106-years old never looked this healthy, as Pauline VanDerbur is still going strong.&nbsp;

Salina Post had a chance to speak with VanDerbur, her two daughters/twins (born 5 minutes apart), Cheri Harp and Carol Reed alongside grandson, Dave Harp. VanDerbur used to live at the former Pioneer President's Place apartment complex, which is now being renovated as the&nbsp;"RL Lofts."

VanDerbur along with other senior residents were required to move out last Fall due to renovation.&nbsp;

Read more: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e17a8d89-55b3-43a4-86c4-840a15d6860a">Former Roosevelt-Lincoln school, now apartment complex under $20 million renovation</a>

Born in 1919 (which was the same year the Roosevelt building was built, south of Lincoln building) on a farm north of Riley County.&nbsp;After she graduated high school, Vanderbur moved to Manhattan and worked at the College Inn restaurant.

Manhattan is where she met her beloved husband, Everett. Both were married for 67 years.

Pauline also moved to Abilene, where she helped fried 200 chickens for the community when Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president in 1953.&nbsp;

Not only did Pauline cook great meals for her family, the College Inn and South Middle School, but was also a hairdresser and a brownie scout leader.

Her daughters told Salina Post she also loved to knit, crochet and play cards but has not lately due to Macular Degeneration.

Despite that, frequent hospice care visits tell Pauline her vitals are great and still remains in good health as well as memory.

"We are just amazed she is doing good," said Cheri. "We always joke, when she is dead her vitals will still be good."

"I am grateful to be healthy and I am ready to be with Jesus," said Pauline.

VanDerbur has lived at the former&nbsp;Pioneer President's Place apartment complex for 18 years, before remodeling took place.

Her grandsons: Dave, Dayna, Denise, Chad Reed and her great-grandchild, Brandon Clark attended middle school at Roosevelt-Lincoln.

The construction for the remodeled apartment complex, RL Lofts is slated to be completed October 2026, according to&nbsp;Tony Krsnich of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flinthillsusa.com/">Flint Hills Holdings Group</a>&nbsp;(FHHG).

FHHG bought the complex from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com/pioneer-presidents-place-salina-ks/wkxtc1j/">Pioneer Property Group</a>&nbsp;to conduct a&nbsp;$20 million renovation.

The former Pioneer President's Place, was an apartment complex that housed 61 units only available for 55 and older residents.&nbsp;

RL Lofts once completed will now be available for all ages.

According to Krsnich, all seniors who used to live at the complex before renovation will have a right of first refusal.

"If the express interest in coming back, they are on top of our list," he said.

"I would plan to go back if I was not too old," said Pauline.

However, Carol expressed that she would like for the apartment complex to stay at senior living, instead of opening it up to all ages.&nbsp;

Krsnich stated the complex will be a mixed income of affordable and market rate.

FHHG was awarded $17 million in tax credits by the&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/about/">Kansas Housing Resource Corporation</a>&nbsp;(KHRC)<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/about/"></a>&nbsp;for renovation.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salina-ks.gov/">The City of Salina&nbsp;</a>also awarded FHHG with a 95% tax rebate, making this project to be around a $20 million investment.

Krsnich stated the reason they received these funds was to keep the complex at affordable housing, with 80% of it being affordable for an additional 30 years, once the renovation is complete.

The VanDerbur descendants consist of 4 daughters, 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 19 great-great grandchildren.

106-year old Salina resident reflects on life, same birth year as Roosevelt-Lincoln building

UPCOMING GAMES: Friday at 6PM - SES Girls vs Kingman Friday at 6PM - Sacred Heart Boys vs Belle Plaine Friday at 6PM - Solomon Boys vs Sedgwick

High School Sports LIVE STREAMS

GYPSUM - USD 306, Southeast of Saline has announced the Board of Education has advanced to the finalist interview stage process in search for the next superintendent.

According to USD 306 as part of the final stage, community members and staff will get have a chance to meet each candidate.

Each finalist will participate in a meet-and-greet reception on the day of their interview.&nbsp;

The time for each day will be from 3:40 pm – 4:30 pm and will be located at the&nbsp;Commons area (enter through east doors of school).

Following the completion of all interviews, the Board will select the candidate to serve as the next Superintendent of USD 306.

According to USD 306, names for each candidate with not be released until the first day of the receptions.

Roger Stumpf is the current superintendent and has been since 2018. June 30, 2026 will be Stump's last day and he will be retiring.

USD 306 in final stages for search of next superintendent

Two additional skimmers were discovered at a gas station in north Salina.

Original: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/4371659d-e74c-4a1a-b670-919d02635485">Police: Card skimmers located at gas station in north Salina</a>

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Wednesday at around 3:00 pm, an officer spoke with employees of Flying J (2250 N. Ohio) about the discovery of two other skimmers on two diesel pumps.

Reportedly, after finding the initial two skimmers on Tuesday, the employees had checked the pumps and did not not locate anymore. Prior to calling they checked the pumps and located two new skimmers. 

Employees checked their surveillance taps and observed a white dually pick-up truck, pull up to both pumps for a short amount of time before leaving.

The vehicle was at the pumps between 4:30 am and 4:45 am on the morning of Wednesday.

UPDATE: More skimmers found at north Salina gas station 

Following is recent booking activity for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salinecountyks.gov/Sheriff-Office/Online-search/Booking-Activities">Saline County Jail</a>, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Interfere w/ LEO; unknown circ; misd; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Hawkins Hill,Glennisha Nichelle

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Failure to appear; No Proof Of Insurance; Operate a MV w/o a valid license; Unlawful acts: vehicle registration violation

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; No Proof Of Insurance

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving While Suspended

NAME:&nbsp;Perez Diaz,Gerardo Javier

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Interference with LEO; knowingly flee by means other than motor vehicle for misdemeanor case

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Contempt of Court; Direct

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

*No image available for&nbsp;Tatro,Tawan (41)*

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Defective tail lamps; Display of license plate; Distribute opiate, opium, narcotic, certain stimulant; 100 grams - &lt; 1 kilogram; Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Driving While Suspended; Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose felony warrant; No Proof Of Insurance; Poss of marijuana; Crim poss weapon by a convicted felon; Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp for marijuana or cont substance; Unlawful acts: vehicle registration violation

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; Duty of driver to report; Unattended veh/prop;unkn; Improper driving on laned roadway; Reckless Driving

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner; Domestic battery: Knowing/reckless bodily harm

NAME:&nbsp;Williams,Katie Angel Lee

REQUESTED CHARGE: Failure to appear

Saline County Jail Bookings, February 26

The Souper Bowl of Hope has collected&nbsp;8,553 cans of soup&nbsp;and&nbsp;$5,130 in cash donations. Cash donations will be used to purchase an additional&nbsp;8,551 cans of soup, allowing us to respond to agency needs as they arise.

We expect to get many more cash donations coming in over the&nbsp;next few weeks.&nbsp;

If you have soup that still needs to be picked up, our board members are happy to help. Soup will be delivered directly to the agencies after coordinating delivery times with them.

To schedule a pickup, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:souperbowlhopesalina@gmail.com">souperbowlhopesalina@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;with the following information:

Please ensure soup is bagged or boxed, not overly heavy, and accessible on the ground floor. Also complete the attached form and provide it to the board member at pickup to help us track donations accurately.

Cash donations are welcome at any time—there is no deadline. You may choose one of the following options:

Thank you again for your generosity and for helping make this year’s Souper Bowl of Hope such a success. We truly appreciate your support!&nbsp;&nbsp;If you have questions about the Souper Bowl of Hope, please email&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:souperbowlhopesalina@gmail.com">souperbowlhopesalina@gmail.co</a>m.&nbsp;

Project Salina provides totals of Souper Bowl of Hope

Kansas Scholastic Press Association

The<a href="https://www.kspaonline.org/"> Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA)</a> is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 KPSA Regional Journalism Contest, which awarded the best student journalism from more than 1,800 entries across the state.

In the Regional Contest, students competed in 27 different categories and 11 different classifications organized by geography and school size. Students who finished first through sixth place earned the chance to compete in the state contest.

Salina Central won the Wakarusa Regional, and the following students won awards:

● Katherine Chelvan: first in copy editing, first in feature writing, third in news writing, third in editorial writing, fourth in yearbook copy writing.

● Carissa Winebrenner: first in infographic design, first in headline writing, fourth in news page design.

● Danielle Peckham: first in sports writing, second in yearbook sports writing, third in yearbook copy writing, fifth in editorial writing.

● Tenille Toelle: first in student life photography, second in sports feature photography, second in sports action photography, fourth in sports media photography, fourth in social media.

● Brecklyn Smith: fourth in sports feature photography, fifth in advertising design, fifth in cutline writing, sixth in academic photography.

● Ava Weaverling: first in news writing

● Zach Fritz: first in yearbook sports writing

● Gabby Merry: second in sports media photography, fourth in academics photography

● Elizabeth Yoxall: second in cutline writing

● Gabriel Freeland: second in advertising design

● Holli Crawford: fifth in digital illustration

● Ashlee Bell: fourth in digital illustration, fourth in feature writing

● Zari Barnes-Franklin: second in editorial cartoon, sixth in editorial writing

● Jazlyn Parham: second in infographic design

● Alex Kelley: fourth in headline writing and design, sixth in feature writing

● Hannah Peckham: second in sports writing

● Elizabeth Yoxall, Alex Kelley and Brecklyn Smith: fifth in social media

“Regionals push students to tackle a variety of challenges as they write stories on deadline or craft content to meet contest prompts,” KSPA executive director Barbara Tholen said. “I’m always impressed with the creativity that students bring to these contests.”

KSPA enlists the help of journalism teachers, professional journalists, university faculty members and other journalism experts to judge the entries. In addition to receiving feedback on their own entries, students will also get to see compilations of winning work.

That feedback can help guide students as they prepare entries for the KSPA State Journalism Contest. Based on results from the State Contest, KSPA will determine the sweepstakes trophy winners — the top schools in 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A. Students who finish in first through third place at state receive medals.

Central High School students win big at KSPA Regional Journalism Contests

SALINE COUNTY - An earthquake was reported to have occurred in Saline County Wednesday afternoon.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake happened at approximately 2:14 pm on Wednesday, three miles east of Assaria.

Reportedly, the quake had a very shallow depth of 9.1 km (5.6 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter.

According to Saline County Sheriff's dispatch, there has been no reported injuries.

Earthquake over 3.0 magnitude reported three miles east of Assaria 

Law enforcement has recently located card skimmers on pumps at a gas station in north Salina.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Tuesday, officers were dispatched to Flying J gas station (2250 N. Ohio) for the report of a card skimmer found on one of the diesel pumps.&nbsp;&nbsp;

SPD stated on February 13, a business in town reported they used the diesel pump and noticed fraudulent charges on their credit card.&nbsp;

Officers confirmed of finding the skimmer on the diesel pump. SPD is warning the public if they have used any of the pumps within the last month to be aware of any fraudulent charges.

Skimmers are an illegal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=covert+device&amp;rlz=1C5GCEA_enUS1174US1174&amp;oq=what+are+skimmers&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyDwgAEEUYORiRAhiABBiKBTINCAEQABiRAhiABBiKBTIMCAIQABgUGIcCGIAEMg0IAxAAGJECGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGJECGIAEGIoFMgwIBRAAGBQYhwIYgAQyBwgGEAAYgAQyBwgHEAAYgAQyBwgIEAAYgAQyBwgJEAAYgATSAQk0MTgyajBqMTWoAgywAgHxBbxQeFLqQdoj&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiRs6zdjvWSAxWaL0QIHfgMD5IQgK4QegYIAQgAEAY">covert device</a>&nbsp;installed over, or inside, genuine card readers at ATMs, fuel pumps and point-of-sale terminals to steal credit/debit card data.

Police: Card skimmers located at gas station in north Salina

The suspect connected to stabbing a woman multiple times has been arrested.

Original: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/33229afe-906f-4e11-a7e2-2a79ce1c224c">Police: Woman suffers multiple stab wounds during home invasion</a>

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Tuesday at around 10 am, officers arrested the suspect who is allegedly connected to the home invasion stabbing.

Booked into the Saline County Jail was 42-year old, Alesha Martinez-Reavis. She was booked from the requested charges of:

Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Criminal Threat, Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness, Battery and Criminal Damage to Property.

SPD stated,&nbsp;Martinez-Reavis was charged with&nbsp;Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness because she reportedly threatened to kill the victim if she called police.

The victim has been treated and was released Tuesday morning from the hospital.

UPDATE: Woman connected to home invasion stabbing arrested

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;DWS; 1st conviction; Speeding; maximum limits

NAME:&nbsp;Coble,Matthew James Wayne

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Devor,Jami Colleen-Deva

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;DWS; 1st conviction

NAME:&nbsp;Martinez Reavis,Alesha Valentina

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Agg battery; Knowingly use deadly weapon; Aggravated burglary; Locked dwelling for felony, theft, domestic violence, sexually motivated; Agg intimidation of witness/victim; Threat; Battery; Crim damage to prop;w/o consent &lt;$1K; Criminal threat; Unknown circumstance

NAME:&nbsp;Martinez,Pedro Emmanuel Angel

REQUESTED CHARGES: Failure to appear; Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Saline County Jail Bookings, February 25

<a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.

For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 25 - February 27

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 23 - February 25

According to the US National Weather Service, light snow will impact much of the central Kansas area Friday evening.&nbsp;Between 1-2 inches of snow is expected across central Kansas, with locally higher amounts possible.&nbsp;

Salina is in the area where it could receive 1 - 2 inches of snow. 

Use extra caution if traveling tonight as slick spots are possible, especially on elevated surfaces.

Additionally, wind chills are are expected to be in the single digits across central Kansas. 

Salina's chills could get as low as 5, with a 23 degree low temperature.

Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.

Single digit wind chills, light snow across central Kansas Friday evening 

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 20 - February 22

Thursday's cold front is expected to cause flurries and wintry mix for Friday across Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service, light snow or flurries will impact central Kansas Friday night with a rain/snow mix further south. 

Snow accumulations up to a dusting are possible as well.

Furthermore, the cold front that moved across the region Thursday will lead to much cooler temperatures and even a chance for some light snow. Friday's highs will generally be in the 40s and lows in the upper teens and 20s.

Weather: Cold front expected to cause flurries and wintry mix across Kansas 

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 18 - February 20

Gusty winds and dry conditions throughout central Kansas resulting in extreme grassland fire danger on Tuesday

According to the US National Weather Service, these gusty southwest winds will result in extreme grassland fire danger in the afternoon and evening throughout central Kansas.

Salina is in the area of the extreme grassland fire danger.

West winds are expected to increase late in the day gusting to around 45 mph at times in the region. 

However, clouds may limit fire weather concerns further east in south central and southeast Kansas although a very high grassland fire danger is still expected.

Gusty winds and dry conditions causing extreme grassland fire danger in central Kansas

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 16 - February 18

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 13 - February 15

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 11 - February 13

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas city man faces multiple felony charges&nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred during an attempted home invasion in 2024.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2814/Perkins-Redacted-Complaint">Sheldon Perkins</a>, 34,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Felony Murder, 1st Degree Attempted Robbery, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, 1st Degree Burglary, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2815/Perkins-Redacted-PC">According to court records</a>, Kansas City detectives determined Perekins allegedly recruited two other men, including his brother, to help him rob the occupants of a Kansas City residence on August 26, 2024. The three men forced their way into the home, where an altercation ensued with one of the occupants of the residence.&nbsp;

During the struggle, a firearm belonging to one of the intruders became loose. The second occupant of the home picked up the firearm and fired at the men. The gunfire killed one of the intruders and injured the other two, including the defendant, who fled the scene and checked into a nearby hospital.&nbsp;

The occupant who fired the shots called 911 to report the attempted robbery and shooting.

When Kansas City police arrived at the residence, they found one victim outside the home with gunshot wounds to the back. He was transported to a nearby hospital and determined to be paralyzed as a result of the shooting. Inside the residence, officers found a second victim who was deceased.&nbsp;

DNA testing of the firearms recovered at the crime scene found the Perkin’s DNA on two of the firearms.

Suspect was wounded in failed KC home-invasion robbery

WYANDOTTE COUNTY- A man wanted for murder in Denver remains behind bars in Kansas, after a multi-agency traffic stop.

Just after noon, Feb. 20, The FBI and Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department's Special Operations Unit and Violent Crimes Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from KCK Police.

During the stop, police arrested 20-year-old Yeanbraiker Yriarte-Valera who&nbsp;was a passenger inside the vehicle.

Yriarte-Valera is being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on&nbsp;a first-degree murder charge from Denver and a separate hold from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to online jail records.

Murder suspect captured in Kansas also wanted by ICE

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a preservationist group’s request to block the Trump administration from continuing construction of a $400 million ballroom where it demolished the East Wing of the White House.

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.47.0.pdf">U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled</a>&nbsp;that the National Trust for Historic Preservation was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its bid to temporarily halt President Donald Trump’s project. He said the privately funded group based its challenge on a "ragtag group of theories" under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution, and would have a better chance of success if it amended the lawsuit.

“Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President’s constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, Plaintiff didn’t bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,” the judge wrote.

The preservationists sought an order pausing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-ballroom-57512e0d91432f75529946fddfbfe2c5">ballroom project</a>&nbsp;until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.

Trump used his social media account to hail the ruling as “Great news for America.” The Republican president said the project was ahead of schedule and under budget and "will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America.”

Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said the group was “disappointed" that no injunction was issued but “pleased that Judge Leon ruled that the National Trust has standing to bring this lawsuit, as we have asserted from the start.”

“We are also pleased that he encouraged us to amend our complaint — specifically, to assert that the president has acted beyond his statutory authority — and we plan to do so promptly,” Quillen said in a statement. “The judge indicated he will rule expeditiously once we do so, and we will await his decision.”

The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer. By late October, the Republican president had demolished the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that he said will fit 999 people. The White House said private donations, including from Trump himself, would pay for the planned construction of a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom.

Trump proceeded with the project before seeking input from a pair of federal review panels, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump has stocked both commission with allies.

The arts panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-ballroom-commission-fine-arts-f2a15d0b1c9c95f24816fe60b6b1ee5f">approved the project</a>&nbsp;at a meeting last week. The planning commission is set to discuss it further at a March 5 meeting.

During a preliminary hearing in December, Leon warned the administration to refrain from making decisions on underground work, such as the routing of plumbing and gas lines, that would dictate the scope of future ballroom construction above ground.

The group challenging the project argued that Trump could be emboldened to go further — and possibly demolish the White House’s West Wing or Executive Mansion — if the court did not intervene.

“The losers will be (the) American public, who will be left with a massive ballroom that not only overwhelms what is perhaps the nation’s most historically important building, but will have been built in violation of an astonishingly wide range of laws,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.33.0.pdf">plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote</a>.

The administration said in a court filing that above-ground construction on the ballroom would not begin until April. In the meantime,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.14.0_2.pdf">government lawyers argued</a>, the preservationist group’s challenge was premature because the building plans were not final.

The administration also argued that other presidents did not need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, large and small.

“Many of those projects were highly controversial in their time yet have since become accepted—even beloved—parts of the White House,” government lawyers wrote.

Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said the White House office behind the project is not an agency covered under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge also said the preservationists, who argued that the ballroom usurped the authority of Congress, did not have the basis to invoke the power of the courts.

As a result, “I cannot reach the merits of the National Trust’s novel and weighty statutory arguments” at this time, Leon said.

Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.

Trump responds to judge's decision on $400 million ballroom project

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —&nbsp;FIFA World Cup games will go around-the-clock, but under current law the alcoholic drinks in Kansas will stop before the final whistle.&nbsp;

A proposed Senate bill would change that.

Proponents are worried that fans will cross the border to Missouri, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/sports/world-cup/where-kansas-city-area-cities-stand-on-23-hour-alcohol-sales-during-world-cup-in-missouri" target="_blank">already passed</a>&nbsp;legislation to extend liquor sales to 23 hours of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sen. Adam Thomas, a Republican from Olathe with decades of restaurant experience, modeled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb393/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 393</a>&nbsp;after Missouri’s law.&nbsp;

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. The reason this was brought is because as we know, last year Missouri already passed this,” Thomas said. “As we know, KCK is not that far from the state line.”

The bill would authorize bars, restaurants and liquor stores to sell liquor from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. for the duration of the World Cup, which is predicted to bring&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-disaster-declaration-prepares-state-for-world-cup-visitor-boom/">650,000 visitors</a>&nbsp;this summer. Thomas said the one-hour window is to give restaurant staff time to recoup.&nbsp;

The proposed change is a jump from current&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/abcsaledays.html#:~:text=When%20Can%20Alcoholic%20Liquor%20and%20Cereal%20Malt,more%20restrictive%20hours%20via%20ordinance%20or%20resolution" target="_blank">liquor sale hours</a>. Under current law, liquor stores can generally sell from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with various restrictions on the weekends, and bars from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.&nbsp;

Kansas will be the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/news/kansas-city-selected-by-four-national-teams-for-base-camps-emerging-as-the-base-camp-capital-of-the-fifa-world-cup-2026tm" target="_blank">home base</a>&nbsp;for two teams: Argentina at Kansas City’s Sporting KC Training Center, and Algeria at Lawrence’s Rock Chalk Park. Missouri will have two teams as well, with England at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Netherlands at Riverside’s KC Current Training Facility.&nbsp;

Janez Lomshek, who owns bars and grills in Johnson County, testified on behalf of the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association. Lomshek said he already has invested tens of thousands of dollars in renovations in anticipation.&nbsp;

“Our current alcohol sales hour restrictions risk preventing us from fully accommodating this international moment,” Lomshek said in his written testimony. “A meaningful share of visitor spending — especially during late-night or early morning games due to global scheduling — could easily cross State Line Road into Missouri.”

“With a full one-third of Kansas alcohol licensees located within 10 miles of the Missouri border, and about 26.4% in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties alone (including businesses like mine), this cross-border diversion represents a real threat to local revenue,” he added.

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