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

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

City Attorney, Greg Bengtson will be stepping down from his lead role by the end of the year.

As announced by City Manager Jacob Wood, Bengston will not be fully retiring, but is planning to slow down his practice and the firm’s work for the City. As part of the transition, the role will be&nbsp;shared among other municipal attorneys within the Clark, Mize, &amp; Linville (CML) firm.&nbsp;

Back in 1986, the city partnered with CML&nbsp;that appointed Bengtson as attorney.

"It has been a privilege to serve in this role," said Bengston during Monday's City Commission meeting.

The city will seek for a full-time, in-house City Attorney.

Greg Bengtson steps down from lead role as City Attorney after 39 years

RILEY COUNTY—Four people were injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Monday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Nissan Sentra driven by Ella R.&nbsp;Thalmann, 20, Palmer was eastbound on U.S. 24 just&nbsp;west of Lasita Road.

The car came upon a a 2014 Ford Focus driven by Brian L.&nbsp;Shane, 61, Alta Vista and a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Paden G. Taylor, 21, Clay Center who were stopped to turn left onto Lasita Road. The Sentra rear-ended the Ford. The Mitsubishi was also involved in the crash, according to KHP dispatch.

After impact the Sentra bounced off the Ford and struck a westbound 2012 Dodge Ram driven by Trevor A. Clark, 33, Manhattan.

EMS transported Thalmann to&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi Hospital. EMS transported Shane and a passenger in the Ford Jacque L. Shane, 58, Alta Visa, to Stormont Vail in Topeka. EMS transported Taylor and a passenger in the Mitsubishi Martin R. Dylan, 23, Clay Center, to the Clay County Medical Center. Clark was not injured. All six were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

5 hospitalized after 4-vehicle crash

The Salina City Commission will hold its regular meeting on&nbsp;September 22, 2025. The meeting will begin at&nbsp;4:00 pm&nbsp;inside&nbsp;Room 107&nbsp;of the&nbsp;City-County Building,&nbsp;300 West Ash Street.

For those who cannot attend the meeting, you can watch the livestream today on YouTube at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas">https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas</a>.

1.&nbsp;Consider approval of the minutes of the September 22, 2025, regular meeting.

2.&nbsp;Consider approval of Resolution No. 25-8314 appointing members to the Salina-Saline County Opioid Settlement Grant Review Committee and the Arts and Humanities Commission.

3.&nbsp;Consider approval of Change Order No. 3 to Project Number 20029, Phase 2, Project Rise Centennial Road and Arnold Avenue Improvements

4.&nbsp;Consider approval of Resolution 25-8313 appointing members of the Planning Commission to the Board of Zoning Appeals and Heritage Commission.

1.&nbsp;Consider approval of, and authorize the Mayor to sign, the Second Amendment to the Agreement with Salina Baseball Enterprises relating to Wilbur Field and James Matson Field.

2.&nbsp;Consider authorizing the Mayor to execute an amendment to the agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to remove the KDOT funding upper limit from the Magnolia Road Trail project from Ohio Street to 9th Street.

3.&nbsp;Consider amending the Agreement with DIEHL Enterprises, Inc. for removal of sediment and tree debris in the Smoky Hill River in Bill Burke Park to an amount not to exceed $1,212,169.75.

4.&nbsp;Consider approval of Ordinances 25-11258 and 25-11259 required to transition from a Contracted City Attorney to an In-House City Attorney and a Resolution approving an amendment to the Staffing Table.

Residents are invited to share their comments with the commission.

For more information about each item listed, click <a href="https://agendasuite.org/iip/salina/meeting/details/1255">here</a>.

Members to be appointed for Opioid Settlement Committee at Salina City Commission Oct. 13 meeting

A man faces several charges after assaulting a woman and possessing multiple illegal drugs.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Saturday, October 11 at around 5:00 pm, a 39-year old male and a 44-year old female in a relationship, got into an argument behind Sky Trampoline Park on&nbsp;1820 S. 9th St. 

The couple then left the area and went to their home in West Salina, where the argument continued. During the argument, the man allegedly assaulted the woman and broke her cellphone.

Afterwards, the woman left the home and arrived to her relative's house. SPD were then notified about the incident and went to where the woman was located. Once officers spoke with her, it was determined she needed medical treatment and was medically transported.

According to SPD, officers arrived to the home where the suspect was, but were not able to engage, due to needing a search warrant.

The following day, officers went back to the home with a search warrant and arrested the suspect identified as, Aron Hinojos. 

During the search, law enforcement found 1,200 grams of Marijuana, 25 grams of Cocaine, 44 THC cartridges, 15 containers of THC wax and significant amounts of Drug Paraphernalia.

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

Aggravated Battery, Domestic Battery, Criminal Threat, Criminal Damage of Property, Distribution of Marijuana, Distribution of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Certain Narcotics, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with intent to distribute and Drug Tax Stamp Violation.

The victim was later was released from Salina Regional Health Center after treatment.

Assailant of woman faces numerous assault and illegal drug charges

A male driving recklessly and allegedly under the influence, crashed into a man before his arrest.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on the evening of Saturday, October 11, police received various calls concerning a driver operating a 2002 Cadillac DeVille was potentially under the influence. 

The driver reportedly was traveling at a high rate of speed on S. 9th Street and eventually collided with a Ford Mustang. The driver of the Mustang, a 22-year old man, was hit off the road into an area of drainage culverts around Belmont and 9th.

According to SPD, he did not suffer any significant injuries.

Officers arrived to the scene and arrested 22-year old Jaymie Hicks. Hicks was booked into the Saline County Jail for the requested charges of:

DUI, No Proof of Insurance, Reckless Driving and Following too Close.

Reckless driving ends in crash and suspect facing DUI charge

<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 

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer

Teenagers on Instagram will be restricted to seeing PG-13 content by default and won't be able to change their settings without a parent's permission, Meta announced on Tuesday.

This means kids using teen-specific accounts will see photos and videos on Instagram that are similar to what they would see in a PG-13 movie — no sex, drugs or dangerous stunts, among others.

“This includes hiding or not recommending posts with strong language, certain risky stunts, and additional content that could encourage potentially harmful behaviors, such as posts showing marijuana paraphernalia,” Meta said in a blog post Tuesday, calling the update the most significant since it introduced teen accounts last year.

Anyone under 18 who signs up for Instagram is automatically placed into restrictive teen accounts unless a parent or guardian gives them permission to opt out. The teen accounts are private by default, have usage restrictions on them and already filter out more “sensitive” content — such as those promoting cosmetic procedures.

The company is also adding an even stricter setting that parents can set up for their children.

The changes come as the social media giant faces relentless criticism over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-teens-safety-meta-bejar-13276348cde2dcc1ee94c66227ea25dc">harms to children</a>. As it seeks to add safeguards for younger users, Meta has already promised it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-instagram-teens-suicide-eating-disorders-83dce63d9beed0a3ad0c53240077099f">wouldn’t show inappropriate content</a>&nbsp;to teens, such as posts about self-harm, eating disorders or suicide.

But this does not always work. A&nbsp;<a href="https://fairplayforkids.org/instagram-teen-accounts-fail-to-protect-children-safety-tools-testing-reveals/">recent report</a>, for instance, found that teen accounts researchers created were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity.”

In addition, Instagram also recommended a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” on teen accounts that the report says “would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors.”

Meta says the new restrictions go further than its previous safeguards. Teens will no longer be able to follow accounts that regularly share “age-inappropriate content” or if their name or bio contains something that isn't appropriate for teens, such as a link to an OnlyFans account. If teens already follow these accounts, they’ll no longer be able to see or interact with their content, send them messages, or see their comments under anyone’s posts, the company said. The accounts also won’t be able to follow teens, send them private messages or comment on their posts.

Meta said it already blocks certain search terms related to sensitive topics such as suicide and eating disorders, but the latest update will expand this to a broader range of terms, such as “alcohol” or “gore” — even if they are misspelled.

The PG-13 update will also apply artificial intelligence chats and experiences targeted to teens, Meta said, “meaning AIs should not give age-inappropriate responses that would feel out of place in a PG-13 movie.”

For parents who want an even stricter setting for their kids, Meta is also launching a “limited content” restriction that will block more content and remove teens’ ability to see, leave, or receive comments under posts.

Big changes coming to Instagram to safeguard teens

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A $2,000 reward from Crimestoppers is now being offered for helping police identify a man and woman seen in a video of an alleged abduction that occurred in Wichita.

The Wichita Police Department continues asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating the woman in the video. She was last seen being taken by force on October 12, at approximately 2 AM., in the 1400 block of North Volutsia in Wichita.

Police worked throughout Monday on this investigation, following up on numerous leads. They also received 15 additional tips overnight Monday, according to a statement from Wichita Police during a Tuesday morning news conference.

At this time, police have not been able to identify the woman and man seen in the video. Exploring all options, police reached out to regional and federal law enforcement partners for additional assistance.

The Wichita Police team has processed the audio, reducing background noise, hoping that someone will recognize her voice. Please take a moment to review the video.

&nbsp;If you recognize her or have any information about her identity or whereabouts, please contact 911 immediately.

You may also reach out to WPD Investigations at 316-268-4407, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

🎥Reward offered in search for Kansas abduction victim

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-landrum-jr">JONATHAN LANDRUM JR.</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) — D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&amp;B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dangelo-voodoo--00000199a196d3e5a399f7bf1c190000">shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video,</a>&nbsp;has died. He was 51.

The singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died Tuesday, according to a statement from the family.

The singer’s family confirmed in a statement Tuesday that he died after a prolonged battle with cancer. They called him “a shining star of our family and has dimmed his light for us in this life,” adding that they are “eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”

In his music, D’Angelo blended hip-hop grit, emphatic soul and gospel-rooted emotion into a sound that helped spearhead&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/neosoul-singers-gender-00000199a18dd2d7aff9f7ed0a110000">the neo-soul movement</a>&nbsp;of the 1990s. Earlier this year, the Virginia native celebrated the 30th anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dangelo-brown-sugar-00000199a192dce9abdfe9b63dab0000">his debut studio album “Brown Sugar,”</a>&nbsp;a platinum-selling offering that produced signature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tony-toni-tone-reunion-fa510a0f03b219377b865f20b55e41ed">hits like “Lady”</a>&nbsp;and the title track. The 1995 album earned him multiple Grammy nominations and cemented him as one of R&amp;B’s most original new voices.

D’Angelo’s sultry vocal style — a mix of raspy texture and church-bred fluidity — set him apart from his peers. That voice became inseparable from the striking visuals of his 2000 single “Untitled (How Does It Feel).” The minimalist, shirtless music video became a cultural touchstone, igniting conversations around artistry, sexuality and vulnerability in Black male representation. The song earned him a Grammy for best male R&amp;B vocal performance and propelled his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dangelo-voodoo-music-review--00000199a19cdce9abdfe9bcb6210000">sophomore album “Voodoo.”</a>&nbsp;topping the Billboard 200 chart and winning the Grammy for best R&amp;B album.

Beyond his own catalog, D’Angelo’s artistry shined in collaborations. He memorably duetted with Lauryn Hill on the soulful ballad “Nothing Even Matters,” a highlight of her landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lauryn-hill-apple-music-best-albums-cc143b9c93a8ec5dd451b8a990b12564">1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”</a>&nbsp;He also contributed to The Roots’ 1996 album “Illadelph Halflife” and was part of the supergroup Black Men United, which yielded one song: “U Will Know,” which D’Angelo wrote and co-produced, for the film “Jason’s Lyric” in 1994.

D’Angelo was partnered to Grammy-nominated R&amp;B singer Angie Stone in the ’90s. The pair met while he was finishing “Brown Sugar” and bonded over their similar backgrounds: Both are from the South and both grew up in the church. Stone worked on the album with D’Angelo and the pair co-wrote the song “Everyday” for her 1999 debut album, “Black Diamond.”

Stone described D’Angelo as her “musical soul mate,” to The Associated Press in 1999, adding that their working relationship was “’like milk and cereal …. Musically, it was magic. It’s something that I have not been able to do with any other producer or musician.”

They had a son together, the artist Swayvo Twain, born Michael Archer Jr.

Stone&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/angie-stone-car-crash-singer-41a7094f6d3aaa224902497f17e0204d">died earlier this year</a>&nbsp;in a car crash. She was 63.

D’Angelo also has a daughter, Imani Archer.

 D’Angelo, who became an icon with ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel),’ dies

WASHINGTON—On Tuesday afternoon, President Trump will posthumously award the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, "we honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk on his heavenly birthday. With unanimous support, the U.S. Senate has declared October 14 the National Day of Remembrance — a tribute to his bold faith and love for our country. His impact continues to shape the next generation of leaders."

The Presidential Medial of Freedom presentation is scheduled for 3p.m., according to the White House.

In September, Turning Point USA’s founder, Charlie Kirk was assassinated while holding an event at Utah Valley University’s campus.

The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed resolutions to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.

The resolution supports the designation of a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk” on Oct. 14 and recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service.

Kan. U.S. Senator honors Charlie Kirk on his birthday

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused of shooting a woman, later identified as the mother of his children, will face a jury trial on Tuesday. in Judge William Wooley's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Vincent Solomon, 46, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, domestic battery, criminal restraint, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, criminal use of weapons and interference with law enforcement, according to online jail records.

Just after 9a.m. September 23, 2024, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications began to receive reports of a shooting outside Cessna Elementary School, 2101 West 45th Street South in Wichita, according to a statement from Police Chief Joe Sullivan during a news conference.

The call was broadcast on all law enforcement radio channels. A Sedgwick County Deputy heard the call and responded. When the deputy arrived, he located a 46-year-old man from Wichita who was armed with a handgun. The man made statements that the deputy would kill him while pointing the gun at the deputy, according to Sullivan.

The suspect than ran to and laid on top of a 30-year-old woman. The deputy gave commands for the man to drop his gun and observed the suspect place the gun to the woman's head.

In defense of the woman, the deputy fired his gun twice. The suspect would not let go of the woman. The deputy then attempted to disarm the man physically. It took two Wichita Police officers and the deputy to disarm the suspect.

Investigators have learned that the man and woman live together and have children together. The couple had an argument in a vehicle on the way to the school which led to the suspect shooting the woman multiple times. The woman ran toward the school and the suspect chased her. A Wichita Public School staff member saw the suspect with the gun approaching the school and pulled the door of the school shut and locked it so the suspect could not get inside.

EMS transported the suspect and the woman to an area hospital.&nbsp;The Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) was activated to conduct an investigation. Solomon met the requirement of a $750,000 bond and is no longer in custody.

Trial begins for suspect who shot woman near Kan. elementary school 

TOPEKA—On Monday, the GOP Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council approved $460,000 to fund a four-day special legislative session focused on redistricting the state of Kansas, without holding any public forum, according to a media release from Kansas House Democrats.

Missouri and Texas have already approved new maps.

Republicans already hold three of the state’s four congressional districts. A revised map would target the suburban Kansas City district held by Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids.

"Without any public input, the GOP-led Legislature Coordinating Council just approved spending Kansas taxpayers' money to call a special session to redistrict Kansas at the whim of Donald Trump," according to a statement from House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard.&nbsp;

"This is a slap in the face to Kansans who are struggling with rising costs of living and out-of-control property taxes, issues the Legislature should be addressing instead," according to Woodard.

The cost of the special session would cost less than the approved $460,000 if the session lasts less than four days. The session could begin as early as November 7.&nbsp;Republican lawmakers who hold a supermajority in the Kansas Legislature have been gathering petition signatures from colleagues in an attempt to call a special session on congressional redistricting.&nbsp; They are taking that route because Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is unlikely to call a special session.

Kansas lawmakers approve funding for redistricting session

KANSAS CITY —A Missouri man is set to be executed on Tuesday for fatally shooting a state trooper more than 20 years ago.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-98b9be3f3c3c4d408f907ba61c9897d3">Lance Shockley</a>&nbsp;was condemned for killing Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. in March 2005. Prosecutors say Shockley waited for hours near the trooper’s Van Buren home in southeast Missouri before shooting him with a rifle and shotgun after Graham exited his patrol vehicle.

Shockley, 48, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection after 6 p.m. local time at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

His is one of two executions scheduled for Tuesday evening in the U.S. In Florida, Samuel Lee Smithers, 72,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-samuel-lee-smithers-cf17079bd1228ab58f7ee61de81924a0">is set to receive a lethal injection</a>&nbsp;for killing two women whose bodies were found in a rural pond in 1996.

GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe on Monday turned down Shockley’s request for clemency.

“Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated. Missouri stands firmly with our men and women in uniform,” Kehoe said in a statement.

Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court denied a request to stay Shockley’s execution until a lower state appeals court issues a ruling on a petition by Shockley’s attorneys asking for DNA testing of evidence found at the scene. Jeremy Weis, one of Shockley’s attorneys, said Monday it’s unlikely the lower appeals court will issue a ruling on the DNA testing request before Tuesday’s execution. Shockley’s lawyers say much of this evidence has never been tested and could help exonerate Shockley.

“Even a small chance of exoneration is enough to warrant testing,” Shockley’s lawyers said in court documents.

Shockley’s attorneys have also argued his First Amendment rights are being violated since the Missouri Department of Corrections prohibited his daughter from being his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-state-government-missouri-legal-proceedings-religion-dbc253bef85af688a63a42a836e00028">spiritual adviser</a>&nbsp;during the execution. His attorneys also referenced this claim when asking a federal appeals court to stay his execution. In March 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-executions-john-roberts-fcd32356dbb867063d324d7d33d6a21f">U.S. Supreme Court ruled</a>&nbsp;states must allow spiritual advisers to join condemned inmates in the death chamber.

Missouri officials have argued state prison policy prevents family members from having direct contact with inmates during an execution due to security concerns they might interfere with the process.

Authorities said Shockley shot Graham because the state trooper was investigating him for involuntary manslaughter after leaving the scene of a deadly accident in which Shockley’s best friend was killed. Prosecutors said Shockley borrowed his grandmother’s red Pontiac Grand Am, which was seen near Graham’s home on the day of the killing.

Shockley first shot Graham with a rifle, severing his spinal cord and causing him to fall to the ground and fracture his skull, according to prosecutors. Shockley then approached Graham and shot him in the face and shoulder with a shotgun. Shockley owned a .243-caliber rifle and .243-caliber rounds were recovered from Graham’s body. Bullet fragments found on the property of Shockley’s uncle matched the rounds recovered from the trooper’s body, according to court documents filed by the Missouri attorney general’s office.

Prosecutors presented no direct evidence connecting Shockley to the killing, Weis said.

“The state’s case remained circumstantial,” Weis said last week during a forum at the University of Missouri School of Law discussing the case. “The murder weapons were never found. There were disagreements between the ballistics experts hired by the prosecution.”

Shockley’s attorneys also say other witnesses placed his client about 14 miles (23 kilometers) away from Graham’s home at the time the prosecutors maintained he was lying in wait near the trooper’s house.

Prosecutors say Shockley had inquired about where Graham lived before the murder and tried to get rid of a box of .243-caliber ammunition around the time of the murder, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said that favorable DNA test results, “even if obtained, would not tend to undermine Shockley’s conviction.”

If the execution is carried out, Shockley would be the first person put to death this year in Missouri. The last execution in the state was on Dec. 3, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-christopher-collings-f5a027c86c53725556a5a66751abd36d">Christopher Collings</a>&nbsp;received a lethal injection for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl.

If both of Tuesday’s executions take place, that would bring this year’s total to 37&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-executions-2025-upcoming-florida-bf95609117487f4295d0b41e1b268c4a">death sentences</a>&nbsp;carried out nationwide.

Man who maintains innocence set to be executed for killing state trooper

HARVEY COUNTY — A Kansas felon with over a dozen previous convictions is going back to prison.

Earlier this month, Senior Judge Nancy Parrish sentenced a Matthew Ratzlaff, 38, of Burrton, Kansas to 301 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; In August he pled guilty to Kidnapping and two counts of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child involving sexual crimes against a child under the age of 10, according to a media release from the Harvey County Attorney.

In addition to the time served in the Kansas Department of Corrections, Ratzlaff will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime registration as a sexual offender.&nbsp; He has 17 previous convictions for burglary, aggravated burglary, theft, giving worthless checks, forgery and criminal use of a financial card, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sex crimes committed against children in our community are some of the most terrible crimes we see committed and my office is dedicated to holding the offenders accountable while achieving justice for the most vulnerable members of our community.

The successful prosecution of this case was made possible with the dedicated assistance of the Halstead Police Department, USD 440, and the Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center.

Kan. man with over a dozen convictions going to prison for child sex crimes

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ali-swenson">ALI SWENSON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of federal employees working on mental health services, disease outbreaks and disaster preparedness were among those hit by the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">mass firings</a>&nbsp;over the weekend, current and laid-off workers said Monday, as the administration aimed to pressure Democratic lawmakers to give in and end the nearly two-week-long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-obamacare-republicans-democrats-b6b59cae2ec28b39e57fbb703704f46a">government shutdown</a>.

The government-wide reduction-in-force initiative that began Friday roiled the massive U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just six months after it went through an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">earlier round of cuts</a>&nbsp;and as many staffers already were disconnected from work because of the shutdown.

The situation turned even more chaotic over the weekend, when more than half of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees who’d gotten layoff notices learned they received them in error and were still employed with the agency.

HHS, through its agencies, is responsible for tracking health trends and disease outbreaks, conducting and funding medical research, and monitoring the safety of food and medicine, as well as for administering health insurance programs for nearly half the country. Among the HHS agencies facing staff cuts were the CDC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, according to current and laid-off employees who spoke with The Associated Press.

Former staffers and health professionals said they were concerned the layoffs could have negative health impacts and make it difficult for HHS agencies to fulfill their obligations set by Congress.

Government shutdownThe AP has journalists around the country covering the shutdown of the federal government.&nbsp;<a href="https://modules.wearehearken.com/associated-press/embed/12545/share" target="_blank">What questions do you have for them?</a>

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the laid off employees were deemed nonessential. He added the agency is working to “close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.”

Nixon declined to share which HHS agencies saw layoffs or how many HHS employees were affected. However, a Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71502325/39/american-federation-of-government-employees-afl-cio-v-united-states/" target="_blank">court filing</a>&nbsp;from the Trump administration gave an estimate, saying about 1,100 to 1,200 of the nearly 80,000 staffers at HHS were receiving dismissal notices.

CDC is hit with layoffs — and reversals

About 600 workers at the CDC remained fired Monday in conjunction with the federal government shutdown after hundreds more had originally been targeted, according to the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883, which represents CDC employees in Atlanta.

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