Commissioners voted to approve the increase of funding for the log jam removal due to recent flooding events.

After the recent events of heavy rain throughout the city, increased flows of tree debris were flushed into the Smoky Hill River.&nbsp;

Throughout last month's flooding events, <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/88b240c6-d08d-4e87-9819-742b12fe4783">DIEHL Enterprises Inc.</a> placed&nbsp; rock equipment pad for the removal of the log jam, but portions of it were washed away.&nbsp;The additional cost for rebuilding the rock equipment pad was $35,086, which is added to the original&nbsp;$452,351 contract for DIEHL to remove it.

Moreover, the city stated the number of storm events and force of the water packed the logs into the mud bottom of the river channel. Additional costs added up to&nbsp;$43,412.&nbsp;

Furthermore, additional length of log jam increased from July to September up to 550 feet.

According to the City, <a href="https://www.kansastag.gov/101/KDEM">Kansas Emergency Management</a>&nbsp;confirmed federal funding was not approved for June's flooding events. However, July's events are at the federal level for approval, and approval is anticipated. September's events has not been sent federally just yet, but is anticipating approval once set as well.

Total project costs for removing 550 feet of log jam added up to&nbsp;$1,212,169.

The work is estimated to be completed by the end of November 2025.&nbsp;In the event work is completed sooner, the cost savings will be shared with the city.

Click <a href="https://agendasuite.org/iip/salina/file/getfile/14296">here</a> to view the full agenda of Monday's log jam item.

Commissioners approve project costs for log jam of upwards to $1 million due to recent flooding

Stan Razak remembers Gerald Lilly as one of the first people he knew as a young boy.

"I knew Gerald quite well; he knew me longer than I knew him," Razak said. "My dad started school (at Kansas Wesleyan) in 1952, and we lived out in Mentor where all the Lillys lived so I've really known Gerald my whole life."

Their relationship deepened through their association as devoted fans and longtime contributors to the university. Lilly was a fixture at all things KWU as was Razak until his sons then grandsons started competing in middle and high school athletics. Even then he remained a frequent face in the stands, press box and at the scorer's table.

Lilly passed away in 2016 after 68 years as an ardent Coyote supporter. In recognition of his devotion KWU established the Gerald Lilly Award. Fittingly, Razak and his wife Kathy are the 2025 recipients.

The Razaks met while attending Wesleyan in the early 1970s. Stan played basketball, tennis and competed in track while Kathy earned a degree in English education.

"It really touches my heart because I've known Gerald for so long and we lived in 'Lillyville,'" Stan said of his time in Mentor with the Lillys. "One of his brothers lived right in our backyard, the other brother lived nearby so we've known the Lilly family forever.

"It's a big, big honor to get this. It feels like you've accomplished something even though I've just been doing what I enjoy doing - going to ballgames."

"It's an honor because the Lilly family has always been important," said Kathy who works with the KWU Auxiliary. "Gerald was a good friend of Stan's and so that's what makes it special."

Stan said he cannot remember when he became a Coyote fan.

"Supposedly, I went to my first basketball game down in Memorial Hall when I was less than three weeks old so basically, I've been a Coyote my entire life," he said.

After graduating from KWU in 1973 Stan went to work for the Solomon school district and taught sixth grade for more than 30 years. He was a longtime assistant varsity basketball coach at Solomon High School and resides in Solomon.

"My favorite coach to be," he said of his coaching role. "I didn't have to do the paperwork; I didn't have to make schedules; I didn't have to schedule the bus. I just showed up and I enjoyed that very much."

Razak kept the scorebook, ran the time clock and scoreboard and was the announcer for Solomon High basketball games after he left coaching and before retiring from teaching. He performs some of the same duties today at KWU.

"You have the best seat in the house," he said. "You're inside, you don't have to worry about the rain, and they feed you so it's always enjoyable ... except for basketball.

"Everybody thinks that sitting at that scorer's table is the best seat in the house but it's really not because you're so close to the action that you've got the officials in front of you, the coaches in front of you. We're constantly saying, 'who did that, could you see it?'"

Kathy, who hails from Tescott, coordinates the Auxiliary's popular survival kits given to students near the end of the fall semester as they prepare for and take their final exams.

She taught at Ellsworth and Abilene Middle Schools, worked for School Specialty, the district court in Abilene and spent 19 years with the USD Natural Resources Conservation Service before retiring in 2011.

"Wesleyan was an important part of my life because I met Stan, but I've also got some lifelong friends that you just can't beat," she said. "I think this small school and living in the dormitory and all that was what made it special."

Stan says KWU athletics has vastly improved through the years.

"I think it's just gotten better and better as far as the coaches," he said. "The athletes, of course, are much better than they were when I played here - I was a 6-foot big man - and the facilities have gotten a lot better.

"When I played basketball, we didn't even have a gym. We played our games at Sacred Heart (High School), and we practiced out at Schilling (Air Force Base). We just hoped we got back to the cafeteria in time before it closed so we could get supper."

Not surprisingly basketball is his favorite sport but "I enjoy any of them."

Much the same as Lilly who was in attendance regardless of which team was competing. And his fandom went well beyond KWU.

"It was Wesleyan and the surrounding high schools," Razak said. "It wasn't just Wesleyan, and it wasn't just (Salina) Central or (Salina) South, it was anybody. That was his life.

Razaks thrilled to received award named in honor of longtime friend Gerald Lilly

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —On Tuesday, the Ellsworth County Sheriff reported his office continues investigating a shooting that sent a central Kansas teen to the hospital last month.

Just before 10p.m. on&nbsp;September 28, the Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call stating a shot had been fired and a man was down on the ground at 1341 Avenue F, according to Sheriff&nbsp;Kenny M. Bernard.

Responding officers arrived and found 18-year-old Holden Slaight lying on the floor in the kitchen area suffering from what appeared to be a non-self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the upper area of his right leg. 

EMS treated and transported Holden to Ellsworth County Medical Center where he was then air-lifted to Wichita.

Sheriff IDs central Kansas teen air lifted to hospital after shooting

To tell you a bit about myself, I come from a family of teachers as my grandma and mom both taught in the one room schoolhouse. I have a bachelors and masters in education and have taught in the public school system for 15 years as well as have substituted in our district before retiring. My two sons married&nbsp;teachers and I have ten beautiful grandchildren.

Having&nbsp;been a teacher most of my life, I know that education is very important for the building of a society and a nation as well as providing the students with the skills to learn and lead a productive life. With the district, parents and community working together, we can help educate our children to be all they can be and to help them find their gifts and talents.

&nbsp;As we come alongside our students, they can be given the tools they need to be able to read, do math, discover science, communicate with others, love their country and give them the opportunity to be the best they can be. I've seen that it takes a team effort and vision to keep improving and reaching goals in our education system here in Salina.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This past term I have encouraged people to become volunteers or foster grandparents in our schools.&nbsp; Community involvement can&nbsp;make a huge difference in a child's life. Knowing, caring, listening and responding can help a child's self image and encourage them to keep trying.&nbsp;

Also since there is a lack of funding for the Special Ed program, I have talked to legislators and others about fully financing this program.&nbsp;&nbsp;

I am running for re-election as I believe&nbsp;in the vision and mission of our district. Having been an educator in the public schools, I believe my experience as a teacher helps bring insight to the board to help make decisions and to see our district through an educator's eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meet USD 305 School Board Candidate: Bonnie Schamberger

The Smoky Hill Museum has announced the opening of a new exhibit, that explores postwar America.

"The 1950s: An American Dream?"&nbsp;opened on October 10 at the Smoky Hill Museum. This intriguing, immersive, traveling exhibit explores the optimism, tension and cultural shifts that shaped postwar America.

Memories are a funny thing—we rarely recall life exactly as it was, but often through a haze of nostalgia. Even bad times can lose their bite given enough time. This is especially true of eras where joy and optimism coexisted with struggle and conflict. Perhaps the 1950s stands as a moment in the twentieth century that captures this duality better than any other in American history.

On one hand, a thriving youth culture explored newfound freedom and embraced a new era of Rock &amp; Roll. Chrome gleamed on the streets, and pastel appliances hummed in freshly built homes. On the other hand, there was stress at home as traditional gender roles began to shift and stir tension. Society was worried about communism and the threat of nuclear war. The growing tensions of civil rights were reaching a boiling point, and America was again at war – this time in Korea.

Does that mean the 1950s wasn’t all it was cracked up to be? Not necessarily. It reminds us that nostalgia often glosses over complexity—and that every era holds contradictions worth exploring. It’s important to see the whole picture and not just a snapshot in time.

To dive deeper into this fascinating era, visit the Museum’s newest traveling exhibit, 1950s: An American Dream? – on exhibit in the center gallery October 10, 2025 - February, 21, 2026.

Smoky Hill Museum opens new exhibit exploring post WWII America

For the 34th time, the Smoky Hill Museum has their annual Poinsettia sale now through November.

The Museum’s poinsettias are long-lasting, nursery-grown plants, available in six vibrant varieties for this year. The flowering plants will brighten home, office or church, to encourage loved ones or shut-ins, and to reduce holiday stress for yourself and others.

The full, multi-stem plants are available in three sizes:

The 18-inch small plants are $15, and are available in solid red, pink or white, plus three special varieties: Marble (cream leaves with bold pink stripes or striations; pictured); Jingle Bell (red leaves with cream speckles) and Christmas Mouse (red with rounded petals). 

The luxurious, 24-inch Medium plants are $30, and are available in red, pink or white, Marble, and Jingle Bell. 

The stunning 36-inch Large is only available in Christmas red for $45. It is ideal for fireplace, foyer or doorway use.

You can order 30 plants and take $2 off per plant. Members of the Smoky Hill Museum Friends receive a special discount of $1 off each plant. 

Pick up your plants on Saturday, December 6 between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Or, doorstep delivery to your home, office, church or to someone you know, is just $15 per stop in the Salina metro area.

The annual Poinsettia Sale helps make possible the Smoky Hill Museum’s educational programs and events that benefit many students, children and families. 

Pre-order your plants from now through November 15.

To order, go <a href="https://www.smokyhillmuseum.org/poinsettia_sale.html">here</a>&nbsp;to order online or download a printable order form.

For more information, call (785) 833-8021, or email rosa.delacruz@salina.org.

When picking up your poinsettias in early December, visit the Museum store for creative holiday gift ideas. From gourmet Kansas food products to local artwork, including stunning wheat weaving, artist-made greeting cards and handmade pottery, the Museum Store has something for everyone on your list, including those who love or have lived in the Sunflower State.

Smoky Hill Museum launches Poinsettia sale now through November

A candidate forum for three contested races of the Southeast of Saline USD 306 Board of Education has announced to be held next Wednesday.

At&nbsp;6:30 pm on Wednesday, October 22&nbsp;the forum will occur at the Southeast of Saline USD 306 theater. The forum will allow the public an opportunity to identify candidates for each seat, ask questions of candidates and listen to candidate responses.&nbsp;

Running for Position #4, covering Zone 1 which includes Assaria, Mentor and Bridgeport is Kenny Costigan and Skylar Hanson.&nbsp;

Running for Position #5, covering Zone 2 which includes Gypsum is Jill Ade and Drew Rathbun.

Running for Position #6, covering Zone 3 which includes Kipp, and northern territory of the school district running east to west is Stephanie Markle and Jessica Goubeaux.&nbsp;

Individuals interested in hearing a response to a specific question can submit their question at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/avXy5yEE7yzu3Mwm9">https://forms.gle/avXy5yEE7yzu3Mwm9</a>&nbsp;prior to the event.

The forum will include each candidate presenting an opening statement, answering questions produced from the public and then presenting a closing statement. The forum will be moderated by Southeast of Saline graduate, Kevin Hall of Gypsum.&nbsp;

Southeast of Saline graduate, Lori Blake of Assaria, will be hosting the candidates and providing consultation prior to the event.&nbsp;

A public reception will follow outside of the theater with refreshments provided by the Southeast of Saline Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

Southeast of Saline USD 306 Board contested candidate forum to be held

A man was arrested after lying about his name and having warrants in two counties, during a traffic stop.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Monday at around 9:00 pm, an officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop on a male riding his bicycle in the area of State and Broadway.

Reportedly, the man did not have reflectors on his bike.

During the traffic stop, SPD stated the man provided a name that did not identify with himself. Afterwards, the officer identified the man as 23-year old Jason Lester.

Lester reportedly has warrants out of Shawnee and Geary counties. Lester was then arrested after he tried to get away from law enforcement. 

He was booked into the Saline County Jail for the warrants, and requested charges of Improper bike equipment and Interference with Law Enforcement Officer.

Man lies about name during traffic stop before arrest

USD 327 Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo

ELLSWORTH -&nbsp;USD 327 Superintendent Deena Hilbig has announced her retirement at the conclusion of the current school year, marking the culmination of a distinguished career in education and leadership.&nbsp;

Since 2022, Hilbig has led USD 327 Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo with vision, collaboration and a steadfast commitment to students, staff, and the community. 

During her tenure, she guided the district&nbsp; through the development of a new strategic plan, vision, and mission to ensure that USD 327 remains&nbsp; Better Together, Striving for Excellence.&nbsp;

Under her leadership, the district has:&nbsp;

• Authored and secured more than $1 million in competitive grant awards to expand Career &amp; Technical Education pathways, enhance facilities, and increase student opportunities.&nbsp;

• Strengthened partnerships with teachers, staff, and families to create a unified, student-centered culture.&nbsp;

• Advanced district-wide initiatives in literacy, curriculum alignment, technology, and facilities planning.&nbsp;

• Elevated staff development through mentorship, coaching, and a strong focus on instructional excellence.&nbsp;

Hilbig’s impact extends well beyond USD 327. Over her 33-year career, she has also served in USD 305 as an instructional assistant, teacher, lead teacher, and principal, providing leadership in school&nbsp; improvement, professional development, and state-level initiatives. She has also contributed through&nbsp; roles on the Kansas Commissioner of Education’s Superintendent Advisory Council, the Kansas&nbsp; Association of School Boards Advocacy Network, and as a mentor for new administrators through the&nbsp; Kansas Educational Leadership Institute.&nbsp;

Reflecting on her time in Ellsworth, Hilbig shared:&nbsp;

“My years at USD 327 have reminded me of the very best parts of small-town life—the sense of&nbsp; belonging, the spirit of community, and the shared belief that together we can accomplish great things.&nbsp; It has been an honor to serve this district and community, and I am proud of what we have&nbsp; &nbsp;accomplished side by side.”&nbsp;

Hilbig will leave USD 327 with deep gratitude for the Board of Education, staff, students, families, and&nbsp; the community, confident that the district is positioned for continued growth and success.

USD 327 Superintendent retiring by the end of the 2025-2026 school year

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 CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

*No image available for Lester, Jason Isaiah*

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Improper bike lamps,brakes,reflectors; Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose misd warrant

NAME:&nbsp;Nambo Dominguez, Karen Estefany

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

NAME:&nbsp;Young, Richard Benedict

Saline County Jail Bookings, October 14

This fall the YMCA is excited to partner with Kansas Wesleyan University and the Salina Tennis Alliance, to offer a dynamic tennis clinic designed just for kids. 

Open to ages 5–12, this program is perfect for young players at any skill level. With amazing coaching, engaging drills and a focus on fun, this clinic is a great way to learn the game and build confidence on the court.

Clinics will be held inside the YMCA Basketball Gyms every Tuesday and Thursday from October 21 to November 20.

Families can choose the time that works best for them:

4:30–5:30 pm or 5:30–6:30 pm. Registration ends on October 20, with a fee of $60 for members and $85 for non-members.

Learn more or register at: <a href="https://www.salinaymca.org/sports/sports-camps">https://www.salinaymca.org/sports/sports-camps</a>

Salina YMCA teams up with KWU and the Salina Tennis Alliance for Youth Tennis Clinic, registration open

<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, October 13 - October 15

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 10 - October 12

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 8 - October 10

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 6 - October 8

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 3 - October 5

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 1 - October 3

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 29 - October 1

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 26 - September 28

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/">weathe</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 24 - September 26

As Tuesday morning's showers continue throughout Central Kansas,&nbsp; flooding remains a possibility.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS) the severity remains low for these scattered showers and storms throughout the region on Tuesday. However, heavy rainfall amounts and flooding are a possibility.&nbsp;

Please stay alert on the roadways and be safe while driving.

Flooding remains possible with Tuesday morning's showers 

Little progress has been made to end&nbsp;the government shutdown&nbsp;as it enters its third week. On Tuesday, Senate chaplain, Retired Rear-Admiral Barry Black, asked&nbsp;the Lord to bring a ceasefire to "our legislative combat."

The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Trump and other Republican leaders have said the government must reopen before they will negotiate with Democrats on the health subsidies.

🎥Senate chaplain prays for ceasefire to end government shutdown

Arguments by former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey that abortion regulations do not cause ‘irreparable harm’ to patients is ‘disingenuous,’ an appeals court concluded

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Abortion will remain available at Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=226097" target="_blank">the Western District Court of Appeals ruled</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, rejecting a request by the attorney general’s office to reinstate several restrictions on the procedure.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, former-Attorney General Andrew Bailey accused Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang of abusing her discretion when she issued a temporary injunction that struck down several “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP laws, as unconstitutional under the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">reproductive rights amendment approved by voters in November.</a>

That injunction allowed Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis to start&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/04/abortion-returns-columbia-missouri-planned-parenthood-clinic/">offering procedural abortions for the first time in years.&nbsp;</a>

The attorney general’s office in its appeal argued the TRAP laws should be re-enacted in part because they were not causing a high enough degree of “irreparable harm.” The harm was only “minor” because Missourians looking to end a pregnancy could instead&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/24/2-year-anniversary-missouri-abortion-ban/">travel to Illinois or Kansas for an abortion,</a>&nbsp;the attorney general’s office wrote in court filings.&nbsp;

The appeals court unanimously rejected Bailey’s argument on Tuesday, calling it “disingenuous.”&nbsp;

“The irreparable harm flowing from a denial of abortion care within the confines of the Missouri (reproductive rights amendment) are unique because an abortion decision by an expectant mother ‘simply cannot be postponed, or it will be made by default with far-reaching consequences,’” wrote Judge Mark D. Pfeiffer, citing an earlier ruling by Zhang.

The appeals court also found no proof of Zhang abusing her discretion, noting that she applied “exhaustive consideration” to both sides’ arguments by conducting multiple hearings and sifting through hundreds of pages of written briefs over several months.&nbsp;

Plus, the appeals court noted, the bench trial on the matter is set for January, which is only a few months away. At that trial, Zhang will make a final ruling on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">the lawsuit filed last November&nbsp;</a>by the ACLU of Missouri and the two Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state.&nbsp;

Until then, the temporary injunction in place prevents the state from enforcing a handful of regulations, including requirements that patients have two visits at least seventy-two hours apart before having an abortion and that abortion clinics be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

Bailey previously&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-erred-in-asking-supreme-court-to-overturn-order-legalizing-abortion/">appealed Zhang’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court</a>, which said the attorney general should have first appealed to the western district before taking his request to the state’s highest court.&nbsp;

The office, now run by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">Attorney General Catherine Hanaway,&nbsp;</a>can appeal Tuesday’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court. A spokesperson for Hanaway did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

Zhang is still considering a separate request from Planned Parenthood to overturn even more state regulations that Planned Parenthood argues are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">preventing clinics from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol</a>, which are used in medication abortions.&nbsp;

About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">two-thirds of abortions nationally&nbsp;</a>are performed using medication.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains based in the Kansas City area, accused the attorney general of being one of several examples of “disingenuous” state leadership. She pointed to an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/07/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-ballot-language-2026/">abortion ban proposed by the Republican legislature&nbsp;</a>that will appear on the November 2026 ballot, coupled with attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">make it more difficult to amend the constitution through citizen-led initiative petitions</a>, which is how the reproductive rights amendment ended up on the ballot.&nbsp;

“We will not stand by while extremist officials try to override the law and the will of the people,” Wales said in a statement Tuesday. “Missourians deserve better.”

Missouri appeals court rules against AG, allows abortions to continue

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a violent abduction shown on a doorbell video this week in Wichita have made an arrest.&nbsp;

Just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Wichita Police Domestic Intervention and Violence Reduction team (DIVRT) located and arrested a 22-year-old man in relation to the doorbell surveillance case, according to a media release.

He has been booked into Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Battery Strangulation, Two counts of Domestic Simple Battery, and Criminal Restraint.&nbsp;

Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday Wichita Police Investigators received a phone call, from a woman claiming to be the individual investigators were attempting to identify in the case. Investigators immediately responded to her location, made contact, and transported her to City Hall so detectives could conduct a victim interview.

Investigators are conducting interviews and have identified the woman as a 35-year-old who lives in the area where the video was captured. At this stage of the investigation, police believe this incident is a case of domestic violence where the woman was victimized by her boyfriend. The woman does not have any significant injuries.

Police make arrest in Kan. door camera abduction video

SEDGWICK COUNTY – On October 14, 2025, Investigators with the Wichita Police Department arrested a 15-year-old suspect for the shooting of a 30-year-old man after he was found burglarizing the victim’s car. 

The suspect was released from the hospital and booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility on charges of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery, Burglary to Auto, and Juvenile in Possession of a Firearm.

This case has now been formally charged. All further inquiries should be directed to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Family and friends are working to raise funds for a Kansas teacher wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Wichita.

Officers responded to the&nbsp;400 block of South Vassar and found two male victims 30-year-old Kevin Norfleet, who teaches at Maize High School and a 15-year-old both suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. EMS transported both to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition.

Investigators learned Norfleet, identified from an online fundraiser, went outside after seeing the 15-year-old rummaging through his vehicle. The 15-year-old then fired a weapon, striking Norfleet. He returned fire, hitting the 15-year-old.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/donations-for-kevin-norfleet-and-family">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the online fundraiser that provides more details on the incident. "Kevin is a beloved husband, father, and son. He's a high school teacher here in town and is loved by so many."

"On Saturday night, September 27th, Kevin was shot multiple times by someone attempting to break into his car at his home in Wichita."

"Kevin is receiving excellent care in a surgical intensive care unit in town. There have been multiple surgeries already performed to save his life and more surgery ahead once he is more stable. His doctors say it will be weeks before he leaves the hospital, and even longer before he can go home to his wife and son, as he'll need extensive rehab."

"All funds raised here will go directly to his wife and son, to support them through this time and especially to pay future medical bills, which are sure to be astronomical. Any help is truly appreciated."

15-year-old Kan. burglary suspect, wounded in gunfight, moved from hospital

KANSAS CITY—A child died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.

KCPD investigators determined white Ford Transit van was northbound on Food Lane Drive and was turning westbound onto Longview Road at the intersection, according KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina. At the same time, a girl was riding her bicycle within the marked crosswalk and had a green signal.

 The van struck the bicyclist, causing her to fall to the roadway.. EMS transported the girl to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.&nbsp;

Girl on bicycle killed after van hits her in Kansas City crosswalk

CAIRO (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the Gaza ceasefire</a>&nbsp;holds, Hamas security forces have returned to the streets, clashed with armed groups and killed alleged gangsters in what the militant group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn.

The show of force, welcomed by some Palestinians after months of lawlessness, could threaten the truce now that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-hostage-release-9878d227949f0521fcf548a6fae3c1ca">all the living hostages</a>&nbsp;taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack have been released.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said the war will not end until Hamas has been dismantled, and U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-palestinians-peace-plan-ce2e84de8aa5fd308fe751ae9c3118e8">President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan</a>&nbsp;calls for Hamas to disarm and hand power over to an internationally supervised body that has yet to be formed.

Hamas has not fully accepted those terms, saying more negotiations are needed. It says it is willing to hand over power to other Palestinians but will not allow chaos to prevail during the transition. Israelis fear that as long as Hamas is armed, it will exercise influence in Gaza —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-offensive-militants-ceasefire-41baad28c5fbbfa76755238149d7bc78">and could rebuild its military capabilities</a>&nbsp;— even if an independent body exercises nominal rule.

Trump said Tuesday that Hamas had taken out “a couple of gangs that were very bad,” and killed a number of gang members. “That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you,” he said.

But he reiterated his demand for Hamas to lay down its arms, saying: “They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently.”

The Hamas-run police maintained a high degree of public security after the militants seized power in Gaza 18 years ago while also cracking down on dissent. They largely melted away in recent months as Israeli forces seized large areas of Gaza and targeted Hamas security forces with airstrikes.

Powerful local families and armed gangs —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-palestinian-clans-activated-armed-8f2461f5253550d0a4ce4ea661c580ef">including some anti-Hamas factions backed by Israel</a>&nbsp;— stepped into the void.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-aid-un-ghf-567c5bffd5d7ae4cc54ea0816a159f8f">Many are accused</a>&nbsp;of hijacking humanitarian aid and selling it for profit, contributing to Gaza’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-children-starvation-israel-netanyahu-0549e843c24fe7f20f1e7ce085502450">starvation crisis</a>.

Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza’s private truckers union, said Hamas was acting against gangs that had terrorized people in areas controlled by Israel.

“Those gangs looted aid and killed people under the protection of the (Israeli) occupation,” he told The Associated Press, saying they operated in so-called red zones where Israel had ordered people to evacuate. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.

Over the weekend, Hamas-led fighters clashed with an armed group in Gaza City affiliated with the powerful Doghmush family after the killing of Mohammed Aqel, a Hamas militant, on Friday.

Aqel’s family said in a statement that militiamen had kidnapped him, robbed him and killed him. Another family, the al-Muqaid, said the gang ambushed five of its members when they returned to their homes and robbed them, killing one and leaving another in intensive care.

Residents of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said the gang, led by Hussam Doghmush, was known to loot aid convoys and rob abandoned homes in areas controlled by the Israeli military. They said Doghmush was among some two dozen people killed in the clashes with Hamas, including a local journalist and a son of a senior Hamas official based outside Gaza.

Hamas-linked Telegram channels said Hamas had targeted “collaborators and traitors” working with Israel. The Hamas-run Sahm security force, which says it targets looters and other criminals, shared footage that appeared to show its forces killing eight people execution-style in the streets as people cheered. It said the detainees were gangsters.

The Gaza-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights denounced the extrajudicial killings by Hamas.

The Doghmush family initially denounced the gang and distanced itself from it. Two days later, it issued another statement condemning Hamas’ response, saying there was no need for “this brutality.”

Saeed Abu Elaish, a medic from the northern Jabaliya refugee camp who fled to central Gaza last month, said he had seen police return to the streets and welcomed it as a first step toward restoring “some kind of normalcy and safety” after two years of ruinous war.

Netanyahu has hinted he will resume military operations if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry has announced a weeklong amnesty, saying gang members not implicated in bloodshed can turn themselves in and have their records expunged. Those who do not will face arrest and prosecution, it said.

“No one will be allowed to undermine public security or the rights of citizens,” the ministry said in a statement, calling it a “a final warning.”

Hossam al-Astal, the leader of an anti-Hamas militia in southern Gaza with apparent links to Israel, rejected the warning.

“To all the Hamas rats, your tunnels are destroyed, your rights don’t exist anymore. Repent before it is too late — there is no Hamas from today onward,” he wrote on Facebook.

Al-Astal who was imprisoned by Hamas before the war on allegations of drug smuggling, established an armed group late last year that operates in areas controlled by Israel. He appears to have joined forces with Yasser Abu Shabab, who leads a similar armed group in the Israeli-controlled southern city of Rafah that has a history of looting aid convoys.

Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-armed-groups-hamas-israel-looting-b3033fd46a25a6382c8e13d3b4ae7f42">has acknowledged supporting Abu Shabab and others</a>&nbsp;opposed to Hamas, while denying any involvement in the looting of aid.

The presence of such groups could complicate talks over Hamas’ disarmament. The militants have expressed willingness to hand over offensive weapons like rockets to a Palestinian or Arab body but say they need lighter weapons like assault rifles to defend themselves, according to Arab officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive ceasefire talks.

🎥Trump: Hamas will disarm, or ‘we will disarm them’

By JUAN A. LOZANO and JOHN O'CONNOR&nbsp;

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