WINDSOR, England (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;relished the glow of a British royal spectacle as he opened a two-day state visit Wednesday, calling the hours of pageantry with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii">King Charles III</a>&nbsp;“one of the highest honors of my life” while also making time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.

The grandeur-loving president soaked up all the revelry, from the largest guard of honor in living memory — with 120 horses and 1,300 troops — to carriage rides, an air show and a Windsor Castle state dinner.

After the pomp comes the real work Thursday, when Trump and British&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/keir-starmer">Prime Minister</a>&nbsp;Keir Starmer meet to talk trade, technology and geopolitical issues.

No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has had the honor of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-trump-state-visit-67c610327fca8e99818c7f5980a9cfb3">second U.K. state visit;</a>&nbsp;Trump’s first was in 2019, during his previous term. The display of regal splendor was meant to bolster ties with Trump at a time when his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-imperialism-canada-panama-greenland-b4b53445dee97398b498b79eab54d49b">America First policies are putting pressure on trade</a>&nbsp;and security arrangements around the globe.

“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” Trump joked during the evening banquet.

The visit began with Prince William and his wife, Kate, meeting the presidential helicopter in the private Walled Garden on the vast Windsor estate, then walking Trump and first lady Melania Trump over to be greeted by Charles and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/queen-camilla">Queen Camilla</a>. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the Royal Tower.

The guests traveled to the castle in a procession of horse-drawn carriages, past ranks of soldiers, sailors and aviators. The king and the Republican president chatted in the Irish State Coach during the short journey to the castle quadrangle, where both inspected an honor guard of soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats.

They continued to chat and joke as the day progressed, with the king occasionally putting his hand on Trump’s back. The president stepped in front of Charles during a review of troops after the king gestured for him to do so. The king’s invitation avoided a violation of protocol, which was not the case in 2019, when Trump stepped in front of Queen Elizabeth.

Part of the day was spent at St. George’s Chapel on the castle grounds, where Trump placed a wreath in honor of Elizabeth, who died in 2022.

The president and Charles toured the Royal Collection Display in an ornate room where officials laid out five tables of artifacts on U.S.-British relations.

Among the items were 18th-century watercolors and documents on the United States seeking independence from King George III. There were materials from the first trans-Atlantic cable, including messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan, as well as a 1930s hot dog picnic that a young Elizabeth wrote about, and a large glass vessel that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the queen during a 1957 state visit.

The president later walked a red carpet on the castle’s East Lawn to watch the Beating Retreat, a military parade ceremony that featured 200-plus musicians, dates to the 1600s and was once used to call patrolling soldiers back to their castle at day’s end.

A scheduled flyover by F-35 jets from the U.K. and U.S. militaries was scrapped because of poor weather conditions. But the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team, thundered overhead, leaving streaks of red, white and blue smoke in their wake.

Charles and Camilla presented the president and first lady with a handbound leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January. The royals also gave first lady Melania Trump a silver and enamel bowl and a personalized handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch.

Trump gave Charles a replica of an Eisenhower sword, and Camilla received a vintage Tiffany &amp; Co. gold, diamond and ruby brooch.

The history, tradition and celebrity of the royal family give it a cachet that means presidents and prime ministers covet joining them. In his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-trump-state-visit-starmer-334930dc7a467118b5551c6e4ec3d1db">talks with Trump,</a>&nbsp;Starmer will promote a new U.K.-U.S. technology agreement. The British government hopes the deal, and billions in investment from U.S. tech companies, will help show that the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-palestinian-state-israel-gaza-recognition-bf50123e56404382ca0f7cfbd4161d14">Middle East</a>&nbsp;and the future of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nato">NATO</a>.

Ahead of the banquet, Trump and Charles walked together, leading a procession. Trump wore white tie, while his wife was in a yellow gown. Charles was in white tie with a blue sash, and Camilla in a blue gown with a tiara.

Beefeaters in traditional red uniforms and ruff collars lined the entrance to the castle’s St. George’s Hall for the dinner, which featured 100 staff members attending to 160 guests. The grand Waterloo table was set with 1,462 pieces of silver sparkling in the light from 139 candles and elaborate floral arrangements handpicked from the castle grounds.

The guests included Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Open AI’s Sam Altman and golfer Nick Faldo. Also appearing was publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch, whom Trump recently sued for $10 billion over The Wall Street Journal’s report on a sexually suggestive letter purportedly written by Trump for disgraced financier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>.

The menu featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, along with Norfolk chicken ballotine. Dessert was vanilla ice cream bombe with a raspberry sherbet interior and lightly poached Victorian plums.

Trump avoids alcohol, but the bar offerings included a cocktail known as a trans-Atlantic whiskey sour infused with marmalade, Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port — Trump is the 45th and 47th American president — and Hennessy 1912 cognac Grande Champagne. That was the year Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland.

The musical playlist included the theme from the James Bond movies and pop and rock staples, as well as top show tunes, often featured at Trump’s campaign rallies.

In his toast, Charles saluted Trump’s British roots and his recent visits to the U.K. In a nod to the president’s favorite sport, he said, “I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses.”

Trump mostly stuck to his prepared remarks and was on his best behavior, declaring, “This is truly one of the highest honors of my life” and sneaking in only one dig about his predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, by saying the U.S. was “sick” a year ago. He also touched on Britain’s contributions to literature, history and the arts and said “special” does not begin to do justice to his country’s relationship with the U.K.

“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,” Trump said.

Trump being in Windsor doesn’t stop protests

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-britain-uk-state-visit-king-charles-11e2c897c9047f12614cfa70e0c17753">Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to protest Trump’s visit. Some held banners that said “No to the racism, no to Trump.” Though the activities were smaller than during Trump’s visit in June 2019, they included mini versions of the giant Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-8f5de6a976af473788bf74389df782dc">baby blimp</a>, an orange-tinted caricature of the president in a diaper that made a big impression during those demonstrations six years ago.

In Windsor, protesters projected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/images-of-trump-and-epstein-projected-on-windsor-castle-as-us-president-visits-uk-6b004c3ab53247078795780c5c4bf7b1">an image of Trump and Epstein</a>&nbsp;on a tower at the castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the late American financier. Police said they arrested four people.

Lawless and Price reported from London and Weissert from Washington.

WINDSOR, England (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;relished the glow of a British royal spectacle as he opened a two-day state visit Wednesday, calling the hours of pageantry with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii">King Charles III</a>&nbsp;“one of the highest honors of my life” while also making time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH IN FULL: President Donald J. Trump and the First Lady receive a marvelous welcome to Windsor Castle earlier today, kicking off the President&#39;s unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom. <a href="https://t.co/3IOBmn8cVo">pic.twitter.com/3IOBmn8cVo</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968393607976456671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 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://t.co/UpX0M1yM5c">pic.twitter.com/UpX0M1yM5c</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968412389054775622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome President Trump 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/Xpm5Nq2XRA">pic.twitter.com/Xpm5Nq2XRA</a>&mdash; The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1968305875686449290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸 🇬🇧 This afternoon, a Beating Retreat ceremony was held at Windsor Castle to mark President Trump’s State Visit. The ceremony has its origins in the early years of organised warfare when the beating of drums and the parading of Post Guards heralded the closing of camp gates… <a href="https://t.co/UnFCeOYL29">pic.twitter.com/UnFCeOYL29</a>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1968387149734330404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WOW! A joint U.S.-U.K. flyover of F-35s and Red Arrows atop <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>, and Their Majesties at Windsor Castle! 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/CvMEtO3o3a">pic.twitter.com/CvMEtO3o3a</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968343366929907847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and the First Lady listen to the Chapel Choristers inside St. George’s Chapel 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/Qzw0FVowkJ">pic.twitter.com/Qzw0FVowkJ</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968337163357188250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> inspecting the Guard of Honor with King Charles 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/OtFaUxKMyp">pic.twitter.com/OtFaUxKMyp</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968294714886734156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> arrive at Windsor Castle with King Charles and Queen Camilla 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/p0RMi3zKA8">pic.twitter.com/p0RMi3zKA8</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968293874230767665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇬🇧 🇺🇸 The King and Queen inspect the banquet table in St George’s Hall ahead of this evening’s State Banquet <a href="https://t.co/T5OJm7MY3C">pic.twitter.com/T5OJm7MY3C</a>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1968356830087889211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 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> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>, together with Their Majesties, arrive for a state banquet at Windsor Castle. 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/tyO8lTW4xv">pic.twitter.com/tyO8lTW4xv</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968403182070960249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 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;We&#39;re joined by history and fate, by love and language, and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry, and destiny... The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal — it&#39;s irreplaceable and unbreakable.&quot; 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/RhFIaLNcAp">pic.twitter.com/RhFIaLNcAp</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968410080077832446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 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;On behalf of all Americans, I offer a toast to one of the great friendships, two great countries, and to His Majesty, King Charlies III — a very, very special man and also a very, very special Queen.&quot; 🥂🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/kzLKVhUFgA">pic.twitter.com/kzLKVhUFgA</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968409465629053016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 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> delivers remarks at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle: &quot;This is truly one of the highest honors of my life... for many decades, His Majesty The King has epitomized the fortitude, nobility, and the spirit of the British Monarchy, and the British people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/NhePpGOpJH">pic.twitter.com/NhePpGOpJH</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968408158696567144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">King Charles III: &quot;Allow me to propose a toast to President Trump and the First Lady — and to the health, prosperity, and happiness of the people of the United States of America.&quot; 🥂🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/KOjIIpHdwo">pic.twitter.com/KOjIIpHdwo</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968407680457887907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The grandeur-loving president soaked up all the revelry, from the largest guard of honor in living memory — with 120 horses and 1,300 troops — to carriage rides, an air show and a Windsor Castle state dinner.After the pomp comes the real work Thursday, when Trump and British&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/keir-starmer">Prime Minister</a>&nbsp;Keir Starmer meet to talk trade, technology and geopolitical issues.No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has had the honor of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-trump-state-visit-67c610327fca8e99818c7f5980a9cfb3">second U.K. state visit;</a>&nbsp;Trump’s first was in 2019, during his previous term. The display of regal splendor was meant to bolster ties with Trump at a time when his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-imperialism-canada-panama-greenland-b4b53445dee97398b498b79eab54d49b">America First policies are putting pressure on trade</a>&nbsp;and security arrangements around the globe.“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” Trump joked during the evening banquet.The visit began with Prince William and his wife, Kate, meeting the presidential helicopter in the private Walled Garden on the vast Windsor estate, then walking Trump and first lady Melania Trump over to be greeted by Charles and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/queen-camilla">Queen Camilla</a>. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the Royal Tower.The guests traveled to the castle in a procession of horse-drawn carriages, past ranks of soldiers, sailors and aviators. The king and the Republican president chatted in the Irish State Coach during the short journey to the castle quadrangle, where both inspected an honor guard of soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats.They continued to chat and joke as the day progressed, with the king occasionally putting his hand on Trump’s back. The president stepped in front of Charles during a review of troops after the king gestured for him to do so. The king’s invitation avoided a violation of protocol, which was not the case in 2019, when Trump stepped in front of Queen Elizabeth.Part of the day was spent at St. George’s Chapel on the castle grounds, where Trump placed a wreath in honor of Elizabeth, who died in 2022.<h2>A full day of pomp and circumstance</h2>The president and Charles toured the Royal Collection Display in an ornate room where officials laid out five tables of artifacts on U.S.-British relations.Among the items were 18th-century watercolors and documents on the United States seeking independence from King George III. There were materials from the first trans-Atlantic cable, including messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan, as well as a 1930s hot dog picnic that a young Elizabeth wrote about, and a large glass vessel that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the queen during a 1957 state visit.The president later walked a red carpet on the castle’s East Lawn to watch the Beating Retreat, a military parade ceremony that featured 200-plus musicians, dates to the 1600s and was once used to call patrolling soldiers back to their castle at day’s end.A scheduled flyover by F-35 jets from the U.K. and U.S. militaries was scrapped because of poor weather conditions. But the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team, thundered overhead, leaving streaks of red, white and blue smoke in their wake.Charles and Camilla presented the president and first lady with a handbound leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January. The royals also gave first lady Melania Trump a silver and enamel bowl and a personalized handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch.Trump gave Charles a replica of an Eisenhower sword, and Camilla received a vintage Tiffany &amp; Co. gold, diamond and ruby brooch.<h2>Serious talks coming</h2>The history, tradition and celebrity of the royal family give it a cachet that means presidents and prime ministers covet joining them. In his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-trump-state-visit-starmer-334930dc7a467118b5551c6e4ec3d1db">talks with Trump,</a>&nbsp;Starmer will promote a new U.K.-U.S. technology agreement. The British government hopes the deal, and billions in investment from U.S. tech companies, will help show that the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-palestinian-state-israel-gaza-recognition-bf50123e56404382ca0f7cfbd4161d14">Middle East</a>&nbsp;and the future of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nato">NATO</a>.Ahead of the banquet, Trump and Charles walked together, leading a procession. Trump wore white tie, while his wife was in a yellow gown. Charles was in white tie with a blue sash, and Camilla in a blue gown with a tiara.Beefeaters in traditional red uniforms and ruff collars lined the entrance to the castle’s St. George’s Hall for the dinner, which featured 100 staff members attending to 160 guests. The grand Waterloo table was set with 1,462 pieces of silver sparkling in the light from 139 candles and elaborate floral arrangements handpicked from the castle grounds.The guests included Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Open AI’s Sam Altman and golfer Nick Faldo. Also appearing was publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch, whom Trump recently sued for $10 billion over The Wall Street Journal’s report on a sexually suggestive letter purportedly written by Trump for disgraced financier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>.The menu featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, along with Norfolk chicken ballotine. Dessert was vanilla ice cream bombe with a raspberry sherbet interior and lightly poached Victorian plums.Trump avoids alcohol, but the bar offerings included a cocktail known as a trans-Atlantic whiskey sour infused with marmalade, Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port — Trump is the 45th and 47th American president — and Hennessy 1912 cognac Grande Champagne. That was the year Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland.The musical playlist included the theme from the James Bond movies and pop and rock staples, as well as top show tunes, often featured at Trump’s campaign rallies.In his toast, Charles saluted Trump’s British roots and his recent visits to the U.K. In a nod to the president’s favorite sport, he said, “I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses.”Trump mostly stuck to his prepared remarks and was on his best behavior, declaring, “This is truly one of the highest honors of my life” and sneaking in only one dig about his predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, by saying the U.S. was “sick” a year ago. He also touched on Britain’s contributions to literature, history and the arts and said “special” does not begin to do justice to his country’s relationship with the U.K.“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,” Trump said.<h2>Trump being in Windsor doesn’t stop protests</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-britain-uk-state-visit-king-charles-11e2c897c9047f12614cfa70e0c17753">Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to protest Trump’s visit. Some held banners that said “No to the racism, no to Trump.” Though the activities were smaller than during Trump’s visit in June 2019, they included mini versions of the giant Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-8f5de6a976af473788bf74389df782dc">baby blimp</a>, an orange-tinted caricature of the president in a diaper that made a big impression during those demonstrations six years ago.In Windsor, protesters projected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/images-of-trump-and-epstein-projected-on-windsor-castle-as-us-president-visits-uk-6b004c3ab53247078795780c5c4bf7b1">an image of Trump and Epstein</a>&nbsp;on a tower at the castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the late American financier. Police said they arrested four people.___Lawless and Price reported from London and Weissert from Washington.

🎥 Highlights of the President's big day with the Royal family

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, as far as the injuries go, Mike Danna won’t practice today and (Kristian) Fulton won’t practice today. Other than that, we look forward to the challenge of getting ready to play a good Giants football team. You can really see that they have a tremendous defense and a lot of skill on the offensive side. Their quarterback (QB Russel Wilson) is playing well right now. And (Giants Head Coach) Brian (Daboll) does – who you guys are familiar with, Brian does a good job, creative guy offensively, plus he’s got (Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator) Mike Kafka there on top of that, Mike’s a sharp kid. Defensively they have got a good scheme, one that we have played against a couple of different times when (Defensive Coordinator) Shane (Bowen) was at (the) Tennessee (Titans). It’s a good bunch there. Anyways with that, time is yours.”

Q: On Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals practicing this week.

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah. They’ll (Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals) practice today.”

Q: How is Jalen Royals coming along?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s coming pretty good. We’ll just see how he does here. He’s been out for a while, I’d like to see how he moves around.”

Q: Are there any limitations on Xavier Worthy for practice today?

REID:&nbsp;“No, neither of them (Xavier Worthy or Jalen Royals).”

Q: Travis Kelce said there’s a lot on his plate. Do you think that Travis Kelce might have too much on his plate?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, no listen, I mean Travis (Kelce) made so many of those catches right there. I don’t think it is an age thing or anything, at that point. He’s fine. We try to keep an eye on him the best we can.”

Q: What are you seeing from the pass offense?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, probably the same thing you guys see. I mean it’s – we’re on at times, and we’re not on at times. So, it’ll be the same thing you guys are seeing. We just got to keep working.”

Q: What issues are you seeing on third down?

REID:&nbsp;“Well, we’ve been throwing the ball in those situations. You want to keep them manageable first of all, and then we’ve got to hook up on them when called. We can do a better job as coaches of putting them in a better position. So that’s kind of the basics of it, and what we’ve got to go through to do that.”

Q:&nbsp;On Patrick Mahomes input on game plans and how comfortable he is in different formations, specifically center.

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) actually grown into liking getting under there (center) and doing that part of it. We’ve worked a little bit more in there this year than we have in the past.”

Q:&nbsp;The script at the beginning of the year hasn’t gone your way, can you put your finger on any reason why it might not be working?

REID:&nbsp;“I’ve got to do a better job there. I can’t stand here and tell you we’re going to try this or that, we are playing somebody here. To answer that question I’d have to give you the plays (laughter).”

Q:&nbsp;How comfortable are you with Patrick Mahomes running?

REID:&nbsp;“I am okay with it. As long as he (Patrick Mahomes) can come back upright, we’re okay. I don’t like him taking big hits, but he’s a competitive kid.”

Q:&nbsp;On the run game with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.

REID:&nbsp;“We can do a better job there. We’ll get that thing going better.”

Q:&nbsp;You had Mike Kafka here as an assistant. What makes him capable of calling plays?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, absolutely. I felt like he (Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka) can do it, (he’s a) smart guy. Had played the position in the league (and) had a good feel for defenses. Had a great grasp for the offense, so no reason he wouldn’t be able to.”

Q:&nbsp;How often do you and Mike Kafka communicate?

REID:&nbsp;“We talk a couple of times during the offseason.”

Q:&nbsp;As fans are we overreacting to the 0-2 start?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, we haven’t won the game. So, I understand, I get it. We keep pushing, and we’ll keep pushing and working forward and seeing what we can do going down the road here.”

Q:&nbsp;Is the start to the season, being 0-2 something you address to the team?

REID:&nbsp;“No, I just try to the fix the problems we might have. And all there is, including myself. That’s what you have time to do. Be real with the guys, I’m not going to not tell them what I think. (Communicate with them, and try to work it out. Get it right.”

Q:&nbsp;On Tom Brady being the co-owner of the Las Vegas Raider and participating in broadcasting.

REID:&nbsp;“I don’t know what he’s (Tom Brady) doing for them, so I can’t answer that. He’s done a good job as an announcer, I think. I don’t know that either because I really don’t listen to it (laughter). I haven’t really gotten into all of that.”

Q:&nbsp;Did you approach the production meeting with Tom Brady any differently?

REID:&nbsp;“No, we’re not telling secrets in the production meetings. So, we’re not giving them the plays and stuff in the production meeting.”

Q:&nbsp;What was your reaction to Josh Simmons against the Eagles?

REID:&nbsp;“I thought that was pretty impressive. I mean a 300-pound man running like that and making the tackle like he (Josh Simmons) did. Sure, we talked about it. That was one of the positives. There’s a lot of things we’ve got to work on but that was one of the positives of the game.”

Q:&nbsp;Patrick Mahomes’ 30th&nbsp;birthday is today. Can you put into perspective what he has done in his 20’s?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) done quite a bit to 30. It’s hard to believe he’s 30 years old; I mean time flies. I asked him if he felt old. Sometimes when you’re in your 20’s you look at 30 and that looks like an old man. He said he feels the same. I told him that’s a good thing because when you get to my age you want to make sure you feel the same, doggonit (laughter).”

Q:&nbsp;What are you evaluating on what you guys can do better?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah I think for myself, just being better at executing in some of those earlier moments in the game, especially I mean, there were guys open – obviously Noah (Gray) early, but even more than that if I sit in that pocket a little bit longer and trust those guys, get the ball to guys down the field I feel like we can make some more explosive plays. That was stuff I scouted on myself but knowing we are going up against a good defensive team this week, especially that d-line so finding the right moments to take those shots downfield but not taking the negative plays as well.”

Q:&nbsp;When you said stay in the pocket longer, was that something that you frequently saw on tape or just here or there?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Just here or there mostly. I think that even some of the runs that I made, if I would’ve just stayed a little bit longer (in the pocket) I could’ve made some throws to guys and let them make some plays happen. Obviously, the runs work so you have success in the play and stuff like that but when you look back on the tape sometimes you want to make sure that you are going through the progression the right way.”

Q:&nbsp;Does the team ask for too much from Travis Kelce?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I honestly don’t know. I know he (Travis Kelce) wants to be out there at the end of the day. He wants to have the chance to make the plays happen, and he’s made the plays happen for years. I don’t feel like we ask for too much from him, but we ask for him to be out there and be himself and just be who he is. I think that in itself is enough for us. That’s probably a question you can ask Trav, but I feel like he’s in a good spot and it’s hard to get him off the field I know that.”

Q:&nbsp;Have you communicated with Tyquan Thornton that he will find him when he is open?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“No. I think Tyquan (Thornton) has done a great job to start the year. I’ve missed him (Tyquan Thornton) on some throws, and he’s made big plays happen as well. I think if he continues to play like he’s playing, we’ll continue to have big plays within this offense and he’s got a great role in this offense. I think just for us in general, I think it’s just execution stuff. We’re just barely off here and there and in the NFL if you’re playing good defenses, if you miss plays then the drives stall out. We’re just going to continue to work and continue to practice and learn those things. As we get guys back, we’ll continue to execute at a higher level.”

Q:&nbsp;On what Patrick Mahomes remembers when he was five years old in New York.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It’s some of my best memories. Just my dad being on the (New York) Mets and playing in those National League Championship Series versus the (Atlanta) Braves or playing in the World Series versus the Yankees. That’s when I can first start remembering stuff, and I don’t know what the rules are back then, but they just had me out on the field. I was taking groundballs with Derek Jeter and then shagging fly balls. It was super cool. I had a lot of great experiences. Back at the time the Mets were my favorite team because my dad had the most success. It’s fun being able to go to New York, and it’s such a great city and play a football game there now.”

Q:&nbsp;What gives you faith that this team can handle being 0-2?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think it’s just the people that we have in the locker room. Even though we have never been 0-2, we’ve had stretches where we’ve lost big games kind of consecutively and guys have responded. It’s about the character of the guys in the locker room more than it is the play on the football field and I think that we have the guys that are going to continue to work. They’re not going to let this push them down, they’re going to use it if anything as motivation to be even better. I think that gives me most faith and then the coaches that we have they’ll continue to push to be even better. We’ll have a great week of practice this week and know we’re going to have to play our best football to win a game against a good football team in the (New York) Giants.”

Q:&nbsp;What do you have to do off the field? Is there a responsibility in the meeting rooms? Do you still play it as one week at a time?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“You take it one week at a time, but I think you just continue to even amplify the little details. Sometime when you’re winning a lot, those little details get lost and that’s how you lose, but when you lose early like this, you have to really just focus on those little details and maximize those and then you try and set the example on the practice field and stay after and do extra stuff and do a little bit here and there and push other guys to do&nbsp; the same. We’re really good at that and I feel like we’ve had great weeks of practice, and so that’s why I have faith is I know how these guys are working and how hard these guys are pushing to be even better. Now it’s just about putting it together on gameday which I’ve seen these guys do before, and so I have faith that we’ll do that.”

Q:&nbsp;How positive was it for you to see Xavier Worthy on the practice field and what are you looking to reestablish with him if he is able to play on Sunday?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think more than anything having him (Xavier Worthy) out there is just a threat in general. He can at any moment take a pass – short or long and he can take it to the house. Having him out on the practice field was very encouraging last week. Obviously, we didn’t know after that injury in Brazil but seeing him out there, he wanted to stay out there. It was kinda like holding him back. Hopefully we can go through a good week of practice and have him out there but if not, guys will step up and guys will make plays. I’m just excited to get those guys back and be able to go out there and try to have some success on (the) offense better than we did this last week.”

Q:&nbsp;On if his 30th&nbsp;birthday is meaningful to him.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, it’s meaningful in a sense. It’s always hard for me on my birthday in general, especially this year with the losses but being early in the season you’re so focused on football and trying to get us going in the right direction. We celebrated in the offseason, and we went down and I hung out with some of my friends that we all grew up together and you see them and I’m a little ahead of them. Their wives are pregnant (and) they’re finally getting their jobs that they’re gonna have for the rest of their lives and stuff like that so it’s cool to see everybody moving on in life and building their own families and see how we’ve came from little league baseball to where we are now.”

Q:&nbsp;Head Coach Andy Reid said you told him you don’t feel any different today?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Nah. I feel the same. I got kids man I’ve been 30 forever (laughter).”

Q:&nbsp;How much confidence do you have in this new offensive line to go through your progressions?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I have confidence in it. I just gotta continue to show that on gamedays. I think that’s probably the biggest thing I saw is that there was times that I left the pocket early this last week. Even on some of the runs and I’m like: ‘If I can just sit in that pocket and trust those guys that are gonna protect.’ That’s a good (Philadelphia) Eagles defensive line obviously, and we’re going up against another great challenge but the more I trust them, the better the offense will be. I’m going to continue to do that and try and hang in that pocket and make throws on the field.”

Q:&nbsp;How much of your confidence on throws have had to do with the struggles on third down?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, obviously you want to continue to get the chains moving but there’s a time and a place where you got to take the shots down the field and even the throw to Tyquan (Thornton) down the sideline that barely missed early in the game, I thought that was the right decision. We just didn’t execute it at the right time. You look back on that stuff on film, and you have to take those shots. Those are shots that can change games, but knowing when to do that (and) when to just move the chains and do stuff like that is something we will continue to work on.”

Q:&nbsp;On not being successful on call runs when the box isn’t stacked.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It’s something you continue to trust in. That’s part of football is being able to trust in the run game and whenever they’re in the light boxes, run the football and force them to come down (so) we can throw some of the shots down the field. I think that will come together more and more as the o-line continues to gel and the running backs can gel with the o-line as well. More than just pass protection when you have two new offensive linemen joining in, it’s about building that chemistry and so I think as the season goes on, they’ll continue to get better at that.”

Q:&nbsp;How does the 0-2 record make you feel?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Obviously being 0-2, there’s more urgency than even last week and I feel like we were very urgent last week. Definitely new territory as far as being 0-2 but knowing that we got the guys for it. We have the mindset of going out there and being even better. In my eyes it looks like what an opportunity. What an opportunity to prove who we are as the Kansas City Chiefs. Coming back from 0-2 and trying to build up to win a big football game on Sunday Night Football and try and get our season going in the right direction from there.”

Q:&nbsp;On why he is lowering his shoulder more when running with the football.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think just picking and choosing more than anything. It’s just knowing when to do it and when not to do it. Protecting yourself but still being a football player and a competitor. I think that’s it more than anything and that Brad (Gee) says Taco Bell so that does it for me too.”

Q:&nbsp;What is different about playing on Sunday Night Football?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I’ve always loved Sunday Night Football. You grow up, you watch Sunday Night Football and you get the spotlight on you (and) it’s a night game, the lights get brighter and you get to showcase who you are and I think that it’s a great opportunity for us. Obviously, with the start that we have we want to prove that we’re a better football team than what we’ve shown these first two weeks and Sunday Night Football will be the perfect time to do it.”

Q:&nbsp;What have you liked with Josh Simmons and Kingsley Suamataia thus far?

HUMPHREY:&nbsp;“Yeah, they’re (Josh Simmons and Kingsley Suamataia) both improving each week. They’re both coming in with the right mindset, working on the things they need to work on and they’ve gotten better throughout the past two weeks. And continue to hope to see a good jump from them. But their coming in (and) they’re playing their tails off, efforts been awesome and their continuing to improve each week.”

Q:&nbsp;How does the offensive line set the tempo this week, so people feed off you guys from the offense?

HUMPHREY:&nbsp;“Starting fast. Coming out of the gate playing hard, physical (and) great fundamentally all those things. And finishing plays. If our guys get tackled, we’re there to pick them up, things like that. Just leading from an energy standpoint, coming out fast, playing physical (and) setting the tone for the guys early.”

Q:&nbsp;On the challenge of playing the Giants defensive front.

HUMPHREY:&nbsp;“They have a really good defensive front. Really good at all positions too. It’s not just one stand out guy here or there. They have really good players across the board. So, it’s going to be a great challenge for us, and I’m excited to see how our guys work this week through practice and getting ready for the game.”

Q:&nbsp;What did you see from New York Giants QB Russell Wilson last weekend?

COOK:&nbsp;“I have seen him clicking on all cylinders. (He’s) trusting his arm (and) letting it sling, trusting his guys and getting the ball to his go-to guys as well. I think he found his different type of groove. He has been in the league for a few years. I feel like he found a great combination as far as having the experience as well as the younger mentality of playing football and having fun. He definitely has his groove for sure.”

Q:&nbsp;On the defense improving from Week 1 to Week 2.

COOK:&nbsp;“I think more guys were hungry. Like I said getting punched in the mouth woke us up a little bit but it’s just seeing a new identity, every year is a different year. We have different guys in different positions and the trust factor, the comradery we have this year – I know we had (Pittsburgh Steelers S) Juan Thornhill was here, (Tennese Titans CB L’Jarius) Sneed was here and (New Orleans Saints S) Justin Reid.&nbsp; The list goes on. But this year, now I’m the “old-head” in the locker room (and) it’s kinda crazy. But seeing how the guys gel together it’s a beautiful feeling and a beautiful thing to see.”

Q:&nbsp;How close are you defensively to being where you can be?

Chiefs Quotes: 7-17-25

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s public health system is headed to a “very dangerous place” with Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and his team of anti-vaccine advisers in charge, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez warned senators on Wednesday.

Describing extraordinary turmoil inside the nation's health agencies, Monarez and former CDC Chief Medical Officer Chief Debra Houry described exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Monarez, who was fired after just 29 days on the job following disagreements with Kennedy, told senators deadly diseases like polio and whooping cough, long contained, are poised to make a comeback in the U.S.

“I believe preventable diseases will return, and I believe we will have our children harmed by things they don’t need to be harmed by,” Monarez said before the Senate health committee.

Monarez said she was ordered by Kennedy to resign if she did not sign off on new vaccine recommendations, which are expected to be released later this week by an advisory panel that Kennedy has stocked with medical experts and vaccine skeptics. She said that when she asked for data or science to back up Kennedy’s request to change the childhood vaccination schedule, he offered none.

She added that Kennedy told her “he spoke to the president every day about changing the childhood vaccination schedule.”

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the powerful health committee, listened intently as Monarez and Houry described conversations with Kennedy and his advisers.

“To be clear, he said there was not science or data, but he still expected you to change schedule?” Cassidy asked.

Cassidy carefully praised President Donald Trump for his commitment to promoting health policies but made it clear he was concerned about the circumstances surrounding Monarez's removal.

Houry, meanwhile, described similar exchanges with Kennedy's political advisers, who took an unprecedented role in preparing materials for meetings of the CDC's advisory vaccine panel.

Ahead of this week's meeting of the panel, Houry offered to include data around the hepatitis B shot that is administered to newborns to prevent spread of the deadly disease from the mother. She said a Kennedy adviser dismissed the data as biased because it might support keeping the shots on the schedule.

"You’re suggesting that they wanted to move away from the birth dose, but they were afraid that your data would say that they should retain it?" Cassidy asked.

During the Senate hearing, Democrats, all of whom opposed Monarez's nomination, also questioned Kennedy's motives for firing Monarez, who was approved for the job unanimously by Republicans.

“Frankly, she stood up for protecting the well-being of the American people, and for that reason she was fired,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats.

Monarez said it was both her refusal to sign off on new vaccination recommendations without scientific evidence and her unwillingness to fire high-ranking career CDC officials without cause that led to her ousting.

Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-senate-cdc-3a5a090fc9d9f547377203fe5c61ffa2">has denied</a>&nbsp;Monarez’s accusations that he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations but has acknowledged he demanded firings. He has described Monarez as admitting to him that she is “untrustworthy,” a claim Monarez has denied through her attorney.

While Senate Republicans have been mostly loath to challenge Trump or even Kennedy, many of them have expressed concerns about the lack of availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the health department’s decisions to scale back some childhood vaccines.

Others have backed up Kennedy’s distrust of the nation’s health agencies.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, a doctor, aggressively questioned Monarez about her “philosophy” on vaccines as she explained that her decisions were based on science. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Trump was elected to make change and suggested Monarez's job was to be loyal to Kennedy.

“America needs better than this,” Tuberville said.

The Senate hearing was taking place just a day before the vaccine panel starts its two-day session in Atlanta to discuss shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. It’s unclear how the panel might vote on the recommendations, though members have raised doubts about whether hepatitis B shots administered to newborns are necessary and have suggested COVID-19 recommendations should be more restricted.

The CDC director must endorse those recommendations before they become official. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-oneill-cdc-kennedy-trump-vaccines-58fd24f678bf46ea6ec96a2b09f85ff4">Jim O’Neill</a>, now serving as the CDC’s acting director, will be responsible for that.

“I'm very nervous about it,” Monarez said of the meeting.

Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758119416377.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s public health system is headed to a “very dangerous place” with Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and his team of anti-vaccine advisers in charge, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez warned senators on Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> admonishes Susan Monarez: “You are the problem.” <a href="https://t.co/4ow5WxO992">pic.twitter.com/4ow5WxO992</a>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1968340321500311721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former CDC Director Susan Monarez delivers her opening statement: &quot;Today should not be about me. Today should be about the future of trust in public health.&quot; Ms. Monarez details her time at the CDC and her firing from the agency. <a href="https://t.co/a45ZiXGZ0n">pic.twitter.com/a45ZiXGZ0n</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968328090288881978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Describing extraordinary turmoil inside the nation's health agencies, Monarez and former CDC Chief Medical Officer Chief Debra Houry described exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry opening statement. <a href="https://t.co/5bK99PFZQY">pic.twitter.com/5bK99PFZQY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968328629521105280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Monarez, who was fired after just 29 days on the job following disagreements with Kennedy, told senators deadly diseases like polio and whooping cough, long contained, are poised to make a comeback in the U.S.“I believe preventable diseases will return, and I believe we will have our children harmed by things they don’t need to be harmed by,” Monarez said before the Senate health committee.<h2>Monarez describes her firing by RFK</h2>Monarez said she was ordered by Kennedy to resign if she did not sign off on new vaccine recommendations, which are expected to be released later this week by an advisory panel that Kennedy has stocked with medical experts and vaccine skeptics. She said that when she asked for data or science to back up Kennedy’s request to change the childhood vaccination schedule, he offered none.She added that Kennedy told her “he spoke to the president every day about changing the childhood vaccination schedule.”Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the powerful health committee, listened intently as Monarez and Houry described conversations with Kennedy and his advisers.“To be clear, he said there was not science or data, but he still expected you to change schedule?” Cassidy asked.Cassidy carefully praised President Donald Trump for his commitment to promoting health policies but made it clear he was concerned about the circumstances surrounding Monarez's removal.Houry, meanwhile, described similar exchanges with Kennedy's political advisers, who took an unprecedented role in preparing materials for meetings of the CDC's advisory vaccine panel.Ahead of this week's meeting of the panel, Houry offered to include data around the hepatitis B shot that is administered to newborns to prevent spread of the deadly disease from the mother. She said a Kennedy adviser dismissed the data as biased because it might support keeping the shots on the schedule."You’re suggesting that they wanted to move away from the birth dose, but they were afraid that your data would say that they should retain it?" Cassidy asked.<h2>Critical vaccine decisions are ahead</h2>During the Senate hearing, Democrats, all of whom opposed Monarez's nomination, also questioned Kennedy's motives for firing Monarez, who was approved for the job unanimously by Republicans.“Frankly, she stood up for protecting the well-being of the American people, and for that reason she was fired,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats.Monarez said it was both her refusal to sign off on new vaccination recommendations without scientific evidence and her unwillingness to fire high-ranking career CDC officials without cause that led to her ousting.Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-senate-cdc-3a5a090fc9d9f547377203fe5c61ffa2">has denied</a>&nbsp;Monarez’s accusations that he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations but has acknowledged he demanded firings. He has described Monarez as admitting to him that she is “untrustworthy,” a claim Monarez has denied through her attorney.While Senate Republicans have been mostly loath to challenge Trump or even Kennedy, many of them have expressed concerns about the lack of availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the health department’s decisions to scale back some childhood vaccines.Others have backed up Kennedy’s distrust of the nation’s health agencies.Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, a doctor, aggressively questioned Monarez about her “philosophy” on vaccines as she explained that her decisions were based on science. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Trump was elected to make change and suggested Monarez's job was to be loyal to Kennedy.“America needs better than this,” Tuberville said.The Senate hearing was taking place just a day before the vaccine panel starts its two-day session in Atlanta to discuss shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. It’s unclear how the panel might vote on the recommendations, though members have raised doubts about whether hepatitis B shots administered to newborns are necessary and have suggested COVID-19 recommendations should be more restricted.The CDC director must endorse those recommendations before they become official. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-oneill-cdc-kennedy-trump-vaccines-58fd24f678bf46ea6ec96a2b09f85ff4">Jim O’Neill</a>, now serving as the CDC’s acting director, will be responsible for that.“I'm very nervous about it,” Monarez said of the meeting.——Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed.

🎥 Kan. U.S. Senator admonished fired CDC Chief: “You are the problem.”

A local hip-hop artist and studio engineer seeks to make the hip-hop/rap scene in the Salina area bigger, by inspiration and service to other artists.

Devon James, aka "Dee Eazy" is a 32-year old Salinan that has written and produced 4 studio albums and is not looking back. James has been around in the music scene for awhile and first started singing songs as early as 5-years old. When he entered high school, he was heavily involved in sports, but continued freestyling with his teammates and friends on bus rides to games and at each other's houses.

After high school, he chose music over sports and pursued a career in hip-hop by moving to Kansas City. James found a deeper love for music in KC and realized he can become a studio engineer to maintain a long career in the industry.

James moved back to Salina after his time in KC and currently rents out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-1117/100064352452700/">Studio 1117</a>&nbsp;to record his own and produce music for other local artists.&nbsp;

Performance at River Festival prompts upcoming event

When Dee Eazy performed at the 2025 Smoky Hill River Festival, he stated that he got 'hungrier' after performing at a big stage in front of a big crowd. He then wanted to continue performing his songs, while brining other artists with him to showcase their talent in front of crowds.

James decided to plan a listening party and is inviting the local community to attend. On&nbsp;Saturday, September 20 James&nbsp;will host a party for his 4-part album series, “Road to Riches." This party will be held at&nbsp;The Back Alley (1820 S. 9th St.) and will also double as a birthday celebration for James. Doors open at&nbsp;8:30 pm, with the show starting at&nbsp;9:00 pm.General Admission&nbsp;is&nbsp;$5,&nbsp;$25&nbsp;for&nbsp;VIP, or&nbsp;$100 for Group VIP (for 6).

In addition, the party will feature special guest DJ Cash Hollistah, along with live performances by Salina artists Jon’nea Soul, Laylo Holmes, Sick ’N Twisted, South City, Yaple, GQ Baby, L.O.D., Black Santa, and Lawrence rapper Los Loco.&nbsp;

"I have been doing music in Salina for a very long time and I feel like in Kansas the opportunities can sometimes be hard when it comes to hip-hop, so I want to be able to give everyone an opportunity," said James. "I just want to make the hip-hop scene bigger here and let people know that we are here."

He hopes this event will start to push the hip-hop/rap to a much bigger scale in the Salina area.

James explained his music portrays a message of 'chasing your dreams and grinding towards your own path of success.' His album series named, "Road to Riches" is inspired by his message.

"Everyone has their own journey and I believe that everyone should be who they truly are, as they head towards their own road to riches," he said. "My listeners and my family motivate me the most."

James has toured for his music in the past and opened concerts for well-renowned artists such as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Hurricane Chris, Three 6 Mafia, Twista, Nappy Roots, Devin the Dude, Trinidad James and Paul Wall.

You can listen to Dee Eazy's music on all streaming platforms under: Dee Eazy.

Follow Dee Eazy on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deeeazyhimself">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758128974415.jpeg" alt="Devon James, aka"Dee Eazy." WBC Visions courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Devon James, aka"Dee Eazy." WBC Visions courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By: NICOLAS FIERROSalina PostA local hip-hop artist and studio engineer seeks to make the hip-hop/rap scene in the Salina area bigger, by inspiration and service to other artists.Devon James, aka "Dee Eazy" is a 32-year old Salinan that has written and produced 4 studio albums and is not looking back. James has been around in the music scene for awhile and first started singing songs as early as 5-years old. When he entered high school, he was heavily involved in sports, but continued freestyling with his teammates and friends on bus rides to games and at each other's houses.After high school, he chose music over sports and pursued a career in hip-hop by moving to Kansas City. James found a deeper love for music in KC and realized he can become a studio engineer to maintain a long career in the industry.James moved back to Salina after his time in KC and currently rents out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Studio-1117/100064352452700/">Studio 1117</a>&nbsp;to record his own and produce music for other local artists.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758128808562.jpeg" alt="Devon James, aka "Dee Eazy"" />
 <figcaption>Devon James, aka "Dee Eazy"</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Performance at River Festival prompts upcoming event</h2>When Dee Eazy performed at the 2025 Smoky Hill River Festival, he stated that he got 'hungrier' after performing at a big stage in front of a big crowd. He then wanted to continue performing his songs, while brining other artists with him to showcase their talent in front of crowds.James decided to plan a listening party and is inviting the local community to attend. On&nbsp;Saturday, September 20 James&nbsp;will host a party for his 4-part album series, “Road to Riches." This party will be held at&nbsp;The Back Alley (1820 S. 9th St.) and will also double as a birthday celebration for James. Doors open at&nbsp;8:30 pm, with the show starting at&nbsp;9:00 pm.General Admission&nbsp;is&nbsp;$5,&nbsp;$25&nbsp;for&nbsp;VIP, or&nbsp;$100 for Group VIP (for 6).In addition, the party will feature special guest DJ Cash Hollistah, along with live performances by Salina artists Jon’nea Soul, Laylo Holmes, Sick ’N Twisted, South City, Yaple, GQ Baby, L.O.D., Black Santa, and Lawrence rapper Los Loco.&nbsp;"I have been doing music in Salina for a very long time and I feel like in Kansas the opportunities can sometimes be hard when it comes to hip-hop, so I want to be able to give everyone an opportunity," said James. "I just want to make the hip-hop scene bigger here and let people know that we are here."He hopes this event will start to push the hip-hop/rap to a much bigger scale in the Salina area.<h2>Portraying inspiration through music</h2>James explained his music portrays a message of 'chasing your dreams and grinding towards your own path of success.' His album series named, "Road to Riches" is inspired by his message."Everyone has their own journey and I believe that everyone should be who they truly are, as they head towards their own road to riches," he said. "My listeners and my family motivate me the most."James has toured for his music in the past and opened concerts for well-renowned artists such as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Hurricane Chris, Three 6 Mafia, Twista, Nappy Roots, Devin the Dude, Trinidad James and Paul Wall.You can listen to Dee Eazy's music on all streaming platforms under: Dee Eazy.Follow Dee Eazy on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deeeazyhimself">Facebook</a>.

Local artist seeks to make the hip-hop/rap scene bigger in the Salina area by inspiration and service

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation's labor market.

The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and it lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-rates-99d90bab1ba2faa0fc5d4a6106125da7">unchanged this year</a>&nbsp;as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy.

Yet the central bank’s focus has shifted quickly from inflation, which remains modestly above its 2% target, to jobs, as hiring has grounded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-firing-f686eab61f7d6b702ca10b12b0250498">nearly to a halt</a>&nbsp;in recent months and the unemployment rate has ticked higher. Lower interest rates could reduce borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and business loans, and boost growth and hiring.

“In this less dynamic and somewhat softer labor market, the downside risks to employment appear to have risen,” Powell said at a press conference following the Fed's two-day meeting.

Fed officials also signaled that they expect to reduce their key rate twice more this year, but just once in 2026. Before the meeting, investors on Wall Street had projected five cuts for the rest of this year and next. Stocks wavered a bit as Powell took questions from reporters. The S&amp;P 500 ticked down 0.1% as of 3:40 p.m. ET.

Just one Fed policymaker dissented from the decision: Stephen Miran, who President Donald Trump appointed and was confirmed by the Senate in a rushed vote late Monday just hours before the meeting began. Miran preferred a larger half-point cut, but Powell told reporters there wasn't “very much support” for the bigger-size cut among Fed officials.

Many economists had forecast there would be additional dissents, and the meeting's outcome suggests that Powell was able to patch together a show of unity from a committee that includes Miran and two other Trump appointees from his first term, as well as a Fed governor, Lisa Cook, whom Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-cook-trump-e9933d518af5155250bebbdc29fd3f2b">seeking to fire</a>.

Still, there were still significant differences among the 19 officials on the Fed's rate-setting committee about where the Fed should go next. Seven policymakers indicated they don't support any further cuts, while two supported just one more and 10 favor at least two more. One official — likely Miran — indicated that they would support several large cuts to bring the Fed's rate to 2.9% by year's end. Fed officials submit their forecasts of future rate moves anonymously.

Powell said the wide divergence reflects the uncertain outlook for the economy, given that inflation remains stubborn even as hiring has stumbled.

“There are no risk-free paths now,” Powell said. “It's not incredibly obvious what to do.”

The Fed is facing both a challenging economic environment and threats to its traditional independence from day-to-day politics. At the same time that hiring has weakened, inflation remains stubbornly elevated. It rose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">2.9% in August</a>&nbsp;from a year ago, according to the consumer price index, up from 2.7% in July and noticeably above the Fed’s 2% target.

It’s unusual to have weaker hiring and elevated inflation, because typically a slowing economy causes consumers to pull back on spending, cooling price hikes. Powell suggested last month that sluggish growth could keep inflation in check even if tariffs lift prices further.

Separately, Trump’s attempted firing of Cook is the first time a president has tried to remove a Fed governor in the central bank’s 112-year history, and has been seen by many legal scholars as an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-powell-cook-interest-rates-65f53b88f35f6fd4c670ce43efd6d852">unprecedented attack</a>&nbsp;on the Fed’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-independence-5c2ec1a37dc4aca6a59544f8b4513a45">independence</a>. His administration has accused Cook of mortgage fraud, but the accusation has come in the context of Trump’s extensive criticism of Powell and the Fed for not cutting rates much faster and steeper.

An appeals court late Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-cook-trump-56e36badb0d1e9752e306fd6609747bd">upheld an earlier ruling</a>&nbsp;that the firing violated Cook’s due process rights. A lower court had also previously ruled that Trump did not provide sufficient justification to remove Cook. Also late Monday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-miran-trump-70a09bdf2e10839f35e1596cafe5c415">Senate voted to approve</a>&nbsp;Miran’s nomination, and he was quickly sworn in Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, Trump said Fed officials “have to make their own choice” on rates but added that “they should listen to smart people like me.” Trump has said the Fed should reduce rates by three full percentage points.

When asked what the signs would be that the Fed is no longer functioning independent of political pressure, Powell said, “I don’t believe we’ll ever get to that place. We’re doing our work exactly as we always have now.”

The Fed’s move to cut rates puts it in a different spot from many other central banks overseas. Last week, the European Central Bank left its benchmark rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-lagarde-d4618467d6e89764d61c9ef52756790d">unchanged</a>, as inflation has largely cooled and the economy has seen limited damage, so far, from U.S. tariffs. On Friday, the Bank of England is also expected to keep its rate on hold as inflation, at 3.8%, remains higher than in the United States.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation's labor market.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;In support of our goals and in light of the shift in the balance of risks, today the Federal Open Market Committee decided to lower our policy interest rate by a quarter percentage point.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/HFoopj40DY">pic.twitter.com/HFoopj40DY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968383292446498969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and it lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-rates-99d90bab1ba2faa0fc5d4a6106125da7">unchanged this year</a>&nbsp;as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy.Yet the central bank’s focus has shifted quickly from inflation, which remains modestly above its 2% target, to jobs, as hiring has grounded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-firing-f686eab61f7d6b702ca10b12b0250498">nearly to a halt</a>&nbsp;in recent months and the unemployment rate has ticked higher. Lower interest rates could reduce borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and business loans, and boost growth and hiring.“In this less dynamic and somewhat softer labor market, the downside risks to employment appear to have risen,” Powell said at a press conference following the Fed's two-day meeting.Fed officials also signaled that they expect to reduce their key rate twice more this year, but just once in 2026. Before the meeting, investors on Wall Street had projected five cuts for the rest of this year and next. Stocks wavered a bit as Powell took questions from reporters. The S&amp;P 500 ticked down 0.1% as of 3:40 p.m. ET.Just one Fed policymaker dissented from the decision: Stephen Miran, who President Donald Trump appointed and was confirmed by the Senate in a rushed vote late Monday just hours before the meeting began. Miran preferred a larger half-point cut, but Powell told reporters there wasn't “very much support” for the bigger-size cut among Fed officials.Many economists had forecast there would be additional dissents, and the meeting's outcome suggests that Powell was able to patch together a show of unity from a committee that includes Miran and two other Trump appointees from his first term, as well as a Fed governor, Lisa Cook, whom Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-cook-trump-e9933d518af5155250bebbdc29fd3f2b">seeking to fire</a>.Still, there were still significant differences among the 19 officials on the Fed's rate-setting committee about where the Fed should go next. Seven policymakers indicated they don't support any further cuts, while two supported just one more and 10 favor at least two more. One official — likely Miran — indicated that they would support several large cuts to bring the Fed's rate to 2.9% by year's end. Fed officials submit their forecasts of future rate moves anonymously.Powell said the wide divergence reflects the uncertain outlook for the economy, given that inflation remains stubborn even as hiring has stumbled.“There are no risk-free paths now,” Powell said. “It's not incredibly obvious what to do.”The Fed is facing both a challenging economic environment and threats to its traditional independence from day-to-day politics. At the same time that hiring has weakened, inflation remains stubbornly elevated. It rose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">2.9% in August</a>&nbsp;from a year ago, according to the consumer price index, up from 2.7% in July and noticeably above the Fed’s 2% target.It’s unusual to have weaker hiring and elevated inflation, because typically a slowing economy causes consumers to pull back on spending, cooling price hikes. Powell suggested last month that sluggish growth could keep inflation in check even if tariffs lift prices further.Separately, Trump’s attempted firing of Cook is the first time a president has tried to remove a Fed governor in the central bank’s 112-year history, and has been seen by many legal scholars as an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-powell-cook-interest-rates-65f53b88f35f6fd4c670ce43efd6d852">unprecedented attack</a>&nbsp;on the Fed’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-independence-5c2ec1a37dc4aca6a59544f8b4513a45">independence</a>. His administration has accused Cook of mortgage fraud, but the accusation has come in the context of Trump’s extensive criticism of Powell and the Fed for not cutting rates much faster and steeper.An appeals court late Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-cook-trump-56e36badb0d1e9752e306fd6609747bd">upheld an earlier ruling</a>&nbsp;that the firing violated Cook’s due process rights. A lower court had also previously ruled that Trump did not provide sufficient justification to remove Cook. Also late Monday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-miran-trump-70a09bdf2e10839f35e1596cafe5c415">Senate voted to approve</a>&nbsp;Miran’s nomination, and he was quickly sworn in Tuesday morning.On Tuesday, Trump said Fed officials “have to make their own choice” on rates but added that “they should listen to smart people like me.” Trump has said the Fed should reduce rates by three full percentage points.When asked what the signs would be that the Fed is no longer functioning independent of political pressure, Powell said, “I don’t believe we’ll ever get to that place. We’re doing our work exactly as we always have now.”The Fed’s move to cut rates puts it in a different spot from many other central banks overseas. Last week, the European Central Bank left its benchmark rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-lagarde-d4618467d6e89764d61c9ef52756790d">unchanged</a>, as inflation has largely cooled and the economy has seen limited damage, so far, from U.S. tariffs. On Friday, the Bank of England is also expected to keep its rate on hold as inflation, at 3.8%, remains higher than in the United States.

🎥 Federal Reserve finally announces good news on interest rates

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.

Life changes in instances. We live our lives in a comfortable routine, sometimes almost enjoying the mundane. Then in an instant everything changes. An example would be the attempted destruction of America when crazed terrorists killed over 3,000 people by flying planes into buildings. We all changed when that happened. This last week was the 24th anniversary of 9/11, as it is now called. Unfortunately, an event that happened the day before 9/11 changed our lives again.

The assassination of a sitting president, John Kennedy, happened before I can remember. However, I grew up with the impact of that event affecting our culture. Last week the assassination of a prominent figure in our culture, Charlie Kirk, has had an effect similar to the shooting of JFK. The stunned silence at hearing the news has been followed by a mixture of profound sorrow, shocked disbelief, and in some instances despicable glee. This is, of course, not the first time that public figures have been killed by crazed ideologues. This senseless killing though is different in a key area.

I do not spend much time listening to or “following” pod casts. The name of Charlie Kirk was familiar to me, but I had not delved into his message. The last several days I have made up for that lost time. This led me to realize that Kirk was primarily an evangelist who fully lived his faith in Jesus Christ. It is clear that he was assassinated not because of his conservative political thought, but rather he was martyred because of the way he shared his faith. Charlie could not be defeated in arguing about his faith convictions, so those who couldn’t tolerate him calling the darkness in society to repentance, took his life to still his tongue.

The age-old adage is that religion and politics do not mix. In the case of Charlie Kirk and millions of other Christ followers it is about faith, not religion. People with deep-rooted faith have no choice but to follow that faith in every aspect of their life. One of the reasons Charlie Kirk touched so many is that his faith was authentic, transparent, and all encompassing. 

Our forefathers were adamant that we should not have a “state” church. They were however, equally convinced that those who make decisions for policy in our government should be people of faith. Charlie got it right when he bridged the policy gap with an undying conviction about his faith.

The evil that ended that bright shining light actually gave ultimate credence to the message that could not be ignored. Unbridled selfish indulgence may be the face of the deterioration of society, but the truth of ultimate selfishness is that there is no room for God left in that life. The repentance that Charlie Kirk called for is the solution to the darkness that permeates. I encourage you to listen to his words and more importantly listen to the words he quotes when he references the book of truth, the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Those words will never be silenced.

Scott Hill, PhD&nbsp;24th District Senator

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.By: SCOTT HILL24th Kansas District SenatorLife changes in instances. We live our lives in a comfortable routine, sometimes almost enjoying the mundane. Then in an instant everything changes. An example would be the attempted destruction of America when crazed terrorists killed over 3,000 people by flying planes into buildings. We all changed when that happened. This last week was the 24th anniversary of 9/11, as it is now called. Unfortunately, an event that happened the day before 9/11 changed our lives again.The assassination of a sitting president, John Kennedy, happened before I can remember. However, I grew up with the impact of that event affecting our culture. Last week the assassination of a prominent figure in our culture, Charlie Kirk, has had an effect similar to the shooting of JFK. The stunned silence at hearing the news has been followed by a mixture of profound sorrow, shocked disbelief, and in some instances despicable glee. This is, of course, not the first time that public figures have been killed by crazed ideologues. This senseless killing though is different in a key area.I do not spend much time listening to or “following” pod casts. The name of Charlie Kirk was familiar to me, but I had not delved into his message. The last several days I have made up for that lost time. This led me to realize that Kirk was primarily an evangelist who fully lived his faith in Jesus Christ. It is clear that he was assassinated not because of his conservative political thought, but rather he was martyred because of the way he shared his faith. Charlie could not be defeated in arguing about his faith convictions, so those who couldn’t tolerate him calling the darkness in society to repentance, took his life to still his tongue.The age-old adage is that religion and politics do not mix. In the case of Charlie Kirk and millions of other Christ followers it is about faith, not religion. People with deep-rooted faith have no choice but to follow that faith in every aspect of their life. One of the reasons Charlie Kirk touched so many is that his faith was authentic, transparent, and all encompassing. Our forefathers were adamant that we should not have a “state” church. They were however, equally convinced that those who make decisions for policy in our government should be people of faith. Charlie got it right when he bridged the policy gap with an undying conviction about his faith.The evil that ended that bright shining light actually gave ultimate credence to the message that could not be ignored. Unbridled selfish indulgence may be the face of the deterioration of society, but the truth of ultimate selfishness is that there is no room for God left in that life. The repentance that Charlie Kirk called for is the solution to the darkness that permeates. I encourage you to listen to his words and more importantly listen to the words he quotes when he references the book of truth, the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Those words will never be silenced.Scott Hill, PhD&nbsp;24th District SenatorYou can send us your opinions/letters to the editor, along with your name, city and or county location to&nbsp;newstips@salinapost.com

OPINION: Charlie Kirk - a bright shining light

Showers and thunderstorms expected to continue today and into Thursday throughout the Central Kansas region.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms have impacted central and north-central Kansas this morning. Locally heavy rainfall will be the primary hazard. However, activity should tend to gradually dissipate as the morning progresses.

A few strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible after 4:00 pm today, mainly along the west of Flint Hills.&nbsp;

These showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue into Thursday.

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.

<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=420&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNWSWichita%2Fvideos%2F3007553999415441%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="420" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Salina PostShowers and thunderstorms expected to continue today and into Thursday throughout the Central Kansas region.According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms have impacted central and north-central Kansas this morning. Locally heavy rainfall will be the primary hazard. However, activity should tend to gradually dissipate as the morning progresses.A few strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible after 4:00 pm today, mainly along the west of Flint Hills.&nbsp;These showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue into Thursday.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.

Showers and thunderstorms expected to continue into Thursday, heavy rainfall anticipated

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758116749648.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, September 17 - September 19. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, September 17 - September 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, September 17 - September 19

By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/michelle/">Michelle Griffith</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

Gov. Tim Walz typically treats the Minnesota State Fair like his personal Super Bowl — trying new foods (this year the Uncrustaburger), touting one of his favorite rides (the Ye Old Mill) and making the rounds at TV and radio station booths for softball interviews.

Walz’s State Fair interviews this year centered around one question: Will you run for reelection? The governor was coy and reserved. He said he was taking his time assessing what was best for Minnesotans. Also, he said, the June death of his friend and close governing ally Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman weighed on him and delayed his reelection announcement.

“This one about broke me,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jks8AaxqbXY" target="_blank">Walz told WCCO</a>&nbsp;at the fair on Aug. 24, referring to Hortman’s death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758034568019.jpeg" alt=" Gov. Tim Walz and First Lady Gwen Walz read to a class of preschoolers during a visit to Pine Bend Elementary School in Inver Grove Heights for a meeting of the Children’s Cabinet Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Tim Walz and First Lady Gwen Walz read to a class of preschoolers during a visit to Pine Bend Elementary School in Inver Grove Heights for a meeting of the Children’s Cabinet Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/michelle/">Michelle Griffith</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>Gov. Tim Walz typically treats the Minnesota State Fair like his personal Super Bowl — trying new foods (this year the Uncrustaburger), touting one of his favorite rides (the Ye Old Mill) and making the rounds at TV and radio station booths for softball interviews.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m running for reelection to continue serving as Governor of Minnesota. We’ve made historic progress in our state, but we’re not done yet. I’m staying in the fight — and I need you with me. <a href="https://t.co/NsVCXfq4M2">pic.twitter.com/NsVCXfq4M2</a>&mdash; Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz/status/1967936393747063151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Walz’s State Fair interviews this year centered around one question: Will you run for reelection? The governor was coy and reserved. He said he was taking his time assessing what was best for Minnesotans. Also, he said, the June death of his friend and close governing ally Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman weighed on him and delayed his reelection announcement.“This one about broke me,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jks8AaxqbXY" target="_blank">Walz told WCCO</a>&nbsp;at the fair on Aug. 24, referring to Hortman’s death.Nine days later, Walz was&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/02/walz-to-call-special-session-on-gun-control-propose-assault-weapons-ban/">speaking in front of Deerwood Elementary School</a>&nbsp;in Eagan. This time, he seemed more determined and animated, promising he was going to make Minnesota safer for children by pushing for gun control measures like a ban on so-called assault weapons.What happened in those nine days? Yet another crisis that Walz had to manage, this time the killing of two children and wounding of 21 others in the&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/08/27/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-horrific-act-of-violence-at-south-minneapolis-school/">Church of the Annunciation mass shooting.</a>The second-term DFL governor announced Tuesday that he’ll seek a third term, launching a campaign that will require him to convince Minnesotans that he’s been a steadying hand in the face of the multiple crises that have enveloped the state in recent years, including a once-in-a-century pandemic, civil unrest after the police murder of George Floyd, emerging fiscal instability and shocking political violence.“We’re not done yet. And that’s why I’m running for reelection. I want to make Minnesota a place where everyone has a chance to succeed — in every corner of the state,” Walz said in his&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Tim_Walz/status/1967936393747063151" target="_blank">campaign launch video.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724014226536.png" alt="Walz and VP Kamala Harris on the campaign trail-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Walz and VP Kamala Harris on the campaign trail-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Another crisis has been state government’s own making: A wave of fraud in public programs is sure to be a centerpiece of the Republican campaign against him.He’ll also need to persuade skeptical Minnesotans that he has a vision for another four years — a June KSTP poll found that just 43% of Minnesotans surveyed say Walz should r<a href="https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/kstp-surveyusa-results-gov-walz-to-testify-before-congress/" target="_blank">un for a third term even though he remains broadly popular.</a>&nbsp;The last time Minnesota voters were faced with a governor seeking a third term, they rejected Iron Range Democrat Gov. Rudy Perpich in 1990.West metro Republican Rep. Kristin Robbins, 2022 GOP nominee for governor Scott Jensen and Kendall Qualls, an army veteran and health care executive, are challenging Walz. If they can raise money and blanket the media, they’ll have plenty to work with to attack Walz’s nearly eight years in office, from flagging school test scores to fraud-riddled public programs.“Minnesotans cannot afford four more years of higher taxes, failing schools, unsafe streets, fraud and policies that undermine fairness for women and girls,” said Minnesota Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash in a statement. “… Minnesota families are worse off under his leadership. It’s time for new leadership and a fresh direction. Minnesota deserves better.”Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is leaving Walz’s side to run for U.S. Senate, said Walz has a strong record to run on — Minnesotans make better wages and live healthier, longer lives than other Midwesterners — and an energetic personality that’s repeatedly won over Minnesotans.“He’s an incredible effective campaigner, and I think once he’s on the road, he’s unstoppable,” said Flanagan, who added that “of course” she’ll endorse him.&nbsp;Running in a midterm election during President Donald Trump’s second term, Walz also has an ace: He can sell himself as a Democratic bulwark against an increasingly hostile federal government led by a president Minnesotans have rejected three times.“Minnesotans trust that Tim Walz is ready to stand up for them, for their liberties and their constitutional rights and defend them from an authoritarian in the White House. People are going to look to Tim Walz for that leadership,” said DFL Chair Richard Carlbom, who’s worked for Walz off-and-on since 2007.<h2>A tenure defined by crises</h2>The governor was elected in 2018, campaigning under the slogan “One Minnesota.” Walz represented a purple district in Congress for more than a decade and when first elected he was seen as a centrist bridge-builder.But he’s become a champion of progressive policies — in 2022 with Walz at the top of the ticket, Democrats swept control of state government and passed one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/08/07/heres-what-tim-walz-has-done-as-governor-of-minnesota/">most significant progressive agendas</a>&nbsp;in the nation’s recent history with just a single-seat Senate majority. Walz’s signature is on laws providing all students with free lunch, legalizing marijuana, codifying abortion rights, providing drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, creating a paid leave program, mandating paid sick leave, restoring voting rights to people after they serve prison sentences, protecting warehouse and meat processing workers, creating a free college program for working class families and requiring universal background checks for gun purchases, among many others.Republicans were aghast, both by his policies and also his management of several crises.Like many Democratic governors in 2020, Walz put in place&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/08/07/heres-what-tim-walz-has-done-as-governor-of-minnesota/">a stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of the pandemic, and later an indoor mask mandate and restrictions on schools and churches at the urging of public health authorities and institutions like the Mayo Clinic.He required state workers to be vaccinated before they could return to the workplace.The pandemic decisions were polarizing and at times faced legal challenges. By the time the worst of the pandemic was over, Minnesota had lower COVID-19 death rates than most other states.The aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd in 2020 presented another political and governing challenge. The widespread destruction of the riots, which followed decades of police abuses, created a lasting liability for him.In 2018, Walz, alongside Flanagan, won 21 of 87 counties. In 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.startribune.com/many-of-minnesotas-counties-shifted-right-why-that-wasnt-enough-for-jensen-to-beat-walz/600224371/?_gl=1*munmte*_gcl_au*MTc3MjY2NDMzNy4xNzUxMzk2NTUz*_ga*NzE2Nzk0MjEwLjE3Mjc3MjIxNDc.*_ga_SG3Y2YJFRQ*czE3NTgwMjQ3ODkkbzk0MiRnMSR0MTc1ODAyNDkwNyRqNDYkbDAkaDEwOTAyNDAy" target="_blank">Walz won 13.</a>&nbsp;“‘One Minnesota’ means working together across lines of difference to get good work done for people,” Flanagan said, acknowledging that the country is more divided now than when the duo was first elected.“We are in a time when people feel incredibly divided, which means this requires us to lean in even more, to listen to folks, to hear their concerns and take action whenever and wherever we can. And I think that is what Gov. Walz’s reelection will be grounded in,” Flanagan said.One year ago, Walz was thrust into the national spotlight after Vice President Kamala Harris picked&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/08/06/from-a-mankato-classroom-to-the-white-house-harris-names-walz-her-vice-presidential-nominee/">him as her running mate.</a>&nbsp;Harris had hoped that Walz’s rural background, Midwest demeanor and military, teaching and coaching resume would win over working-class voters.Republicans and the national press during the accelerated campaign scrutinized Walz’s past and propensity to misspeak — what he called “knucklehead” misstatements.After a resounding&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/11/06/weird-won-now-walz-comes-home/">defeat on the national stage,</a>&nbsp;Walz returned to a different Minnesota, one with a divided Legislature after Republicans won seats for shared control of the Minnesota House. The state was also facing a long-term deficit.Walz spent weeks negotiating with legislative leaders of both parties to come to&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/06/gov-tim-walz-to-call-special-session-for-monday-legislature-aims-to-pass-14-bills-in-one-day/">a two-year budget agreement,</a>&nbsp;requiring him to acquiesce to the GOP’s top demand: Eliminate state-funded health insurance for undocumented adults. The progressive Democratic base was outraged.Just days after the Legislature passed the two-year budget, a man&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-house-democratic-leader-dead-after-targeted-shooting-democratic-senator-also-shot/">shot and killed Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark</a>&nbsp;in their Brooklyn Park home and shot Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Walz oversaw the two-day manhunt to apprehend the shooter of his friend. Hortman’s assassination gave Walz pause about whether he wanted to continue to serve as governor.This summer was bookended by tragedies after a shooter opened fire outside of Church of Annunciation last month. Walz again headed the response to the mass shooting and is now pushing lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/walz-says-he-will-call-special-session-one-way-or-another-on-gun-control/">to return for a special session</a>&nbsp;to get Republicans on the record regarding gun control.<h2>Walz’s vision for the next four years</h2>In 2023, Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/walzs-proposes-child-tax-credits-universal-free-lunch-boost-in-k-12-education-funding/">began the historic legislative session</a>&nbsp;under the DFL trifecta by saying that Minnesota was going to become “the best state in the country to raise a family.”That year, the governor shepherded legislation that he frequently brags about to this day: the school meals program and a child tax credit that could slash childhood poverty by 33%.But Walz’s lengthy record may fade into the background in the face of the second Trump earthquake and the administration’s aggressive incursions into state policies.Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has sued the Trump administration some 30 times so far, said that Walz is the right person to stand up to Trump.“(Walz) has been a real asset in my opinion, and he’s been a great partner,” Ellison said. “The governor’s office and the AG’s office historically have not always worked well together, but me and Gov. Walz work seamlessly, and I’m glad to keep him as a partner.”Paradoxically, Trump is both a challenge but also a political gift to Walz — an easy foil.Voters will go to the polls next year with Trump top of mind, said Jeff Blodgett, who was chief strategist for Sens. Paul Wellstone and Al Franken.“This is going to be a much bigger election about how our state is faring in the midst of Donald Trump’s presidency,” Blodgett said. “It will be a contrast between Trump’s style and Tim Walz’s style and the fact that he’s ushered the state through many, many crises and come out on the other side stronger and better — I think that will only help him.”