Very strong northwest winds and a grassland fire danger are expected to occur Thursday morning most of western and central Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service, wind gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range will commonly occur throughout the central Kansas region.

Strong winds will combine with dry conditions to elevate the grassland fire danger into the extreme category on Thursday with peak timing from around 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Any fires that start will be difficult to control.

Moreover, some locations may see visibility reduced which may result in dangerous driving conditions, especially along Interstate 70 west of Salina.

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.

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>.

Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and grassland fire danger expected Thursday 

Trump: Military members will receive a special Warrior Dividend before Christmas

Earlier this month, 831 households in Salina received a community survey from the City of Salina requesting input to support an application for a <a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/cdbg/#:~:text=The%20Community%20Development%20Block%20Grant,low%2D%20to%20moderate%2Dincome%20neighborhoods%20thrive.">Community Development Block Grant</a> (CDBG) through the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The CDBG program provides funding for projects that help low-to moderate-income neighborhoods thrive.&nbsp;Projects range from sidewalks to community centers, youth job training programs, and much more.

The funding would support improvements to the North Town Community Garden &amp; Orchard, located at the former Stimmel Elementary School site.

North Town Community Garden &amp; Orchard is a&nbsp;project led by the North Salina Community Development, Inc. meant&nbsp;to revitalize the North Town District, offering residents space to grow food, build community, beautify the area, and promote healthy living through shared gardening, workdays, and educational opportunities

The project is a public-private partnership between the City of Salina, Lakewood Discovery Center, K-State Research &amp; Extension, North Salina Community Development, Trinity United Methodist Church and the Community Resilience Hub at Kansas Wesleyan University.

All survey responses are anonymous and will be tabulated by a neutral third party. City staff and officials will not see individual responses. 

Each survey includes a number identification code to ensure anonymity. 

To be counted, surveys must be completed in full and returned by December 31, 2025.

Community participation is essential to the success of this grant application. In late January and February, volunteers will follow up with in-person visits to households that have not yet responded.

This survey is solely for the purpose of applying for CDBG funding. Completed surveys should be returned using the provided postage-paid envelope to the Finance Department, 300 West Ash St., P.O. Box 736, Salina, KS 67402-0736.

For questions about the survey, contact:

Angelica Carrillo-Hernandez Grants Coordinator, City of Salina Phone: 785-833-8079 Email: angelica.carrillo@salina.org

City of Salina seeking public input from surveys for grant to support North Town Community Garden & Orchard 

Two juveniles and an 18-year old were accused for the burglary committed at a Salina vape lounge, with the possibility of another suspect involved.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Tuesday at around 7:00 pm, officers were dispatched to a northeast Salina home for the report of two 17-year old males and an 18-year old male possibly connected to the <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/ab67353f-9984-41d8-be4b-02d6eddebda6">Juicy's Vapor Lounge burglary</a>&nbsp;on December 9.

ORIGINAL: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/ab67353f-9984-41d8-be4b-02d6eddebda6">Two suspects sought after burglarizing Salina vape lounge</a>

Guardians of the home reported to SPD that the trio could be possibly connected to the crime, due their room having a large number of vape items.

Officers then determined the suspects could be connected to the burglary and took all three into custody.

All three were interviewed by SPD, and officers determined one of the 17-year olds and the 18-year old were connected to the crime. Moreover, SPD stated the trio may have attempted to burglarize two other vape shops in Salina (Smokes 4 Less &amp; Vape N Cigar).

On <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/7ec7753a-e0f2-4593-ad18-9cf302df400c">Friday, December 12</a> SPD published a Crimestoppers report for tips regarding the crime.

SPD booked Kayden Dayberry (18) into the Saline County Jail for the requested charges of Criminal Damage to Property and Burglary.

The 17-year olds were placed on the same requested charges as Dayberry and were referred to the Saline County District Court.

The investigation is ongoing, as more requested charges are pending with the possibility of another suspect.

UPDATE: Two juveniles and 18-year old accused for crimes at Salina vape lounge, possibility of another suspect

A Salina Casey's employee was arrested for stealing over 100 lottery tickets since November.

According to Salina Police Department (SPD) on Tuesday at around 9:00 am, the Casey's (500 N. Ohio) reported that a male employee stole over 100 lottery tickets from the store.

The lottery tickets were valued at $2,700.

Reportedly, he had been committing the crime since November 30 to December 14.&nbsp;

Lottery tickets in Kansas are tracked using barcodes and a centralized computer system that logs each ticket sale and activation.

Officers arrested the suspect identified as 37-year old, Robert Davis.

Davis was booked into the Saline County Jail for Felony Theft. He also had a warrant out of Russell County.

Casey's employee arrested for stealing over 100 lottery tickets 

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Theft of prop/services;Value $1,500 to $25,000

NAME:&nbsp;Dayberry, Kayden Lee Edward

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Burglary;Locked non-dwelling to commit felony, theft, domestic violence, or sexually motivated crime; Crim damage to prop;w/o consent &lt;$1K; Burglary;Locked non-dwelling to commit felony, theft, domestic violence, or sexually motivated crime; Crim damage to prop;w/o consent $1K-$25K

NAME:&nbsp;Garcia, Michael Alejandro

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Criminal damage to property; Felony

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Jorgensen, Kelssey Lane

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp;Martinez, Carlos Yovani

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Battery; Knowing/recklessly causing bodily harm; Crim damage to prop;w/o consent &lt;$1K

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Contempt of Court; Direct

NAME:&nbsp;Wilson, Nicole Alphonsine Elaine

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving While Suspended; Driving while habitual violator

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 17

Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation

DICKINSON COUNTY - The <a href="https://www.dkedc.com/">Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation</a> (DKEDC) is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2025 Business &amp; Best of Dickinson County Awards open December 1, and will remain open through January 23, 2026.

The annual awards recognize standout businesses, organizations, community leaders, and employees who make Dickinson County a great place to live, work, and thrive. 

Winners will be honored at the DKEDC Annual Awards Gala on February 21, 2026.

This year’s eleven categories include:

Community members are encouraged to nominate businesses and individuals who made a positive impact across Dickinson County in 2025. Nominations are free and can be submitted online by clicking <a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DEX2jRjGQ0SEWqmqanwCeYAQqrUbk1hNlfxkzAKNSYtUOE1CTlFVU1o5MkUzUjJJOUo0OTBXOTRKNC4u">here</a>

You can also access the nomination link on the DKEDC Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DKEDC">page</a>.

For more information and updates on the Awards Gala, visit the DKEDC <a href="https://www.dkedc.com/">website</a>.

Nominations open for the 2025 Business & Best of Dickinson County awards 

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

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 17 - December 19

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 (subject to change)&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, how to submit an obituary

Out of an abundance of caution, the Salina Animal Shelter was closed to the public for much of Tuesday, according to a social media report from the shelter. The staff is busy working complete additional cleaning and sanitizing protocol after three stray puppies come into care of the shelter on Tuesday that tested positive for Parvovirus (Parvo) upon intake.

Staff remain on-site caring for the animals.

For urgent animal-related needs, please call 785-826-6535. The shelter plans to reopen to the public on Wednesday.

Temporary closure at Salina animal shelter

SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Tuesday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Nissan Kicks driven by Carol S. Owen, 47, Hubbell, was southbound in&nbsp;the 500 block of Ohio Street in Salina. The vehicle crossed over the northbound lanes, struck the curb, entered the east ditch, struck a tree and came to rest facing southbound, partially in the ditch and northbound lane.

EMS transported Owen to Salina Regional Health Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. woman hospitalized in Salina after SUV strikes a tree

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 15 - December 17

Four day weather forecast Salina, December 12 - December 15

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 10 - December 12

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 8 - December 10

Four day weather forecast Salina, December 5 - December 8

According to the US National Weather Service, there is a slight chance of snow flurries for Wednesday afternoon and into the evening in Salina.

A chance of sprinkles before 4:00 pm, then a chance of sprinkles and flurries.&nbsp;Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a north wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

A chance of flurries before 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 15. North northeast wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Slight chance of flurries in Salina Wednesday evening

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 3 - December 5

What a way to start December, as accumulated snow has touched down in Salina and several areas throughout central Kansas.

KDOT webcams (See above) showing accumulated snow on roadways at Russell and Great Bend in central Kansas early this morning. This will create hazardous travel conditions during the morning commute.

Salina is under a winter weather advisory until 6:00 pm on Monday. The high for today is 28, and the low is 14.

The US National Weather Service has provided winter travel safety tips for those who are will be traveling on the roads for the holidays.

- Share your travel plans with friends or family.

- Frequently check weather forecasts in your area.

Accumulated snowfall throughout Salina and central Kansas kicks off month of December

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 1 - December 3

KANSAS CITY—A suspect in a deadly Kansas City gas station killing is facing multiple charges.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2777/Stallings-RED-COMPLAINT-AS">Adrian Stallings</a>, 27, is charged with 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

On November 18, Kansas City police responded to a gas station and located a victim inside the store, shot multiple times. He was confirmed deceased on the scene.&nbsp;

Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and observed a man, later identified as the Stallings, enter the gas station store, speak with the victim and other individuals present briefly, and then approached the clerk at the register to purchase an item.&nbsp;

Stallings then looked back at the group of individuals and asked what they were laughing at and an argument and altercation ensued. Stallings pulled out a firearm and shot at the victim, who fell to the ground. Stallings then shot at the victim again as he was on the ground. He stepped back and then stepped forward and fired a third time toward the victim’s head and then fled.&nbsp;

Detectives used department resources to help identify Stallings including booking pictures and social media. Stallings&nbsp;is being held without bond.&nbsp;

Court records: KC man killed victim after group laughed at him

WASHINGTON — President&nbsp;Donald Trump delivered a speech from the White House Wednesday night.

🎥Highlights of President Trump's address to the nation

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday paid his respects to two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-us-military-attack-palmyra-is-22f67e54c1a15fcc643de2672b83aacb">an attack in the Syrian desert</a>, joining their grieving families as their remains were brought back to the country they served.

Trump met privately with the families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before the dignified transfer, a solemn ritual conducted in honor of U.S. service members killed in action. The civilian was also included in the transfer.

Trump, who traveled to Dover several times in his first term, once described it as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-ae37de2f1c6b450ab60ce236c8f04450">“the toughest thing I have to do”</a>&nbsp;as president.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-attack-iowa-national-guard-islamic-state-38dd71dca411213f3789ccdb94e37f4e">The two guardsmen</a>&nbsp;killed in Syria on Saturday were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, according to the U.S. Army. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, and have been hailed as heroes by the Iowa National Guard.

Torres-Tovar’s and Howard’s families were at Dover for the return of their remains, alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, members of Iowa’s congressional delegation and leaders of the Iowa National Guard. Their remains will be taken to Iowa after the transfer.

A U.S. civilian working as an interpreter, identified Tuesday as Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, was also killed. Three other members of the Iowa National Guard were injured in the attack. The Pentagon has not identified them.

They were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

The process of returning service member remains

There is no formal role for a president at a dignified transfer other than to watch in silence, with all thoughts about what happened in the past and what is happening at Dover kept to himself for the moment. There is no speaking by any of the dignitaries who attend, with the only words coming from the military officials who direct the highly choreographed transfers.

Trump arrived without first lady Melania Trump, who had been scheduled to accompany him, according to the president’s public schedule. Her office declined to elaborate, with spokesperson Nick Clemens saying the first lady “was not able to attend today.”

During the process at Dover, transfer cases draped with the American flag that hold the soldiers’ remains are carried from the belly of a hulking C-17 military aircraft to a waiting vehicle under the watchful eyes of grieving family members. The vehicle then transports the remains to the mortuary facility at the base, where the fallen are prepared for burial at their final resting places.

Iowa National Guard members hailed as heroes

Howard’s stepfather, Jeffrey Bunn, has said Howard “loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out.” He said Howard had wanted to be a soldier since he was a boy.

In a social media post, Bunn, who is chief of the Tama, Iowa, police department, said Howard was a loving husband and an “amazing man of faith.” He said Howard’s brother, a staff sergeant in the Iowa National Guard, would escort “Nate” back to Iowa.

Torres-Tovar was remembered as a “very positive” family-oriented person who always put others first, according to fellow Guard members who were deployed with him and issued a statement to the local TV broadcast station WOI.

Dina Qiryaqoz, the daughter of the civilian interpreter who was killed, said Wednesday in a statement that her father worked for the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq from 2003 to 2007. Sakat is survived by his wife and four adult children.

The interpreter was from Bakhdida, Iraq, a small Catholic village southeast of Mosul, and the family immigrated to the U.S. in 2007 on a special visa, Qiryaqoz said. At the time of his death, Sakat was employed as an independent contractor for Virginia-based Valiant Integrated Services.

Sakat’s family was still struggling to believe that he is gone. “He was a devoted father and husband, a courageous interpreter and a man who believed deeply in the mission he served,” Qiryaqoz said.

Trump’s reaction to the attack in Syria

Trump told reporters over the weekend that he was mourning the deaths. He vowed retaliation. The most recent instance of U.S. service members killed in action was in January 2024, when three American troops died in a drone attack in Jordan.

Saturday’s deadly attack followed a rapprochement between the U.S. and Syria, bringing the former pariah state into a U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

Trump has forged a relationship with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-sanctions-trump-treasury-state-2ed65c895905e2e7bc385098a6ab1301">interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa</a>, the onetime leader of an Islamic insurgent group who led the ouster of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-816e538565d1ae47e016b5765b044d31">former President Bashar Assad</a>.

Trump, who met with al-Sharaa last month at the White House, said Monday that the attack had nothing to do with the Syrian leader, who Trump said was “devastated by what happened.”

During his first term, Trump visited Dover in 2017 to honor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-d4bccd7dc3a64e56aa51ad75379d1ef6">a U.S. Navy SEAL killed during a raid</a>&nbsp;in Yemen, in 2019 for two Army officers whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-ae37de2f1c6b450ab60ce236c8f04450">helicopter crashed in Afghanistan</a>, and in 2020 for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-pays-tribute-to-2-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan-e85a952dbdc71d23f592064073518da3">two Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire.

Trump pays respects to National Guardsmen, interpreter killed in Syria 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Police have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with an ongoing child abuse investigation.

Just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to an EMS assist call at a residence in the 5500 block of South Handley in Wichita, according to a media release.

 Upon arrival, officers found a 1-year-old child unresponsive. The child was transported to a medical facility in critical condition and is currently listed as critical but stable.

Five children were in the home at the time of the incident, ranging from 6 months old to 9 years old. In addition to the 1-year-old, the 6-month-old was also taken to the hospital for medical treatment. All five children have been placed in police protective custody.

Wichita police began investigating at the scene, which led to the arrest of the 30-year-old Kevin D. Mitchell, identified according to county booking records.&nbsp;

Police will present their case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration.

2 children hospitalized, Kansas man arrested for alleged abuse

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daniel-bongino">FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he will resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief and tumultuous tenure in which he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-dan-bongino-bondi-trump-fbi-0f02f67b6c97fc50e4d93bc4dbf4c4d0">clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files</a>&nbsp;and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracy-theories-bondi-bongino-fbi-a143076353acbc1193cb9697e7fc4a90">provocative claims he made in his prior role</a>&nbsp;as a popular podcast host.

The departure would be among the highest-profile resignations of the Trump administration,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-george-floyd-kash-patel-72ac540b4d5afd90d6be3199ac808630">coming as the firing of career agents</a>&nbsp;has contributed to upheaval at the FBI and as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kash-patel">Director Kash Patel</a>&nbsp;faces continued criticism over his use of a government plane for personal purposes and social media posts about active investigations.

Bongino announced his departure, which had been expected, in a post on X in which he said he was grateful for the “opportunity to serve with purpose.” He did not say precisely when in January he would leave or reveal his future plans, but President Donald Trump, in response to a question earlier in the day about Bongino's fate, said: “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”

Bongino was always an unconventional pick for the No. 2 job at the FBI, a position that historically has entailed oversight of the bureau’s day-to-day operations and has been typically held by a career agent. Though he had previously worked as a New York City police officer and Secret Service agent, neither he nor Patel had any experience at the FBI before being picked for their jobs. But both came in pledging overhauls to an FBI they insisted had been weaponized against Trump.

Bongino was installed in the role in March by Trump after years as a conservative podcast host, where he used his platform to repeatedly rail against FBI leadership and to encourage conspiracy theories related to the Epstein sex-trafficking case and pipe bombs discovered in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

Once in the job, he used social media to communicate directly to Trump supporters restless over a perceived lack of action by the new FBI leadership to address their concerns. He reassured them the FBI under his watch was giving renewed attention to issues like the pipe bomb case,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-wade-supreme-court-leaked-draft-opinion-c6a923f6e370672f4a5ccfd3be325786">the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion in 2022</a>&nbsp;and the discovery of cocaine in the White House during the Biden administration.

Yet he struggled to placate elements of Trump’s base who expected him to quickly deliver the reform he had long said was needed at the FBI and to uncover the truths he claimed had been hidden by the federal government.

On the Epstein case, for instance, he had previously challenged the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">official ruling that the wealthy financier had taken his own life</a>&nbsp;in a New York jail soon after his 2019 arrest. But after his arrival in the bureau, he said in a Fox News interview: “I’ve seen the whole file. He killed himself.”

Bongino had separately speculated as recently as last year that the pipe bombs placed on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot were an “inside job,” the truth shielded by a “massive cover-up.” He was presented with those same comments when the FBI earlier this month arrested a 30-year-old Virginia man with no evident connection to the federal government, promoting skepticism from some that investigators had actually arrested the right person.

“I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions, that's clear,” Bongino said in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity. “And one day, I'll be back in that space but that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director and we base investigations on facts.”

Questions about Bongino's future had lingered for months, particular after a tense exchange at the White House last July with Attorney General Pam Bondi&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">following the abrupt announcement by the FBI and Justice Department</a>&nbsp;that they would not be releasing any additional records from the Epstein investigation.

After that encounter, Bongino, normally active on social media, went silent from his FBI account for several days. Far-right activist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-waltz-laura-loomer-national-security-council-959b718b04b240c5c8ba3736b4d8aa62">Laura Loomer</a>, who is close to Trump, posted on X at the time that she was told that Bongino was “seriously thinking about resigning” and had taken the day off to contemplate his future.

In August, the Trump administration took the unusual step of adding a co-deputy director, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.

FBI Deputy Director Bongino says he plans to resign next month 

RENO COUNTY—The Reno County Sheriff has identified the UPS driver who died in the accident with a train on Tuesday as&nbsp;has 47-year-old Darick Navarro of Hutchinson

Just after 3p.m. Tuesday, deputies from the Reno County Sheriff's Office along with Burrton Fire and EMS, Reno County EMS, and Kansas Highway Patrol, were dispatched to a train, UPS truck collision at Blanchard and Woodberry in eastern Reno County. 

  Arriving units located a UPS delivery truck with heavy damage. The driver, later identified as Navarro, was removed from the vehicle and emergency services began life saving procedures. He was pronounced deceased by EMS on scene.  The train was occupied by two BNSF employees who were uninjured.

Sheriff IDs  Kansas UPS driver who died in collision with a train

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.25 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing after lottery officials said no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Monday night.

The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. Here is a look at the largest U.S. jackpots won and the places where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-california-los-angeles-business-0a72f926487b51b7a6d60451679f8c76">Los Angeles-area gas station</a>.

2. $1.787 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025. The winning tickets were sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198">in Missouri and Texas.</a>

3. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a liquor store in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-california-6ad701f4a9ebb4df7a3afe8ecee2eb30">tiny California mountain town</a>.

4. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mega-millions-jackpot-claimed-florida-8c86594edcd16cdcda7521059ef7c7ed">supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida</a>.

5. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016. The winning tickets were sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-e22dde0b7ace4c87b230b84be827a0fe">Los Angeles-area convenience store</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article60951392.html" target="_blank">Florida supermarket</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-4c8a00811ae84fa49fe25a4035a51fc4">Tennessee grocery store</a>.

6. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6ef692a129b049a8bbf9eb4e77a8b91e">South Carolina convenience store</a>.

7. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-lottery-identity-lawsuit-8cc884a8b0b3e3cbc14629b4d8e2b180">Maine gas station</a>.

What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

The stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-house-health-care-plan-obamacare-subsidies-208b30670d0486c8d27ceb59c59003e0">health care bill</a>&nbsp;that does not address the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-tax-credits-affordable-care-act-2b5ae3651ff16783a00e00dc1ce264bf">soaring monthly premiums</a>&nbsp;that millions of people will soon endure when the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire at year’s end.

Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill, which would extend the subsides for three years.

Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed on Wednesday morning, pushing it to the magic number of 218. A vote on the subsidy bill could come as soon as January under House rules.

“Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

Johnson told reporters Wednesday that “I have not lost control of the House” and he noted that Republicans have a razor-thin majority that allows a small number of members to employ procedures that would not usually be successful in getting around leadership.

“These are not normal times,” said Johnson, R-La.

The revolt against GOP leadership came after days of talks centered on the health care subsidies.

Johnson had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party's conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed marketplace through the ACA, which is widely known as “Obamacare.”

House Republicans pushed ahead Wednesday a 100-plus-page health care package without the subsidies, instead focusing on long-sought GOP proposals designed to expand insurance coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed.

Fitzpatrick and Lawler tried to add a temporary extension of the subsidies to the bill, but were denied.

“Our only request was a floor vote on this compromise, so that the American People’s voice could be heard on this issue. That request was rejected. Then, at the request of House leadership I, along with my colleagues, filed multiple amendments, and testified at length to those amendments,” Fitzpatrick said. “House leadership then decided to reject every single one of these amendments.

“As I’ve stated many times before, the only policy that is worse than a clean three-year extension without any reforms, is a policy of complete expiration without any bridge," Fitzpatrick said.

Lawler, in a social media post, similarly said that “the failure of leadership” to permit a vote had left him with “no choice” but to sign the petition. He urged Johnson to bring the plan up for an immediate floor vote.

Jeffries, for several weeks, had called on Republicans to sign his discharge petition. He particularly challenged Republicans in competitive congressional districts to join the effort if they really wanted to prevent premium increases for their constituents.

“Mike Johnson needs to bring the bill to the floor today,” Jeffries said. “Our position from the very beginning was that we are standing on the right side of the American people who want to see the Affordable Care Act tax credits extended, and we’re appreciative that we now have the bipartisan coalition to get that done.”

Even if the subsidy bill were to pass the House, which is far from assured, it would face an arduous climb in the Republican-led Senate.

Republicans last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-vote-affordable-care-act-obamacare-6ffc1ea9f878c6b3da995589ef8a012c">voted down</a>&nbsp;a three-year extension of the subsidies and proposed an alternative that also failed. But in an encouraging sign for Democrats, four Republican senators crossed party lines to support their proposal.

Republicans defy Speaker to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies

Less than two months after pleading guilty in the deaths of 32-year-old Kalsey Payton and a 4-year-old girl, 37-year-old Wendell Payton was sentenced Monday afternoon to consecutive life terms in Reno County District Court.

27th Judicial District Judge Daniel Gilligan ordered two 50-year sentences for first-degree murder to run consecutively, resulting in a controlling sentence of 100 years without the possibility of parole. Payton will not be eligible for parole consideration until after serving 50 years. Additional sentences related to aggravated arson, child endangerment, and interference with law enforcement were ordered to run concurrently with the homicide sentences.

Payton pleaded guilty on Oct. 17 to two counts of intentional, premeditated first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated endangering of a child, two counts of interference with law enforcement officers, and domestic battery against Kalsey Payton. As part of the plea agreement, Payton waived his right to appeal the sentence.

The charges stem from a Feb. 1 fire at a residence in the 1000 block of East Third Avenue in Hutchinson. Kalsey Payton and the 4-year-old girl were found inside the home after firefighters responded to the reported blaze.

Kan. man sentenced for murder of wife and 4-year-old daughter

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department says it has upgraded its investigation into Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over a video where he and other members of Congress told members of the military they didn’t need to follow illegal orders.&nbsp;

“The Office of the Secretary of War, in conjunction with the Department of War’s Office of the General Counsel, is escalating the preliminary review of Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.), to an official Command Investigation,” a spokesperson for the department wrote in an email Monday night.&nbsp;

“Retired Captain Kelly is currently under investigation for serious allegations of misconduct,” the spokesperson continued. “Further official comments will be limited to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.”

Paul J. Fishman, an attorney at the Arnold &amp; Porter law firm who is representing Kelly, wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26379142-ltr-to-secretary-phelan-dec-15-2025/#document/p1" target="_blank">a Monday letter</a>&nbsp;to the secretary of the Navy that “there is no legitimate basis for any type of proceeding against Senator Kelly, and any such effort would be unconstitutional and an extraordinary abuse of power.”

“If the Executive Branch were to move forward in any forum—criminal, disciplinary, or administrative—we will take all appropriate legal action on Senator Kelly’s behalf to halt the Administration’s unprecedented and dangerous overreach,” Fishman wrote.&nbsp;

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had set Dec. 10 as the deadline for the secretary of the Navy to recommend what to do about Kelly’s appearance in the video, but that came and went without any public announcements.

Hegseth also remained silent on the matter after rebuking Kelly weeks ago for posting the video where he and five other Democrats warned against illegal orders.

Kelly said on Dec. 9, one day before the deadline, he hadn’t received any information from the Navy or other administration officials.&nbsp;

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