Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I don’t have really any reports for you on the finalization of the injury stuff. I’ll get that later here – I’ll be able to do that (or) give to you later, or whatever, whenever we normally give it to you. I’m proud of our guys for how they played. They came out all three phases and I thought (they) really did a nice job against a team (Las Vegas Raiders) that was getting better each week before we had this chance to play them. They (Las Vegas Raiders) just came off a nice win and had some momentum going there and I thought our guys came out and really were able to stay aggressive both defensively and offensively from the start. Which I thought was important and then our fans jump in on that, and that’s a tough ask for a team to come into. There’s a bunch of individual things that I could address from Pat’s (Mahomes) day to the offensive line’s day to (Travis) Kelce had a few catches and getting Rashee (Rice) back in there, I thought was tremendous. The energy that he (Rashee Rice) brings along with Xavier (Worthy) and the other guys, I mean it’s contagious. Then for a defense to shutout another – an NFL offense is very rare. Just by the stat that you guys threw out there (that) I’ve been a head coach and never had a shutout. I’ve coached a couple of years and for that to happen, that’s obviously got to be a tough thing to do. My hat goes off to (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags and his game plan (and) their coaches – the coaches on the defensive side and then our players just really amping it up. That’s a nice feat for our defense. Then special teams, you can see (Harrison) Butker kicking the ball well, and that’s a positive along with (Matt) Araiza. I thought our coverage teams were good likewise and return teams. All in all, it was a good day. As far as Josh (Simmons) goes, I don’t have any updates for you. (General Manager Brett) Veach is handling everything there. We’ll just move on with that. Time’s yours.”

Q: How important is it to have a guy like Kareem Hunt on short yardage situations?

REID:&nbsp;“All our running backs ran hard yesterday, all three of them. Kareem (Hunt) has got a real knack for that (short yardage situations). He’s got great vision, and he’s always been good at that part of it. Having him back there is a – that’s a great thing. Having him on our roster is a great thing because he brings this veteran leadership, a confidence to that group, which I appreciate. He’s seen a lot of things and been through a lot of things and does a great job of handling himself.”

Q:&nbsp;What did you see from Patrick Mahomes after watching film?

REID:&nbsp;“You saw him (Patrick Mahomes) execute all the phases in the offense. We have different categories there, whether it’s play pass movements, whether it’s three-step drop, five step drop concepts and then all the screen game that goes with that. We do a variety of screens. I liked the way he handled that. His checks were good at the line of scrimmage when he had to put a little Hollywood (acting) into things, he did good with that and some of the tricky stuff. I thought he handled everything real well.”

Q: What are you seeing from Brashard Smith’s progression?

REID:&nbsp;“I think (Offensive Coordinator) Matt’s (Nagy) done a nice job along with (Running Backs Coach) Todd (Pinkston) and (Assistant Running Backs Coach) Mark (DeLeone) of just bringing him (Brashard Smith) along. He had, I want to say, 14 touches yesterday or so and did a nice job of that. He’s catching the ball well, and I like where he’s at now. He’s in a good frame of mind and he’s picking things up. So, we just keep coming with him.”

Q: Do you want a running back that can do everything, or do you have different guys for different jobs? Do you think Brashard Smith one day could grow into that guy?

REID:&nbsp;“I’ve always believed that you need three guys. We’ve normally used all three (running backs) when we’ve had them. I’ve done that for a lot of years now. They’re all contributing in their own way. I think it’s important for Pop (Isiah Pacheco) to get in there and get going. He is the best when he does that. Kareem (Hunt) understands that, and Kareem gets to pick and choose where he goes in there or we’re able to pick and choose where he goes in there. And then (Brashard) Smith gives you a whole different – it’s a different deal because he had played the wide receiver position at the University of Miami before he got to SMU so his ability to catch the ball on screens and those type of things is good and he’s got the protections down now so he can stand back there and still protect. He’s not quite as strong as the other guys. If you had to pick something where he can get better at, he’s going to need an offseason to get him even stronger than what he is to tote it every play, but he’ll work on that. He’s a pretty diligent kid.”

Q:&nbsp;Based on grading, do you see Patrick Mahomes as an average quarterback or one of the best?

REID:&nbsp;“I’ll tell you, I think he’s (Patrick Mahomes) the best, but listen I’m partial, obviously. We ask him to do so much stuff and then just look at his game, look at his numbers and how he contributes (and) how he gets everybody on the offense involved. That’s him doing that, and he’s got options on all that stuff. He finds a way to get everybody the ball and then his leadership I think is second to none.”

Q: On Hollywood Brown and what he brings to the cultivation of the Chiefs culture.

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I love him (Hollywood Brown). He’s one of those energy givers. He doesn’t say a lot but there’s a confidence there that he presents and makes you feel like I got it, I got everything under control (and) dial me up. That’s a great thing to have and when we have – we’re mixing and matching here so everybody’s getting a chance and when he gets a chance to move with the ball in his area he’s coming down with it. His hands are phenomenal. He does a nice job of that. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s fearless inside which you don’t see a lot of that in this league. Some of his best work happens in there and I appreciate that.”

Q: How important is it to give your coaches specific tasks so they can use them in their future coaching careers?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Nick (Jacobs), I think it’s good for them in a few areas. It’s always good to be accountable for something and it makes your game even better as a coach and as a player. These guys have an area that they work, and they dig in on it. (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags does the same thing on the defensive side as (Offensive Coordinator) Matt (Nagy) does on the offensive side. Everybody has a piece of the pie here, and they take a lot of pride in that. The players all know it. They know who does what, and they buy in. To be able to stand in front of a crew and to sell your product, that’s not an easy thing to do and then get results. It’s a great experience for them going forward or whatever direction they decide to go.”

Q:&nbsp;Where do you think this team set their new floor between the Lion’s game and yesterday’s game?

REID:&nbsp;“That’s a good question because I should’ve addressed that first. Last night I mentioned that you’re coming off a hard, emotional game against the Lions – (a) good football team and you’re going against a, now a rival (Las Vegas Raiders). It tells you first of all that you better be up every week. You can’t have an off week in the NFL. That part’s a great teaching tool. That’s a great teaching tool.”

Q: Does the success of the team lead to joyful plays or do joyful plays help get the team in the right spirit?

REID:&nbsp;“The guys enjoy those (joyful plays). If they’re sound, that’s where I’ve got the 51% on the thing. We practice them, and we feel like by the time we use them they’re a part of the offense. We normally can pull them off, we had the one fail on us down there, but normally these things work and that one, had we not botched it up a little bit there with the snap count, it probably would’ve scored. We just got to tighten that part up. We practice these things and spend time in them.”

Q: Can you feel your players’ energy on the sideline and how do you cultivate that?

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesOctober 20, 2025OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I don’t have really any reports for you on the finalization of the injury stuff. I’ll get that later here – I’ll be able to do that (or) give to you later, or whatever, whenever we normally give it to you. I’m proud of our guys for how they played. They came out all three phases and I thought (they) really did a nice job against a team (Las Vegas Raiders) that was getting better each week before we had this chance to play them. They (Las Vegas Raiders) just came off a nice win and had some momentum going there and I thought our guys came out and really were able to stay aggressive both defensively and offensively from the start. Which I thought was important and then our fans jump in on that, and that’s a tough ask for a team to come into. There’s a bunch of individual things that I could address from Pat’s (Mahomes) day to the offensive line’s day to (Travis) Kelce had a few catches and getting Rashee (Rice) back in there, I thought was tremendous. The energy that he (Rashee Rice) brings along with Xavier (Worthy) and the other guys, I mean it’s contagious. Then for a defense to shutout another – an NFL offense is very rare. Just by the stat that you guys threw out there (that) I’ve been a head coach and never had a shutout. I’ve coached a couple of years and for that to happen, that’s obviously got to be a tough thing to do. My hat goes off to (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags and his game plan (and) their coaches – the coaches on the defensive side and then our players just really amping it up. That’s a nice feat for our defense. Then special teams, you can see (Harrison) Butker kicking the ball well, and that’s a positive along with (Matt) Araiza. I thought our coverage teams were good likewise and return teams. All in all, it was a good day. As far as Josh (Simmons) goes, I don’t have any updates for you. (General Manager Brett) Veach is handling everything there. We’ll just move on with that. Time’s yours.”Q: How important is it to have a guy like Kareem Hunt on short yardage situations?REID:&nbsp;“All our running backs ran hard yesterday, all three of them. Kareem (Hunt) has got a real knack for that (short yardage situations). He’s got great vision, and he’s always been good at that part of it. Having him back there is a – that’s a great thing. Having him on our roster is a great thing because he brings this veteran leadership, a confidence to that group, which I appreciate. He’s seen a lot of things and been through a lot of things and does a great job of handling himself.”Q:&nbsp;What did you see from Patrick Mahomes after watching film?REID:&nbsp;“You saw him (Patrick Mahomes) execute all the phases in the offense. We have different categories there, whether it’s play pass movements, whether it’s three-step drop, five step drop concepts and then all the screen game that goes with that. We do a variety of screens. I liked the way he handled that. His checks were good at the line of scrimmage when he had to put a little Hollywood (acting) into things, he did good with that and some of the tricky stuff. I thought he handled everything real well.”Q: What are you seeing from Brashard Smith’s progression?REID:&nbsp;“I think (Offensive Coordinator) Matt’s (Nagy) done a nice job along with (Running Backs Coach) Todd (Pinkston) and (Assistant Running Backs Coach) Mark (DeLeone) of just bringing him (Brashard Smith) along. He had, I want to say, 14 touches yesterday or so and did a nice job of that. He’s catching the ball well, and I like where he’s at now. He’s in a good frame of mind and he’s picking things up. So, we just keep coming with him.”Q: Do you want a running back that can do everything, or do you have different guys for different jobs? Do you think Brashard Smith one day could grow into that guy?REID:&nbsp;“I’ve always believed that you need three guys. We’ve normally used all three (running backs) when we’ve had them. I’ve done that for a lot of years now. They’re all contributing in their own way. I think it’s important for Pop (Isiah Pacheco) to get in there and get going. He is the best when he does that. Kareem (Hunt) understands that, and Kareem gets to pick and choose where he goes in there or we’re able to pick and choose where he goes in there. And then (Brashard) Smith gives you a whole different – it’s a different deal because he had played the wide receiver position at the University of Miami before he got to SMU so his ability to catch the ball on screens and those type of things is good and he’s got the protections down now so he can stand back there and still protect. He’s not quite as strong as the other guys. If you had to pick something where he can get better at, he’s going to need an offseason to get him even stronger than what he is to tote it every play, but he’ll work on that. He’s a pretty diligent kid.”Q:&nbsp;Based on grading, do you see Patrick Mahomes as an average quarterback or one of the best?REID:&nbsp;“I’ll tell you, I think he’s (Patrick Mahomes) the best, but listen I’m partial, obviously. We ask him to do so much stuff and then just look at his game, look at his numbers and how he contributes (and) how he gets everybody on the offense involved. That’s him doing that, and he’s got options on all that stuff. He finds a way to get everybody the ball and then his leadership I think is second to none.”Q: On Hollywood Brown and what he brings to the cultivation of the Chiefs culture.REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I love him (Hollywood Brown). He’s one of those energy givers. He doesn’t say a lot but there’s a confidence there that he presents and makes you feel like I got it, I got everything under control (and) dial me up. That’s a great thing to have and when we have – we’re mixing and matching here so everybody’s getting a chance and when he gets a chance to move with the ball in his area he’s coming down with it. His hands are phenomenal. He does a nice job of that. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s fearless inside which you don’t see a lot of that in this league. Some of his best work happens in there and I appreciate that.”Q: How important is it to give your coaches specific tasks so they can use them in their future coaching careers?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah Nick (Jacobs), I think it’s good for them in a few areas. It’s always good to be accountable for something and it makes your game even better as a coach and as a player. These guys have an area that they work, and they dig in on it. (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags does the same thing on the defensive side as (Offensive Coordinator) Matt (Nagy) does on the offensive side. Everybody has a piece of the pie here, and they take a lot of pride in that. The players all know it. They know who does what, and they buy in. To be able to stand in front of a crew and to sell your product, that’s not an easy thing to do and then get results. It’s a great experience for them going forward or whatever direction they decide to go.”Q:&nbsp;Where do you think this team set their new floor between the Lion’s game and yesterday’s game?REID:&nbsp;“That’s a good question because I should’ve addressed that first. Last night I mentioned that you’re coming off a hard, emotional game against the Lions – (a) good football team and you’re going against a, now a rival (Las Vegas Raiders). It tells you first of all that you better be up every week. You can’t have an off week in the NFL. That part’s a great teaching tool. That’s a great teaching tool.”Q: Does the success of the team lead to joyful plays or do joyful plays help get the team in the right spirit?REID:&nbsp;“The guys enjoy those (joyful plays). If they’re sound, that’s where I’ve got the 51% on the thing. We practice them, and we feel like by the time we use them they’re a part of the offense. We normally can pull them off, we had the one fail on us down there, but normally these things work and that one, had we not botched it up a little bit there with the snap count, it probably would’ve scored. We just got to tighten that part up. We practice these things and spend time in them.”Q: Can you feel your players’ energy on the sideline and how do you cultivate that?

Chiefs Quotes: 10-20-25

Vivian Ruth Urban, 100, of Lucas, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in the presence of her loving family.

Vivian was born on August 9, 1925, to Noah and Ruth (Cullens) McGuire on the family farm seven miles northwest of Lucas, Kansas, in Osborne County. She was the sixth of their ten children.

Vivian learned early that faith in God, working hard, being persistent, respectful, kind, and generous was how she wanted to live her life. She loved growing up on the farm, working and having fun alongside her brothers, sisters, and parents. Times back then were good and bad, just like today. Her family survived the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. She saw her brothers serve in World War II and return home safely. Those formative years shaped her into the wonderful, exceptional, and loving woman we all knew and loved. Vivian met and surpassed countless milestones in her 100-plus years, and she thanked God every day for her blessed life.

Vivian graduated from Lucas High School in 1943 and taught at North Delhi and Greenview County Grade Schools for two years. She married Duane Urban on December 16, 1945, in the Delhi Church north of Lucas. They started their family while living in Sylvan Grove, Kansas. They raised eight children: LaVaughn Ruth, Mary Frances, Carol Jean, Duane Carlisle, Mildred Marie, David Lee, Jo Ann, and Richard Alan, while farming and ranching. Times were tough for a lot of people during those years. Vivian and Duane welcome Sharon and Dale Urban, their niece and nephew, into their home for about a year to help out the family. It wasn’t easy, but that’s what you did for family.

When farming didn’t work out in 1964, the couple moved to Lucas, Kansas, and began working at K-18 Café and Home Oil Company. Then, in 1965, they started leasing the Café until 1981, when they purchased the business. They ran K-18 Café for 22 years until their retirement in 1987. During the Café years, Vivian wore many, many hats. She worked multiple shifts most days, and it was open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year back then. She was a cook, waitress, dishwasher, baker; she did payroll, taxes, laundry, and scheduling. The list goes on. Plus, she still took care of raising her family of eight kids. Most of whom worked alongside her at the Café. Vivian was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church and a 79-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Vivian was well known in the Lucas and Sylvan Grove communities and surrounding towns. Not only from the meals and pies she made at the Café, but every Sunday she brought to church banana-nut bread, cookies, and angel food cake. For family reunions and holidays, there were all flavors of pies, cookies, and kolaches, banana-nut bread, chocolate cheesecake, and her famous homemade chicken and noodle soup. (This is why most of us are not skinny.) If you ever stopped by to visit her, it was a good bet you were leaving with a loaf of banana-nut bread. Vivian continued her baking and cooking until around 98 years of age, when she decided to slow down.

Vivian loved seeing her grandchildren. Most of them called her “Grams”. She and Duane taught them to play pinochle, pitch, rummy, and cribbage. They would spend hours at home with them playing cards, sometimes until past their bedtime, because Grandpa hadn’t won a game yet. She also spent time teaching some of them how to make egg noodles, kolaches, and other recipes from scratch.

Up until her eyesight began failing, Vivian was an avid reader of many different genres of fiction. She also enjoyed her time at the Lucas Golden Age Center (Senior Center), having coffee, lunch, visiting, and playing pitch in the afternoon with her friends. Of course, she was never empty-handed when she came.

Vivian was also the person to ask if you had a question about local history. It didn’t matter what it was about, a person, place, event, or date. She was always able to recall the answer, plus even more related information. Even at 100 years of age, her memory never failed to amaze.

She always enjoyed watching or listening to her Kansas City Chiefs and Royals games on television and would cheer them on, wrapped up in their blankets to keep warm.

Earlier, Vivian’s persistence was mentioned, and another example of her determination was when she had a major heart attack at 99, which she recovered from. So she was able to make it to her 100th birthday party and celebrate that milestone with family and friends.

Vivian’s legacy is a remarkable one filled with love and devotion to family, kindness, generosity, her quiet strength and sense of humor, and never complaining because that was a waste of time. She was supportive and always available to listen, encourage, and give advice if needed. Her passing leaves an emptiness in the hearts of all who loved her, and she will never be forgotten by those whose lives she touched.

Surviving family includes her children: Carol (Pete) Soto, Jr., Mildred Zurenda, David (Candi) Urban, Jo Ann (Lester) Frederking, Richard (Connie) Urban, 22 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane on June 11, 1998, her parents and siblings: Lavona Heinze, Nova Blundon, Naomi McNeil, Mary Jane Hendrix, Anita Isbell, Arven McGuire, Wilbur McGuire, and Richard McGuire, son: Duane Urban II, daughters: Mary Berry, and LaVaughn Urban, grandson: Lance Emerson, and great-granddaughter Jillian Fuellbier.

To<a href="https://rodrickminear-lucas-chapel.tributestore.com/?oId=45935108&amp;tag=&amp;tn=V2MSticky&amp;otv=Frazer_MS2_Cont&amp;source=tco_description&amp;_cdx=GA1.2.629820658.1758810127:GS2.1.s1760709598$o7$g1$t1760709668$j60$l0$h0&amp;tcouuid=61286206-b43b-473e-9279-d32bd9ffc688&amp;mtph=1">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://tree.tributestore.com/?oId=45935108&amp;tag=&amp;otv=Frazer_MS2_Cont&amp;source=tco_description&amp;_cdx=GA1.2.629820658.1758810127:GS2.1.s1760709598$o7$g1$t1760709668$j60$l0$h0&amp;tcouuid=61286206-b43b-473e-9279-d32bd9ffc688&amp;mtph=1">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Vivian, please&nbsp;<a href="https://rodrickminear-lucas-chapel.tributestore.com/?oId=45935108&amp;tag=&amp;tn=V2MSticky&amp;otv=Frazer_MS2_Cont&amp;source=tco_description&amp;_cdx=GA1.2.629820658.1758810127:GS2.1.s1760709598$o7$g1$t1760709668$j60$l0$h0&amp;tcouuid=61286206-b43b-473e-9279-d32bd9ffc688&amp;mtph=1">visit our floral store.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760982607457.jpeg" alt="Vivian Ruth Urban" />
 <figcaption>Vivian Ruth Urban</figcaption>
 </figure>Vivian Ruth Urban, 100, of Lucas, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in the presence of her loving family.Vivian was born on August 9, 1925, to Noah and Ruth (Cullens) McGuire on the family farm seven miles northwest of Lucas, Kansas, in Osborne County. She was the sixth of their ten children.Vivian learned early that faith in God, working hard, being persistent, respectful, kind, and generous was how she wanted to live her life. She loved growing up on the farm, working and having fun alongside her brothers, sisters, and parents. Times back then were good and bad, just like today. Her family survived the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. She saw her brothers serve in World War II and return home safely. Those formative years shaped her into the wonderful, exceptional, and loving woman we all knew and loved. Vivian met and surpassed countless milestones in her 100-plus years, and she thanked God every day for her blessed life.Vivian graduated from Lucas High School in 1943 and taught at North Delhi and Greenview County Grade Schools for two years. She married Duane Urban on December 16, 1945, in the Delhi Church north of Lucas. They started their family while living in Sylvan Grove, Kansas. They raised eight children: LaVaughn Ruth, Mary Frances, Carol Jean, Duane Carlisle, Mildred Marie, David Lee, Jo Ann, and Richard Alan, while farming and ranching. Times were tough for a lot of people during those years. Vivian and Duane welcome Sharon and Dale Urban, their niece and nephew, into their home for about a year to help out the family. It wasn’t easy, but that’s what you did for family.When farming didn’t work out in 1964, the couple moved to Lucas, Kansas, and began working at K-18 Café and Home Oil Company. Then, in 1965, they started leasing the Café until 1981, when they purchased the business. They ran K-18 Café for 22 years until their retirement in 1987. During the Café years, Vivian wore many, many hats. She worked multiple shifts most days, and it was open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year back then. She was a cook, waitress, dishwasher, baker; she did payroll, taxes, laundry, and scheduling. The list goes on. Plus, she still took care of raising her family of eight kids. Most of whom worked alongside her at the Café. Vivian was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church and a 79-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star.Vivian was well known in the Lucas and Sylvan Grove communities and surrounding towns. Not only from the meals and pies she made at the Café, but every Sunday she brought to church banana-nut bread, cookies, and angel food cake. For family reunions and holidays, there were all flavors of pies, cookies, and kolaches, banana-nut bread, chocolate cheesecake, and her famous homemade chicken and noodle soup. (This is why most of us are not skinny.) If you ever stopped by to visit her, it was a good bet you were leaving with a loaf of banana-nut bread. Vivian continued her baking and cooking until around 98 years of age, when she decided to slow down.Vivian loved seeing her grandchildren. Most of them called her “Grams”. She and Duane taught them to play pinochle, pitch, rummy, and cribbage. They would spend hours at home with them playing cards, sometimes until past their bedtime, because Grandpa hadn’t won a game yet. She also spent time teaching some of them how to make egg noodles, kolaches, and other recipes from scratch.Up until her eyesight began failing, Vivian was an avid reader of many different genres of fiction. She also enjoyed her time at the Lucas Golden Age Center (Senior Center), having coffee, lunch, visiting, and playing pitch in the afternoon with her friends. Of course, she was never empty-handed when she came.Vivian was also the person to ask if you had a question about local history. It didn’t matter what it was about, a person, place, event, or date. She was always able to recall the answer, plus even more related information. Even at 100 years of age, her memory never failed to amaze.She always enjoyed watching or listening to her Kansas City Chiefs and Royals games on television and would cheer them on, wrapped up in their blankets to keep warm.Earlier, Vivian’s persistence was mentioned, and another example of her determination was when she had a major heart attack at 99, which she recovered from. So she was able to make it to her 100th birthday party and celebrate that milestone with family and friends.Vivian’s legacy is a remarkable one filled with love and devotion to family, kindness, generosity, her quiet strength and sense of humor, and never complaining because that was a waste of time. She was supportive and always available to listen, encourage, and give advice if needed. Her passing leaves an emptiness in the hearts of all who loved her, and she will never be forgotten by those whose lives she touched.Surviving family includes her children: Carol (Pete) Soto, Jr., Mildred Zurenda, David (Candi) Urban, Jo Ann (Lester) Frederking, Richard (Connie) Urban, 22 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane on June 11, 1998, her parents and siblings: Lavona Heinze, Nova Blundon, Naomi McNeil, Mary Jane Hendrix, Anita Isbell, Arven McGuire, Wilbur McGuire, and Richard McGuire, son: Duane Urban II, daughters: Mary Berry, and LaVaughn Urban, grandson: Lance Emerson, and great-granddaughter Jillian Fuellbier.To<a href="https://rodrickminear-lucas-chapel.tributestore.com/?oId=45935108&amp;tag=&amp;tn=V2MSticky&amp;otv=Frazer_MS2_Cont&amp;source=tco_description&amp;_cdx=GA1.2.629820658.1758810127:GS2.1.s1760709598$o7$g1$t1760709668$j60$l0$h0&amp;tcouuid=61286206-b43b-473e-9279-d32bd9ffc688&amp;mtph=1">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://tree.tributestore.com/?oId=45935108&amp;tag=&amp;otv=Frazer_MS2_Cont&amp;source=tco_description&amp;_cdx=GA1.2.629820658.1758810127:GS2.1.s1760709598$o7$g1$t1760709668$j60$l0$h0&amp;tcouuid=61286206-b43b-473e-9279-d32bd9ffc688&amp;mtph=1">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Vivian, please&nbsp;<a href="https://rodrickminear-lucas-chapel.tributestore.com/?oId=45935108&amp;tag=&amp;tn=V2MSticky&amp;otv=Frazer_MS2_Cont&amp;source=tco_description&amp;_cdx=GA1.2.629820658.1758810127:GS2.1.s1760709598$o7$g1$t1760709668$j60$l0$h0&amp;tcouuid=61286206-b43b-473e-9279-d32bd9ffc688&amp;mtph=1">visit our floral store.</a>

Vivian Ruth Urban

<a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.

For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760966515618.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, October 20 - October 22. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, October 20 - October 22. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 20 - October 22

My name is Amy Freelove and I’m running for USD 305 School Board this November.

I was born, raised, and publicly educated in the near western suburbs of Chicago.

About 35 years ago I began my college education at The University of Kansas. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training. While my husband, Rob, was finishing his education and training, we moved around Kansas until we settled in Salina 25 years ago.

We were lucky to raise our kids here and send them through USD 305.&nbsp; While we raised our kids, I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home parent who volunteered in their classrooms, went on field trips, served on site councils, and was a team parent and Scout Leader. I volunteered in the Heusner Library, long after my kids had moved on from elementary school. I love books and reading and love seeing kids get excited about reading, too.&nbsp; When Salina was redrawing its boundaries, I was asked to be on the committee. I learned a lot during that process, and am proud of the work we did. In 2012 I completed my Master Gardener training and have been an active member since then.

Even though I have worked outside of our home, raising our children to be successful, thoughtful and kind humans is definitely my biggest accomplishment.&nbsp; Our daughter, Mary, graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with her Bachelor of Fine Arts.&nbsp; She is an artist and Art Director at a publisher in Chicago.&nbsp; Our son, Lukas, is a recent K-State grad with a Masters in Landscape Architecture.&nbsp; He’s a Landscape Designer in Boston.&nbsp; And while I know I have invested in my children, I also believe Salina schools and teachers have as well. Our children wouldn’t be who they are today without all of us working together. All children deserve that support and investment.

I believe all children should have a public education available and accessible to them.&nbsp; We must invest in and support our children. Teachers are an integral part of a good education. We must invest in and support them as well.

A healthy public school system in Salina, where people know their children can learn, grow, and build a foundation for success, makes for a thriving Salina. A strong and vital Salina helps ensure our community can not only continue to entice new businesses, people, and teachers, but also help our young citizens want to return and stay.

Most importantly, I believe our leaders and decision-makers must be level-headed, good listeners who are able to listen without judgment, be flexible, and work towards solutions that work for everyone.&nbsp; Generally, I am not a person who is comfortable being in front. Much of my life I have been a supportive behind-the-scenes person, and I’m good at it. I’ve learned over the years that being a good support person requires all the qualities a good leader needs.&nbsp; Anyone who knows me well would say that I am a smart, thoughtful, kind, level-headed and capable person; driven by compassion and common sense.&nbsp; 

I believe those attributes would allow me to serve the USD 305 School Board well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760739178219.jpeg" alt="Amy Freelove" />
 <figcaption>Amy Freelove</figcaption>
 </figure>By: AMY FREELOVEMy name is Amy Freelove and I’m running for USD 305 School Board this November.I was born, raised, and publicly educated in the near western suburbs of Chicago.About 35 years ago I began my college education at The University of Kansas. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training. While my husband, Rob, was finishing his education and training, we moved around Kansas until we settled in Salina 25 years ago.We were lucky to raise our kids here and send them through USD 305.&nbsp; While we raised our kids, I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home parent who volunteered in their classrooms, went on field trips, served on site councils, and was a team parent and Scout Leader. I volunteered in the Heusner Library, long after my kids had moved on from elementary school. I love books and reading and love seeing kids get excited about reading, too.&nbsp; When Salina was redrawing its boundaries, I was asked to be on the committee. I learned a lot during that process, and am proud of the work we did. In 2012 I completed my Master Gardener training and have been an active member since then.Even though I have worked outside of our home, raising our children to be successful, thoughtful and kind humans is definitely my biggest accomplishment.&nbsp; Our daughter, Mary, graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with her Bachelor of Fine Arts.&nbsp; She is an artist and Art Director at a publisher in Chicago.&nbsp; Our son, Lukas, is a recent K-State grad with a Masters in Landscape Architecture.&nbsp; He’s a Landscape Designer in Boston.&nbsp; And while I know I have invested in my children, I also believe Salina schools and teachers have as well. Our children wouldn’t be who they are today without all of us working together. All children deserve that support and investment.<h2>Why am I running for School Board?</h2>I believe all children should have a public education available and accessible to them.&nbsp; We must invest in and support our children. Teachers are an integral part of a good education. We must invest in and support them as well.A healthy public school system in Salina, where people know their children can learn, grow, and build a foundation for success, makes for a thriving Salina. A strong and vital Salina helps ensure our community can not only continue to entice new businesses, people, and teachers, but also help our young citizens want to return and stay.Most importantly, I believe our leaders and decision-makers must be level-headed, good listeners who are able to listen without judgment, be flexible, and work towards solutions that work for everyone.&nbsp; Generally, I am not a person who is comfortable being in front. Much of my life I have been a supportive behind-the-scenes person, and I’m good at it. I’ve learned over the years that being a good support person requires all the qualities a good leader needs.&nbsp; Anyone who knows me well would say that I am a smart, thoughtful, kind, level-headed and capable person; driven by compassion and common sense.&nbsp; I believe those attributes would allow me to serve the USD 305 School Board well.

Meet USD 305 School Board Candidate: Amy Freelove

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760709552910.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, October 17 - October 19. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, October 17 - October 19. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 17 - October 19

The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media.&nbsp;The&nbsp;editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.

I like Christopher Columbus. While Columbus Day is a Federal Holiday, much like its namesake, there is a mixed response to celebrating it. Some businesses are closed, but most are open. Federal offices are closed, but right now that is pretty much every day for Federal offices. Columbus, like his holiday, received mixed reviews while alive and still 500 plus years later. Even though Columbus has detractors he also exhibited characteristics that we would do well to emulate.

Born in 1451 to a working-class family, Christopher had three brothers and a sister. One of the characteristics that young Christopher had was a desire for adventure. His curiosity about the world would serve him well throughout his life. We may not have a new world to find, but we should always be curious about our world and have a sense of adventure to make it better.

Columbus was mainly self-educated and had a good understanding of geometry, astronomy, history, and geography. One untrue myth is that he came up with the concept that the earth is round. Actually, most scholars had known the spherical nature of the earth for hundreds of years. What was not known was exactly how large the earth was. Columbus actually made a serious error in his calculations of the distance to India going to the west from Europe. He believed it to only be about 25% of the actual distance. If he had calculated correctly the impossibility of sailing that far would have prevented him from even trying. This brings out a second truism about Columbus. Always keep learning, and even when you make mistakes, you can learn even more from them.

Christopher’s life experiences also prepared him for the epic trip that he would make when he was in his forties. He started sailing commercially from his early teenage years, and had traveled as far north as Great Britain and as far south as Africa. Possessing a sharp mind, he had learned at least four languages which served him well as he traveled. Even more important to Columbus was his persistence. He went from court to court in Europe selling his idea of a route to India to the West. All but one of the monarchies in Europe rejected him. The one monarchy that listened to him, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, eventually capitulated to giving him ships to sail. If he was successful, they agreed to give him the title of “Admiral of the Ocean Sea.” 

Had it not been for Columbus’s persistence, it may have been another hundred years or more before the continent, known as America, was discovered.

Perhaps the most distinguishing character trait Columbus had was courage. In a world that seems to be afraid of practically everything, the courage of Christopher Columbus alone should make him worthy of a holiday in his honor. The thought of getting on a tiny boat with limited provisions with the goal of sailing thousands of miles would be daunting to most of us. 

Adding to this scenario is the fact that the primary means of navigation was looking at the stars. Finally, the fact that he had no idea where they were actually headed would deter even the bravest individuals. Columbus may have benefited from not knowing how unlikely his success would be. While ignorance may have contributed to his bravery, we should still copy the courage he had to go where no one had ever gone before. I hope when you think of Columbus Day that you will remember curiosity, love of learning, persistence, and courage. These are traits that will serve us as well as they did Christopher Columbus over 500 years ago.

You can send us your opinions/letters to the editor, along with your name, city and or county location to&nbsp;newstips@salinapost.com

The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media.&nbsp;The&nbsp;editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708266344072.png" alt="Scott Hill, 24th District Kansas Senator. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Scott Hill, 24th District Kansas Senator. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By: SCOTT HILL24th District Kansas SenatorI like Christopher Columbus. While Columbus Day is a Federal Holiday, much like its namesake, there is a mixed response to celebrating it. Some businesses are closed, but most are open. Federal offices are closed, but right now that is pretty much every day for Federal offices. Columbus, like his holiday, received mixed reviews while alive and still 500 plus years later. Even though Columbus has detractors he also exhibited characteristics that we would do well to emulate.Born in 1451 to a working-class family, Christopher had three brothers and a sister. One of the characteristics that young Christopher had was a desire for adventure. His curiosity about the world would serve him well throughout his life. We may not have a new world to find, but we should always be curious about our world and have a sense of adventure to make it better.Columbus was mainly self-educated and had a good understanding of geometry, astronomy, history, and geography. One untrue myth is that he came up with the concept that the earth is round. Actually, most scholars had known the spherical nature of the earth for hundreds of years. What was not known was exactly how large the earth was. Columbus actually made a serious error in his calculations of the distance to India going to the west from Europe. He believed it to only be about 25% of the actual distance. If he had calculated correctly the impossibility of sailing that far would have prevented him from even trying. This brings out a second truism about Columbus. Always keep learning, and even when you make mistakes, you can learn even more from them.Christopher’s life experiences also prepared him for the epic trip that he would make when he was in his forties. He started sailing commercially from his early teenage years, and had traveled as far north as Great Britain and as far south as Africa. Possessing a sharp mind, he had learned at least four languages which served him well as he traveled. Even more important to Columbus was his persistence. He went from court to court in Europe selling his idea of a route to India to the West. All but one of the monarchies in Europe rejected him. The one monarchy that listened to him, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, eventually capitulated to giving him ships to sail. If he was successful, they agreed to give him the title of “Admiral of the Ocean Sea.” Had it not been for Columbus’s persistence, it may have been another hundred years or more before the continent, known as America, was discovered.Perhaps the most distinguishing character trait Columbus had was courage. In a world that seems to be afraid of practically everything, the courage of Christopher Columbus alone should make him worthy of a holiday in his honor. The thought of getting on a tiny boat with limited provisions with the goal of sailing thousands of miles would be daunting to most of us. Adding to this scenario is the fact that the primary means of navigation was looking at the stars. Finally, the fact that he had no idea where they were actually headed would deter even the bravest individuals. Columbus may have benefited from not knowing how unlikely his success would be. While ignorance may have contributed to his bravery, we should still copy the courage he had to go where no one had ever gone before. I hope when you think of Columbus Day that you will remember curiosity, love of learning, persistence, and courage. These are traits that will serve us as well as they did Christopher Columbus over 500 years ago.You can send us your opinions/letters to the editor, along with your name, city and or county location to&nbsp;newstips@salinapost.com

View from the Hill: Admiral of the ocean sea

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760541703178.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, October 15 - October 17. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, October 15 - October 17. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 15 - October 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🎥Trump posthumously awards Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meet USD 305 School Board Candidate: Bonnie Schamberger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chiefs Quotes: 10-13-25

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760365065830.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, October 13 - October 15. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, October 13 - October 15. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, October 13 - October 15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meet USD 305 School Board Candidate: Dana Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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