WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday appeared ready to gut a key tool of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-act-60th-anniversary-supreme-court-d2bf2ff47a6c1b574e6e351d1fb46528">the Voting Rights Act</a>&nbsp;that has helped root out racial discrimination in voting for more than a half century, a change that would boost Republican electoral prospects, particularly across the South.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-109_2">Click here to listen to a replay</a> the oral arguments

During 2 1/2 hours of arguments, the court's six conservative justices seemed inclined to effectively strike down a Black majority congressional district in Louisiana because it relied too heavily on race.

Such an outcome would mark a fundamental change in the 1965 voting rights law, the centerpiece legislation of the Civil Rights Movement, that succeeded in opening the ballot box to Black Americans and reducing persistent discrimination in voting.

A ruling for Louisiana could open the door for legislatures to redraw congressional maps in southern states, helping Republican electoral prospects by eliminating majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats. Legislatures already are free to draw extremely partisan districts, subject only to review by state courts, because of a 2019 Supreme Court decision.

Just two years ago, the court, by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-redistricting-race-voting-rights-alabama-af0d789ec7498625d344c0a4327367fe">a 5-4 vote</a>, affirmed a ruling that found a likely violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a similar case over Alabama’s political boundaries. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined their three more liberal colleagues in the outcome.

Roberts and Kavanaugh struck a different tone Wednesday, especially in their questions to civil rights lawyer Janai Nelson.

The chief justice suggested the Alabama decision was tightly focused on its facts and should not be read to require a similar outcome in Louisiana.

Kavanaugh pressed Nelson on whether the time has come to end the use of race-based districts under the Voting Rights Act, rather than “allowing it to extend forever.”

The court's liberal justices focused on the history of the Voting Rights Act in combating discrimination. Getting to the remedy of redrawing districts only happens if, as Justice Elena Kagan said, a court finds "a specific identified, proved violation of law.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymandering-congress-trump-0af8561b1670032fae3e1d2aec7905f0">A mid-decade battle</a>&nbsp;over congressional redistricting already is playing out across the nation after Republican President Donald Trump began urging Texas and other GOP-controlled states to redraw their lines to make it easier for the GOP to hold its narrow majority in the House.

The court's conservative majority has been skeptical of considerations of race, most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-affirmative-action-college-race-f83d6318017ec9b9029b12ee2256e744">ending affirmative action in college admissions</a>. Twelve years ago, the court bludgeoned another pillar of the landmark voting law that required states with a history of racial discrimination to get advance approval from the Justice Department or federal judges before making election-related changes.

The court has separately given state legislatures wide berth to gerrymander for political purposes. If the Supreme Court now weakens or strikes down the Voting Rights Act's Section 2, states would not be bound by any limits in how they draw electoral districts. Such a result would be expected to lead to extreme gerrymandering by whichever party is in power at the state level.

The court's Alabama decision in 2023 led to new districts there and in Louisiana that sent two more Black Democrats to Congress.

Now, though, the court has asked the parties to answer a fundamental question: “Whether the state’s intentional creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.”

Louisiana and the Trump administration joined with a group of white voters in arguing to invalidate the challenged district and make it much harder to claim discrimination in redistricting.

The arguments led Justice Sonia Sotomayor to assert that the administration's “bottom line is just get rid of Section 2.”

Justice Department lawyer Hashim Mooppan disagreed and said state lawmakers would have no incentive to get rid of every majority Black district because doing so would create swing districts and imperil some Republican incumbents.

In addition, Mooppan said, only 15 of the 60 Black members of the House represent majority Black districts. “But even if you eliminated Section 2 entirely, fully 75% of the Black congressmen in this country are in districts that are not protected by Section 2.”

In the first arguments in the Louisiana case in March, Roberts sounded skeptical of the second majority Black district, which last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrat-cleo-fields-louisiana-congressional-district-01cbab22601bef1cd8f4463a1ad395ef">elected Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields</a>. Roberts described the district as a “snake” that stretches more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) to link parts of the Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.

The court fight over Louisiana’s congressional districts has lasted three years.

The state’s Republican-dominated legislature drew a new congressional map in 2022 to account for population shifts reflected in the 2020 census. But the changes effectively maintained the status quo of five Republican-leaning majority white districts and one Democratic-leaning majority Black district.

Civil rights advocates won a lower-court ruling that the districts likely discriminated against Black voters.

The state eventually drew a new map to comply with the court ruling and protect its influential Republican lawmakers, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-johnson-speaker-vote-donald-trump-ccbe593940ef488019563e8e4b98061e">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>. But white Louisiana voters claimed in their separate lawsuit that race was the predominant factor driving it. A three-judge court agreed, leading to the current high court case.

The court is expected to rule by early summer in 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672235865420.png" alt="Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States" />
 <figcaption>Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday appeared ready to gut a key tool of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-act-60th-anniversary-supreme-court-d2bf2ff47a6c1b574e6e351d1fb46528">the Voting Rights Act</a>&nbsp;that has helped root out racial discrimination in voting for more than a half century, a change that would boost Republican electoral prospects, particularly across the South.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-109_2">Click here to listen to a replay</a> the oral argumentsDuring 2 1/2 hours of arguments, the court's six conservative justices seemed inclined to effectively strike down a Black majority congressional district in Louisiana because it relied too heavily on race.Such an outcome would mark a fundamental change in the 1965 voting rights law, the centerpiece legislation of the Civil Rights Movement, that succeeded in opening the ballot box to Black Americans and reducing persistent discrimination in voting.A ruling for Louisiana could open the door for legislatures to redraw congressional maps in southern states, helping Republican electoral prospects by eliminating majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats. Legislatures already are free to draw extremely partisan districts, subject only to review by state courts, because of a 2019 Supreme Court decision.Just two years ago, the court, by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-redistricting-race-voting-rights-alabama-af0d789ec7498625d344c0a4327367fe">a 5-4 vote</a>, affirmed a ruling that found a likely violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a similar case over Alabama’s political boundaries. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined their three more liberal colleagues in the outcome.Roberts and Kavanaugh struck a different tone Wednesday, especially in their questions to civil rights lawyer Janai Nelson.The chief justice suggested the Alabama decision was tightly focused on its facts and should not be read to require a similar outcome in Louisiana.Kavanaugh pressed Nelson on whether the time has come to end the use of race-based districts under the Voting Rights Act, rather than “allowing it to extend forever.”The court's liberal justices focused on the history of the Voting Rights Act in combating discrimination. Getting to the remedy of redrawing districts only happens if, as Justice Elena Kagan said, a court finds "a specific identified, proved violation of law.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymandering-congress-trump-0af8561b1670032fae3e1d2aec7905f0">A mid-decade battle</a>&nbsp;over congressional redistricting already is playing out across the nation after Republican President Donald Trump began urging Texas and other GOP-controlled states to redraw their lines to make it easier for the GOP to hold its narrow majority in the House.The court's conservative majority has been skeptical of considerations of race, most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-affirmative-action-college-race-f83d6318017ec9b9029b12ee2256e744">ending affirmative action in college admissions</a>. Twelve years ago, the court bludgeoned another pillar of the landmark voting law that required states with a history of racial discrimination to get advance approval from the Justice Department or federal judges before making election-related changes.The court has separately given state legislatures wide berth to gerrymander for political purposes. If the Supreme Court now weakens or strikes down the Voting Rights Act's Section 2, states would not be bound by any limits in how they draw electoral districts. Such a result would be expected to lead to extreme gerrymandering by whichever party is in power at the state level.The court's Alabama decision in 2023 led to new districts there and in Louisiana that sent two more Black Democrats to Congress.Now, though, the court has asked the parties to answer a fundamental question: “Whether the state’s intentional creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.”Louisiana and the Trump administration joined with a group of white voters in arguing to invalidate the challenged district and make it much harder to claim discrimination in redistricting.The arguments led Justice Sonia Sotomayor to assert that the administration's “bottom line is just get rid of Section 2.”Justice Department lawyer Hashim Mooppan disagreed and said state lawmakers would have no incentive to get rid of every majority Black district because doing so would create swing districts and imperil some Republican incumbents.In addition, Mooppan said, only 15 of the 60 Black members of the House represent majority Black districts. “But even if you eliminated Section 2 entirely, fully 75% of the Black congressmen in this country are in districts that are not protected by Section 2.”In the first arguments in the Louisiana case in March, Roberts sounded skeptical of the second majority Black district, which last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrat-cleo-fields-louisiana-congressional-district-01cbab22601bef1cd8f4463a1ad395ef">elected Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields</a>. Roberts described the district as a “snake” that stretches more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) to link parts of the Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.The court fight over Louisiana’s congressional districts has lasted three years.The state’s Republican-dominated legislature drew a new congressional map in 2022 to account for population shifts reflected in the 2020 census. But the changes effectively maintained the status quo of five Republican-leaning majority white districts and one Democratic-leaning majority Black district.Civil rights advocates won a lower-court ruling that the districts likely discriminated against Black voters.The state eventually drew a new map to comply with the court ruling and protect its influential Republican lawmakers, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-johnson-speaker-vote-donald-trump-ccbe593940ef488019563e8e4b98061e">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>. But white Louisiana voters claimed in their separate lawsuit that race was the predominant factor driving it. A three-judge court agreed, leading to the current high court case.The court is expected to rule by early summer in 2026.

🎧Supreme Court appears ready to limit key part of Voting Rights Act

<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>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760541703178.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, October 15 - October 17. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, October 15 - October 17. 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/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 15 - October 17

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday posthumously awarded America's highest civilian honor to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Charlie Kirk</a>, the assassinated activist who inspired a generation of young conservatives and helped push the nation's politics further to the right.

Receiving the award on Kirk's behalf was his widow, Erika. Her voice cracking and often falling to a whisper as she wiped away tears, Erika Kirk talked about her late husband's life, political beliefs and legacy.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband, in such a profound and meaningful way. And thank you for making this event a priority," she said. “Your support of our family and the work that Charlie devoted his life to will be something I cherish forever.”

The ceremony coincided with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. It came about a month after the Turning Point USA founder was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">fatally shot</a>&nbsp;while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University.

In a sign of Kirk's close ties to the administration, he was the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Trump’s second term. The president also spoke at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-trump-memorial-service-b5469086954908b162f464da966cf238">Kirk’s funeral</a>&nbsp;in September, calling him a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom, while Vice President JD Vance accompanied his body home to Arizona on Air Force Two along with Erika Kirk.

“We’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber," Trump said during the medal ceremony.

Of Kirk's killing, the president said, “He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentless fighting for a better and stronger America."

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ben-carson-presidential-medal-96c072b07289f147a14ba6805681b6fa">Presidential Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 for individuals making exceptional contributions “to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”

Trump returned to the U.S. in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt</a>&nbsp;to celebrate a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-hostages-ceasefire-10-14-2025-665a1cbe249f08c8513ceceaa04db201">ceasefire agreement</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza</a>&nbsp;that his administration was instrumental in brokering. The president joked that he almost requested to reschedule the ceremony because of the trip.

“I raced back halfway around the globe," Trump said. “I was going to call Erika and say, ‘Erika, could you maybe move it to Friday?' And I didn’t have the courage to call. But you know why I didn’t call? Because I heard today was Charlie’s birthday.”

Argentine President Javier Milei,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-donald-trump-javier-milei-imf-c6f37a00c96f8aa321324ff443147b4e">who had been visiting with the president at the White House earlier,</a>&nbsp;stayed on to attend the ceremony.

Trump has awarded a string of presidential medals going back to his first term, including to golf legend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tiger-woods">Tiger Woods</a>, ex-football coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-college-football-donald-trump-nfl-football-982cc801d15e8a7209a0aafaedf40124">Lou Holtz</a>&nbsp;and conservative economist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-art-laffer-auto-tariff-warning-ba62f55af070e40e9d6eddf5d8433ad1">Arthur Laffer</a>&nbsp;as well as to Yankees Hall of Fame closer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/albert-pujols-mariano-rivera-baseball-alex-rodriguez-carlos-pena-812e5535ff74311f941b7b860610594a">Mariano Rivera</a>&nbsp;and conservative radio host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-talk-radio-politics-entertainment-d79a7eead68d6a304d38b665e6f89c2a">Rush Limbaugh</a>, the latter of which came during the 2020 State of the Union. He awarded posthumous medals to Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley.

This term, Trump has also announced his intentions to award the medals to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudy-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>, the former New York City mayor and a close former adviser, and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ben-carson">Ben Carson</a>, who served as Trump's first-term secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and Trump praised him as one of the key reasons he was reelected last year.

But Kirk's politics were also often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">divisive</a>. He sharply criticized gay and transgender rights while inflaming racial tensions. Kirk also repeated Trump’s false claims that former Vice President Kamala Harris was responsible for policies that encouraged immigrants to come to the U.S. illegally and called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-floyd">George Floyd</a>, a Black man whose killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a national debate over racial injustice, a “scumbag.”

As Tuesday's ceremony was underway, the Trump administration said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-visas-revoked-455f43467c0c50e84d3857c1e9c81458">revoked the visas</a>&nbsp;of six foreigners who U.S. officials deemed had made derisive or mocking comments about Kirk’s assassination. The six who had their visas revoked were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa.

The move comes as the Trump administration and its supporters have zeroed in on people who made critical comments about Kirk, leading to firings and other discipline.

Trump wrote in a social media post hours before it started that he was moving the ceremony from the White House’s East Room to the Rose Garden to accommodate a crowd he said would be “so big and enthusiastic.”

Trump paved over the grass there and put in a patio area, and talked happily about the medal ceremony being one of the first major events in the new space. He noted how the weather had cleared up after it was expected to be raining, saying: “I was telling Erika, God was watching. And he didn’t want that for Charlie.”

Kirk’s widow said she asked their 3-year-old daughter what she might have given her father for his birthday, and she responded a stuffed animal and a cupcake while saying he hoped he'd get a birthday surprise. Erika Kirk said her husband was sometimes hard to buy presents for, but the medal was the perfect gift.

Erika Kirk said her husband might one day have run for president "but not out of ambition. He would only have done it if that was something that he believed that his country needed from his servant’s heart.”

She said God began a “mighty work” through her husband, and she intends to see it through. She finished her remarks by saying Charlie’s story reminds us that “to live free is the greatest gift but to die free is the greatest victory.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760477062621.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday posthumously awarded America's highest civilian honor to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Charlie Kirk</a>, the assassinated activist who inspired a generation of young conservatives and helped push the nation's politics further to the right.Receiving the award on Kirk's behalf was his widow, Erika. Her voice cracking and often falling to a whisper as she wiped away tears, Erika Kirk talked about her late husband's life, political beliefs and legacy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump Participates in a Medal of Freedom Ceremony for Charlie Kirk <a href="https://t.co/KGAv0O6oTz">https://t.co/KGAv0O6oTz</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1978198302932742489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and Erika Kirk arrive to the Medal of Freedom Ceremony for Charlie Kirk ❤️🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/6aRc4TOTRt">pic.twitter.com/6aRc4TOTRt</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1978200500035047809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Every single day of this administration, we will continue to carry out the mission for which he lived... In <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@charliekirk11</a>&#39;s honor, we will continue, like we have been, to Fight, Fight, Fight—and to WIN, WIN, WIN. We&#39;re gonna win SO MUCH.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/tLUvMHgtVQ">pic.twitter.com/tLUvMHgtVQ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978207602958864822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;In the days since Charlie&#39;s killing, we&#39;ve seen exactly why our country so dearly needed his example. We&#39;ve watched legions of far-left radicals resort to desperate acts of violence and terror because they know that their ideas and arguments are persuading no one.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/A1IsbDrmpT">pic.twitter.com/A1IsbDrmpT</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978205826754973917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Charlie Kirk was a martyr for truth and for freedom, and from Socrates... to Saint Peter... those who change history the most, and he really did, have always risked their lives for causes they were put on earth to defend.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SFK1OeuxPc">pic.twitter.com/SFK1OeuxPc</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978205271185850551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded posthumously to the late Charlie Kirk, to his wife, Mrs. Erika Kirk 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/T28dH9Gk4S">pic.twitter.com/T28dH9Gk4S</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978209628627370054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MrsErikaKirk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrsErikaKirk</a>: &quot;If the moment had come, he probably would have run for president, but not out of ambition, He would only have done if it that was something that he believed his country needed.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/9DkGIaN4Wp">pic.twitter.com/9DkGIaN4Wp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1978213900253376643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After the Medal of Freedom ceremony honoring <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@charliekirk11</a>, President Trump and Vice President Vance stood with Erika as Amazing Grace played ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/dWv9d4Z3WV">pic.twitter.com/dWv9d4Z3WV</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1978224055300804723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump signs a Proclamation declaring October 14 as the National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk ❤️ President Trump recalls nights on the Mar-a-Lago patio listening to music with Charlie… “Remember Charlie on the patio…he could sit there all night long!” <a href="https://t.co/pDrEBWEdmV">pic.twitter.com/pDrEBWEdmV</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1978229151346597983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband, in such a profound and meaningful way. And thank you for making this event a priority," she said. “Your support of our family and the work that Charlie devoted his life to will be something I cherish forever.”The ceremony coincided with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. It came about a month after the Turning Point USA founder was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">fatally shot</a>&nbsp;while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University.In a sign of Kirk's close ties to the administration, he was the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Trump’s second term. The president also spoke at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-trump-memorial-service-b5469086954908b162f464da966cf238">Kirk’s funeral</a>&nbsp;in September, calling him a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom, while Vice President JD Vance accompanied his body home to Arizona on Air Force Two along with Erika Kirk.“We’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber," Trump said during the medal ceremony.Of Kirk's killing, the president said, “He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentless fighting for a better and stronger America."The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ben-carson-presidential-medal-96c072b07289f147a14ba6805681b6fa">Presidential Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 for individuals making exceptional contributions “to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”Trump returned to the U.S. in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt</a>&nbsp;to celebrate a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-hostages-ceasefire-10-14-2025-665a1cbe249f08c8513ceceaa04db201">ceasefire agreement</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza</a>&nbsp;that his administration was instrumental in brokering. The president joked that he almost requested to reschedule the ceremony because of the trip.“I raced back halfway around the globe," Trump said. “I was going to call Erika and say, ‘Erika, could you maybe move it to Friday?' And I didn’t have the courage to call. But you know why I didn’t call? Because I heard today was Charlie’s birthday.”Argentine President Javier Milei,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-donald-trump-javier-milei-imf-c6f37a00c96f8aa321324ff443147b4e">who had been visiting with the president at the White House earlier,</a>&nbsp;stayed on to attend the ceremony.Trump has awarded a string of presidential medals going back to his first term, including to golf legend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tiger-woods">Tiger Woods</a>, ex-football coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-college-football-donald-trump-nfl-football-982cc801d15e8a7209a0aafaedf40124">Lou Holtz</a>&nbsp;and conservative economist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-art-laffer-auto-tariff-warning-ba62f55af070e40e9d6eddf5d8433ad1">Arthur Laffer</a>&nbsp;as well as to Yankees Hall of Fame closer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/albert-pujols-mariano-rivera-baseball-alex-rodriguez-carlos-pena-812e5535ff74311f941b7b860610594a">Mariano Rivera</a>&nbsp;and conservative radio host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-talk-radio-politics-entertainment-d79a7eead68d6a304d38b665e6f89c2a">Rush Limbaugh</a>, the latter of which came during the 2020 State of the Union. He awarded posthumous medals to Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley.This term, Trump has also announced his intentions to award the medals to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudy-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>, the former New York City mayor and a close former adviser, and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ben-carson">Ben Carson</a>, who served as Trump's first-term secretary of Housing and Urban Development.Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and Trump praised him as one of the key reasons he was reelected last year.But Kirk's politics were also often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">divisive</a>. He sharply criticized gay and transgender rights while inflaming racial tensions. Kirk also repeated Trump’s false claims that former Vice President Kamala Harris was responsible for policies that encouraged immigrants to come to the U.S. illegally and called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-floyd">George Floyd</a>, a Black man whose killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a national debate over racial injustice, a “scumbag.”As Tuesday's ceremony was underway, the Trump administration said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-visas-revoked-455f43467c0c50e84d3857c1e9c81458">revoked the visas</a>&nbsp;of six foreigners who U.S. officials deemed had made derisive or mocking comments about Kirk’s assassination. The six who had their visas revoked were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa.The move comes as the Trump administration and its supporters have zeroed in on people who made critical comments about Kirk, leading to firings and other discipline.Trump wrote in a social media post hours before it started that he was moving the ceremony from the White House’s East Room to the Rose Garden to accommodate a crowd he said would be “so big and enthusiastic.”Trump paved over the grass there and put in a patio area, and talked happily about the medal ceremony being one of the first major events in the new space. He noted how the weather had cleared up after it was expected to be raining, saying: “I was telling Erika, God was watching. And he didn’t want that for Charlie.”Kirk’s widow said she asked their 3-year-old daughter what she might have given her father for his birthday, and she responded a stuffed animal and a cupcake while saying he hoped he'd get a birthday surprise. Erika Kirk said her husband was sometimes hard to buy presents for, but the medal was the perfect gift.Erika Kirk said her husband might one day have run for president "but not out of ambition. He would only have done it if that was something that he believed that his country needed from his servant’s heart.”She said God began a “mighty work” through her husband, and she intends to see it through. She finished her remarks by saying Charlie’s story reminds us that “to live free is the greatest gift but to die free is the greatest victory.”___

🎥Trump posthumously awards Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760480303548.jpeg" alt="Bonnie Schamberger" />
 <figcaption>Bonnie Schamberger</figcaption>
 </figure>By: BONNIE SCHAMBERGERTo tell you a bit about myself, I come from a family of teachers as my grandma and mom both taught in the one room schoolhouse. I have a bachelors and masters in education and have taught in the public school system for 15 years as well as have substituted in our district before retiring. My two sons married&nbsp;teachers and I have ten beautiful grandchildren.<h2>Why I am Running for School Board</h2>Having&nbsp;been a teacher most of my life, I know that education is very important for the building of a society and a nation as well as providing the students with the skills to learn and lead a productive life. With the district, parents and community working together, we can help educate our children to be all they can be and to help them find their gifts and talents.&nbsp;As we come alongside our students, they can be given the tools they need to be able to read, do math, discover science, communicate with others, love their country and give them the opportunity to be the best they can be. I've seen that it takes a team effort and vision to keep improving and reaching goals in our education system here in Salina.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Accomplishments</h2>This past term I have encouraged people to become volunteers or foster grandparents in our schools.&nbsp; Community involvement can&nbsp;make a huge difference in a child's life. Knowing, caring, listening and responding can help a child's self image and encourage them to keep trying.&nbsp;Also since there is a lack of funding for the Special Ed program, I have talked to legislators and others about fully financing this program.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am running for re-election as I believe&nbsp;in the vision and mission of our district. Having been an educator in the public schools, I believe my experience as a teacher helps bring insight to the board to help make decisions and to see our district through an educator's eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meet USD 305 School Board Candidate: Bonnie Schamberger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758139657655.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostA candidate forum for three contested races of the Southeast of Saline USD 306 Board of Education has announced to be held next Wednesday.At&nbsp;6:30 pm on Wednesday, October 22&nbsp;the forum will occur at the Southeast of Saline USD 306 theater. The forum will allow the public an opportunity to identify candidates for each seat, ask questions of candidates and listen to candidate responses.&nbsp;Running for Position #4, covering Zone 1 which includes Assaria, Mentor and Bridgeport is Kenny Costigan and Skylar Hanson.&nbsp;Running for Position #5, covering Zone 2 which includes Gypsum is Jill Ade and Drew Rathbun.Running for Position #6, covering Zone 3 which includes Kipp, and northern territory of the school district running east to west is Stephanie Markle and Jessica Goubeaux.&nbsp;Individuals interested in hearing a response to a specific question can submit their question at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://forms.gle/avXy5yEE7yzu3Mwm9">https://forms.gle/avXy5yEE7yzu3Mwm9</a>&nbsp;prior to the event. The forum will include each candidate presenting an opening statement, answering questions produced from the public and then presenting a closing statement. The forum will be moderated by Southeast of Saline graduate, Kevin Hall of Gypsum.&nbsp;Southeast of Saline graduate, Lori Blake of Assaria, will be hosting the candidates and providing consultation prior to the event.&nbsp;A public reception will follow outside of the theater with refreshments provided by the Southeast of Saline Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

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

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“First of all, our fans were phenomenal. It was great to have an opportunity to come back to GEHA Field at Arrowhead (Stadium) and play in front of them (the fans). I appreciate their support. As far as the team went, I thought there were some really good things that took place. As far as Josh’s (Simmons) situation goes, it’s a personal issue. I’m not going to talk about that; I did a little bit last night (and) then leave it at that. But I thought Jaylon (Moore) stepped in and did a nice job there. As I mentioned it’s a tribute to (Offensive Line Coach) Andy Heck and the way he rotates all of his guys and makes sure that they can play, and Jaylon has played in a couple of different spots, both sides of the tackle, both sides at the guard so he’s busy during practice hitting all of these things. Offensively, again it was good to see Patrick (Mahomes) and (Travis) Kelce hook up for a few nice catches there and getting Hollywood (Brown) in the end zone. Hollywood is a good player. We just got a lot of guys, and we’re going to end here adding one with Rashee (Rice). So, it’s hard to get everybody going, but I thought Patrick did a nice job getting everyone involved and spreading things around. I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Matt Nagy had an unbelievable game plan for the guys, and they bought into it and he and (Pass Game Coordinator) Joe (Bleymaier) kind of worked that thing together and put this thing together and come up with stuff with Andy Heck and the rest of the guys. It was strong. Defensively, I loved the transition that (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags made there. We had a couple (of) drives at the beginning, and he worked through that and kept everybody together and made a couple of adjustments there and guys tightened up the back end and kind of some of those gaps inside. I thought his game plan was spot on. That’s an explosive offensive group. We knew that going in, and they’ve scored a ton of points in all of their games, and we knew it would be a big challenge, and I thought the guys handled that well. I thought the coaches that were involved there did a great job with it. (Linebackers Coach) Brendan Daly doesn’t get enough credit for working with the linebackers. He’s kind of stuck in the middle between the secondary and that d-line. (Nick) Bolton I thought played really well, got a ton of tackles in there, and made some big plays that could have been extended even though they had gained a little bit of yardage. They could’ve been even bigger than that, and he was able to snag them. And then special teams wise, I mentioned it was great to get (Harrison) Butker a field goal right there at the end, and he drilled that son of a gun which was great. And we only had one punt, so (Matt) Araiza didn’t have a very busy day there but did fine with it. Then I thought the return groups were good, Nikko (Remigio) again had a couple of nice returns there. Field position is always a big thing, especially against good teams and that includes all three phases, but special teams (has) got a lot of that responsibility.”

Q: What does Rashee Rice’s return to practice and the upcoming game look like?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I know he’s (Rashee Rice) been working like crazy. The rule states that we can’t work with him, but I know he’s been working out hard. And I think it’s just a matter of getting him back in the swing. I’ve got to see it to kind of work through it. I know he’s in good shape, that’s the one thing that I do know. I think that will be important, him coming back in there and getting with Patrick (Mahomes) and kind of getting on the same page and that whole deal. But we’ll just see how all that works out. We haven’t put the game plan in yet so we’re working through all of that now.”

Q:&nbsp;What impressed you most about Jaylon Moore’s performance?

REID:&nbsp;“I thought he was just solid. He (Jaylon Moore) did a nice job. He was going against an all-pro player 50% of the time, so that’s a tough ask without play time. But he handled it. I love the way he handles himself during the week and how he practices fast and aggressive during the week, and he never hangs his head that I’m not playing or this or that, he just gets in there and bears down. So, I think that paid off for him once this thing happened. He was solid in the run game too, run and pass. He had a productive day.”

Q: Do you anticipate when Josh Simmons will be back with the team?

REID:&nbsp;“Just to take care of business. That’s how those things work.”

Q: Were there any injuries that Travis Kelce was battling behind the scenes last year? Seems he is playing a few years younger this year.

REID:&nbsp;“No, not that I recall. We’ve been giving him (Travis Kelce) a lot of Geritol, and he really has progressed (laughs).”

Q: Were you surprised that the Lions elected to receive the ball first?

REID:&nbsp;“It’s not the first time. That was the third time they (Detroit Lions) had done that this year. We anticipated something like that possibly happening, and the guys were good with that. I don’t know if it was motivation or not, but our guys knew that they had done it before, so it wasn’t a big surprise.”

Q: How important was it to score at the end of the first half and then to open the second half with a score?

REID:&nbsp;“That was a positive, definitely. That’s huge, and you’re right, the stop before the half was also big. We ended up taking a knee there at the end with just a few seconds on the clock but that drive to be able to stop them there was big and then the drive before that where we were able to get a score was good. Obviously, coming out (in) the second half, you’re always striving for that (a touchdown) you try to come out with a purpose and the guys did a great job of executing and getting a score.”

Q: What does the amount of penalties say about this team after committing so many last week?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Nick (Jacobs), listen, I thought the officials let the guys play. I’m not saying I agreed with everything that went on, but I thought they were very fair how they did it. They could’ve called us on some, and they could’ve called them (Detroit Lions) on some and they just let it play out and let the teams really show off what they’ve got, which I think is good. I think it’s good for everybody, I think it’s good for the fans within reason and then we had to tighten some things up Nick. The calls, all 13 of those calls weren’t wrong, that’s not what I’m saying here. We had to tighten some things up and I thought our guys did that. They worked on it during the week and just making sure their fundamentals and technique were right and half of it is moving yourself into a position where you can execute. That comes down to footwork, speed and angles. You have to do that. Those are things that you can take charge of and work on.”

Q: What do you hope the offensive line and the running backs take away from going against a physical Lions team?

REID:&nbsp;“I thought Pop (Isiah Pacheco) ran hard. I thought he (Isiah Pacheco) was accurate with his reads and then when Kareem (Hunt) came in, I thought the same thing, powerful. It starts with the o-line. They’ve got to have things rolling up front, but they played physical. Our offensive line played physical against a good defensive line – a defensive front because those linebackers aren’t tiny guys either, they’re big ol’ guys back there and physical but I thought they played well. There are things what we can do better all the way around. There’s places that we need to tighten up and make it better than what we had, but overall, I’d tell you it was a pretty good job.”

Q: What have you seen from the wide receiver room and the chemistry they’ve built this season?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Jesse (Newell), I’d tell you that – this is what I meant by when I said after the game that having one (Xavier Worthy) come back into the fold there and be able to play and then Rashee (Rice) coming back in the building period, they kind of felt whole. And that’s because they like each other. They get along. They hang out together. They work together on their route combinations, and they’re always talking about stuff to get better there. And they’ve got a good friendship, which will be needed now because we have more guys and we only have one football. You want them to help support each other and I think that ends up being important. JuJu (Smith-Schuster) has a big part in that, he’s a uniter, and he’s still a tough guy and all that bit that goes with it and a good receiver and he has been around. I think he keeps it all together there.”

Q: On Harrison Butker’s missed extra point and if he needed more encouragement on that last field goal.

REID:&nbsp;“I’m a big Harrison Butker fan, so I think he’s a great great kicker and if not the best, one of the best clutch kickers in the National Football League. I know how that thing goes. I know that the swing (and) I understand all of that. Sometimes that ball looks nice and fat, and other times it looks a little tiny. The first one, he didn’t hit very good on the PAT, and then he came back and finished strong the rest of the night. And I thought getting a field goal in there, I think that’s big. Listen, we’re all human and a little pat on the back, you’re being nice on that – but a nice pat on the back was a positive.”

Q: Is there more that you’re looking from the running back group moving forward to help relieve Patrick Mahomes?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, Pat (Mahomes) had the 30 yards rushing. Listen, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) going to rush no matter what. He’s going to run the ball. There’s just times where something doesn’t look right or maybe there is a pressure here or there, and he’s going to take off and go and I get that. It’s important that he does like he did last night. He got down on the ground and not take the big hits with the exception on one run there. He was able to get down and try to limit the hits on him. I thought our guys ran the ball well. I thought they had a good night at that. There was a mix, so when you do this RPO game, you’re calling runs, but some of them turn into passes. That’s the beauty of the thing. Maybe your numbers are down just a little bit, but they end up increasing in the completions.”

Q: How excited are you to see the trio of Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown on the field together in the regular season for the first time?

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesOctober 13, 2025OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“First of all, our fans were phenomenal. It was great to have an opportunity to come back to GEHA Field at Arrowhead (Stadium) and play in front of them (the fans). I appreciate their support. As far as the team went, I thought there were some really good things that took place. As far as Josh’s (Simmons) situation goes, it’s a personal issue. I’m not going to talk about that; I did a little bit last night (and) then leave it at that. But I thought Jaylon (Moore) stepped in and did a nice job there. As I mentioned it’s a tribute to (Offensive Line Coach) Andy Heck and the way he rotates all of his guys and makes sure that they can play, and Jaylon has played in a couple of different spots, both sides of the tackle, both sides at the guard so he’s busy during practice hitting all of these things. Offensively, again it was good to see Patrick (Mahomes) and (Travis) Kelce hook up for a few nice catches there and getting Hollywood (Brown) in the end zone. Hollywood is a good player. We just got a lot of guys, and we’re going to end here adding one with Rashee (Rice). So, it’s hard to get everybody going, but I thought Patrick did a nice job getting everyone involved and spreading things around. I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Matt Nagy had an unbelievable game plan for the guys, and they bought into it and he and (Pass Game Coordinator) Joe (Bleymaier) kind of worked that thing together and put this thing together and come up with stuff with Andy Heck and the rest of the guys. It was strong. Defensively, I loved the transition that (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags made there. We had a couple (of) drives at the beginning, and he worked through that and kept everybody together and made a couple of adjustments there and guys tightened up the back end and kind of some of those gaps inside. I thought his game plan was spot on. That’s an explosive offensive group. We knew that going in, and they’ve scored a ton of points in all of their games, and we knew it would be a big challenge, and I thought the guys handled that well. I thought the coaches that were involved there did a great job with it. (Linebackers Coach) Brendan Daly doesn’t get enough credit for working with the linebackers. He’s kind of stuck in the middle between the secondary and that d-line. (Nick) Bolton I thought played really well, got a ton of tackles in there, and made some big plays that could have been extended even though they had gained a little bit of yardage. They could’ve been even bigger than that, and he was able to snag them. And then special teams wise, I mentioned it was great to get (Harrison) Butker a field goal right there at the end, and he drilled that son of a gun which was great. And we only had one punt, so (Matt) Araiza didn’t have a very busy day there but did fine with it. Then I thought the return groups were good, Nikko (Remigio) again had a couple of nice returns there. Field position is always a big thing, especially against good teams and that includes all three phases, but special teams (has) got a lot of that responsibility.”Q: What does Rashee Rice’s return to practice and the upcoming game look like?REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I know he’s (Rashee Rice) been working like crazy. The rule states that we can’t work with him, but I know he’s been working out hard. And I think it’s just a matter of getting him back in the swing. I’ve got to see it to kind of work through it. I know he’s in good shape, that’s the one thing that I do know. I think that will be important, him coming back in there and getting with Patrick (Mahomes) and kind of getting on the same page and that whole deal. But we’ll just see how all that works out. We haven’t put the game plan in yet so we’re working through all of that now.”Q:&nbsp;What impressed you most about Jaylon Moore’s performance?REID:&nbsp;“I thought he was just solid. He (Jaylon Moore) did a nice job. He was going against an all-pro player 50% of the time, so that’s a tough ask without play time. But he handled it. I love the way he handles himself during the week and how he practices fast and aggressive during the week, and he never hangs his head that I’m not playing or this or that, he just gets in there and bears down. So, I think that paid off for him once this thing happened. He was solid in the run game too, run and pass. He had a productive day.”Q: Do you anticipate when Josh Simmons will be back with the team?REID:&nbsp;“Just to take care of business. That’s how those things work.”Q: Were there any injuries that Travis Kelce was battling behind the scenes last year? Seems he is playing a few years younger this year.REID:&nbsp;“No, not that I recall. We’ve been giving him (Travis Kelce) a lot of Geritol, and he really has progressed (laughs).”Q: Were you surprised that the Lions elected to receive the ball first?REID:&nbsp;“It’s not the first time. That was the third time they (Detroit Lions) had done that this year. We anticipated something like that possibly happening, and the guys were good with that. I don’t know if it was motivation or not, but our guys knew that they had done it before, so it wasn’t a big surprise.”Q: How important was it to score at the end of the first half and then to open the second half with a score?REID:&nbsp;“That was a positive, definitely. That’s huge, and you’re right, the stop before the half was also big. We ended up taking a knee there at the end with just a few seconds on the clock but that drive to be able to stop them there was big and then the drive before that where we were able to get a score was good. Obviously, coming out (in) the second half, you’re always striving for that (a touchdown) you try to come out with a purpose and the guys did a great job of executing and getting a score.”Q: What does the amount of penalties say about this team after committing so many last week?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Nick (Jacobs), listen, I thought the officials let the guys play. I’m not saying I agreed with everything that went on, but I thought they were very fair how they did it. They could’ve called us on some, and they could’ve called them (Detroit Lions) on some and they just let it play out and let the teams really show off what they’ve got, which I think is good. I think it’s good for everybody, I think it’s good for the fans within reason and then we had to tighten some things up Nick. The calls, all 13 of those calls weren’t wrong, that’s not what I’m saying here. We had to tighten some things up and I thought our guys did that. They worked on it during the week and just making sure their fundamentals and technique were right and half of it is moving yourself into a position where you can execute. That comes down to footwork, speed and angles. You have to do that. Those are things that you can take charge of and work on.”Q: What do you hope the offensive line and the running backs take away from going against a physical Lions team?REID:&nbsp;“I thought Pop (Isiah Pacheco) ran hard. I thought he (Isiah Pacheco) was accurate with his reads and then when Kareem (Hunt) came in, I thought the same thing, powerful. It starts with the o-line. They’ve got to have things rolling up front, but they played physical. Our offensive line played physical against a good defensive line – a defensive front because those linebackers aren’t tiny guys either, they’re big ol’ guys back there and physical but I thought they played well. There are things what we can do better all the way around. There’s places that we need to tighten up and make it better than what we had, but overall, I’d tell you it was a pretty good job.”Q: What have you seen from the wide receiver room and the chemistry they’ve built this season?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Jesse (Newell), I’d tell you that – this is what I meant by when I said after the game that having one (Xavier Worthy) come back into the fold there and be able to play and then Rashee (Rice) coming back in the building period, they kind of felt whole. And that’s because they like each other. They get along. They hang out together. They work together on their route combinations, and they’re always talking about stuff to get better there. And they’ve got a good friendship, which will be needed now because we have more guys and we only have one football. You want them to help support each other and I think that ends up being important. JuJu (Smith-Schuster) has a big part in that, he’s a uniter, and he’s still a tough guy and all that bit that goes with it and a good receiver and he has been around. I think he keeps it all together there.”Q: On Harrison Butker’s missed extra point and if he needed more encouragement on that last field goal.REID:&nbsp;“I’m a big Harrison Butker fan, so I think he’s a great great kicker and if not the best, one of the best clutch kickers in the National Football League. I know how that thing goes. I know that the swing (and) I understand all of that. Sometimes that ball looks nice and fat, and other times it looks a little tiny. The first one, he didn’t hit very good on the PAT, and then he came back and finished strong the rest of the night. And I thought getting a field goal in there, I think that’s big. Listen, we’re all human and a little pat on the back, you’re being nice on that – but a nice pat on the back was a positive.”Q: Is there more that you’re looking from the running back group moving forward to help relieve Patrick Mahomes?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, Pat (Mahomes) had the 30 yards rushing. Listen, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) going to rush no matter what. He’s going to run the ball. There’s just times where something doesn’t look right or maybe there is a pressure here or there, and he’s going to take off and go and I get that. It’s important that he does like he did last night. He got down on the ground and not take the big hits with the exception on one run there. He was able to get down and try to limit the hits on him. I thought our guys ran the ball well. I thought they had a good night at that. There was a mix, so when you do this RPO game, you’re calling runs, but some of them turn into passes. That’s the beauty of the thing. Maybe your numbers are down just a little bit, but they end up increasing in the completions.”Q: How excited are you to see the trio of Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown on the field together in the regular season for the first time?

Chiefs Quotes: 10-13-25

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760365065830.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, October 13 - October 15. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, October 13 - October 15. 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/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 13 - October 15

Born and raised in the KC Metro, I graduated from the public school system before venturing off to Denver for college. When my husband and I were looking for a place to raise our family, we needed a place we both felt comfortable with him being from Western Kansas and me from the KC metro. Salina checked all the boxes. We chose to make Salina our home over ten years ago, drawn by its sense of community and friendly people. Since then, we’ve put down deep roots and become fully invested in the future of our town, schools and neighborhoods. When my oldest started kindergarten, I wanted to support our schools after seeing how much teachers give each day. I began substitute school nursing for USD 305 in the fall of 2022.

These days, you can find me working part time in the community as a nurse and substitute school nurse, volunteering my time at school, church and the local arts organizations, and running all over town with pick ups and drop offs.

As both a healthcare professional and a parent, I understand the importance of supporting the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. My background gives me a unique perspective on the challenges families face and the value of creating safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments.

When a mentor suggested I serve on the school board a few years ago, I thought I was neither qualified nor was my experience and perspective needed. Since then, I now understand that strong schools are led by strong leaders and strong school boards.

As a parent of children in USD 305 and active volunteer in our schools, I would bring a unique perspective to the board. Presently, no board members are parents of current students. While not every board member needs to be a parent, I believe the voice of a current parent plays a vital role on the board. This allows me to have my finger on the pulse of our student, parent, and teacher needs.

I believe my strongest preparation for serving on the school board comes from my daily life being a parent with two children currently in our schools. I see every day how decisions made at the board, from district calendars and school events to test scores and teacher emails, affect families through conversations at my dinner table. This is my daily experience.

Beyond that, my experience as a substitute school nurse for USD 305 has given me a unique perspective on the health, safety, and well-being of students and staff across the district. I’ve seen the challenges our kids face, like mental health needs and food and clothing insecurities, and how important it is that we support the whole child. Each student must be given the resources and opportunities to be successful. I will ensure that the academic, physical, and mental health needs as well as socioeconomic and family support system differences are considered when making each decision.

My years of volunteering in many different school roles has shown me how hard our teachers and staff work every day, and how much families want to be part of the team. Those experiences have taught me the value of listening, building relationships, and solving problems together—skills I’ll carry into every board discussion as I work hard to strengthen USD 305.

Should Salinans choose me to serve on the USD 305 School Board, I will focus my efforts in three areas: recruitment and retention, communication and engagement, and strategic budgeting.

First, teacher recruitment and retention issues are not unique to Salina. The USD 305 School Board has focused on this in the past, but must continue to focus its efforts towards attracting and retaining the best teachers and staff. Our students can thrive with improved educator continuity when our best educators are appropriately resourced and valued and choose to stay in our district.

Second, parent and community communication and engagement is vital to the success of our district. Clear and consistent communication at all levels builds community and trust. This trust and communication will help us avoid similar divisions in the community we saw over the past few years.

Third, budgets in any organization are often a hot topic, and public education is no different. The funding sources, at both the state and federal level, have been changing in recent years, and we should expect those changes to continue. Our district must be prepared to navigate the challenges ahead and make bold and strategic choices when necessary. Perhaps most important, funding and budget decisions directly affect student to teacher ratios. Student to teacher ratios have direct impacts on test scores, classroom management, and graduation rates.

Teacher satisfaction, parent engagement, and funding management impact our families’ lives and our Salina community daily. Fulfilled and balanced teachers are able to show up consistently, create a positive learning environment, and build relationships with students. Teacher retention builds community within a school when families can share positive experience of past years with rising students.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760326158619.jpeg" alt="Dana Johnson with her family" />
 <figcaption>Dana Johnson with her family</figcaption>
 </figure>By: DANA JOHNSON&nbsp;<h2>Background/ Introduction</h2>Born and raised in the KC Metro, I graduated from the public school system before venturing off to Denver for college. When my husband and I were looking for a place to raise our family, we needed a place we both felt comfortable with him being from Western Kansas and me from the KC metro. Salina checked all the boxes. We chose to make Salina our home over ten years ago, drawn by its sense of community and friendly people. Since then, we’ve put down deep roots and become fully invested in the future of our town, schools and neighborhoods. When my oldest started kindergarten, I wanted to support our schools after seeing how much teachers give each day. I began substitute school nursing for USD 305 in the fall of 2022.These days, you can find me working part time in the community as a nurse and substitute school nurse, volunteering my time at school, church and the local arts organizations, and running all over town with pick ups and drop offs.As both a healthcare professional and a parent, I understand the importance of supporting the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. My background gives me a unique perspective on the challenges families face and the value of creating safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments.<h2>Why you are running for school board</h2>When a mentor suggested I serve on the school board a few years ago, I thought I was neither qualified nor was my experience and perspective needed. Since then, I now understand that strong schools are led by strong leaders and strong school boards.As a parent of children in USD 305 and active volunteer in our schools, I would bring a unique perspective to the board. Presently, no board members are parents of current students. While not every board member needs to be a parent, I believe the voice of a current parent plays a vital role on the board. This allows me to have my finger on the pulse of our student, parent, and teacher needs.<h2>Accomplishments and life experiences</h2>I believe my strongest preparation for serving on the school board comes from my daily life being a parent with two children currently in our schools. I see every day how decisions made at the board, from district calendars and school events to test scores and teacher emails, affect families through conversations at my dinner table. This is my daily experience.Beyond that, my experience as a substitute school nurse for USD 305 has given me a unique perspective on the health, safety, and well-being of students and staff across the district. I’ve seen the challenges our kids face, like mental health needs and food and clothing insecurities, and how important it is that we support the whole child. Each student must be given the resources and opportunities to be successful. I will ensure that the academic, physical, and mental health needs as well as socioeconomic and family support system differences are considered when making each decision.My years of volunteering in many different school roles has shown me how hard our teachers and staff work every day, and how much families want to be part of the team. Those experiences have taught me the value of listening, building relationships, and solving problems together—skills I’ll carry into every board discussion as I work hard to strengthen USD 305.<h2>What you would do, say you get elected</h2>Should Salinans choose me to serve on the USD 305 School Board, I will focus my efforts in three areas: recruitment and retention, communication and engagement, and strategic budgeting.First, teacher recruitment and retention issues are not unique to Salina. The USD 305 School Board has focused on this in the past, but must continue to focus its efforts towards attracting and retaining the best teachers and staff. Our students can thrive with improved educator continuity when our best educators are appropriately resourced and valued and choose to stay in our district.Second, parent and community communication and engagement is vital to the success of our district. Clear and consistent communication at all levels builds community and trust. This trust and communication will help us avoid similar divisions in the community we saw over the past few years.Third, budgets in any organization are often a hot topic, and public education is no different. The funding sources, at both the state and federal level, have been changing in recent years, and we should expect those changes to continue. Our district must be prepared to navigate the challenges ahead and make bold and strategic choices when necessary. Perhaps most important, funding and budget decisions directly affect student to teacher ratios. Student to teacher ratios have direct impacts on test scores, classroom management, and graduation rates.Teacher satisfaction, parent engagement, and funding management impact our families’ lives and our Salina community daily. Fulfilled and balanced teachers are able to show up consistently, create a positive learning environment, and build relationships with students. Teacher retention builds community within a school when families can share positive experience of past years with rising students.

Meet USD 305 School Board Candidate: Dana Johnson

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">ceasefire pausing two years of war</a>&nbsp;that pummeled the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">territory</a>, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands.

Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of more than 1,900 of prisoners held by Israel, with the first two buses leaving Ofer Prison in the early afternoon.

The 20 hostages, all men, arrived back Israel, where they will reunite with their families and undergo medical checks. The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.

While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners raised hopes for ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.

The ceasefire is also expected to be accompanied by a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of which are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-hunger-israel-ceasefire-a5f88e20db2a5c4f754117de9bdada69">experiencing famine</a>.

U.S. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">arrived in the region</a>, where he plans to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-peace-deal-trump-hostages-aid-3d994f7d482783da6fe7e18460ef06ab">U.S.-proposed deal</a>&nbsp;and postwar plans with other leaders.

The war began when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-2-years-10-07-2025-6f19cb2eee5e05091c74f0e6f1bc356a">Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.

In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the dead were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

The toll is expected to grow as bodies are pulled from rubble previously made inaccessible by fighting.

The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its some 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/un-commission-of-inquiry-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza-ap-explains-2688e01c38c144c3842e3d810ab14309">allegations of genocide</a>&nbsp;that Israel denies.

“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP on Sunday.

People gathered in a square in Tel Aviv sobbed as photos of the hostages reuniting with their families flashed up on the large screens. The hostages have become household names and their faces familiar across Israel over the past two years, and tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.

Soon after the hostages arrived back — after being handed first to the Red Cross, then to the military — Israel released the first photos of hostages arriving home. They included one showing 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing as they were reunited. Hostages previously released had said the twins from Kfar Aza were held separately.

The photos of the first seven hostages released Monday showed them looking pale but less gaunt than some of the hostages freed in January.

Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of prisoners. An armored vehicle flying an Israeli flag fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd. As drones buzzed overhead, the group scattered.

The tear gas followed the circulation of a flier warning that anyone supporting what it called “terrorist organizations” risked arrest. Israel’s military did not respond to questions about the flier, which The Associated Press obtained on site.

The prisoners slated for release include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.

The hostages' return caps a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured in the attack that ignited the war, newscasts have marked their days in captivity and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity. Tens of thousands have joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for their release.

As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, even as he accused Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-netanyahu-pariah-sanctions-rights-16c2a6774d4cf68194f7ae331a585007">increasing isolation for Israel</a>, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.

It remains unclear when the remains of 28 dead hostages will be returned. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the missing.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">ceasefire pausing two years of war</a>&nbsp;that pummeled the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">territory</a>, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’ve been waiting for this moment for so, so long. PURE JOY. But it won’t be complete until the last hostage is home. Credit: Danor Aharon <a href="https://t.co/P9I2Ebni0S">pic.twitter.com/P9I2Ebni0S</a>&mdash; Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) <a href="https://twitter.com/bringhomenow/status/1977614940270936376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of more than 1,900 of prisoners held by Israel, with the first two buses leaving Ofer Prison in the early afternoon.The 20 hostages, all men, arrived back Israel, where they will reunite with their families and undergo medical checks. The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners raised hopes for ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.The ceasefire is also expected to be accompanied by a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of which are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-hunger-israel-ceasefire-a5f88e20db2a5c4f754117de9bdada69">experiencing famine</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“I want to sincerely thank you” ❤️ President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> meets with hostage families and listens to their stories <a href="https://t.co/SNQCpTVUU4">pic.twitter.com/SNQCpTVUU4</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1977668287258595604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">arrived in the region</a>, where he plans to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-peace-deal-trump-hostages-aid-3d994f7d482783da6fe7e18460ef06ab">U.S.-proposed deal</a>&nbsp;and postwar plans with other leaders.The war began when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-2-years-10-07-2025-6f19cb2eee5e05091c74f0e6f1bc356a">Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the dead were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.The toll is expected to grow as bodies are pulled from rubble previously made inaccessible by fighting.The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its some 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/un-commission-of-inquiry-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza-ap-explains-2688e01c38c144c3842e3d810ab14309">allegations of genocide</a>&nbsp;that Israel denies.“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP on Sunday.<h2>Living hostages released first</h2>People gathered in a square in Tel Aviv sobbed as photos of the hostages reuniting with their families flashed up on the large screens. The hostages have become household names and their faces familiar across Israel over the past two years, and tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.Soon after the hostages arrived back — after being handed first to the Red Cross, then to the military — Israel released the first photos of hostages arriving home. They included one showing 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing as they were reunited. Hostages previously released had said the twins from Kfar Aza were held separately.The photos of the first seven hostages released Monday showed them looking pale but less gaunt than some of the hostages freed in January.Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of prisoners. An armored vehicle flying an Israeli flag fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd. As drones buzzed overhead, the group scattered.The tear gas followed the circulation of a flier warning that anyone supporting what it called “terrorist organizations” risked arrest. Israel’s military did not respond to questions about the flier, which The Associated Press obtained on site.The prisoners slated for release include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.<h2>A painful chapter</h2>The hostages' return caps a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured in the attack that ignited the war, newscasts have marked their days in captivity and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity. Tens of thousands have joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for their release.As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, even as he accused Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-netanyahu-pariah-sanctions-rights-16c2a6774d4cf68194f7ae331a585007">increasing isolation for Israel</a>, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.It remains unclear when the remains of 28 dead hostages will be returned. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the missing.

Hamas releases all 20 remaining living hostages as part of Gaza ceasefire

I am Dr. Trent Davis, and I’m running for re-election to the Salina City Commission.

I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. After high school, I planned to become a Lutheran minister—but life had other plans, and I was blessed instead to become a physician. I have called Salina my home since 1999 and am still actively practicing Neurology. I also serve as a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the KU School of Medicine–Salina, and I’ve been honored to serve on the City Commission since 2014.

My wife, Dr. Pamela B. Davis, is a Radiologist in Salina and also active in activities that build the social fabric of our community. Pam is the sister of Dr. Mace Braxton who started the heart surgery program at SRHC in 1998. We have a blended family of six children, one of whom we sadly lost in September 2024. Our three sons were raised here in Salina and graduated from Salina Central High School; their two older sisters live in the Washington, D.C. area. Our doggie is the famous Halle Berry, nine pounds of Pompoo royalty!

Our families have long emphasized character development, confidence, and education. Among our children are four physicians (three KU graduates!) and one MPH who was ordained a minister in 2024.

My introduction to civic engagement came in the early 2000s, when I helped lead the charge for Kansas’ first Clean Indoor Air Act—banning smoking in local businesses—an initiative that later became state law. Since then, I’ve served on the Salina–Saline County Board of Health (as its last chair before restructuring), as well as the Boards of Salina Community Access TV, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the NAACP, and as President of the SRHC Medical Staff. I also worked on the successful

petition to expand the Saline County Commission from three to five members. Other activities include the Church Council at St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Salina Downtown Lions Club.

Appointed to the City Commission in 2014, I’ve since been re-elected three times. To prepare for my term as Mayor in 2019, I completed KU’s Certified Public Management program to strengthen my communication and analytical skills while serving as Vice Mayor in 2018. I have ardently pushed for economic incentives that have resulted in expansion of Salina’s commercial air service and related aerospace industries.

My favorite color is cerulean blue, my favorite pastime is throwing a Frisbee on the beach, some of my favorite books are The Power of Positive Thinking and Leading When You’re Not in Charge. And, of course, my favorite football team—no surprise—is the Chiefs!

I am a modest person, and my life is full and rewarding, but because I love this city I want to continue the momentum and progress that make Salina such a special place.

Since 2014, I’ve been proud to help guide Salina’s downtown renaissance—from the early talks about a Downtown Fieldhouse, through growing pains, to the vibrant destination we now enjoy.

The Commission’s work often involves balancing big ideas and tough realities—supporting job growth, small business expansion, the arts, housing development, public safety, and infrastructure. Much of it’s work is reactive – issues brought to us, rather than from us -- from neighborhood concerns to complex social challenges like homelessness and public health. I have a calm, steady presence—quick to listen, slow to anger—to navigate it all.

A friend once suggested Salina’s motto could be “Salina … in the Middle of Everywhere.” That “everywhere” reflects more than geography: it’s our diversity,

opportunity, and drive to grow. Salina’s competition isn’t just nearby towns—it’s the world. We need leaders unafraid to engage it.

As I see it, the City Commission is like the old BASF ad: “We don’t make the products you use; we make them better.” Our role is to be the catalyst—helping the people and organizations who make Salina thrive. Government isn’t about grabbing the spotlight, but about creating the conditions where others can shine. And while rules are necessary to protect fairness and safety, it’s our job to recognize when they’re outdated and adapt them for the future.

I want to be your City Commissioner because Salina deserves steady leadership—someone experienced, patient, and committed to managing your tax dollars responsibly. This is a dynamic city, and the Commission faces a constant stream of new challenges. Experience matters and you deserve someone honorable and dependable.

We don’t need single-issue candidates or those quick to shout that their way is the only way. I believe in listening first, learning always, and respecting every viewpoint brought to the table. As my father-in-law wisely said:

“If you have to yell louder, you need a better argument.”

Salina’s future depends on investing wisely—not in a fantasy of “no taxes,” but in sustainable progress that exceeds the length of our terms and serves generations to come. I believe it’s time to focus on our human infrastructure:

· Keeping our kids in school and out of jail

I’ve been here, working with our community to make these goals real. I’d be honored to continue that work.

I appreciate your confidence and your vote—early or on November 4, 2025—to keep Salina moving forward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760106068172.jpeg" alt="Dr. Trent Davis" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Trent Davis</figcaption>
 </figure>By: DR. TRENT DAVIS&nbsp;I am Dr. Trent Davis, and I’m running for re-election to the Salina City Commission.I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. After high school, I planned to become a Lutheran minister—but life had other plans, and I was blessed instead to become a physician. I have called Salina my home since 1999 and am still actively practicing Neurology. I also serve as a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the KU School of Medicine–Salina, and I’ve been honored to serve on the City Commission since 2014.My wife, Dr. Pamela B. Davis, is a Radiologist in Salina and also active in activities that build the social fabric of our community. Pam is the sister of Dr. Mace Braxton who started the heart surgery program at SRHC in 1998. We have a blended family of six children, one of whom we sadly lost in September 2024. Our three sons were raised here in Salina and graduated from Salina Central High School; their two older sisters live in the Washington, D.C. area. Our doggie is the famous Halle Berry, nine pounds of Pompoo royalty!Our families have long emphasized character development, confidence, and education. Among our children are four physicians (three KU graduates!) and one MPH who was ordained a minister in 2024.My introduction to civic engagement came in the early 2000s, when I helped lead the charge for Kansas’ first Clean Indoor Air Act—banning smoking in local businesses—an initiative that later became state law. Since then, I’ve served on the Salina–Saline County Board of Health (as its last chair before restructuring), as well as the Boards of Salina Community Access TV, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the NAACP, and as President of the SRHC Medical Staff. I also worked on the successfulpetition to expand the Saline County Commission from three to five members. Other activities include the Church Council at St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Salina Downtown Lions Club.Appointed to the City Commission in 2014, I’ve since been re-elected three times. To prepare for my term as Mayor in 2019, I completed KU’s Certified Public Management program to strengthen my communication and analytical skills while serving as Vice Mayor in 2018. I have ardently pushed for economic incentives that have resulted in expansion of Salina’s commercial air service and related aerospace industries.My favorite color is cerulean blue, my favorite pastime is throwing a Frisbee on the beach, some of my favorite books are The Power of Positive Thinking and Leading When You’re Not in Charge. And, of course, my favorite football team—no surprise—is the Chiefs!I am a modest person, and my life is full and rewarding, but because I love this city I want to continue the momentum and progress that make Salina such a special place.<h2>My View of the City Commission</h2>Since 2014, I’ve been proud to help guide Salina’s downtown renaissance—from the early talks about a Downtown Fieldhouse, through growing pains, to the vibrant destination we now enjoy.The Commission’s work often involves balancing big ideas and tough realities—supporting job growth, small business expansion, the arts, housing development, public safety, and infrastructure. Much of it’s work is reactive – issues brought to us, rather than from us -- from neighborhood concerns to complex social challenges like homelessness and public health. I have a calm, steady presence—quick to listen, slow to anger—to navigate it all.A friend once suggested Salina’s motto could be “Salina … in the Middle of Everywhere.” That “everywhere” reflects more than geography: it’s our diversity,opportunity, and drive to grow. Salina’s competition isn’t just nearby towns—it’s the world. We need leaders unafraid to engage it.As I see it, the City Commission is like the old BASF ad: “We don’t make the products you use; we make them better.” Our role is to be the catalyst—helping the people and organizations who make Salina thrive. Government isn’t about grabbing the spotlight, but about creating the conditions where others can shine. And while rules are necessary to protect fairness and safety, it’s our job to recognize when they’re outdated and adapt them for the future.<h2>Why Me</h2>I want to be your City Commissioner because Salina deserves steady leadership—someone experienced, patient, and committed to managing your tax dollars responsibly. This is a dynamic city, and the Commission faces a constant stream of new challenges. Experience matters and you deserve someone honorable and dependable.We don’t need single-issue candidates or those quick to shout that their way is the only way. I believe in listening first, learning always, and respecting every viewpoint brought to the table. As my father-in-law wisely said:“If you have to yell louder, you need a better argument.”Salina’s future depends on investing wisely—not in a fantasy of “no taxes,” but in sustainable progress that exceeds the length of our terms and serves generations to come. I believe it’s time to focus on our human infrastructure:· Job training· Living wages· Renters becoming homeowners· Sustainable childcare· Small business entrepreneurship· Ending homelessness· Keeping our kids in school and out of jailI’ve been here, working with our community to make these goals real. I’d be honored to continue that work.I appreciate your confidence and your vote—early or on November 4, 2025—to keep Salina moving forward.Sincerely,Trent W. Davis, M.D.

Meet City Commission Candidate: Dr. Trent Davis

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760106371505.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, October 10 - October 12. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, October 10 - October 12. 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/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 10 - October 12

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

The former opposition presidential candidate was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.

“In the past year, Ms. Machado has been forced to live in hiding,” Watne Frydnes said. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”

He told the AP that the committee was able to reach Machado just before the announcement and “it came as a surprise.”

Machado’s ally, Edmundo González, who lives in exile in Spain, posted a short video of himself speaking by phone with Machado.

“I am in shock,” she said, adding, “I cannot believe it.”

González celebrated Machado’s Nobel win in a post on X, calling it a “very well-deserved recognition for the long fight of a woman and of a whole people for our freedom and democracy.”

Maduro’s government has routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents.

Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro, but the government disqualified her. González, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-maduro-opposition-human-rights-abuses-dd6d0b103adbf88f00fe60b0d781a873">crackdown on dissent only increased</a>&nbsp;after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary.

The election results announced by the Electoral Council sparked protests across the country to which the government responded with force that ended with more than 20 people dead. They also prompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela and various foreign countries, including Argentina.

Machado went into hiding and has not been seen in public since January. A Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for González over the publication of election results. He went into exile in Spain and was granted asylum.

Before dawn in Caracas, with few vehicles out yet on the Venezuelan capital’s usually crowded streets, some people heading to work expressed disbelief at the news of Machado’s win.

“I don’t know what can be done to improve the situation, but she deserves it,” said Sandra Martínez, 32, as she waited at a bus stop. “She’s a great woman.”

Support for Machado and the opposition in general has decreased since the July 2024 election — particularly since January, when Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term and disappointment set in.

Last year, Machado and González were awarded the European Union’s top human rights honor, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-venezuela-opposition-human-rights-prize-sakharov-47257f5b05716e90c3eabdde3a1f17e6">Sakharov Prize</a>.

Machado becomes the 20th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, of the 112 individuals who have been honored.

Speculation about Trump’s Nobel chances

There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to U.S. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-misses-out-on-nobel-peace-prize-729973788d8953da9af1cbc136232e96">Donald Trump</a>, fueled in part by the president himself and amplified by this week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-hostages-trump-peace-plan-e3d0ce091be56cc29207e566ff1603af">approval of his plan</a>&nbsp;for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Asked about lobbying for and by Trump, Watne Frydnes said: “I think this committee has seen any type of campaign, media attention. We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what for them leads to peace.

“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.”

White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X Friday morning that “President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars, and saving lives.” He added that “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

Last year’s award went to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-nobel-japan-peace-prize-nuclear-9f39bcd5d6035fb1e75ac2030cf5c009">Nihon Hidankyo</a>, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain a taboo around the use of nuclear weapons.

The peace prize is the only one of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-announcements-peace-literature-medicine-cd572ef1c31ce39e3fa304468d445443">Nobel prizes</a>&nbsp;to be awarded in Oslo, Norway.

Four of the other prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm this week — in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-medicine-a68cf8a3b930570630168a949d277cde">medicine</a>&nbsp;on Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-physics-e74ee2acf652259cf268cc1d48873e14">physics</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-chemistry-87dcb74eb01e3d5ba8efc32832e51ef6">chemistry</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-literature-25f9886d2c35dabfc6ab7936a8a159c0">literature</a>&nbsp;on Thursday. The winner of the prize in economics will be announced on Monday.

Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City and Moulson from Berlin. Jorge Rueda contributed from Caracas, Venezuela and Mike Corder from The Hague, Netherlands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760094995508.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>OSLO, Norway (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”The former opposition presidential candidate was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will. The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace. <a href="https://t.co/dwCEWjE0GE">https://t.co/dwCEWjE0GE</a>&mdash; Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCheung47/status/1976601157041856756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the Nobel Peace Prize: &quot;I&#39;ve stopped eight wars, so that&#39;s never happened before — but they&#39;ll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn&#39;t do it for that, I did it because I saved a lot of lives.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TsfLdgmQXD">pic.twitter.com/TsfLdgmQXD</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1976370711750221828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“In the past year, Ms. Machado has been forced to live in hiding,” Watne Frydnes said. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”He told the AP that the committee was able to reach Machado just before the announcement and “it came as a surprise.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Oh my god… I have no words.” Listen to the emotional moment this year’s laureate Maria Corina Machado finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news with her directly before it was… <a href="https://t.co/OCUpNz752k">pic.twitter.com/OCUpNz752k</a>&mdash; The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) <a href="https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1976596971084247228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Exiled opposition candidate celebrates</h2>Machado’s ally, Edmundo González, who lives in exile in Spain, posted a short video of himself speaking by phone with Machado.“I am in shock,” she said, adding, “I cannot believe it.”González celebrated Machado’s Nobel win in a post on X, calling it a “very well-deserved recognition for the long fight of a woman and of a whole people for our freedom and democracy.”Maduro’s government has routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents.Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro, but the government disqualified her. González, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations.<h2>Crackdown on dissent</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-maduro-opposition-human-rights-abuses-dd6d0b103adbf88f00fe60b0d781a873">crackdown on dissent only increased</a>&nbsp;after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary.The election results announced by the Electoral Council sparked protests across the country to which the government responded with force that ended with more than 20 people dead. They also prompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela and various foreign countries, including Argentina.Machado went into hiding and has not been seen in public since January. A Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for González over the publication of election results. He went into exile in Spain and was granted asylum.Before dawn in Caracas, with few vehicles out yet on the Venezuelan capital’s usually crowded streets, some people heading to work expressed disbelief at the news of Machado’s win.“I don’t know what can be done to improve the situation, but she deserves it,” said Sandra Martínez, 32, as she waited at a bus stop. “She’s a great woman.”Support for Machado and the opposition in general has decreased since the July 2024 election — particularly since January, when Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term and disappointment set in.Last year, Machado and González were awarded the European Union’s top human rights honor, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-venezuela-opposition-human-rights-prize-sakharov-47257f5b05716e90c3eabdde3a1f17e6">Sakharov Prize</a>.Machado becomes the 20th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, of the 112 individuals who have been honored.<h2>Speculation about Trump’s Nobel chances</h2>There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to U.S. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-misses-out-on-nobel-peace-prize-729973788d8953da9af1cbc136232e96">Donald Trump</a>, fueled in part by the president himself and amplified by this week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-hostages-trump-peace-plan-e3d0ce091be56cc29207e566ff1603af">approval of his plan</a>&nbsp;for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Asked about lobbying for and by Trump, Watne Frydnes said: “I think this committee has seen any type of campaign, media attention. We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what for them leads to peace.“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.”White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X Friday morning that “President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars, and saving lives.” He added that “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”Last year’s award went to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-nobel-japan-peace-prize-nuclear-9f39bcd5d6035fb1e75ac2030cf5c009">Nihon Hidankyo</a>, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain a taboo around the use of nuclear weapons.The peace prize is the only one of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-announcements-peace-literature-medicine-cd572ef1c31ce39e3fa304468d445443">Nobel prizes</a>&nbsp;to be awarded in Oslo, Norway.Four of the other prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm this week — in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-medicine-a68cf8a3b930570630168a949d277cde">medicine</a>&nbsp;on Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-physics-e74ee2acf652259cf268cc1d48873e14">physics</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-chemistry-87dcb74eb01e3d5ba8efc32832e51ef6">chemistry</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-literature-25f9886d2c35dabfc6ab7936a8a159c0">literature</a>&nbsp;on Thursday. The winner of the prize in economics will be announced on Monday.___Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City and Moulson from Berlin. Jorge Rueda contributed from Caracas, Venezuela and Mike Corder from The Hague, Netherlands.

Who won? White House responds to Nobel Peace Prize announcement

CHICAGO (AP) — Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the chaplain for the men’s basketball team at Loyola Chicago who became a beloved international celebrity during the school’s fairy-tale run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 2018, has died, the university announced Thursday night. She was 106.

Health issues caused Sister Jean to step down from her role with the university in August, though the school said she remained as an adviser in the final months of her life.

“In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations of students, faculty, and staff,” Loyola President Mark C. Reed said.

“While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy,” Reed said. ”Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community and her spirit abides in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can aspire to share with others the love and compassion Sister Jean shared with us.”

Sister Jean — born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on August 21, 1919, then taking the name Sister Jean Dolores in 1937 — became one of the most talked-about personalities during that 2018 NCAA Tournament. She did countless interviews and even was celebrated with a bobblehead in her likeness.

She published a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-parasports-jean-dolores-schmidt-chicago-06b8d438408e8e6abe08b395e3cd13d7">memoir</a>&nbsp;in 2023, “Wake Up with Purpose! What I’ve Learned in My First 100 Years,” sharing lessons she’d learned throughout her life and offering spiritual advice.

The basketball teams at Loyola already had learned many of those lessons. And when that run in 2018 ended with a 69-57 loss to Michigan in the national semifinals, players received immediate consolation from their biggest fan.

CHICAGO (AP) — Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the chaplain for the men’s basketball team at Loyola Chicago who became a beloved international celebrity during the school’s fairy-tale run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 2018, has died, the university announced Thursday night. She was 106.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Loyola University Chicago is greatly saddened to confirm the death of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM. This is a tremendous loss of someone who touched the lives of so many people. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts &amp; prayers during this difficult time. Details to follow. <a href="https://t.co/zPiMY1MsIu">pic.twitter.com/zPiMY1MsIu</a>&mdash; Loyola University Chicago (@LoyolaChicago) <a href="https://twitter.com/LoyolaChicago/status/1976495097702162781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Health issues caused Sister Jean to step down from her role with the university in August, though the school said she remained as an adviser in the final months of her life.“In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations of students, faculty, and staff,” Loyola President Mark C. Reed said.“While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy,” Reed said. ”Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community and her spirit abides in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can aspire to share with others the love and compassion Sister Jean shared with us.”Sister Jean — born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on August 21, 1919, then taking the name Sister Jean Dolores in 1937 — became one of the most talked-about personalities during that 2018 NCAA Tournament. She did countless interviews and even was celebrated with a bobblehead in her likeness.She published a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-parasports-jean-dolores-schmidt-chicago-06b8d438408e8e6abe08b395e3cd13d7">memoir</a>&nbsp;in 2023, “Wake Up with Purpose! What I’ve Learned in My First 100 Years,” sharing lessons she’d learned throughout her life and offering spiritual advice.The basketball teams at Loyola already had learned many of those lessons. And when that run in 2018 ended with a 69-57 loss to Michigan in the national semifinals, players received immediate consolation from their biggest fan.“Sister Jean just said it was a great season,” forward Aundre Jackson said after the loss. “She was so happy to be on this run with us and we should keep our heads high and be happy with what we accomplished.”The players on that team, some of them 80 years younger than Sister Jean, made no secret of what she meant to them, to the program and to the university. And she was not just there to be there, either. The Ramblers insisted she was a real part of their success.“Sister Jean, she has meant so much to me personally and obviously the team,” Loyola’s Donte Ingram said after hitting one of the biggest shots in school history, a 3-pointer that lifted the team past Miami 64-62 in the first round of the 2018 tournament.“She is there before every game. She’s saying a prayer before every game. After the game, she sends a general email to the team. And then at the end of the email, it’ll be individualized: ‘Hey, Donte, you did this, you rebounded well tonight. Even though they were out there to get you, you still came through for the team.’ She’s just so special, her spirit. She’s just so bright, and she means so much to the city of Chicago and Loyola obviously and the team.”Sister Jean’s news conference at that NCAA Tournament, she was told, had more journalists than Tom Brady drew at the Super Bowl. Her likeness appeared on everything from socks to a Lego statue at her gallery in Loyola’s art museum. She saw the attention as a holy opportunity to tell her story and share what she’s learned.“I love life so much and enjoy being with young people,” Sister Jean told The Associated Press in 2023. “They’re the ones who keep me going because they bring such joy into my life -- and they keep you updated on what’s happening in their world.”Loyola, which helped break down racial barriers by winning the 1963 national championship with four Black starters, had not played in the tournament since a Sweet 16 loss to Georgetown in 1985. But with a then-98-year-old nun providing a spiritual lift, the Ramblers captured the nation’s imagination.“Prayers definitely mean a little bit extra when she prays for us,” Loyola guard Clayton Custer said during the tournament.Sister Jean lived in the dorms on and off beginning in 1978, helping her maintain a strong relationship with the students. It was not unusual for her to sit with them in the student center during lunch, getting to know them and offer guidance. She led prayer groups in residence halls and established a program to connect students with residents at a retirement community.Born in San Francisco in 1919, Sister Jean grew up in a devoutly Catholic family. She witnessed the impact of the Great Depression, World War II and the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, which she recalls crossing on foot when it opened in 1937.Her religious calling, she said, came at the age of 8. She was in third grade when she met a kind, joyful teacher who belonged to the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Brimming with admiration, she would pray every day: “Dear God, help me understand what I should do, but please tell me I should become a BVM sister,” she recounted in her memoir.“I guess God listened to me on that one,” she wrote.She followed her calling to the order’s motherhouse in Dubuque, Iowa, where she made her vows. She went on to teach at Catholic schools in Chicago and Southern California, where she also coached girls’ basketball, before she ended at Mundelein College — on the Chicago lakefront — in the 1960s. The school became affiliated with Loyola in 1991, and Sister Jean was hired to help students with the transition.In 1994, she was asked to help student basketball players boost their grades — “the booster shooter” she called herself, and later that year she was named chaplain of the men’s basketball team. The role, she wrote in her memoir, became “the most transformational and transcendent position” of her life.“Sports are very important because they help develop life skills,” she said. “And during those life skills, you’re also talking about faith and purpose.”Her celebrity continued to grow and her life continued to be celebrated in her final years. At 100, Sister Jean received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis. On her 103rd birthday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was among the political officials dedicating the day in her honor. On her 105th birthday, Sister Jean received a proclamation from President Joe Biden — who had sent her flowers on at least one previous occasion.Biden’s message, in part, told Sister Jean, “You have shown us all that yours is a life well lived.”The university said Sister Jean is survived by her sister-in-law, Jeanne Tidwell, and her niece, Jan Schmidt.___Reynolds reported from Miami.___