Below you will find a list of closings and cancellations in the Saline-Salina area due to Friday, January 23 - Monday, January 26 winter weather:

If you have or know of any closings and cancellations please reach out to newstips@salinapost.com

- Sunday: All Day (online service on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@trinityumcsalina">Youtube</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TrinityUMCSalina">Facebook</a>)

- Sunday: All Day (online services available on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@salinafirstumc8319">Youtube</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinafirstumc">Facebook</a>)

- Sunday: All Day (online services available on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079495315022">Facebook</a>)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Saturday&nbsp;Cancellations/Closings at YMCA:

- Saturday:&nbsp;12 pm - 4 pm canceled&nbsp;

- Sunday: All Day (abbreviated worship service posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ImmanuelSalina">Facebook</a>)

Community Market Expo, Tony's Pizza Event Center

- Sunday: All Day (<a href="https://www.apostolicsofsalina.com/content.cfm?page_content=calendar_include.cfm&amp;event_id=16&amp;mm=1&amp;dd=25&amp;yy=2026">holding online Bible study here</a>)

- Sunday: All Day (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@salinaheights/streams">online service available here</a>)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Love N Learn Early Childhood Center&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - St. Mary's Grade School

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Sacred Heart Jr/Sr. High School

CLOSINGS & CANCELLATIONS: winter weather 

<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, January 26 - January 28

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

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.

NAME:&nbsp;Hansen,Matthew Edwin Lloyd

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Agg Domestic Battery: impede breathing/choke; Assault

NAME:&nbsp;Linginger,Jessica Renay

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Theft by deception;Value less than $1,500; Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500; Theft of prop/serv;&lt;$1500 3 business in 72 hrs; Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500

*No image available for&nbsp;Stewart,Darin Parker (31)*

Saline County Jail Bookings, January 25

Saline County Emergency Management

Saline County Road and Bridge crews are actively treating and plowing roadways on Sunday. Drivers should expect&nbsp;roads to refreeze overnight and into Monday morning.

Even without additional snowfall, changing temperatures can create&nbsp;slick spots, especially on bridges, overpasses, shaded areas, and less-traveled roads. Driving conditions later tonight and early tomorrow&nbsp;may be different&nbsp;than what motorists experienced Sunday afternoon.

Saline County Road and Bridge will continue to monitor conditions and adjust operations as needed.

<a href="https://portal.snowpaths.com/public/983282/983283">Click here to view Saline County snow paths.</a>

<a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/55d47694801/c4a5819a-58ba-4514-9a9b-952a693004cd.pdf?rdr=true">Click here to view Snow and Ice control guidelines.</a>

<a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/55d47694801/c4a5819a-58ba-4514-9a9b-952a693004cd.pdf?rdr=true">Click here to have access to Saline County Road &amp; Bridge department.</a>

Road conditions: Refreeze overnight expected in Saline County

A fundraiser has been established for two Kansas Wesleyan students and couple that suffered from a recent apartment fire, losing all of their belongings.

On January 14, Aidan Henderson and Jaidyn Adams lives were changed after a significant fire struck their apartment. The fire occured when Henderson was at home and Adams left for work just 20 minutes beforehand. 

Henderson described the moments before and during the fire. He was laying down on the couch inside the living room when suddenly he heard a "tapping or scratching" sensation in their office window. When the noise kept going, Henderson got up to walk towards the office and saw the fire building up.

"There is a window directly across from the doorway in the office, and as soon as I walked up to the doorway I could see and hear flames and dark smoke billowing up from under the window outside. My dog immediately started barking, and I started scrambling to find a cage for my girlfriend’s bunnies. However, their cage was buried under a bunch of blankets in the closet, so after about 30 seconds of looking through everything I gut-wrenchingly decided it was best to leave and hope for the best."

Henderson was able to leave with their dog, and he left with nothing but his phone. Fortunately when he got outside, one of his KWU baseball teammates was parked out front and dialed 911.

"I went to him and explained what happened, then called Jaidyn to do the same. For about 5 minutes I was standing across the street in my T-shirt and shorts in 30° cold, trying to wrangle the dog in a massive cloud of smoke, and around a crowd of 40-50 people watching our personal belongings go up in flames."

When Adams received the call from Henderson, she hurried back home and was overwhelmed with a sense of despair. When she arrived, Adams ran towards Henderson with many emotions during the span of first responders taking out the fire.

"All I could think about were my precious bunnies being trapped in that building, alone, scared, and overcome with smoke and fire," Adams said.

"I kept trying to reassure her, although I wasn’t too convinced myself of the good things I was telling her. We all were taken to a fire engine to get out of the cold, and then later to the apartment’s office where we sat for hours," Henderson said.

Fortunately, firefighters were able to save the bunnies from the fire and brought a sense of peace for the both of them.

"When I opened the door of the office, I saw a fireman walking towards me with a terrified, drenched bunny, Layla. As soon as I realized that was her, I ran straight towards the fireman with tears streaming down my face, overjoyed by our reunion," said Adams.&nbsp;"Approximately another 30 terrifying minutes passed until I came back into the office to find that animal control had Charlie. I’ve never felt such an overwhelming sense of relief and joy.&nbsp;Aidan and I were reunited with all of our pets, and that’s what mattered most."

After the fire was extinguished, the couple stayed a few days at a hotel and were able to move to another apartment.

"Walking into a new place with absolutely nothing was surreal. We are slowly filling it up piece by piece but we still barely have things like furniture or clothes we once took for granted. It’s a different way of living now, but it has really proven that we only need each other no matter how tough times get," said Henderson.

"Aidan and I have created an immeasurably strong foundation in our relationship over the past two and half years that has given us the perseverance to endure anything thrown our way," said Adams.

Nothing but endless support the couple has been receiving following the fire. 

The community has been generous providing clothes, supplies for school, monetary donations and their families driving 200+ miles to support them.

With already over $6,000 being raised for the couple, they have been more than grateful for all of those who have supported.

"We have only gotten through this as smoothly as we have because of the support group around us. As soon as word started to spread about the fire, people were texting me asking how they can help, sending us money, sending us clothes. It was an overwhelming amount of support, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have not only a support group like we have, but also a community like Salina surrounding us," said Henderson.

"This entire experience was tremendously traumatizing, yet the biggest emotion I felt was gratefulness. The people and community that have supported us through every step of this journey have kept us going and allowed us to rebuild our lives.&nbsp;From the Ridge apartment staff, Salina fireman and animal control, to our families, friends, and people from our hometown hours away, each of these individuals have given us a second chance at life with our beloved pets," said Adams.

An experience like this can change one's life, and both have had their perspectives change for the better.&nbsp;

"This fire taught us that the most valuable things in life are not mere possessions, but simply the family and people around us. When salvaging anything we could find, Aidan and I both found our Bibles untouched. I had a cross given to me by my grandmother and a prayer box from my sister that were also untouched. Seeing these things remain among everything else that was destroyed, along with the miracle of being reunited with our pets, allowed Aidan and I to understand how truly protected we are in this universe and how God’s hands were over us throughout it all," said Adams.

"You realize very quickly that material things don’t matter much. Stripping everything away from us made us fully rely on each other, and truly work together in times of pressure. This experience has definitely made our relationship stronger, no matter how hard these times were for each of us. We may have lost our stuff, but we gained a deeper understanding of what really matters," said Henderson.

Adams' best friend Auna Plummer, started their <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jaidyn-aidan-rebuild-after-apartment-fire">GoFundMe</a> which has been a huge success for the two in receiving funds from generous donors.

The goal of raising $6,500 is now over 90% and continues to climb.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jaidyn-aidan-rebuild-after-apartment-fire">To fulfill their goal and donate towards Jaidyn and Aidan's fresh start, go here</a>.

KWU couple lives change after apartment fire, close to reaching fundraising goal

Kansas is turning 165 years old this year, and the Smoky Hill Museum plans to offer a FREE public celebration on Saturday, January 31, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

The whole family can enjoy learning how to make butter and shell corn at the Kansas Day Open House and Birthday Bash. Plus, there will be demonstrations, a make-and-take craft and delicious birthday cupcakes. Also, be sure to stop by the Museum Store for a wide variety of regional and Kansas products, local artwork and gifts for all ages.

The Smoky Hill Museum is a nationally accredited history museum in downtown Salina, Kansas. This FREE museum is open Tuesdays- Fridays 11-5 and Saturdays 10-5.

For needed accommodations, please call Susan Hawksworth at 309-5776 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

Celebrate Kansas’ 165th birthday at the Smoky Hill Museum Jan. 31

The Salina Family YMCA is offering an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training course in February for individuals interested in becoming certified lifeguards.

This 4-day comprehensive training covers essential skills including water rescue techniques, first aid, CPR, and emergency response. 

Participants will be challenged as they learn what it takes to safely respond in aquatic emergencies. A swim test will be conducted at the start of the course, and participants must pass in order to continue with the training.

Lifeguard certification is a valuable skill for anyone looking to gain lifesaving knowledge, improve confidence in the water, or prepare for aquatic leadership roles in a variety of settings. 

An American Red Cross certificate will be distributed upon completion of the course.

· Sunday Feb. 8th 8a-5 p.m. (could end earlier)

<a href="http://salinaymca.org/aquatics">Registration closes on February 1st, more info at the Salina Family YMCA website</a>

Salina YMCA offering American Red Cross Lifeguard Training in February, registration now open

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Crim damage to prop;w/o consent &lt;$1K; Disorderly conduct; Brawling or fighting

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Contempt of Court; Direct

REQUESTED CHARGE: Probation Violation&nbsp;

REQUESTED CHARGES: Probation Violation, Failure to appear (2)

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Driving While Suspended; Driving while habitual violator; No Proof Of Insurance; Unlawful acts: vehicle registration violation

NAME:&nbsp;Rodriguez,Rolando Cirilo

*No image available for&nbsp;Sutton Feldkamp,Dannyel Marie (46)*

NAME:&nbsp;Sutton Feldkamp,Dannyel Marie

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Failure to appear

Saline County Jail Bookings, January 24

Editor's note: The Kansas Department of Labor did not publish separate reports for the October and November due to the government shutdown.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in December, according to a media release from KDOL.&nbsp; This is unchanged from 3.8% in November and unchanged from 3.8% in December 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.5% in December.

The unemployment rate in Saline County, at 2.8 percent in November, remained the same December. The 3.3 percent rate last month in Dickinson County also remained unchanged.

County is up slightly from 2.8 percent in November to 2.9 percent in December.&nbsp; The rate in Geary County is also up from 4 percent to 4.2 percent. The rate is also up slightly in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee County.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,500 from November. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 5,000 over the month, while government increased by 500. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;financial activities&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(-2,100 jobs).

Since December 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 1,400. This change is due to an increase of 400 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,800 government jobs.

Technical Note:This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for December 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week including December 12.

Jobless rate remains steady in Saline County

As the first severe winter weather system of 2026 arrives in Kansas, now is the time to take simple steps to prevent damage to your home from snow and ice. 

Be sure to review your homeowners and renters’ insurance policies to know what protections you may have against common winter damage and contact your agent to review your policy and ensure you are covered for potential winter-related damages to your home or property.

The Kansas Department of Insurance recommends taking the following precautions to help prevent winter weather damages:

“Every Kansan should take precautionary steps this winter to protect their property from freezing temperatures and winter weather,” said Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “If you need assistance with an insurance claim that arises from a winter storm, the Department is ready to help.”

If you have an insurance claim this winter, be sure to review the Department’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.insurance.kansas.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/48/638883392754730000">Homeowners Claims Settlement Guide</a>&nbsp;to help you through the claims process. If you or someone you know is having trouble with an insurance claim, please contact the Kansas Insurance Department’s Consumer Assistance Division toll-free at 1-800-432-2484, email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOI.Complaints@ks.gov">KDOI.Complaints@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or visit the Department online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://insurance.kansas.gov/">insurance.kansas.gov</a>&nbsp;for any claims-related questions or concerns.

Department of Insurance provides precautionary tips to help prevent winter weather damages in your home

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 23 - January 25

Saline County Emergency Management&nbsp;

The National Weather Service in Wichita reports an&nbsp;Arctic outbreak and winter weather&nbsp;will impact Saline County&nbsp;beginning Friday and continuing through Monday morning, bringing&nbsp;dangerous cold, hazardous travel conditions, and&nbsp;accumulating snow.

Arctic air is expected to move into the area early Friday morning and persist through the weekend, with&nbsp;dangerous wind chills between -10°F and -20°F&nbsp;likely from Friday morning through Monday morning. The coldest conditions are expected during the overnight and early morning hours.

Snow&nbsp;is expected to begin late Friday afternoon or Friday evening and continue through Saturday night, with&nbsp;slick roads&nbsp;and&nbsp;hazardous travel&nbsp;possible. While higher snowfall totals are more likely south of Saline County, confidence is high that snow will affect the area.&nbsp;Travel impacts are expected&nbsp;due to&nbsp;reduced visibility, slick roads,&nbsp;and&nbsp;prolonged cold conditions.

A&nbsp;Winter Storm Watch&nbsp;remains in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday night, and an&nbsp;Extreme Cold Watch&nbsp;has been issued for the entire forecast area through Monday morning. Confidence is high in the timing and severity of the cold, with medium confidence in exact snowfall amounts due to potential shifts in the heaviest snow band.&nbsp;

<a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/55d47694801/2b6fb17f-1676-4697-ac6f-7c32ed6b5928.pdf?rdr=true">Click here to view the full packet of the upcoming severe weather</a>

Arctic outbreak & winter weather to impact Saline Co. Friday - Monday

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 21 - January 23

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 19 - January 21

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 16 - January 18

High wind gusts are expected to make its way through Salina and central Kansas on Friday.

According to the US National Weather Service, gusty&nbsp;northwest winds are forecasted during the day on Friday. Wind gusts are expected to range from 40-50 mph.

This is also paired with dry conditions, which there will be a very high grassland fire danger in the afternoon.

Russell is expected to have the highest speed of wind gusts with the range being 45-50 mph.

High temperatures for Salina is 41 degrees.

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.

High wind gusts and grassland fire danger expected throughout central Kansas, Salina on Friday

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 14 - January 16

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 12 - January 14

A chance of light rain Friday afternoon is expected to gradually transition into light snow towards the evening.

According to the US National Weather Service, a chance of rain is expected after 1:00 pm with a 50% chance to mix with snow after 4:00 pm.

Portions of central and south-central Kansas could see light snow accumulations up to 1 inch, and slick spots on bridges and overpasses are possible tonight.&nbsp;

A little after 7:00 pm, the mix will likely become all snow.

Higher accumulations are expected across southwest Kansas.

Light snow up to 1 inch expected late Friday afternoon and into the evening in central Kansas

While Department of Homeland Security officials and others investigate after a&nbsp;U.S. Border Patrol agent&nbsp;fatally&nbsp;shot a man on Saturday in Minneapolis, two former Presidents of the United States have shared their thoughts on the tragedy and accountability.

Meanwhile President Donald Trump is calling on Democrat governors to enforce the nation's laws rather than resist.

2 former U.S. Presidents speak out on fatal Minneapolis shooting

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

In the early morning Saturday before the snow started to fall, troopers initiated a traffic stop for a traffic violation, and the driver fled, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol. 

After a short pursuit, the vehicle came to a stop. The driver was arrested, and troopers located drugs inside the vehicle. The Patrol did not report the name of the suspect or possible charges involved.

KHP: Drug suspect captured after running from traffic stop

LYON COUNTY —The Emporia Police Department, with the assistance of K9 Daisy and her team from Search &amp; Rescue of Kansas, have recovered the body of a missing woman approximately 300 yards from the area 28-year-old Rebecca Rauber was last seen on video, according to a statement from Emporia Police Captain Lisa Hayes.

Just after 1a.m. Saturday, Emporia Police received a report of a missing woman identified as&nbsp;

The report indicated that Rebecca Rauber, a school teacher from Emporia, had left the Town Royal bar in the 400 block of Commercial Street, on foot without her purse, phone, or jacket.

Officers began searching for Rebecca immediately and utilized business surveillance cameras in the area. Rebecca was observed walking alone westbound on West 5th Avenue. Video footage from a residence showed Rebecca walking north on Neosho Street from West 5th Avenue at approximately 11:37 p.m. on Friday, January 22.

Several additional videos from the intersection of 6th Avenue and Neosho Street were reviewed; however, Rebecca did not appear to cross 6th Avenue at that location.

 During the investigation on Sunday, an additional video showed Rebecca in the 700 block of W. 4th Ave. at approximately 11:44 p.m on January 23rd.  Rebecca's body was found approximately 300 yards south of West 4th Avenue, where she was last seen on video.  Rebecca was located in a wooded area. At this time, it appears, Rebecca may have succumbed to hypothermia early on in her disappearance as she was covered in snow due to the snowstorm that became heavy on Saturday.

Police detectives were processing the scene and the investigation is still continuing, according to Hayes.

Police: Body of missing Kansas teacher found in wooded area

DOUGAS COUNTY —It was supposed to be a traffic stop, but the driver didn’t – and ended up crashing into five parked cars and narrowly escaping serious injury of his own and that of his passenger, according to a social media report from police in Lawrence.

Just after 1:30a.m. Jan. 21, a&nbsp; patrol officer noticed a car run through a red light at a high rate of speed at 11th and Tennessee in Lawrence. The officer activated his lights, but the driver didn’t stop.  The car continued south on Tennessee at more than 50 miles per hour until he wasn’t able to navigate the lanes and swiped through five parked cars.

He crashed near 19th Street, got out, and ran. Officers caught up with him between nearby houses.  His passenger was trapped in the wreckage.  Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical responded to get the passenger out of the crumpled metal.  Both the driver and the passenger refused further medical treatment.

The 22-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility suspected of several crimes including Possession of Drugs, Possession of a Firearm under the Influence, Driving Under the Influence, Flee and Elude, and additional traffic violations.&nbsp;

Kan. driver left passenger in wreckage after police chase, crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a chase and arrest with a stolen vehicle.

Just before&nbsp;&nbsp;1:30 a.m. Jan. 22, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a gray 2025 Ford SUV, that was recently reported stolen through the City of Topeka, near Interstate 70&nbsp; and SE Adams Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 The driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The vehicle pursuit ended in the 1900 block of South Kansas Avenue and the driver fled the scene on foot. A K-9 Unit located the suspect exiting a nearby creek and wooded area. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Joshua S. Bessette, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Jail on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stolen vehicle, Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000 and Interference with LEO; knowingly flee by means other than motor vehicle for felony case.

Sheriff's K9 helps track down Kansas stolen car suspect 

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — American rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any ropes or protective equipment.

Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top of the spire of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower about 90 minutes after he started. Wearing a red short-sleeve shirt, Honnold waved his arms back and forth over his head.

“It was like what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day,” he said afterward. “It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”

Honnold, known for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/movies-travel-ff106c6b8ad54702bdcaab40988b0ad7">his ropeless ascent</a>&nbsp;up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, climbed up one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he had to maneuver around and clamber up the sides of large ornamental structures that jut out from the tower, pulling himself up with his bare hands.

The building has 101 floors, with the hardest part being the 64 floors of the middle section — the “bamboo boxes” that give the building its signature look. Divided into eight, each segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where he took short rests as he made his way upward.

Honnold's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-honnold-taipei-101-climb-netflix-0709f4d062923a09ff6da3786131fdd0">free solo climb of the iconic building</a>&nbsp;in Taiwan's capital city was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The ascent, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed for 24 hours due to rain.

Having a cheering crowd was unusual and a bit unnerving at first for Honnold, whose climbs are usually in remote areas.

“When I was leaving the ground, you're like oh it’s kind of intense, there’s so many people watching,” he said. “But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. I mean basically it just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive, all these nice people are out supporting me and having a good time.”

The climb drew both excitement and concern over the ethical implications of attempting such a high-risk endeavor on live broadcast.

Honnold isn't the first climber to ascend Taipei 101, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest building.

Associated Press video journalist Taijing Wu and writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed.

American rock climber reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

It’s been a year since a measles outbreak began in West Texas, and international health authorities say they will meet in April to determine if the U.S. has lost its measles-free designation.

Experts fear the vaccine-preventable virus has regained a foothold and that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-loses-measles-elimination-status-1ac3a4bdc7546fac5d8e111bf5196e1e">may soon follow Canada</a>&nbsp;in losing the achievement of having eliminated it.

The reevaluation is largely symbolic and hinges on whether a single measles chain has spread uninterrupted within the U.S. for at least 12 months.

Public health scientists around the country are investigating whether the now-ended Texas outbreak is linked to active ones in Utah, Arizona and South Carolina. But doctors and scientists say the U.S. — and North America overall — has a measles problem, regardless of the decision.

“It is really a question of semantics,” said Dr. Jonathan Temte, a Wisconsin family physician who helped certify the U.S. was measles-free in 2000. “The bottom line is the conditions are sufficient to allow this many cases to occur. And that gets back to de-emphasizing a safe and effective vaccine.”

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 2,144 measles cases across 44 states —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">the most since 1991</a>&nbsp;— and nearly 50 separate outbreaks.

The problem has been years in the making, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f">fewer kids</a>&nbsp;get routine vaccines due to parental waivers, health care access issues and rampant disinformation. More recently, Trump administration health officials have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-safety-mmr-autism-rfk-hepatitis-20d3122d7a9a339cd8447a347bd49928">questioned</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-autism-vaccines-7b1890f626dd5921fafd00fdd1e6425a">sown doubt</a>&nbsp;about the established safety of vaccines at an unprecedented level while also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">defunding local efforts</a>&nbsp;to improve vaccination rates.

“The most important thing that we can do is to make sure the people who aren’t vaccinated get vaccinated,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University’s Pandemic Center. “We have not issued a clear enough message about that.”

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said Thursday that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has consistently emphasized vaccines as the best way to prevent measles, adding that the CDC is responding to outbreaks and working to increase vaccination rates.

As of Thursday, the department said it doesn't have evidence that a single chain of measles has spread for a year.

There is little room for error in trying to stop measles. The virus is one of the most contagious, infecting 9 out of every 10 unvaccinated people exposed. Community-level protection takes a 95% vaccination rate. The current rate nationally is 92.5%, according to CDC data, but many communities fall far below that.

The patient in Texas’ first known case developed the telltale rash on Jan. 20, 2025, according to state health department data.

From there, the outbreak exploded. Officially, 762 people fell ill, most of them in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">rural Gaines County</a>, and two children died. Many more got sick and were never diagnosed: 182 potential measles cases among children in Gaines County went unconfirmed in March 2025 alone, state health officials said, a possible undercount of 44% in that county.

Such data gaps are common, though, making it especially hard to track outbreaks. Many people living in communities where the virus is spreading face health care barriers and distrust the government.

Contact tracing so many cases is also expensive, said behavioral scientist Noel Brewer, who chairs the U.S. committee that will finalize the data for international health officials. Research shows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-health-departments-723baa2b92828b04092475f4763585a6">a single measles case</a>&nbsp;can cost public health departments&nbsp;<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/2025/estimating-the-financial-costs-of-measles-outbreaks">tens of thousands of dollars</a>.

CDC data on measles is still among the best worldwide, Brewer said, but “the U.S. has changed its investment in public health, so we’re less able to do the case tracking that we used to do.”

But that's not always enough to say the outbreaks are connected. Genetically, the measles virus doesn't change as often as, say, flu.

“Within an outbreak, everybody is going to look the same,” said Justin Lessler, a University of North Carolina disease researcher.

The key question may then be how PAHO experts will navigate final data gaps, said Dr. Andrew Pavia, a Utah physician and longtime CDC consultant.

“My best guess is we will lose elimination status,” Pavia said. “The case for this not being continuous transmission is tenuous, and I think they are likely to err on the side of declaring it a loss of elimination status.”

Scientists have confirmed the same measles strain in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, South Carolina, Canada, Mexico and several other North American countries, said Sebastian Oliel, a spokesperson for the Pan American Health Organization, which will make the final decision on U.S. measles elimination at an April 13 meeting.

Oliel said when there is a case of unknown origin in a country with ongoing local spread, “the most conservative approach is to consider the case part of the existing national transmission.”

PAHO will review Mexico's measles-free status alongside the U.S., Oliel said. That country's largest outbreak has roots in Texas. It started when an 8-year-old boy from Chihuahua state got sick after visiting family in Seminole, Texas. Since last February, 6,000 people have gotten sick in Mexico, and 21 have died in Chihuahua state.

But under PAHO's definition of elimination, borders matter. If, for example, the chain of measles that started in the U.S. spread to Mexico and then returned to the U.S. anew, it would be considered a new chain, experts said. Still, many experts call that standard outdated.

What's clear is that measles found ample fertile ground in the U.S. in 2025, infiltrating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-school-attendance-absences-0384199ace95b4088f60864ce9ec8315">schools</a>&nbsp;and day cares, churches, hospital waiting rooms and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-new-mexico-detention-facility-migrants-outbreak-c7f5897ebba85a59548d279c500adaea">a detention center</a>. New Mexico logged 100 cases and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">one adult died</a>. Kansas officials spent seven months trying to control an outbreak that sickened nearly 90 people across 10 counties. Ohio confirmed 40 cases. Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin each had 36.

Now, more than 800 people have gotten sick across Utah, Arizona and South Carolina since late summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-south-carolina-utah-arizona-845643cd1342f1ce2ea01d11b74ee77b">with no end in sight</a>.

“2025 was the year of measles,” Brewer said. “Will 2026 be the year of rising or falling measles cases? Does it get worse or does it get better? No one knows the answer.”

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

US is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status

JERUSALEM (AP) — Several countries have said they will join U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-ceasefire-netanyahu-trump-6a29026f0308ba3757c975810e2f90c4">Board of Peace</a>, while a few European&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-gaza-board-of-peace-trump-1-21-2026-2f0e063d03babbd3276f31289ba5f2a2">nations have declined their invitations</a>. Many have not yet responded to Trump’s invites.

Chaired by Trump, the board was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. But the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-board-of-peace-gaza-un-b27d17190177041865c6827acd042e56">ambitions have since expanded</a>, with Trump extending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-trump-board-79586f87db667d61dbbd6a4e59dcb5cb">invitations to dozens of nations</a>&nbsp;and hinting at the board’s future role as conflict mediator.

A White House official has said about 30 countries were expected to join the board, without providing details, while about 50 had been invited.

Here is a tally by The Associated Press on what countries are joining, which are not and which are undecided.

Countries that have accepted invitations to join the board

Local

Region

Sports

Weather