation that goes into being able to perform well in these events, and the team really put in a lot of work to compete well. We also appreciated the support from the K-State Salina campus; the aviation administration really helped get us the resources we needed to be successful in competition."

On top of the excellent team performance, many K-State Salina student pilots had fantastic individual performances.

Isaac Smith, senior in professional pilot, Salina, took home the Top Pilot award — the competition's top individual award — and won the Short Field award; Einwich finished in third place for the Top Pilot award, fifth in the Short Field competition and second in the SCAN event; Daniel Novovesky, sophomore in professional pilot,&nbsp;Overland Park, placed fifth for the Top Pilot award; and Mary Barbour, junior in aviation maintenance management,&nbsp;Quakertown, Pennsylvania, won the AMT Test award.Other notable performances included strong finishes in the Unlimited NAV event: Novovesky and Gavin Bowman, senior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Wichita, teamed up to place third; and a team of Einwich and Claire Trapp, junior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Green Lake, Wisconsin, finished in fourth place.

"I am proud of the efforts of our student pilots at the Region VI event," said Tysen Pina, K-State Salina aviation department head. "These students showcased the whole range of skills that go into being an excellent pilot, including the flight, planning and safety skills that we teach every day at K-State. Like with any challenge or competition, there comes adversity, but as is an emphasis in our program, the students were able to overcome it like the professionals they are."

Competitions like NIFA SAFECON allow K-State Salina pilot students to showcase their skills, experience instruction outside of a traditional classroom or daily flight instruction, and pilot and experience different flying conditions from what is typical in Kansas. Students also have the opportunity to network with fellow aviation students from around the country.

Fourteen K-State Salina students competed on Flight Team at the regional competition:

Michael Einwich, senior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Bel Aire; Daniel Novovesky, senior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Overland Park; Alex Mercy, sophomore in professional pilot, and Isaac Smith, senior in professional pilot, both from&nbsp;Salina; Luke Dufort, senior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Shawnee; and Gavin Bowman, senior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Wichita.From out of state: Logan Dobransky, freshman in professional pilot,&nbsp;Goodyear, Arizona; Timothy Mallari, freshman in professional pilot,&nbsp;Denver, Colorado; Mac Doser, sophomore in professional pilot,&nbsp;Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Matthew Tirella, senior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Littleton, Colorado; Nathan Wallace, junior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Omaha, Nebraska; Mary Barbour, junior in aviation maintenance management,&nbsp;Quakertown, Pennsylvania; Claire Trapp, junior in professional pilot,&nbsp;Green Lake, Wisconsin; and Lauren LaFountain, freshman dual majoring in aviation management and professional pilot,&nbsp;New Berlin, Wisconsin.

KSU Salina pilot students set to compete for national title  

Salina Police are currently seeking tips for a burglary crime that occurred at a convenience store, where an unknown suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

ORIGINAL: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/af74f0f8-3d84-4fe8-a73a-76e299bbd64c">Undisclosed amount of cash stolen from convenience store in Salina, investigation ongoing</a>

On the early morning hours of Monday, November 10 an unknown suspect broke into Casey's (1100 E. Iron) and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from a safe.

A female employee upon arrival to open the store, found the front door unsecure.&nbsp;She then went inside and the store's alarm went off.

Afterwards, she found the safe that had been broken into and trash spread out on the floor. The employee then contacted police and officers arrived to the scene.

The concern became how the alarm didn't sound off, before the employee arrived and found the store to have appeared to be burglarized.

Surveillance video (screenshot above) showed the suspect was wearing brown overalls, gloves and had their face covered.

Coins stolen from the safe were recovered behind the business. 

The suspect got away with an undisclosed amount of currency.

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 2025-30518.

UPDATE: Salina Police seeking tips for suspect stealing undisclosed amount of cash from convenience store

<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>.

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 14 - November 17

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="https://newstips@salinapost.com/">newstips@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>&nbsp;and will be posted on the website within 24 business hours.

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;&nbsp;<a href="https://newstips@salinapost.com/">newstips@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>

Recent obituaries and service times

It's official, the&nbsp;Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum will reopen its doors Friday, November 14 at 9:00 am, following the reopening of the US Federal Government.

ORIGINAL:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/bbd098b0-9176-4934-89e0-12ad07d2d1d7">No confirmation yet on Eisenhower Library &amp; Museum reopening after end of record-long Gov. shutdown</a>

"The Ike Library team is back, and we are excited to open the doors starting Friday morning at 9 a.m. central! Please come visit us!" said the&nbsp; Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum staff.

For more information on the library &amp; museum, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/">https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/</a>

UPDATE: Eisenhower Library & Museum officially reopening its doors

Starting next year, the City of Salina General Services staff members will be conducting a courtesy curbside leaf pickup.

According to the City, from January 5th to February 27th, 2026, (weather permitting). The City will&nbsp;collect all leaves set out by the public this season.

It is important to note, the City will NOT pick up any leaves that are places in alleys, private streets, commercial properties and any leaves that are mixed in with debris.&nbsp;

Tree limbs and branches will NOT collected either.

Here is a list of the participant guidelines the community is encouraged to do:

- Rake and pile leaves between the curb and sidewalk. If no sidewalk exists, pile leaves directly behind the curb. Staff will not be picking up bags nor collecting leaves in the alleys, on private streets, or commercial properties.

- Leaf piles will not be collected if mixed with other debris. Tree limbs and branches will not be collected.

- Don’t rake or blow leaves into the street as this can be a hazard to traffic and is a violation of City Code. Additionally, placing leaves in the street may cause problems for our storm drainage systems.

- Don’t park vehicles directly in front of or behind leaf piles, as this makes collection more difficult for our crew.

- Have your leaves ready for collection on the first day of the schedule for your respective zone.

- There will only be one round of curbside leaf collection in each zone; however, customers may call in to report locations if they feel they may have been missed by the leaf collection crew or when weather conditions or late leaf deposits require additional collection.

List of dates and locations the leaf pickup will occur:

The City of Salina plans on conducting a courtesy curbside leaf pickup beginning 2026

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 12 - November 14

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 10 - November 12

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 7 - November 10

Three day weather forecast Salina, November 5 - November 7

Three day weather forecast Salina, November 3 - November 5

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 31 - November 2

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 29 - October 31

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 27 - October 29

Four day weather forecast Salina, October 24 - October 27

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen will learn his fate on Friday.

Samuel Loredo, 22, will appear in&nbsp;Judge Quentin Pittman courtroom for sentenceing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.

In October, Loredo pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the District Attorney's office.

Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sentencing day for Kan. man in sex assault of runaway 14-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;is spearheading a new initiative aimed at improving career and education opportunities for children raised in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/foster-care">foster care</a>.

Her husband, President Donald Trump, signed an executive order Thursday that creates a “Fostering the Future” program that brings together federal entities, nonprofits, educational institutions and the private sector to develop those opportunities for foster youth.

The order also creates an online hub that would help foster youth connect with key career and educational resources, while increasing access to vouchers and grants to support them in those efforts.

Saying the initiatives in the executive order “gives me tremendous pride,” Melania Trump said the effort is “both empathetic and strategic.”

“I call on leadership from these various organizations, including the private sector, to join my effort,” Melania Trump said from the East Room before an audience that included lawmakers, Cabinet officials and members of the foster-care community.

The first lady added: “Rise above the ease of inaction.”

The broader “Fostering the Future” initiative is an offshoot of the “Be Best” campaign that was her signature issue during Trump’s first term. The initiative began in 2021 and offers scholarships to current and former foster youth. Participating schools include Vanderbilt University, the University of Miami, Villanova University and Oral Roberts University, according to the first lady’s office.

President Trump said he was “delighted” to sign the initiative. He noted that the second lady, Usha Vance, was also very involved in Melania Trump’s effort.

“We’re going to have absolutely incredible results,” the president said.

The federal agencies involved include the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Office of Personnel Management.

First lady launches new effort to support foster care children

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;–A man accused of killing his mother-in-law in front of&nbsp; his 8-year-old son will return to court Friday.

Stephen Rogers wil appear at a preliminary hearing in Judge Rodger Woods courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call from 49-year-old Sharmaine Marlene Burke, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. Burke reported that her son-in-law, 29-year-old Stephen J. Rogers of Wichita, was drunk and had threatened to shoot her. She also stated that her eight-year-old grandson, Rogers’ son, was inside the home at the Longbranch Mobile Home Park near Derby.&nbsp;

The 911 call-taker stayed on the line as deputies responded. A few minutes into the call, gunshots were heard, and the line went silent.

Deputies arrived at 11:41 p.m. and found Burke with multiple gunshot wounds to her upper body. Deputies and Sedgwick County EMS attempted life-saving measures, but Burke succumbed to her injuries at 11:57 p.m.

Rogers and his son were not at the scene when deputies arrived. An immediate search for both the suspect and the child began. Deputies obtained critical information, including a description of Rogers’ vehicle, and shared it with surrounding law enforcement agencies.

At 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, FLOCK camera technology detected Rogers’ vehicle in Augusta. Butler County law enforcement quickly located and stopped the vehicle on U.S. Highway 54 near Haverhill Road. Rogers was arrested and the child was found unharmed inside the vehicle.

Rogers was taken to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Investigations Division, and&nbsp; booked into jail on requested charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child endangerment.

Deputies and investigators provided immediate resources to ensure the child’s safety and wellbeing.

The Sheriff’s Office coordinated with multiple agencies during the investigation. Quick action and cooperation allowed law enforcement to safely locate the child and apprehend the suspect.

As part of the investigation, it was determined that an Amber Alert was not necessary because investigators obtained real-time intelligence on the suspect’s vehicle and used FLOCK technology to track it. Issuing an Amber Alert could have alerted the suspect, increasing the risk to the child and complicating the search.

The process for issuing an alert also involves the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the timeline indicates the alert would have been issued only after the suspect and child were located.

Preliminary Hearing: Kan. man accused of killing his mother-in-law

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Fetterman had what his office says was a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” that caused him to feel light-headed and fall during an early morning walk Thursday.

Fetterman was doing well and hospitalized in Pittsburgh, his office said. He sustained minor injuries to his face and was under “routine observation” at the hospital while doctors fine-tune his medication regimen, his office said.

Ventricular fibrillation is the most serious form of abnormal heartbeat and can lead to cardiac arrest — when the heart suddenly stops beating — and sudden cardiac death, according to the American Heart Association.

Ventricular fibrillation occurs in the heart’s lower chambers, and the heart association says its causes include cardiomyopathy, which Fetterman was diagnosed with in 2022. Cardiomyopathy can impede blood flow and potentially cause heartbeats so irregular they can be fatal.

Fetterman, 56, disclosed that he was diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-government-and-politics-0c413bfeb7b00ceae5c172c7fa33007e">cardiomyopathy</a>&nbsp;and another type of abnormal heartbeat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-stroke-campaigns-congress-2216e12ec0d031d89d5343cf4f24d42c">atrial fibrillation</a>, after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-government-and-politics-congress-0bedb2673ca27915afcbc84e36f42cfe">suffered a stroke</a>&nbsp;on the 2022 campaign trail.

Fetterman has said the stroke was caused by a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, which affects the heart’s upper chambers.

Fetterman underwent surgery after the stroke to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage the condition.

The lingering effects of his stroke include diminished auditory processing speed, called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-mehmet-oz-biden-health-john-fetterman-a89f9aff7d89efe43f2c40a74bbc9250">auditory processing disorder</a>, which makes it harder to speak fluidly and quickly process spoken conversation into meaning.

Weeks after joining the Senate in 2023, Fetterman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-fetterman-hospital-clinical-depression-a9051b43a6b31725a4969b9302740cac">checked himself into the hospital</a>&nbsp;for clinical depression. He was released six weeks later and has since urged people who are depressed to get professional help.

Post-stroke depression is common and treatable through medication and talk therapy, doctors say.

John Fetterman, U.S. Senator who survived stroke, hospitalized

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;– Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detectives and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents carried out a series of coordinated searches Thursday at two homes and six High Hopes ICT locations as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected state and federal narcotics and weapons violations.

( Click below to watch Sedgwick Co. Sheriff Jeff Easter's press conference)

Detectives and ATF agents served both residential search warrants including one on 119 Street in Wichita and one on South Hydraulic in Wichita, with support from the Wichita Police Department.

The Wichita Police/Sheriff’s Office SWAT team assisted with one of the home searches. The search warrants at the High Hopes ICT shops were executed solely by Sheriff’s Office detectives and ATF agents at these locations

Deputies recovered several weapons including rifles, handguns a flamethrower, illegal marijuana and other evidence of drug sales, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp; 

Two suspects involved in the illegal drug sales are in custody including 36-year-old Justin Alan Lane and 47-year-old Elliott Maurice Kyles, both of Wichita, were booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility. Lane is booked on a requested charge of distribution of marijuana, and Kyles is booked on a requested charges of possession of narcotics and possession of marijuana.

Both have prior felony weapons convictions, according to Easter.

🎥Flamethrower seized in drug raid at Kan. homes, dispensaries

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are working to find the driver&nbsp; responsible for a fatal hit-and-run.

Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded&nbsp;to the 1000 block of Fredericksburg Road where officers found the body later identified as 35-year-old Mary Levingston of Kansas City, Missouri, on the shoulder of the road, according to a media release from the Excelsior Springs Police Department. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Preliminary investigation indicates that she suffered blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Police have not identified as suspect vehicle or driver.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 816-639-2000 or the anonymous TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Police: Kansas City woman killed in hit-and-run

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/deepti-hajela">DEEPTI HAJELA</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">longest government shutdown in U.S. history</a>&nbsp;is over — on paper, at least. But the American public isn’t done with it yet: Getting everything back up and running doesn’t happen all at once.

The disruption of the closure, clocking in at 43 days, varied in its impact. Some people, like unpaid federal workers, were immediately and directly affected. Others included recipients of federal funding through programs like Head Start and food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

As the shutdown progressed, effects rippled. Delays and flight cancellations started racking up for passengers as the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to cut back on flights because of air traffic controller shortages. There were closures at Smithsonian museum sites and the National Zoo (although the animals still got fed).

That’s a lot of programs, agencies and systems. Reclaiming “normal” won’t be instantaneous. Here’s a guide to what reopening looks like:

WHAT HAPPENED: About 1.25 million federal workers haven’t been paid since Oct. 1, missing about $16 billion in wages, according to official estimates. The workers were either furloughed or worked without pay in agencies across the federal government. Many struggled to make ends meet during that time, and the regional economy around Washington, D.C., took a hit.

WHAT NOW: The Office of Personnel Management, which manages the civil service, posted on X that federal workers were expected to be back Thursday, saying that “employees are expected to begin the workday on time. Normal operating procedures are in effect.” The pay owed to the workers will come in by Nov. 19. The money will go out in four separate tranches, depending on the agency, according to a senior administration official.

WHAT HAPPENED: The shutdown coincided with the arrival of colder temperatures, and funding for the $4.1 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-heating-assistance-liheap-winter-7bcec80a167bd01f442d6dabe1149b71">Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was halted</a>, prompting some states to delay payments for heating bills.

WHAT NOW: A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said Thursday that an agency within HHS will “work swiftly to administer annual awards,” but no timeline was given. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, said it could take until mid-December or longer. Wolfe said recipients should still submit applications and tell utility companies they’re waiting for the funds. It’s trickier for people who rely on oil and propane because typically there are no protections. Recipients should check with their state; Vermont backfilled funding and Connecticut has pledged to cover the cost.

WHAT HAPPENED: The shutdown caused significant disruptions in aviation, with more and more unpaid air traffic controllers missing work as they dealt with the financial pressures and some of them picked up side jobs. Those staff shortages, combined with some troubling safety data, prompted the government to order airlines to cut some of their flights over the past week to relieve pressure on the system.

WHAT NOW: Those cuts aren’t increasing right now, but the Federal Aviation Administration won’t lift the order until safety metrics improve. Airlines say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-faa-airlines-flight-cancellations-delays-448c28a07c167408e859657377300954">they expect to resume normal operations</a>&nbsp;quickly after that. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that controllers and other FAA employees should receive 70% of their back pay within 24-48 hours of the end of the shutdown, with the rest to come.

WHAT HAPPENED: Among the most high-profile impacts of the shutdown was on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">the SNAP program</a>, which serves around 42 million people — about 1 in 8 Americans — in lower-income households. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-food-aid-024906c49fec6126585900ef916698f8">series of court rulings</a>&nbsp;and shifting policies from the Trump administration led to a patchwork distribution of November benefits. While some states had already issued full benefits, about two-thirds of states had issued only partial benefits or none at all.

WHAT NOW: On Thursday, state officials said they were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-snap-food-states-6cef598c92000bdff8384a9da1bfd23c">working quickly to get full benefits</a>&nbsp;to the millions of people who missed their regular monthly payments. Some states said SNAP recipients should receive their full monthly benefits starting Thursday or Friday, though it could take up to a week.

WHAT HAPPENED: When it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-government-shutdown-d5208fd1bc34af54a4ab78490989634c">Head Start</a>, the shutdown had held up the distribution of federal grant payments. Some affected centers remained open by furloughing portions of their staff or tapping into emergency reserves. Others were forced to close, shutting down child care for thousands of families. Head Start serves children from birth to age 5 who come from families that qualify for federal low-income guidelines, are homeless or receive public assistance. The program provides preschool education as well as developmental screenings and free meals.

WHAT NOW: The Office of Head Start will expedite funding and directly contact the impacted programs to share a timeline of when they can expect federal money, said Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The office is already operating at a reduced capacity after experiencing substantial layoffs earlier this year. But even when programs receive their money, program leaders worry of staffing shortages if too many furloughed employees already found other jobs. Some advocates said it could take several weeks for some of the programs across the country to receive funding and restore operations.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Internal Revenue Service had closed walk-in assistance centers.

WHAT NOW: The centers are being reopened. The agency said all tax deadlines remain in effect but a backlog of paper correspondence developed during the shutdown, so responses will be delayed. Social Security recipients continued receiving payments throughout the shutdown. Local offices also remained open, though they had temporarily suspended a few services, including replacing Medicare cards and updating earnings records.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Education Department laid off 466 Education Department staffers in the cross-government firings meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the shutdown. Those layoffs had been halted by a federal judge. The department furloughed 2,117 employees at the start of the shutdown, but some were brought back for essential work. New grants were also put on hold during the shutdown. Most school districts received the bulk of their federal funding over the summer, but some grants have been delayed.

WHAT NOW: The department said Thursday it had brought back all furloughed staff members or those dismissed in the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-education-department-special-education-shutdown-3c066e2b1799c96a50e14dd63f46cd96">mass firings</a>. Recipients of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-schools-education-department-impact-aid-85ac39f25699a4568c5c1ca628db13ad">Impact Aid</a>, which boosts the budgets of districts with large amounts of federal land that can’t be taxed for local schools, were waiting to learn when their payments would be processed.

WHAT HAPPENED: Members of the U.S. military dealt with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/troop-pay-shutdown-military-congress-trump-961b81b2990ac1bd03041e5586028764">weeks of anxiety over</a>&nbsp;whether they would get paid as they continued working. The Trump administration ultimately found ways to pay troops for the two pay periods during the closure. But the process was fraught; the administration located the money just days before each paycheck. Pay arrived days later than usual for many service members with early direct deposit, disrupting their ability to pay bills and forcing some to pay late fees or rack up debt. Reimbursements for the cost of moving between bases, which affects roughly 400,000 military families each year, were paused during the shutdown, advocates said. And weekend drills for many reservists were canceled, eliminating a chunk of pay that can be several hundred dollars each month.

WHAT NOW: Civilians in the Defense Department began returning Thursday. According to a memo provided to The Associated Press, the Air Force said civilians could take a day of administrative leave or work remotely for up to a week. Several military officials said the impacts on active-duty troops have been minimal.

WHAT HAPPENED: The country’s national parks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-national-parks-liberty-bell-4c30b0b6db4ba8a7d0583a2d5fe58022">largely stayed open</a>&nbsp;through the shutdown with limited staffing.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-parks-government-shutdown-af5768dcac5ed9921350ca7112949676">Outside groups</a>&nbsp;and state governments had picked up the tab during the shutdown to keep visitor centers running and help with trash cleanup at many parks. And the Trump administration tapped into previously collected entrance fees to pay for cleaning restrooms and other basic services. But the efforts didn’t stop vandals from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/protectNPS/posts/what-appears-to-be-recently-painted-graffiti-has-been-spotted-in-arches-national/1169584318658742/" target="_blank">defacing rock features</a>&nbsp;along Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park in Utah and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GettysburgFoundation/posts/sometime-on-tuesday-october-14-one-of-the-stone-walls-at-devils-den-was-toppled-/1231050439061077/" target="_blank">toppling a stone wall</a>&nbsp;at Devil’s Den in Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

WHAT NOW: National Park Service employees were ordered back to work Thursday. It will take time for rangers to fully assess parks, including backcountry areas, and more damage could yet be discovered, said Kristen Brengel with the National Parks Conservation Association. No fees were collected during the shutdown, costing parks almost $1 million a day in lost revenue.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Smithsonian buildings and the National Zoo were first closed Oct. 12. They are typically open every day except Christmas. The 20 sites together hosted more than 16 million people last year, and the organization has more than 3,600 federal employees. While the zoo has been closed, the popular livestream feeds capturing the famous giant pandas were offline. The normally active social media pages sharing animal updates and colorful photographs were silent. The animals continue to be fed and get care.

WHAT NOW: Two of the Smithsonian’s museums along the National Mall – American History and Air and Space – were to reopen Friday. The organization says on its website that the rest of the Smithsonian’s sites across the Washington area and New York will reopen by Monday on a rolling basis.

Associated Press journalists Tia Goldenberg, David A. Lieb, Makiya Seminera, Susan Haigh, Josh Funk, R.J. Rico, Annie Ma, Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin, Matthew Brown and Hannah Fingerhut contributed to this report from around the country.