Duane Eddy, 55, of Salina, KS, passed away on February 18th, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Duane was born in Salina, KS to Dale Eddy and Sharon Kay Jenkins. Duane attended Central High School in Salina, and then obtained his welder’s license from Salina Area Vocational Technical School in 1991. He welcomed his daughter, Taylor Eddy, in 1996. During his life, Duane loved to work on cars, specifically his Chevrolet Laguna and Geo Storm, spend time with friends and family, play disc golf, play video games, watch the Denver Broncos play, and listen to his favorite bands. Towards the end of his life, Duane was known to volunteer at food banks and other charities.

Duane will be fondly remembered for his fun-loving and kind spirit, and being able to make friends wherever he went. To know him was to love him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale Eddy and Sharon Kay Jenkins. He is survived by his daughter, Taylor Eddy (Dylan Lee); siblings, Belinda Montijo, Mike Montijo, Tito Montijo, Darcie (Henry) Eddy Malmgren and Darren Eddy; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his beloved dog, Tank.

Please join us from 2 to 5 on Friday, March 27th at Martinelli’s (158 S Santa Fe Ave, Salina KS) to gather and share favorite memories and light refreshments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771945331013.jpeg" alt="Duane Eddy" />
 <figcaption>Duane Eddy</figcaption>
 </figure>Duane Eddy, 55, of Salina, KS, passed away on February 18th, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.Duane was born in Salina, KS to Dale Eddy and Sharon Kay Jenkins. Duane attended Central High School in Salina, and then obtained his welder’s license from Salina Area Vocational Technical School in 1991. He welcomed his daughter, Taylor Eddy, in 1996. During his life, Duane loved to work on cars, specifically his Chevrolet Laguna and Geo Storm, spend time with friends and family, play disc golf, play video games, watch the Denver Broncos play, and listen to his favorite bands. Towards the end of his life, Duane was known to volunteer at food banks and other charities.Duane will be fondly remembered for his fun-loving and kind spirit, and being able to make friends wherever he went. To know him was to love him.He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale Eddy and Sharon Kay Jenkins. He is survived by his daughter, Taylor Eddy (Dylan Lee); siblings, Belinda Montijo, Mike Montijo, Tito Montijo, Darcie (Henry) Eddy Malmgren and Darren Eddy; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his beloved dog, Tank.Please join us from 2 to 5 on Friday, March 27th at Martinelli’s (158 S Santa Fe Ave, Salina KS) to gather and share favorite memories and light refreshments.

Duane Eddy

<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&nbsp;the&nbsp;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><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774383697567.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, March 25 - March 27 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, March 25 - March 27 - 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&nbsp;the&nbsp;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><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, March 25 - March 27

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;'s conservative majority on Monday sounded skeptical of state laws that allow the counting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-mail-ballots-election-day-mississippi-2d83cde64284e9e06d19162a45065801">late-arriving mail ballots,</a>&nbsp;a persistent target of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-1260">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argument

A ruling, likely to come by late June, that bars counting ballots arriving after Election Day would send officials scrambling in 14 states and the District of Columbia, just a few months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections to change their ballot rules.

An additional 15 states that have more forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters also could be affected.

The legal challenge is part of Trump’s broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gop-save-bill-citizenship-id-filibuster-744071b0a3c86ef64aa19aeb3b552509">attack on most mail balloting</a>, which he has said breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and years of experience in numerous states. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 resulted from fraud even though more than 60 court decisions and his own attorney general said that argument had no merit.

The court heard arguments in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-absentee-ballot-voting-d65b943c27e9e7c5247dc2c14d3dbb15">case from Mississippi</a>&nbsp;pitting the state against Trump's Republican administration and the Republican and Libertarian parties. At issue is whether federal law sets a single Election Day that requires ballots to be both cast by voters and received by state officials.

While there was no explicit reference to the 2020 election, several conservative justices gave voice to some of Trump's complaints. Justice Samuel Alito wondered about the appearance of fraud in situations where “a big stash of ballots” that arrive late “radically flipped” an election.

Defending the state law, Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart pointed out that the Trump administration and its allies in the case have yet to submit a single case of fraud due to late-arriving mail ballots.

The court's liberal justices indicated they would uphold state laws with post-Election Day deadlines.

“The people who should decide this issue are not the courts, but Congress, the states and Congress,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor said.

Forcing states to change their practices just a few months before the election risks “confusion and disenfranchisement,” especially in places that have had relaxed deadlines for years, state and big-city election officials told the court in a written filing.

California, Texas, New York and Illinois are among the states with post-Election Day deadlines. Alaska, with its vast distances and often unpredictable weather, also counts late-arriving ballots.

Alaska elections officials said Monday they are preparing for the fall elections under existing law. "If a ruling requires operational changes, we will work through those in coordination with the appropriate state entities to ensure compliance and to provide clear information to voters,” the Alaska Division of Elections said in a statement.

Lawyers for the Republican and Libertarian parties, as well as Trump's administration, are asking the justices to affirm an appellate ruling that struck down a Mississippi law allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of the election and are postmarked by Election Day.

Paul Clement, representing the political parties, played on fears of fraud by invoking Democrat-dominated Chicago, infamous for election shenanigans. Voting ends at 8 p.m. in Chicago, Clement said, but state law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received later.

A voter paying close attention to the election returns could in theory try to swing the election by submitting a mailed ballot to the post office after the polls were closed, he said.

“I am not here to say there could ever be voting fraud in Chicago,” Clement said to laughter in the courtroom.

Sotomayor had earlier needled Clement that under the ruling he sought, the Bush v. Gore decision that decided the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush would have come out differently because military ballots that broke heavily for Bush in his 537-vote win wouldn't have been counted. Clement disputed the point.

The justices seem more concerned about the cascading problems that could arise no matter who wins the case.

Ballots could be received until the start of the next Congress, two months after the election, if a state wanted, Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested.

On the other side, Justice Elena Kagan said the logic of the challenge to late-arriving ballots also would be used to rule out early voting and absentee ballots.

Limits on early-voting also seemed to bother Chief Justice John Roberts, who seemed the conservative member of the court most likely to side with Mississippi, along with Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

The court also grappled with whether state laws allowing for late-arriving ballots from military and overseas ballots could survive.

Last year, Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-elections-voting-constitution-8908477167fd65dc9cd485e1fde5b804">an executive order on elections</a>&nbsp;that aims to require votes to be “cast and received” by Election Day. The order has been blocked in pending court challenges.

At the same time, four Republican-dominated states — Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota and Utah — eliminated grace periods last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and Voting Rights Lab.

In striking down Mississippi's grace period, Judge Andrew Oldham of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the state law allowing the late-arriving ballots to be counted violated federal law.

Oldham and the other two judges who joined the unanimous ruling, James Ho and Stuart Kyle Duncan, all were appointed by Trump during his first term.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720316487639.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;'s conservative majority on Monday sounded skeptical of state laws that allow the counting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-mail-ballots-election-day-mississippi-2d83cde64284e9e06d19162a45065801">late-arriving mail ballots,</a>&nbsp;a persistent target of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-1260">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argumentA ruling, likely to come by late June, that bars counting ballots arriving after Election Day would send officials scrambling in 14 states and the District of Columbia, just a few months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections to change their ballot rules.An additional 15 states that have more forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters also could be affected.The legal challenge is part of Trump’s broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gop-save-bill-citizenship-id-filibuster-744071b0a3c86ef64aa19aeb3b552509">attack on most mail balloting</a>, which he has said breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and years of experience in numerous states. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 resulted from fraud even though more than 60 court decisions and his own attorney general said that argument had no merit.The court heard arguments in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-absentee-ballot-voting-d65b943c27e9e7c5247dc2c14d3dbb15">case from Mississippi</a>&nbsp;pitting the state against Trump's Republican administration and the Republican and Libertarian parties. At issue is whether federal law sets a single Election Day that requires ballots to be both cast by voters and received by state officials.While there was no explicit reference to the 2020 election, several conservative justices gave voice to some of Trump's complaints. Justice Samuel Alito wondered about the appearance of fraud in situations where “a big stash of ballots” that arrive late “radically flipped” an election.Defending the state law, Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart pointed out that the Trump administration and its allies in the case have yet to submit a single case of fraud due to late-arriving mail ballots.The court's liberal justices indicated they would uphold state laws with post-Election Day deadlines.“The people who should decide this issue are not the courts, but Congress, the states and Congress,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor said.Forcing states to change their practices just a few months before the election risks “confusion and disenfranchisement,” especially in places that have had relaxed deadlines for years, state and big-city election officials told the court in a written filing.California, Texas, New York and Illinois are among the states with post-Election Day deadlines. Alaska, with its vast distances and often unpredictable weather, also counts late-arriving ballots.Alaska elections officials said Monday they are preparing for the fall elections under existing law. "If a ruling requires operational changes, we will work through those in coordination with the appropriate state entities to ensure compliance and to provide clear information to voters,” the Alaska Division of Elections said in a statement.Lawyers for the Republican and Libertarian parties, as well as Trump's administration, are asking the justices to affirm an appellate ruling that struck down a Mississippi law allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of the election and are postmarked by Election Day.Paul Clement, representing the political parties, played on fears of fraud by invoking Democrat-dominated Chicago, infamous for election shenanigans. Voting ends at 8 p.m. in Chicago, Clement said, but state law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received later.A voter paying close attention to the election returns could in theory try to swing the election by submitting a mailed ballot to the post office after the polls were closed, he said.“I am not here to say there could ever be voting fraud in Chicago,” Clement said to laughter in the courtroom.Sotomayor had earlier needled Clement that under the ruling he sought, the Bush v. Gore decision that decided the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush would have come out differently because military ballots that broke heavily for Bush in his 537-vote win wouldn't have been counted. Clement disputed the point.The justices seem more concerned about the cascading problems that could arise no matter who wins the case.Ballots could be received until the start of the next Congress, two months after the election, if a state wanted, Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested.On the other side, Justice Elena Kagan said the logic of the challenge to late-arriving ballots also would be used to rule out early voting and absentee ballots.Limits on early-voting also seemed to bother Chief Justice John Roberts, who seemed the conservative member of the court most likely to side with Mississippi, along with Justice Amy Coney Barrett.The court also grappled with whether state laws allowing for late-arriving ballots from military and overseas ballots could survive.Last year, Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-elections-voting-constitution-8908477167fd65dc9cd485e1fde5b804">an executive order on elections</a>&nbsp;that aims to require votes to be “cast and received” by Election Day. The order has been blocked in pending court challenges.At the same time, four Republican-dominated states — Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota and Utah — eliminated grace periods last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and Voting Rights Lab.In striking down Mississippi's grace period, Judge Andrew Oldham of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the state law allowing the late-arriving ballots to be counted violated federal law.Oldham and the other two judges who joined the unanimous ruling, James Ho and Stuart Kyle Duncan, all were appointed by Trump during his first term.

🎧 Supreme Court skeptical whether states can keep counting late mail ballots

During a study session about the animal shelter, Salina City Commission discussed with directors about the overall status of the facility.

Throughout the session, Andrea Murphy and Jeff Hammond of the Parks and Recreation department who oversee the shelter went over historical reports that included previous inspections from the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA).

A 2023 report KDA gave was an "unsatisfactory" report twice, over various maintenance concerns.

Following was an overview of the<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/8079a182-2093-4fdc-a3ea-901cae4efada"> Jan. 12</a>, the <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/bab7d114-5f2a-4b1a-baa1-c28061a4d9b1">three stray puppies with parvovirus</a> and <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/2d94818c-43c9-40d6-a2c2-08dd732afb45">Mar. 17</a> inspections.&nbsp;

As a result of the concerns of euthanasia procedures, staff training/ documentation and veterinary care documentation for an animal, KDA required animal shelter staff to halt all euthanasia procedures and have veterinarian conduct them.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;veterinarian comes from Wichita, but no mention of veterinarians from Salina that conduct the services.

City Manager Jacob Wood stated the animal shelter will not do any euthanasias until staff is trained and completes an online course to be certified. He confirmed that Murphy is actively taking a course to be certified.

"Until the state is satisfied with the training we have, we will not perform any&nbsp;euthanasias that is not done by a vet," said Wood.

He further added they should have conducted the procedures on the three puppies with parvo "differently."

"There were some concerns about how we performed that euthanasia. We probably should have done it differently and probably sedated them. We recognized that it was not done appropriately... we certainly would have done it differently, had we do it today. This is all part of learning from your past mistakes."

City Attorney Patrick Hoffman added they will "strive to meet the highest standards" when it comes to animal care.

Moreover, the Hammond presented the shelter's "No-Kill philosophy."&nbsp;

The shelter has been unable to be considered a "no-kill" facility due to not meeting the criteria of an acceptable live outcome rate which has been below 90%.

In order for the shelter to be considered "no-kill," it would need to maintain a 90% save rate over the course of a 12-month period.&nbsp;

The live outcome percentage of the animal for cats and dogs combined in 2025 was 88%.

Furthermore, Murphy added there are five active volunteers at the shelter with more applications coming in.&nbsp;

Decision made to move forward with an "operational assessment"

The majority of Commissioners, excluding Doug Rempp, agreed to move forward in conducting an "operational assessment" on the animal shelter, and not a request for proposal (RFP) for an independent contractor.&nbsp;

The operational assessment, would be conducted by a consultant with a quote of $25,000.

The assessment would include covering areas such as:

Commissioner Doug Rempp stated he would rather want to see an assessment over the pros/cons about a private entity being in partnership with a city-owned shelter.

He stated the city would save on taxpayer money and the animals would have better care, if a private entity were to manage daily operations.

"I think a private entity could do a better job," said Rempp.

Dr. Davis responded to Rempp's comment by saying it was a "slap to the face" towards city staff.

Mayor Mike Hoppock stated he would opt for the operational assessment due to it being "hard to make a decision without the facts."&nbsp;

"So we are going to hire another consultant," Rempp responded.

Rosemary Mai who is apart of the animal shelter advisory board, was the one who motioned for the city to look into bringing <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/17e093e3-30f9-4047-b81f-095afa7105d5">Prairie Paws</a>.

The majority of the board voted for it to be passed.

Mai gave her comments about the Commissioner's decision of the operational assessment.

"It is the same old, same old. It is just money down the drain and it's going to go right back where it was, making it forever to make a decision," she said. "They are not even considering Prairie Paws and if you look at the Mayor's face, you can tell that he does not even want to consider the situation. I think Commissioner Rempp is the best commissioner we have on that board right now, because he listens to the public."

She further added she does not think the other four commissioners do not have the best interest in the public.

The next animal shelter board meeting will take place on April 8.

"We had a member of the board visit the shelter the day after the last inspection (Mar. 17) and things are not changing," Mai said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697467290838.jpeg" alt="The Saline County and Salina City building at 300 West Ash Street in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>The Saline County and Salina City building at 300 West Ash Street in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By: NICOLAS FIERROSalina PostDuring a study session about the animal shelter, Salina City Commission discussed with directors about the overall status of the facility.Throughout the session, Andrea Murphy and Jeff Hammond of the Parks and Recreation department who oversee the shelter went over historical reports that included previous inspections from the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA).A 2023 report KDA gave was an "unsatisfactory" report twice, over various maintenance concerns.Following was an overview of the<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/8079a182-2093-4fdc-a3ea-901cae4efada"> Jan. 12</a>, the <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/bab7d114-5f2a-4b1a-baa1-c28061a4d9b1">three stray puppies with parvovirus</a> and <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/2d94818c-43c9-40d6-a2c2-08dd732afb45">Mar. 17</a> inspections.&nbsp;As a result of the concerns of euthanasia procedures, staff training/ documentation and veterinary care documentation for an animal, KDA required animal shelter staff to halt all euthanasia procedures and have veterinarian conduct them.&nbsp;The&nbsp;veterinarian comes from Wichita, but no mention of veterinarians from Salina that conduct the services.City Manager Jacob Wood stated the animal shelter will not do any euthanasias until staff is trained and completes an online course to be certified. He confirmed that Murphy is actively taking a course to be certified."Until the state is satisfied with the training we have, we will not perform any&nbsp;euthanasias that is not done by a vet," said Wood.He further added they should have conducted the procedures on the three puppies with parvo "differently.""There were some concerns about how we performed that euthanasia. We probably should have done it differently and probably sedated them. We recognized that it was not done appropriately... we certainly would have done it differently, had we do it today. This is all part of learning from your past mistakes."City Attorney Patrick Hoffman added they will "strive to meet the highest standards" when it comes to animal care.Moreover, the Hammond presented the shelter's "No-Kill philosophy."&nbsp;The shelter has been unable to be considered a "no-kill" facility due to not meeting the criteria of an acceptable live outcome rate which has been below 90%.In order for the shelter to be considered "no-kill," it would need to maintain a 90% save rate over the course of a 12-month period.&nbsp;The live outcome percentage of the animal for cats and dogs combined in 2025 was 88%.Furthermore, Murphy added there are five active volunteers at the shelter with more applications coming in.&nbsp;<h2>Decision made to move forward with an "operational assessment"</h2>The majority of Commissioners, excluding Doug Rempp, agreed to move forward in conducting an "operational assessment" on the animal shelter, and not a request for proposal (RFP) for an independent contractor.&nbsp;The operational assessment, would be conducted by a consultant with a quote of $25,000.The assessment would include covering areas such as:- Physical facility- Shelter operations- Animal care and housing- Community engagement- Volunteer program- Finance and budgeting- Data management and reporting- Leadership and mangement- Veterinary servicesCommissioner Doug Rempp stated he would rather want to see an assessment over the pros/cons about a private entity being in partnership with a city-owned shelter.He stated the city would save on taxpayer money and the animals would have better care, if a private entity were to manage daily operations."I think a private entity could do a better job," said Rempp.Dr. Davis responded to Rempp's comment by saying it was a "slap to the face" towards city staff.Mayor Mike Hoppock stated he would opt for the operational assessment due to it being "hard to make a decision without the facts."&nbsp;"So we are going to hire another consultant," Rempp responded.Rosemary Mai who is apart of the animal shelter advisory board, was the one who motioned for the city to look into bringing <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/17e093e3-30f9-4047-b81f-095afa7105d5">Prairie Paws</a>. The majority of the board voted for it to be passed.Mai gave her comments about the Commissioner's decision of the operational assessment."It is the same old, same old. It is just money down the drain and it's going to go right back where it was, making it forever to make a decision," she said. "They are not even considering Prairie Paws and if you look at the Mayor's face, you can tell that he does not even want to consider the situation. I think Commissioner Rempp is the best commissioner we have on that board right now, because he listens to the public."She further added she does not think the other four commissioners do not have the best interest in the public.The next animal shelter board meeting will take place on April 8."We had a member of the board visit the shelter the day after the last inspection (Mar. 17) and things are not changing," Mai said.

City Commission discusses overall status of animal shelter with directors

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774276446923.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, March 23 - March 25 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, March 23 - March 25 - 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&nbsp;the&nbsp;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><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, March 23 - March 25

NEW YORK (AP) — CBS News said Friday it will shut down its storied radio news service after nearly 100 years of operation, ending an era and blaming challenging economic times as the world moves on to digital sources and podcasts.

When it went on the air in September 1927, the service was the precursor to the entire network, giving a youthful William S. Paley a start in the business. Famed broadcaster Edward R. Murrow's rooftop reports during the Nazi bombing of London during World War II kept Americans listening anxiously.

Today, CBS News Radio provides material to an estimated 700 stations across the country and is known best for its top-of-the-hour news roundups. The service will end on May 22, the network said Friday.

“Radio is woven into the fabric of CBS News and that's always going to be part of our history,” CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss said in delivering the news to the staff. “I want you to know that we did everything we could, including before I joined the company, to try and find a viable solution to sustain the radio operation.”

But with the radical changes in the media industry, “we just could not find a way to make that possible,” she said.

CBS News cut some of its radio programming late last year, including its “Weekend Roundup” and “World News Roundup Late Edition,” in an attempt to keep the service going.

It was unclear how many people will lose their jobs because of the radio shutdown. CBS News was cutting about 6% of its workforce, or more than 60 people, on Friday. It's not the end of turmoil at the network, as parent company Paramount Global is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cnn-paramount-warner-bros-92648a3a3a0b3d8c81b6de8f1848a34b">likely to absorb CNN</a>&nbsp;as part of its announced purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Along with newspapers, radio was the dominant medium in how Americans got their news from shortly after the dawn of commercial radio in 1920 through the 1940s, with people in their living rooms listening to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's “Fireside Chats” during the Depression. CBS News Radio's broadcast about Germany's invasion of Austria in 1938, the first time Murrow was heard on the air, was an historic marker for the service.

Broadcasters like Douglas Edwards, Dallas Townsend and Christopher Glenn were familiar voices on CBS News Radio. The beginning of the television era in the 1950s began a long slide for radio, often an afterthought today with the world online and on phones. Those seeking audio often turn to podcasts before radio.

“This is another part of the landscape that has fallen off into the sea,” said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, a trade publication for radio talk shows. “It's a shame. It's a loss for the country and for the industry.”

CBS News Radio was a major force for generations of Americans. “Its heyday spanned decades,” Harrison said. “It was quality on every level. It sounded good. Its coverage was as objective as possible within the realm of human nature. Its resources were extensive. It had a very high trust factor that was considered the standard of the day.”

The front page of CBS News' website did not immediately carry news of the demise.

Weiss, founder of the Free Press website and without broadcast news experience before being hired by CBS parent Paramount’s new management, has quickly become a headline-maker and polarizing figure in journalism. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/60-minutes-deportations-trump-2cf999bb391290f6f6b4bb4f537fa145">held a “60 Minutes” story</a>&nbsp;critical of President Donald Trump’s deportation policy from being broadcast for a month and has critics watching to see if she’s moving the network in a Trump-friendly direction.

Addressing her staff in January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbs-bari-weiss-skydance-5539ff80e8edf11ab9508dd5419faa83">three months into her job</a>&nbsp;as CBS News boss, she invoked the network's legendary newsman Walter Cronkite as a symbol of old thinking and said that if the network continues with its current strategy, “we’re toast.” She announced the hiring of 18 new contributors and said CBS News needs to do stories that will “surprise and provoke — including inside our own newsroom.”

David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774034918973.png" alt="Edward R. Murrow, a CBS correspondent who made his name from the front lines of World War II- Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Edward R. Murrow, a CBS correspondent who made his name from the front lines of World War II- Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID BAUDER AP Media WriterNEW YORK (AP) — CBS News said Friday it will shut down its storied radio news service after nearly 100 years of operation, ending an era and blaming challenging economic times as the world moves on to digital sources and podcasts.When it went on the air in September 1927, the service was the precursor to the entire network, giving a youthful William S. Paley a start in the business. Famed broadcaster Edward R. Murrow's rooftop reports during the Nazi bombing of London during World War II kept Americans listening anxiously.Today, CBS News Radio provides material to an estimated 700 stations across the country and is known best for its top-of-the-hour news roundups. The service will end on May 22, the network said Friday.“Radio is woven into the fabric of CBS News and that's always going to be part of our history,” CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss said in delivering the news to the staff. “I want you to know that we did everything we could, including before I joined the company, to try and find a viable solution to sustain the radio operation.”But with the radical changes in the media industry, “we just could not find a way to make that possible,” she said.<h2>Not the first radio cuts at CBS</h2>CBS News cut some of its radio programming late last year, including its “Weekend Roundup” and “World News Roundup Late Edition,” in an attempt to keep the service going.It was unclear how many people will lose their jobs because of the radio shutdown. CBS News was cutting about 6% of its workforce, or more than 60 people, on Friday. It's not the end of turmoil at the network, as parent company Paramount Global is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cnn-paramount-warner-bros-92648a3a3a0b3d8c81b6de8f1848a34b">likely to absorb CNN</a>&nbsp;as part of its announced purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.Along with newspapers, radio was the dominant medium in how Americans got their news from shortly after the dawn of commercial radio in 1920 through the 1940s, with people in their living rooms listening to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's “Fireside Chats” during the Depression. CBS News Radio's broadcast about Germany's invasion of Austria in 1938, the first time Murrow was heard on the air, was an historic marker for the service.Broadcasters like Douglas Edwards, Dallas Townsend and Christopher Glenn were familiar voices on CBS News Radio. The beginning of the television era in the 1950s began a long slide for radio, often an afterthought today with the world online and on phones. Those seeking audio often turn to podcasts before radio.“This is another part of the landscape that has fallen off into the sea,” said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, a trade publication for radio talk shows. “It's a shame. It's a loss for the country and for the industry.”<h2>A major radio player for many decades</h2>CBS News Radio was a major force for generations of Americans. “Its heyday spanned decades,” Harrison said. “It was quality on every level. It sounded good. Its coverage was as objective as possible within the realm of human nature. Its resources were extensive. It had a very high trust factor that was considered the standard of the day.”The front page of CBS News' website did not immediately carry news of the demise.Weiss, founder of the Free Press website and without broadcast news experience before being hired by CBS parent Paramount’s new management, has quickly become a headline-maker and polarizing figure in journalism. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/60-minutes-deportations-trump-2cf999bb391290f6f6b4bb4f537fa145">held a “60 Minutes” story</a>&nbsp;critical of President Donald Trump’s deportation policy from being broadcast for a month and has critics watching to see if she’s moving the network in a Trump-friendly direction.Addressing her staff in January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbs-bari-weiss-skydance-5539ff80e8edf11ab9508dd5419faa83">three months into her job</a>&nbsp;as CBS News boss, she invoked the network's legendary newsman Walter Cronkite as a symbol of old thinking and said that if the network continues with its current strategy, “we’re toast.” She announced the hiring of 18 new contributors and said CBS News needs to do stories that will “surprise and provoke — including inside our own newsroom.”___David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP.

CBS News shutters its storied radio news service after nearly a century

For the latest forecast updates, visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;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/2026/3/1773950177873.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, March 20 - March 22 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, March 20 - March 22 - 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&nbsp;the&nbsp;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, March 20 - March 22

WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-election-takaichi-1df9580c5a018b28965cbed99565b4b7">Sanae Takaichi</a>&nbsp;sought to reaffirm her alliance with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Thursday after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ships-iran-oil-china-us-trump-hormuz-82a9acb473837f1bf7a821d0c3f95205">Strait of Hormuz</a>.

Takaichi, who met with Trump at the White House, told the Republican president that Japan has opposed Iran's development of its nuclear program and appealed to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-peacemaker-wars-legacy-7017f99ef27c15aac727928395c853c1">desire to be seen as a peacemaker</a>, despite his launching a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nato-strait-of-hormuz-europe-4e0cf38708e9c3ba8ea2a36148620067">war of choice with Iran</a>. She told the U.S. president through an interpreter that in the Middle East and around the world now, there was “a very severe security environment,” but said, “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.”

The two leaders had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-japan-south-korea-china-71658f169efc116ce01e888611955dac">warm words</a>&nbsp;for each other, including Trump calling the prime minister a “popular, powerful woman,” but there appeared to be some tension as they faced repeated questions from reporters about Japan's support for the Iran war.

As Trump fielded questions during the roughly 30-minute public appearance with the prime minister in the Oval Office before their closed-door meeting, Taikaichi could be seen checking her watch. And then Trump made a particularly uncomfortable remark — invoking Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor — when he was asked why the U.S. didn’t notify allies like Japan ahead of the strikes on Iran.

“We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?” Trump joked.

As Trump said that, Takaichi’s slight smile appeared to drop, and she raised her eyebrows.

But the pair were all smiles in the evening, as Trump hosted a dinner in the prime minister's office. “This is a spectacular woman, and it’s an honor to have you at the White House," Trump said. Taikaichi referred to the leaders through an interpreter as “best buddies" before declaring, in English, “Japan is back.”

Earlier Thursday, the leaders of five European countries and Japan issued a joint statement demanding that Iran stop attacks on the Strait of Hormuz that block commercial shipping, and said they are ready to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to ensure ships can pass safely through the strait, though it is not clear what that entails.

Trump told reporters that he and Takaichi would be discussing in their meeting Japan’s level of support for the U.S. in the Iran war, saying, “They are really stepping up to the plate.” He did not offer details.

The president later said that much of the oil Japan relies on passes through the Strait of Hormuz and said, “so that’s a big reason to step up. He also mentioned U.S. spending in Japan and the number of troops it has stationed there.

“I expect Japan to step up, you know, because we have that kind of relationship,” Trump said.

After her meeting with Trump, Takaichi told reporters that they agreed that ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz was of the utmost importance, but she gave Trump a detailed explanation of the actions Japan can and cannot take under its law.

Taikaichi’s White House visit was supposed to give Japan’s new prime minister a prime opportunity to have Trump’s ear before he embarked on a trip to China.

But now, the war in Iran and Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nato-strait-of-hormuz-europe-4e0cf38708e9c3ba8ea2a36148620067">call for Japan and other nations</a>&nbsp;to help protect the vital Strait of Hormuz means the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-delays-china-trip-iran-3ef73e58116cc0d89aab39ed15219bf6">China trip has been delayed</a>. Trump had repeatedly complained on camera and online this week that U.S. allies, including Japan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-trump-starmer-macron-germany-caff1073f932ddb88c3d75c7c356ebc7">did not heed his request</a>&nbsp;to help safeguard the critical waterway for oil and gas transport. He later declared the help wasn’t needed, but made other comments indicating he still expected help.

The prime minister acknowledged before she left Japan that she expected her meeting with Trump would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-takaichi-trump-iran-security-e98099783b5ff39610c1b2dbe1b61369">be “very difficult.”</a>

Beyond facing questions about Iran, Takaichi and Trump on Thursday were working on a $40 billion nuclear reactor deal, according to a White House official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details before the deal was formally announced.

Under it, U.S.-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd. was set to build advanced small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama, the official said. The deal aims to help stabilize electricity prices and expand power generation in the U.S.

Kurt Campbell, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration and now chair of The Asia Group, said that to press for Japan’s interests, Takaichi needed to find a way to suggest that Japan is part of the U.S. plan in the Middle East.

“She’s going to want to come out of that as a partner in this case and realize that if she can do that, that she can translate that potentially into the president listening more to Japanese concerns about Taiwan or other issues,” Campbell said.

The constraints on Japan’s involvement in Iran include a provision in its post-World War II&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-e81086f67fa74218a22584878f764a2b">constitution that bans the use of force</a>&nbsp;except to defend its territory. The country’s military is called the Self-Defense Force.

Christopher Johnstone, a partner and chair of the defense and national security practice at The Asia Group, said Japan could help with minesweeping and has had “a small naval presence” in the region as part of an anti-piracy mission for at least a decade. But to join the U.S. mission would require Takaichi to clear “an exceptionally high bar politically to invoke collective self-defense” that has never been done before.

Takaichi wanted to focus on trade and security in the Indo-Pacific region

Takaichi, who had her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-japan-takaichi-trade-ford-trucks-e7be33728c7c3fdb6c314780c8a9a533">first meeting with Trump</a>&nbsp;in October in Tokyo, is Japan’s first female prime minister and a protégé of former leader Shinzo Abe, who developed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-japan-south-korea-china-71658f169efc116ce01e888611955dac">close relationship with Trump</a>.

She is also a hard-line conservative and longtime supporter of Taiwan, whose comments about Japan’s willingness to provide military support to the island&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-japan-takaichi-taiwan-travel-advisory-4c8000c6f2d29cccc625d378362dc91d">have heightened tensions with China</a>.

Takaichi said between her Oval Office meeting and the dinner that she and Trump discussed deepening U.S.-Japanese cooperation in regional security, critical minerals, energy and dealing with China.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-lai-chingte-china-military-drills-dcf815da920abc4c4ecc1073c779b160">China views self-governed Taiwan</a>, which the U.S. relies on for its production of computer chips, as its sovereign territory and has said it would take it by force if needed.

But the Strait of Hormuz aside, the global implications of the Iran war have also put the Japanese leader in a tougher spot with Trump as she seeks to ensure U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

Japan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-china-us-north-korea-security-pacific-23f5c8e0b5f539dcf8b33261e74f7427">considers China a growing security threat</a>&nbsp;and has pushed a military buildup on southwestern islands near the East China Sea. But the U.S. has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-korea-japan-russia-china-9cfa951ff45fdefe6c48380ce5b431b5">shifted some troops</a>&nbsp;stationed in Japan to the Middle East, removing a check against China’s power.

Those troop shifts came at the same time China is launching a large number of exercises around Taiwan.

“This raises the prospect that — once again — the United States will be distracted and bogged down in the Middle East at a time when the deterrence problem in East Asia has never been greater,” Johnstone said.

Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-election-takaichi-1df9580c5a018b28965cbed99565b4b7">Sanae Takaichi</a>&nbsp;sought to reaffirm her alliance with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Thursday after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ships-iran-oil-china-us-trump-hormuz-82a9acb473837f1bf7a821d0c3f95205">Strait of Hormuz</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump welcomes the Prime Minister of Japan to the White House 🇺🇸🇯🇵 <a href="https://t.co/YSisyAedxt">pic.twitter.com/YSisyAedxt</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/2034653941200253406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;Why didn&#39;t you tell U.S. allies…about the war before attacking Iran?&quot; President Trump: &quot;We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn&#39;t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/esV9iyvMiV">pic.twitter.com/esV9iyvMiV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2034667305318187239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Takaichi, who met with Trump at the White House, told the Republican president that Japan has opposed Iran's development of its nuclear program and appealed to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-peacemaker-wars-legacy-7017f99ef27c15aac727928395c853c1">desire to be seen as a peacemaker</a>, despite his launching a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nato-strait-of-hormuz-europe-4e0cf38708e9c3ba8ea2a36148620067">war of choice with Iran</a>. She told the U.S. president through an interpreter that in the Middle East and around the world now, there was “a very severe security environment,” but said, “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.”The two leaders had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-japan-south-korea-china-71658f169efc116ce01e888611955dac">warm words</a>&nbsp;for each other, including Trump calling the prime minister a “popular, powerful woman,” but there appeared to be some tension as they faced repeated questions from reporters about Japan's support for the Iran war.As Trump fielded questions during the roughly 30-minute public appearance with the prime minister in the Oval Office before their closed-door meeting, Taikaichi could be seen checking her watch. And then Trump made a particularly uncomfortable remark — invoking Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor — when he was asked why the U.S. didn’t notify allies like Japan ahead of the strikes on Iran.“We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?” Trump joked.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Japanese Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/takaichi_sanae?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@takaichi_sanae</a>: &quot;I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world. To do so, I am ready to reach out to many of the partners in the international community to achieve our objective together.&quot; 🇺🇸🇯🇵 <a href="https://t.co/EZ9rL9Xhep">pic.twitter.com/EZ9rL9Xhep</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2034660517332078595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As Trump said that, Takaichi’s slight smile appeared to drop, and she raised her eyebrows.But the pair were all smiles in the evening, as Trump hosted a dinner in the prime minister's office. “This is a spectacular woman, and it’s an honor to have you at the White House," Trump said. Taikaichi referred to the leaders through an interpreter as “best buddies" before declaring, in English, “Japan is back.”Earlier Thursday, the leaders of five European countries and Japan issued a joint statement demanding that Iran stop attacks on the Strait of Hormuz that block commercial shipping, and said they are ready to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to ensure ships can pass safely through the strait, though it is not clear what that entails.Trump told reporters that he and Takaichi would be discussing in their meeting Japan’s level of support for the U.S. in the Iran war, saying, “They are really stepping up to the plate.” He did not offer details.The president later said that much of the oil Japan relies on passes through the Strait of Hormuz and said, “so that’s a big reason to step up. He also mentioned U.S. spending in Japan and the number of troops it has stationed there.“I expect Japan to step up, you know, because we have that kind of relationship,” Trump said.After her meeting with Trump, Takaichi told reporters that they agreed that ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz was of the utmost importance, but she gave Trump a detailed explanation of the actions Japan can and cannot take under its law.<h2>A nuclear reactor deal announcement is e</h2><h2>xpected</h2>Taikaichi’s White House visit was supposed to give Japan’s new prime minister a prime opportunity to have Trump’s ear before he embarked on a trip to China.But now, the war in Iran and Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nato-strait-of-hormuz-europe-4e0cf38708e9c3ba8ea2a36148620067">call for Japan and other nations</a>&nbsp;to help protect the vital Strait of Hormuz means the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-delays-china-trip-iran-3ef73e58116cc0d89aab39ed15219bf6">China trip has been delayed</a>. Trump had repeatedly complained on camera and online this week that U.S. allies, including Japan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-trump-starmer-macron-germany-caff1073f932ddb88c3d75c7c356ebc7">did not heed his request</a>&nbsp;to help safeguard the critical waterway for oil and gas transport. He later declared the help wasn’t needed, but made other comments indicating he still expected help.The prime minister acknowledged before she left Japan that she expected her meeting with Trump would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-takaichi-trump-iran-security-e98099783b5ff39610c1b2dbe1b61369">be “very difficult.”</a>Beyond facing questions about Iran, Takaichi and Trump on Thursday were working on a $40 billion nuclear reactor deal, according to a White House official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details before the deal was formally announced.Under it, U.S.-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd. was set to build advanced small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama, the official said. The deal aims to help stabilize electricity prices and expand power generation in the U.S.<h2>The meeting carried high stakes</h2>Kurt Campbell, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration and now chair of The Asia Group, said that to press for Japan’s interests, Takaichi needed to find a way to suggest that Japan is part of the U.S. plan in the Middle East.“She’s going to want to come out of that as a partner in this case and realize that if she can do that, that she can translate that potentially into the president listening more to Japanese concerns about Taiwan or other issues,” Campbell said.The constraints on Japan’s involvement in Iran include a provision in its post-World War II&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-e81086f67fa74218a22584878f764a2b">constitution that bans the use of force</a>&nbsp;except to defend its territory. The country’s military is called the Self-Defense Force.Christopher Johnstone, a partner and chair of the defense and national security practice at The Asia Group, said Japan could help with minesweeping and has had “a small naval presence” in the region as part of an anti-piracy mission for at least a decade. But to join the U.S. mission would require Takaichi to clear “an exceptionally high bar politically to invoke collective self-defense” that has never been done before.<h2>Takaichi wanted to focus on trade and security in the Indo-Pacific region</h2>Takaichi, who had her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-japan-takaichi-trade-ford-trucks-e7be33728c7c3fdb6c314780c8a9a533">first meeting with Trump</a>&nbsp;in October in Tokyo, is Japan’s first female prime minister and a protégé of former leader Shinzo Abe, who developed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-japan-south-korea-china-71658f169efc116ce01e888611955dac">close relationship with Trump</a>.She is also a hard-line conservative and longtime supporter of Taiwan, whose comments about Japan’s willingness to provide military support to the island&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-japan-takaichi-taiwan-travel-advisory-4c8000c6f2d29cccc625d378362dc91d">have heightened tensions with China</a>.Takaichi said between her Oval Office meeting and the dinner that she and Trump discussed deepening U.S.-Japanese cooperation in regional security, critical minerals, energy and dealing with China.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-lai-chingte-china-military-drills-dcf815da920abc4c4ecc1073c779b160">China views self-governed Taiwan</a>, which the U.S. relies on for its production of computer chips, as its sovereign territory and has said it would take it by force if needed.But the Strait of Hormuz aside, the global implications of the Iran war have also put the Japanese leader in a tougher spot with Trump as she seeks to ensure U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.Japan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-china-us-north-korea-security-pacific-23f5c8e0b5f539dcf8b33261e74f7427">considers China a growing security threat</a>&nbsp;and has pushed a military buildup on southwestern islands near the East China Sea. But the U.S. has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-korea-japan-russia-china-9cfa951ff45fdefe6c48380ce5b431b5">shifted some troops</a>&nbsp;stationed in Japan to the Middle East, removing a check against China’s power.Those troop shifts came at the same time China is launching a large number of exercises around Taiwan.“This raises the prospect that — once again — the United States will be distracted and bogged down in the Middle East at a time when the deterrence problem in East Asia has never been greater,” Johnstone said.___Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

🎥President Trump jokes about Pearl Harbor to Japan's Prime Minister 

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly has signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kslegislature.gov%2Fli%2Fb2025_26%2Fmeasures%2Fhb2299%2F/1/0101019d07b1c6a9-5c6dedbf-0cfd-451e-8df6-d40cb798a771-000000/T5-l3P9JmjoF8d0SA97RsqqUjDoUQ-GCWoXrP412LIY=449">Senate Substitute for Substitute for House Bill 2299</a>&nbsp;(Sub for HB 2299), banning the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day. Governor Kelly signed the bill on Thursday alongside a bipartisan group of legislators and advocates at the Kansas Statehouse.

“In our rapidly changing world, technology dominates our lives, and that’s why it’s essential that we reduce distractions in the classroom,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We must have one uniform standard across the state to tackle this issue and set our students up for success. By banning cell phone use during the school day, we’re taking a commonsense approach to address the impact smartphones and social media&nbsp;have on Kansas children’s academic performance, learning environments, and mental health.”

The bill requires Kansas public schools and accredited private schools to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during the school day on school premises. These devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, tablets, computers, watches, wireless headphones or earbuds, text messaging devices, and personal digital assistants. Students’ personal devices must be turned off and securely stored during the school day.

“As a father of four young boys, I see firsthand how today’s technology can affect kids’ ability to learn and grow,”&nbsp;said Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, District 26.&nbsp;“I’m proud the legislature came together to pass a bill that puts Kansas kids first.”

Sub for HB 2299 includes exceptions if a device is needed for the implementation of a student’s individualized education program or 504 plan, or if approved by a physician as a medical necessity. Students may still contact a parent or guardian via school phone. The bill does not apply to technology that is issued to students by school districts.

“We will look back on this moment and know that we took a step in the right direction to protect Kansas kids. Research has shown us that our students’ mental health, test scores, and concentration levels are negatively impacted by overuse of social media and cell phones,”&nbsp;said Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes, District 21.&nbsp;“I am proud of the bipartisan work put into this bill, and the many discussions we have had with stakeholders, local officials, lawmakers, and the Governor’s office. It is time that we got cell phones out of Kansas classrooms. Our kids deserve policies that prioritize their health and strengthen their future, and that is what HB 2299 does.”

The bill also prohibits employees of school districts from using social media to communicate with students for official school purposes, or from requiring the use of social media for any assignment or extracurricular activity.

“This is about creating a school environment where kids can focus on learning, protect their mental health, and simply be kids again,”&nbsp;said Representative Angela Martinez, District 103.

“Senate Substitute for Substitute for HB 2299 is about setting a clear, student-centered standard—and then working hand-in-hand with our districts to implement it in a way that works for their communities,”&nbsp;said Representative Jason Goetz, District 119.&nbsp;“Because passing a bill is not the finish line. It’s the starting point. Our commitment moving forward is to partner with schools, to listen, to adjust where needed, and to make sure this policy works not just on paper—but in real classrooms, with real students.”

Photos from Governor Kelly’s bill signing ceremony are available for media use:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773950725342.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Governor's OfficeTOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly has signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kslegislature.gov%2Fli%2Fb2025_26%2Fmeasures%2Fhb2299%2F/1/0101019d07b1c6a9-5c6dedbf-0cfd-451e-8df6-d40cb798a771-000000/T5-l3P9JmjoF8d0SA97RsqqUjDoUQ-GCWoXrP412LIY=449">Senate Substitute for Substitute for House Bill 2299</a>&nbsp;(Sub for HB 2299), banning the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day. Governor Kelly signed the bill on Thursday alongside a bipartisan group of legislators and advocates at the Kansas Statehouse.“In our rapidly changing world, technology dominates our lives, and that’s why it’s essential that we reduce distractions in the classroom,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We must have one uniform standard across the state to tackle this issue and set our students up for success. By banning cell phone use during the school day, we’re taking a commonsense approach to address the impact smartphones and social media&nbsp;have on Kansas children’s academic performance, learning environments, and mental health.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773950701093.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The bill requires Kansas public schools and accredited private schools to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during the school day on school premises. These devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, tablets, computers, watches, wireless headphones or earbuds, text messaging devices, and personal digital assistants. Students’ personal devices must be turned off and securely stored during the school day.“As a father of four young boys, I see firsthand how today’s technology can affect kids’ ability to learn and grow,”&nbsp;said Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, District 26.&nbsp;“I’m proud the legislature came together to pass a bill that puts Kansas kids first.”Sub for HB 2299 includes exceptions if a device is needed for the implementation of a student’s individualized education program or 504 plan, or if approved by a physician as a medical necessity. Students may still contact a parent or guardian via school phone. The bill does not apply to technology that is issued to students by school districts.“We will look back on this moment and know that we took a step in the right direction to protect Kansas kids. Research has shown us that our students’ mental health, test scores, and concentration levels are negatively impacted by overuse of social media and cell phones,”&nbsp;said Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes, District 21.&nbsp;“I am proud of the bipartisan work put into this bill, and the many discussions we have had with stakeholders, local officials, lawmakers, and the Governor’s office. It is time that we got cell phones out of Kansas classrooms. Our kids deserve policies that prioritize their health and strengthen their future, and that is what HB 2299 does.”The bill also prohibits employees of school districts from using social media to communicate with students for official school purposes, or from requiring the use of social media for any assignment or extracurricular activity.“This is about creating a school environment where kids can focus on learning, protect their mental health, and simply be kids again,”&nbsp;said Representative Angela Martinez, District 103.“Senate Substitute for Substitute for HB 2299 is about setting a clear, student-centered standard—and then working hand-in-hand with our districts to implement it in a way that works for their communities,”&nbsp;said Representative Jason Goetz, District 119.&nbsp;“Because passing a bill is not the finish line. It’s the starting point. Our commitment moving forward is to partner with schools, to listen, to adjust where needed, and to make sure this policy works not just on paper—but in real classrooms, with real students.”Photos from Governor Kelly’s bill signing ceremony are available for media use:

Bill banning cell phone use during school day in Kansas is now law

Scott Menzies, known to many listeners as Rick Thomas, passed away on March 14, 2026.

A graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Morrowville Cemetery, Morrowville, KS with Pastor Ron Brown officiating.

Scott was born on February 13, 1968, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Larry and Karen (Lull) Menzies. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1986. During his school years, he ran cross country and served as the equipment manager for the high school baseball team. His passion for broadcasting began early, launching his radio career at just 16 years old as a DJ for KVGV. Scott went on to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Fort Hays State University.

Over the years, Scott became a familiar and trusted voice across the airwaves. He worked at stations including KHOK, T-95 KICT, and most recently 97.5 Eagle Radio in Manhattan, Kansas. He also enjoyed producing and hosting his podcast, “Running the Table,” where his love for conversation and storytelling shined.

Scott was an avid sports fan, cheering faithfully for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and Kansas State Wildcats. He especially cherished attending Yankees games with his father, sharing a lifelong bond rooted in their love of the team.

Some of Scott’s favorite memories included fishing with his Grandpa Lull and helping his Grandpa Menzies at the local grain elevator—experiences that instilled in him a deep appreciation for family, hard work, and simple joys.

On August 3, 1989, Scott welcomed his son, Jason Menzies, into the world, who also shared his passion for music.

Scott was also committed to giving back to his community, volunteering his time with The Salvation Army and the Riley County Food Bank.

He is survived by his son, Jason Menzies; his mother, Karen Menzies; brother, Stephen Menzies; sister, Misti (Aaron) Maxwell; as well as many extended family members and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Menzies; and maternal grandparents, Franklin and Mildred Lull and paternal grandparents, Hubert and Lois Menzies.

Scott will be remembered for his warmth, his unmistakable voice, and his unwaveringly positive outlook on life. Though his voice is no longer heard on the airwaves, it will live on in the memories of all who knew and loved him.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service in Great Bend will be announced at a later date. Flowers may be sent to Ward Funeral Home, 115 W 2nd St, Washington, KS 66968.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773848814469.jpeg" alt="Scott "DJ Rick Thomas" Menzies" />
 <figcaption>Scott "DJ Rick Thomas" Menzies</figcaption>
 </figure>Scott Menzies, known to many listeners as Rick Thomas, passed away on March 14, 2026.A graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Morrowville Cemetery, Morrowville, KS with Pastor Ron Brown officiating.Scott was born on February 13, 1968, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Larry and Karen (Lull) Menzies. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1986. During his school years, he ran cross country and served as the equipment manager for the high school baseball team. His passion for broadcasting began early, launching his radio career at just 16 years old as a DJ for KVGV. Scott went on to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Fort Hays State University.Over the years, Scott became a familiar and trusted voice across the airwaves. He worked at stations including KHOK, T-95 KICT, and most recently 97.5 Eagle Radio in Manhattan, Kansas. He also enjoyed producing and hosting his podcast, “Running the Table,” where his love for conversation and storytelling shined.Scott was an avid sports fan, cheering faithfully for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and Kansas State Wildcats. He especially cherished attending Yankees games with his father, sharing a lifelong bond rooted in their love of the team.Some of Scott’s favorite memories included fishing with his Grandpa Lull and helping his Grandpa Menzies at the local grain elevator—experiences that instilled in him a deep appreciation for family, hard work, and simple joys.On August 3, 1989, Scott welcomed his son, Jason Menzies, into the world, who also shared his passion for music.Scott was also committed to giving back to his community, volunteering his time with The Salvation Army and the Riley County Food Bank.He is survived by his son, Jason Menzies; his mother, Karen Menzies; brother, Stephen Menzies; sister, Misti (Aaron) Maxwell; as well as many extended family members and close friends.He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Menzies; and maternal grandparents, Franklin and Mildred Lull and paternal grandparents, Hubert and Lois Menzies.Scott will be remembered for his warmth, his unmistakable voice, and his unwaveringly positive outlook on life. Though his voice is no longer heard on the airwaves, it will live on in the memories of all who knew and loved him.A Celebration of Life Memorial service in Great Bend will be announced at a later date. Flowers may be sent to Ward Funeral Home, 115 W 2nd St, Washington, KS 66968.

Scott "DJ Rick Thomas" Menzies

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773800469609.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, March 18 - March 20 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, March 18 - March 20 - 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&nbsp;the&nbsp;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, March 18 - March 20

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — A Utah woman who wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-kouri-richins-husbands-death-hearing-83201ae3753e1fd53457b9215c13b231">children’s book about coping with grief</a>&nbsp;after her husband’s death was convicted of aggravated murder in his death by poisoning him with fentanyl.

Jurors on Monday also found Kouri Richins guilty of fraudulently claiming insurance benefits after the death of Eric Richins in March 2022 at their home outside the ski town of Park City.

Prosecutors say Kouri Richins slipped five times the lethal dose of the synthetic opioid into a cocktail that he drank. They say Richins was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kouri-richins-murder-trial-opening-statements-55949a453ff23ac67f776058c0718fcd">$4.5 million in debt</a>&nbsp;and falsely believed that when her husband died, she would inherit his estate worth more than $4 million. They also say she was planning a future with another man she was seeing on the side.

After her husband’s death, Richins self-published a children’s book about grief to help her sons and other kids cope with the loss of a parent.

She was also convicted of other felony charges, including an attempted murder charge in what authorities alleged was another effort to poison her husband weeks earlier on Valentine’s Day with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kouri-richins-murder-husband-utah-author-74ab4248df5085d041e9c2001e147a6b">fentanyl-laced sandwich</a>&nbsp;that made him break out in hives and black out.

Richins’ defense attorney said Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers and had asked his wife to procure opioids for him. Kouri Richins, however, told police earlier in a video that her husband had no history of illicit drug use.

“She wanted to leave Eric Richins but did not want to leave his money,” said Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth.

Richins had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The most serious charge — aggravated murder — carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

What was scheduled to be a five-week trial was cut short last week when Richins waived her right to testify, and her legal team abruptly rested its case without calling any witnesses. Richins’ attorneys said they were confident that prosecutors did not produce enough evidence over the past three weeks to convict her of murder.

“They haven't done their job, and now they want you to make inferences based on paper-thin evidence. They want you to do their job for them. Tell them, ‘No,’” defense attorney Wendy Lewis urged the jury on Monday.

Prosecutors said Richins, a real estate agent focused on flipping houses, was deep in debt and planning a future with another man she was seeing on the side. She had opened numerous life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge, with benefits totaling about $2 million, prosecutors alleged.

They showed the jury text messages between Richins and Robert Josh Grossman, the man with whom she was allegedly having an affair, in which she fantasized about leaving her husband, gaining millions in a divorce and marrying Grossman.

The internet search history from Richins’ phone included “what is a lethal.dose.of.fetanayl (sic),” “luxury prisons for the rich America” and “if someone is poisned (sic) what does it go down on the death certificate as,” a digital forensic analyst testified.

Bloodworth replayed for the jury a clip of Richins’ 911 call from the night of her husband’s death. That’s “not ‘the sound of a wife becoming a widow,’” he said, quoting the defense’s opening statement. “It’s the sound of a wife becoming a black widow.”

Lewis responded that the prosecution “looks at facts one way and sees a witch, but if you look at those facts another way, you see a widow.”

Richins listened to the prosecution’s presentation with a furrowed brow and whispered with her attorneys.

Give us the details that will ensure Kouri gets convicted'

The defense focused on trying to discredit the prosecution's star witness, Carmen Lauber, a housekeeper for the family who claimed to have sold Richins fentanyl on multiple occasions.

Lewis argued Lauber did not deal fentanyl and was motivated to lie for legal protection. Lauber said in early interviews that she never dealt the synthetic opioid, but later said she did after investigators informed her that Eric Richins died of a fentanyl overdose, the defense noted.

Richins had asked Lauber for “the Michael Jackson stuff," which Bloodworth said likely refers to the drug combination that killed the singer.

“She knows she wants it because it is lethal,” he argued.

The housekeeper was already in a drug court program as an alternative to incarceration on other charges when authorities arrested her in connection with the Richins case, investigators said. She had also violated some conditions of drug court.

The defense showed a video of law enforcement warning Lauber that they could pull her drug court deal and that she could face a lengthy prison sentence.

“Give us the details that will ensure Kouri gets convicted of murder,” a man in the video said.

Lauber was granted immunity for her cooperation in the case. She testified that she felt a need to “step up and take accountability of my part in this.”

Children’s book becomes a tool for prosecutors

Shortly before her arrest in May 2023, Richins self-published the book “Are You with Me?” The promoted it on local TV and radio stations, which prosecutors have pointed to in arguing that Richins planned the killing and tried to cover it up.

Summit County Sheriff’s detective Jeff O’Driscoll, the lead investigator on the case, testified that Richins paid a ghostwriting company to write the book for her.

O’Driscoll said the sheriff’s office received an anonymous package shortly after Richins’ arrest that contained the book and a note: “There are two sides to every story. This is a true Kouri, a devoted wife and adoring mother. Thought you should know.”

Investigators later learned from Amazon that Richins’ mother sent the package.

Prosecutors showed the jury excerpts of a letter found in Richins’ jail cell that they said appears to outline testimony for her mother and brother. In the six-page letter, Richins instructs her brother to tell her former attorney that Eric Richins confided in him about getting fentanyl from Mexico and “gets high every night."

Defense attorneys have said the letter contains a fictional story Richins had been working on. They have argued that Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers and asked his wife to procure opioids for him.

However, Richins told police on the night of her husband's death that he had no history of illicit drug use, according to body camera footage shown in court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773709307220.png" alt="Cover of book written by Kouri Richins" />
 <figcaption>Cover of book written by Kouri Richins</figcaption>
 </figure>PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — A Utah woman who wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-kouri-richins-husbands-death-hearing-83201ae3753e1fd53457b9215c13b231">children’s book about coping with grief</a>&nbsp;after her husband’s death was convicted of aggravated murder in his death by poisoning him with fentanyl.Jurors on Monday also found Kouri Richins guilty of fraudulently claiming insurance benefits after the death of Eric Richins in March 2022 at their home outside the ski town of Park City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773709435985.jpeg" alt="Defendant Kouri Richins, left, accused of poisoning her husband in March 2022, listens to closing arguments in Third District Court, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Park City, Utah. (David Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Defendant Kouri Richins, left, accused of poisoning her husband in March 2022, listens to closing arguments in Third District Court, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Park City, Utah. (David Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors say Kouri Richins slipped five times the lethal dose of the synthetic opioid into a cocktail that he drank. They say Richins was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kouri-richins-murder-trial-opening-statements-55949a453ff23ac67f776058c0718fcd">$4.5 million in debt</a>&nbsp;and falsely believed that when her husband died, she would inherit his estate worth more than $4 million. They also say she was planning a future with another man she was seeing on the side.After her husband’s death, Richins self-published a children’s book about grief to help her sons and other kids cope with the loss of a parent.She was also convicted of other felony charges, including an attempted murder charge in what authorities alleged was another effort to poison her husband weeks earlier on Valentine’s Day with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kouri-richins-murder-husband-utah-author-74ab4248df5085d041e9c2001e147a6b">fentanyl-laced sandwich</a>&nbsp;that made him break out in hives and black out.Richins’ defense attorney said Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers and had asked his wife to procure opioids for him. Kouri Richins, however, told police earlier in a video that her husband had no history of illicit drug use.“She wanted to leave Eric Richins but did not want to leave his money,” said Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth.Richins had pleaded not guilty to all charges.The most serious charge — aggravated murder — carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.What was scheduled to be a five-week trial was cut short last week when Richins waived her right to testify, and her legal team abruptly rested its case without calling any witnesses. Richins’ attorneys said they were confident that prosecutors did not produce enough evidence over the past three weeks to convict her of murder.“They haven't done their job, and now they want you to make inferences based on paper-thin evidence. They want you to do their job for them. Tell them, ‘No,’” defense attorney Wendy Lewis urged the jury on Monday.Jurors reached a unanimous verdict.<h2>‘A wife becoming a black widow’</h2>Prosecutors said Richins, a real estate agent focused on flipping houses, was deep in debt and planning a future with another man she was seeing on the side. She had opened numerous life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge, with benefits totaling about $2 million, prosecutors alleged.They showed the jury text messages between Richins and Robert Josh Grossman, the man with whom she was allegedly having an affair, in which she fantasized about leaving her husband, gaining millions in a divorce and marrying Grossman.The internet search history from Richins’ phone included “what is a lethal.dose.of.fetanayl (sic),” “luxury prisons for the rich America” and “if someone is poisned (sic) what does it go down on the death certificate as,” a digital forensic analyst testified.Bloodworth replayed for the jury a clip of Richins’ 911 call from the night of her husband’s death. That’s “not ‘the sound of a wife becoming a widow,’” he said, quoting the defense’s opening statement. “It’s the sound of a wife becoming a black widow.”Lewis responded that the prosecution “looks at facts one way and sees a witch, but if you look at those facts another way, you see a widow.”Richins listened to the prosecution’s presentation with a furrowed brow and whispered with her attorneys.<h2>'</h2><h2>Give us the details that will ensure Kouri gets convicted'</h2>The defense focused on trying to discredit the prosecution's star witness, Carmen Lauber, a housekeeper for the family who claimed to have sold Richins fentanyl on multiple occasions.Lewis argued Lauber did not deal fentanyl and was motivated to lie for legal protection. Lauber said in early interviews that she never dealt the synthetic opioid, but later said she did after investigators informed her that Eric Richins died of a fentanyl overdose, the defense noted.Richins had asked Lauber for “the Michael Jackson stuff," which Bloodworth said likely refers to the drug combination that killed the singer.“She knows she wants it because it is lethal,” he argued.The housekeeper was already in a drug court program as an alternative to incarceration on other charges when authorities arrested her in connection with the Richins case, investigators said. She had also violated some conditions of drug court.The defense showed a video of law enforcement warning Lauber that they could pull her drug court deal and that she could face a lengthy prison sentence.“Give us the details that will ensure Kouri gets convicted of murder,” a man in the video said.Lauber was granted immunity for her cooperation in the case. She testified that she felt a need to “step up and take accountability of my part in this.”<h2>Children’s book becomes a tool for prosecutors</h2>Shortly before her arrest in May 2023, Richins self-published the book “Are You with Me?” The promoted it on local TV and radio stations, which prosecutors have pointed to in arguing that Richins planned the killing and tried to cover it up.Summit County Sheriff’s detective Jeff O’Driscoll, the lead investigator on the case, testified that Richins paid a ghostwriting company to write the book for her.O’Driscoll said the sheriff’s office received an anonymous package shortly after Richins’ arrest that contained the book and a note: “There are two sides to every story. This is a true Kouri, a devoted wife and adoring mother. Thought you should know.”Investigators later learned from Amazon that Richins’ mother sent the package.<h2>Jury hears letter found in jail cell</h2>Prosecutors showed the jury excerpts of a letter found in Richins’ jail cell that they said appears to outline testimony for her mother and brother. In the six-page letter, Richins instructs her brother to tell her former attorney that Eric Richins confided in him about getting fentanyl from Mexico and “gets high every night."Defense attorneys have said the letter contains a fictional story Richins had been working on. They have argued that Eric Richins was addicted to painkillers and asked his wife to procure opioids for him.However, Richins told police on the night of her husband's death that he had no history of illicit drug use, according to body camera footage shown in court.

Author of book on grief found guilty of murder of her husband

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — About 3,800 workers at one of the nation's largest meatpacking plants went on strike Monday in Colorado in what union representatives said was the first walkout at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse in four decades.

Hundreds of strikers picketed in front of the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, owned by JBS USA, as the sun rose Monday. They walked back in forth in the morning cold, bundled in blankets as some yelled “huelga!” — Spanish for “strike.” Others carried signs saying “please don't patronize JBS,” written in both English and Spanish.

The strike follows accusations from union officials that the company retaliated against workers and committed other unfair labor practices amid contract negotiations. A previous contract expired Sunday night.

“They don’t really value their workers and we’re the ones that help them get all their profit,” said Leticia Avalos, a 34-year-old union steward and Greeley native who has been working at the plant since 2020.

Avalos said she depends on the job to support her family including a 6-month-old baby, but she's willing to make sacrifices to get the company to listen.

“It’s the number one place where all of Greeley works,” she said. “It’s a huge impact in the community for us to be striking. I know a lot of us are worried, and hope that nothing goes even more south.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676921703991.jpeg" alt="FILE - Employees walk in front of the entrance to the JBS meat processing plant, July 23, 2021, in Greeley, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Employees walk in front of the entrance to the JBS meat processing plant, July 23, 2021, in Greeley, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — About 3,800 workers at one of the nation's largest meatpacking plants went on strike Monday in Colorado in what union representatives said was the first walkout at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse in four decades.Hundreds of strikers picketed in front of the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, owned by JBS USA, as the sun rose Monday. They walked back in forth in the morning cold, bundled in blankets as some yelled “huelga!” — Spanish for “strike.” Others carried signs saying “please don't patronize JBS,” written in both English and Spanish.The strike follows accusations from union officials that the company retaliated against workers and committed other unfair labor practices amid contract negotiations. A previous contract expired Sunday night.“They don’t really value their workers and we’re the ones that help them get all their profit,” said Leticia Avalos, a 34-year-old union steward and Greeley native who has been working at the plant since 2020.Avalos said she depends on the job to support her family including a 6-month-old baby, but she's willing to make sacrifices to get the company to listen.“It’s the number one place where all of Greeley works,” she said. “It’s a huge impact in the community for us to be striking. I know a lot of us are worried, and hope that nothing goes even more south.”Smoke was rising from parts of the plant but it was unclear if it was still operating.A spokesperson at JBS USA said late Sunday that the company stands by its contract offer, describing it as fair.“Despite our continued efforts to reach a fair and responsible agreement, Local 7 chose to end negotiations and cancel the contract we had in place,” spokesperson Nikki Richardson wrote in an email.The union said in a news release that its workers “perform some of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in the country.” It said JBS in many cases has charged workers $1,100 or more to offset the company’s expenses for personal protective equipment needed to ensure worker safety.“They deserve wage increases that keep pace with inflation, ensure they receive healthcare commensurate with the toll this work takes on their bodies, and that allow them to live with dignity and respect.”The strike comes at a 75-year low for the U.S. cattle population, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2026/01-30-2026.php">Jan. 1 inventory of 86.2 million</a>&nbsp;animals — down 1% from the prior year.Beef&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beef-prices-record-high-cattle-steak-cows-e9fc33bbaec6a76fb243e277bbbb7c0e">prices have soared</a>&nbsp;to record levels in part after drought and years of low prices led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/record-beef-prices-supply-demand-drought-350dfe6144ddaa2c0dc2661da043edd5">smallest U.S. herd size in decades</a>. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have also curbed imports.The price for 100% ground chuck beef&nbsp;<a href="http://bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-average-price-data.htm">more than doubled</a>&nbsp;over the past two decades from $2.55 to $6.07 per pound, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase has added to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-state-of-union-bfc3fd78f46eb5b4bd389c7763936211">economic anxiety</a>&nbsp;in the U.S., while the administration Trump has turned to a trade deal with Argentina in efforts to lower prices for food, including beef.The strike also follows the January closure of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyson-closure-workers-lexington-nebraska-beef-plant-ad4deb5066d426724e881d7619155757">meatpacking plant in Lexington, Nebraska</a>, which was expected to ripple through the local economy and community. Tyson Foods cited the smaller herd and millions of dollars in expected losses this year.At the Greeley plant, the company tried to intimidate workers to quit the union in one-on-one meetings, union general counsel Matt Shechter said. A JBA USA statement issued before the strike said the company fully complies with federal and state labor and employment laws.Kim Cordova, president of the United Food and Commercial Union Local 7, said 99% of workers voted to authorize the strike. No formal negotiations took place over the weekend after the company refused a union request to negotiate on Saturday, Shechter said.Company spokesperson Richardson said any employee who didn’t want to strike would have work and be paid. The company said it would operate two shifts at the plant Monday and would temporarily move production as needed to other JBS facilities.It's the first strike at a U.S. slaughterhouse since workers walked out at a Hormel plant in Minnesota in 1985, Cordova said. That strike&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/event/hormel-strike-1985-1986">lasted more than a year</a>&nbsp;and included violent confrontations between police and protesters, according to the Minnesota Historical Society.Claire Poundstone, an attorney representing the union workers, said she expected workers to participate in the strike line through the evening.“We’ll be here all day,” she said.___Brown reported from Billings, Mont. With contributions from Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Colleen Slevin in Denver and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire.