Salina Police are informing the public and seeking tips for suspect(s) who committed three burglaries.

Read more: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a431e1b9-e3e6-4322-a431-f2e9e0776864">Salina Police searching for suspect(s) connected to three burglaries</a>

According to the Salina Police Department,&nbsp;On Friday, December 19 business burglaries were reported at The Boy Scouts of America (644 S. Ohio) and All Eyes on You Salon (905 E. Prescott). 

Forced entry was gained into both buildings. 

Taken from the Boy Scouts of America were numerous food items, cash, keys, plastic cups and a Boy Scout medal. Total damage and loss were valued at over $3000.

Taken from All Eyes on You Salon were multiple gift cards, cash, an HP laptop, and 24 necklace chains with connectors. Total damage and loss were valued at over $4000.

Also reported that same day was a residential burglary which occurred just a couple of blocks down from the salon in central Salina. 

The suspect(s) entered an attached garage and stole a black Kastking tacklebox, a silver lighter, and a wallet. Total loss was valued at over $100. 

Recovered from the scene was a Boy Scout medal and several food items which had been stolen from the Boy Scouts of America.

Surveillance video from the area showed the suspect (see above).

If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS.

You can also make an online tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>.

You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, case 2025-33993.

UPDATE: Tips sought by Salina Police for a suspect(s) connected to three burglaries

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 26

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

<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 fo

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 26 - December 28

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 25

Christmas is probably, if not the most beloved holiday amongst us all. The countdown to December 25 is what we long for, and is a great time where families and friends come together for gift-giving, eat delicious foods, sip on some eggnog and do other well-known traditions.

But, what is the origin of the holiday and what is its true meaning? Also, where does the concept of Santa come from?&nbsp;

Before Christmas actually became a holiday, the <a href="https://www.history.com/articles/winter-solstice">Winter Solstice</a>&nbsp;(known as the shortest day and longest night of the year) was a time where ancient&nbsp; cultures&nbsp;held feasts and celebrated holidays during that time. Since it was the longest/darkest night of the year, cultures used fire and light which became traditional symbols.

Ancient Rome also got in on the fun and&nbsp;held several celebrations around the time of the winter solstice, including <a href="https://www.history.com/articles/saturnalia">Saturnalia</a>, which is a&nbsp;pagan festival honoring the agricultural god "Saturn."

Moreover, Rome added more celebrations into the mix, including the birthday of Mithra (ancient Persian god of light) on December 25.

Once Christianity was established, the first recorded Christmas that celebrated the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/december-25/christ-is-born">birth of Jesus</a> is often cited to occur in AD 336. This then became a religious service that recognized Jesus' birth, as the Roman government at the time, decided to celebrate this on December 25.&nbsp;

It is important to note, it is not quite clear on the exact date of Jesus' birth, though many Bible commentators including <a href="https://www.icr.org/henry_morris/">Dr. Henry M. Morris</a>, speculated Jesus was born on September.

By the fourth century, church officials had decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday on December 25. According to many historians, it is believed the Roman church&nbsp;chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. However, the Roman church did not celebrate Saturnalia, since it was a pagan festival celebrated by outside (not within the church) Roman society.

In fact, the word "Christmas" means two words, "Christ Mass" which is a combination of "Christ" (from Greek Khristos, meaning "anointed one" or Messiah) and "Mass" (from Latin missa, referring to the Eucharistic service or celebration).

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas says the plus-sized man in a red suit with a long white beard. But, the question becomes, "who really is this guy and how did he come about?"

In the 3rd century, a Christian monk named St. Nicholas was known for doing many things such as&nbsp;stopping a violent storm to save doomed sailors, donating money to a father forced to sell his daughters into prostitution and even restoring to life a trio of boys who had been dismembered by an unethical butcher.

St. Nicholas had a special heart for children, and every December 6 he would deliver goods to the youth through their windows around parts of Europe. He also started dropping in goods through chimneys, once it was established in homes.

The name Santa Claus&nbsp;evolved from St. Nicholas' Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas.

Interestingly enough in 1809, <a href="https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2016/fall/feature/how-washington-irving-shaped-christmas-in-america">Washington Irving</a> (American writer), portrayed St. Nicholas as a portly Dutchman who flew the skies in a wagon and dropping gifts down chimneys.

In 1822, an Episcopal minister named Clement Moore wrote a long Christmas poem for his three daughters entitled “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more popularly known as “’Twas The Night Before Christmas.”

In the poem, Moore portrayed St. Nicholas as&nbsp;a “right jolly old elf” with a portly figure and the supernatural ability to ascend a chimney with a mere nod of his head. 

His poem helped popularize the now-familiar image of how we view Santa Claus today.

Learn: Brief history of Christmas

HARVEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Wednesday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by Curtis Moss, 48, Lindsborg, was northbound in the left lane of Interstate 135 at E First Street in Newton.&nbsp; A southbound 2024 Ford Maverick driven by Brian Voth, 65, Newton, moved from the right lane to the left lane to pass another vehicle. The motorcycle rear-ended the pickup.

&nbsp;EMS transported Moss to Wesley Med Center. Voth was properly restrained and not injured. Moss was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kan. man hospitalized after motorcycle rear-ends a pickup

From a video courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deercreekdronesLLC/">Deer Creek Drones LLC</a>, the log jam near Bill Burke and Indian Rock Parks is officially cleared.

The log jam started its pileup on <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5d56e5f3-429d-4518-891d-2809c660271d">July 19</a> and after significant rain events, eventually accumulated stacks of logs clogging the Smoky Hill River.

On <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/483d033a-a3aa-4b22-8041-02404862faa1">July 28</a>, the City of Salina&nbsp;approved a quote of&nbsp;$411,231 with a (10%) construction contingency from&nbsp;DIEHL Enterprises Inc. (Salina based) to remove the log jam. However, heavy rainfall continued to occur and worsen the pileup causing the City to put in&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a7c9bfa0-1573-46f0-80b5-236552b0ada9">additional costs to the project</a>,&nbsp;resulting in&nbsp;upwards of $1 million.

The City <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/dc461e5b-c714-4956-be7b-7ea7fa8515a1">will receive federal assistance</a> after suffering from July's significant weather events.

Watch the video courtesy of Deer Creek Drones LLC below:

🎥 Log jam near Bill Burke & Indian Rock Parks officially cleared 

With Salina under a Dense Fog Advisory until noon on Christmas Eve, the US National Weather Service is advising the public to be cautious on the roads.

Visibility on Wednesday morning has dropped rapidly in many locations across central Kansas, with less than 1/4 of a mile of visibility range.

Dense fog will gradually dissipate from south to north by around midday on Wednesday, with more dense fog developing again this evening and tonight.

The&nbsp;US National Weather Service advises the public to slow down when traveling, and use low beam headlights.

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.

&nbsp;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>.

Dense fog advisory for Christmas Eve in central Kansas, US National Weather Service cautions public

After the Salina Family YMCA was awarded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.praesidiumaccreditation.com/">Praesidium Accreditation</a>®,&nbsp;a prestigious honor that publicly demonstrates the organization has worked to achieve the highest industry standards in abuse prevention, staff of the Y gave their comments on the accreditation.

Read more: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/028d2e75-228f-4e26-8f7c-e5f35497e419">Salina YMCA accredited highest honor for abuse prevention practices</a>

Senior Director of Youth Development, Marti Higdon said the accreditation gives those come to the Y "extra reassurance" the facility is a safe place to be.

Higdon works with the youth on a daily basis and she stated she is the "Praesidium Guardian," meaning she earned her own personal accreditation in the past. Her key takeaways were that it is highly important to be observant and connected.

Marketing Director, Zach Gilig commented he hopes this accreditation will reach out to other families and people of the surrounding area to join in on the safe, fun and welcoming environment the Salina YMCA provides.&nbsp;

🎥 Salina YMCA staff share comments after earning highest honor for abuse prevention practices

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 24

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>.

Christmas Eve & Day, Dec. 26 Salina weather forecast

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 22 - December 24

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 19 - December 21

With the current strong windy weather across central Kansas, Saline County Emergency Management issues warnings and I-70 between Colby and Goodland are reportedly closed.&nbsp;

Saline County Emergency Management statement:

Northwest winds will increase and persist through the afternoon, with sustained speeds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts approaching 60 mph. These conditions will create widespread hazards throughout Saline County.

The combination of strong winds and very dry conditions will result in extreme fire danger. Any grass fire that starts could spread rapidly and be difficult to control. Blowing dust may also reduce visibility, particularly along and west of Salina near I-70.

Kansas Department of Transportation statement:

KDOT has closed both directions of I-70 between Goodland and Colby due to reduced visibility from blowing dust as of 10:22 am on Thursday.

This statement comes after the freeway reopened at around 5:00 am, when it was closed late Wednesday evening.

Motorists are advised to delay non-essential travel until conditions improve.

For the latest updates on road closures and conditions, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.kandrive.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019b32451255-66bf87ed-2388-4d16-a916-7ad1cd6cb05e-000000/-WTaKRS3IZhaitvuvGXNomZD2QUr6_IU549OuSP-qyY=436">kandrive.gov</a>, or call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas.

Salina Post will provide updates on the reopening of the freeway.

Windy weather and road closures: Saline Co. Emergency Management issues warning, I-70 between Colby & Goodland closed

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.

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

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 17 - December 19

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 15 - December 17

Four day weather forecast Salina, December 12 - December 15

COWLEY COUNTY —A suspect wanted for a shooting in Cowley County is finally in custody.

Earlier this month, police issued an arrest warrant and are asked the public for help to locate shooting suspect 25-year-old Levi Garwood, according to a statement from Winfield Police. The alleged crime occurred on November 22 near Main Street in Winfield. First responders found a man with a gunshot wound to the chest. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital and later to a hospital in Wichita.

Detectives conducted witness interviews and reviewed audio and video evidence before seeking a warrant through the Cowley County District Court. Just after 4:30p.m.&nbsp; December 23, Garwood was booked into the Cowley County jail, according to online jail records. He is being held&nbsp; on a $500,000 bomd on requested charges of attempted second-degree murder.&nbsp; Police have not released details of the arrest.

After hiding for a month, Kan. attempted murder suspect is in custody

SHAWNEE COUNTY. – On Saturday evening, December 20, at approximately 9 p.m., a Topeka Police Department officer was conducting a traffic stop at the intersection of SW 6th Street and SW Lane when a suspected impaired driver traveling at a high rate of speed rear-ended the patrol vehicle, according to a report released Friday by Topeka Police.

The crash resulted in minor injuries to the officer and an arrestee who were inside the patrol vehicle at the time of the collision. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital, treated for their injuries, and later released.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2023, one person was killed every 42 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on roadways across the United States. These crashes—and the resulting loss of life—are entirely preventable.

Beginning Friday, December 26, 2025, through Thursday, January 2, 2026, the Topeka Police Department will participate in the statewide “Taking Down DUI” New Year’s safety enforcement campaign. During the enforcement period, TPD officers will focus on identifying impaired drivers and enforcing seat belt laws to help keep Topeka roadways safe throughout the holiday season.

This enforcement initiative is made possible through a Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

If you’re drinking, don’t drive. Responsible driving saves lives:

• Plan a safe ride home before celebrating. If you drink, don’t drive—use a rideshare service, taxi, or call a sober friend.

• If someone has been drinking, take their keys and help arrange a sober ride home.

• If you observe an impaired driver, call 911 to report it to local law enforcement.

Kan. officer, suspect injured after impaired driver struck patrol car

NEW YORK (AP) — Perry Archangelo Bamonte, longtime guitarist and keyboardist for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/50f12c2e4dc445949d535aef8f033eab">influential goth band</a>&nbsp;The Cure, has died. He was 65.

The band made the announcement on their official website on Friday.

“It is with enormous sadness that we confirm the death of our great friend and bandmate Perry Bamonte, who passed away after a short illness at home over Christmas,” the band wrote.

“Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/goth-history-book-lol-tolhurst-cure-37451452c321455ea0c3c166a525d071">The Cure story,”</a>&nbsp;the statement continued. “Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”

Bamonte worked with the band in various roles from 1984 to 1989, including as roadie and guitar tech. He officially joined the band in 1990, when keyboardist Roger O’Donnell quit. It was then that he became a full-time member of the group, playing guitar, six-string bass and keyboard.

Having joined just after the band’s mainstream breakthrough, 1989’s “Disintegration,” Bamonte is featured on a number of The Cure’s albums, including 1992’s “Wish” — which features the career-defining hits ″Friday I’m in Love″ and “High” — as well as the 1996’s “Wild Mood Swings,” 2000’s “Bloodflowers” and 2004’s self-titled release.

Bamonte was fired from The Cure by its singer and leader Robert Smith in 2005. At that point in time, he had performed at over 400 shows across 14 years. Bamonte rejoined the group in recent years, touring with the band in 2022 for another 90 gigs.

In 2019, Bamonte was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/50f12c2e4dc445949d535aef8f033eab">inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame</a>&nbsp;alongside the rest of The Cure.

His last performance with the band was on Nov. 1, 2024 in London for a special one-off event to launch their latest album and first in 16 years, “Songs of a Lost World.” The concert was filmed for “The Cure: The Show of a Lost World,” a film released in cinemas globally this month. It is also available to purchase on Blu-ray and DVD.

The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cure-song-lost-world-album-review-5c94952a91e7bbde75d580ae8f4e0c27">described “Songs of a Lost World”</a>&nbsp;as “lush and deeply orchestral, swelling and powerful” — one of the best of the band’s career.

Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, dies at 65

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the casue of a house fire inKansas City, Missouri.

Just after 8a.m. December 23, KCFD companies were dispatched to a reported fire in the 5500 block of East 18th&nbsp;Street in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. On arrival, it was reported that a trailer camper and a house had heavy fire showing. Crews knocked down the flames on the exterior of the structure and made their way inside for an aggressive interior attack.

Multiple hose lines were used to extinguish the fires, which was brought under control at 8:24 a.m. Searches throughout the structure were performed and came back all clear. No injuries have been reported from this incident.

Cause of Kansas City house fire under investigation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — To tax tips or not? That is a question that will confront lawmakers in states across the U.S. as they convene for work next year.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s administration</a>&nbsp;is urging states to follow its lead by enacting a slew of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-republican-trump-tax-bill-f65be44e1050431a601320197322551b">new tax breaks</a>&nbsp;for individuals and businesses, including deductions for tips and overtime wages, automobile loans and business equipment.

In some states, the new federal tax breaks will automatically apply to state income taxes unless legislatures opt out. But in many other states, where tax laws are written differently, the new tax breaks won't appear on state tax forms unless legislatures opt in.

In states that don't conform to the federal tax changes, workers who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-taxes-tips-overtime-restaurants-a8cafab342a569080fabaa27b122b52b">receive tips or overtime</a>&nbsp;— for example — will pay no federal tax on those earnings but could still owe state taxes on them.

States that embrace all of Trump's tax cuts could provide hundreds of millions of dollars of annual savings to certain residents and businesses. But that could financially strain states, which are being hit with higher costs because of new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-bill-medicaid-snap-food-trump-congress-4e1826a670b5eb2b802f08adc1c325a2">Medicaid and SNAP food aid requirements</a>&nbsp;that also are included in the big bill Trump signed.

Most states begin their annual legislative sessions in January. To retroactively change tax breaks for 2025, lawmakers would need to act quickly so tax forms could updated before people begin filing them. States also could apply the changes to their 2026 taxes, a decision requiring less haste.

So far, only a few states have taken votes on whether to adopt the tax breaks.

“States in general are approaching this skeptically," said Carl Davis, research director at the nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Trump's treasury presses states to `immediately conform'

A bill Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">signed on July 4</a>&nbsp;contains about $4.5 trillion of federal tax cuts over 10 years.

It creates temporary tax deductions for tips, overtime and loan interest on new vehicles assembled in the U.S. It boosts a tax deduction for older adults. And it temporarily raises cap on state and local tax deductions from $10,000 to $40,000, among other things. The law also provides numerous tax breaks to businesses, including the ability to immediately write off 100% of the cost of equipment and research.

Forty-one states levy individual income taxes on wages and salaries. Forty-four states charge corporate income taxes.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this month called on those states “to immediately conform” to the federal tax cuts and accused some Democratic-led states that haven't done so of engaging in "political obstructionism.” Though Bessent didn't mention it, many Republican-led states also have not decided whether to implement the tax deductions.

“By denying their residents access to these important tax cuts, these governors and legislators are forcing hardworking Americans to shoulder higher state tax burdens, robbing them of the relief they deserve and exacerbating the financial squeeze on low- and middle-income households,” Bessent said.

But some tax analysts contend there's more for states to consider. The tax break on tips, for example, could apply to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/22/2025-18278/occupations-that-customarily-and-regularly-received-tips-definition-of-qualified-tips">nearly 70 occupation fields</a>&nbsp;under a proposed rule from the Internal Revenue Service. But that would still exclude numerous low-wage workers, said Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the nonprofit Tax Foundation.

“Lawmakers need to consider whether these are worth the cost,” Walczak said.

Only a few states offer tax breaks for tips and overtime

Because of the way state tax laws are written, the federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-tax-tips-trump-workers-restaurants-182a89e3dc5c1da51fcd3ad1aadc571f">tax breaks for tips</a>&nbsp;and overtime wages would have carried over to just seven states — Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon and South Carolina. But Colorado opted out of the state tax break for overtime shortly before the federal law was enacted.

Michigan this fall became first — and, so far, only — state to opt into the tax breaks for tips and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-taxes-social-security-overtime-tariffs-989016ef41dc1533b05d1871d69c03ff">overtime wages</a>, effective in 2026. The overtime tax exemption is projected to cost the state nearly $113 million and the tips tax break about $45 million during its current budget year, according to the state treasury department.

Michigan lawmakers offset that by decoupling from five federal corporate tax changes the state's treasury estimated would have reduced Michigan tax revenues by $540 million this budget year.

Republican state Rep. Ann Bollin, chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee, said the state could not afford to embrace all the tax cuts while still investing in better roads, public safety and education.

“The best path forward is to have more money in people’s pockets and have less regulation — and this kind of moved in that direction,” she said.

Arizona could be among the next states to act. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has called upon lawmakers to adopt the tax breaks for tips, overtime, seniors and vehicle loans, and follow the federal government by also increasing the state's standard deduction for individual income taxpayers. Republican state House leaders said they stand ready to pass the tax cuts when their session begins Jan. 12.

Several states have rejected corporate tax breaks

In addition to Michigan, lawmakers in Delaware, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have passed measures to block some or all of the corporate tax cuts from taking effect in their states.

A new Illinois law decoupling from a portion of the corporate tax changes could save the state nearly $250 million, said Democratic state Sen. Elgie Sims, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He said that could help ensure continued funding for schools, health care and vital services.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/j-b-pritzker">Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker</a>, an outspoken Democratic opponent of Trump, also cited budget concerns for rejecting the corporate tax cut provision. He said states already stand to lose money because of other provisions in Trump's big bill, such as a requirement to cover more of the costs of running the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“The decoupling is an effort to try to hold back the onslaught from the federal government to make sure that we can support programs like the one we’re announcing today,” Pritzker told reporters at a December event publicizing a grant to address homelessness in central Illinois.

US Treasury wants more states to embrace Trump's tax cuts. So far, only a few have done so

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY– Law enforcement investigating a suspect on multiple allegations in connection with a burglary.

On November 7, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of criminal damage and burglary to a vehicle in the City of Delia, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the course of the investigation a suspect was identified as Shaun Justin Barber, 41, of Delia.&nbsp; Deputies developed probable cause to search a residence and received a search warrant for 203 East Street in Delia where the suspect was believed to be staying. 

Deputies seized illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia from the residence.&nbsp; The suspect was not present and a warrant was issued for his arrest.&nbsp; On December 22, 2025, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office located Barber and arrested him on the outstanding Jackson County warrant.&nbsp; 

Barber was transferred to Jackson County where he was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of criminal damage to property, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputies capture Kan. suspect wanted for November burglary 

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/charleyduffin/">Charley Duffin</a>

When Jan. 1 rolls around, Missouri’s minimum wage will increase from $13.75 to $15 an hour, putting the state ahead of many others.

The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced that the minimum wage is set to increase by $1.25 beginning in 2026. The minimum wage rate will be in effect for all non-exempt employers.

Missouri’s HB 567, signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe into law on July 10, repealed statewide earned paid sick time while simultaneously modifying the state’s minimum wage law.

It eliminated the automatic inflation adjustments that were set to begin in 2027 and kept the $15 per hour rate for public employers. However, it is also removing voter-approved worker protections for businesses as of Aug. 28.

Lily Roberts is the managing director of economic policy at the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan economic policy institute. She said conversations about adjusting the minimum wage reflect rising prices that have increased in recent years.

“Everybody can tell you about inflation, and everybody can tell you about the cost of rent or groceries or childcare being really expensive, but the flip side of that is wages,” Roberts said. “There are many folks who are worse off and less able to keep up with those raising prices because a major pillar of how we make wage policy hasn’t been changed since 2009.”

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 and it hasn’t been adjusted since 2009, which Roberts said is the longest it’s gone unchanged since the introduction of minimum wage in 1938.

“$7.25 is so unbelievably low that many people don’t even believe that it’s still that low,” Roberts said.

In Missouri, employers who are involved in retail or service businesses and have an annual gross income less than $500,000 are exempt from having to pay the state minimum wage rate. Instead, those employers can pay their workers any wage at their discretion, according to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Roberts said Missouri is unique in the fact that it raised its minimum wage to reflect inflation numbers, but when the state implements a $15 an hour minimum wage, it is no longer required to factor in inflation.

Between 2015 and 2019, Missouri’s minimum wage rose just under a dollar, from $7.65 to $8.60. Since 2019, the increase has been at least $0.75 annually every year except for 2023. The $1.25 jump will be the second straight year that the minimum wage has increased by more than a dollar.

Missouri is one of 34 U.S. states, territories and districts that has a higher minimum wage than the federal requirement.

Roberts said Missouri is in line with nearby states, such as South Dakota, Nebraska and Arkansas. All of those states, plus Missouri, have consistently been working on increasing their respective minimum wages.

“Some of them are doing it gradually over time to get to ($15 an hour) and others are passing individual laws,” Roberts said. “These longer-term predictable changes are really the trend right now, where you give businesses and employees a sense of how their wages will grow over time, and it means that it’s easier to predict and easier for employers to budget for.”

She said business owners are often fighting for higher wages, contrary to popular belief, because they need to be able to compete.

“The higher your wages that you pay, in general, the lower your turnover is,” Roberts said. “So businesses that pay really small dollars tend to have a lot of turnover. It actually gets really counterproductive and expensive very quickly because the business owner has to spend all of their time hiring, training and trying to retain folks.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/missouri-minimum-wage-set-to-increase-over-a-dollar-in-2026/article_3d33d784-f2f7-4fb3-a7a7-34fe23712ad8.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>.&nbsp;

Missouri minimum wage set to increase over a dollar 

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;— The Wichita Police Department arrested an 18-year-old after he shot and critically injured another 18-year-old Tuesday night inside a south Wichita home.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting around 10 p.m. Dec. 23 in the 3600 block of South Eisenhower Court and found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body.&nbsp;

Investigators determined the victim was in the basement with a friend showing him two firearms. During the interaction, the friend reportedly pointed one of the firearms at the victim and fired, striking him.&nbsp;

The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.&nbsp;

The 18-year-old suspect was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery.&nbsp;

“Tragically we have another incident where we have two young adults playing with a firearm not practicing responsible gun ownership or handling,” Police Chief Joe Sullivan said. “It is tragic that at this time of year when families are supposed to be celebrating this joyous holiday season coming two families lives have forever been changed.”&nbsp;

Kan. teen jailed after accidental shooting critically injures teen

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-islamic-state-nigeria-43478823f0562cafc527fad1448a0542">The United States airstrikes</a>&nbsp;that targeted Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria’s on Thursday marked a major escalation in an offensive that Nigeria’s overstretched military has struggled with for years.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the “powerful and deadly” strikes in Sokoto state were carried out against Islamic State militants “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-christian-muslim-killings-kidnapping-trump-af57834a1ce47488397bf07931b5cf51">Residents and security analysts have said</a>&nbsp;Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north.

Nigeria, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-killings-bandits-insecurity-tinubu-13ca838d972feb44e2c2006524a3e259">battling multiple armed groups</a>, said the U.S. strikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between the two countries.

The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes’ impact. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a post on X about the airstrikes, said: “More to come...”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-abduction-gunmen-kaduna-2b5537957ce605ca06576d99a0756901">The armed groups</a>&nbsp;in Africa’s most populous country include at least two affiliated with the Islamic State — an offshoot of the Boko Haram extremist group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, and the lesser-known Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) known locally as Lakurawa and prominent in the northwest.

Although officials did not say exactly which group was targeted, security analysts said the target, if indeed against Islamic State militants, was likely members of Lakurawa, which became more lethal in border states like Sokoto and Kebbi in the last year, often targeting remote communities and security forces.

The Nigerian military has said in the past that the group has roots in neighboring Niger and that it became more active in Nigeria’s border communities following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/niger-coups-bazoum-sahel-military-democracy-d1614b14baff6571b7d3766c2cbd8ba1">2023 military coup</a>. That coup resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mali-niger-burkina-faso-ecowas-west-africa-5a5dc2180e39223c91b1820067db4011">fractured relations</a>&nbsp;between Nigeria and Niger, and affected their multinational military operations along the porous border.

Militants invited to provide security now torment villages

Multiple analysts have said Lakurawa has been active in northwest Nigeria since around 2017 when it was invited by traditional authorities in Sokoto to protect their communities from bandit groups.

The militants, however, “overstayed their welcome, clashing with some of the community leaders ... and enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia law that alienated much of the rural population,” according to James Barnett, an Africa researcher with the Washington-based Hudson Institute.

“Communities now openly say that Lakurawa are more oppressive and dangerous than the bandits they claim to protect them from,” according to Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher with Good Governance Africa.

Lakurawa controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi states, and has become known for killings, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery, Samuel said.

But some of the attacks blamed on Lakurawa are by the Islamic State Sahel Province, which has expanded from Niger’s Dosso region to northwestern Nigeria, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project.

“ISSP has maintained a low profile, operating covertly to infiltrate and entrench itself along the Niger-Nigeria border, and is now also expanding its operations toward the Beninese border,” the project said in a recent report.

Nigeria’s insecurity is deep-rooted in social issues

The security woes are more of a governance problem than a military one.

Motives for attacks differ but the gangs are often driven by the near absence of a state and security presence in conflict hot spots, making recruitment easy. Those hot spots, data show, have some of the country’s highest levels of poverty, hunger and lack of jobs.

Nigeria’s Minister of Defense Christopher Musa once said in his past capacity as the defense chief that military action is only 30% of what is needed to fix the country’s security crisis, while the remaining 70% depends on good governance.

“The absence of the state in remote communities is making it easy for non-state actors to come in and present themselves to the people as the best alternative government,” said Samuel.

US strikes seen as crucial support for Nigeria’s military

Thursday’s U.S. strikes were seen as crucial help for Nigeria’s security forces, which are often overstretched and outgunned as they fight multiple security crises across different regions.

Local

Region

Sports

Weather