The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce officially unveiled a new community brand as part of the Community Marketing Initiative (CMI), marking a major step forward in telling Salina’s story and positioning the community for long term growth.&nbsp;

The new brand, developed by Chamber staff in collaboration with community partners, reflects Salina’s authentic character, momentum, and potential. It is designed to strengthen local pride while reshaping how Salina is perceived by visitors, job seekers, families, and businesses across the region&nbsp; and beyond.&nbsp;

Key elements of the new branding, such as logo, fonts, and colors, will be utilized prominently for a new website (set to launch in the spring) and future digital marketing materials highlighting Salina and&nbsp; Saline County.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Good, bad, or indifferent, communities have reputations just like individuals and businesses do,”&nbsp; said Renee Duxler, President &amp; CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. “This initiative is about clearly defining who we are today, celebrating what makes Salina unique, and intentionally sharing that story in a way that builds pride locally and curiosity externally.”&nbsp;

The Community Marketing Initiative is a comprehensive, long-term digital marketing effort focused on three primary goals:&nbsp;

• Attracting visitors and new residents, particularly young professionals and families.

• Supporting workforce recruitment and economic development.

• Increasing resident pride and community engagement.

The initiative emphasizes authentic storytelling, data-driven strategy, and collaboration with local businesses, organizations, and institutions throughout Saline County.

At the heart of the CMI is a robust digital strategy that will include:&nbsp;

• The development and launch of a new SEO-optimized community website in spring 2026.

• Targeted digital and Google advertising campaigns.

• Ongoing social media storytelling and community-focused content.

• A comprehensive photo and video library showcasing Salina’s people, places, and quality of life.

• Blog content designed to improve search visibility and share real stories from the community.

“This is about meeting people where they are, on their screens, while staying true to who we are,”&nbsp; Duxler said. “A strong brand and consistent digital presence are critical tools for recruitment,&nbsp; retention, tourism, and long-term economic vitality.”&nbsp;

The new brand and marketing initiative are designed with not only external audiences in mind, but residents as well. By highlighting Salina’s arts scene, downtown growth, career opportunities, public spaces, and quality of life, the initiative aims to foster a sense of ownership and belonging among those who already call Salina home.&nbsp;

“When residents believe in the brand and see themselves in it, they become our best ambassadors,”&nbsp; Duxler added. “That word-of-mouth advocacy is incredibly powerful.”&nbsp;

The CMI will begin rolling out the new brand across digital platforms and community materials, with phased marketing campaigns launching throughout 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information about the Community Marketing Initiative, contact Marketing Director Marcus Petty at 785-827-9310 or email mpetty@salinakansas.org.&nbsp;

Chamber of Commerce announces new community brand, "building pride from the inside out"

Dr. Steve Hoekstra, professor of Psychology at Kansas Wesleyan University, will join local psychologist Dr. Paula Fried in presenting “What’s Your Type? The History, Promise, and Limits of Personality Typing” at the Salina Art Center (242 S. Santa Fe Ave.) on Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 6-7 p.m.

The presentation will focus on the popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and explore the history of personality typing, its uses, its limitations and more.&nbsp;

“People instinctively want to classify people into groups and to use that knowledge to predict what people might do,” said Hoekstra.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Many personality tests are also used for workgroups or to judge relationship compatibility. We’re going to explore how personality forms, whether it can change, and how it is or isn’t useful in everyday life.”

The event is free to the public and will be located in the Salina Art Center’s gallery.

Additional information can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://salinaartcenter.org/galleries">salinaartcenter.org/galleries</a>.

KWU Psychology professor to explore Personality Typing in presentation at Salina Art Center

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;Coble,Matthew James Wayne

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGE: Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; No Proof Of Insurance; Operate a MV w/o a valid license; Transporting an open container

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Transmit/commun false info to req emerg srvc

Saline County Jail Bookings, February 7

The Salina Arts &amp; Humanities Foundation has approved over $30,000 in Horizons Grants for one local artist and five non-profit organizations. The Foundation also authorized an additional $7,000 for Enrichment Grant applications in 2026.

Horizons Grants support initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to artistic excellence and community involvement by engaging audience members as active participants. Applicants are also encouraged to develop strategic partnerships to strengthen the reach of their local activities.

Organizational Project grants funded for 2026 are:

Salina Art Center, $6,000 for Tell Me What You Think of Me

Salina Art Center seeks funding for a new exhibition, “Tell Me What You Think of Me,” by Ann Resnick and curated by Dr. Ksenya Gurschtein, which will explore how we perceive and evaluate one another through a combination of art, psychology, and community participation. The funds will support artist honorariums, travel, lodging, marketing, and programming costs.

The Land Institute, $6,000 for Prairie Festival 2026

The Horizons grant will support community-centered arts programming for Prairie Festival 2026, The Land Institute’s 50th-anniversary gathering in Salina. Funding will help activate artist-led installations and gathering spaces through a call for proposal process curated by Prairie Festival Fellow and artist Kelly Yarbrough, fostering engagement between attendees, artists, and the Kansas landscape. In collaboration with regional partners, this project will expand opportunities for local residents and visitors to experience place-based art and dialogue about humanity’s relationship with the land.

Salina Symphony, $6,000 for Rach &amp; Rhapsody

The Salina Symphony will present a concert titled “Rach &amp; Rhapsody” in November of 2026 at the Stiefel Theatre. The program will feature Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Michael Schachter’s “Being

and Becoming: Rhapsody for Piano &amp; Orchestra,” both featuring guest artist Nachito Herrera. The Symphony will collaborate with McPherson College to broaden the project’s reach and strengthen its impact across the region. Herrera will serve as Guest Clinician for the McPherson College Jazz Festival and will perform a free Friday evening recital at McPherson College in partnership with the Lingenfelter Artist Series.

Salina Innovation Foundation, $3,000 for The Temple’s Historic Elevator Reimagined Sculpture Project

The Temple’s Historic Elevator Reimagined Sculpture Project will commission local artist Bob Peck to transform the Temple’s original 1927 elevator car into a permanent, interactive educational sculpture. The work will invite hands-on engagement—pressing buttons, turning the wheel, and discovering stories about the building’s history and its transformation. By preserving and reimagining this distinctive artifact rather than retiring it, the project advances its mission to honor the Temple’s legacy while engaging the community in its future. Grant funds will support artist commissioning, design and fabrication, and installation.

Salina Media Connection, $6,000 for Legacy on the Hill, The Marymount College Story

The project will tell the story of Marymount College, the campus, its students, its programs, their impact, and the College's legacy. Tom Fleming and Greg Stephens are the executive producers through Salina Media Connection, formerly Access Television of Salina, in collaboration with Method Productions. They plan to take photos of the buildings, interview alumni, research and use media artifacts, and include drone photography in the final production. When completed, we will screen the documentary at the Salina Art Center Cinema, show it at selected retirement/assisted living centers, and present it at the Sisters of St. Joseph Mother House in Concordia.

Lana Jordan Developing Artist grants funded for 2026 are:

Morgan Allred, $3,000 for Froze in Poetic Prose: an Anthological Production

Froze in Poetic Prose; an Anthological Production will be a short film that captures the spirit, struggles, and hopes of this era through the voices of Kansas poets. The project will bring together a local cinematographer, four Kansas poets, and Morgan as a poet and narrator, weaving everyone’s work into a visual anthology. This film will serve as both a cultural timepiece and an innovative exploration of poetry on screen, using cinematic storytelling to preserve and amplify Kansas voices for future generations.

Enrichment Grants available for application – February 1 through November 15:

The Salina Arts &amp; Humanities Foundation approved funding for Enrichment Grants for artists and organizations in Saline County, Kansas, in 2026. Salina Arts &amp; Humanities staff review Enrichment Grant applications on a rolling basis from February 1 through November 15 each year. For 2026, artist applicants may apply for up to $1,000 to support the presentation of work, study, training, artistic promotion, purchase of equipment, or travel. Non-profit organizations

are eligible to apply for up to $500. Enrichment Grant guidelines and applications are available online, <a href="https://www.salinaarts.com/horizons-grants-program/">https://www.salinaarts.com/horizons-grants-program/</a>.

The agency will again accept Organizational Project and Developing Artists Grant applications in November 2026. All grant guidelines and applications are available at <a href="http://salinaarts.org">salinaarts.org</a>.

Horizons Grants are made possible by private contributions from more than 50 individuals, foundations, and businesses in partnership with the Salina Arts &amp; Humanities Foundation. The Foundation has provided more than one million dollars in support of more than 550 Horizons Grants since 1986. Salina Arts &amp; Humanities staff provide grant oversight and administration for Saline County artists and organizations.

For questions about Horizons Grants, please call Anna Pauscher Morawitz at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 am - Noon and 1:00 – 5:00 pm. or email anna.pauscher@salina.org.

Salina Arts & Humanities announces 2026 Horizons Grants recipients and opens enrichment grant applications

The State of Kansas ends&nbsp;January&nbsp;2026&nbsp;with total tax collections at $988.2 million. That is $12.2&nbsp;million, or&nbsp;1.2%,&nbsp;above&nbsp;the estimate. Total tax collections were&nbsp;up 4.8% from&nbsp;January&nbsp;2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Over the past few years, the Legislature has spent more than Kansas has been taking in, creating a structural imbalance of&nbsp;hundreds of millions of dollars,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“My final budget puts Kansas on a&nbsp;path to rectify that unsustainable balance over time.”&nbsp;

Individual income tax collections were $542.3 million. That is $7.3 million, or 1.4% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 8.4% from January 2025. Corporate income tax collections were $86.2 million. That is $16.2 million, or 23.2% above the estimate, and up 18.1% from January 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $337.8&nbsp;million, which is&nbsp;$12.2 million,&nbsp;or 3.5%&nbsp;below&nbsp;the estimate, and down 3.2% from January 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2026%2F02%2F02%2Ffile_attachments%2F3541384%2F07_January_Revenue_FY2026_02-02-2026_Final.pdf/1/0101019c1ff64862-250d433d-791a-4172-9978-84812d3ee4dc-000000/6UbRePf6aIiYq1nNQkg_5W_7uRuNNQYxocZv62rtmnI=442">here</a>&nbsp;to view the&nbsp;January&nbsp;2026&nbsp;revenue numbers.&nbsp;

January total tax collections at $988.2 Million; 1.2% above estimate

LINCOLN COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Friday in Lincoln County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Camaro driven by Natina L.&nbsp;Mitchell, 28, Thedford, Nebraska, was westbound on Interstate 70 near the&nbsp;Beverly,&nbsp;Carneiro exit.&nbsp; The Camaro rear-ended a 2002 Chevy Silverado driven by Aaron M. Gray, 48, Russell.&nbsp; Both vehicles then pulled off onto the right shoulder.

EMS transported&nbsp; Gray and a passenger in the pickup Deanna J. Gray, 54, Russell, to the Ellsworth County Medical Center.&nbsp; Mitchell was not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas couple hospitalized after I-70 rear-end crash

High School Sports LIVE STREAMS

Nex-Tech Wireless generously donated eleven up-to-date laptops to the Salina Area United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for the 2026 tax season.

Nex-Tech and Salina Area United Way have been in partnership for 20 years, and this donation continues to further their partnership.

"Supporting the VITA program was an easy decision," said Dustin Schlaefli, VP of Customer Experience at Nex-Tech. "The Salina Area United Way gives so much back to the communities we serve, and we are proud to provide this equipment at no cost to help further their mission."&nbsp;

The <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/81ec4bb3-031f-4df3-8517-63f0582f734d">VITA program started on February 2,</a> and volunteers have already taken 150 tax returns. <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/da1e5685-8480-48b2-82fd-03f3b074a193">Last year's total tax returns were 830</a> for local individuals and families.

VITA intake will run through April 8, 2026, at The McKenzie Center (308 W Elm St., Salina, KS).

Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and no appointments are made by phone — clients must come in person during intake hours.

<a href="https://unitedwaysalina.org/vita">Visit here for more information about the VITA program</a>&nbsp;or call (785) 827-1312.

Nex-Tech generously donates several laptops to further mission of United Way VITA program

Salina Area Technical College is kicking off Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month® with a major win for students and workforce development. 

Through the latest Congressional Appropriations bill, Salina Tech has secured $200,000 in federal funding to support the college’s Industrial Maintenance and Automation (IMA) program.

The funding will be used to enhance hands-on training opportunities and help meet the growing demand for skilled workers in manufacturing and automation.

The announcement aligns with the national celebration of CTE Month® this February and highlights the college’s role in preparing a highly skilled workforce for Kansas's evolving manufacturing landscape.

Following the bill’s passage, U.S. Kan. Senator Jerry Moran personally contacted Salina Tech President Dr. Greg Nichols to confirm the funding. The college appreciates Senator Moran’s support and recognition of the importance of modern workforce development in the region’s economic growth.

“Congratulations to our staff and students who will benefit from this added funding,” said Dr. Greg Nichols. “This support helps us continue strengthening our programs, responding to workforce needs, and preparing students for successful careers in manufacturing right here in our community.”

While the IMA facility itself opened last fall, this federal funding supports the tools and resources that enhance hands-on learning within the program. The IMA center was designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application and includes advanced lab spaces and a 120-seat auditorium.

As regional manufacturers continue to adopt advanced automation and robotics, Salina Tech is evolving its curriculum and facilities to meet those demands. This investment further strengthens the college’s ability to prepare students for careers in a modern industrial environment.

For more information about the <a href="http://SalinaTech.edu">IMA program or other technical education opportunities, visit here</a>.

Salina Tech secures $200,000 in federal funding to support IMA program

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged theft.

Just after 4p.m. Thursday police arrested 38-year-old&nbsp;Kelli Wilson of Salina in the 400 block of E. Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Wilson was arrested on a Pottawatomie County District Court warrant for one count of theft by threat; $1,500 or less from three businesses in 72 hours. 

This arrest stems from an original report filed in November 2025. Wilson is being held in the Pottawatomie County Jail.

Salina woman accused of theft from 3 businesses in 72-hours

Salina Area United Way is proud to announce the opening of Year 3 of its Early Childcare Initiative Fund (ECIF) grants for the 2026–2027 grant cycle, marking an exciting new chapter in the program’s growth.

This next phase—referred to as Phase 2 of ECIF, expands grant eligibility to child care providers in Ellsworth County and, for the first time, to in-home child care providers across the region.

Since launching the Early Childcare Initiative in 2023, Salina Area United Way has worked intentionally to strengthen the local child care system while listening closely to providers and families. Over the past two years, in-home providers have consistently shared their needs, challenges, and hopes for stronger support. Phase 2 reflects a direct response to those voices and expands the initiative’s reach to better support the full early childhood ecosystem.

“We heard you,” said Christina Small, Executive Director of Salina Area United Way. “In-home providers told us they needed more support, more resources, and a partner who truly understands their role in caring for children and supporting working families. This expansion is our way of showing up for them—with funding, tools, and genuine care.”

The Early Childcare Initiative was created to address critical child care shortages while strengthening providers and improving outcomes for children, families and employers. 

· Awarded more than $550,000 to early child care providers

· Created 229 new child care slots, including 49 infant slots

· Supported seven nonprofit child care centers

· Increased wages by an average of $2 per hour for center-based child care workers

· Grown the child care endowment to nearly $1.2 million in partnership with the Greater Salina Community Foundation and Thrivent

· Reduced staffing vacancies in the child care industry to less than half of what they were at the program’s start

As part of Phase 2, Salina Area United Way is also introducing a centralized child care administration hub. This hub will serve as a one-stop support system for providers—connecting them to resources, technical assistance, community partnerships, and ongoing guidance as the early childhood system continues to grow and evolve.

“This initiative has always been about more than funding,” said Small. “It’s about relationships, trust, and walking alongside providers. We are here to support them in every way we can—professionally, practically, and personally—because when providers thrive, children and families thrive.”

The 2026–2027 ECIF grant cycle opens Friday, February 6, 2026, at noon.

Eligible providers in Saline and Ellsworth counties—including in-home child care providers—are encouraged to apply. 

This year’s grants include wage supplements, non-traditional hours incentives, longevity incentives, gym memberships, bookkeeping support, and additional provider resources designed to strengthen long-term sustainability.

For more information about the Early Childcare Initiative or the application process, visit <a href="https://www.unitedwaysalina.org/childcareinitiative">Early Childcare Initiative</a> or contact Salina Area United Way 785-827-1312.

United Way launches Phase 2 of Early Childcare Initiative Grants, expanding support to Ellsworth County and in-home providers

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

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

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

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 6 - February 8

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 4 - February 6

Three day weather forecast Salina, February 1 - February 3

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 30 - February 1

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 28 - January 30

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 26 - January 28

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

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;— A suspect accused in the deadly shooting of a Dodge City man was back in court on Friday.

&nbsp;Ricardo Talavera, 41,  pleaded no contest&nbsp; involuntary manslaughter and interference with a law enforcement office in the death of 49-year-old Ruben Parga-Quintanar during a hearing in Judge Kathleen Watson's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 9a.m. August 1, officers and Wichita Fire Department crews responded to a report of a man down near the entrance to an alley in the 2400 block of North Jeanette in Wichita, according to a media release. When fire personnel arrived, they found Parga-Quintanar with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:53 a.m.

Early findings in the investigation suggested Parga-Quintanar was shot elsewhere and collapsed after fleeing on a bicycle. As the case progressed, detectives determined he was shot in the alley and then collapsed nearby.

Investigators identified Talavera as a suspect and served a search warrant at his home.&nbsp; On August 6, police arrested him and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00 bond and will be sentenced in March, according to the district attorney's office.

Suspect enters plea in death of SW Kansas man

Bill voids decades of regulatory decisions amid concern about investigatory process

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Lacey Grogan, Joshua Conner and Melissa Vaughn recounted traumatic nursing regulatory experiences in Kansas House testimony supporting an extraordinary bill written to force administrative changes at the Kansas State Board of Nursing.

The bill, if signed into law, would void state Board of Nursing disciplinary actions executed between Jan. 1, 2005, and July 1, 2026, including cases of licensure renewal and unprofessional conduct. Documents in the deleted cases would be sealed from the Kansas Open Records Act. Steps would be taken to remove from national databases information on nurses sanctioned by the Board of Nursing during the period.

A revised definition of unprofessional conduct for nurses — intended to rein in the Board of Nursing — would be retroactively applied to 2025. The definition would focus on alleged misconduct performed intentionally or carelessly but no longer include issues related to failure to timely renewal of a license.

In addition, the Board of Nursing would be required to adhere to a higher standard of proof in nurse disciplinary cases. It would shift from a preponderance of evidence to the more rigorous clear and convincing evidence.

Appointees of the Kansas governor to the Board of Nursing would undergo Senate confirmation. No member of the Legislature or the attorney general or a governor could serve on the board.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2528_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2528 would make a series of other changes</a>&nbsp;at the Board of Nursing applicable to the 74,000 nursing professionals licensed in Kansas.

The House Health and Human Services Committee gathered testimony Thursday from critics and champions of the Board of Nursing. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/07/kansas-legislators-alarmed-nurses-suffer-draconian-penalty-for-license-renewal-errors/">Board of Nursing came under intense scrutiny by the Legislature in&nbsp;</a>mid-2025 as allegations of regulatory abuse became public.

Grogan, a registered nurse for 20 years who lives in St. Francis, told legislators she welcomed change at the Board of Nursing. While working at an understaffed rural Kansas hospital, Grogan said, she complied with professional standards by reporting a patient fall. The hospital’s administration retaliated by filing complaints against her with the Board of Nursing. Two were promptly dismissed, she said, but a third “lacking substantiated evidence was nevertheless pursued” by the Board of Nursing.

“I was denied a meaningful opportunity to speak on my own behalf without legal representation, pressured into signing a consent agreement for conduct I did not commit and ultimately fined and stripped of my nursing license,” Grogan said. “My name was included in a disciplinary mailer distributed to nurses statewide. Once reported to the national database, my licensure was called into question in nearly every other state where I held licensure.”

During emotional testimony, Grogan told legislators the “future of nursing depends on the decisions made in this room” to deal with the state regulatory board.

More than 25 people submitted testimony in support of the 23-page House bill. Seven individuals declared opposition.

Carol Moreland, executive administrator of the Board of Nursing since 2017, said provisions of HB 2528 could violate federal mandates and increased the risk of nurses harming the public. She questioned the Legislature’s heavy-handed approach to modifying authority of the Board of Nursing.

“No other regulatory board in Kansas is under this scrutiny and is being asked to make these unprecedented changes,” she said.

She objected to wiping out disciplinary decisions of the Board of Nursing for a period of two decades. She said that part of the bill would reverse sanctions against a school nurse who engaged in sexually inappropriate conduct with a student, a nurse who solicited prostitution at work and a nurse who stole credit cards from a patient and made purchases after the patient died.

“It’s not clear to us at the Board of Nursing what really happens next. If it’s voided, do they automatically have their license back?” Moreland said.

Another flaw in the bill required the Board of Nursing to send a flurry of notices to nurses approaching their two-year license renewal date, said Carol Moore, a retired advance practice nurse and former associate dean of Baker University’s nursing program. The bill would mandate renewal notices go out 90 days, 60 days, 30 days and seven days prior to the deadline, on the renewal date and seven days after that date.

“How much handholding does an educated professional require?” Moore said. “I do not see anything as written in this bill to enhance the care of patients nor to advance the stature of nursing.”

Topeka registered nurse Kelly Sommers said the Legislature should “put a stop to this embarrassment” of a bill. She said reforms in the bill appeared to be crafted in a way “to satisfy a handful of nurses who refuse to accept personal responsibility.”

Joshua Connor, an opponent of the bill, said he worked for a decade with elderly adults as a licensed practical nurse. He lived in Manhattan before taking a job in Florida. He said he didn’t renew his Kansas nursing license because his job didn’t require the credential.

Connor was subsequently diagnosed with cancer requiring surgery, but his employer didn’t want to accommodate his absence from work. He was fired and won a wrongful termination lawsuit. He considered returning to Kansas to resume his nursing career. After contacting the Board of Nursing to renew his license, the agency put him under investigation for allegedly working in Florida without a nursing license.

“My real nightmare began,” said Connor, who eventually secured a new Kansas nursing license. “I was coerced to sign a consent agreement that labeled me with unprofessional conduct.”

The Board of Nursing placed his name in a database for nurses guilty of unprofessional conduct. His request to have Florida recognize his nursing license was rejected because he was disciplined in Kansas.

“I am working over 60 hours a week now at 7-11 to support my family,” he said. “KSBN’s draconian actions have cost me thousands of dollars in lost wages and attorney fees. The emotional toll is indescribable.”

Melissa Vaughn, a Kansas registered nurse from Kansas City, Missouri, has worked the past five years as a Hy-Vee floral designer. She shared with legislators her “unimaginable experience” with staff at the Board of Nursing. Her career in nursing began in 1996. She graduated from nursing school at University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2012.

She presented House members a detailed outline of her licensing renewal battle with the Board of Nursing that came to a head in 2013.

“I pursued my case honestly with the mindset that if KSBN is doing this to me I have no doubt they are doing it to other nurses,” she said.

In 2013, Vaughn accidently checked a box on her renewal application indicating she hadn’t completed 30 hours of mandatory continuing education. She corrected her application. At one point, the Board of Nursing accepted documentation showing she met the requirement. She later received a letter from the Board of Nursing indicating her application was being audited. Another letter said her case was referred to a disciplinary attorney “for further disposition.”

Vaughn’s alleged offense: She applied for renewal of her license on March 18, 2013, before the 30-hour continuing education credit was affirmed by the Board of Nursing on April 16, 2013. It was a confusing development, she said, because her Kansas nursing license was, at that moment, still valid and wouldn’t lapse until May 31, 2013.

The Board of Nursing offered her a diversion agreement declaring she broke state licensing regulations with a flawed application. She said she rejected the plea deal because the agreement’s “statement of facts” included false information. An assistant attorney general at the Board of Nursing threatened her with license revocation for alleged “unprofessional conduct by fraud or deceit in practicing nursing.”

The Board of Nursing issued a 15-day license suspension but later reversed the order. She paid a $250 fine for failure to exhibit a “cooperative attitude toward the disciplinary proceedings.”

More than a decade later, Vaughn said, she was grateful introduction of the House bill offered her an opportunity to advocate for reform that addressed “a sickening mix of KSBN’s schemes, incompetence, ignorance and greed.”

Kansas House responds to complaints, unveils bill revamping Board of Nursing’s authority

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a homicide after two men were shot early Saturday in north Wichita.

Just after 3 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 3900 block of E. 13th Street in Wichita after receiving a gunshot detection alert, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

While officers were responding, police received a report of a walk-in shooting victim at a local hospital. Shortly afterward, two adult men arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds. A 36-year-old man was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m. A second victim, a 43-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and is expected to survive.

Preliminary information indicates the victims were at a business in the 3900 block of E. Vesta when a disturbance occurred and shots were fired. Police reported property damage in the area, but no other injuries.

Homicide: Kansas hospital walk-in shooting victim has died

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — There are stages, and then there is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;halftime show.

On Sunday, fresh off his historic win at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards">the Grammys</a>&nbsp;for his love letter to Puerto Rico, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny will once again surprise audiences with a performance that is gearing up to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/why-bad-bunnys-super-bowl-show-will-be-a-landmark-moment-for-puerto-rico/" target="_blank">landmark moment for Latino culture.</a>

Apple Music’s Zane Lowe mentioned that Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance is 13 minutes long during an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-f441549a00166a39309233f689163105">interview with the superstar</a>&nbsp;on Thursday. Historically, they run 12 to 15 minutes.

In the same conversation, Bad Bunny offered few specifics about what viewers will see Sunday.

“It’s going to be a huge party,” he said, playfully dodging questions about surprise guests and other details. “What people can expect from me … I want to bring to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture. But I really don’t, I don’t want to give any spoilers. It’s going to be fun.”

Beyond that: A minute-and-a-half long trailer for the halftime show posted last month set a jovial tone for his performance. In it,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bad-bunny">Bad Bunny</a>&nbsp;approaches a Flamboyan tree — more on that below — and presses play on his single “Baile Inolvidable” (“Unforgettable Dance”).

The song is modern salsa, performed with students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan. It is a featured single from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-review-856f8e4f89e48e6ab104a491ae3dbcde">“Debí Tirar Más Fotos,”</a>&nbsp;an album that marries folkloric tradition in local Borinquen genres like bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with contemporary styles like reggaeton, trap and pop.

In the clip, Bad Bunny sways as he’s joined by different dancers across genders, races and ages: Those include a traditional salsa dancer in a red dress, a firefighter, a cowboy and a viejito wearing a pava (“viejito” is an affectionate term for an older man and a “pava” is a kind of straw hat). It’s representative of the superstar’s international appeal; he is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spotify-wrapped-2025-bad-bunny-taylor-swift-fb021e2387d6aff7e4d8353a067f1664">the most-streamed artist globally</a>&nbsp;on Spotify.

Will Bad Bunny perform entirely in Spanish?

All of Bad Bunny’s music is recorded in Spanish, so it seems like a safe bet. Were he to include English into his set, it would likely appear in a spoken interjection — or it would be featured in text.

In October, Bad Bunny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snl-premiere-bad-bunny-doja-cat-108cbe04aa05205f7c04ff29c6d60d0f">hosted “Saturday Night Live”</a>&nbsp;and said a few sentences in Spanish during his opening monologue. When he concluded, he joked in English, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn,” a reference to the Super Bowl and his critics.

On Thursday, he joked that fans didn’t actually need to learn Spanish to enjoy his set — but they should be prepared to dance.

There’s no way to know for sure, but here are a few educated guesses.

Puerto Rican flags: In his song&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-superbowl-2026-quiz">“La Mudanza,”</a>&nbsp;Bad Bunny sings, “Aquí mataron gente por sacar la bandera / Por eso es que ahora yo la llevo donde quiera.” In English: “Here they killed people for showing the flag / That’s why I bring it everywhere I want now.” It appears to be a reference to Law 53 of 1948, better known as the Gag Law, a ruling by the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly which attempted to suppress the independence movement on the island and criminalized displaying the Puerto Rican flag. It was repealed in 1952. It is also one of many reasons Puerto Ricans are known for waving their flag with pride for their island.

It is almost certain the flag of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/puerto-rico">Puerto Rico</a>&nbsp;will appear in some form on the Super Bowl stage. But its colors are worth noting. If it is shown in red, white and blue, that is the current flag of Puerto Rico and has been since 1952. If there are flags that feature light blue, that is reflective of the Puerto Rican independence movement. A black and white version of the flag has become synonymous with Puerto Rican struggle and resiliency. And if there is a flag that more closely resembles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dominican-republic">the Dominican Republic’s</a>&nbsp;flag, that is the flag of the Puerto Rican mountain town Lares. It was used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-residente-music-music-videos-07e1a4067be8e48f197661c90b31aefd">the Grito de Lares,</a>&nbsp;the first short revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico in the 19th century.

Puerto Rican expressions: There may be a few Puerto Rican expressions uttered on stage, beyond just those found in Bad Bunny’s music. That could be anything from “Wepa!” which is used in moments of excitement, not unlike exclaiming “Wow!.” It grew in popularity after the release of Alfonso Vélez’s 1974 salsa song “El Jolgorio (Wepa Wepa Wepa).” Or “Acho, PR es otra cosa,” a phrase that became a fan chant during Bad Bunny’s performance of “Voy a llevarte pa’ PR” during his residency. It translates to “Damn, PR is something else.”

Casita: At&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-bad-bunny-concert-46e33b429e8ea4a08f52b0ae53b42d30">Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico</a>&nbsp;last summer, he performed across two stages. One was built to resemble a casita (“little house”), for the pari de marquesina, a house party. These structures are synonymous with Puerto Rico and the Caribbean at large.

Pavas: A symbol that is likely familiar to Bad Bunny fans everywhere, a pava is a straw hat traditionally worn by jíbaros, or Puerto Rican rural farmers. It has become a symbol of pride for the island. The singer even wore a leather version of the hat on the red carpet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/met-gala-2025-fashion-updates">at the 2025 Met Gala.</a>

Flamboyan tree: The second of the two stages at Bad Bunny’s residency focused on showcasing the island’s natural beauty with its flamboyan and plantain trees. The former are a common feature in Puerto Rican art for its flowers, most commonly seen in brilliant red, orange and yellow hues. The image of the tree evokes Puerto Rico almost as immediately as the sound of its national nocturnal residents, el coquí (a frog with a distinctive sing-song-y call heard only at night.)

El Sapo Concho: Not to be mistaken with el coquí, el sapo concho is the endangered Puerto Rican crested toad that Bad Bunny has used an animated version of in his visuals for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”

Traditional Puerto Rican instruments: Because much of Bad Bunny’s music pulls from bomba and plena, it is likely that a few of those traditional instruments will be on stage. Look out for a cuatro (a small, four-stringed guitar), güiro/güira (a percussive instrument made of a hollow gourd), palitos (also a percussive instrument resembling two long, wood sticks), cencerro (cow bell) and maracas. For the bomba songs, specifically, there may be a barriel (a barrel) and for plena, a pandereta (tambourine.)

Will there be special guests during the halftime show?

It is impossible to predict, but it would be surprising if Bad Bunny wasn’t joined by other performers — particularly other giants of Latin music, and probably, other Puerto Rican performers. The band Chuwi joined Benito for every night of his San Juan residency; it wouldn’t be out of the question to see them on stage for their collaboration, “Weltita.”

Other potential guests, if the residency is a framework to follow, could include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marc-anthony">Marc Anthony,</a>&nbsp;Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2025-grammy-awards-young-miko-interview-36adcfcc6e418494632b835fd4d20bd5">Young Miko,</a>&nbsp;Wisin y Yandel, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Alfonso Vélez. But the list goes on and on.

That is in the eye of the beholder. But there is historical precedent for it at the Super Bowl. In 2020, the NFL asked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-jennifer-lopez-entertainment-sports-sports-general-6218a84a9cd3d702826afe4a7cb6fff3">Jennifer Lopez</a>&nbsp;to cut a segment featuring children in cages during her halftime performance, a critique of U.S. immigration policies. She refused. (Bad Bunny was actually a guest performer during that halftime show, which was headlined by Lopez and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/shakira">Shakira.)</a>

Last year, Kendrick Lamar’s set was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-halftime-show-review-1dc2bce615ebfba0c8af0ea7c3ce4b9d">artful confrontation of American history</a>&nbsp;and racial dynamics through metaphor, as the actor Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, complained of a performance that was “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto” and reminded Lamar to “play the game.”

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