After over a year and a half long case of the iconic UFO-themed mural that was put on hold at the Cozy Inn in Salina, the case has been decided.

ORIGINAL:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c2b8cce8-158c-43af-b5d3-ea1b14718b75">Cozy Inn phone conference cancelled, awaiting update on what will happen next</a>

The <a href="https://kansasjusticeinstitute.org/">Kansas Justice Institute</a> (KJI) who have been representing Cozy Inn owner, Steve Howard, has just announced that U.S. District Court Judge Toby Crouse, has ruled that the City of Salina violated the First Amendment by ordering the hamburger joint to stop painting its UFO-themed mural, marking a major legal victory for the century-old burger restaurant.

Samuel MacRoberts (attorney representing Howard), confirmed the case is final and Howard won the case.

According to a press release by the KJI, McRoberts stated "Salina’s officials don’t get to play art critic, picking&nbsp;and choosing which murals stay, and which go."

Click <a href="https://kansasjusticeinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Press-Release-Order-11-19-25.pdf">here</a> to view the full release.

“The ruling is clear, to the point, and correct. Salina’s officials don’t get to play art critic, picking and choosing which murals stay, and which go. The right to free speech doesn’t work that way and never has. At the end of the day though, because of Steve and The Cozy, Salina’s mural-scene just got a little bit better,” MacRoberts said.

“Salina is my hometown, I love it here,” said Howard. “I’m incredibly excited I get to finish my mural. The reason I love this community, this town, is because of all of the support everyone has given me. Thank you for standing behind me and supporting me through this."

Throughout the case, Judge Crouse stated Salina has shown that its sign ordinance is not "impermissibly vague." 

This warranted a summary judgment in Salina’s favor on the plaintiffs’ Fourteenth Amendment claim, after&nbsp;Howard and Cozy Inn alleged that Salina’s sign code "is impermissibly vague" in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

However, Judge Crouse's final ruling was that Salina’s code violated the First Amendment, giving favor over to the Cozy Inn.

A per the ruling, the City cannot anymore enforce its current mural-sign distinction or indefinitely delay permit applications based on the content of a display.

Howard, filed the lawsuit with help from KJI in early 2024.&nbsp;

According to a press release from the the City of Salina, they are working with its attorneys to "evaluate the broader implications of the court’s order and potential next steps towards resolution of the matter."

This lawsuit has cost the City more than $500,000 in legal expenses.

There is no clear answer on if the City will appeal the ruling.

Click <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/079c42f4-9e0e-416d-876c-26c5aa59d510">here</a> to read how it all started.

UPDATE: Cozy Inn wins lawsuit, City of Salina violates First Amendment

After the breaking news surfaced that the US Federal Court ruled the Cozy Inn can keep their&nbsp;UFO-themed mural, Salina Commissioners "may" issue comments in the next city commission meeting.

"We’re not going to have any official comment other than the <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/3465160f-9f32-4640-8781-f1bf6a57fcc7">city’s recent press release</a> regarding the case. That may change after our executive session this coming Monday," said Salina Mayor, Greg Lenkiewicz.

The current commissioners, Lenkiewicz, Jerry Ivey, Trent Davis, Bill Longbine and Michael Hoppock, along with the City of Salina, were named as defendants in the lawsuit that the Cozy Inn filed on February 2024.&nbsp;

The next Salina city commission meeting will take place on Monday, November 24 at&nbsp;4:00 pm&nbsp;inside&nbsp;Room 107&nbsp;of the&nbsp;City-County Building,&nbsp;300 West Ash Street.

Salina Commissioners 'may' give comments about Cozy Inn lawsuit ruling in next commission meeting

KWU announced Wednesday morning that the 2026 version of Night with the Yotes, one of the university's marquee events, will be held on Friday, Feb. 20. 

Tickets will go on sale in the near future.&nbsp;Last year, more than 600 people attended and 75 corporate sponsors helped the university raise in excess of $200,000. That set a new high water mark in the event's 14 years.&nbsp;

Continued sound and light upgrades to Sams Chapel, long-term planning for KWU's strength and conditioning areas and general upgrades for Art and Design, Theatre and DECA were among the specific areas supported.

For more information on Night with the Yotes 2026, stay tuned to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwu.edu/NWTY26">www.kwu.edu/NWTY26</a>&nbsp;or call the university's Advancement Office at 785-833-4392. You can also contact KWU Advancement to donate or support the event.

KWU announces date for 2026 Night with the Yotes

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;Glover, Abraham William

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Lingle, Tyler Brandon

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

NAME:&nbsp;Moreno, Larry Gomez&nbsp;&nbsp;

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp;White, Phillip Ray Ezekiel

Saline County Jail Bookings, November 19

The US National Weather Service (USNWS) has issued Saline County a "Dense Fog" advisory until 11:00 am Wednesday morning.

The USNWS posted on Facebook&nbsp;a screenshot from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), of dense fog along I-70 near mile marker 229, at Lincoln Hill in central KS at 7:46 am (see above).

Please be cautious on the roads and drive safely during this advisory.

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>.

Saline County under "Dense Fog" advisory Wednesday morning

The Kansas Impact Coalition (KIC) is inviting the community to a "Community&nbsp;Swap Meet Fundraiser," meant to bring&nbsp;neighbors together, support local families and kick off an evening of downtown festivities.

This event will occur on&nbsp;Saturday, November 22, from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm at&nbsp;The Temple (336 S. Santa Fe).

KIC has provided details on how to participate:

- Donate $2 at the door or bring a canned good.

Once inside, attendees can explore a lively mix of selling, trading and bartering. Community members will be offering a variety of items, talents, skills, and collections making every table a little different and full of surprises.

Guests are welcome to enjoy nachos, a 50/50 raffle and good company as KIC will be building momentum for the downtown parade at 6:00 pm.&nbsp;

All proceeds support KIC'S work in community outreach, advocacy and year-round support services.

For more information, vendor questions or to get involved, please contact Kansas Impact Coalition at&nbsp;785-342-2638 kansasimpactcoalition@gmail.com

For their website, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasimpactcoalition.com/">https://www.kansasimpactcoalition.com/</a>

Kansas Impact Coalition inviting community for "Swap Meet Fundraiser" at The Temple

<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>

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 19 - November 21

Kansas Wesleyan’s Music Department will launch its “Holiday Magic” concert series Wednesday night with a special percussion ensemble event, beginning at 7 p.m. The performance will begin a six-event stretch during the next two-plus weeks, culminating in Dec. 7’s “Christmas by Candlelight.”

“We’re excited about changing our holiday performance schedule,” said Michelle Dolan, executive director of Music. “A series like this provides community members and supporters a chance to see all of our ensembles in a short span of time, helping to showcase all that’s great about KWU Music. We hope to see large crowds at all the events!”

Following Wednesday night’s percussion concert, Dr. Caitlin Jones will come to campus for a guest artist percussion event Nov. 21. All are welcome to the 7 p.m. performance. Daniel Albertson, KWU’s percussion instructor, will offer a recital Dec. 1 to continue the series, and the orchestra, wind ensemble and jazz band will team up the following night for a concert event. A vocal student recital is set for Dec. 4, as well.&nbsp;

“Holiday Magic” wraps up Dec. 7 with “Light Born of Light,” this year’s “Christmas by Candlelight” event. The performance is at 6 p.m., a change from previous years, but no tickets are required.&nbsp;

All concerts except the Dec. 4 recital will be held in Sams Chapel. Dec. 4’s event will take place at University United Methodist Church.

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

KWU Music Dept. ready to launch beloved holiday concert series 

Christ Cathedral announces the return of its unique annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans worship service and Feast of St. Andrew, set for Saturday, November 29 at 6:00 pm at the Cathedral (138 S. Eighth Street in downtown Salina).

The Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans spotlights the Scottish tradition of having family and clan tartans blessed during the holiday season. The Saturday-evening service and potluck are open to the public.

“All are welcome to “put on their Scottish” for the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans,” said Rev. Shay Craig, Dean of Christ Cathedral. “The holiday-season Kirkin’ service of blessing and potluck meal offer our community a taste of Scottish music, traditions and food in a beautiful historic setting.”

At 6 p.m. that Saturday night, attendees will be led into the Cathedral by area bagpipers for a service including Holy Eucharist (communion), festive music and ancient prayers. The tartan kilt, sash, scarf, or fabric swatch of any families in attendance will be blessed as their clan (family) names are “called” out loud in turn, whether or not they are of Scottish ancestry.

Immediately following the worship service is a potluck Ceilidh (‘KAY-lee’) supper, a Scottish Shortbread Dessert Buffet and fo r those age 21 and over, a Scotch Whisky tasting in the library. The evening ends as those in attendance select the Parish Chieftain to wear a special sash at the next year’s Kirkin’.

Today’s modern-day Kirkin’ traditions link back to mid-16th-century Scotland. After the English defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces in the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the wearing of tartans and playing of bagpipes were forbidden. The display or wearing of a family tartan was punishable by death. Scots continued to wear a hidden piece of tartan to church, and their minister secretly would slip in a blessing, or kirking, of the tartans into the worship service.

Celebration of Scottish roots is appropriate for Salina, as three of its four founding families were Scottish. Historically, American Episcopalians owe a debt to the Scottish Episcopal Church. The Church of England would not consecrate the first American bishop elected post-Revolution, unless he swore allegiance to the Crown. When he wouldn’t, Scottish bishops agreeds to consecrate Samuel Seabury in Aberdeen on Nov 14, 1784, asking in return that he incorporate the Scottish Rite for the Eucharist into the American prayer book. Features of this Rite are still in use today.

The first recognized Kirking service in America was held in Washington, D.C. in 1941. The tradition has since grown in popularity. Beyond spotlighting Episcopalian heritage and Scottish culture, Christ Cathedral’s Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans and Feast of St. Andrew potluck encourage participants to reflect on their own family and ethnic heritage.

Those wishing to stay for the potluck Ceilidh (‘KAY-lee’) or reserve a “Whisky In the Library” free ticket should RSVP to the church by Friday, November 21 at 785-827-4440 or to ChristCathedral@ChristCathedralSalina.org. 

Those joining in the potluck meal are welcome but not required to bring a holiday side dish or a dozen shortbread cookies. 

Recipe ideas are available at: <a href="https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/collections/scottish-recipes/">https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/collections/scottish-recipes/</a> or : <a href="https://www.foodtimeline.org/">https://www.foodtimeline.org/</a>

For more information on the festive, annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans or other Cathedral holiday happenings, visit <a href="https://www.christcathedralsalina.org/">ChristCathedralSalina.org</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christcathedralsalina">https://www.facebook.com/christcathedralsalina</a>.

Celebrate "Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans" at Christ Cathedral on Thanksgiving weekend

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

The groundbreaking for <a href="https://www.presbyterianmanors.org/communities/salina-presbyterian-manor/">Salina Presbyterian Manor's</a>&nbsp;$10 million expansion project has officially begun, and the community gathered together to celebrate the start of what will "Preserve Legacies and Enrich Lives."

On Tuesday, the celebration took place at the main campus of the Manor. A great crowd gathered to witness of what will start the $10 million project.

According to Director of Giving, Jenni Jones, the Manor has exceeded its $10 million goal, thanks to generous donors, grants, and employees, residents and volunteers who have all pitched in.

Executive Director, Melissa Brumbaugh joined the Manor in 2023 and was immediately given the leadership role to help fund the project. She thanked all the residents by saying "without them, we would not be here. They are our why behind this project and everything we do."

The Manor has received support from the Kansas Department of Commerce (KDOC) through their community service program tax-credits. According to the KDOC, the tax-credits are meant to unlock philanthropic giving and help major fundraising campaigns.

Dennis Oakes who is a lifelong resident with his wife Martha, stated "they have made the right decision" as far as fully committing to living at the Manor.

"The Manor has done a great job of creating a community environment, where residents can interact and share their experiences," said Oakes. "The staff here has given us the lifestyle we were hoping for and are grateful for the peace of mind that their assistance and dedication provide."

Current residents also gave their comments on the expansion and how their experience is, living at the Manor:

"It's the place to be, because they have everything you need."

"We would not want to be anywhere else and this expansion is very exciting."

"The staff here is wonderful and all of our needs are being met."

Volunteer, Jerri Phillips has worked with the Manor for 15-20 years and is on the waiting list of being a resident. She stated she is most looking forward to becoming a resident and enjoys her volunteer work at the Manor.

This project started with phase one in 2022, as 29 new villas were established, custom-built for vibrant and independent older adults.

Phase two is the "Preserving Legacies, Enriching Lives" fundraising campaign. 

- New rehab center for staff and therapists to work with residents on-site

The Manor is Salina's only nonprofit retirement community living center. It provides the fill continuum of care for aging adults, offering variety, choice and the freedom to enjoy life on one's own terms. The Manor has a strong reputation for its quality services.

View the full event by clicking below:

🎥 Salina Presbyterian Manor celebrates groundbreaking of $10 million expansion project

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 17 - November 19

Four day weather forecast Salina, November 14 - November 17

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

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;signed legislation Wednesday that compels his administration to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting those efforts.

Trump could have chosen to release many of the files on his own months ago.

“Democrats have used the ‘Epstein’ issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories,” Trump said in a social media post as he announced he had signed the bill.

Now, the bill requires the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in a federal prison in 2019, within 30 days. It allows for redactions about Epstein’s victims for ongoing federal investigations, but DOJ cannot withhold information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”

It was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-congress-trump-house-297a66ce48bd2a67c571bc643e32ef71">remarkable turn of events</a>&nbsp;for what was once a farfetched effort to force the disclosure of case files from an odd congressional coalition of Democrats, one GOP antagonist of the president, and a handful of erstwhile Trump loyalists. As recently as last week, the Trump administration even summoned one Republican proponent of releasing the files, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, to the Situation Room to discuss the matter, although she did not change her mind.

But over the weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-trump-congress-c858fcd7d587bb61d1b73753487b0ee1">Trump did a sharp U-turn</a>&nbsp;on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable. He insisted the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the GOP agenda and indicated he wanted to move on.

“I just don’t want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories that we’ve had,” Trump said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon, explaining the rationale for his abrupt about-face.

The House passed the legislation on a 427-1 vote, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clay-higgins-epstein-files-124f8e8104f7d39b0b57d0e8b8305386">Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., being the sole dissenter</a>. He argued that the bill’s language could lead to the release of information on innocent people mentioned in the federal investigation. The Senate later approved it unanimously, skipping a formal vote.

It’s long been established that Trump had been friends with Epstein, the disgraced financier who was close to the world’s elite. But the president has consistently said he did not know of Epstein’s crimes and had cut ties with him long ago.

Before Trump returned to the White House for a second term, some of his closest political allies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracy-theories-bondi-bongino-fbi-a143076353acbc1193cb9697e7fc4a90">helped fuel conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;about the government’s handling of the Epstein case, asserting a cover-up of potentially incriminating information in those files.

Trump rips Dems as he signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files

JOHNSON COUNTY —A former school paraprofessional who admitted having a sexual relationship with a student was sentenced last week.

Judge Jacquelyn Rokusek sentenced 28-year-old Kassidy Alexander of De Soto to 34 months in prison for unlawful sexual relations. Alexander was later placed on probation for 36 months, according to court documents filed Thursday.&nbsp; She must also register as a sex offender, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In August, Alexander was charged with unlawful sexual relations, according to online jail records in Johnson County.&nbsp; She is a former USD 232 Desoto school district employee at&nbsp;Lexington Trails Middle School.

On September 11,&nbsp; Alexander pleaded guilty to a single count of unlawful sexual relations with a student, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office. Two other counts of unlawful sexual relations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The crime involved events occurring from July 25, 2022, to March 2024, involving someone 16 years or older, a student in the school, according to court documents.

Plea deal kept Kan. school district para out of prison for sex crimes

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The prosecution of former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/james-comey">FBI Director James Comey</a>&nbsp;hit another hurdle Wednesday as the Justice Department encountered mounting questions about how the case was presented to a grand jury for indictment.

The development risked further imperiling a politically charged prosecution already subject to multiple challenges and demands for its dismissal. It came during a hearing in which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-justice-department-trump-russia-fbi-e28deb290bd8f65f411fa11b64b93bad">Comey's lawyers asked</a>&nbsp;U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff to throw out the case on grounds that the government was being vindictive and as a separate challenge to Lindsey Halligan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-letitia-james-justice-department-ff6435d7bdbcc9e9495844899c7e2c4e">the hastily appointed and inexperienced prosecutor</a>&nbsp;who secured the indictment, is pending.

The Justice Department's acknowledgment under questioning from a judge that the full grand jury did not review a copy of the final indictment is the latest indication of its seemingly disjointed pursuit of a criminal case against one of President Donald Trump's political enemies. Comey was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-4ff1ecb621884a728b25e62661257ef0">fired by Trump in May 2017</a>&nbsp;while overseeing an FBI investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign. The two have been publicly at odds ever since, with Trump deriding Comey as “a weak and untruthful slime ball” and calling for his prosecution.

Concerns about the legal process came into focus earlier in the week when a different judge in the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-halligan-justice-department-d663148e16d042087210d4d266ea10ae">raised questions about what he said were “profound investigative missteps,”</a>&nbsp;including misstatements of law to the grand jury. The Justice Department denies that the process was tainted by irregularities.

Halligan initially asked the grand jury to return a three-count indictment against Comey. But after the grand jurors rejected one of the proposed counts, the Justice Department subsequently secured a second two-count indictment that accused Comey of making a false statement and obstructing Congress. Comey has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

In a blistering ruling Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick, also handling parts of the case, said that after reviewing a transcript of the grand jury proceedings, he had questions about whether the full grand jury had reviewed the final two-count indictment that was returned.

Nachmanoff, the trial judge, pressed the Justice Department about Fitzpatrick's concerns during a court session Wednesday that chiefly focused on Comey's vindictiveness arguments. After conferring privately with Halligan, Tyler Lemons, one of the prosecutors, acknowledged that the revised indictment was not shown to all of the grand jurors.

“I was not there, but that is my understanding, your honor,” Lemons said.

Nachmanoff called Halligan to the lectern and asked her who was present when the final indictment was presented to a magistrate. She said only two grand jurors, including the foreperson, were there.

Comey lawyer Michael Dreeben called the government’s failure to present the final indictment to the entire grand jury grounds for dismissing the case. He also argued that the statute of limitations for the charged crimes has elapsed without a valid indictment.

“That would be tantamount to a bar of further prosecution in this case,” Dreeben said.

Nachmanoff did not issue an immediate decision, saying “the issues are too weighty and too complex” for a bench ruling.

The Justice Department dismissed the import of the revelation in a pair of Wednesday evening filings, saying that the two charges in the final indictment were identical to the two counts the grand jury approved when presented with the proposed indictment.

“Given that the grand jury was presented with the two counts on which it voted to return an indictment and in fact voted upon those counts,” prosecutors said, the case need not be dismissed.

Dreeben separately argued that the prosecution was improperly vindictive and rooted in Trump’s quest for retribution, circumstances requiring a dismissal.

“The president’s use of the Department of Justice to bring a criminal prosecution against a vocal and prominent critic in order to punish and deter those who would speak out against him violates the Constitution,” Dreeben said.

Though vindictive prosecution motions are not often successful, Comey’s lawyers have laid out a laundry list of verbal attacks from Trump in hopes of establishing the case as an outgrowth of the president's personal animus.

Trump amplified his long-running demands for a Comey prosecution with a September social media post&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/letitia-james-eastern-district-of-virginia-trump-8c84bd8603a4b932f9cb2e451ef057a3">in which he complained to Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;about the lack of action against his political opponents. “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation,” Trump wrote, adding that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

“If this is not a direction to prosecute,” Dreeben said in court, “I’d really be at a loss to say what is.”

The night of that post, Trump said he would appoint Halligan, a White House aide without prior prosecutorial experience, as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, on an interim basis. She replaced a veteran prosecutor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-letitia-james-siebert-trump-9ec1a96c05fa77d8acc558bd803622a2">who was effectively forced from the job</a>&nbsp;after not charging Comey or another Trump foe,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/letitia-james">New York Attorney General Letitia James.</a>

Halligan secured an indictment of Comey days later as the statute of limitations on the case was about to expire. The charges are related to sworn testimony about whether Comey had authorized an FBI colleague to serve as an anonymous source to the news media.

Asked by Nachmanoff whether he considered Halligan to be a “stalking horse” or “puppet” for the administration, Dreeben demurred and opted against that characterization. But, he said, “She did what she was told to do."

Presidents, Dreeben said, have other tools at their disposal to punish critics, but bringing the full weight of the Justice Department to bear is impermissible.

“The government cannot use power of criminal prosecutions to attempt to silence a critic in violation of the First Amendment,” he said.

Lemons, the Justice Department prosecutor, insisted that Comey was indicted by a “properly constituted” grand jury because he broke the law — not because Trump ordered it.

“The defendant is not being put on trial for anything he said about the president,” Lemons said.

Lemons said nobody directed Halligan to prosecute Comey or seek his indictment.

“It was her decision and her decision only,” he added.

But Nachmanoff noted that Trump appointed Halligan just days before she presented the Comey case to the grand jury.

“What independent evaluation could she have done in that time period?” he asked Lemons.

Nachmanoff asked Lemons whether he has seen a “declination memo” in which prosecutors had outlined reasons for not seeking an indictment against Comey. Lemons said the department had instructed him not to disclose that “privileged” information.

Stunning admission in prosecution of former FBI Director

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement in Kansas City, Missouri are investigating another homicide.

Just before 11p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting the 8200 block of President Court, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Several 911 callers heard the sound of gunfire and believed someone had been shot at the apartment complex.

First responders located a male shooting victim unresponsive in the parking lot there. Officers called for EMS, who responded and transported the victim to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. 

Preliminary investigation indicates the victim had an interaction with one or more suspects in the parking lot at the apartment complex there that led to gunfire that struck the victim. The unknown suspects then left the scene. 

In the early hours of Wednesday, detectives were notified that the victim died at the hospital from his injuries. This is now a homicide investigation and the Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation.

KCPD: Shooting victim found in apartment parking lot died from injuries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles because an instrument panel can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Federal auto safety regulators said that the instrument panel may not display at startup, leaving the driver without critical safety information.

The recall includes 128,607 Ford Bronco Sports, model years 2025-2026 and 101,002 Ford Broncos, also model years 2025-2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Ford is not aware of any injuries caused by the instrument panel failure.

Owners will be notified by mail beginning Dec. 8 and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealership to have the software updated.

Ford recalls Bronco and Bronco Sports for instrument panel failure

SEDGWICK COUNTY—&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash near K-15 Highway and 55th Street South oh Tuesday have identified the victim as&nbsp;39-year-old Luis M. Cardenas of Wichita, according to sheriff's department spokesman Branden Stitt.

Just after 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, a Kansas Department of Transportation worker found a Ford F-250 pickup that had crashed into a bridge just north of the intersection of K-15 Highway and 55th Street South.

The KDOT worker reported an apparent ejection. Deputies, Sedgwick County EMS, and Sedgwick County Fire District 1 responded. Cardenas, the driver and pickup’s sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the preliminary investigation by the Major Crash Team, the pickup was traveling south in the 5400 block of South K-15 when, for an unknown reason, it left the roadway and struck the bridge railing. The impact caused Cardenas to be ejected from the vehicle.

An autopsy and toxicology testing will help determine whether impairment was a factor in the crash.

Sheriff IDs fatal crash victim found by KDOT worker 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-shutdown-trump-05385ab8931fd0911a44ae8343ffba74">Education Department</a>&nbsp;is breaking off several of its main offices and giving their responsibilities to other federal agencies, an early look at how President Donald Trump could fulfill his campaign pledge to close the department entirely.

Offices that serve the nation’s schools and colleges would go to departments ranging from Labor to Interior. Education officials say the moves won’t affect the money Congress gives states, schools and colleges. They didn’t say whether current department staff would keep their jobs.

Since he took office, Trump has called for the dismantling of the Education Department, saying it has been overrun by liberal thinking. Agency leaders have been making plans to parcel out its operations to other departments, and in July the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-scotus-layoffs-student-loans-f24637f2a1d57432f6dc24d082e95b9b">upheld mass layoffs</a>&nbsp;that halved the department’s staff.

In recent days, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has started a public campaign for the end of her department, making the case on social media that Education’s grantmaking and question-answering functions could be better handled by states and other federal agencies.

While the necessity of the department is up for debate, it’s also unclear how well-equipped other state and federal departments are to take over the Education Department’s responsibilities. The department sends billions of dollars to schools and colleges and helps decipher complex federal laws. It will be a test for the administration: Can the department be shut down smoothly, or will rural and low-income kids and students with disabilities — the populations that most rely on federal education support — be impacted?

Here’s what the Education Department currently handles, where its responsibilities will go to other federal agencies and what will stay the same.

While American schools are funded primarily by state and local money, the Education Department serves as a conduit for billions of dollars of federal aid going to state and local education agencies.

Education officials say that money will continue to be awarded as allocated by Congress, but much of it will flow from another federal agency. Most notably, the Department of Labor will oversee some of the largest federal funding streams for schools and colleges, including Title I money for schools serving low-income communities. Adult education programs already were moved to Labor in June.

Another deal will put Health and Human Services in charge of a grant program for parents who are attending college. The State Department will take on money to fund foreign language programs. Interior will oversee programs supporting Native American education.

One of the department’s major roles is management of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Student aid so far will be largely unaffected, although McMahon and Trump have suggested it could be better handled by a different federal department.

Pell Grants and federal loans will continue to be disbursed, and student loan borrowers must continue making payments on their debts.

The website for the Free Application for Student Aid, or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-students-college-15246e6ba2d99b333983053dabb2961b">FAFSA</a>, remains open — a key piece of how colleges and universities provide aid packages to incoming students. The Education Department will continue to handle support for people navigating the complicated form.

The Education Department also will continue to oversee another major part of higher education: accreditation, which allows colleges to accept students’ federal financial aid.

For now, the department will continue to distribute money to schools to provide educational support for students with disabilities, though McMahon has suggested this function could move to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Education Department also oversees investigations into schools and universities alleged to have violated disability rights law, along with other civil rights violations such as discrimination involving sex, race and shared ancestry.

Those responsibilities will remain with the department for now, although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">McMahon has suggested</a>&nbsp;sending them to the Department of Justice.

In any case, since the mass layoffs in March, the Office for Civil Rights has operated under a significantly reduced footprint. The department’s civil rights branch lost about half of its staff. The cuts raised questions about whether the office would be able to shrink a backlog of complaints from students who allege they have experienced discrimination on the basis of race, sex or disability status.

The department’s own data has shown a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-civil-rights-disability-54c4b4a228b4b30e6a6751ec745b3915">decline</a>&nbsp;in resolving civil rights cases, while new complaints from families have increased.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Education Department is being dismantled. Here’s what that means

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.&nbsp;

Just before 7p.m. Tuesday, a police officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in the 500 block South 5th Street in Atchison for a traffic violation, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 A sheriff’s deputy was on the scene with a K-9 and alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. A smoking device containing methamphetamine was subsequently located in the vehicle and the driver, Martin Winfield, was taken into custody. He is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Kan. sheriff's K9 alerted to smoking device containing meth

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital in Johnson County.

Just after 11p.m. Monday, the Shawnee Police Department, Shawnee Fire Department, and Johnson County MED-ACT responded to a report of a shooting in a parking lot in the 10300 block of Shawnee Mission Parkway.

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