Two bold women representing the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/304759803960474/">Granny Brigade</a> are actively working to spread awareness and inform Saline County on the dangers and the unfortunate reality of human trafficking.

Linda Adam and Linda Reynolds who are members of the Granny Brigade, are the frontrunners in working to spread awareness on the dangers, signs and information of human trafficking.

"We are trying to create awareness in the community," said Adam. "We want to educate students within the school system here, parents and get others involved in this fight against human trafficking."

Both Adam and Reynolds were first moved to spread awareness, after sitting in on two Granny Brigade meetings that featured speakers talking about the topic of human trafficking.

Those speakers featured&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/06722d12-9dfe-44f4-a9e8-9ded80c8a3b2">Kim Borchers</a>&nbsp;a longtime Topeka activist, and <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/55605632-862a-4130-a5ce-fff6661f0592">JJ Carrell</a>, a retired&nbsp;U.S. Border Deputy Patrol Agent.

After listening to Borchers' views and Carrell's views on how human trafficking is closely tied with human/migrant smuggling, both Adam and Reynolds thought to take action.

Though human/migrant smuggling is legally defined as a person who "voluntarily enters into an agreement with a smuggler to gain illegal entry into a foreign country," there are still cases when people who are smuggled, can be&nbsp;extremely vulnerable to human trafficking, abuse, and other crimes, as they are illegally present in the country of destination and often owe large debts to their smugglers, according to the <a href="https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/272325.pdf">U.S. Department of State</a>.

Moreover, some smuggled persons may be subjected to sex or labor trafficking while in transit or at their destination, and these individuals are indeed trafficking victims.

"We thought to ourselves, we needed to start a task force in Salina," said Reynolds.

Adam and Reynolds established the "Human Trafficking Task Force."&nbsp;

The mission statement of the task force is as follows:

We lead with intent &amp; defined goals to inform our community &amp; create awareness to the rampant rise of human trafficking - a modern day form of abuse &amp; slavery. Do not look away. Human trafficking is present among us. Our task force is a goal oriented team that tackles this challenging issue with teamwork &amp; collaboration. FREEDOM for all is our MISSION - JUSTICE is our DEMAND.&nbsp;

Currently the task force has 14 members, including Adam and Reynolds. The task force distributes informational packets to local organizations in the community. The packets are loaded with information from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/about-us/attorney-general-kris-w-kobach">Attorney General Kris Kobach's office</a>, as the pair have worked closely with Julie Hart, the Human Trafficking Education &amp; Outreach Coordinator Victim Services Division.

Adam and Reynolds have also talked about presenting this material to local school districts.&nbsp;

"We desperately need to present this to our schools," said Reynolds.&nbsp;

The task force strives to inform students and parents within the school system to bring forth awareness on this issue.

According to AG Kobach's office, "sextortion" is defined as form of blackmail where someone threatens to share sexual images of a person unless they do something they don't want to do - such as send more images, engage in sexual activities or pay money.

Victims of sextortion often feel scared and silent due to fears of trouble, shaming their parents or judgment from peers.

Learn more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missingkids.org/home">https://www.missingkids.org/home</a>

I-70 and I-35, contributing highways for human trafficking

Since major highways like I-70 &amp; I-35 which spurs into I-135 intersecting into Salina, it should be no surprise human trafficking occurrences can happen locally.

I-135&nbsp;serves as a key link for central Kansas, intersecting I-70 in Salina to create a vital crossroads for regional and national travel. While I-35 runs north-south from Mexico to Minnesota, connecting major central U.S. cities like Dallas, OKC and Kansas City.

According to the <a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/350/Human-Trafficking#:~:text=US%20Department%20of%20Justice%20has,nature%20of%20the%20trafficking%20trades.">Riley County Police Department</a>, the I-70 and I-35 highways contribute to “hotspot” communities for labor and sex trafficking activities.

For the 2024 year in Kansas, the <a href="https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics/kansas">National Human Trafficking Hotline</a> received 198 signals with 68 of them being victims or survivors of human trafficking. There were 126 cases identified, with 230 victims being involved in these cases (note that cases can involve multiple victims).&nbsp;

One of the ways to combat this is through the <a href="https://tatnonprofit.org/">Truckers Against Trafficking</a> course, which is approved by the AG's office. By taking this course, truckers can better understand what human trafficking is and what signs to look for.

Some signs to spot in victims of human trafficking include:

- Seem ill with a lack of malnourishment.

- No type of identification of the individual, nor money.

- Lack of eye contact with a slumped posture.

- Small children working at restaurant and/or some type of business.

- Multiple people with diverse backgrounds living in a household.

These signs above are but a few of many signs to look for, and go <a href="https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs">here</a> to learn more.

According to the Department of Justice (DoJ) regarding the <a href="https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-data-collection-activities-2024">Human Trafficking Data Collection Activities, 2024</a>:

A total of 1,912 persons were referred to U.S. attorneys for human trafficking offenses in fiscal year 2022, a 26% increase from the 1,519 persons referred in 2012.

The number of persons prosecuted for human trafficking more than doubled from 2012 to 2022 (from 805 to 1,656 persons). The number of persons convicted of a human trafficking offense increased from 578 persons in 2012 to 1,118 persons in 2022.&nbsp;

Both Adam and Reynolds will be speak about their mission, during the public comment period at the Saline County Commission meeting on Tuesday,&nbsp;January 6, 2026. Additionally, <a href="https://www.dvack.org/">DVACK</a>&nbsp;will also speak on a proclamation in the fight against human trafficking during the same meeting.

Adam and Reynolds are working to collaborate with DVACK.&nbsp;

A Facebook page for the Human Trafficking Task Force is in the works as well.

If you think or know someone is being trafficked or sexually exploited, please call your local police department or 9-1-1.

To report a tip, get additional information and/or if you have been a victim/survivor of human trafficking, call or text:

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is:&nbsp;1-888-373-7888 or you can text "BeFree" to&nbsp;233733

DVACK is another resource here locally, and to get in contact with them go to:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dvack.org/contact">https://www.dvack.org/contact&nbsp;</a>

You can also report human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline website by clicking <a href="https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/report-trafficking">here</a>.&nbsp;

Two women boldly spreading awareness on the dangers and unfortunate reality of human trafficking within Saline County

Salina Commissioners are set to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, December 16 to&nbsp;discuss legal considerations relating to the Cozy Inn ruling.

The meeting will take place at 3:00 pm in room 107&nbsp;inside the City-County Building (300 W. Ash).

The meeting will recess into executive session immediately following roll call. Commissioners will then return to open session, following the conclusion of the executive session with possible action to follow.

Meetings can be viewed at the City of Salina YouTube channel,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas">https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas</a>.

To participate via Zoom, citizens will need to use the following link:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587</a>

The meeting can also be accessed by phone at 1-346-248-7799. Enter Meeting ID: 892 7598 4587 when prompted. 

If you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk's Office at (785) 309-5735.

Previous and historical City Commission packets can be found&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/Browse.aspx?id=8&amp;repo=r-ed266dde">here</a>.

Salina Commissioners set to hold special meeting relating to Cozy Inn ruling

A&nbsp;Saline County home in the process of renovation suffers house fire, due to faulty wiring.

According to the Saline County Sheriff's Office (SO) on Saturday at around 10:40 pm, a house fire occurred in the&nbsp;800 block North Halstead Road.

Before the fire, the family of the home was inside when suddenly the lights went out and smelled a smoking sensation.

The family then turned the light fuse back on, but quickly turned it back off once they saw a glowing wire from a light fixture.

Each member of the household evacuated and&nbsp;Rural Fire District 3 &amp; 7, Salina Fire Department EMS responded to the scene.

After the fire was extinguished, smoke and fire damage was limited to the ceiling and attic area. 

SO stated the house was in the process of being renovated at the time of the fire and faulty wiring was to blame.

Faulty wiring to blame for Saline County house fire

A Salina man with two outstanding warrants, was arrested after trespassing on the Union Pacific (UP) railroad.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Friday at around 4:30 pm, it was reported a couple of people were walking along the UP railroad in the area of Bishop Street.

SPD stated it is illegal to walk along the UP railways, since it is private property.

An officer was dispatched to the area and discovered a man identified as 23-year old, Colten Miller and a female walking on the railroad.

It was determined that Miller had two outstanding warrants from Saline County, which was for Probation Violation and 11 requested charges for Violation of a Protection Order.

Miller was then arrested and during the arrest, the officer located 2 grams of suspected&nbsp;methamphetamine on him.

He was booked into the Saline County Jail on the following requested charges of:

Possession of Methamphetamine, Drug Tax Stamp Violation, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Trespassing and for his two outstanding warrants.&nbsp;

The female was cited and released on the scene.

Salina man with two outstanding warrants arrested for trespassing along the Union Pacific railroad

An attempted burglary to a Salina business, could be connected to <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/ccb9e5e3-0a02-4ace-8e43-6dd2f2472e35">recent downtown burglaries</a>&nbsp;as an investigation ensues.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) at around 3:45 am on Saturday, officers were dispatched to a burglary alarm at a business in the&nbsp;1300 block of Armory.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a window had been shattered, kicked open and pry marks were evident.&nbsp;

Throughout the investigation, there was no entry made into the building.

The attempted burglary remains to be under investigation and SPD is suspecting this to be connected to the recent downtown burglaries.

Damage to the window was estimated to be $500.

Attempted burglary to Salina business possibly connected to recent downtown burglaries

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

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

NAME:&nbsp;Clark, Christopher Michael

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact; Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose misd warrant; Intimidation of witness/victim; Prevent reporting

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 15

The Dillons on Planet Ave. in Salina, just celebrated its grand reopening with a fresh new look on Friday, December 12.

The remodel was a $2 million investment from the company to provide a refreshment of the store's look, improve customer experience and add many enhancements to its departments.

Head of Communications/Public Affairs, Sheila Regehr said departments such as floral, Starbucks, fresh food and much more received upgrades to its enhancements.

"This allows us not only to provide the latest to our customers; we know that they turn to us for our brands, private selections, Simple Truth, Kroger brands, it allows us to add those enhancements with providing the freshest products available," she said.&nbsp;

In addition, customers can expect great deals throughout the store for the next 4 weeks in celebration of the remodel.

Regehr shared how customers feel about the new look.

"Our customers are appreciating the fresh new look throughout this store; there is an ease of shopping with the updated flow," she said. "Overall, the store feels so bright and fresh."

As part of the celebration, Dillons presented the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank with a generous $2,500 check and handed $500 in gift cards to the Salina South High School Band, as they put on a performance as well.

🎥 Dillons on Planet Ave. enhances customer experience with fresh new look after $2 million investment from company  

<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, December 15 - December 17

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.

Recent obituaries and service times, how to submit an obituary

NAME:&nbsp;Bangura, Shirley Fudia

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact

NAME:&nbsp;Briscoe, Haiden Geraldine

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact; Operate a MV w/o a valid license

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner

NAME:&nbsp;Riffle, Brian Christopher

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving While Suspended; No Proof Of Insurance; Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Agg endangering a child; Reckless &lt;18; Driving While Suspended; Fleeing a LEO; fail/refuse to stop;3rd+ conviction; Crim poss weapon by a convicted felon; Reckless Driving

Saline County Jail Bookings, December 14

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 September. This is unchanged from 3.8% in August and unchanged from 3.8% in September 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.1% in September, according to a media release from KDOL.

The unemployment rate in Saline County is down from 3.8 percent in August to 3.2 percent in September. The rate in Dickinson County was up in August at 4.4 percent but dropped to 3.5 percent in September.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 300 from August. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,000 over the month, while government increased by 1,700. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;financial activities&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in professional and business services&nbsp;(-2,300 jobs).

Since September 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 1,700. This change is due to a decrease of 2,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 800 government jobs.

Technical Note: This statement includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for September 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 September 12.&nbsp;

Due to the lapse in federal funding during the federal government shutdown, all Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) operations were suspended from Oct. 1, 2025, through Nov. 12, 2025. As a result, KDOL will not publish a separate report for the October 2025 Kansas Labor Report.

Jobless rate down in Saline County and across the region

Four day weather forecast Salina, December 12 - December 15

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 10 - December 12

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 8 - December 10

Four day weather forecast Salina, December 5 - December 8

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

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

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

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.

Slight chance of flurries in Salina Wednesday evening

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 3 - December 5

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

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

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

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

- Share your travel plans with friends or family.

- Frequently check weather forecasts in your area.

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

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 1 - December 3

Traces of snowfall have touched down in Central Kansas, with more snow expected for Monday, plus cold air throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Throughout Central Kansas, colder air will spread southward across the region for Saturday along with strong and gusty northwest winds. Wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph are likely.

Rain will change to snow briefly over parts of central Kansas through mid-morning on Saturday. Minor accumulations on elevated and grassy surfaces are possible.

Low of 7 degrees is expected for Sunday, with a high of 30 in Salina.

Salina is also under a wind advisory until 6:00 pm for Saturday.

According to the US National Weather Service, light to moderate snow is expected to move-in from the west on Monday and provide many locations with the first measurable snow of the season. 

 Snow will start around or shortly after sunrise and continue through the Monday afternoon hours with travel impacts likely, especially across central and northeast Kansas.

Highs are expected to be between 27-32 degrees, with the low expected to be around 14 degrees throughout the region.

Traces of snow have touched down in Central Kansas, more snow expected for Monday

WICHITA, KAN. – An Arizona man was sentenced to 272 months in prison for his part in a drug trafficking ring that transported large amounts of fentanyl into Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Rafael Turner, 35, of Phoenix, Arizona, and formerly of Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Beginning on a date unknown and continuing through March 2023, Turner conspired with other people to distribute fentanyl.&nbsp;

“Turner was part of a criminal organization that injected both fentanyl and illegal drug proceeds into our communities,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Special Agent in Charge William Steenson, St. Louis Field Office. “We’re more committed than ever to using our financial expertise to help disrupt these drug trafficking organizations and bring the criminals who run them to justice.”

Forty-five other individuals were prosecuted as part of this overall investigation, which included individuals in Kansas. &nbsp;Across the country, individuals have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Included among them are Clifton Ray Weatherspoon, 33, and Antonio Dawayne Knight, 27, both of Wichita, who were each convicted of one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Weatherspoon was sentenced to 300 months in prison. Knight was sentenced to 150 months in prison.&nbsp;

In February 2023, Weatherspoon and Knight traveled by plane from Wichita to Phoenix, Arizona, to purchase 300,000 fentanyl pills. They packed the pills into two suitcases, checked the luggage under their names, and flew back to Wichita. Pursuant to a federal search warrant, law enforcement officers seized one of the bags before it reached the baggage claim area. They x-rayed and searched the luggage and discovered 15 bags stuffed inside containing 150,000 fentanyl pills. Agents arrested Weatherspoon and Knight, who had by then retrieved the second suitcase from baggage claim. A search of that bag showed it also contained approximately 150,000 fentanyl pills.

“Over the past few years, the federal government has partnered with state and local governments as well as community groups to curtail the fentanyl crisis. The prosecution of this large drug conspiracy was part of that work. However, we are not done in these efforts. While we try to save lives by raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, criminals seek to undermine that hard work” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Fentanyl dealers have little to no regard for human life and are willing to let children get ahold of this poison in efforts to turn a profit. We are grateful to law enforcement agents whose investigations keep this toxic substance off our streets.”

Man transported large amounts of fentanyl into Kansas.

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in the death of a 4-year-old&nbsp; made his hit first appearance in court on Friday.

A Sedgwick County Judge charged 34-year-old Daniel Martin with&nbsp; first degree murder and child abuse in the death of Tiuri Blunt-Porrata, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 3:30p.m. Monday, police&nbsp; responded to a medical call regarding an unresponsive 4-year-old child in the 2600 block of South Topeka in Wichita, according to police department spokesman Andrew Ford. The child identified as Tirui Blunt-Porrata, according to an online fundraiser, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and was pronounced deceased at 4:07 p.m.

Police booked Martin,&nbsp; into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remains on a $1 million bond, according to online jail records.

In the online fundraise, Nathaniel Porrata, " I’m Tiuri’s father. I recently moved to a new city to help restart my family’s life, hoping it would bring us a brighter future." 

"I had just landed a new job, and our finances were finally starting to recover. My soon to be ex-wife and our children were planning to join me at the beginning of 2026, and we were looking forward to being together again as a family."

"Tragically, on Monday, November 8th, 2025, my 4 year old son, Tiuri Blunt-Porrata, became the victim of a horrible crime and passed away. The investigation is still ongoing, so I am unable to share more details at this time."

"My world has been turned upside down. I am struggling to process the pain and shock of losing Tiuri so suddenly."<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-tiuri-bluntporratas-memory"> Click here to view</a> the fundraiser.

Kan. suspect in abuse death of 4-year-old faces a judge

NEW YORK (AP) —Anthony Geary, who rose to fame in the 1970s and ‘80s as half the daytime TV super couple Luke and Laura on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-hospital-60-years-soap-opera-120ba44b08ac517a56b94257b294a678">“General Hospital,”</a>&nbsp;has died. He was 78.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Anthony Geary, whose portrayal of Luke Spencer helped define General Hospital and daytime television,” ABC said in a statement confirming his death.

Geary died Sunday in Amsterdam of complications from a surgical procedure three days prior.

“The entire ‘General Hospital’ family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing,” Frank Valentini, executive producer of the ABC show, said in a statement Monday. “Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for.”

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Geary earned eight Daytime Emmy awards as Luke Spencer after joining the soap in 1978. Luke’s pairing with Genie Francis’ Laura Webber Baldwin (as she was known at the time) propelled the two onto magazine covers and into the cultural mainstream.

The 1981 wedding of Luke and Laura was a pop culture phenom done in two parts, drawing guest appearances that included Elizabeth Taylor. A record 30 million viewers watched.

“He was a powerhouse as an actor. Shoulder to shoulder with the greats. No star burned brighter than Tony Geary. He was one of a kind. As an artist, he was filled with a passion for the truth, no matter how blunt, or even a little rude it might be, but always hilariously funny,” Francis said in a statement.

In addition to his role as Luke, Geary had numerous TV and stage credits, including stints on other soaps: “The Young and the Restless” and “Bright Promise.” Geary played Luke on and off until 2015, though he returned for a cameo in 2017.

He lived a quiet life with husband Claudio Gama in Amsterdam.

<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=interviews+with+Tony+Geary&amp;rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1053US1054&amp;oq=interviews+with+Tony+Geary&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRiPAtIBCDM3OThqMGo3qAIIsAIB8QUmeU6L-Rg5lfEFJnlOi_kYOZU&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&amp;vld=cid:79c41a52,vid:3YNGiHX9_sc,st:0" target="_blank">In a 1993 interview</a>, Geary spoke of the many highs and lows of playing Luke.

“I felt like I had to be Luke 24 hours a day or people would be disappointed,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, they are mythic creatures. They come from two sides of the universe together and have a mutual connection, which is basically lust and appreciation for individuality. They love the eccentricity in each other.”

Geary’s Luke began as a small-time hitman recruited to dismantle the relationship of Laura and her first husband, Scotty Baldwin. Their story arc turned darker when Luke sexually assaulted Laura. The assault led to a redemption trail for Luke, who evolved into a hero and even served as mayor of the show’s small town, Port Charles.

“He was not created to be a heroic character,” Geary&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/anthony-geary-reflects-37-years-playing-dark-dangerous/story?id=32619755" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;ABC’s “Nightline” in 2015. “He was created to be an anti-hero, and I have treasured the anti-side of the hero and pushed it for a long time. ... He’s not a white hat or a black hat, he’s all shades of grey. And that has been the saving grace of playing him all these years.”

Geary was born to Mormon parents in Coalville, Utah. He was discovered while attending the University of Utah and performing on stage. He joined a touring company of “The Subject was Roses,” which brought him to Los Angeles.

Over the years, he appeared frequently in stage productions alongside his screen work.

Geary’s first appearance on TV was as Tom Whalom on an episode of “Room 222.” He went on to appear in “All in the Family,” “The Partridge Family,” “The Mod Squad,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “The Streets of San Francisco” and “Barnaby Jones.”

'General Hospital' star Anthony Geary of Luke and Laura fame dies at 78

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Monday blamed Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to the president for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rob-reiner-dead-9a87be595a7da742394829afc6f1132e">actor-director’s killing</a>, delivering the unsubstantiated claim in a shocking post that seemed intent on decrying his opponents even in the face of a tragedy.

The statement, even for Trump, was a shocking comment that came as police were still investigating the deaths of the director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, as an apparent homicide. The couple were found dead at their home Sunday in Los Angeles. Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and the couple’s son Nick Reiner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/rob-michele-reiner-dead-updates">was in police custody early Monday</a>.

Trump has a long track record of inflammatory remarks, but his comments in a social media post were a drastic departure from the role presidents typically play in offering a message of consolation or tribute after the death of a public figure. His message drew criticism even from conservatives and his supporters and laid bare Trump’s unwillingness to rise above political grievance in moments of crisis.

Trump, in a post on his social media network, said Reiner and his wife were killed “reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”

He said Reiner “was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness.”

The president did not mention his personal connection to Reiner’s wife, who was a photographer. Peter Osnos, the original publisher of “The Art of the Deal,” confirmed Monday that Michele Singer took the cover image of Trump’s 1987 bestseller.

Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who has bucked much of his party’s lockstep agreement with the president, criticized Trump for the comment.

“Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered,” Massie wrote in a post on X. “I guess my elected GOP colleagues, the VP, and White House staff will just ignore it because they’re afraid? I challenge anyone to defend it.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican whom Trump branded a “traitor” for disagreeing with him, responded to Trump’s message by saying, “This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies.”

Republican Reps. Mike Lawler of New York and Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, who are not known for pushing back on the White House, also criticized Trump’s message.

Reiner — a director of beloved films like “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally” — was one of the most active Democrats in the film industry and regularly campaigned on behalf of liberal causes and hosted fundraisers. He was a vocal critic of Trump, calling him in a 2017 interview with Variety “mentally unfit” to be president and “the single-most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States.”

The White House, which shared the president’s post, did not respond to a message about the criticism it was receiving and calls for Trump to take it down.

Speaking at the White House to reporters later Monday, Trump doubled down on his criticism of Reiner when he was asked if he stood by his post. Using the third person, Trump said Reiner “was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.”

“I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way shape or form,” Trump said. “I thought he was very bad for our country.”

The unsympathetic message was the latest example of Trump’s unsparing prism through which he views those he perceives as enemies.

He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-revenge-bolton-military-deployments-aa2b977621bce563770b60dade581f79">made retribution against political enemies</a>&nbsp;a prime focus of his campaign for the White House last year. And he has in the past made light of violence when it’s befallen those on the other side of the political aisle.

When Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-assaulted-156ece77186eb11b97260af3c5122f67">attacked by an intruder looking for the former House speaker</a>&nbsp;at the family’s San Francisco home in 2022 and beaten over the head with a hammer, Trump later mocked the attack.

That’s despite his comments after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;earlier this year. Trump said Kirk’s killing was “the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree.”

His administration then sought consequences for people who were critical of Kirk or even celebrated his killing.

Jenna Ellis, who was one of Trump’s lawyers and worked on his efforts in 2020 to overturn the results of the presidential election, pointed out Trump’s double standard and called his post “NOT the appropriate response.”

“The Right uniformly condemned political and celebratory responses to Charlie Kirk’s death. This is a horrible example from Trump (and surprising considering the two attempts on his own life) and should be condemned by everyone with any decency,” Ellis said in a post on X.

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