Lonny Pucket, 84, departed this world on the morning of Friday, September 19, 2025, at 3:50 a.m., while in hospice care at Village Manor of Abilene, KS, with his oldest grandson watching over him.

Lonny Lee Pucket was born in Concordia, KS, on June 30, 1941, the son of George W. and Irene Lillie (Orebaugh) Pucket. He was a twin to Larry Lee Pucket and one of five children: Garrel, Clyde, Larry, Lonny, and their sister, Guila. Lonny was fortunate to attend school in his hometown of Glasco, KS, completing both grade and high school there and graduating in the spring of 1959.

After high school, Lonny moved to Salina to work for Lee Hardware before deciding to attend college at Fort Hays, where he graduated with an associate degree. Following college, Lonny moved to Wichita and began working in the aircraft industry as a painter. On weekends, he often returned home to see family and friends. It was during one of these visits that he met the love of his life, Fonda Plymire.

On June 8, 1968, Lonny and Fonda were married at the United Methodist Church in Glasco, KS. They lived in Wichita for the first few years before moving back to Salina. In the fall of 1970, they were blessed with the birth of a son, William Pucket. In the summer of 1976, they were again blessed, this time with a daughter, Gina (Pucket) Winter.

Life made Lonny a grandfather three times, a role he cherished. He faithfully attended countless soccer games, school programs, Boy Scout events, and anything else his grandsons were involved in. He believed that showing up was one of the best ways to show he cared. Whenever he could convince one of the boys to go to a car show or cowboy event, it became a day of joy that he would talk about often.

Lonny was a hard worker, having grown up on a farm south of Glasco. He loved sharing stories from his childhood with anyone who would listen. He spent over 25 years working for AGCO in Hesston, KS—a job he enjoyed because of the friendships he made, which made the daily commute worthwhile.

In his spare time, Lonny enjoyed taking his wife dancing at the Muse Ballroom. He loved classic car shows and cruising with the Thursday Night Cruisers. He also enjoyed traveling—first with his wife and children to places such as the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Mount Rushmore. Later, once the children were grown, he and Fonda traveled to places such as New York, where they saw their favorite country western singers perform at Carnegie Hall, and even took cruises to Cozumel and Alaska. They loved exploring the beauty of this country together.

Lonny is survived by his wife, Fonda Pucket of Kipp; son, William Pucket of Salina, KS; daughter, Gina Winter and husband Matthew of Salina, KS; three grandsons, Thomas Fletcher of Marquette, KS, and Nic Fletcher and Bryant Rush of Salina, KS; his brother, Clyde (Brenda) of Wichita; and many nieces and nephews.

A service and celebration of his life will be held at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th St., Salina, KS, on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the same location. As was Lonny’s request, his favorite pies and cookies will be served. Please bring a story to share, as Lonny always enjoyed good conversation and cherished memories. Memorials can be sent to Ryan Mortuary, in care of the family at 137 N 8th St., Salina, KS 67401.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758653198146.jpeg" alt="Lonny Pucket" />
 <figcaption>Lonny Pucket</figcaption>
 </figure>Lonny Pucket, 84, departed this world on the morning of Friday, September 19, 2025, at 3:50 a.m., while in hospice care at Village Manor of Abilene, KS, with his oldest grandson watching over him.Lonny Lee Pucket was born in Concordia, KS, on June 30, 1941, the son of George W. and Irene Lillie (Orebaugh) Pucket. He was a twin to Larry Lee Pucket and one of five children: Garrel, Clyde, Larry, Lonny, and their sister, Guila. Lonny was fortunate to attend school in his hometown of Glasco, KS, completing both grade and high school there and graduating in the spring of 1959.After high school, Lonny moved to Salina to work for Lee Hardware before deciding to attend college at Fort Hays, where he graduated with an associate degree. Following college, Lonny moved to Wichita and began working in the aircraft industry as a painter. On weekends, he often returned home to see family and friends. It was during one of these visits that he met the love of his life, Fonda Plymire.On June 8, 1968, Lonny and Fonda were married at the United Methodist Church in Glasco, KS. They lived in Wichita for the first few years before moving back to Salina. In the fall of 1970, they were blessed with the birth of a son, William Pucket. In the summer of 1976, they were again blessed, this time with a daughter, Gina (Pucket) Winter.Life made Lonny a grandfather three times, a role he cherished. He faithfully attended countless soccer games, school programs, Boy Scout events, and anything else his grandsons were involved in. He believed that showing up was one of the best ways to show he cared. Whenever he could convince one of the boys to go to a car show or cowboy event, it became a day of joy that he would talk about often.Lonny was a hard worker, having grown up on a farm south of Glasco. He loved sharing stories from his childhood with anyone who would listen. He spent over 25 years working for AGCO in Hesston, KS—a job he enjoyed because of the friendships he made, which made the daily commute worthwhile.In his spare time, Lonny enjoyed taking his wife dancing at the Muse Ballroom. He loved classic car shows and cruising with the Thursday Night Cruisers. He also enjoyed traveling—first with his wife and children to places such as the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Mount Rushmore. Later, once the children were grown, he and Fonda traveled to places such as New York, where they saw their favorite country western singers perform at Carnegie Hall, and even took cruises to Cozumel and Alaska. They loved exploring the beauty of this country together.Lonny is survived by his wife, Fonda Pucket of Kipp; son, William Pucket of Salina, KS; daughter, Gina Winter and husband Matthew of Salina, KS; three grandsons, Thomas Fletcher of Marquette, KS, and Nic Fletcher and Bryant Rush of Salina, KS; his brother, Clyde (Brenda) of Wichita; and many nieces and nephews.A service and celebration of his life will be held at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th St., Salina, KS, on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the same location. As was Lonny’s request, his favorite pies and cookies will be served. Please bring a story to share, as Lonny always enjoyed good conversation and cherished memories. Memorials can be sent to Ryan Mortuary, in care of the family at 137 N 8th St., Salina, KS 67401.

Lonny Pucket

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.

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>.

<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=420&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNWSWichita%2Fvideos%2F1457120265618784%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="420" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Salina PostAs 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.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>.

Flooding remains possible with Tuesday morning's showers 

The US National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita forecasts severe thunderstorms are expected to develop after midnight tonight and continue into Tuesday morning across Central Kansas.

According to NWS Wichita, these storms are likely to produce high rainfall rates, which may lead to flooding. Storms are expected to move in from the west after midnights, with most locations in Saline County after 3:00 am. The heaviest rainfall is likely between 4:00 am and noon Tuesday.

Saline County Emergency Management stated there is slightly lower confidence on how large hailstones may get, but the confidence is in the heavy rainfall and flooding potential has been increasing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758571686891.png" alt="Courtesy of Saline County Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Saline County Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostThe US National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita forecasts severe thunderstorms are expected to develop after midnight tonight and continue into Tuesday morning across Central Kansas.According to NWS Wichita, these storms are likely to produce high rainfall rates, which may lead to flooding. Storms are expected to move in from the west after midnights, with most locations in Saline County after 3:00 am. The heaviest rainfall is likely between 4:00 am and noon Tuesday.Saline County Emergency Management stated there is slightly lower confidence on how large hailstones may get, but the confidence is in the heavy rainfall and flooding potential has been increasing.<h2>Safety recommendations:</h2><ul>
 <li>Have&nbsp;multiple&nbsp;ways to receive warnings: enable WEA alerts, keep a weather radio on, and set volume loud enough to wake you.</li><li>Protect vehicles and property: park under sturdy cover and bring in loose outdoor items.</li><li>Charge phones, flashlights, and keep spare batteries ready in case of power blips.</li><li>Stay indoors and away from windows during hail and strong winds; bring pets inside.</li><li>If driving, pull over safely if caught in hail or strong winds.</li><li>Expect a slow Tuesday commute: never drive through water over the road, even if it looks shallow.</li><li>Do not go around barricades—just 12–18 inches of moving water can carry away a vehicle.&nbsp;Turn Around, Don’t Drown.</li>
 </ul>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>.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNWSWichita%2Fposts%2Fpfbid035yjHtwKWU5C4vvA9ZfFd7FQTBYveByhokT5a4vr9aDB8kyHnt1t1X8asq1Qc9sr5l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="430" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Severe storms with heavy rainfall amounts expected after midnight in Central Kansas

Date:&nbsp;Saturday, September 27, 2025

Stadium:&nbsp;Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)

TV:&nbsp;FS1 (<a href="https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/ucf-knights-vs-kansas-state-wildcats-sep-27-2025-game-boxscore-41704" target="_blank">Watch</a>)

K-State Radio:&nbsp;K-State Sports Network;&nbsp;<a href="http://k-statesports.com/" target="_blank">k-statesports.com</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/live" target="_blank">Listen</a>)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stan Weber (Analyst)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Matt Walters (Sidelines)

SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 83, and on the SiriusXM App

<a href="https://tunein.com/radio/Big-12-Radio-s329464/" target="_blank">Big 12 Radio on TuneIn</a>

X Updates:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.x.com/kstatefb" target="_blank">@KStateFB</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.x.com/kstatestatsinfo" target="_blank">@KStateStatsInfo</a>

THE TOP 51)&nbsp;Coming off its first of three bye weeks during the 2025 season, Kansas State looks to regroup in its Big 12 home opener when the Wildcats host UCF on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game kicks off at 11 a.m., and will be shown nationally on FS1 with Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) on the call.

2)&nbsp;Each of Kansas State’s first four games this season have been decided by one score as the first three games were by a margin of a field goal, while its game at Arizona was decided by six points. K-State is the only team in the nation to already have four games decided by one possession. The Wildcats were 4-2 last season when the final margin was eight or less points.

3)&nbsp;Quarterback Avery Johnson is set to make his 19th-career start under center having thrown for 851 yards and six touchdowns through the first four games. His favorite target has been wide receiver Jayce Brown, who has 25 catches for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Brown ranks 21st nationally and third in the Big 12 in receptions per game (6.25), while he has a catch in each of the last 25 games dating back to 2023.

4)&nbsp;Linebackers Austin Romaine and Des Purnell lead the Wildcats in tackles with 37 and 28, respectively. Romaine ranks 22nd in the country and fourth in the Big 12 with 9.3 tackles per game, while his average of 5.75 solo tackles per game ranks 11th in the nation. Cornerback Zashon Rich is tied for the Big 12 lead with five pass breakups, and the Wildcats rank seventh in the country with four fumble recoveries.

5)&nbsp;K-State’s specialists have started the year strong. Kicker Luis Rodriguez drilled a 51-yard field goal at Arizona, and he is 4-for-4 on field goal attempts and 11-for-11 on extra points. Punter Simon McClannan ranks fifth in the Big 12 with a 43.5-yard average. Bryce Noernberg returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score against Army, and Garrett Harstad blocked a punt at Arizona.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHTS25&nbsp;– Consecutive games that Jayce Brown has recorded at least one catch, which dates back to the 2023 Texas Tech game.

13&nbsp;– This is K-State’s first 11 a.m. kickoff in its last 13 games, the last being a 42-20 win over Oklahoma State last year on Sept. 28.

8&nbsp;– Consecutive years K-State has blocked at least one punt, the longest streak in the nation.

4&nbsp;– One-possession games played by the Wildcats this season, the most in the nation this season.

1.46&nbsp;– Sacks per game allowed by K-State since the beginning of 2019, the fifth-best mark among Power 4 teams.

• Kansas State’s first of three bye weeks in the 2025 season came at a time when the Wildcats are looking to rebound from a 1-3 start to the season.

• All four of K-State’s games this season have been decided by one possession. In three of the four games, the Wildcats trailed late in the fourth quarter and had the ball with a chance to either tie or take the lead.

• K-State was able to put together a 10-play, 81-yard drive over 1:03 against North Dakota, scoring a touchdown with 42 seconds remaining to swing a 35-31 deficit into a 38-35 victory.

• The next week against Army, K-State had the ball with less than two minutes remaining and got into plus territory until an interception sealed the Black Knights’ three-point win.

• Six days later at Arizona, K-State had the ball near midfield with just over one minute remaining, but a turnover on downs ended the contest in a six-point defeat.

• Kansas State is 18-11 all-time in its Big 12 home openers, including wins in each of its last three opportunities against Texas Tech (2022), UCF (2023) and Oklahoma State (2024).

• The Wildcats’ first Big 12 home contest was the first ever Big 12 Conference game when they defeated Texas Tech, 21-14, at then-KSU Stadium on August 31, 1996.

• Saturday’s game against UCF is the first time K-State will kick off in the morning (local time) since almost exactly one year to the day.

• The last time the Wildcats played a game that kicked off at 11 a.m., was a 42-20 home victory over Oklahoma State on September 28, 2024.

• K-State has played 12-straight games that kicked off in the afternoon or evening, including 10 that began at 6 p.m. or later local time.

• The Wildcats’ 2025 season opener in Dublin, Ireland, against Iowa State kicked off at 11 a.m. in the Central Time Zone but began at 5 p.m. in Irish Standard Time.

• Of Kansas State’s last 16 games dating back to Week 2 of the 2024 season, 10 have been decided by just one score.

• Last year, the Wildcats went 4-2 in one-possession games. All four of the victories were fourth-quarter comebacks, which ranked second in the nation to Illinois’ five.

• This season, K-State has played four one-possession games but has only come out on the winning side one time.

• The four one-score games this year are the most in the FBS. Second on the list is Iowa State Army and UConn as each have played three one-score games.

• K-State is one of only 10 Power 4 schools that have won at least nine games in each of the last three seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee.

• Among those teams, only Kansas State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oregon have accomplished that feat in addition to winning a conference championship during that timeframe.

• The Wildcats are tied for 17th among Power 4 teams and are second among current Big 12 programs with 29 total wins since the beginning of 2022.

• K-State has a total of 232 victories since 1996, which ranks 22nd nationally.

• Among active Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind BYU (242), TCU (241) and Utah (236).

• Kansas State has totaled 144 Big 12 victories since the conference’s formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.

• The Cats are also second among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 59.1% (75-52), trailing only Oklahoma State (61.1%; 77-49).

• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 42-21 (66.7%) at home in Big 12 play and 33-31 (51.6%) on the road/neutral.

• Kansas State has 13 returning starters from a year ago, including seven that hail from the state of Kansas.

• On offense, the Kansans are quarterback Avery Johnson (Wichita), running back Dylan Edwards (Derby) and offensive linemen Taylor Poitier (Kansas City) and Sam Hecht (Shawnee).

• Defensively, the list includes defensive tackle Damian Ilalio (Manhattan), linebacker Des Purnell (Topeka) and defensive end Cody Stufflebean (McPherson).

• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 121-44 career record, as his 73.8% career winning percentage is tied for fourth among current FBS coaches that have completed at least 10 seasons. He is also one of just 17 current Power 4 head coaches with at least 100 career victories.

• Klieman, who is 49-31 since arriving at K-State, has led the Cats to five victories over teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25, the most of any active Big 12 program since 2019.

• K-State enters this week’s game against UCF ranked fifth nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.25) and 13th in fewest penalty yards per game (32.25).

• Since 2022, the Wildcats have averaged 43.00 penalty yards per game (45 games) to tie for eighth among Power 4 teams.

• K-State is the nation’s best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 25-plus seasons as it has 136 since 1999, 10 more than the next closest team (Alabama – 126) and 18 more than the next Big 12 program (Utah – 119).

• K-State recorded four non-offensive scores during the 2024 season, its most since also recording four in 2020.

• The Wildcats got on the board in 2025 thanks to Bryce Noernberg’s 99-yard kickoff return against Army.

OFFENSIVE NOTESTOTAL OFFENSE• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 34 of the last 44 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season.

• The 34 games with at least 375 yards are tied for 10th among Power 4 programs and ranks second among Big 12 schools.

• Georgia leads the way with 39, followed by USC (38), Oregon (37), TCU (37), Ole Miss (36), Texas (36), LSU (35) and Washington (35).

• During that stretch, K-State holds a 27-7 record when totaling at least 375 yards, while the Wildcats are 2-8 when going under that mark.RED ZONE SUCCESS• Since Chris Klieman’s first season at K-State in 2019, the Wildcats have been the best in the Big 12 in terms of converting red-zone opportunities into points.

• The Wildcats rank first in the Big 12 with an 89.9% (277-of-308) success rate in the red zone since 2019, just ahead of Texas Tech (88.1%) and Oklahoma State (87.5%).

• K-State also ranks first in the league in touchdown success rate at 66.9% (206-of-308), ahead of Kansas (66.3%) and Utah (65.6%).LIMITED SACKS PER GAME• K-State has been one of the nation’s best in terms of limiting sacks since head coach Chris Klieman’s first season of 2019.

• The Wildcats rank fifth nationally and second in the Big 12 by allowing only 1.46 sacks per game over the last six-plus seasons, a span of 80 games.FEW INTERCEPTIONS• Thanks to only one interception through four games this season, the Wildcats have only thrown 11 picks since Avery Johnson’s first start under center in the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl.

• The 11 interceptions thrown are tied for third among Big 12 teams since the 2023 bowl season.THROWING FOR 300• Quarterback Avery Johnson produced the first 300-yard passing game of his career against North Dakota when he totaled 318 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns on 28-of-43 aim. His completion and attempt totals were also a career high.

• It was the 46th 300-yard passing game in school history and the first since Will Howard went for 327 yards during an overtime contest at Texas in 2023.VERY RESPONSIBLE• Avery Johnson has been responsible for 52 total touchdowns in his 25 career games played to rank ninth in school history.

• His touchdown responsibility total is tied for 27th nationally among active players but ranks sixth among non-seniors.

• A native of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson has 36 career passing touchdowns to tie for sixth in school history – two shy of taking over sole possession of fifth place – while his 16 career rushing touchdowns rank ninth in school history among quarterbacks.NEARING 1,000• Avery Johnson has rushed for 963 yards in his career, just 37 yards shy of becoming the seventh K-State quarterback to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

• Johnson has averaged 5.07 yards on his 190 career rushes, which would rank eighth in school history if he had 10 more rushes to meet the minimum.

• When taking away sack yardage, Johnson has rushed for 1,108 yards on 173 true rushing attempts, good for a 6.40-yard clip.

FAVORITE TARGET• Avery Johnson’s favorite target to open the 2025 season has been wide receiver Jayce Brown, who has 25 receptions for 284 yards and two touchdowns over the first four games.

• Brown’s 6.25 receptions per game this season rank 21st nationally and third in the Big 12.

• Brown hauled in 12 catches against North Dakota, which tied for the seventh-most catches in a single game in school history, doubled his previous career high of six (last year at Colorado) and were the most by a Wildcat since Tyler Lockett had 13 in the final game of his career in the 2014 Alamo Bowl vs. UCLA.

• Brown tallied at least 100 scrimmage yards in the final two games of 2024 and in three of the first four games of 2025 after only one such performance in the first 21 games of his career.

CATCH STREAK• Jayce Brown has recorded at least one reception in each of the last 25 games dating back to the 2023 Texas Tech contest.

• It is the 14th-longest active streak in the nation and fourth in the Big 12 behind Baylor’s Kole Wilson (34 games), TCU’s Joseph Manjack IV (30 games) and BYU’s Chase Roberts (29 games).

• It is the longest streak by a Wildcat since Phillip Brooks went 25-straight games with a reception over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

• If he were to record a catch against UCF, Brown’s streak would be the longest by a Wildcat since Deuce Vaughn held a 33-game streak that spanned from his first-career game in 2020 through the 10th game of 2022.

• A 26-game catch streak would be the longest by a K-State wide receiver since Curry Sexton also went 26-straight games, catching a pass in every game over the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Dalton Schoen had a catch in 31-straight games in which he played over the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons, but he missed four games during that timeframe.

TO THE HOUSE• Jayce Brown opened the second half at Arizona with a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage to get the Wildcats back to within one score.

• His 75-yard run was the Wildcats’ longest rush since Deuce Vaughn had an 88-yard score against Alabama in the 2022 Sugar Bowl.

• It was the longest rush by a K-State wide receiver since Malik Knowles had a 75-yard score on the first play from scrimmage of the 2022 season against South Dakota.

DEFENSIVE NOTESCONTINUITY ON THE STAFF• Each of the Wildcats’ full-time coaches on the defensive side of the ball have been the same since 2020, as Kansas State and Iowa are the only two programs in the country to lay that claim.

• However, Iowa utilizes four positional coaches on defense, whereas K-State employs five.

• Safeties coach Joe Klanderman was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020, the same year that cornerbacks coach Van Malone was elevated to assistant head coach and Steve Stanard joined the staff to coach the linebackers. Defensive tackles coach Mike Tuiasosopo and defensive ends coach Buddy Wyatt – along with Klanderman and Malone – were members of Chris Klieman’s original staff at K-State in 2019.

LIMITED POINTS PER GAME• Since the 2021 season (57 games), the Cats are allowing just 22.1 points per game, which ranks 27th nationally and third among current Big 12 teams.

🏈 K-State Hosts UCF in Big 12 Home Opener

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Routh texted his three adult children and his fiancée separately to tell them he loved them, according to cell phone records, shortly before authorities say he was spotted by a U.S. Secret Service agent, who identified Routh as the man who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.

Later that same day, Routh called his fiancée from the Palm Beach County jail to tell her about his arrest, but she already knew. “Everybody knows, it’s been hours,” the woman can be heard saying on a recording of the call. “The whole world knows.”

Routh is representing himself in federal court after being charged with trying kill Trump and is set to present his defense Monday, calling just three witnesses.

Seasoned prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida rested their case Friday afternoon after spending seven days questioning 38 witnesses in an attempt to make sure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ryan-wesley-routh">Routh</a>&nbsp;spends the rest of his life in prison.

Prosecutors have said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-indictment-b4c956e1a126e4acfb3c4eae0c06ddb1">attempting to assassinate</a>&nbsp;a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

He told U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday that he only needs half a day or so to present his defense. He has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert and two character witnesses. He hasn’t said whether he plans to testify himself.

Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-attempt-florida-644c71bc607e4ebad5115f2a490b314c">represent himself</a>&nbsp;following two hearings in July. Routh told the judge that his court-appointed federal public defenders were diligent, but they didn’t listen to him and were afraid of him.

“How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said in July.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. Routh’s former defense attorneys have served as standby counsel since Routh took over his own defense and have been present during trial the past two weeks.

Cannon said attorneys should be prepared to deliver their closing arguments Tuesday, giving each side one hour and 45 minutes. Jurors will begin deliberating after that. Cannon had initially blocked off more than three weeks for the trial at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, but Routh’s relatively short cross-examinations have led to a quicker pace than anticipated.

Recounting the alleged attack at the golf course, a Secret Service agent testified last week that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot, the agent said.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witness said he confirmed it was the person he had seen.

Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-anniversary-crooks-d18804b0e1382003bbb91449638c721c">an attempt</a>&nbsp;on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear. The gunman was then fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) fuse, police said.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726536262473.png" alt="Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Routh texted his three adult children and his fiancée separately to tell them he loved them, according to cell phone records, shortly before authorities say he was spotted by a U.S. Secret Service agent, who identified Routh as the man who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.Later that same day, Routh called his fiancée from the Palm Beach County jail to tell her about his arrest, but she already knew. “Everybody knows, it’s been hours,” the woman can be heard saying on a recording of the call. “The whole world knows.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741357051491.png" alt="-Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>-Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Routh is representing himself in federal court after being charged with trying kill Trump and is set to present his defense Monday, calling just three witnesses.Seasoned prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida rested their case Friday afternoon after spending seven days questioning 38 witnesses in an attempt to make sure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ryan-wesley-routh">Routh</a>&nbsp;spends the rest of his life in prison.Prosecutors have said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-indictment-b4c956e1a126e4acfb3c4eae0c06ddb1">attempting to assassinate</a>&nbsp;a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.He told U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday that he only needs half a day or so to present his defense. He has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert and two character witnesses. He hasn’t said whether he plans to testify himself.Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-attempt-florida-644c71bc607e4ebad5115f2a490b314c">represent himself</a>&nbsp;following two hearings in July. Routh told the judge that his court-appointed federal public defenders were diligent, but they didn’t listen to him and were afraid of him.“How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said in July.The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. Routh’s former defense attorneys have served as standby counsel since Routh took over his own defense and have been present during trial the past two weeks.Cannon said attorneys should be prepared to deliver their closing arguments Tuesday, giving each side one hour and 45 minutes. Jurors will begin deliberating after that. Cannon had initially blocked off more than three weeks for the trial at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, but Routh’s relatively short cross-examinations have led to a quicker pace than anticipated.Recounting the alleged attack at the golf course, a Secret Service agent testified last week that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot, the agent said.Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witness said he confirmed it was the person he had seen.Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-anniversary-crooks-d18804b0e1382003bbb91449638c721c">an attempt</a>&nbsp;on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear. The gunman was then fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.In the early days of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) fuse, police said.In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

On trial: Trump would-be assassin to call witnesses 

<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>

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>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758545210223.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, September 22 - September 24. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, September 22 - September 24. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><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/">weathe</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 22 - September 24

ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;said in his first interview as history's first American pope that he has no intention of getting involved in U.S. politics but will raise his voice on issues of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">concern to the Catholic Church, including on immigration</a>.

Leo spoke on a range of topics — from the Trump administration to the clergy sexual abuse crisis, welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics and Vatican-China relations — in the interview, published Thursday. It was conducted by Vatican correspondent Elise Ann Allen of the news site Crux for a biography of Leo that was published Thursday in Peru, where Leo was bishop for many years.

Leo embraced Pope Francis’ message for LGBTQ+ Catholics that “todos, todos, todos” are welcome in the Catholic Church but said that he found “it highly unlikely” the church’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-comments-about-lgbtq-people-e34d133b77ee692141a22626c4e18eec">core doctrine about sexuality</a>&nbsp;would change anytime soon.

The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that homosexual activity is “intrinsically disordered.” It opposes gay marriage, saying marriage is a union between a man and woman.

“Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God,” he said.

“I think we have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the church says about any given question,” he said.

Leo said he didn’t foresee any short-term changes in the Vatican's controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-china-pope-beijing-e322c14ea9ceae11fd72e90b7bc73076">2018 agreement with Beijing</a>&nbsp;over bishop nominations.

The Vatican under Pope Francis had inked the accord hoping it would help unite China’s estimated 12 million Catholics, long divided between those belonging to an official, state-sanctioned church and an underground church loyal to Rome.

“I in no way pretend to be wiser or more experienced than all those who have come before me,” Leo said, adding he was studying the issue and speaking with Chinese people “on both sides" about it.

The Vatican has defended the 2018 accord against criticism that Francis sold out the underground faithful, who endured decades of persecution by the Beijing authorities. The Vatican has said the deal was necessary to prevent an even worse schism in the Chinese church after China named bishops without the pope’s consent.

Leo said the sex abuse crisis is “a real crisis” that has not yet been solved, and that the church&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-abuse-victim-survivor-trauma-6cfef8f4e77db777df660bbc4d855758">still hasn't found a way</a>&nbsp;to help victims heal. But he also said the rights of priests must be respected.

“Statistics show that well over 90% of people who come forward and make accusations, they are authentically victims. They are telling the truth. They are not making this up," he said. "But there have also been proven cases of some kind of false accusation. There have been priests whose lives have been destroyed because of that.”

The pope also said the scandal “cannot become the center focus of the church.”

Leo was instrumental in helping victims of an abusive Peruvian group find justice but he has been accused by a U.S. victim advocacy group of not doing enough to help other Peruvian victims.

Leo said he recognized the influence of the United States on world affairs and mentioned migration as one of the issue important to the Catholic Church.

He recalled a letter Francis sent to U.S. bishops earlier this year rebuking the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. The letter took direct aim at Vice President JD&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-bishops-migration-94138954824b68dbd0b29b28504e056e">Vance’s defense of the deportation program</a>&nbsp;on theological grounds.

Leo praised Francis' initiative and said U.S. bishops showed “courage” in confronting the administration, expressing hopes they would continue to take the lead on such issues.

“One of the last conversations I had with the vice president of the United States – I have not had direct conversations with or have not met the president – I talked about human dignity and how important that is for all people, wherever you’re born, and hopefully to find ways to respect human beings and the way we treat them in the policies and choices we make," Leo said.

Leo made clear he is not a Trump supporter, adding that he and his brother Luis Prevost, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vance-leo-vatican-ukraine-russia-trump-c1572b31e231e4eee61baaaad5c1445f">self-described “MAGA-type,” who has met the U.S. president</a>&nbsp;are in "different places.”

“The United States is a power player on the world level, we have to recognize that, and sometimes decisions are made more based on economics than on human dignity and human support, but (we have to) continue to challenge and to raise some questions and to see the best way to do that,” Leo said.

Leo vowed to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-women-priests-ordination-42d51fae16606dd561553362b16e500f">appointing women to leadership positions</a>&nbsp;in the church, but tamped down any hopes of ordaining women as deacons or as priests. He pointed to an ongoing study by the Vatican’s doctrine office on the issue.

“I at the moment don’t have an intention of changing the teaching of the church on the topic,” he said. “I am certainly willing to continue to listen to people.”

Leo inherited a longstanding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-finance-donations-0daf975d09f477bd6f7f03eb8b737d6a">financial crunch at the Vatican</a>, which has been running a 50 million to 60 million euro ($57 million to $68 million) structural deficit, a 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pension-pope-a48ab7b6392e1821388aa498d94c0a19">pension fund shortfall</a>&nbsp;and declining donations.

The crisis hit hardest during the pandemic when the Holy See’s main source of revenue — the Vatican Museums — closed down.

But things are improving and “it is not the crisis that people have been led to believe,” Leo said.

“I’m not saying we can relax," he said. "I don’t think the crisis is over, I think we have to continue to work on this, but I’m not losing sleep over it, and I think that it’s important that we communicate a different message.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747390720796.png" alt="Pope Leo XIV image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Leo XIV image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;said in his first interview as history's first American pope that he has no intention of getting involved in U.S. politics but will raise his voice on issues of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">concern to the Catholic Church, including on immigration</a>.Leo spoke on a range of topics — from the Trump administration to the clergy sexual abuse crisis, welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics and Vatican-China relations — in the interview, published Thursday. It was conducted by Vatican correspondent Elise Ann Allen of the news site Crux for a biography of Leo that was published Thursday in Peru, where Leo was bishop for many years.Here are some highlights:<h2>Welcoming the LGBTQ+ community</h2>Leo embraced Pope Francis’ message for LGBTQ+ Catholics that “todos, todos, todos” are welcome in the Catholic Church but said that he found “it highly unlikely” the church’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-comments-about-lgbtq-people-e34d133b77ee692141a22626c4e18eec">core doctrine about sexuality</a>&nbsp;would change anytime soon.The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that homosexual activity is “intrinsically disordered.” It opposes gay marriage, saying marriage is a union between a man and woman.“Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God,” he said.“I think we have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the church says about any given question,” he said.<h2>Ties with China</h2>Leo said he didn’t foresee any short-term changes in the Vatican's controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-china-pope-beijing-e322c14ea9ceae11fd72e90b7bc73076">2018 agreement with Beijing</a>&nbsp;over bishop nominations.The Vatican under Pope Francis had inked the accord hoping it would help unite China’s estimated 12 million Catholics, long divided between those belonging to an official, state-sanctioned church and an underground church loyal to Rome.“I in no way pretend to be wiser or more experienced than all those who have come before me,” Leo said, adding he was studying the issue and speaking with Chinese people “on both sides" about it.The Vatican has defended the 2018 accord against criticism that Francis sold out the underground faithful, who endured decades of persecution by the Beijing authorities. The Vatican has said the deal was necessary to prevent an even worse schism in the Chinese church after China named bishops without the pope’s consent.<h2>Sex abuse scandals</h2>Leo said the sex abuse crisis is “a real crisis” that has not yet been solved, and that the church&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-abuse-victim-survivor-trauma-6cfef8f4e77db777df660bbc4d855758">still hasn't found a way</a>&nbsp;to help victims heal. But he also said the rights of priests must be respected.“Statistics show that well over 90% of people who come forward and make accusations, they are authentically victims. They are telling the truth. They are not making this up," he said. "But there have also been proven cases of some kind of false accusation. There have been priests whose lives have been destroyed because of that.”The pope also said the scandal “cannot become the center focus of the church.”Leo was instrumental in helping victims of an abusive Peruvian group find justice but he has been accused by a U.S. victim advocacy group of not doing enough to help other Peruvian victims.<h2>Trump and US politics</h2>Leo said he recognized the influence of the United States on world affairs and mentioned migration as one of the issue important to the Catholic Church.He recalled a letter Francis sent to U.S. bishops earlier this year rebuking the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. The letter took direct aim at Vice President JD&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-bishops-migration-94138954824b68dbd0b29b28504e056e">Vance’s defense of the deportation program</a>&nbsp;on theological grounds.Leo praised Francis' initiative and said U.S. bishops showed “courage” in confronting the administration, expressing hopes they would continue to take the lead on such issues.“One of the last conversations I had with the vice president of the United States – I have not had direct conversations with or have not met the president – I talked about human dignity and how important that is for all people, wherever you’re born, and hopefully to find ways to respect human beings and the way we treat them in the policies and choices we make," Leo said.Leo made clear he is not a Trump supporter, adding that he and his brother Luis Prevost, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vance-leo-vatican-ukraine-russia-trump-c1572b31e231e4eee61baaaad5c1445f">self-described “MAGA-type,” who has met the U.S. president</a>&nbsp;are in "different places.”“The United States is a power player on the world level, we have to recognize that, and sometimes decisions are made more based on economics than on human dignity and human support, but (we have to) continue to challenge and to raise some questions and to see the best way to do that,” Leo said.<h2>Women's voices</h2>Leo vowed to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-women-priests-ordination-42d51fae16606dd561553362b16e500f">appointing women to leadership positions</a>&nbsp;in the church, but tamped down any hopes of ordaining women as deacons or as priests. He pointed to an ongoing study by the Vatican’s doctrine office on the issue.“I at the moment don’t have an intention of changing the teaching of the church on the topic,” he said. “I am certainly willing to continue to listen to people.”<h2>Vatican finances</h2>Leo inherited a longstanding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-finance-donations-0daf975d09f477bd6f7f03eb8b737d6a">financial crunch at the Vatican</a>, which has been running a 50 million to 60 million euro ($57 million to $68 million) structural deficit, a 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pension-pope-a48ab7b6392e1821388aa498d94c0a19">pension fund shortfall</a>&nbsp;and declining donations.The crisis hit hardest during the pandemic when the Holy See’s main source of revenue — the Vatican Museums — closed down.But things are improving and “it is not the crisis that people have been led to believe,” Leo said.“I’m not saying we can relax," he said. "I don’t think the crisis is over, I think we have to continue to work on this, but I’m not losing sleep over it, and I think that it’s important that we communicate a different message.”___

Highlights from Pope Leo's first interview as history's first American pope

WASHINGTON (AP) — When it was all over,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;couldn’t believe it. “I could barely breathe,” she writes in her new book about learning she had lost the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">presidential election</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

One of her aides peeled “Madame President” off celebratory cupcakes before serving them to crushed staffers. Harris kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-election-ddeae9fb378530159201ef4196cba9b3">next morning</a>&nbsp;was no easier. “I was ashamed to realize I was in the denial and bargaining stages of grief, a very long way from acceptance,” she wrote.

It’s one of several raw admissions in Harris’ book, “107 Days,” that is scheduled for release Tuesday. The title refers to the length of the hyperspeed campaign that the former vice president launched against Trump after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">Joe Biden dropped out</a>&nbsp;of the race.

Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue. She concedes mistakes, reveals frustrations and details some of the stranger moments from her race.

The book isn’t a winding memoir or a political treatise, and Harris doesn’t disclose any future plans. Instead, it reads like a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down to Election Day.

Harris insists in the book that she had no concerns about Biden’s ability to serve as president. “If I believed that, I would have said so.”

“But at eighty-one, Joe got tired,” Harris wrote. “That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”

Harris wrote that Biden’s inner circle “should have realized that any campaign was a bridge too far.” However, “it seemed that the worse things got, the more they pushed him.”

The tenuous situation unraveled when Biden and Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9">faced off</a>&nbsp;with each other. “As soon as he walked onto the debate stage in Atlanta, I could see he wasn’t right,” Harris wrote.

Biden’s team appeared to be in denial. Afterward, they gave Harris talking points that said “JOE BIDEN WON.”

Harris wrote warmly of her partnership with Biden, but there were frosty moments too. As Biden faced calls to drop out of the race, he invited Harris to join him for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.

First lady Jill Biden pulled Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff aside. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you supporting us?”

Later, in private, Emhoff erupted in anger. “They have to ask if we’re loyal?”

Another difficult episode came after Harris had replaced Biden at the top of the ticket and was preparing for her own debate with Trump.

Shortly before she took the stage, Biden called to say he heard from his brother that Harris had been badmouthing him, upsetting some power brokers in Philadelphia. Then he rambled about his own debate performances while Harris was “barely listening.”

“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me, right now, and make it all about himself,” she wrote.

Harris admits some mistakes of her own, particularly a damaging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">appearance on “The View”</a>&nbsp;talk show. When one of the hosts asked what she would have done differently than Biden during the previous four years, Harris blanked on the talking points she had prepared and simply said, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”

“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris writes. Around the studio, “my staff were besides themselves” about how she had just given a “gift to the Trump campaign.”

Harris wrote that she didn’t want to criticize Biden or litigate any of the areas where they disagreed. But she also didn’t understand how much her association with the president was holding back her candidacy.

David Plouffe, a senior adviser, told Harris bluntly that “people hate Joe Biden.”

There’s plenty of grist in the book that could make the next Democratic convention a little more awkward.

Harris wrote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, Biden’s transportation secretary and a former mayor from Indiana, was her first choice to be her running mate. He’s also gay, and Harris thought it was “too big of a risk” to pick him while already asking voters to accept a Black woman as president.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another possibility. But Harris “had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.”

She ended up going with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz</a>, but his debate performance against JD Vance left her yelling at the television screen. “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate,” she said.

There’s only one reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the book. When Harris reached out to him after Biden ended his reelection campaign, he texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” but he never did.

Harris’ brother-in-law is Tony West, a former top Justice Department official and member of her inner circle of political advisers. While Harris was serving as vice president, West put together what was known as the “Red File,” a collection of plans in case something happened to Biden.

West argued that it would be foolish not to prepare. Harris writes that she “didn’t want to dwell on such an eventuality” and “I left it in his hands.”

He kept refreshing the document as people pressured Biden to drop out, which came in handy when Biden finally pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.

Harris writes that Biden was planning to wait a day before endorsing her as his successor, an idea that horrified her.

“If you want to put me in the strongest position, you have to endorse me now,” she recalled telling him. Harris prevailed, and the endorsement happened shortly after Biden announced that he was done.

Campaigns can be hallucinatory affairs, and this one was full of bizarre moments.

Harris writes that she warmed up for her convention speech with a professional voice coach who “wanted me to stand there and emit animal noises.” A little hesitant, Harris got her entire team to make “hums, grunts and trills” with her.

Harris also writes about talking with Trump after a second assassination attempt against him. Despite tearing into her on the campaign trail, Trump proceeded to flatter his opponent.

“How do I say bad things about you now?” he said. “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.” Then Trump said that his daughter Ivanka “is your big fan.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753984450634.png" alt="Kamala Harris courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Kamala Harris courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — When it was all over,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;couldn’t believe it. “I could barely breathe,” she writes in her new book about learning she had lost the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">presidential election</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.One of her aides peeled “Madame President” off celebratory cupcakes before serving them to crushed staffers. Harris kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-election-ddeae9fb378530159201ef4196cba9b3">next morning</a>&nbsp;was no easier. “I was ashamed to realize I was in the denial and bargaining stages of grief, a very long way from acceptance,” she wrote.It’s one of several raw admissions in Harris’ book, “107 Days,” that is scheduled for release Tuesday. The title refers to the length of the hyperspeed campaign that the former vice president launched against Trump after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">Joe Biden dropped out</a>&nbsp;of the race.Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue. She concedes mistakes, reveals frustrations and details some of the stranger moments from her race.The book isn’t a winding memoir or a political treatise, and Harris doesn’t disclose any future plans. Instead, it reads like a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down to Election Day.Here’s some memorable moments.<h2>‘Joe got tired’</h2>Harris insists in the book that she had no concerns about Biden’s ability to serve as president. “If I believed that, I would have said so.”“But at eighty-one, Joe got tired,” Harris wrote. “That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”Harris wrote that Biden’s inner circle “should have realized that any campaign was a bridge too far.” However, “it seemed that the worse things got, the more they pushed him.”The tenuous situation unraveled when Biden and Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9">faced off</a>&nbsp;with each other. “As soon as he walked onto the debate stage in Atlanta, I could see he wasn’t right,” Harris wrote.Biden’s team appeared to be in denial. Afterward, they gave Harris talking points that said “JOE BIDEN WON.”<h2>Biden was a source of frustration</h2>Harris wrote warmly of her partnership with Biden, but there were frosty moments too. As Biden faced calls to drop out of the race, he invited Harris to join him for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.First lady Jill Biden pulled Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff aside. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you supporting us?”Later, in private, Emhoff erupted in anger. “They have to ask if we’re loyal?”Another difficult episode came after Harris had replaced Biden at the top of the ticket and was preparing for her own debate with Trump.Shortly before she took the stage, Biden called to say he heard from his brother that Harris had been badmouthing him, upsetting some power brokers in Philadelphia. Then he rambled about his own debate performances while Harris was “barely listening.”“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me, right now, and make it all about himself,” she wrote.<h2>Hindsight is 20/20</h2>Harris admits some mistakes of her own, particularly a damaging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">appearance on “The View”</a>&nbsp;talk show. When one of the hosts asked what she would have done differently than Biden during the previous four years, Harris blanked on the talking points she had prepared and simply said, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris writes. Around the studio, “my staff were besides themselves” about how she had just given a “gift to the Trump campaign.”Harris wrote that she didn’t want to criticize Biden or litigate any of the areas where they disagreed. But she also didn’t understand how much her association with the president was holding back her candidacy.David Plouffe, a senior adviser, told Harris bluntly that “people hate Joe Biden.”<h2>The VP’s search for a VP</h2>There’s plenty of grist in the book that could make the next Democratic convention a little more awkward.Harris wrote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, Biden’s transportation secretary and a former mayor from Indiana, was her first choice to be her running mate. He’s also gay, and Harris thought it was “too big of a risk” to pick him while already asking voters to accept a Black woman as president.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another possibility. But Harris “had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.”She ended up going with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz</a>, but his debate performance against JD Vance left her yelling at the television screen. “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate,” she said.There’s only one reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the book. When Harris reached out to him after Biden ended his reelection campaign, he texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” but he never did.<h2>Taking over the campaign</h2>Harris’ brother-in-law is Tony West, a former top Justice Department official and member of her inner circle of political advisers. While Harris was serving as vice president, West put together what was known as the “Red File,” a collection of plans in case something happened to Biden.West argued that it would be foolish not to prepare. Harris writes that she “didn’t want to dwell on such an eventuality” and “I left it in his hands.”He kept refreshing the document as people pressured Biden to drop out, which came in handy when Biden finally pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.Harris writes that Biden was planning to wait a day before endorsing her as his successor, an idea that horrified her.“If you want to put me in the strongest position, you have to endorse me now,” she recalled telling him. Harris prevailed, and the endorsement happened shortly after Biden announced that he was done.<h2>Things got weird sometimes</h2>Campaigns can be hallucinatory affairs, and this one was full of bizarre moments.Harris writes that she warmed up for her convention speech with a professional voice coach who “wanted me to stand there and emit animal noises.” A little hesitant, Harris got her entire team to make “hums, grunts and trills” with her.Harris also writes about talking with Trump after a second assassination attempt against him. Despite tearing into her on the campaign trail, Trump proceeded to flatter his opponent.“How do I say bad things about you now?” he said. “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.” Then Trump said that his daughter Ivanka “is your big fan.”

Kamala Harris reveals what Biden told her just before debate with Trump

Sonny Curtis, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/songwriters-hall-nominees-2025-41a3b00e3bbd11d64dffae9eba70c6b8">vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote</a>&nbsp;the raw classic “I Fought the Law” and posed the enduring question “Who can turn the world on with her smile?” as the writer-crooner of the theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died at 88.

Curtis, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets in 2012, died Friday, his wife of more than a half-century, Louise Curtis, confirmed to The Associated Press. His daughter, Sarah Curtis, wrote on his Facebook page that he had been suddenly ill.

Curtis wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from Keith Whitley's country smash “I'm No Stranger to the Rain” to the Everly Brothers' “Walk Right Back,” a personal favorite Curtis completed while in Army basic training. Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, Bruce Springsteen and the Grateful Dead were among other artists who covered his work.

Born during the Great Depression to cotton farmers outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly's and an active musician in the formative years of rock, whether jamming on guitar with Holly in the mid-1950s or opening for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elvis-presley">Elvis Presley</a>&nbsp;when Elvis was still a regional act. Curtis' songwriting touch also soon emerged: Before he turned 20, he had written the hit “Someday” for Webb Pierce and “Rock Around With Ollie Vee” for Holly.

Curtis had left Holly's group, the Crickets, before Holly became a major star. But he returned after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-music-eb2e169f2eb84f9caf532fad36c8b524">Holly died in a plane crash</a>&nbsp;in 1959 and he was featured the following year on the album “In Style with the Crickets,” which included “I Fought the Law” (dashed off in a single afternoon, according to Curtis, who would say he had no direct inspiration for the song) and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drummer-jerry-allison-dies-d744a807870b0f4b821c912d216be6f2">the Jerry Allison collaboration</a>&nbsp;“More Than I Can Say,” a hit for Bobby Vee, and later for Leo Sayer.

Meanwhile, it took until 1966 for “I Fought the Law” and its now-immortal refrain “I fought the law — and the law won” to catch on: The Texas-based Bobby Fuller Four made it a Top 10 song. Over the following decades, it was covered by dozens of artists, from punk (the Clash) to country (Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith) to Springsteen, Tom Petty and other mainstream rock stars.

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 </figure>By HILLEL ITALIE AP National WriteSonny Curtis, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/songwriters-hall-nominees-2025-41a3b00e3bbd11d64dffae9eba70c6b8">vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote</a>&nbsp;the raw classic “I Fought the Law” and posed the enduring question “Who can turn the world on with her smile?” as the writer-crooner of the theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died at 88.Curtis, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets in 2012, died Friday, his wife of more than a half-century, Louise Curtis, confirmed to The Associated Press. His daughter, Sarah Curtis, wrote on his Facebook page that he had been suddenly ill.Curtis wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from Keith Whitley's country smash “I'm No Stranger to the Rain” to the Everly Brothers' “Walk Right Back,” a personal favorite Curtis completed while in Army basic training. Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, Bruce Springsteen and the Grateful Dead were among other artists who covered his work.<h2>Early days with Buddy Holly</h2>Born during the Great Depression to cotton farmers outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly's and an active musician in the formative years of rock, whether jamming on guitar with Holly in the mid-1950s or opening for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elvis-presley">Elvis Presley</a>&nbsp;when Elvis was still a regional act. Curtis' songwriting touch also soon emerged: Before he turned 20, he had written the hit “Someday” for Webb Pierce and “Rock Around With Ollie Vee” for Holly.Curtis had left Holly's group, the Crickets, before Holly became a major star. But he returned after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-music-eb2e169f2eb84f9caf532fad36c8b524">Holly died in a plane crash</a>&nbsp;in 1959 and he was featured the following year on the album “In Style with the Crickets,” which included “I Fought the Law” (dashed off in a single afternoon, according to Curtis, who would say he had no direct inspiration for the song) and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drummer-jerry-allison-dies-d744a807870b0f4b821c912d216be6f2">the Jerry Allison collaboration</a>&nbsp;“More Than I Can Say,” a hit for Bobby Vee, and later for Leo Sayer.Meanwhile, it took until 1966 for “I Fought the Law” and its now-immortal refrain “I fought the law — and the law won” to catch on: The Texas-based Bobby Fuller Four made it a Top 10 song. Over the following decades, it was covered by dozens of artists, from punk (the Clash) to country (Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith) to Springsteen, Tom Petty and other mainstream rock stars.“It’s my most important copyright,” Curtis told The Tennessean in 2014.<h2>‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’</h2>Curtis' other signature song was as uplifting as “I Fought the Law” was resigned. In 1970, he was writing commercial jingles when he came up with the theme for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fdd1427e301642dbb0c42f6e64ba18e5">a new CBS sitcom starring Moore</a>&nbsp;as a single woman hired as a TV producer in Minneapolis. He called the song “Love is All Around,” and used a smooth melody to eventually serve up lyrics as indelible as any in television history:“Who can turn the world on with her smile? / Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? / Well it's you girl, and you should know it / With each glance and every little movement you show it.”The song's endurance was sealed by the images it was heard over, especially Moore's triumphant toss of her hat as Curtis proclaims, “You're going to make it after all.” In tribute, other artists began recording it, including Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Minnesota's Hüsker Dü. A commercial release featuring Curtis came out in 1980 and was a modest success, peaking at No. 29 on Billboard's country chart.Curtis would recall being commissioned by his friend Doug Gilmore, a music industry road manager who had heard the sitcom's developers were looking for an opening song.“Naturally I said yes, and later that morning, he dropped off a four-page format — you know 'Girl from the Midwest, moves to Minneapolis, gets a job in a newsroom, can't afford her apartment etc.,' which gave me the flavor of what it was all about,” said Curtis, who soon met with show co-creator (and later Oscar-winning filmmaker)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/jack-nicholson-movies-shirley-maclaine-james-l-brooks-26c0733cb77f4acd8c8758453cf1d049">James L. Brooks.</a>“James L. Brooks came into this huge empty room, no furniture apart from a phone lying on the floor, and at first, I thought he was rather cold and sort of distant, and he said 'We're not at the stage of picking a song yet, but I'll listen anyway,'” Curtis recalled. “So I played the song, just me and my guitar, and next thing, he started phoning people, and the room filled up, and then he sent out for a tape recorder.”Curtis would eventually write two versions: the first used in Season 1, the second and better known for the remaining six seasons. The original words were more tentative, opening with “How will you make it on your own?” and ending with “You might just make it after all.” By Season 2, the show was a hit and the lyrics were reworked. The producers had wanted Andy Williams to sing the theme song, but he turned it down and Curtis' easygoing baritone was heard instead.<h2>Later life</h2>Curtis made a handful of solo albums, including “Sonny Curtis” and “Spectrum,” and hit the country Top 20 with the 1981 single “Good Ol' Girls.” In later years, he continued to play with Allison and other members of the Crickets. The band released several albums, among them “The Crickets and Their Buddies,” featuring appearances by Eric Clapton, Graham Nash and Phil Everly. One of Curtis' more notable songs was “The Real Buddy Holly Story,” a rebuke to the 1978 biopic “The Buddy Holly Story,” which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gary-busey-sex-offense-horror-convention-new-jersey-491c5f5dbb41d40ec1dfa2bc5e51551f">starred Gary Busey.</a>Curtis settled in Nashville in the mid-1970s and lived there with his wife, Louise. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991 and, as part of the Crickets, into Nashville's Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007. Five years later, he and the Crickets were inducted into the Rock Hall, praised as “the blueprint for rock and roll bands (that) inspired thousands of kids to start up garage bands around the world.”___Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen contributed reporting.