The Fire Department has deemed the <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a6f14a2d-04f4-4355-a1f2-df849488f55a">significant fire that occurred at Ridge of Salina apartments on Wednesday afternoon</a> "accidental" and "likely careless discarding of smoking materials."

Original:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a6f14a2d-04f4-4355-a1f2-df849488f55a">Significant fire at Chapel Ridge apartments, cause of fire unknown</a>

This information comes after the Fire Department released a city-wide statement regarding the incident.

Below you will find the statement by the Salina Fire Department:

The Salina Fire Department was dispatched to The Ridge Apartment complex located at 2363 Chapel Ridge at approximately 3:00 p.m., the afternoon of January 14th, 2026, after receiving reports of fire and smoke coming from the front of a two-story apartment building at the complex.

Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy fire and smoke conditions extending from the front of the building into the soffit with fire already extending into the attic and through the roof. 

Crews immediately began fire suppression operations while also conducting a search for occupants in the affected apartment units.

Due to the amount of active fire and potential for life safety issues, a second alarm was struck upon the arrival of the on-duty Battalion Chief. 

The fire was brought under control within approximately 30 minutes, with crews remaining on scene for an extended period to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and to check for any extension into neighboring units.

While several residents were displaced as a result of the fire, all occupants were able to safely exit the building and there are no injuries to report. 

The cause of the fire has been ruled as accidental and likely due to the careless discarding of smoking materials near the front of the building. 

The Salina Fire Department was assisted by the Salina Police Department, Evergy and the Salvation Army. 

We thank our partner agencies for their assistance and the public for their cooperation during the incident.

UPDATE: Cause of fire at Ridge apartments deemed "accidental" and likely "careless discarding of smoking materials" 

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.

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>.

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

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, announced the Department of Insurance recovered $317,477.17 for Saline County residents in 2025. 

Last year, more than $29.2 million was recovered for policyholders statewide.

“The work we do consistently puts more money back in the pockets of Kansans,” said Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “Kansans know when they call the Department of Insurance, we’re not just going to answer the phone; we’re going to help.”

Funds considered “recovered” are calculated when Department staff assists individuals in need of support during their insurance claims process. If a dispute arises between a policyholder and an insurance company, regardless of the type of insurance, the Kansas Department of Insurance investigates the complaint. Department staff work with the consumer and the company to ensure the insurance policy is followed and benefits are paid accordingly. 

Since Commissioner Schmidt first took office in 2019, the Department has recovered over $202.7 million for Kansans through the Consumer Assistance Division and use of the Life Insurance Policy Locator, a tool provided to states through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

A county-by-county breakdown of the recoveries can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/49Wtmte">https://bit.ly/49Wtmte</a>. A link to the press release highlighting total statewide recoveries in 2025 can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/49VbEq6">https://bit.ly/49VbEq6</a>. 2025 recoveries are not final as cases are still being closed.

If you or someone you know is having trouble with an insurance claim, please contact the Kansas Department of Insurance Consumer Assistance Division at 785-296-3071, email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdoi.complaints@ks.gov">kdoi.complaints@ks.gov</a>, 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 recovers more than $300,000 for local residents 

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.

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Driving While Suspended; Poss of marijuana

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Hammon,Elijah Christopher

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Duty of driver to report; Unattended veh/prop;unkn; Operate a MV w/o a valid license; Poss of stolen property;Value $1,500 to $25,000

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human bodyNo Proof Of Insurance; Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Fail to yield at stop or yield sign

REQUESTED CHARGE: Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving While Suspended

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

Saline County Jail Bookings, January 15

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Salina General Services offices, Salina Drive-thru Recycling Center (SDRC) and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) will be closed on Monday, January 19.

Regular office hours, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, will resume on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Despite the closure, trash service will not be affected, and all normal routes will run as scheduled from Monday through Friday.

Additionally, the Salina Municipal Solid Waste Landfill will remain open during its regular hours, 7:00 am to 4:30 pm, on Monday January 19.

For further information, please contact Salina General Services at (785) 309-5750.

Salina General Services announces MLK Day holiday hours

A one of a kind tanning &amp; spa business that is Christian based is making its glow within the community.

Natural Beauty Tanning &amp; Spa is located on&nbsp;1823 S. 9th St. in Salina and to book an appointment, visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/naturalbeautysalina">Facebook</a>.

Watch the video above to learn all about Natural Beauty Tanning &amp; Spa and the owner Kenzie Johnson.

🎥 One of a kind tanning & spa Christian based business growing in Salina

The upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://bgchutch.com/s/salina">Boys and Girls Club of Salina</a>&nbsp;(BGCS)&nbsp;facility that is anticipated to be installed at the&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/66463ccc-e432-4f16-9e4c-f860782dd349">Bondy field complex</a>, is being considered to be placed at a different location.

City Manager Jacob Wood confirmed the initial location of the facility, which was set just south of Sunset Park on baseball fields is up for consideration. This was based on concerns from the Salina baseball community who use those fields often.

"Based on the discussion we had with the baseball community, staff felt like it was probably pertinent for us to look at other options," said Wood.

BGCS Director, Heather Neuhofel-Tracy also confirmed this consideration as well. 

She stated the site that was proposed at the ballfields was being used alot more than what the organization and the City was aware of. Neuhofel-Tracy said there are more than one options of locations for the facility. 

Those include the former tennis courts area at Sunset Park, a portion Centennial Park and still the initial baseball field location as of now.

Nothing is finalized yet, but will be brought forth to the <a href="https://www.salina-ks.gov/salina-city-commission">City Commission</a>&nbsp;for a decision either end of February or start of March during one of the public meetings.

Summer 2027 is the goal for the facility to open.

BGCS are actively fundraising for this project and from now until the end of the year. Every dollar given toward their endowment at Greater Salina Community Foundation, will be matched for operations by the&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/7e1ae6a9-a421-4d7e-8bca-786ca8519788">Ted and Almita Augustine Donor Advised Fund</a>&nbsp;with a goal of getting $500,000 in matching funds to support this project.

To donate or for more information about BGCS go to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://bgcsalina.com/">bgcsalina.com</a>.

Boys & Girls Club of Salina facility considering other options for installment

Law enforcement are investigating a stolen vehicle that was taken from a central Salina home.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Tuesday at around 6:30 am, a 40-year-old male reported his 2017 white KIA Optima,&nbsp;KS tag:&nbsp;JABOA, had been stolen from his driveway near central Salina.

The only other descriptors for the vehicle were that it had tinted windows, and the wheels are a gun metal gray with black accents.

The vehicle was last seen at about 9:00 pm on Monday. The keys were not in the vehicle when it was stolen.

The vehicle was valued at approximately $9,000.

Law enforcement investigating stolen vehicle taken from central Salina home

NAME:&nbsp;Arneson-Worley,Ashlee Nichole

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Battery; Knowing/recklessly causing bodily harm; Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Distribute opiate/opium/narcotic/stimulant/heroin; Dosage 10 - &lt; 100 units; Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Poss of depressant; Poss of marijuana; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp for marijuana or cont substance

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Poss of depressant; Poss of marijuana; 2 or more prior convictions; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp for marijuana or cont substance

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

Saline County Jail Bookings, January 14

Two Salina organizations have been awarded state funding through the Governor's office, as part of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant.

Governor Kelly announced on January 7 that over $10.4 million in federal VOCA grant funding will be awarded to 64 community-based organizations and local and state agencies.&nbsp;

The VOCA grant funding comes from the Federal Crime Victims Fund, which is financed by fines and penalties from convictions in federal cases.&nbsp;

Those organizations include&nbsp;<a href="https://capsofsalina.org/">Child Advocacy &amp; Parenting Services </a>(CAPS) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dvack.org/">Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas</a> (DVACK).&nbsp;&nbsp;

DVACK was awarded&nbsp;$369,402 and CAPS&nbsp;$67,677.

"This funding is essential to CAPS being able to provide services to children and families in our community," said Executive Director, Paul Forrester. 

A portion of these funds are used for Chris’s Place Child Advocacy Center and allows the organization to conduct forensic interviews for law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families.&nbsp; 

The other portion will fund their Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program, providing advocacy and guidance for youth in the Foster Care system.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

"The grant provides just a small portion of the funding necessary to fund both programs, and the funding provided has been continually declining over the past several years resulting in CAPS becoming more and more dependent on private donations and fundraising," said Forrester.

For more info about CAPS, click <a href="https://capsofsalina.org/">here</a>.

For DVACK, the grant will enable the organization to provide comprehensive, high-quality services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and elder abuse. The funding supports immediate response services that address both the emotional and physical needs of survivors, as well as ongoing support to help victims stabilize their lives in the aftermath of crime. 

In addition to direct services for primary and secondary victims, DVACK will conduct outreach presentations throughout the service area to identify and connect with crime victims who may need assistance. 

"This funding allows us to continue our mission of providing immediate, compassionate support when victims need it most," said Andrea Quill, CEO of DVACK. "By investing in both our services and our staff, we're ensuring that every person who comes to us receives the comprehensive care they deserve as they work to rebuild their lives." DVACK serves victims of crime throughout North Central Kansas, offering emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and other essential services to those affected by violence.

Moreover, The grant includes a professional development component, providing training opportunities for DVACK personnel who deliver direct services to ensure the highest quality care for survivors.

DVACK serves victims of crime throughout North Central Kansas, offering emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and other essential services to those affected by violence.

For more info about DVACK, click <a href="https://www.dvack.org/">here</a>.

“The&nbsp;services&nbsp;these 64&nbsp;organizations&nbsp;provide&nbsp;are&nbsp;essential&nbsp;to&nbsp;Kansans impacted by crime,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“This&nbsp;crucial&nbsp;funding&nbsp;is vital to these organizations’&nbsp;ability to continue providing the&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;crime victims and survivors&nbsp;need&nbsp;as they&nbsp;rebuild&nbsp;their lives, navigate the criminal justice system, and regain a sense of&nbsp;normality.”&nbsp;

The grant funds are made available through the&nbsp;Office for Victims of Crime,&nbsp;a key&nbsp;component&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Office of Justice Programs at the U.S.&nbsp;Department&nbsp;of Justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A total of $10,484,525 was awarded to 64 organizations across the state.

Two Salina organizations awarded state grants to further services and mission

Salina South High School has released the names of all the students who earned Honor Roll for the 2025-2026 fall semester.

The requirements for students to earn Honor Roll is to finish the semester with a 3.0 GPA and no failing grades.

Below you will find a lengthy list of students in alphabetical order by last name, from 9th-12th grades.

Salina South releases lengthy list of students earning Honor Roll for 2025-2026 Fall semester

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

Three day weather forecast Salina, 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

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 9 - January 11

After an activity of showers and thunderstorms to occur late Wednesday night through Thursday, a storm system is expected follow that with light to modest snow accumulations across the region Friday afternoon through night.

The greatest potential for at least a half inch of rain is primarily along and east of I-135.

This is according to the US National Weather Service, but there remains some uncertainty as the weather agency will refine forecast details the next few days.

Chance of snow to occur Friday after upcoming showers and thunderstorms 

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 7 - January 9

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 5 - January 7

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 2 - January 4

Three day weather forecast Salina: New Years Eve & Day, Jan 2.

WASHINGTON — An indictment unsealed Wednesday in the District of Kansas charged a Honduran man and Kansas woman for conspiring to submit, and submitting, a sponsorship application with false statements to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to gain custody of an Unaccompanied Alien Child (UAC) after the child entered the U.S. illegally, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

“This indictment represents the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to prosecuting individuals who fraudulently pose as suitable&nbsp;Unaccompanied Alien Child sponsors to obtain custody of vulnerable children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This conduct represents a violation of the societal responsibility to safeguard children. Our efforts are a continuation of the Department’s commitment to hold accountable those who commit crimes related to the exploitation of UACs, and will serve to strengthen ORR’s UAC program and ensure it is not manipulated.”

“We are determined to protect the most vulnerable members of our society,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “This task often takes a multi-faceted approach involving multiple agencies and superior coordination. Given Task Force Alpha’s efforts, we are seeing real results, and my office is happy to be on the front line.”

According to the indictment, Romulo Hernandez Murillo, 45, a Honduran national without legal authorization to be in the U.S., agreed to pay defendant Lisa Marie Lopez Perdomo, 48, of Syracuse, Kansas, to assist him with applying to sponsor and obtain custody of a Honduran Unaccompanied Alien Child.

 The agreement included being permitted to misrepresent himself by using Lopez’s address on the application to sponsor the minor. The defendants intended for the child to reside with Hernandez and work in the United States. In furtherance of his fraudulent sponsorship application, Hernandez submitted and signed, under the penalty of perjury, documents falsely claiming he resided at Lopez’s address. An employee of the HHS-funded care provider where the child was staying ultimately recommended that Hernandez’s application be denied after an investigation uncovered Hernandez’s false representations. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The defendants are both charged with one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement and one count of conspiracy to commit the same offense. If convicted of either offense, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.&nbsp;

This investigation was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and ForfeitureSection, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests, which includes those of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood.

HHS’s Office of Inspector General and DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case with assistance from the Kansas Department of Labor, Special Investigations Unit; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; and the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Additionally, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided invaluable assistance along with the United States Marshals Service.

Acting Deputy Chief Christian Levesque and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Indictment: Kan. woman fraudulently obtained custody of unaccompanied alien child

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple allegations after an encounter with police.

Shortly after 6:00PM on Wednesday an officer was conducting a traffic stop in the 1600 block South 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. During the traffic stop, 51-year-old Bobby Glaspie, a family member of the stopped driver arrived at the scene and a short time later drove away, recklessly. 

Just before 7p.m. officers went to Glaspie’s residence in the 400 block R Street in Atchison regarding the reckless driving. Glaspie came out of the residence in an aggressive manner towards the officers and was subsequently taken into custody on requested charges of assault and battery on the officers as well as the reckless driving.

Glaspie has multiple previous convictions that include forgery, burglary, robbery,&nbsp; theft, criminal damage to property and for a variety of drug arrests.

Kan. felon jailed after agressive encounter with police

WASHINGTON (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday even as he has questioned her credibility to take over her country after the U.S. ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-machado-nobel-peace-prize-c7f47c161edc9b719dea3d0165f32a1f">Nobel Institute</a>&nbsp;has said Machado could not give her prize to Trump, an honor that he has coveted. Even if it the gesture proves to be purely symbolic, it was extraordinary given that Trump has effectively sidelined Machado, who has long been the face of resistance in Venezuela. He has signaled his willingness to work with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/delcy-rodriguez-maduro-trump-venezuela-e71f2289bc801446e05550d8f900a8d1">acting President Delcy Rodríguez</a>, who had been Maduro’s second in command.

“I presented the president of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize," Machado told reporters after leaving the White House and heading to Capitol Hill. She said she had done so "as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom.”

(Jan. 9, President Trump commented on Machado and theNobel Peace Prize)

Trump has raised doubts about his stated commitment to backing democratic rule in Venezuela, giving no timetable on when elections might be held. Machado indicated that he had provided few specifics on that front during their discussion.

She did not provide more information on what was said, and the White House did not say if Trump accepted the medal or offer other details of its own.

After a closed-door meeting with Trump, Machado greeted dozens of cheering supporters waiting for her near the White House gates, stopping to hug many.

“We can count on President Trump,” she told them without elaborating, prompting some to briefly chant, “Thank you, Trump.”

Before her visit to Washington, Machado had not been seen in public since she traveled last month to Norway, where her daughter received the peace prize on her behalf. She had spent 11 months in hiding in Venezuela before she appeared in Norway after the ceremony.

The jubilant scene after her meeting with Trump stood in contrast to political realities in Venezuela. Rodríguez remains in charge of day-to-day government operations, along with others in Maduro’s inner circle. In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-delcy-rodriguez-state-of-union-trump-us-b5c53860386752930a56d1d8846d6440">her first state of the union speech</a>&nbsp;Thursday, the interim president promoted the resumption of diplomatic ties between the historic adversaries and advocated for opening the state-run oil industry to more foreign investment after Trump pledged to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-oil-revenue-companies-sales-bdd21181e08889d6cca93f5acc7c0ee0">seize control</a>&nbsp;of Venezuelan crude sales.

Trump has said it would be difficult for Machado to lead because she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.” Her party is widely believed to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-tally-sheets-actas-oas-carter-center-41d1000926d0ab99e522e53bf6c2b916">won 2024 elections</a>&nbsp;rejected by Maduro.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Machado “a remarkable and brave voice” but also said the meeting didn’t mean Trump’s opinion of her changed, calling it “a realistic assessment.”

Leavitt told reporters that Trump supported new Venezuelan elections “when the time is right” but did not say when he thought that might be.

A ‘frank and positive discussion’ about Venezuela

Leavitt said Machado had sought the face-to-face meeting without setting expectations for what would occur. She spent about two and a half hours at the White House.

“I don’t think he needs to hear anything from Ms. Machado," the press secretary said while the meeting was still going on, other than to have a ”frank and positive discussion about what’s taking place in Venezuela.”

After leaving the White House, Machado went on to a closed-door meeting with a bipartisan group of senators.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Machado told them that “if there’s not some progress, real progress towards a transition in power, and/or elections in the next several months, we should all be worried.”

“She reminded us that Delcy Rodríguez is, in many ways, worse than Maduro,” he added.

Asked if Machado had heard any commitment from the White House on holding elections in Venezuela, Murphy said, “No, I don’t think she got any commitment from them."

Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican, was exultant following the meeting, saying Machado "delivered a message that loud and clear: What President Trump did was the most important, significant event in Latin America. That getting rid of Maduro was absolutely essential.”

Machado's Washington stop coincided with U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-sanctioned-oil-tanker-seized-a415e247fca429b00b9fbcf6b6cd90a5">seizing another sanctioned oil tanker</a>&nbsp;that the Trump administration says had ties to Venezuela. It is part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-explosions-caracas-ca712a67aaefc30b1831f5bf0b50665e">the South American country’s oil</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">U.S. forces captured Maduro</a>&nbsp;and his wife less than two weeks ago at a heavily guarded compound in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and brought them to New York to stand trial on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-trump-criminal-case-131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328">drug trafficking charges</a>.

Leavitt said Venezuela's interim authorities have been fully cooperating with the Trump administration and noted that Rodríguez's government said it planned to release more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-prisoners-released-us-maduro-rodriguez-7dc52c3ed6251f561b7754fd50182588">prisoners detained under Maduro</a>. Among those released were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezeula-american-detainees-released-43f779bfccc1c5df98780938a30a3417">five Americans</a>&nbsp;this week.

Trump said Wednesday that he had a “great conversation” with Rodríguez, their first since Maduro was ousted.

Just hours after Maduro's capture, Trump said of Machado that “it would be very tough for her to be the leader.” Machado had steered a careful course to avoid offending Trump, notably after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-peace-prize-oslo-41b6bff88e2d57af0917bcf778e132ad">winning the peace prize</a>, and had sought to cultivate relationships with him and key administration voices like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-venezuela-greenland-trump-maduro-60481ca89c1fa4ec94f692d648141051">Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>.

The industrial engineer and daughter of a steel magnate, Machado began challenging the ruling party in 2004, when the nongovernmental organization she co-founded, Súmate, promoted a referendum to recall then-President Hugo Chávez. The initiative failed, and Machado and other Súmate executives were charged with conspiracy.

A year later, she drew the anger of Chávez and his allies again for traveling to Washington to meet President George W. Bush, whom Chávez considered an adversary.

Almost two decades later, she marshaled millions of Venezuelans to reject Chávez’s successor, Maduro, for another term in the 2024 election. But ruling party-loyal electoral authorities declared him the winner despite ample credible evidence to the contrary. Ensuing anti-government protests ended in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-election-edmundo-gonzalez-rights-75393ebfa98a0ae7f30801547265c2ba">brutal crackdown</a>.

Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Stephen Groves, Michelle L. Price and Matthew Lee in Washington, and Megan Janetsky in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Venezuela’s Machado says she presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating the death of two people at a Kansas City home.

Just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 1200 block of NE 83rd Terrace, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino As officers arrived they were directed inside a residence where hey located a man and woman both suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Officers also located a juvenile boy with an unknown injury. 

The child was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Both the man and woman were pronounced deceased at the scene.This is currently a death investigation and investigators are not looking for anyone else involved. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the incident.&nbsp;

Police did not release the names of the two who died or additional details.

Police: Couple found dead, infant injured at KC home

NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon said it resolved an outage that disrupted many U.S. customers’ calling and other cellular services for more than 10 hours on Wednesday.

The New York-based carrier didn’t specify what caused Wednesday’s disruptions, but&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/VerizonNews/status/2011639517728387452">confirmed</a>&nbsp;that the outage was resolved by 10:20 p.m. ET. Verizon previously said it had deployed its engineering teams to address “an issue impacting wireless voice and data services.”

“Today, we let many of our customers down and for that, we are truly sorry,” Verizon&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/VerizonNews/status/2011619325782999285">wrote</a>&nbsp;in updates shared on social media. A spokesperson later added that the company would give those impacted a $20 account credit through Verizon’s app, which on average “covers multiple days of service,” and directly contact its business customers with compensation.

Outage tracker Downdetector showed that Verizon customers began to report issues with their service around noon E.T. Wednesday. Reports appeared to peak in the early afternoon, but remained elevated later in the day. Downdetector&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/downdetector/posts/1357390536187206?ref=embed_page">said</a>&nbsp;it had received a total of over 1.5 million reports before 5 p.m. ET.

Impacted users said their phones were in “SOS” mode or had other no signal messages. In cities like New York, alerts warned that the outage may disrupt 911 calls — urging residents to try landlines and devices from other carriers, if available, or visit a local police or fire station in-person in case of an emergency.

Other major hubs impacted by Verizon’s outage included Houston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Miami, per Downdetector. But many consumers across the country said they experienced disruptions.

A handful of outage reports for other carriers also bubbled up on Wednesday — but companies like T-Mobile and AT&amp;T quickly confirmed online that their services were operating normally. Both suggested that their customers may have encountered issues contacting people with Verizon’s service, however.

When cellular outages happen, some phone companies also urge consumers to try to connect to Wi-Fi and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/att-outage-cell-service-phone-1cd6f595356b385cc9a4495d1f06b983">use internet calling</a>. If Wi-Fi is still unavailable, there can be a limited number of other options — including sending messages via satellite on newer iPhones.

Verizon to issue credits to customers affected by cell service outage

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Federal prosecutors charged 20 people on Thursday, including 15 former college basketball players, in what they called a betting scheme to rig NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games.

<a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/981641066/Sports-Betting-Indictment-in-Philadelphia">Click here to read the </a>full indictment

Of the defendants, 15 played basketball for Division 1 NCAA schools as recently as the 2024-25 season. School included in the indictment are Nicholls State, Tulane, Northwestern State, St. Louis, La Salle, Fordham, DePaul, Robert Morris, Southern Miss, North Carolina A&amp;T, Kennesaw State, Coppin State, New Orleans, Abilene Christian, Eastern Michigan and Alabama State.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/media/1423601/dl?inline">Indictment - U.S. v. J. Smith et al</a>

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/media/1423721/dl?inline">Information - U.S. v. Blakeney</a>

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/media/1423746/dl?inline">Information - U.S. v. Adams</a>

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/media/1423751/dl?inline">Information - U.S. v. Etienne</a>

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/media/1423756/dl?inline">Information - U.S. v. Gray</a>

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/media/1423761/dl?inline">Information - U.S. v. Hines</a>

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/media/1423766/dl?inline">Information - U.S. v. D. Smith</a>

The other five defendants were described by authorities as fixers.

They include two men who prosecutors say worked in the training and development of basketball players. Another was a trainer and former coach, one was a former NCAA player and two were described as gamblers, influencers and sports handicappers.

The charges, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, include wire fraud.

In the 70-page indictment, authorities say the fixers recruited the college basketball players with “bribe payments” usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.

The indictment follows a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-sports-betting-college-players-415d6d8987237fd1393819460986db47">NCAA investigations</a>&nbsp;that led to at least 10 players receiving lifetime bans this year for bets that sometimes involved their own teams and their own performances. And the NCAA has said that at least 30 players have been investigated over gambling allegations.

See the names, schools: Former NCAA players charged in betting scheme

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Court records show Rachel M. Perkins, the former director of the Hutchinson Kids Wrestling Club, has been charged with one count of theft by deception involving an alleged loss of between $1,500 and $25,000.

According to Reno County booking records, Perkins was booked into the Reno County Detention Center on Jan. 2. She made her first appearance in Reno County District Court on Jan. 9. As of now, no additional court date has been announced.

Charging documents allege Perkins stole approximately $10,000 from the wrestling club. Further details surrounding the allegations were not immediately available in court filings.

She met the requirement for bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Former director accused of theft from kids wrestling club in Kansas

By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/max-nesterak/">Max Nesterak</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/alyssachen/">Alyssa Chen</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday morning to send the military into Minnesota to stop protests, following another shooting by immigration agents that injured one person, seven days after an agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis.

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