WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA was behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">a drone strike last week</a>&nbsp;at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, according to two people familiar with details of the operation who requested anonymity to discuss the classified matter.

(click below to listen to the President's explanation of the attack)

The first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September marks a significant escalation in the administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">months-long pressure campaign</a>&nbsp;on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The strike has not been acknowledged by Venezuelan officials.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;first made reference to the operation in an interview Friday with John Catsimatidis on WABC radio in New York, saying the U.S. had knocked out some type of “big facility where ships come from.”

In an exchange with reporters Monday as he hosted Israeli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump added that the operation targeted a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">dock area where they load the boats</a>&nbsp;up with drugs.” But the president declined to comment when asked whether the attack was conducted by the military or the CIA.

The CIA and White House officials also declined to offer further comment on the matter. Col. Allie Weiskopf, a spokesperson for Special Operations Command, which oversees U.S operations in the Caribbean, said in a statement that “Special Operations did not support this operation to include intel support.”

The strike escalates what began as a massive buildup of U.S. personnel in the Caribbean Sea starting in August, which has been followed by at least 30 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-drug-trafficking-trump-venezuela-4c21181026cf564fc79ae96d0b931f8d">military strikes on alleged drug boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. More recently, Trump has ordered a quasi-blockade aimed at seizing sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of Venezuela.

CNN first reported on the CIA’s involvement in the operation.

Trump for months had threatened that he could soon order strikes on targets on Venezuelan land. He’s also taken the unusual step of publicly acknowledging that he had authorized the CIA to carry out covert action inside Venezuela.

The administration is required to report covert CIA actions to senior congressional officials, including the chair and ranking members of both the Senate and House intelligence committees. But Trump, by entrusting what appears to be the first land strike of the Venezuelan campaign to the intelligence agency, could be calculating that the action would face less scrutiny from lawmakers than a military strike.

“I authorized for two reasons, really. No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” he said in October as he confirmed to reporters his approval for the CIA to act. “And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">Venezuelan drugs</a>&nbsp;come in through the sea.”

All the while, Trump has repeatedly said Maduro’s days in power are numbered. The Venezuelan leader and members of his inner circle have been under federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">indictment in the United States</a>&nbsp;since 2020 for narcoterrorism and other charges.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-venezuela-virus-outbreak-2ceb488313ebb3334f64f6ad705e33b8">Maduro has denied the charges</a>. The U.S. Justice Department this year doubled to $50 million the reward for information that leads to his arrest.

The Venezuelan president made no mention of the CIA operation during an hourlong speech Tuesday at an international leadership school for women.

AP writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed reporting.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA was behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">a drone strike last week</a>&nbsp;at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, according to two people familiar with details of the operation who requested anonymity to discuss the classified matter.(click below to listen to the President's explanation of the attack)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JUST IN: The United States has conducted its first land strike against Venezuela, according to President Donald Trump. Reporter: You mentioned in a radio interview ... did the military do that? Trump: There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up… <a href="https://t.co/XMIZf1vT2q">pic.twitter.com/XMIZf1vT2q</a>&mdash; Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/2005709303488143703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September marks a significant escalation in the administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">months-long pressure campaign</a>&nbsp;on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The strike has not been acknowledged by Venezuelan officials.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;first made reference to the operation in an interview Friday with John Catsimatidis on WABC radio in New York, saying the U.S. had knocked out some type of “big facility where ships come from.”In an exchange with reporters Monday as he hosted Israeli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump added that the operation targeted a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">dock area where they load the boats</a>&nbsp;up with drugs.” But the president declined to comment when asked whether the attack was conducted by the military or the CIA.The CIA and White House officials also declined to offer further comment on the matter. Col. Allie Weiskopf, a spokesperson for Special Operations Command, which oversees U.S operations in the Caribbean, said in a statement that “Special Operations did not support this operation to include intel support.”The strike escalates what began as a massive buildup of U.S. personnel in the Caribbean Sea starting in August, which has been followed by at least 30 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-drug-trafficking-trump-venezuela-4c21181026cf564fc79ae96d0b931f8d">military strikes on alleged drug boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. More recently, Trump has ordered a quasi-blockade aimed at seizing sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of Venezuela.CNN first reported on the CIA’s involvement in the operation.Trump for months had threatened that he could soon order strikes on targets on Venezuelan land. He’s also taken the unusual step of publicly acknowledging that he had authorized the CIA to carry out covert action inside Venezuela.The administration is required to report covert CIA actions to senior congressional officials, including the chair and ranking members of both the Senate and House intelligence committees. But Trump, by entrusting what appears to be the first land strike of the Venezuelan campaign to the intelligence agency, could be calculating that the action would face less scrutiny from lawmakers than a military strike.“I authorized for two reasons, really. No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” he said in October as he confirmed to reporters his approval for the CIA to act. “And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">Venezuelan drugs</a>&nbsp;come in through the sea.”All the while, Trump has repeatedly said Maduro’s days in power are numbered. The Venezuelan leader and members of his inner circle have been under federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">indictment in the United States</a>&nbsp;since 2020 for narcoterrorism and other charges.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-venezuela-virus-outbreak-2ceb488313ebb3334f64f6ad705e33b8">Maduro has denied the charges</a>. The U.S. Justice Department this year doubled to $50 million the reward for information that leads to his arrest.The Venezuelan president made no mention of the CIA operation during an hourlong speech Tuesday at an international leadership school for women.—AP writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed reporting.

🎥CIA behind U.S. strike at dock that Trump claims was used by drug smugglers

<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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767042454943.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, New Years Eve, Day &amp; Jan 2. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, New Years Eve, Day &amp; Jan 2. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.

Three day weather forecast Salina: New Years Eve & Day, Jan 2.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert"></a>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. has “hit” a dock facility along a shore as he wages a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-tankers-shipbuilding-3c711c500a627243329807df42fa6ef8">pressure campaign on Venezuela</a>, but the U.S. offered few details.

Trump initially seemed to confirm a strike in what appeared to be an impromptu radio interview Friday, and when questioned Monday by reporters about “an explosion in Venezuela,” he said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs “load up.”

“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-arab-nations-229253766673f18c1195550572edd2ce">met in Florida with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>. “They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. There’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.”

It is part of an escalating effort to target what the Trump administration says are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">boats smuggling drugs</a>&nbsp;bound for the United States. It moves closer to shore strikes that so far have been carried out by the military in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Trump declined to say if the U.S. military or the CIA carried out the latest strike or where it occurred. He did not confirm it happened in Venezuela.

“I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was. But you know it was along the shore,” Trump said.

Trump first referenced the strike on Friday, when he called radio host John Catsimatidis during a program on WABC radio and discussed the U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats. The attacks have killed at least 105 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">29 known strikes</a>&nbsp;since early September.

“I don’t know if you read or saw, they have a big plant or a big facility where they send the, you know, where the ships come from,” Trump said. “Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So, we hit them very hard.”

Trump did not offer any additional details in the interview.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or one of the U.S. military’s social media accounts has in the past typically announced every boat strike in a post on X, but there has been no post of any strike on a facility.

The Pentagon on Monday referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking more details. The press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s statement.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">for months has suggested</a>&nbsp;he may conduct land strikes in South America, in Venezuela or possibly another country, and in recent weeks has been saying the U.S. would move beyond striking boats and&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4.-1.0.json?type=new" target="_blank">would strike on land “soon</a>.”

In October, Trump confirmed he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cia-covert-operations-venezuela-ecb477ac7f07d5beaf48d44dee75c5e5">authorized the CIA</a>&nbsp;to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. The agency did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.

Along with the strikes, the U.S. has sent warships, built up military forces in the region,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized two oil tankers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-blockade-ship-intercepted-coast-guard-00056eed8071c51ca681fc74528d66f1">pursued a third</a>.

The Trump administration has said it is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">“armed conflict” with drug cartels</a>&nbsp;and seeking to stop the flow of narcotics into the United States.

Venezuelan President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from power.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-interview-donald-trump-a9b42bf0580f9ebdf93a45e7d19382f5">in an interview with Vanity Fair</a>&nbsp;published this month that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro ‘cries uncle.’”

Price reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a><a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert"></a>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. has “hit” a dock facility along a shore as he wages a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-tankers-shipbuilding-3c711c500a627243329807df42fa6ef8">pressure campaign on Venezuela</a>, but the U.S. offered few details.(click below to listen to the President's explanation of the attack)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JUST IN: The United States has conducted its first land strike against Venezuela, according to President Donald Trump. Reporter: You mentioned in a radio interview ... did the military do that? Trump: There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up… <a href="https://t.co/XMIZf1vT2q">pic.twitter.com/XMIZf1vT2q</a>&mdash; Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/2005709303488143703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump initially seemed to confirm a strike in what appeared to be an impromptu radio interview Friday, and when questioned Monday by reporters about “an explosion in Venezuela,” he said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs “load up.”“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-arab-nations-229253766673f18c1195550572edd2ce">met in Florida with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>. “They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. There’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.”It is part of an escalating effort to target what the Trump administration says are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">boats smuggling drugs</a>&nbsp;bound for the United States. It moves closer to shore strikes that so far have been carried out by the military in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.Trump declined to say if the U.S. military or the CIA carried out the latest strike or where it occurred. He did not confirm it happened in Venezuela.“I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was. But you know it was along the shore,” Trump said.Trump first referenced the strike on Friday, when he called radio host John Catsimatidis during a program on WABC radio and discussed the U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats. The attacks have killed at least 105 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">29 known strikes</a>&nbsp;since early September.“I don’t know if you read or saw, they have a big plant or a big facility where they send the, you know, where the ships come from,” Trump said. “Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So, we hit them very hard.”Trump did not offer any additional details in the interview.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or one of the U.S. military’s social media accounts has in the past typically announced every boat strike in a post on X, but there has been no post of any strike on a facility.The Pentagon on Monday referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking more details. The press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s statement.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">for months has suggested</a>&nbsp;he may conduct land strikes in South America, in Venezuela or possibly another country, and in recent weeks has been saying the U.S. would move beyond striking boats and&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4.-1.0.json?type=new" target="_blank">would strike on land “soon</a>.”In October, Trump confirmed he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cia-covert-operations-venezuela-ecb477ac7f07d5beaf48d44dee75c5e5">authorized the CIA</a>&nbsp;to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. The agency did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.Along with the strikes, the U.S. has sent warships, built up military forces in the region,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized two oil tankers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-blockade-ship-intercepted-coast-guard-00056eed8071c51ca681fc74528d66f1">pursued a third</a>.The Trump administration has said it is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">“armed conflict” with drug cartels</a>&nbsp;and seeking to stop the flow of narcotics into the United States.Venezuelan President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from power.White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-interview-donald-trump-a9b42bf0580f9ebdf93a45e7d19382f5">in an interview with Vanity Fair</a>&nbsp;published this month that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro ‘cries uncle.’”___Price reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

🎥 Trump says U.S. hit drug boat loading dock in Venezuela

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766951807531.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, December 29 - New Years Eve. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, December 29 - New Years Eve. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 29 - New Years Eve

As Sunday's heavy snow activity has ended in Salina, light snow is expected to continue throughout central Kansas

Original:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/b3728be6-8a12-4850-9531-978104a03ede">Be vigilant: Activity of snow has arrived throughout central Kansas</a>

According to the US National Weather Service, moderate to heavy snow has quickly come to an end, and only pockets of light snow are expected over the next couple of hours throughout the region. 

Even with road conditions improving quickly, continue to exercise caution as roads could be slick through tonight.

Areas of snow will remain through the late afternoon for locations generally along and just southeast of the Kansas Turnpike with little if any accumulation anticipated.

  Some locations may see visibility reduced to less than 3 miles at times.  There maybe a few slick spots on bridges and overpasses.

Salina is under a wind advisory until 6:00 pm Sunday.

The Emergency&nbsp;Accident Reporting Plan the Salina Police Department issued earlier on Sunday has been cancelled as well.

Monday's weather in Salina is expected to have a morning wind chill in the single digits to around zero. Afternoon highs are forecasted to be in the low 30s.

Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766956249307.png" alt="Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostAs Sunday's heavy snow activity has ended in Salina, light snow is expected to continue throughout central KansasOriginal:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/b3728be6-8a12-4850-9531-978104a03ede">Be vigilant: Activity of snow has arrived throughout central Kansas</a>According to the US National Weather Service, moderate to heavy snow has quickly come to an end, and only pockets of light snow are expected over the next couple of hours throughout the region. Even with road conditions improving quickly, continue to exercise caution as roads could be slick through tonight.Areas of snow will remain through the late afternoon for locations generally along and just southeast of the Kansas Turnpike with little if any accumulation anticipated. Some locations may see visibility reduced to less than 3 miles at times. There maybe a few slick spots on bridges and overpasses.Salina is under a wind advisory until 6:00 pm Sunday.The Emergency&nbsp;Accident Reporting Plan the Salina Police Department issued earlier on Sunday has been cancelled as well.Monday's weather in Salina is expected to have a morning wind chill in the single digits to around zero. Afternoon highs are forecasted to be in the low 30s.Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.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.&nbsp;For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

UPDATE: Heavy snow ends in Salina, pockets of light snow expected throughout central Kansas

Be aware, take precaution on the roads and prepare, as a fast band of snow has worked its way quickly through Salina and central Kansas.&nbsp;

According to the US National Weather Service, snow will combine with strong winds to reduced visibility to less than a mile at times. Those traveling along I-70 should expect rapid reductions in visibility as they head west.

Those traveling between Wichita and Salina need to be prepared for rapidly deteriorating conditions along I-135 and surrounding roadways. Slick spots on elevated surfaces and visibility under 1/2 mile are anticipated.

The National Weather Service expects the snow to continue until 3:00 pm on Sunday.&nbsp;

Moreover, a cold front will move across the area bringing strong northwest winds. Wind gusts in the 45 to 55 mph range will be common across the region.

Be sure to secure any loose outdoor items.

Salina has been issued to be under a wind advisory until 6:00 pm on Sunday.

SPD implements Emergency Accident Reporting Plan

The Salina Police Department has announced that the Emergency Accident Reporting Plan has been implemented due to severe weather and/or hazardous driving conditions, as the number of motor vehicle accidents exceeds the Department’s ability to respond in a timely manner.

Any non-hit and run, non-personal injury motor vehicle accident that does not require towing, and does not involve alcohol or drugs.

 Exchange personal information with the other driver(s) involved or property owner. 

Complete an Emergency Accident Reporting Plan accident report form as completely as possible and mail or deliver the completed report to the Salina Police Department within 48 hours.

Emergency Accident Reporting Plan forms are available at the Salina Police Department. They are also available online <a href="https://www.salina-ks.gov/media/Police%20Department%20doc/Downloadable%20Forms/Emergency_Accident_Report.pdf">here</a>.

On Monday, it is expected Salina to have a morning wind chill in the single digits to around zero. Afternoon highs on Monday are forecasted to be in the low 30s.

Visit this article periodically to view updates if the snow will continue past 3:00 pm today.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729086734517.jpg" alt="Image Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostBe aware, take precaution on the roads and prepare, as a fast band of snow has worked its way quickly through Salina and central Kansas.&nbsp;<h2>Sunday's weather</h2>According to the US National Weather Service, snow will combine with strong winds to reduced visibility to less than a mile at times. Those traveling along I-70 should expect rapid reductions in visibility as they head west.Those traveling between Wichita and Salina need to be prepared for rapidly deteriorating conditions along I-135 and surrounding roadways. Slick spots on elevated surfaces and visibility under 1/2 mile are anticipated.The National Weather Service expects the snow to continue until 3:00 pm on Sunday.&nbsp;Moreover, a cold front will move across the area bringing strong northwest winds. Wind gusts in the 45 to 55 mph range will be common across the region. Be sure to secure any loose outdoor items.Salina has been issued to be under a wind advisory until 6:00 pm on Sunday.<h2>SPD implements Emergency Accident Reporting Plan</h2>The Salina Police Department has announced that the Emergency Accident Reporting Plan has been implemented due to severe weather and/or hazardous driving conditions, as the number of motor vehicle accidents exceeds the Department’s ability to respond in a timely manner.- Eligible accidents include:Any non-hit and run, non-personal injury motor vehicle accident that does not require towing, and does not involve alcohol or drugs.- Driver requirements include: Exchange personal information with the other driver(s) involved or property owner. Complete an Emergency Accident Reporting Plan accident report form as completely as possible and mail or deliver the completed report to the Salina Police Department within 48 hours.Emergency Accident Reporting Plan forms are available at the Salina Police Department. They are also available online <a href="https://www.salina-ks.gov/media/Police%20Department%20doc/Downloadable%20Forms/Emergency_Accident_Report.pdf">here</a>.<h2>Monday's weather</h2>On Monday, it is expected Salina to have a morning wind chill in the single digits to around zero. Afternoon highs on Monday are forecasted to be in the low 30s.Visit this article periodically to view updates if the snow will continue past 3:00 pm today.Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.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.&nbsp;For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Be vigilant: Activity of snow has arrived throughout central Kansas

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766766968812.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, December 26 - December 28. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, December 26 - December 28. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check fo

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 26 - December 28

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, a couple of injury things here. Trent McDuffie won’t practice today, Nikko (Remigio) has a – his knee is swollen, so he won’t practice today, Rashee (Rice) won’t practice, still in the protocol. Tyquan (Thornton) is still in the protocol, and the Jaylen Watson has a muscle injury in his groin area. With that, we look forward to the challenge of playing Denver, a good football team, well coached (and) good players.”

Q: What did you see from the team’s performance and effort against the Titans?

REID:&nbsp;“This group here, I thought our guys played hard against them. It’s a good rival.”

Q: How much do you use the playbook when working with backup quarterbacks?

REID:&nbsp;“You back it up a bit, formation wise. You got a lot of guys who are new to it and learning. We’re still able to do enough for sure.”

Q: What will Patrick Mahomes’ role be if anything against the Broncos? Will he sit in a booth?

REID:&nbsp;“If he (Patrick Mahomes) can, it’s still fairly short after the surgery. He definitely won’t be on the sideline, although he’d like to be, but he can’t do that right now.”

Q: Has Patrick Mahomes been in any team meetings?

REID:&nbsp;“He’s (Patrick Mahomes) not in the meetings. He’s been getting treatment and kind of getting settled. That’s not an easy recovery, but he’s pounding through it and doing a nice job at that part.”

Q: If this is Travis Kelce’s last game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium what does that mean to you?

REID:&nbsp;“I don’t know if it is or not. I haven’t talked to him (Travis Kelce). I think his numbers and personality and the person I think speak for themselves. Phenomenal person (and) great for the community – has been great for the community. He’s everything you want from a player representing an organization.”

Q: How much have you thought about the Chiefs Stadium news?

REID:&nbsp;“I followed it. I think it’s phenomenal news. I went through this in Philadelphia where we had one of these deals. It doesn’t matter if it’s here or Kansas, we’re not moving to Florida or somewhere else, we’re right here. We’ve always had Kansas people come here to the Missouri side, and it will be likewise the other way. That’s the beautiful thing about it. Plus, it will be a beautiful facility and something the fans will be very proud of. It will be definitely loud, and those will be exciting times there.”

Q: What did you learn about Chris Oladokun based on his performance against Tennessee?

REID:&nbsp;“He (Chris Oladokun) looks forward to every week. He prepares himself every week to go. So, that’s been an easy transition for us with the verbiage and such. So, he jumps in and gets it. He sits behind the offensive drill there, they mock it – the two quarterbacks. The quarterbacks mock as if they’re there, and they make the calls to (Quarterbacks Coach) David (Girardi) and then go about it. They stay fresh on that, and he’s in a pretty good position that way.”

Q: Do you see any similarities between Chris Oladokun and Patrick Mahomes?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, he spends times at it (Chris Oladokun). When he’s a backup, he does the same thing. He doesn’t have to change a whole lot for this part because he prepares himself that way anyways. Pat’s (Mahomes) a great example of how to go about it, and he’s (Chris Oladokun) watched him (Patrick Mahomes) close and he’s followed right in suit there.”

Q: Will we see Dameon Pierce play this week?

REID:&nbsp;“Probably not this week – probably not this week. We’ll see about the following week.”

Q: How would you evaluate Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy this year?

REID:&nbsp;“Phenomenal. We were on a record pace there for a bit as far as statically. He (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) does a nice job there.”

Q: What do you see for&nbsp;<a>Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy</a>’s future?

REID:&nbsp;“I think he (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) deserves to be a head football coach in this league. That’s exciting for him.”

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Happy Holidays. (I) don’t have a lot, (it’s a) quick week, on to the next opponent. I’ll just open it up and let you fire away.”

Q: You could be without Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this week. How much of a challenge does that make Courtland Sutton?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Oh yeah, that’s pretty – that’s a no brainer, right? Big 6’4” target, but yeah, I think Kristian’s (Fulton) played against him (Courtland Sutton) before in other years, and Nohl (Williams) will be out there, and we’ll try to get some other guys – Josh Williams might have to step up and play a little bit for us but yeah, big target. We’ll have to find a way to limit his catches although I know whether he’s covered or not, I think the quarterback has a lot of confidence in throwing to him so I’m sure the ball’s going to go that way at some point.”

Q: Are you eyeing next year for more defensive snaps for Jeffrey Bassa?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“No, we’ve got everybody ready to go in this particular game. We’ll see how the game goes and which way we go with the substitution but just like Jack (Cochrane) got some snaps last week and Cooper McDonald did. I think, Jeff (Bassa), we’ll try to work him in there as well.”

Q: What do you attribute to Bryan Cook’s big jump from year three to year four?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I’m glad you brought Bryan (Cook) up. He’s been solid all year long, and listen, he runs the show back there. Him and (Nick) Bolton are a part of a lot of communication and getting guys on the right page. I think he’s done a really outstanding job tackling. I mean, he’s a safety – you’ve got to see it. He’ll come up and hit; he’s a big guy. I’m really pleased with the solid year that he’s had.”

Q:&nbsp;What separates Chris Oladokun from other third string quarterbacks?

NAGY:&nbsp;“I like where he’s (Chris Oladokun) at mentally understanding this playbook. He’s into his third year – third full year with us. He understands the language. It is different being able to understand it, it’s harder when you have to go to the line of scrimmage with guys chasing you (and) you have calls you have to make. It’s one thing when you’re watching tape with a remote and you’re looking at the television and you can make your ID calls, and your protection calls and stuff like that. When you get out there, and you’re not looking birds eye view, its loud (and) there’s a lot of stuff that goes into that. I felt that part he’s done really well in practice, and I thought the game last week there were a few things here or there but we’ll have a tall task on Christmas night. But I know the guys have really put in some good time and I think he’s ready for it.”

Q:&nbsp;On Travis Kelce’s level of play.

NAGY:&nbsp;“He’s (Travis Kelce) doing great. There’s going to be some routes that he ran really really well as a third (or) fourth year into the league. But what he uses now is he’s savvy with his mental. These guys see what he does and he’s able to set guys up. He’s having a great year right now and I think that’s what’s so special in his leadership skills. The way he leads these guys is second to none. It’s been a tough year, it hurts to be where we’re at right now. We understand the frustration, it’s difficult (and) it’s not fun. When you go through these times, I think in the end one of the things I’ll think back on Trav and these other vets is how they’re handling this moment right now, which is not fun or easy. They’re handling it like true pros and I’ll always remember that.”

Q:&nbsp;On Jalen Royals getting more reps.

NAGY:&nbsp;“I don’t think it hurts at all. I think it would be good for him (Jalen Royals) to get some reps and get out there and see what he can do. He had a great preseason for us and like I said before a little bit of a redshirt year for him but he has a lot of talent. You saw it on tape in school and then he put it in preseason and unfortunately had a little bit of that injury he had to fix at that front end, but I think now is a good time to be able to try and get him some reps. We’re trying to do that and it’s never easy but for sure it's something we want to do.”

Q:&nbsp;What does it mean to be named to the Pro Bowl team?

JONES:&nbsp;“That I have a really really really good supporting cast around me. It doesn’t happen without those guys. I’m super grateful and super appreciative of the fact that my peers and the fans still consider me a Pro Bowler in this league.”

Q:&nbsp;What does that hour in the locker room after a win mean to you?

JONES:&nbsp;“It feels really really good, especially after a week of preparation and game planning. Then to be able to be successful with it and come out with a W, that speaks volumes to your group (and) to the dedication that the individuals put in. When it comes full circle and you’re able to get the results you want, then it’s like it was all worth it.”

Q:&nbsp;What have the last few days been like for you?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“It’s definitely been crazy, you know? Stuff happens fast in the league, people always say that. Definitely just been a lot of preparation, getting ready for this game. I’m super excited to go out there and show the world what I got.”

Q:&nbsp;Have you had communication with Patrick Mahomes?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“I’ve talked to Pat (Mahomes) and most of it is just lighthearted, but I know he’s (Patrick Mahomes) rooting for me. He’s got his own thing going on right now with rehab and stuff, so I know he’s rooting for me.”

Q:&nbsp;What does it mean to you to try and play spoiler against the Broncos?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“That’d be great. It would be a great Christmas, that’s for sure. It’d make the mood a lot lighter at home after the game, but we know we’re facing a great opponent in Denver. One of the best teams in the league right now, not only defensively, but offensively as well. We’ve definitely got our hands full, and I feel like he have a good plan to go out there and spoil that on Christmas.”

Q:&nbsp;How many family and friends will be at the game?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“I’ll have five at the game. I’ll have my little brother that plays for the Chargers actually, he’s (Jordan Oladokun) on the IR there and then my little sister, her boyfriend and then my mom and dad. Super fired up. It was a quick turnaround getting flights and stuff for them up here. Obviously, they didn’t think I’d be starting in the Christmas game so it’s pretty cool that they’ll be up here.”

Q:&nbsp;Was your family in Tennessee?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“They weren’t in Tennessee, but it’s crazy, one of my best friends back home, Jake Hampton, he hit me up at 8 p.m. the night before the game and was like; ‘hey man, I live in Asheville, North Carolina, it’s like a four hour drive (and) I’ll drive up and at least see you in uniform.’ I was like, alright cool and as he’s walking into the stadium, he said he looked up at the jumbotron and said: ‘Is that Chris (Oladokun) in?’ And yeah, there I was so it was pretty cool. It was pretty cool to have him there and at least I had some support there in Tennessee.”

Q:&nbsp;How do you look at this as an opportunity?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“It’s a huge opportunity and it’s something I don’t take lightly. These opportunities don’t come around often and so when you get them, take that and run with it. This is not only a big game for our team, but me personally a big game in terms of letting the league know what I can do and letting these coaches know what I do and moving forward, having that confidence in me if something were to happen that they feel confident that I can go out there and execute the game plan.”

Q:&nbsp;When watching tape, what do you think you did well?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“Especially early towards the game, getting us into field goal position and leading some scoring drives was great. Getting the ball out of my hand and sort of getting the ball to our playmakers, did well. (I) was able to extend a couple plays too for some big gains which is a big part of my game and something I always want to utilize. In terms of (improving) – I think just the little operation stuff, just making sure we get in and out of the huddle and don’t want to have any penalties whether it’s my cadence and me and the o-line getting on the same page, I think that’s something we can always clean up. But for a first outing, I felt really good (and) I felt really proud of myself and not only in myself but the guys were awesome with me, Trav (Kelce), Creed (Humphrey), Trey (Smith) (and) the whole o-line made (sure) every single drive we’re out there: ‘hey, we got your back man.’ When you have that confidence from those guys, it felt great.”

Q:&nbsp;The offensive line told you that?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“Yeah, every single drive. Trey (Smith) will look at me and be like: ‘I got your back, man.’ That just speaks to his (Trey Smith) character, our whole offense, our whole team that they just rally behind me like that.”

Q:&nbsp;On getting cut after training camp last season and not getting signed for a few months.

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“That was a different experience for me. I was in a different city every single week, working out. I believe I worked out with seven or eight teams, so I was just constantly in hotels and getting flights and stuff like that. You’re sitting at home with your buddies on Sundays watching games and you’re like: ‘Man, I really used to be out there on those Sundays.’ So, it definitely makes you appreciate any opportunity you have to be in this league, no matter if it’s active roster (or) practice squad. It is hard to play in the NFL and it’s hard to stick on rosters. But also internally, it really motivated me. Made me look at myself in the mirror and see what I need to get better at physically and mentally and I think I had a really good plan with my QB coach back home, C.J. Bennett. We sort of attacked and I said if I get another chance, I won’t let it slip.”

Q:&nbsp;Is there a little bit more electricity when preparing as a starter?

OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“100%. There’s a little more electricity just because I’m the guy actually going through it. But in terms of preparation, my preparation hasn’t changed. It’s been the same for the last four years. I’ve taken my routine from guys like Chad Henne when I first got here my rookie year. Obviously, Pat (Mahomes), I sit next to him every single day and watch how he goes about his work. I sort of just stay in my routine, that’s where I feel comfortable and just know when they call that first group out there at practice, I’m not the one sitting there I’m actually running out there.”

Q: What’s it like having Shane Buechele back?

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesDecember 23, 2025OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, a couple of injury things here. Trent McDuffie won’t practice today, Nikko (Remigio) has a – his knee is swollen, so he won’t practice today, Rashee (Rice) won’t practice, still in the protocol. Tyquan (Thornton) is still in the protocol, and the Jaylen Watson has a muscle injury in his groin area. With that, we look forward to the challenge of playing Denver, a good football team, well coached (and) good players.”Q: What did you see from the team’s performance and effort against the Titans?REID:&nbsp;“This group here, I thought our guys played hard against them. It’s a good rival.”Q: How much do you use the playbook when working with backup quarterbacks?REID:&nbsp;“You back it up a bit, formation wise. You got a lot of guys who are new to it and learning. We’re still able to do enough for sure.”Q: What will Patrick Mahomes’ role be if anything against the Broncos? Will he sit in a booth?REID:&nbsp;“If he (Patrick Mahomes) can, it’s still fairly short after the surgery. He definitely won’t be on the sideline, although he’d like to be, but he can’t do that right now.”Q: Has Patrick Mahomes been in any team meetings?REID:&nbsp;“He’s (Patrick Mahomes) not in the meetings. He’s been getting treatment and kind of getting settled. That’s not an easy recovery, but he’s pounding through it and doing a nice job at that part.”Q: If this is Travis Kelce’s last game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium what does that mean to you?REID:&nbsp;“I don’t know if it is or not. I haven’t talked to him (Travis Kelce). I think his numbers and personality and the person I think speak for themselves. Phenomenal person (and) great for the community – has been great for the community. He’s everything you want from a player representing an organization.”Q: How much have you thought about the Chiefs Stadium news?REID:&nbsp;“I followed it. I think it’s phenomenal news. I went through this in Philadelphia where we had one of these deals. It doesn’t matter if it’s here or Kansas, we’re not moving to Florida or somewhere else, we’re right here. We’ve always had Kansas people come here to the Missouri side, and it will be likewise the other way. That’s the beautiful thing about it. Plus, it will be a beautiful facility and something the fans will be very proud of. It will be definitely loud, and those will be exciting times there.”Q: What did you learn about Chris Oladokun based on his performance against Tennessee?REID:&nbsp;“He (Chris Oladokun) looks forward to every week. He prepares himself every week to go. So, that’s been an easy transition for us with the verbiage and such. So, he jumps in and gets it. He sits behind the offensive drill there, they mock it – the two quarterbacks. The quarterbacks mock as if they’re there, and they make the calls to (Quarterbacks Coach) David (Girardi) and then go about it. They stay fresh on that, and he’s in a pretty good position that way.”Q: Do you see any similarities between Chris Oladokun and Patrick Mahomes?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, he spends times at it (Chris Oladokun). When he’s a backup, he does the same thing. He doesn’t have to change a whole lot for this part because he prepares himself that way anyways. Pat’s (Mahomes) a great example of how to go about it, and he’s (Chris Oladokun) watched him (Patrick Mahomes) close and he’s followed right in suit there.”Q: Will we see Dameon Pierce play this week?REID:&nbsp;“Probably not this week – probably not this week. We’ll see about the following week.”Q: How would you evaluate Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy this year?REID:&nbsp;“Phenomenal. We were on a record pace there for a bit as far as statically. He (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) does a nice job there.”Q: What do you see for&nbsp;<a>Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy</a>’s future?REID:&nbsp;“I think he (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) deserves to be a head football coach in this league. That’s exciting for him.”Chiefs Coordinator QuotesDecember 23, 2025DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Happy Holidays. (I) don’t have a lot, (it’s a) quick week, on to the next opponent. I’ll just open it up and let you fire away.”Q: You could be without Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this week. How much of a challenge does that make Courtland Sutton?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Oh yeah, that’s pretty – that’s a no brainer, right? Big 6’4” target, but yeah, I think Kristian’s (Fulton) played against him (Courtland Sutton) before in other years, and Nohl (Williams) will be out there, and we’ll try to get some other guys – Josh Williams might have to step up and play a little bit for us but yeah, big target. We’ll have to find a way to limit his catches although I know whether he’s covered or not, I think the quarterback has a lot of confidence in throwing to him so I’m sure the ball’s going to go that way at some point.”Q: Are you eyeing next year for more defensive snaps for Jeffrey Bassa?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“No, we’ve got everybody ready to go in this particular game. We’ll see how the game goes and which way we go with the substitution but just like Jack (Cochrane) got some snaps last week and Cooper McDonald did. I think, Jeff (Bassa), we’ll try to work him in there as well.”Q: What do you attribute to Bryan Cook’s big jump from year three to year four?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I’m glad you brought Bryan (Cook) up. He’s been solid all year long, and listen, he runs the show back there. Him and (Nick) Bolton are a part of a lot of communication and getting guys on the right page. I think he’s done a really outstanding job tackling. I mean, he’s a safety – you’ve got to see it. He’ll come up and hit; he’s a big guy. I’m really pleased with the solid year that he’s had.”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGYQ:&nbsp;What separates Chris Oladokun from other third string quarterbacks?NAGY:&nbsp;“I like where he’s (Chris Oladokun) at mentally understanding this playbook. He’s into his third year – third full year with us. He understands the language. It is different being able to understand it, it’s harder when you have to go to the line of scrimmage with guys chasing you (and) you have calls you have to make. It’s one thing when you’re watching tape with a remote and you’re looking at the television and you can make your ID calls, and your protection calls and stuff like that. When you get out there, and you’re not looking birds eye view, its loud (and) there’s a lot of stuff that goes into that. I felt that part he’s done really well in practice, and I thought the game last week there were a few things here or there but we’ll have a tall task on Christmas night. But I know the guys have really put in some good time and I think he’s ready for it.”Q:&nbsp;On Travis Kelce’s level of play.NAGY:&nbsp;“He’s (Travis Kelce) doing great. There’s going to be some routes that he ran really really well as a third (or) fourth year into the league. But what he uses now is he’s savvy with his mental. These guys see what he does and he’s able to set guys up. He’s having a great year right now and I think that’s what’s so special in his leadership skills. The way he leads these guys is second to none. It’s been a tough year, it hurts to be where we’re at right now. We understand the frustration, it’s difficult (and) it’s not fun. When you go through these times, I think in the end one of the things I’ll think back on Trav and these other vets is how they’re handling this moment right now, which is not fun or easy. They’re handling it like true pros and I’ll always remember that.”Q:&nbsp;On Jalen Royals getting more reps.NAGY:&nbsp;“I don’t think it hurts at all. I think it would be good for him (Jalen Royals) to get some reps and get out there and see what he can do. He had a great preseason for us and like I said before a little bit of a redshirt year for him but he has a lot of talent. You saw it on tape in school and then he put it in preseason and unfortunately had a little bit of that injury he had to fix at that front end, but I think now is a good time to be able to try and get him some reps. We’re trying to do that and it’s never easy but for sure it's something we want to do.”Chiefs Player QuotesDecember 23, 2025DT CHRIS JONESQ:&nbsp;What does it mean to be named to the Pro Bowl team?JONES:&nbsp;“That I have a really really really good supporting cast around me. It doesn’t happen without those guys. I’m super grateful and super appreciative of the fact that my peers and the fans still consider me a Pro Bowler in this league.”Q:&nbsp;What does that hour in the locker room after a win mean to you?JONES:&nbsp;“It feels really really good, especially after a week of preparation and game planning. Then to be able to be successful with it and come out with a W, that speaks volumes to your group (and) to the dedication that the individuals put in. When it comes full circle and you’re able to get the results you want, then it’s like it was all worth it.”QB CHRIS OLADOKUNQ:&nbsp;What have the last few days been like for you?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“It’s definitely been crazy, you know? Stuff happens fast in the league, people always say that. Definitely just been a lot of preparation, getting ready for this game. I’m super excited to go out there and show the world what I got.”Q:&nbsp;Have you had communication with Patrick Mahomes?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“I’ve talked to Pat (Mahomes) and most of it is just lighthearted, but I know he’s (Patrick Mahomes) rooting for me. He’s got his own thing going on right now with rehab and stuff, so I know he’s rooting for me.”Q:&nbsp;What does it mean to you to try and play spoiler against the Broncos?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“That’d be great. It would be a great Christmas, that’s for sure. It’d make the mood a lot lighter at home after the game, but we know we’re facing a great opponent in Denver. One of the best teams in the league right now, not only defensively, but offensively as well. We’ve definitely got our hands full, and I feel like he have a good plan to go out there and spoil that on Christmas.”Q:&nbsp;How many family and friends will be at the game?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“I’ll have five at the game. I’ll have my little brother that plays for the Chargers actually, he’s (Jordan Oladokun) on the IR there and then my little sister, her boyfriend and then my mom and dad. Super fired up. It was a quick turnaround getting flights and stuff for them up here. Obviously, they didn’t think I’d be starting in the Christmas game so it’s pretty cool that they’ll be up here.”Q:&nbsp;Was your family in Tennessee?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“They weren’t in Tennessee, but it’s crazy, one of my best friends back home, Jake Hampton, he hit me up at 8 p.m. the night before the game and was like; ‘hey man, I live in Asheville, North Carolina, it’s like a four hour drive (and) I’ll drive up and at least see you in uniform.’ I was like, alright cool and as he’s walking into the stadium, he said he looked up at the jumbotron and said: ‘Is that Chris (Oladokun) in?’ And yeah, there I was so it was pretty cool. It was pretty cool to have him there and at least I had some support there in Tennessee.”Q:&nbsp;How do you look at this as an opportunity?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“It’s a huge opportunity and it’s something I don’t take lightly. These opportunities don’t come around often and so when you get them, take that and run with it. This is not only a big game for our team, but me personally a big game in terms of letting the league know what I can do and letting these coaches know what I do and moving forward, having that confidence in me if something were to happen that they feel confident that I can go out there and execute the game plan.”Q:&nbsp;When watching tape, what do you think you did well?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“Especially early towards the game, getting us into field goal position and leading some scoring drives was great. Getting the ball out of my hand and sort of getting the ball to our playmakers, did well. (I) was able to extend a couple plays too for some big gains which is a big part of my game and something I always want to utilize. In terms of (improving) – I think just the little operation stuff, just making sure we get in and out of the huddle and don’t want to have any penalties whether it’s my cadence and me and the o-line getting on the same page, I think that’s something we can always clean up. But for a first outing, I felt really good (and) I felt really proud of myself and not only in myself but the guys were awesome with me, Trav (Kelce), Creed (Humphrey), Trey (Smith) (and) the whole o-line made (sure) every single drive we’re out there: ‘hey, we got your back man.’ When you have that confidence from those guys, it felt great.”Q:&nbsp;The offensive line told you that?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“Yeah, every single drive. Trey (Smith) will look at me and be like: ‘I got your back, man.’ That just speaks to his (Trey Smith) character, our whole offense, our whole team that they just rally behind me like that.”Q:&nbsp;On getting cut after training camp last season and not getting signed for a few months.OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“That was a different experience for me. I was in a different city every single week, working out. I believe I worked out with seven or eight teams, so I was just constantly in hotels and getting flights and stuff like that. You’re sitting at home with your buddies on Sundays watching games and you’re like: ‘Man, I really used to be out there on those Sundays.’ So, it definitely makes you appreciate any opportunity you have to be in this league, no matter if it’s active roster (or) practice squad. It is hard to play in the NFL and it’s hard to stick on rosters. But also internally, it really motivated me. Made me look at myself in the mirror and see what I need to get better at physically and mentally and I think I had a really good plan with my QB coach back home, C.J. Bennett. We sort of attacked and I said if I get another chance, I won’t let it slip.”Q:&nbsp;Is there a little bit more electricity when preparing as a starter?OLADOKUN:&nbsp;“100%. There’s a little more electricity just because I’m the guy actually going through it. But in terms of preparation, my preparation hasn’t changed. It’s been the same for the last four years. I’ve taken my routine from guys like Chad Henne when I first got here my rookie year. Obviously, Pat (Mahomes), I sit next to him every single day and watch how he goes about his work. I sort of just stay in my routine, that’s where I feel comfortable and just know when they call that first group out there at practice, I’m not the one sitting there I’m actually running out there.”Q: What’s it like having Shane Buechele back?

Chiefs Qutoes: 12-23-25

Barbara "Barb" Ann (Jensen) Nelson passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2025.&nbsp; She was born June 23, 1937, in Avon, Connecticut, to Peter and Hansine (Nielsen) Jensen.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She lived in Avon, Connecticut, until meeting Donald Duane "Smoke" Nelson while he was stationed in the US Army there and they married on September 24, 1960, then moved to Salina, Kansas, where they resided until Don's death.&nbsp; Barb then moved in with her daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, Bill, shortly after in Lone Jack, Missouri.&nbsp; She fell and broke her hip in April 2025, in the midst of building a family home in Lindsborg, Kansas.&nbsp; She consequently was residing at Pinnacle Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Barb was a homemaker and also enjoyed part time work after her children were raised. She was also active at Immanuel Lutheran Church and enjoyed volunteering in their kitchen.&nbsp; She was a dedicated blood donor and received many pins for her contributions. Barb had many talents and was an excellent cook and baker, making candy, cookies, and homemade pies that she enjoyed sharing with family, friends, and neighbors.&nbsp; Her homemade pies were legendary as she would make at least one a week. At Christmas time, she would make several dozen treats to share with others and enjoy herself as she had a profound sweet tooth she got honestly from her proud Danish heritage!&nbsp; Barb was also an awesome bowler, belonging to several leagues in Salina.&nbsp; When she was no longer able to bowl or bake as much, her avid love of playing cards became a priority.&nbsp; Barb was the sweetest lady in the world until she was in a game of cards and then she played to win!&nbsp; Her other interests included "red birds", anything purple, covered bridges, horses, and her beloved grand dog Bella. Barb was a reading enthusiast including cookbooks, romance novels and mysteries.&nbsp; She also enjoyed watching John Wayne movies, listening to Elvis Presley, whom she professed to be in love with, and anything with Tom Selleck in it.&nbsp; In her later years, Barb also enjoyed traveling including Branson, cruises, and visiting family "back East", as she described, and always wanted to visit Denmark.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Don, parents and 5 brothers and sisters-in-law, Alfred and Joey Jensen, Arnold and Jean Jensen, Earl and Nellie Jensen, Bob and Eleanor Jensen, and Clarence Jensen.&nbsp; Survivors include son Rex and wife Kim Nelson of Ham Lake, Minnesota, daughter Lisa and husband Bill Verhoeff of Lindsborg, Kansas, and grandson Drew Nelson of Lexington, Minnesota, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 10: 00 a.m. at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, on Friday, December 26, 2025 with a small reception following the service with cookies in fond remembrance of Barb.

Memorials can be made to Salina Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center at 120 W. Prescott, Salina, KS, 67401 or Salina Animal Services at 329 N. Second Street, Salina, KS 67401.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766594353079.jpeg" alt="Barbara "Barb" Ann (Jensen) Nelson" />
 <figcaption>Barbara "Barb" Ann (Jensen) Nelson</figcaption>
 </figure>Barbara "Barb" Ann (Jensen) Nelson passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2025.&nbsp; She was born June 23, 1937, in Avon, Connecticut, to Peter and Hansine (Nielsen) Jensen.&nbsp;&nbsp;She lived in Avon, Connecticut, until meeting Donald Duane "Smoke" Nelson while he was stationed in the US Army there and they married on September 24, 1960, then moved to Salina, Kansas, where they resided until Don's death.&nbsp; Barb then moved in with her daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, Bill, shortly after in Lone Jack, Missouri.&nbsp; She fell and broke her hip in April 2025, in the midst of building a family home in Lindsborg, Kansas.&nbsp; She consequently was residing at Pinnacle Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Barb was a homemaker and also enjoyed part time work after her children were raised. She was also active at Immanuel Lutheran Church and enjoyed volunteering in their kitchen.&nbsp; She was a dedicated blood donor and received many pins for her contributions. Barb had many talents and was an excellent cook and baker, making candy, cookies, and homemade pies that she enjoyed sharing with family, friends, and neighbors.&nbsp; Her homemade pies were legendary as she would make at least one a week. At Christmas time, she would make several dozen treats to share with others and enjoy herself as she had a profound sweet tooth she got honestly from her proud Danish heritage!&nbsp; Barb was also an awesome bowler, belonging to several leagues in Salina.&nbsp; When she was no longer able to bowl or bake as much, her avid love of playing cards became a priority.&nbsp; Barb was the sweetest lady in the world until she was in a game of cards and then she played to win!&nbsp; Her other interests included "red birds", anything purple, covered bridges, horses, and her beloved grand dog Bella. Barb was a reading enthusiast including cookbooks, romance novels and mysteries.&nbsp; She also enjoyed watching John Wayne movies, listening to Elvis Presley, whom she professed to be in love with, and anything with Tom Selleck in it.&nbsp; In her later years, Barb also enjoyed traveling including Branson, cruises, and visiting family "back East", as she described, and always wanted to visit Denmark.She is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Don, parents and 5 brothers and sisters-in-law, Alfred and Joey Jensen, Arnold and Jean Jensen, Earl and Nellie Jensen, Bob and Eleanor Jensen, and Clarence Jensen.&nbsp; Survivors include son Rex and wife Kim Nelson of Ham Lake, Minnesota, daughter Lisa and husband Bill Verhoeff of Lindsborg, Kansas, and grandson Drew Nelson of Lexington, Minnesota, and numerous nieces and nephews.Services will be held at 10: 00 a.m. at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, on Friday, December 26, 2025 with a small reception following the service with cookies in fond remembrance of Barb.Memorials can be made to Salina Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center at 120 W. Prescott, Salina, KS, 67401 or Salina Animal Services at 329 N. Second Street, Salina, KS 67401.

Barbara Ann Nelson

With Salina under a Dense Fog Advisory until noon on Christmas Eve, the US National Weather Service is advising the public to be cautious on the roads.

Visibility on Wednesday morning has dropped rapidly in many locations across central Kansas, with less than 1/4 of a mile of visibility range.

Dense fog will gradually dissipate from south to north by around midday on Wednesday, with more dense fog developing again this evening and tonight.

The&nbsp;US National Weather Service advises the public to slow down when traveling, and use low beam headlights.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766589185596.png" alt="KDOT webcams displaying dense fog in central Kansas on Christmas Eve morning 2025. Screenshot from the US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>KDOT webcams displaying dense fog in central Kansas on Christmas Eve morning 2025. Screenshot from the US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostWith Salina under a Dense Fog Advisory until noon on Christmas Eve, the US National Weather Service is advising the public to be cautious on the roads.Visibility on Wednesday morning has dropped rapidly in many locations across central Kansas, with less than 1/4 of a mile of visibility range.Dense fog will gradually dissipate from south to north by around midday on Wednesday, with more dense fog developing again this evening and tonight.The&nbsp;US National Weather Service advises the public to slow down when traveling, and use low beam headlights.Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.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.&nbsp;For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Dense fog advisory for Christmas Eve in central Kansas, US National Weather Service cautions public

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766513663419.png" alt="Christmas Eve &amp; Day, Dec. 26 Salina weather forecast. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Christmas Eve &amp; Day, Dec. 26 Salina weather forecast. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Christmas Eve & Day, Dec. 26 Salina weather forecast

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766342604038.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, December 21 - December 23. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, December 21 - December 23. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, December 22 - December 24

Chiefs Coordinators &amp; Assistant Coaches Quotes

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH / SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q:&nbsp;What do you want to get accomplished in the next three games, especially with the young guys?

TOUB:&nbsp;“That’s what it is, just getting better every week. We look at the young players, especially those guys they’re working hard. I’m kind of pleased with – I like our kickoff and punt return stuff is looking better and better. I think Matt Araiza’s having a really good year, probably his best year honestly. Obviously, with (Harrison) Butker things happen, but that’s where we’re at.”

Q:&nbsp;Is Brashard Smith going to get more reps returning this week?

TOUB:&nbsp;“He’s (Brashard Smith) going to get more just out of the fact that Tyquan (Thornton) is out. He’s going to get more. We’re going to try to get him more touches. Obviously, he’s another young player that we’re trying to develop, and he’s really come a long way and he’s done a real good job handling the football. It’s not too big for him. He’s done a good job. He’s just another one of those young players that we’re excited about.”

Q:&nbsp;What have you seen from Kevin Knowles?

TOUB:&nbsp;“Kevin (Knowles) is he’s really – I’m really excited about him. It seems like every week he makes a big play like he made the tackle on the kickoff. I don’t even know how he held onto the ball that was such a good hit. He continues to show up, plays fast. He’s tough as nails. He will block the biggest guy like he’s a junk yard dog. I love him. We’re excited – he has really good speed. We’re excited as a corner (for) what he’s going to do for us on defense. I think coming up next year I’m going to count on him a lot – I’m already counting on him now.”

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I don’t really have a lot. We’re onto the next game here. It’s NFL Thursday, and I thought our guys worked pretty good yesterday so with that I’ll open it up.”

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well, we’ll see. We got him (Zacch Pickens) up to the 53. We’ll see if we get him to game day. It’s probably, to what Soren’s (Petro) talking about, this is an opportunity or could be an opportunity to see somebody that we haven’t seen yet. But again, the focus is going to be to prevent as many points by Tennessee’s offense as possible. That’s our job.”

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“He’s (Jeffrey Bassa) been playing special teams, obviously. We haven’t seen any reason to pull the other guys out. Hopefully everybody stays healthy, and it doesn’t become an injury thing. But I have a lot of confidence in Jeff (Bassa). I was talking to him the other day. The growth process as a weakside linebacker is just in walkthroughs now. We haven’t seen him in a game, haven’t seen him since preseason, but I’m real hopeful for Jeff going forward.”

Q: What is Ashton Gillotte’s ceiling?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Showed ball skills the other day, which was kind of cool. I still think we could’ve got him (Ashton Gillotte) in there (the end zone). We could’ve gotten one on the block; we could’ve scored there. I think he’s on a great trajectory as far as what you want to get out of a rookie, a young guy. He’s around some veterans (who) I think that have been a real big help for him. He’s got some versatility that maybe going forward we can do some different things with him. Right now, he’s getting as many reps as we can get him. I’d like to get him more in these next three games because I think he can do some things for us, but I’m real happy with what he’s done so far.”

Q:&nbsp;How do you evaluate the offense not being consistent in big moments?

NAGY:&nbsp;“You’re spot on. You’re right. You look back, and I think that’s probably the part that’s most frustrating is the lack of consistency. Every team has injuries in the league. Every team has things that go on within a game. They all handle adversity. When you go through these moments, and let’s face it, there’s been a lot of success in this organization in the last 13 years, a lot. When you stumble into some of this where you’re trying to search and find out why is it, we had a stretch there this year on offense where we were probably as confident as we’ve been in years. And then you get to these last couple games and sometimes it just feels hard to even get that first down in that game, so you search and you try and figure out why, what is it? That’s when you’re not winning, and you’re losing, it magnifies all that which is real and there’s a lot to it. I think it’s very important for us as a staff to make sure that right now, we know we have three games left, we owe it to our players, we owe it as coaches, we owe it to the city to go out for these last three games. There’s no playoffs ahead of us, we still have to work to be better, and that’s our job. There’s honest communication. We talk about accountability, we talk about honesty, we talk about commitment and consistency. And that’s all stuff that you want to do throughout the year and strive to be great in those times, and just for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened this year. And I will say too, my role as an offensive coordinator, you run into these moments and these situations and you have to start with yourself and be real with the players and real with yourself and get answers and I take that very seriously. That’s kind of where we’re at and we have three weeks left and these guys have had a loud and clear message that that’s what our job is moving forward to end the season on three wins and then we have to dig into where we can be better.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you look at other plays, personnel, formations, etc., when you’re eliminated from the playoffs?

NAGY:&nbsp;“Naturally there’s some of that with injuries that go on. You are forced to somewhat do that with some guys. Maybe, to your question, there is a little bit of that. You don’t want to be in this spot. It’s not a fun spot, but it is reminding all of us in the building how hard it is to get to what we have done and that you can’t take it for granted, it’s hard, it’s hard. So, when we get to training camp, you get to the season this is a feeling you have to remember. For some of the younger guys that are on this team that maybe haven’t played as much, maybe they get some more time and maybe there’s a silver lining for somebody somewhere, and that’s how you have to approach it.”

NAGY:&nbsp;“You want to see more time from him (Jalen Royals), if possible. We’ve been in a position where these wide receivers that we have, we feel very fortunate with the guys that we’ve had for the middle of the season on when Rashee (Rice) came back. Some of it’s a numbers thing for him, and it’s somewhat of a redshirt year in a way. He’s practicing hard in practice, but for him, there’s a lot of good stuff there with him and I’m excited to see what he’s going to do. Whether it’s these next three games and or the future but yes, it’s going to give some kids an opportunity to maybe get some more time that they wouldn’t have gotten and it’s our job to see that and to give them those chances.”

Q:&nbsp;What would you like to see from Jeffrey Bassa over the next three games?

DALY:&nbsp;“He’s (Jeffrey Bassa) done a really nice job for us. His role obviously has been more in the kicking game, but he has stayed very dialed into defensively what we’re doing. Does a really good job in terms of communication, has done a nice job understanding the different roles that he could get put in to. It’s been a fortunate situation in terms of our health at the linebacker position hasn’t required him to get a bunch of game action. But I’ve been really pleased with his development. He’s in here early every day, he’s working hard, he does a really good job with asking questions (and) watching the guys in front of him who do a great job.”

Q:&nbsp;What is your message to players who aren’t making the playoffs this year?

DALY:&nbsp;“Listen, we’re all – this is what we do, not who we are, but it’s something that’s really important to us and we want to put our best foot forward. Each and every time we go and step out on the field, we understand that as coaches, as players what we do out there is our walking, talking, living, breathing resume and you want that to be what you would like it to be. You would like the results to be what you want them to be. Unfortunately, that hasn’t gone entirely the way we would like it to, which that’s how it rolls sometimes. It doesn’t mean you stop working, it doesn't mean you stop pushing trying to get better (and) trying to compete. It’s part of the nature of playing this game and being part of it.”

DALY:&nbsp;“I like Cooper (McDonald) a lot, and he’s done some really interesting (and) positive things. Both in the preseason I thought he did a really nice job which again you can see what we thought of that in terms of hm being able to make our roster. He had some really good play on special teams. I don’t want to speak for (Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator) Dave Toub and that side of things, but I think he’s done a nice job there. Again, he’s been similar to Jeff (Bassa) in a role that he hasn’t been asked to be on the field tremendously defensively, but he’s in there early every day with Jeff. He’s got different roles than Jeff but has done a really nice job in terms of mentally keeping himself up to speed in multiple different spots that he could be in. It’s been impressive. I certainly think there’s a bright future for him – both (Cooper McDonald and Jeffrey Bassa) of those guys.”

Q:&nbsp;Where do you think the offensive line is right now?

HECK:&nbsp;“I’ve got a lot of confidence in the guys that have been here and working. It’s been a great opportunity for some of these young guys; I like the way they have responded and gone out and competed. We come to work every day to get better and that’s where our focus is this week. That’s where we’re at.”

Q:&nbsp;Can you evaluate the run game and where you would like it to go in the future?&nbsp;&nbsp;

HECK:&nbsp;“We have a good idea about those concepts that we’re good at. We’ve been an efficient run team through the year. What we’re looking for is how can we get more explosive in the run game. That’s a constant effort whether it’s what are we doing scheme wise (and) how can we block it better. I love the grit and toughness in our running backs. We spend a lot of time working at these things and now we have a few different combinations in there (and) a few guys doing this. There’s a lot to getting on the correct angle and being in phase with your buddy, with the back. So, we’ve got a few weeks here to continue to try and improve that.”

Q:&nbsp;On Kingsley Suamataia’s progress.

HECK:&nbsp;“I never had a question about that. Kingsley (Suamataia) is big, strong, athletic, and he’s done a really good job of steadily improving this year. I look forward to him having a really strong career in there – inside. I’m happy for him because I personally like the guy – love the guy and so love to see him make steps every week here as we’ve gone through the year.”

WIDE RECEIVERS COACH CONNOR EMBREE

Q:&nbsp;Why have there been so many drops this season?

EMBREE:&nbsp;“Mostly the drops I feel like this year have been with some stuff where it’s trying to get the ball and make a move before they catch it. It’s usually with players that that’s their strength is catch the ball, get up the field – that’s first step, go, and it’s happened this year where some of those they didn’t look it all the way in before they started running.”

Q:&nbsp;What do you expect from Jalen Royals these last few weeks?

EMBREE:&nbsp;“Jalen (Royals), he’s been working his tail off at practice. Super smart kid. Stays locked in at meetings, and just like you said, we’ll see these next three games if he gets the opportunity to go out there and go make some plays.”

Q:&nbsp;How would you evaluate Rashee Rice this year?

EMBREE:&nbsp;“Same thing. Similar to Jalen (Royals), with the suspension earlier in the season, he (Rashee Rice) was having a great training camp, preseason and then he got suspended and had to get away for a couple games. And coming back, I thought he got off to a hot start and continued to get better throughout the year. I thought he got better and he was trying his all to be out there with his team. Similar to Xavier (Worthy), he’s trying to take that leadership role and lead all the young guys.”

Q:&nbsp;What do you want to get done in these next three games personally?

JONES:&nbsp;“Next year is still around the corner. I want to finish strong and make sure the d-line finishes strong with momentum going into next year. Unfortunately, we didn’t make to where we wanted to this year, but that gives us room to improve next year. Success is rented every year; every year you have to go out and earn it. Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you deserve. You get what you earn, so we didn’t earn it this year. It gives us an opportunity to finish strong and bring to next year with momentum.”

Q:&nbsp;What’s your message to the young guys who haven’t been through a stretch like this?

JONES:&nbsp;“I mean of course, to preach the emphasis on how important it is to finish. You always want to finish strong, finish strong. Especially when you have training camp (and) preseason. We’re going to use that momentum to continue to prevail. I play a huge part in is how we want to approach that and the mind frame and the mindset of that.”

Chiefs Coordinators &amp; Assistant Coaches QuotesDecember 18, 2025ASSISTANT HEAD COACH / SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUBQ:&nbsp;What do you want to get accomplished in the next three games, especially with the young guys?TOUB:&nbsp;“That’s what it is, just getting better every week. We look at the young players, especially those guys they’re working hard. I’m kind of pleased with – I like our kickoff and punt return stuff is looking better and better. I think Matt Araiza’s having a really good year, probably his best year honestly. Obviously, with (Harrison) Butker things happen, but that’s where we’re at.”Q:&nbsp;Is Brashard Smith going to get more reps returning this week?TOUB:&nbsp;“He’s (Brashard Smith) going to get more just out of the fact that Tyquan (Thornton) is out. He’s going to get more. We’re going to try to get him more touches. Obviously, he’s another young player that we’re trying to develop, and he’s really come a long way and he’s done a real good job handling the football. It’s not too big for him. He’s done a good job. He’s just another one of those young players that we’re excited about.”Q:&nbsp;What have you seen from Kevin Knowles?TOUB:&nbsp;“Kevin (Knowles) is he’s really – I’m really excited about him. It seems like every week he makes a big play like he made the tackle on the kickoff. I don’t even know how he held onto the ball that was such a good hit. He continues to show up, plays fast. He’s tough as nails. He will block the biggest guy like he’s a junk yard dog. I love him. We’re excited – he has really good speed. We’re excited as a corner (for) what he’s going to do for us on defense. I think coming up next year I’m going to count on him a lot – I’m already counting on him now.”DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I don’t really have a lot. We’re onto the next game here. It’s NFL Thursday, and I thought our guys worked pretty good yesterday so with that I’ll open it up.”Q: On Zacch Pickens.SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well, we’ll see. We got him (Zacch Pickens) up to the 53. We’ll see if we get him to game day. It’s probably, to what Soren’s (Petro) talking about, this is an opportunity or could be an opportunity to see somebody that we haven’t seen yet. But again, the focus is going to be to prevent as many points by Tennessee’s offense as possible. That’s our job.”Q: On Jeffrey Bassa.SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“He’s (Jeffrey Bassa) been playing special teams, obviously. We haven’t seen any reason to pull the other guys out. Hopefully everybody stays healthy, and it doesn’t become an injury thing. But I have a lot of confidence in Jeff (Bassa). I was talking to him the other day. The growth process as a weakside linebacker is just in walkthroughs now. We haven’t seen him in a game, haven’t seen him since preseason, but I’m real hopeful for Jeff going forward.”Q: What is Ashton Gillotte’s ceiling?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Showed ball skills the other day, which was kind of cool. I still think we could’ve got him (Ashton Gillotte) in there (the end zone). We could’ve gotten one on the block; we could’ve scored there. I think he’s on a great trajectory as far as what you want to get out of a rookie, a young guy. He’s around some veterans (who) I think that have been a real big help for him. He’s got some versatility that maybe going forward we can do some different things with him. Right now, he’s getting as many reps as we can get him. I’d like to get him more in these next three games because I think he can do some things for us, but I’m real happy with what he’s done so far.”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGYQ:&nbsp;How do you evaluate the offense not being consistent in big moments?NAGY:&nbsp;“You’re spot on. You’re right. You look back, and I think that’s probably the part that’s most frustrating is the lack of consistency. Every team has injuries in the league. Every team has things that go on within a game. They all handle adversity. When you go through these moments, and let’s face it, there’s been a lot of success in this organization in the last 13 years, a lot. When you stumble into some of this where you’re trying to search and find out why is it, we had a stretch there this year on offense where we were probably as confident as we’ve been in years. And then you get to these last couple games and sometimes it just feels hard to even get that first down in that game, so you search and you try and figure out why, what is it? That’s when you’re not winning, and you’re losing, it magnifies all that which is real and there’s a lot to it. I think it’s very important for us as a staff to make sure that right now, we know we have three games left, we owe it to our players, we owe it as coaches, we owe it to the city to go out for these last three games. There’s no playoffs ahead of us, we still have to work to be better, and that’s our job. There’s honest communication. We talk about accountability, we talk about honesty, we talk about commitment and consistency. And that’s all stuff that you want to do throughout the year and strive to be great in those times, and just for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened this year. And I will say too, my role as an offensive coordinator, you run into these moments and these situations and you have to start with yourself and be real with the players and real with yourself and get answers and I take that very seriously. That’s kind of where we’re at and we have three weeks left and these guys have had a loud and clear message that that’s what our job is moving forward to end the season on three wins and then we have to dig into where we can be better.”Q:&nbsp;Do you look at other plays, personnel, formations, etc., when you’re eliminated from the playoffs?NAGY:&nbsp;“Naturally there’s some of that with injuries that go on. You are forced to somewhat do that with some guys. Maybe, to your question, there is a little bit of that. You don’t want to be in this spot. It’s not a fun spot, but it is reminding all of us in the building how hard it is to get to what we have done and that you can’t take it for granted, it’s hard, it’s hard. So, when we get to training camp, you get to the season this is a feeling you have to remember. For some of the younger guys that are on this team that maybe haven’t played as much, maybe they get some more time and maybe there’s a silver lining for somebody somewhere, and that’s how you have to approach it.”Q:&nbsp;On Jalen Royals.NAGY:&nbsp;“You want to see more time from him (Jalen Royals), if possible. We’ve been in a position where these wide receivers that we have, we feel very fortunate with the guys that we’ve had for the middle of the season on when Rashee (Rice) came back. Some of it’s a numbers thing for him, and it’s somewhat of a redshirt year in a way. He’s practicing hard in practice, but for him, there’s a lot of good stuff there with him and I’m excited to see what he’s going to do. Whether it’s these next three games and or the future but yes, it’s going to give some kids an opportunity to maybe get some more time that they wouldn’t have gotten and it’s our job to see that and to give them those chances.”LINEBACKERS COACH BRENDAN DALYQ:&nbsp;What would you like to see from Jeffrey Bassa over the next three games?DALY:&nbsp;“He’s (Jeffrey Bassa) done a really nice job for us. His role obviously has been more in the kicking game, but he has stayed very dialed into defensively what we’re doing. Does a really good job in terms of communication, has done a nice job understanding the different roles that he could get put in to. It’s been a fortunate situation in terms of our health at the linebacker position hasn’t required him to get a bunch of game action. But I’ve been really pleased with his development. He’s in here early every day, he’s working hard, he does a really good job with asking questions (and) watching the guys in front of him who do a great job.”Q:&nbsp;What is your message to players who aren’t making the playoffs this year?DALY:&nbsp;“Listen, we’re all – this is what we do, not who we are, but it’s something that’s really important to us and we want to put our best foot forward. Each and every time we go and step out on the field, we understand that as coaches, as players what we do out there is our walking, talking, living, breathing resume and you want that to be what you would like it to be. You would like the results to be what you want them to be. Unfortunately, that hasn’t gone entirely the way we would like it to, which that’s how it rolls sometimes. It doesn’t mean you stop working, it doesn't mean you stop pushing trying to get better (and) trying to compete. It’s part of the nature of playing this game and being part of it.”Q:&nbsp;On Cooper McDonald.DALY:&nbsp;“I like Cooper (McDonald) a lot, and he’s done some really interesting (and) positive things. Both in the preseason I thought he did a really nice job which again you can see what we thought of that in terms of hm being able to make our roster. He had some really good play on special teams. I don’t want to speak for (Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator) Dave Toub and that side of things, but I think he’s done a nice job there. Again, he’s been similar to Jeff (Bassa) in a role that he hasn’t been asked to be on the field tremendously defensively, but he’s in there early every day with Jeff. He’s got different roles than Jeff but has done a really nice job in terms of mentally keeping himself up to speed in multiple different spots that he could be in. It’s been impressive. I certainly think there’s a bright future for him – both (Cooper McDonald and Jeffrey Bassa) of those guys.”OFFENSIVE LINE COACH ANDY HECKQ:&nbsp;Where do you think the offensive line is right now?HECK:&nbsp;“I’ve got a lot of confidence in the guys that have been here and working. It’s been a great opportunity for some of these young guys; I like the way they have responded and gone out and competed. We come to work every day to get better and that’s where our focus is this week. That’s where we’re at.”Q:&nbsp;Can you evaluate the run game and where you would like it to go in the future?&nbsp;&nbsp;HECK:&nbsp;“We have a good idea about those concepts that we’re good at. We’ve been an efficient run team through the year. What we’re looking for is how can we get more explosive in the run game. That’s a constant effort whether it’s what are we doing scheme wise (and) how can we block it better. I love the grit and toughness in our running backs. We spend a lot of time working at these things and now we have a few different combinations in there (and) a few guys doing this. There’s a lot to getting on the correct angle and being in phase with your buddy, with the back. So, we’ve got a few weeks here to continue to try and improve that.”Q:&nbsp;On Kingsley Suamataia’s progress.HECK:&nbsp;“I never had a question about that. Kingsley (Suamataia) is big, strong, athletic, and he’s done a really good job of steadily improving this year. I look forward to him having a really strong career in there – inside. I’m happy for him because I personally like the guy – love the guy and so love to see him make steps every week here as we’ve gone through the year.”WIDE RECEIVERS COACH CONNOR EMBREEQ:&nbsp;Why have there been so many drops this season?EMBREE:&nbsp;“Mostly the drops I feel like this year have been with some stuff where it’s trying to get the ball and make a move before they catch it. It’s usually with players that that’s their strength is catch the ball, get up the field – that’s first step, go, and it’s happened this year where some of those they didn’t look it all the way in before they started running.”Q:&nbsp;What do you expect from Jalen Royals these last few weeks?EMBREE:&nbsp;“Jalen (Royals), he’s been working his tail off at practice. Super smart kid. Stays locked in at meetings, and just like you said, we’ll see these next three games if he gets the opportunity to go out there and go make some plays.”Q:&nbsp;How would you evaluate Rashee Rice this year?EMBREE:&nbsp;“Same thing. Similar to Jalen (Royals), with the suspension earlier in the season, he (Rashee Rice) was having a great training camp, preseason and then he got suspended and had to get away for a couple games. And coming back, I thought he got off to a hot start and continued to get better throughout the year. I thought he got better and he was trying his all to be out there with his team. Similar to Xavier (Worthy), he’s trying to take that leadership role and lead all the young guys.”Chiefs Player QuotesDecember 18, 2025DT CHRIS JONESQ:&nbsp;What do you want to get done in these next three games personally?JONES:&nbsp;“Next year is still around the corner. I want to finish strong and make sure the d-line finishes strong with momentum going into next year. Unfortunately, we didn’t make to where we wanted to this year, but that gives us room to improve next year. Success is rented every year; every year you have to go out and earn it. Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you deserve. You get what you earn, so we didn’t earn it this year. It gives us an opportunity to finish strong and bring to next year with momentum.”Q:&nbsp;What’s your message to the young guys who haven’t been through a stretch like this?JONES:&nbsp;“I mean of course, to preach the emphasis on how important it is to finish. You always want to finish strong, finish strong. Especially when you have training camp (and) preseason. We’re going to use that momentum to continue to prevail. I play a huge part in is how we want to approach that and the mind frame and the mindset of that.”Q:&nbsp;On the Tennessee Titans.