Just months&nbsp;after&nbsp;her graduation from Kansas Wesleyan’s Department of Nursing, Molly Bradbury ’25 received an international prize, the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

Bradbury is a medical-surgical RN, caring for a wide variety of different patients, at the Medical Center of the Rockies, a Level I Trauma Center in Loveland, Colo. She noticed one of her Comfort Care patients with incontinence was releasing surprisingly little fluid. Even though the patient had not complained, a bladder scan revealed the patient was retaining an alarming amount of urine. Bradbury’s gentle communication and reassurance helped the patient agree to a catheter, bringing immediate relief.

The hospital’s newsletter wrote, “Even during a busy shift, Molly listened to her instincts and took the time to look deeper, recognizing that something wasn't right. Her empathy, vigilance and unwavering dedication truly exemplify the heart of nursing.”

Bradbury is used to being busy and getting things right. She’d taken some general education courses straight out of high school but realized she wasn’t ready for that.

When she started at Kansas Wesleyan in the fall of 2018, she took classes part time and took a full-time job as a custodian for KWU Plant Operations, until her senior year. At that point, she attended classes full time because KWU’s Nursing is such a demanding program.

“Our program is very hard,” Bradbury said. “I wondered, can I really do this? If you do need that one-to-one help, they (the faculty) are there. They help you learn more critical thinking before you’re in the field.”

The attention to detail and critical thinking skills paid off for her patient.

Andrea Picklesimer, KWU associate professor of nursing education, said that receiving the DAISY Award is an incredible achievement for someone so early in her career. She saw those same skills in Bradbury as a student, though.

“The DAISY reflects her clinical skills and her dedication and commitment to patient-centered care,” Picklesimer said. “She was exactly the same as a student, very dedicated, very determined.”

Bradbury was a quiet leader,&nbsp;who earned&nbsp;the&nbsp;respect of her peers and faculty alike, said&nbsp;Picklesimer. She was given the Nursing Leadership Award at the pinning ceremony as part of Commencement in May.

A Salina native, Bradbury also has family in Colorado, and the state had always fascinated her, so that’s where she moved after graduation.

“Learning everything and setting a foundation as a new nurse, it’s good to be on nights,” she said. “We have a good team.”&nbsp;

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses honors nurses internationally in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Nurses are nominated for the compassionate contributions they make every day going above and beyond expectations in science and sensitivity.

Along with the award come lifetime benefits for Bradbury, including opportunities for free or reduced costs of further education and access to online information, memberships in nursing organizations, and stress-relieving programs.

“Sometimes the little things that we think go unnoticed or aren’t that big of a deal are life-changing to others,” Bradbury posted when she received the award. “I am so grateful to get the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. I can’t wait to see where I go in my career, and I am thankful to be surrounded by such amazing human beings.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775497749845.jpeg" alt="Molly Bradbury Daisy Award 2026 - Courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Molly Bradbury Daisy Award 2026 - Courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By: JEAN KOZUBOWSKIJust months&nbsp;after&nbsp;her graduation from Kansas Wesleyan’s Department of Nursing, Molly Bradbury ’25 received an international prize, the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.Bradbury is a medical-surgical RN, caring for a wide variety of different patients, at the Medical Center of the Rockies, a Level I Trauma Center in Loveland, Colo. She noticed one of her Comfort Care patients with incontinence was releasing surprisingly little fluid. Even though the patient had not complained, a bladder scan revealed the patient was retaining an alarming amount of urine. Bradbury’s gentle communication and reassurance helped the patient agree to a catheter, bringing immediate relief.The hospital’s newsletter wrote, “Even during a busy shift, Molly listened to her instincts and took the time to look deeper, recognizing that something wasn't right. Her empathy, vigilance and unwavering dedication truly exemplify the heart of nursing.”Bradbury is used to being busy and getting things right. She’d taken some general education courses straight out of high school but realized she wasn’t ready for that.When she started at Kansas Wesleyan in the fall of 2018, she took classes part time and took a full-time job as a custodian for KWU Plant Operations, until her senior year. At that point, she attended classes full time because KWU’s Nursing is such a demanding program.“Our program is very hard,” Bradbury said. “I wondered, can I really do this? If you do need that one-to-one help, they (the faculty) are there. They help you learn more critical thinking before you’re in the field.”The attention to detail and critical thinking skills paid off for her patient.Andrea Picklesimer, KWU associate professor of nursing education, said that receiving the DAISY Award is an incredible achievement for someone so early in her career. She saw those same skills in Bradbury as a student, though.“The DAISY reflects her clinical skills and her dedication and commitment to patient-centered care,” Picklesimer said. “She was exactly the same as a student, very dedicated, very determined.”Bradbury was a quiet leader,&nbsp;who earned&nbsp;the&nbsp;respect of her peers and faculty alike, said&nbsp;Picklesimer. She was given the Nursing Leadership Award at the pinning ceremony as part of Commencement in May.A Salina native, Bradbury also has family in Colorado, and the state had always fascinated her, so that’s where she moved after graduation.She likes working nights.&nbsp;“Learning everything and setting a foundation as a new nurse, it’s good to be on nights,” she said. “We have a good team.”&nbsp;The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses honors nurses internationally in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Nurses are nominated for the compassionate contributions they make every day going above and beyond expectations in science and sensitivity.Along with the award come lifetime benefits for Bradbury, including opportunities for free or reduced costs of further education and access to online information, memberships in nursing organizations, and stress-relieving programs.“Sometimes the little things that we think go unnoticed or aren’t that big of a deal are life-changing to others,” Bradbury posted when she received the award. “I am so grateful to get the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. I can’t wait to see where I go in my career, and I am thankful to be surrounded by such amazing human beings.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Former KWU nursing student receives extraordinary award, months after graduation

Ronald “Ron” James Hubka, 66, of Wilson, Kansas, passed away on March 31, 2026, at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, Kansas.

Ron was born on September 7, 1959, at Ellsworth County Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, Kansas, to Winslow F. and Frances A. (Kacirek) Hubka. He grew up in Wilson and graduated from Wilson High School in 1977. He later attended Salina VoTech in 1980, earning a degree in auto mechanics. Ron dedicated over 30 years of his career as a screen press operator with Eschbaugh Advertising.

On August 29, 1981, Ron married Virginia “Ginny” Lawrence in Wilson.

Ron will be remembered for his big heart, great sense of humor, and his natural ability to bring people together wherever he went. A true outdoorsman, he enjoyed setting trot lines and spending time by the water. He had a passion for pickups, muscle cars, NASCAR, football and basketball, and could spend hours talking about history with anyone willing to listen. In his younger years, he was known for his unforgettable pranks that left everyone laughing—a playful spirit he carried throughout his life.

He also found great joy in cooking and hosting BBQs, where friends and family gathered for good food, laughter, and storytelling. Ron was often the life of the party, making sure everyone felt welcome and included. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Ron proudly served his community as a member of the Wilson Fire Department for over 25 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Housing Development Board, where he assisted with low-income housing grants.

Survivors include his wife, Ginny, of Wilson; sons, Jeremy (Nicole Kathleen) Hubka of Wilson and Toby Hubka of Akron, Iowa; son-in-law, Dustin Vopat of Russell, KS; brother, Vance (Sherry) Stinnett of Lawrence, KS; sister, Diane Hubka of Salina; five grandchildren, Landon Hubka, Liam Hubka, Bailey Vopat, Sydney Vopat and Lynley Vopat.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Darcy Lynn Hubka-Vopat on January 11, 2025.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the funeral home in Wilson. Words of Committal will be held on Thursday, April 9th at 2:00 PM at the American Legion in Wilson. Private family graveside will follow at the Wilson City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church – Dorrance, KS or Wilson Czech Egg and sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, PO Box 533, Wilson, Kansas 67490.

Online condolences may be sent to <a href="http://www.plumeroverlease.com">www.plumeroverlease.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775496369766.png" alt="Ronald “Ron” James Hubka" />
 <figcaption>Ronald “Ron” James Hubka</figcaption>
 </figure>Ronald “Ron” James Hubka, 66, of Wilson, Kansas, passed away on March 31, 2026, at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, Kansas.Ron was born on September 7, 1959, at Ellsworth County Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, Kansas, to Winslow F. and Frances A. (Kacirek) Hubka. He grew up in Wilson and graduated from Wilson High School in 1977. He later attended Salina VoTech in 1980, earning a degree in auto mechanics. Ron dedicated over 30 years of his career as a screen press operator with Eschbaugh Advertising.On August 29, 1981, Ron married Virginia “Ginny” Lawrence in Wilson.Ron will be remembered for his big heart, great sense of humor, and his natural ability to bring people together wherever he went. A true outdoorsman, he enjoyed setting trot lines and spending time by the water. He had a passion for pickups, muscle cars, NASCAR, football and basketball, and could spend hours talking about history with anyone willing to listen. In his younger years, he was known for his unforgettable pranks that left everyone laughing—a playful spirit he carried throughout his life.He also found great joy in cooking and hosting BBQs, where friends and family gathered for good food, laughter, and storytelling. Ron was often the life of the party, making sure everyone felt welcome and included. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.Ron proudly served his community as a member of the Wilson Fire Department for over 25 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Housing Development Board, where he assisted with low-income housing grants.Survivors include his wife, Ginny, of Wilson; sons, Jeremy (Nicole Kathleen) Hubka of Wilson and Toby Hubka of Akron, Iowa; son-in-law, Dustin Vopat of Russell, KS; brother, Vance (Sherry) Stinnett of Lawrence, KS; sister, Diane Hubka of Salina; five grandchildren, Landon Hubka, Liam Hubka, Bailey Vopat, Sydney Vopat and Lynley Vopat.He was preceded in death by his daughter, Darcy Lynn Hubka-Vopat on January 11, 2025.A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the funeral home in Wilson. Words of Committal will be held on Thursday, April 9th at 2:00 PM at the American Legion in Wilson. Private family graveside will follow at the Wilson City Cemetery.Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church – Dorrance, KS or Wilson Czech Egg and sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, PO Box 533, Wilson, Kansas 67490.Online condolences may be sent to <a href="http://www.plumeroverlease.com">www.plumeroverlease.com</a>

Ronald James Hubka

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775435936232.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, April 6 - April 8 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, April 6 - April 8 - US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, April 6 - April 8

A former St. John's Military School student has been approved to receive the U.S. Military's highest decoration for his bold and courageous efforts in combat.

Major, Nicholas "Nick" Dockery from Indianapolis, Indiana has been approved by the U.S. House and Senate to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.&nbsp;

The bill, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7194/text">H.R. 7194</a>&nbsp;has been passed and will authorize President Donald Trump to award the Medal of Honor to Nicholas Dockery for acts of valor as a member of the Army while serving in Afghanistan.

Bob Yates, a former instructor at the Military school in Salina taught Dockery for a year. Dockery was a Sophomore when Yates taught him in 1998

“He was a good cadet and kept his stuff squared away,” Yates said. “He listened real well to instructions, and was one of the ones who never gets recognized by people from Salina,” Yates jokingly said due to a perception of St. John’s having “bad boys.”

In 2012, Dockery had been deployed to Afghanistan's Kapisa province as a platoon leader with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

According to <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/03/05/former-military-times-soldier-of-the-year-approved-for-medal-of-honor/">Military Times</a>, in&nbsp;Afghanistan Dockery's unit was ambushed by Taliban forces, while working closely with an Afghan platoon to provide security for the provincial governor's compound.

Reportedly, Dockery risked open ground to move back and forth multiple times as his troops engaged enemy forces.

Word came to him one U.S. Soldier, Staff Sgt. Eric Mitchell had been wounded, and Dockery immediately went to their defense killing one enemy soldier.

Moreover, Military times reported he gathered four soldiers inside the courtyard,&nbsp;Dockery worked to organize a counter-attack to clear the space, even as the enemy countered with heavy fire and called in reinforcements. At one point, he used his own body to shield another soldier from the blast of an enemy grenade. Every soldier in the group sustained wounds in the onslaught.

In a nearby alley, Dockery found a sergeant being dragged away, unconscious, by two Taliban fighters. He charged at the fighters and killed them both, then turned his attention to Hansbro, providing CPR and life-saving first aid.

As the fight continued, Dockery risked the open roof of the compound to signal with smoke grenades to the gunships that would ultimately lay down suppressive fire and save the men.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774980903725.png" alt="Maj. Nicholas "Nick" Dockery - Military Times courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Maj. Nicholas "Nick" Dockery - Military Times courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By: NICOLAS FIERROSalina PostA former St. John's Military School student has been approved to receive the U.S. Military's highest decoration for his bold and courageous efforts in combat.Major, Nicholas "Nick" Dockery from Indianapolis, Indiana has been approved by the U.S. House and Senate to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.&nbsp;The bill, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7194/text">H.R. 7194</a>&nbsp;has been passed and will authorize President Donald Trump to award the Medal of Honor to Nicholas Dockery for acts of valor as a member of the Army while serving in Afghanistan.Bob Yates, a former instructor at the Military school in Salina taught Dockery for a year. Dockery was a Sophomore when Yates taught him in 1998“He was a good cadet and kept his stuff squared away,” Yates said. “He listened real well to instructions, and was one of the ones who never gets recognized by people from Salina,” Yates jokingly said due to a perception of St. John’s having “bad boys.”In 2012, Dockery had been deployed to Afghanistan's Kapisa province as a platoon leader with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.According to <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/03/05/former-military-times-soldier-of-the-year-approved-for-medal-of-honor/">Military Times</a>, in&nbsp;Afghanistan Dockery's unit was ambushed by Taliban forces, while working closely with an Afghan platoon to provide security for the provincial governor's compound.Reportedly, Dockery risked open ground to move back and forth multiple times as his troops engaged enemy forces.Word came to him one U.S. Soldier, Staff Sgt. Eric Mitchell had been wounded, and Dockery immediately went to their defense killing one enemy soldier.Moreover, Military times reported he gathered four soldiers inside the courtyard,&nbsp;Dockery worked to organize a counter-attack to clear the space, even as the enemy countered with heavy fire and called in reinforcements. At one point, he used his own body to shield another soldier from the blast of an enemy grenade. Every soldier in the group sustained wounds in the onslaught.In a nearby alley, Dockery found a sergeant being dragged away, unconscious, by two Taliban fighters. He charged at the fighters and killed them both, then turned his attention to Hansbro, providing CPR and life-saving first aid.As the fight continued, Dockery risked the open roof of the compound to signal with smoke grenades to the gunships that would ultimately lay down suppressive fire and save the men.

Former St. John's Military School student approved to receive Congressional Medal of Honor

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775164630678.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, April 3 - April 5 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, April 3 - April 5 - US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, April 3 - April 5

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;in a consequential case that was magnified by Trump’s unparalleled presence in the courtroom.&nbsp;

Click below to listen to a replay of the oral argument.

Conservative and liberal justices on Wednesday questioned whether Trump's order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens comports with either the Constitution or federal law.

Trump, the first sitting president to attend arguments at the nation’s highest court, spent just over an hour inside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-hearing-birthright-citizenship-e069e683149d23fe59e4679732c084f5">the courtroom</a>&nbsp;for arguments made by the Republican administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, Solicitor General D. John Sauer. The president departed shortly after lawyer Cecillia Wang began her presentation in defense of broad birthright citizenship.

Trump heard Sauer face one skeptical question after another. Justices asked about the legal basis for the order and voiced more practical concerns.

“Is this happening in the delivery room?” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked, drilling down into the logistics of how the government would actually figure out who’s entitled to citizenship and who’s not.

Justice Clarence Thomas sounded the most likely among the nine justices to side with Trump.

“How much of the debates around the 14th Amendment had anything to do with immigration?” Thomas asked, pointing out that the purpose of the amendment was to grant citizenship to Black people, including freed slaves.

The justices are hearing Trump’s appeal of a lower-court ruling from New Hampshire that struck down&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">the citizenship restrictions</a>, one of several courts that have blocked them. They have not taken effect anywhere in the country.

The case frames another test of Trump's assertions of executive power that defy long-standing precedent for a court that has largely ruled in the president's favor — but with some notable exceptions that Trump has responded to with starkly personal criticisms of the justices. A definitive ruling is expected by early summer.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">The birthright citizenship order</a>, which Trump signed the first day of his second term, is part of his Republican administration’s broad&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration crackdown</a>.

Birthright citizenship is the first Trump immigration-related policy to reach the court for a final ruling. The justices previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9">struck down global tariffs</a>&nbsp;Trump had imposed under an emergency powers law that had never been used that way.

Trump reacted furiously to the late February tariffs decision, saying he was ashamed of the justices who ruled against him and calling them unpatriotic.

He issued a preemptive broadside against the court on Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “Birthright Citizenship is not about rich people from China, and the rest of the World, who want their children, and hundreds of thousands more, FOR PAY, to ridiculously become citizens of the United States of America. It is about the BABIES OF SLAVES!,” the president wrote. “Dumb Judges and Justices will not a great Country make!”

Trump's order would upend the long-standing view that the Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/">14th Amendment</a>, ratified in 1868, and federal law since 1940 confer citizenship on everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions for the children of foreign diplomats and those born to a foreign occupying force.

The 14th Amendment was intended to ensure that Black people, including former slaves, had citizenship, though the Citizenship Clause is written more broadly. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” it reads.

In a series of decisions, lower courts have struck down the executive order as illegal, or likely so, under the Constitution and federal law. The decisions have invoked the high court's 1898 ruling in Wong Kim Ark, which held that the U.S.-born child of Chinese nationals was a citizen.

The Trump administration argues that the common view of citizenship is wrong, asserting that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore are not entitled to citizenship.

The court should use the case to set straight “long-enduring misconceptions about the Constitution’s meaning,” wrote Sauer, the solicitor general.

No court has accepted that argument, and lawyers for pregnant women whose children would be affected by the order said the Supreme Court should not be the first to do so.

“We have the president of the United States trying to radically reinterpret the definition of American citizenship,” said Wang, the American Civil Liberties Union legal director who is facing off against Sauer at the Supreme Court.

More than one-quarter of a million babies born in the U.S. each year would be affected by the executive order, according to research by the Migration Policy Institute and Pennsylvania State University’s Population Research Institute.

While Trump has largely focused on illegal immigration in his rhetoric and actions, the birthright restrictions also would apply to people who are legally in the United States, including students and applicants for green cards, or permanent resident status.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump arrived at the Supreme Court to sit in on birthright citizenship arguments in first such appearance by a president.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is taking up one of the term's most consequential cases,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;executive order on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-hearing-birthright-citizenship-e069e683149d23fe59e4679732c084f5">Trump plans to be in attendance</a>.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx">Click here to listen t</a>o the live oral arguments 9a.m. CDT

In arguments Wednesday, the justices will hear Trump’s appeal of a lower-court ruling from New Hampshire that struck down&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">the citizenship restrictions</a>, one of several courts that have blocked them. They have not taken effect anywhere in the country.

A definitive ruling is expected by early summer.

Trump will be the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation’s highest court.

The case frames another test of Trump's assertions of executive power that defy long-standing precedent for a court that has largely ruled in the president's favor — but with some notable exceptions that Trump has responded to with starkly personal criticisms of the justices.

The court should use the case to set straight “long-enduring misconceptions about the Constitution’s meaning,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote.

“We have the president of the United States trying to radically reinterpret the definition of American citizenship,” said Cecillia Wang, the American Civil Liberties Union legal director who is facing off against Sauer at the Supreme Court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775060509877.png" alt="Demonstrators outside the Supreme Court Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Demonstrators outside the Supreme Court Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;in a consequential case that was magnified by Trump’s unparalleled presence in the courtroom.&nbsp;Click below to listen to a replay of the oral argument.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RYecNCgwSfE?si=QKxvvEum_I8WNYY8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Conservative and liberal justices on Wednesday questioned whether Trump's order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens comports with either the Constitution or federal law.Trump, the first sitting president to attend arguments at the nation’s highest court, spent just over an hour inside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-hearing-birthright-citizenship-e069e683149d23fe59e4679732c084f5">the courtroom</a>&nbsp;for arguments made by the Republican administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, Solicitor General D. John Sauer. The president departed shortly after lawyer Cecillia Wang began her presentation in defense of broad birthright citizenship.Trump heard Sauer face one skeptical question after another. Justices asked about the legal basis for the order and voiced more practical concerns.“Is this happening in the delivery room?” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked, drilling down into the logistics of how the government would actually figure out who’s entitled to citizenship and who’s not.Justice Clarence Thomas sounded the most likely among the nine justices to side with Trump.“How much of the debates around the 14th Amendment had anything to do with immigration?” Thomas asked, pointing out that the purpose of the amendment was to grant citizenship to Black people, including freed slaves.The justices are hearing Trump’s appeal of a lower-court ruling from New Hampshire that struck down&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">the citizenship restrictions</a>, one of several courts that have blocked them. They have not taken effect anywhere in the country.The case frames another test of Trump's assertions of executive power that defy long-standing precedent for a court that has largely ruled in the president's favor — but with some notable exceptions that Trump has responded to with starkly personal criticisms of the justices. A definitive ruling is expected by early summer.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">The birthright citizenship order</a>, which Trump signed the first day of his second term, is part of his Republican administration’s broad&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration crackdown</a>.Birthright citizenship is the first Trump immigration-related policy to reach the court for a final ruling. The justices previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9">struck down global tariffs</a>&nbsp;Trump had imposed under an emergency powers law that had never been used that way.Trump reacted furiously to the late February tariffs decision, saying he was ashamed of the justices who ruled against him and calling them unpatriotic.He issued a preemptive broadside against the court on Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “Birthright Citizenship is not about rich people from China, and the rest of the World, who want their children, and hundreds of thousands more, FOR PAY, to ridiculously become citizens of the United States of America. It is about the BABIES OF SLAVES!,” the president wrote. “Dumb Judges and Justices will not a great Country make!”Trump's order would upend the long-standing view that the Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/">14th Amendment</a>, ratified in 1868, and federal law since 1940 confer citizenship on everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions for the children of foreign diplomats and those born to a foreign occupying force.The 14th Amendment was intended to ensure that Black people, including former slaves, had citizenship, though the Citizenship Clause is written more broadly. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” it reads.In a series of decisions, lower courts have struck down the executive order as illegal, or likely so, under the Constitution and federal law. The decisions have invoked the high court's 1898 ruling in Wong Kim Ark, which held that the U.S.-born child of Chinese nationals was a citizen.The Trump administration argues that the common view of citizenship is wrong, asserting that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore are not entitled to citizenship.The court should use the case to set straight “long-enduring misconceptions about the Constitution’s meaning,” wrote Sauer, the solicitor general.No court has accepted that argument, and lawyers for pregnant women whose children would be affected by the order said the Supreme Court should not be the first to do so.“We have the president of the United States trying to radically reinterpret the definition of American citizenship,” said Wang, the American Civil Liberties Union legal director who is facing off against Sauer at the Supreme Court.More than one-quarter of a million babies born in the U.S. each year would be affected by the executive order, according to research by the Migration Policy Institute and Pennsylvania State University’s Population Research Institute.While Trump has largely focused on illegal immigration in his rhetoric and actions, the birthright restrictions also would apply to people who are legally in the United States, including students and applicants for green cards, or permanent resident status.-----------------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump arrived at the Supreme Court to sit in on birthright citizenship arguments in first such appearance by a president.------------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is taking up one of the term's most consequential cases,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;executive order on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-hearing-birthright-citizenship-e069e683149d23fe59e4679732c084f5">Trump plans to be in attendance</a>.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx">Click here to listen t</a>o the live oral arguments 9a.m. CDTIn arguments Wednesday, the justices will hear Trump’s appeal of a lower-court ruling from New Hampshire that struck down&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">the citizenship restrictions</a>, one of several courts that have blocked them. They have not taken effect anywhere in the country.A definitive ruling is expected by early summer.Trump will be the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation’s highest court.The case frames another test of Trump's assertions of executive power that defy long-standing precedent for a court that has largely ruled in the president's favor — but with some notable exceptions that Trump has responded to with starkly personal criticisms of the justices.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/">The birthright citizenship order</a>, which Trump signed the first day of his second term, is part of his Republican administration’s broad&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration crackdown</a>.Birthright citizenship is the first Trump immigration-related policy to reach the court for a final ruling. The justices previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9">struck down global tariffs</a>&nbsp;Trump had imposed under an emergency powers law that had never been used that way.Trump reacted furiously to the late February tariffs decision, saying he was ashamed of the justices who ruled against him and calling them unpatriotic.He issued a preemptive broadside against the court on Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “Birthright Citizenship is not about rich people from China, and the rest of the World, who want their children, and hundreds of thousands more, FOR PAY, to ridiculously become citizens of the United States of America. It is about the BABIES OF SLAVES!,” the president wrote. “Dumb Judges and Justices will not a great Country make!”Trump's order would upend the long-standing view that the Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/">14th Amendment</a>, ratified in 1868, and federal law since 1940 confer citizenship on everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions for the children of foreign diplomats and those born to a foreign occupying force.The 14th Amendment was intended to ensure that Black people, including former slaves, had citizenship, though the Citizenship Clause is written more broadly. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” it reads.In a series of decisions, lower courts have struck down the executive order as illegal, or likely so, under the Constitution and federal law. The decisions have invoked the high court's 1898 ruling in Wong Kim Ark, which held that the U.S.-born child of Chinese nationals was a citizen.The Trump administration argues that the common view of citizenship is wrong, asserting that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore are not entitled to citizenship.The court should use the case to set straight “long-enduring misconceptions about the Constitution’s meaning,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote.No court has accepted that argument, and lawyers for pregnant women whose children would be affected by the order said the Supreme Court should not be the first to do so.“We have the president of the United States trying to radically reinterpret the definition of American citizenship,” said Cecillia Wang, the American Civil Liberties Union legal director who is facing off against Sauer at the Supreme Court.More than one-quarter of a million babies born in the U.S. each year would be affected by the executive order, according to research by the Migration Policy Institute and Pennsylvania State University’s Population Research Institute.While Trump has largely focused on illegal immigration in his rhetoric and actions, the birthright restrictions also would apply to people who are legally in the United States, including students and applicants for green cards, or permanent resident status.___

🎧History: Supreme Court hears fight over bid to limit birthright citizenship

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774994128510.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, April 1 - April 3 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, April 1 - April 3 - US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, April 1 - April 3

Severe weather is expected to occur throughout the central Kansas region, with&nbsp;rounds of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms.

According to the US National Weather Service, there will be a start with a chance of&nbsp;showers and thunderstorms after 4:00 am on early morning Wednesday. 

Wind gusts will be as high as 25 mph Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

Reportedly, a chance of showers and thunderstorms are expected before 2:00 pm, then a chance of showers between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4:00 pm on Wednesday.

Strong to severe storms are possible, along with heavy rain and localized flooding.

Visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service, Wichita Facebook page</a> to stay on top of the latest updates.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722467230667.jpg" alt="Pixabay image" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay image</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostSevere weather is expected to occur throughout the central Kansas region, with&nbsp;rounds of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms.According to the US National Weather Service, there will be a start with a chance of&nbsp;showers and thunderstorms after 4:00 am on early morning Wednesday. Wind gusts will be as high as 25 mph Wednesday morning.&nbsp;Reportedly, a chance of showers and thunderstorms are expected before 2:00 pm, then a chance of showers between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4:00 pm on Wednesday.Strong to severe storms are possible, along with heavy rain and localized flooding.Visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service, Wichita Facebook page</a> to stay on top of the latest updates.Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Severe weather expected in central Kansas entering middle of week

WASHINGTON (AP) —The White House is dending wartime prayers amid pushback from the pope.

Asked about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-palm-sunday-francis-pope-5749906e8c5d5303b1fb06e33607e062">Pope Leo XIV’s comment</a>&nbsp;that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there’s nothing wrong with praying for U.S. troops.

“Our nation was a nation founded 250 years ago almost, on Judeo Christian values, and we’ve seen presidents, we’ve seen the leaders of the Department of War, and we’ve seen our troops go to prayer during the most turbulent times in our nation’s history,” Leavitt said Monday at a White House briefing.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our military leaders or with our president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas.”

U.S. officials have invoked their Christian faith in support of the war, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-pentagon-christian-worship-service-30db48b6ceb8af5e6172fb3ba2eafaa0">recently prayed</a>&nbsp;to have “every round find its mark.”

At his Palm Sunday homily, Leo said God “rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —The White House is dending wartime prayers amid pushback from the pope.Asked about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-palm-sunday-francis-pope-5749906e8c5d5303b1fb06e33607e062">Pope Leo XIV’s comment</a>&nbsp;that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there’s nothing wrong with praying for U.S. troops.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Press Sec responds to Pope Leo&#39;s rebuke of Pete Hegseth on Palm Sunday: &quot;I don&#39;t think there&#39;s anything wrong with our military leaders or with the President calling on the American people to pay for our service members..&quot; and adds, &quot;in fact I think it&#39;s a very noble thing to… <a href="https://t.co/aEReJr1ZfC">https://t.co/aEReJr1ZfC</a> <a href="https://t.co/mO4bTLRh6u">pic.twitter.com/mO4bTLRh6u</a>&mdash; Marisela Ramirez (@mariselapenny) <a href="https://twitter.com/mariselapenny/status/2038685142022000849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Our nation was a nation founded 250 years ago almost, on Judeo Christian values, and we’ve seen presidents, we’ve seen the leaders of the Department of War, and we’ve seen our troops go to prayer during the most turbulent times in our nation’s history,” Leavitt said Monday at a White House briefing.“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our military leaders or with our president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas.”U.S. officials have invoked their Christian faith in support of the war, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-pentagon-christian-worship-service-30db48b6ceb8af5e6172fb3ba2eafaa0">recently prayed</a>&nbsp;to have “every round find its mark.”At his Palm Sunday homily, Leo said God “rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war.”

🎥White House defends wartime prayers amid pushback from pope

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774830560518.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, March 30 - April 1 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, March 30 - April 1 - US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, March 30 - April 1

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks will make the 160-mile trek south to Wichita, Kansas, for the semifinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), which will be played on Monday, March 30, against BYU.&nbsp;

Tipoff from Charles Koch Arena is set for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU, with Krista Blunk (play-by-play) and Tabitha Turner (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen on the Jayhawk Radio Network from Learfield, with Steven Davis calling the action.

Kansas, a No. 2 seed in the WBIT, advanced to the semifinals with wins over Troy (79-70), Rice (62-55) and San Diego State (85-78). Junior guard S’Mya Nichols is leading the Jayhawks with 20.0 points per game in the WBIT, including 31 in win over Troy on March 19. Freshman forward Jaliya Davis is just behind with 19.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in the event, most recently going for 25 points and six rebounds vs. SDSU on March 26.&nbsp;

BYU advanced to the WBIT Semifinals as the top seed in its bracket, defeating Alabama A&amp;M, Missouri and Stanford along the road to Wichita. The Cougars are 25-11 on the year and finished tied for ninth in the Big 12 with a 9-9 record. BYU heads to Wichita as winners in eight of their last nine games.&nbsp;

Kansas, playing in the WBIT for the first time while making the program’s 27th all-time postseason appearance, has won nine straight non-NCAA Tournament postseason games. The Jayhawks won six games in a row at home to win the 2023 WNIT prior to this season’s tournament run.&nbsp;

The Jayhawks now head to play in Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, for the first time since 2023. KU is 17-8 all-time in Wichita, including a 4-1 record in neutral site games from 1979-82 and a 13-7 road record at Wichita State. Kansas has won two straight games at Charles Koch Arena, most recently a 76-56 win on Dec. 10, 2023.&nbsp;

Davis, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, notched her 15th game this season with 20+ points as she went for 25 vs. San Diego State. Davis has now scored 496 points this season, which ranks third all-time by a Kansas freshman, and she’s averaging 19.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game for the year.&nbsp;

Nichols scored 18 points with five assists against SDSU, including hitting both three pointers she attempted. A 44.8 percent shooter from three this season, Nichols is 8-for-9 from downtown during the WBIT. KU’s single season and all-time leader in free throws made, Nichols leads the nation in free throw shooting this season, hitting 233-of-275 (84.7 percent) from the line.

Sophomore forward Regan Williams is KU’s third-leading scorer in the WBIT after putting up 15 points and five rebounds in each of the last two games. She’s averaging 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in the tournament, up from her season averages of 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Monday’s semifinal will be a rematch of an 81-60 Jayhawk victory from Feb. 4, in Lawrence. That game was tied 32-all at halftime before KU outscored the Cougars 49-28 in the second half. Davis led the Jayhawks with a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds in the win, with Nichols (17) and senior forward Lilly Meister (10) also scoring in double figures.&nbsp;

Kansas and BYU will meet for the sixth time in series history, with each contest coming in the past three seasons since BYU joined the Big 12 Conference. Kansas holds a 5-0 advantage in the series, including a 1-0 record in postseason play with a 77-53 victory in the second round of the 2024 Big 12 Tournament.&nbsp;

BYU is led by guards Delaney Gibb, an All-Big 12 First Team selection, and Olivia Hamlin, who earned a spot on the league’s All-Freshman Team. Gibb is the No. 4 leading scorer in the Big 12 at 18.3 points per game for the year, with Hamlin just behind at 12.5 ppg. The Cougars rank sixth in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 70.8 points per game while ranking seventh in scoring defense (63.9) and eighth in scoring margin (+6.9). BYU is the No. 2 rebounding team in the league with 40.6 boards per game on average. Head coach Lee Cummard is in his first season leading the BYU women’s basketball program, but he’s been with the program since 2019 as an assistant or associate head coach.

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks will make the 160-mile trek south to Wichita, Kansas, for the semifinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), which will be played on Monday, March 30, against BYU.&nbsp;Tipoff from Charles Koch Arena is set for 4 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU, with Krista Blunk (play-by-play) and Tabitha Turner (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen on the Jayhawk Radio Network from Learfield, with Steven Davis calling the action.Kansas, a No. 2 seed in the WBIT, advanced to the semifinals with wins over Troy (79-70), Rice (62-55) and San Diego State (85-78). Junior guard S’Mya Nichols is leading the Jayhawks with 20.0 points per game in the WBIT, including 31 in win over Troy on March 19. Freshman forward Jaliya Davis is just behind with 19.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in the event, most recently going for 25 points and six rebounds vs. SDSU on March 26.&nbsp;BYU advanced to the WBIT Semifinals as the top seed in its bracket, defeating Alabama A&amp;M, Missouri and Stanford along the road to Wichita. The Cougars are 25-11 on the year and finished tied for ninth in the Big 12 with a 9-9 record. BYU heads to Wichita as winners in eight of their last nine games.&nbsp;Kansas, playing in the WBIT for the first time while making the program’s 27th all-time postseason appearance, has won nine straight non-NCAA Tournament postseason games. The Jayhawks won six games in a row at home to win the 2023 WNIT prior to this season’s tournament run.&nbsp;The Jayhawks now head to play in Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, for the first time since 2023. KU is 17-8 all-time in Wichita, including a 4-1 record in neutral site games from 1979-82 and a 13-7 road record at Wichita State. Kansas has won two straight games at Charles Koch Arena, most recently a 76-56 win on Dec. 10, 2023.&nbsp;Davis, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, notched her 15th game this season with 20+ points as she went for 25 vs. San Diego State. Davis has now scored 496 points this season, which ranks third all-time by a Kansas freshman, and she’s averaging 19.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game for the year.&nbsp;Nichols scored 18 points with five assists against SDSU, including hitting both three pointers she attempted. A 44.8 percent shooter from three this season, Nichols is 8-for-9 from downtown during the WBIT. KU’s single season and all-time leader in free throws made, Nichols leads the nation in free throw shooting this season, hitting 233-of-275 (84.7 percent) from the line.Sophomore forward Regan Williams is KU’s third-leading scorer in the WBIT after putting up 15 points and five rebounds in each of the last two games. She’s averaging 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in the tournament, up from her season averages of 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.Monday’s semifinal will be a rematch of an 81-60 Jayhawk victory from Feb. 4, in Lawrence. That game was tied 32-all at halftime before KU outscored the Cougars 49-28 in the second half. Davis led the Jayhawks with a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds in the win, with Nichols (17) and senior forward Lilly Meister (10) also scoring in double figures.&nbsp;Kansas and BYU will meet for the sixth time in series history, with each contest coming in the past three seasons since BYU joined the Big 12 Conference. Kansas holds a 5-0 advantage in the series, including a 1-0 record in postseason play with a 77-53 victory in the second round of the 2024 Big 12 Tournament.&nbsp;BYU is led by guards Delaney Gibb, an All-Big 12 First Team selection, and Olivia Hamlin, who earned a spot on the league’s All-Freshman Team. Gibb is the No. 4 leading scorer in the Big 12 at 18.3 points per game for the year, with Hamlin just behind at 12.5 ppg. The Cougars rank sixth in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 70.8 points per game while ranking seventh in scoring defense (63.9) and eighth in scoring margin (+6.9). BYU is the No. 2 rebounding team in the league with 40.6 boards per game on average. Head coach Lee Cummard is in his first season leading the BYU women’s basketball program, but he’s been with the program since 2019 as an assistant or associate head coach.Up Next

🏀 KU WBB Heads to Wichita for WBIT Semifinal Matchup with BYU

By MARK VANCLEAVE, STEVE KARNOWSKI, TODD RICHMOND and JOHN HANNA Associated Press

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/no-kings-minnesota-springsteen-immigration-war-b4ce14b0ab16d148f4fdbe642c20fdb2">crowds protested</a>&nbsp;Saturday against the war in Iran and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-democracy-turkey-hungary-venezuela-d7b0fac7c5e135bf75b3c125e8335a5d">President Donald Trump's actions</a>&nbsp;in “No Kings” rallies across the U.S. and in Europe. Minnesota took center stage, with thousands of people standing shoulder-to-shoulder to celebrate resistance to Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement.

Minnesota's flagship event on the Capitol lawn in St. Paul drew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/springsteen-trump-politics-new-jersey-3bbeb077e9e5de03f9d47c2121933f26">Bruce Springsteen</a>&nbsp;as its headliner. He and other speakers praised the state's people for taking to the streets over the winter in opposition to a surge of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents.

Springsteen performed “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bruce-springsteen-song-minneapolis-2f4232553bef164d02b1474627dd3b5f">Streets of Minneapolis</a>,” the song he wrote in response to the fatal shootings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/renee-good-ice-shooting-minneapolis-f766260ec7cfbb2b158d6b8eb3403607">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-alex-pretti-videos-861a0d8f3ee182f3b5909b3613900e2e">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;by federal agents. Springsteen lamented Good and Pretti’s deaths but said the state's pushback against ICE has given the rest of the country hope.

“Your strength and your commitment told us that this was still America,” he said. “And this reactionary nightmare, and these invasions of American cities, will not stand.”

People rallied from New York City, with almost 8.5 million residents in a solidly blue state, to Driggs, a town of fewer than 2,000 people in eastern Idaho, a state Trump carried with 66% of the vote in 2024.

U.S. organizers have estimated that the first two rounds of No Kings rallies drew more than 5 million people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/no-kings-protest-trump-us-b5de52994b7c592034fb19b7d3e9d577">in June</a>&nbsp;and 7 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protests-trump-immigration-first-amendment-f04e7a4728c10b694f540bcef0646370">in October.</a>&nbsp;This week they told reporters they expected 9 million participants Saturday, though it was too early to tell whether those expectations were met.

Organizers said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-alex-pretti-minneapolis-immigration-0b34386da0bb3eeac939d9f934680b6c">more than 3,100 events</a>&nbsp;— 500 more than in October — were registered, in all 50 states.

In Topeka, Kansas, a rally outside the Statehouse had people impersonating a frog king and Trump as a baby. Wendy Wyatt drove with “Cats Against Trump” sign from Lawrence, 20 miles to the east, and planned to drive back to her hometown for a later rally there.

Wyatt said “there are so many things” about the Trump administration that upset her, but “this is very hopeful to me.”

In Los Angeles, demonstrators marched beneath a floating inflatable caricature resembling a baby Trump wearing a diaper. They also carried signs with slogans such as “War Crimes don’t hide sex crimes” and “Immigrants make America Great.” Outside the federal building in downtown, a crowd faced a line of California National Guard soldiers.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson characterized them as the product of “leftist funding networks” with little real public support.

The “only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them,” Jackson said in a statement.

The National Republican Congressional Committee was also sharply critical.

“These Hate America Rallies are where the far-left’s most violent, deranged fantasies get a microphone,” NRCC spokesperson Maureen O’Toole said.

Trump's immigration enforcement push, particularly in Minnesota, was just one item on a long list of protester grievances that also included the war in Iran and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-rights-lawsuit-e0c462aeb4662576e3569dfdf91b0a9c">rollback of transgender rights</a>. Speakers at the Minnesota rally decried billionaires' economic power.

In Washington, hundreds marched past the Lincoln Memorial and into the National Mall, holding signs that read “Put down the crown, clown” and “Regime change begins at home.” Demonstrators rang bells, banged drums and chanted “No kings.”

Bill Jarcho was there from Seattle, joined by six people dressed as insects wearing tactical vests that said, “LICE” — spoofing ICE — as part of what he called a “mock and awe” tour.

“What we provide is mockery to the king,” Jarcho said. “It’s about taking authoritarianism and making fun of it, which they hate.”

About 40,000 people marched in San Diego, police there said.

In New York, Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said during a news conference that Trump and his supporters want people to be afraid to protest.

“They want us to be afraid that there’s nothing we can do to stop them,” she said. “But you know what? They are wrong — dead wrong.”

Organizers said two-thirds of RSVPs for the rallies came from outside of major urban centers. That included communities in conservative-leaning states like Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota and Louisiana, as well in electorally competitive suburbs in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.

Organizers designated the rally there as the national flagship event.

Before Springsteen took the stage, organizers played a video in which actor Robert DeNiro said he wakes up every morning depressed because of Trump but was happier Saturday because millions of people were protesting. He also congratulated Minnesotans for running ICE out of town.

The bill also included singer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joan-baez">Joan Baez</a>, actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jane-fonda-first-amendment-cold-war-4b7d8e2b30a27f3ff6d8ba76d9ee08e4">Jane Fonda</a>, Vermont U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-billionaires-bernie-sanders-gavin-newsom-democrats-87a1e54f463aad49a2093382969e5cca">Sen. Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;and a long list of activists, labor leaders and elected officials.

Protesters held up a massive sign on the Capitol steps that read, “We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis.”

“Donald Trump may pretend that he’s not listening, but he can’t ignore the millions in the streets today,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Demonstrations were also planned in more than a dozen other countries, from Europe to Latin America to Australia, according to Ezra Levin, a co-executive director of Indivisible, a group spearheading the events. In countries with constitutional monarchies, people call the protests “No Tyrants,” he said.

In Rome, thousands marched with chants aimed at Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose conservative government saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-referendum-justice-meloni-4d2092517ce3fff84b35a99c81b75fff">its referendum for streamlining Italy's judiciary</a>&nbsp;fail badly this week. Protesters also waved banners protesting Israeli and US attacks on Iran.

In London, demonstrators held banners with slogans such as “Stop the far right” and “Stand up to Racism.”

And in Paris, several hundred people, mostly Americans living in France, along with labor unions and human rights organizations, gathered at the Bastille.

“I protest all of Trump’s illegal, immoral, reckless, and feckless, endless wars,” organizer Ada Shen said.

Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin, and Hanna from Topeka, Kansas. Associated Press journalists Nicholas Garriga in Paris, Mike Pesoli in Washington, Colleen Berry in Milan and Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774729451201.png" alt="No Kings Rally in Minneapolis -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>No Kings Rally in Minneapolis -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK VANCLEAVE, STEVE KARNOWSKI, TODD RICHMOND and JOHN HANNA Associated PressST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/no-kings-minnesota-springsteen-immigration-war-b4ce14b0ab16d148f4fdbe642c20fdb2">crowds protested</a>&nbsp;Saturday against the war in Iran and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-democracy-turkey-hungary-venezuela-d7b0fac7c5e135bf75b3c125e8335a5d">President Donald Trump's actions</a>&nbsp;in “No Kings” rallies across the U.S. and in Europe. Minnesota took center stage, with thousands of people standing shoulder-to-shoulder to celebrate resistance to Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774729797201.png" alt="Kansas City area rally -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City area rally -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">New York state Attorney General Letitia James (D) speaks at a news conference in New York City organized by protesters on &quot;No Kings&quot; Day against the Trump administration. <a href="https://t.co/HcaStkR4Tf">pic.twitter.com/HcaStkR4Tf</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2037972515260158288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Actor Robert De Niro on trump at &quot;No Kings&quot; Day event in New York: &quot;He can&#39;t do all the fucked-up things that he&#39;s been doing without the collusion of Congress and the goons in his administration.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/p9mDN91Mr5">pic.twitter.com/p9mDN91Mr5</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2037972379826061639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Minnesota's flagship event on the Capitol lawn in St. Paul drew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/springsteen-trump-politics-new-jersey-3bbeb077e9e5de03f9d47c2121933f26">Bruce Springsteen</a>&nbsp;as its headliner. He and other speakers praised the state's people for taking to the streets over the winter in opposition to a surge of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents.Springsteen performed “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bruce-springsteen-song-minneapolis-2f4232553bef164d02b1474627dd3b5f">Streets of Minneapolis</a>,” the song he wrote in response to the fatal shootings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/renee-good-ice-shooting-minneapolis-f766260ec7cfbb2b158d6b8eb3403607">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-alex-pretti-videos-861a0d8f3ee182f3b5909b3613900e2e">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;by federal agents. Springsteen lamented Good and Pretti’s deaths but said the state's pushback against ICE has given the rest of the country hope.“Your strength and your commitment told us that this was still America,” he said. “And this reactionary nightmare, and these invasions of American cities, will not stand.”People rallied from New York City, with almost 8.5 million residents in a solidly blue state, to Driggs, a town of fewer than 2,000 people in eastern Idaho, a state Trump carried with 66% of the vote in 2024.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774729400633.png" alt="At the rally in Minneapolis-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>At the rally in Minneapolis-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Biggest crowds yet expected</h2>U.S. organizers have estimated that the first two rounds of No Kings rallies drew more than 5 million people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/no-kings-protest-trump-us-b5de52994b7c592034fb19b7d3e9d577">in June</a>&nbsp;and 7 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protests-trump-immigration-first-amendment-f04e7a4728c10b694f540bcef0646370">in October.</a>&nbsp;This week they told reporters they expected 9 million participants Saturday, though it was too early to tell whether those expectations were met.Organizers said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-alex-pretti-minneapolis-immigration-0b34386da0bb3eeac939d9f934680b6c">more than 3,100 events</a>&nbsp;— 500 more than in October — were registered, in all 50 states.In Topeka, Kansas, a rally outside the Statehouse had people impersonating a frog king and Trump as a baby. Wendy Wyatt drove with “Cats Against Trump” sign from Lawrence, 20 miles to the east, and planned to drive back to her hometown for a later rally there.Wyatt said “there are so many things” about the Trump administration that upset her, but “this is very hopeful to me.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774734124101.jpeg" alt="No Kings rally in Hays, Kansas -Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>No Kings rally in Hays, Kansas -Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>In Los Angeles, demonstrators marched beneath a floating inflatable caricature resembling a baby Trump wearing a diaper. They also carried signs with slogans such as “War Crimes don’t hide sex crimes” and “Immigrants make America Great.” Outside the federal building in downtown, a crowd faced a line of California National Guard soldiers.<h2>GOP officials dismissive of protests</h2>White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson characterized them as the product of “leftist funding networks” with little real public support.The “only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them,” Jackson said in a statement.The National Republican Congressional Committee was also sharply critical.“These Hate America Rallies are where the far-left’s most violent, deranged fantasies get a microphone,” NRCC spokesperson Maureen O’Toole said.<h2>Protesters have a long list of causes</h2>Trump's immigration enforcement push, particularly in Minnesota, was just one item on a long list of protester grievances that also included the war in Iran and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-rights-lawsuit-e0c462aeb4662576e3569dfdf91b0a9c">rollback of transgender rights</a>. Speakers at the Minnesota rally decried billionaires' economic power.In Washington, hundreds marched past the Lincoln Memorial and into the National Mall, holding signs that read “Put down the crown, clown” and “Regime change begins at home.” Demonstrators rang bells, banged drums and chanted “No kings.”Bill Jarcho was there from Seattle, joined by six people dressed as insects wearing tactical vests that said, “LICE” — spoofing ICE — as part of what he called a “mock and awe” tour.“What we provide is mockery to the king,” Jarcho said. “It’s about taking authoritarianism and making fun of it, which they hate.”About 40,000 people marched in San Diego, police there said.In New York, Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said during a news conference that Trump and his supporters want people to be afraid to protest.“They want us to be afraid that there’s nothing we can do to stop them,” she said. “But you know what? They are wrong — dead wrong.”Organizers said two-thirds of RSVPs for the rallies came from outside of major urban centers. That included communities in conservative-leaning states like Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota and Louisiana, as well in electorally competitive suburbs in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.<h2>Main event at the Minnesota Capitol</h2>Organizers designated the rally there as the national flagship event.Before Springsteen took the stage, organizers played a video in which actor Robert DeNiro said he wakes up every morning depressed because of Trump but was happier Saturday because millions of people were protesting. He also congratulated Minnesotans for running ICE out of town.The bill also included singer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joan-baez">Joan Baez</a>, actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jane-fonda-first-amendment-cold-war-4b7d8e2b30a27f3ff6d8ba76d9ee08e4">Jane Fonda</a>, Vermont U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-billionaires-bernie-sanders-gavin-newsom-democrats-87a1e54f463aad49a2093382969e5cca">Sen. Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;and a long list of activists, labor leaders and elected officials.Protesters held up a massive sign on the Capitol steps that read, “We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis.”“Donald Trump may pretend that he’s not listening, but he can’t ignore the millions in the streets today,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.<h2>Rallies overseas</h2>Demonstrations were also planned in more than a dozen other countries, from Europe to Latin America to Australia, according to Ezra Levin, a co-executive director of Indivisible, a group spearheading the events. In countries with constitutional monarchies, people call the protests “No Tyrants,” he said.In Rome, thousands marched with chants aimed at Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose conservative government saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-referendum-justice-meloni-4d2092517ce3fff84b35a99c81b75fff">its referendum for streamlining Italy's judiciary</a>&nbsp;fail badly this week. Protesters also waved banners protesting Israeli and US attacks on Iran.In London, demonstrators held banners with slogans such as “Stop the far right” and “Stand up to Racism.”And in Paris, several hundred people, mostly Americans living in France, along with labor unions and human rights organizations, gathered at the Bastille.“I protest all of Trump’s illegal, immoral, reckless, and feckless, endless wars,” organizer Ada Shen said.___Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin, and Hanna from Topeka, Kansas. Associated Press journalists Nicholas Garriga in Paris, Mike Pesoli in Washington, Colleen Berry in Milan and Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, contributed.

'No Kings' rallies draw crowds in Kansas, across the United States

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774561943734.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, March 27 - March 29 - US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, March 27 - March 29 - US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/local">local</a><a href="https://salinapost.com/category/weather">weather</a>

Three day weather forecast Salina, March 27 - March 29

NEW YORK (AP) — Singer-songwriter Darrell “Dash” Crofts, who teamed with childhood friend Jim Seals for such 1970s soft-rock hits as “Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl” and “Get Closer,” has died. He was 87.

Crofts died Wednesday of heart failure at the Heart Hospital of Austin in Austin, Texas, said his daughter, Lua Crofts Faragher. She said her father had been suffering heart issues for several years and had been hospitalized for about a month.

Seals and Crofts were native Texans who had known each other since high school and played together in various groups before becoming a duo, Seals &amp; Crofts, in the late 1960s. Blending pop, country, folk and jazz, they were part of a wave of million-selling soft-rock (or “easy listening”) bands that included America, Bread and Loggins and Messina.

“Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl” and “Get Closer” all reached the Top 10, while their other popular singles included “I’ll Play for You,” “Hummingbird” and “We May Never Pass This Way (Again).” The wide-eyed sentiments of the latter made it a favorite for high school yearbooks:

“Life / So they say / Is but a game and they’d let it slip away / Love / Like the autumn sun / Should be dyin’ / But it’s only just begun.”

Like many bands of the era, Seals &amp; Crofts sang of love, peace, music and the natural world. But the inspirations were rooted less in the counterculture than in the Baha’i faith, a monotheistic religion advocating global unity that they both embraced in the 1960s.

“It became a driving force in their careers and the way they lived their lives,” Faragher said.

They worked Baha’i themes into their music — “Hummingbird” is a metaphor for the Baha’i prophet Bahaullah — distributed literature after their shows, and sometimes preached from the stage, including during a performance on “Tonight” with Johnny Carson.

“You start out writing songs like ‘the leaves are green and the sky is blue and I love you and you love me’ — very simple lyrics — but you grow into a much, much broader awareness of life, of love, and of unity,” Crofts told Stereo Review in 1971. “It’s really great to be able to say something real in your music.”

One Baha’i tenet, that the soul begins with the formation of the embryo, led to controversy. In 1974, the year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision established the right to abortion, Seals &amp; Crofts released the ballad “Unborn Child,” the title song of their new album.

It was inspired by the wife of their recording engineer, who had seen a television documentary about abortion and wrote a poem with such lines as “Oh tiny bud, that grows in the womb, only to be crushed before you can bloom.” Numerous radio stations refused to play “Unborn Child” and protesters picketed Seals &amp; Crofts, although the album was certified gold for selling 500,000 copies.

“I think we got more good results out of it than bad,” Crofts later told the St. Petersburg Press, “because a lot of people called us and said, ‘We’re naming our children after you, because you helped us decide to save their lives with that song.’ That was very fulfilling to us.”

By the early 1980s, soft-rock bands were out of fashion and Seals &amp; Crofts had been dropped by its label, Warner Bros. They broke up for a time but continued to appear together at Baha’i gatherings, while also recording on their own. Crofts released a solo album, “Today,” in 1998, and six years later reunited with Seals for “Traces.” More recently, their music was revived by Faragher and Seals’ cousin Brady, who toured together as Seals &amp; Crofts 2. (Jim Seals died in 2022).

“There’s not a time that we performed that we didn’t have hundreds of people coming up and expressing their love and often saying the music changed their life,” Faragher said.

“There were so many people who loved them,” she added. “They were a constant service to mankind.” She said that her father’s death, a few years after that of Seals, marked the end of an era.

“That’s what makes it so painful — that it’s the end,” she said. “But the music will always, always live on.”

Darrell George “Dash” Crofts was born in Cisco, Texas, in 1938 and was singing and playing music from an early age, eventually learning piano, guitar, drums and mandolin.

He met and befriended Seals when both were teenagers and in a local rockabilly band, the Crew Cats. By the end of the 1950s, they had moved to Los Angeles and joined The Champs, best known for the early rock hit “Tequila.” Seals and Crofts would later briefly play in a band led by Glen Campbell, and join another California group, the Dawnbreakers, whose members included Crofts’ future wife, Billie Lee Day.

Although they performed on the same bill as Eric Clapton and Deep Purple among others, they were turned off by the volume and the lifestyle of hard-rock performers and honed a gentle sound. Seals &amp; Crofts released their eponymous debut album in 1969, and soon followed with “Down Home” and “Year of Sunday.”

Their commercial breakthrough came in 1972 with “Summer Breeze,” which featured a chorus that ranked with a contemporary hit, the Eagles’ “Take it Easy,” as a definition of post-1960s escapism: “Summer breeze makes me feel fine/blowing through the jasmine of my mind.”

“That was the beginning of bigger concerts, bigger crowds and we kept getting hits in the Top 40,” Crofts told the podcast “Inside MusiCast” in 2021. “That cemented us in the music business.”

Crofts is survived by his second wife, Louise Crofts; his children Lua, Faizi and Amelia; and eight grandchildren, Faragher said. His first marriage ended in divorce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774546550877.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Singer-songwriter Darrell “Dash” Crofts, who teamed with childhood friend Jim Seals for such 1970s soft-rock hits as “Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl” and “Get Closer,” has died. He was 87.Crofts died Wednesday of heart failure at the Heart Hospital of Austin in Austin, Texas, said his daughter, Lua Crofts Faragher. She said her father had been suffering heart issues for several years and had been hospitalized for about a month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">God Speed Dash Crofts. Seals and Crofts was the sound of a generation with so many soft rock bangers. <a href="https://t.co/t57WftzBnY">pic.twitter.com/t57WftzBnY</a>&mdash; Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyDeraney/status/2037236381060375002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Seals and Crofts were native Texans who had known each other since high school and played together in various groups before becoming a duo, Seals &amp; Crofts, in the late 1960s. Blending pop, country, folk and jazz, they were part of a wave of million-selling soft-rock (or “easy listening”) bands that included America, Bread and Loggins and Messina.“Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl” and “Get Closer” all reached the Top 10, while their other popular singles included “I’ll Play for You,” “Hummingbird” and “We May Never Pass This Way (Again).” The wide-eyed sentiments of the latter made it a favorite for high school yearbooks:“Life / So they say / Is but a game and they’d let it slip away / Love / Like the autumn sun / Should be dyin’ / But it’s only just begun.”<h2>Not always easy listening</h2>Like many bands of the era, Seals &amp; Crofts sang of love, peace, music and the natural world. But the inspirations were rooted less in the counterculture than in the Baha’i faith, a monotheistic religion advocating global unity that they both embraced in the 1960s.“It became a driving force in their careers and the way they lived their lives,” Faragher said.They worked Baha’i themes into their music — “Hummingbird” is a metaphor for the Baha’i prophet Bahaullah — distributed literature after their shows, and sometimes preached from the stage, including during a performance on “Tonight” with Johnny Carson.“You start out writing songs like ‘the leaves are green and the sky is blue and I love you and you love me’ — very simple lyrics — but you grow into a much, much broader awareness of life, of love, and of unity,” Crofts told Stereo Review in 1971. “It’s really great to be able to say something real in your music.”One Baha’i tenet, that the soul begins with the formation of the embryo, led to controversy. In 1974, the year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision established the right to abortion, Seals &amp; Crofts released the ballad “Unborn Child,” the title song of their new album.It was inspired by the wife of their recording engineer, who had seen a television documentary about abortion and wrote a poem with such lines as “Oh tiny bud, that grows in the womb, only to be crushed before you can bloom.” Numerous radio stations refused to play “Unborn Child” and protesters picketed Seals &amp; Crofts, although the album was certified gold for selling 500,000 copies.“I think we got more good results out of it than bad,” Crofts later told the St. Petersburg Press, “because a lot of people called us and said, ‘We’re naming our children after you, because you helped us decide to save their lives with that song.’ That was very fulfilling to us.”By the early 1980s, soft-rock bands were out of fashion and Seals &amp; Crofts had been dropped by its label, Warner Bros. They broke up for a time but continued to appear together at Baha’i gatherings, while also recording on their own. Crofts released a solo album, “Today,” in 1998, and six years later reunited with Seals for “Traces.” More recently, their music was revived by Faragher and Seals’ cousin Brady, who toured together as Seals &amp; Crofts 2. (Jim Seals died in 2022).“There’s not a time that we performed that we didn’t have hundreds of people coming up and expressing their love and often saying the music changed their life,” Faragher said.“There were so many people who loved them,” she added. “They were a constant service to mankind.” She said that her father’s death, a few years after that of Seals, marked the end of an era.“That’s what makes it so painful — that it’s the end,” she said. “But the music will always, always live on.”<h2>Long-awaited breakthrough</h2>Darrell George “Dash” Crofts was born in Cisco, Texas, in 1938 and was singing and playing music from an early age, eventually learning piano, guitar, drums and mandolin.He met and befriended Seals when both were teenagers and in a local rockabilly band, the Crew Cats. By the end of the 1950s, they had moved to Los Angeles and joined The Champs, best known for the early rock hit “Tequila.” Seals and Crofts would later briefly play in a band led by Glen Campbell, and join another California group, the Dawnbreakers, whose members included Crofts’ future wife, Billie Lee Day.Although they performed on the same bill as Eric Clapton and Deep Purple among others, they were turned off by the volume and the lifestyle of hard-rock performers and honed a gentle sound. Seals &amp; Crofts released their eponymous debut album in 1969, and soon followed with “Down Home” and “Year of Sunday.”Their commercial breakthrough came in 1972 with “Summer Breeze,” which featured a chorus that ranked with a contemporary hit, the Eagles’ “Take it Easy,” as a definition of post-1960s escapism: “Summer breeze makes me feel fine/blowing through the jasmine of my mind.”“That was the beginning of bigger concerts, bigger crowds and we kept getting hits in the Top 40,” Crofts told the podcast “Inside MusiCast” in 2021. “That cemented us in the music business.”Crofts is survived by his second wife, Louise Crofts; his children Lua, Faizi and Amelia; and eight grandchildren, Faragher said. His first marriage ended in divorce.—-Noveck contributed from London.

Dash Crofts of '70s soft-rockers Seals and Crofts has died 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Meta and YouTube must pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury decided the social media giant and video streamer designed their platforms to hook young users without concern for their well being.

The California jury's decision Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-instagram-facebook-trial-social-media-addiction-0e99c9ba6159421720d616f9facd10f0">first-of-its-kind lawsuit</a>&nbsp;could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-lawsuits-meta-818d885e92fd11e000bbfa16dd4fba0c">deliberately causing harm</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-instagram-facebook-trial-social-media-addiction-2afb4809d2dbbb0d1e69739c7f2b20b3">The plaintiff</a>, known by her initials KGM, testified at trial that she became addicted to social media as a child and that this addiction exacerbated her mental health struggles. After more than 40 hours of deliberations, a majority of jurors agreed and awarded her $3 million in damages.

Jurors later recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages after deciding the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud in harming children with their platforms. The judge has final say over how much damages are awarded.

It’s the second verdict against Meta this week, after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-new-mexico-trial-28eabd8ec5f58c1d1ecddc21bb107de7">jury in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;determined the company harms children’s mental health and safety, in violation of state law.

Meta, the parent of Instagram and Facebook, and Google-owned YouTube issued statements disagreeing with the verdict and vowed to explore their legal options, which include appeals.

Google spokesperson Jose Castañeda said the verdict misrepresents YouTube “which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.” A Meta spokesperson said teen mental health is “profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.”

Peter Ormerod, an associate professor of law at Villanova University, called the verdict “a momentous development" but noted it’s just "one step in a much longer saga” and that he doesn't expect to see large changes to the platforms immediately.

“I don’t think it is an unequivocal victory and I think there’s a long way to go before you see something akin to the master settlement that this is often analogized to in the tobacco and opioid litigation,” he said. To get to that kind of significant change in the platforms' operation, Ormerod said Meta and YouTube would likely have to lose their legal arguments on appeal and additional bellwether trials, or test cases, like this one would have to go against them.

Both Meta and YouTube were negligent, jury says, but Meta bears more responsibility

The jury determined that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their respective platforms, and that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.

They also determined each company knew their platforms could be dangerous when used by a minor, and agreed that they failed to adequately warn of that danger, further contributing to the plaintiff's harm.

Only nine of the 12 jurors had to agree on each claim against each defendant. Two jurors consistently disagreed with the other 10 on whether the companies should be held liable, but a majority of the jury agreed on all seven claims against each company.

The jurors also decided Meta held more responsibility for harm to KGM, or Kaley, as her lawyers called her during the trial. The jury said Meta shouldered 70% of the responsibility while YouTube bore the remaining 30%. That division was reflected in the breakdown of the $3 million in punitive damages, with the jury deciding on $2.1 million from Meta and $900,000 from YouTube.

Meta and YouTube were the two remaining defendants in the case.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trial-kids-addiction-meta-tiktok-youtube-d3a6bf617f2d11521675412ffb275031">TikTok and Snap settled</a>&nbsp;before the trial began.

One juror, who did not feel comfortable sharing her full name, said to reporters outside the courtroom that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-trial-testimony-instagram-c8cbaa32ccbf4933ec3a7beebd6cf34b">Mark Zuckerberg's testimony</a>, and how he “changed it back and forth,” did not “sit well” with the jury.

She also said they landed on the $6 million in damages even though some jurors were advocating for a higher amount because they were concerned about giving the sole plaintiff a larger lump sum all at once. But the jury still wanted the companies to understand they felt their practices were not acceptable.

“We wanted them to feel it,” she said.

The plaintiff was on social media all day from the age of 6

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774489052464.jpg" alt="Image Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Meta and YouTube must pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury decided the social media giant and video streamer designed their platforms to hook young users without concern for their well being.The California jury's decision Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-instagram-facebook-trial-social-media-addiction-0e99c9ba6159421720d616f9facd10f0">first-of-its-kind lawsuit</a>&nbsp;could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-lawsuits-meta-818d885e92fd11e000bbfa16dd4fba0c">deliberately causing harm</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Meta President and Vice Chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/DinaPowellMcC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DinaPowellMcC</a> responding to the recent social media addiction trial verdict: &quot;I see firsthand just how hard the company is trying to ensure that there&#39;s not harmful content... we respectfully disagree with that decision and we are appealing.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/GxN1St2OgV">pic.twitter.com/GxN1St2OgV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2036878983493828735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-instagram-facebook-trial-social-media-addiction-2afb4809d2dbbb0d1e69739c7f2b20b3">The plaintiff</a>, known by her initials KGM, testified at trial that she became addicted to social media as a child and that this addiction exacerbated her mental health struggles. After more than 40 hours of deliberations, a majority of jurors agreed and awarded her $3 million in damages.Jurors later recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages after deciding the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud in harming children with their platforms. The judge has final say over how much damages are awarded.It’s the second verdict against Meta this week, after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-new-mexico-trial-28eabd8ec5f58c1d1ecddc21bb107de7">jury in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;determined the company harms children’s mental health and safety, in violation of state law.Meta, the parent of Instagram and Facebook, and Google-owned YouTube issued statements disagreeing with the verdict and vowed to explore their legal options, which include appeals.Google spokesperson Jose Castañeda said the verdict misrepresents YouTube “which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.” A Meta spokesperson said teen mental health is “profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.”Peter Ormerod, an associate professor of law at Villanova University, called the verdict “a momentous development" but noted it’s just "one step in a much longer saga” and that he doesn't expect to see large changes to the platforms immediately.“I don’t think it is an unequivocal victory and I think there’s a long way to go before you see something akin to the master settlement that this is often analogized to in the tobacco and opioid litigation,” he said. To get to that kind of significant change in the platforms' operation, Ormerod said Meta and YouTube would likely have to lose their legal arguments on appeal and additional bellwether trials, or test cases, like this one would have to go against them.<h2>Both Meta and YouTube were negligent, jury says, but Meta bears more responsibility</h2>The jury determined that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their respective platforms, and that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.They also determined each company knew their platforms could be dangerous when used by a minor, and agreed that they failed to adequately warn of that danger, further contributing to the plaintiff's harm.Only nine of the 12 jurors had to agree on each claim against each defendant. Two jurors consistently disagreed with the other 10 on whether the companies should be held liable, but a majority of the jury agreed on all seven claims against each company.The jurors also decided Meta held more responsibility for harm to KGM, or Kaley, as her lawyers called her during the trial. The jury said Meta shouldered 70% of the responsibility while YouTube bore the remaining 30%. That division was reflected in the breakdown of the $3 million in punitive damages, with the jury deciding on $2.1 million from Meta and $900,000 from YouTube.Meta and YouTube were the two remaining defendants in the case.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trial-kids-addiction-meta-tiktok-youtube-d3a6bf617f2d11521675412ffb275031">TikTok and Snap settled</a>&nbsp;before the trial began.One juror, who did not feel comfortable sharing her full name, said to reporters outside the courtroom that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-trial-testimony-instagram-c8cbaa32ccbf4933ec3a7beebd6cf34b">Mark Zuckerberg's testimony</a>, and how he “changed it back and forth,” did not “sit well” with the jury.She also said they landed on the $6 million in damages even though some jurors were advocating for a higher amount because they were concerned about giving the sole plaintiff a larger lump sum all at once. But the jury still wanted the companies to understand they felt their practices were not acceptable.“We wanted them to feel it,” she said.<h2>The plaintiff was on social media all day from the age of 6</h2>Jurors listened to about a month of lawyers’ arguments, testimony and evidence, and they heard from Kaley, as well as Meta leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-trial-testimony-instagram-c8cbaa32ccbf4933ec3a7beebd6cf34b">Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-social-media-addiction-trial-mosseri-los-angeles-a49f64e21682e8bc1b98fbdf3d061579">Adam Mosseri</a>. YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, was not called to testify.Kaley said she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9. She told the jury she was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-instagram-facebook-trial-social-media-addiction-2afb4809d2dbbb0d1e69739c7f2b20b3">on social media “all day long”</a>&nbsp;as a child.Lawyers representing Kaley, led by Mark Lanier, were tasked with proving that the respective defendants’ negligence was a substantial factor in causing Kaley’s harm. They pointed to specific design features they said are designed to “hook” young users, like the “infinite” nature of feeds that allowed for an endless supply of content, autoplay features, and notifications.The jurors were told not to take into account the content of the posts and videos Kaley viewed because tech companies are shielded from legal responsibility for posted content, based on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-technology-social-media-business-internet-eb89baf1fa30e245c030992b48a8a0ff">Section 230</a>&nbsp;of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.<h2>Social media identified as substantial factor in causing harm</h2>Meta argued that Kaley's mental health struggles were not connected to her social media use and pointed to her turbulent home life. Meta also said “not one of her therapists identified social media as the cause” of her mental health issues. But the plaintiffs did not have to prove that social media caused Kaley’s struggles — only that it was a “substantial factor” in causing her harm.YouTube focused more on the nature of the platform, arguing that it's a video platform akin to television rather than a social media platform. The company also mentioned her declining YouTube use as she aged. According to their data, she spent about one minute a day on average watching YouTube Shorts since its inception. YouTube Shorts, which launched in 2020, delivers short-form, vertical videos with the “infinite scroll” feature that plaintiffs argued was addictive.Lawyers representing both platforms also pointed to their safety features and guardrails for users to monitor and customize their use.<h2>The California case could influence others</h2>The Los Angeles case was filed by a single plaintiff against Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap. After the latter two settled, her lawyers argued that Meta and YouTube were addictive by design, and that they especially target young users.“The reason why this case is consequential is not the individual case, but the way that it’s a bellwether test case that might guide the resolution of other lawsuits,” said Sarah Kreps, a professor and director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute.“There are thousands pending, and hundreds in California. So the concern if you’re a social media platform is, as this case goes, so might these others," she said. "I think the reason why they would be concerned, and I’ve seen this analogy with the tobacco lawsuits, is that once you have this type of verdict in one case, it just opens the floodgates for so many more.”