Starting Friday&nbsp;(September 12), a portion of the 1100 block of Fremont Street will be closed by a local contractor as part of an adjacent construction project.

The closure is expected to last for&nbsp;4 weeks&nbsp;for the installation of residential water and fire protection infrastructure.

Access to City Park from 11th Street remains by way of a detour to Laramie Street and 12th Street, as pictured below.

Please drive safely in this area, follow signage and look out for construction workers.

Expect light to moderate traffic and some delays on 11th Street, 12th Street, 14th Street, Fremont Street, Laramie Street, and Poyntz Avenue. The estimate is about&nbsp;4 weeks&nbsp;to complete this work, depending on weather.

1100 block of Fremont closes

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has announced the members of his 2025 Service Academy Selection Board. The board will review applications and interview candidates who are applying for admission to the U.S. Service Academies.Applicants will be interviewed by the selection board on Saturday, September 27th, at Wichita State University.

The U.S. Service Academies include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.“Nominating Kansas students for service academies is one of my greatest honors as a U.S. Senator,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;

“I appreciate this year’s Service Academy Selection Board for their dedication in choosing to invest in the next generation of leaders who are stepping up to defend and serve our nation.&nbsp; &nbsp;

One member of the Board is from this region-&nbsp;&nbsp;Christian Bishop of Manhattan –&nbsp;Military Relations Manager, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

Sen. Moran announces 2025 Service Academy Selection Board

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Kelly Modlin of the Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum in Augusta.

🎤 Forward Ever: Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum 

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Riley County Arrest Report September 12

By KRISTI BIRCH <a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive/kansas-nursing-workforce-report.html">KU News Service</a>

The second report on the <a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-nursing/about/kansas-nursing-workforce-center.html">state of nursing in Kansas</a> was released by the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, which is based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

The center formed in 2023 to address the shortage of nurses across the state. 

Compiled from 25 sources that include state and national databases and surveys, the report provides information on the supply and characteristics of nurses in Kansas.

“We look at the data through different vantage points. We look at the demographics of nurses: Who are they? How were they educated? How old are they? Where (in what setting) do they practice? We look at the data geographically: Where are they located?” said Barbara MacArthur, M.N., FAAN, director of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center and clinical associate professor at KU School of Nursing. “And we look at it in terms of access to care, because our mission is that wherever and whenever Kansans need care, they have access to it.”

The report helps hospitals, health care systems, long-term care facilities, nursing schools, government agencies and other stakeholders make informed decisions that increase and support the workforce in the state and ultimately improve the health of Kansans.

The first report, issued in September of 2024, provided a snapshot of the state of nursing in Kansas with one year of data from 2022. This second report is based on data covering 10 years, from 2015 to 2025.

The new report shows that the number of nurses in Kansas has declined since 2019, and the nursing workforce is aging — 22.1% of registered nurses (RNs) and 20.5% of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are 60 or older — with not enough younger nurses replacing them. And 25.9% of RNs and 23.4% of LPNs are planning to retire or leave the profession in the next five years. The report also notes that the population in Kansas is aging as well, and aging populations require more care.

Meanwhile, 85% of Kansas nurses are actively employed, which is lower than the national average. “If you look at nurses holding a license in Kansas, it doesn’t appear we have a crisis,” said Terry Siek, MSN, director of clinical services at the Kansas Hospital Association. “We need to be better at helping people see beyond that statistic to understand that we have quite a few nurses with a license that do not practice in Kansas, or do not practice at all.”

• The ratio of nurses to Kansans has not grown in the last 10 years, and the ratio of LPNs available to care for Kansans (currently, one LPN for every 322 Kansans) has decreased sharply. • Kansas has nursing care deserts, particularly in the western and southeast parts of the state. Five counties have fewer than 20 RNs and 41 counties have 20 or fewer LPNs. Five counties have no advanced practice nurses (APRNs), and 50 have fewer than 10 APRNs. • Kansas nurses work more jobs and longer hours. The percentage of Kansas RNs who hold two or more jobs rose from 15.7% in 2015 to 21.9% in 2024; during that period, the percentage who work more than 40 hours a week rose from 23.8% to 30.8%. • Wage gaps — between nurses who practice and those who teach — contribute to shortages of nursing faculty. These faculty are needed to train future nurses. • Multiple pathways are available to become a nurse. The report provides data on the different education levels that can lead to a career in nursing. Nearly 54% of RNs in Kansas began their career with a baccalaureate degree, 31% started with an associate degree and just 8% started their career as an LPN.

Making different pathways to a nursing career known to potential future nurses is part of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center’s work, MacArthur said. Earlier this year, the center received a $1 million grant from the Kansas Board of Regents to increase nursing school applications. In addition to creating a unified application for all schools that provide nursing education in the state, staff of the center plan to build a web-based tool for people interested in nursing education to show potential nursing students what the options are for a career in nursing.

“Nurses make a difference,” MacArthur said, noting that health outcomes are improved when there is a higher ratio of nurses for a population. “Kansans, wherever they are, need to have access to good nursing care.”

Report: 26% of Kansas nurses plan to leave profession in next 5 years

Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division commemorated 9/11 with a ceremony Thursday. During the ceremony, participants honored first responders and those who gave their lives during the Global War on Terrorism.

Col. Gerald Nunziato, Fort Riley Garrison Commander, stated, “Today we honor the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans who lost their lives on American soil.”

Nunziato went on to say, “We are here because the mission isn’t complete. We are here because the cost of freedom is never paid in full. We are here to honor those who gave their lives.”

The ceremony included the placing of a wreath, the playing of Taps, and a three-round volley from a firing detail.

Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division commemorate 9/11

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Kansas Water Office, is pleased to announce the start of the first demonstration period for the innovative Water Injection Dredging project at Tuttle Creek Lake.

The demonstration will take place from September 17 to 27 providing a real-world assessment of Water Injection Dredging's effectiveness for sediment management within inland reservoirs. This pioneering project aims to evaluate Water Injection Dredging (WID) and downstream discharge of sediment as a potential alternative to traditional mechanical dredging with offsite sediment disposal. WID uses a controlled injection of water, under pressure, to resuspend sediment from the reservoir bed and create a density current, allowing it to be carried downstream by gravity and the natural current.

"We are excited to launch this first demonstration period for Water Injection Dredging at Tuttle Creek Lake," said Laura Totten, project manager for the Tuttle Creek Reservoir Water Injection Dredging Demonstration Project at the Kansas City District. "This project represents a significant step forward in exploring sustainable dredging techniques to maintain water storage capacity and evaluate the associated environmental effects.”

Tuttle Creek Lake is the largest reservoir in the Kansas River Basin. Over 40% of the population of Kansas, including the urban areas of Topeka, Kansas City, Manhattan and Lawrence, depend on the flood control and water supply benefits of Tuttle Creek Lake,&nbsp;and many more utilize the recreational and environmental benefits.&nbsp;

Since dam closure in 1962, 438 million cubic yards of sediment have accumulated at Tuttle Creek Lake. Sediment deposition has shrunk the surface area of the reservoir, which has buried boat ramps, cut off habitat in coves, led to the abandonment of water intakes&nbsp;and caused numerous other harmful effects. Without intentional action, the benefits of this resource will continue to diminish. Estimates indicate that by 2049, the multi-purpose pool will be 75% full of sediment, leaving only 25% of the original storage capacity, and in 2074, only 7% of the original storage capacity will remain

Water Injection Dredging project scheduled at Tuttle Creek Lake

Manhattan High School has announced two semifinalists in this year's National Merit Scholarship; Nutsa Samushia and Rowan Janette-Bear. These students are part of less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors that have met community and school involvement, demonstrated leadership abilities, strong academic records and a number of other qualities. 

National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– K-State Athletics and Athletics Director Gene Taylor have announced a new annual fundraising effort, Fighting Ever Fighting, to position K-State Athletics in this new era of college athletics and enhance the world-class student-athlete experience through philanthropic giving via the Ahearn Fund, K-State's National Fund for Student-Athlete Excellence.&nbsp;

The recent court settlement in the House vs. NCAA&nbsp;class action lawsuit, which allows athletics departments to share revenues with student-athletes for use of their name, image, and likeness, signals a transformative era in college athletics. Beyond&nbsp;revenue sharing, the settlement will also provide new scholarship opportunities, as well as changes to roster limits.

This historic settlement will have a monumental impact on college athletics, leveling the NIL playing field by creating a new structure with a uniform spending cap across all Power 4 institutions.

“At K-State, we are committed to fully funding our opportunity to share revenues with our student-athletes across all of our sports,” Taylor said. “We will never take for granted what we have at K-State: a&nbsp;loyal fanbase, world-class facilities, and unwavering donor support that is the envy of other schools. Change is never easy, and we know this is a monumental shift in college athletics. I truly believe that K-State will rise through this and prove to be a leader in the national landscape. We have witnessed championship moments, created lasting memories, and we will continue to do so by providing championship-level support that aligns with our championship-level expectations.”

With schools across the country facing new challenges to find a creative and diligent approach for new revenue streams, the Fighting Ever Fighting campaign will focus on the continued philanthropic support from Ahearn Fund members.

"Fighting Ever Fighting is much more than just the new world of revenue sharing. It goes far beyond that,” Taylor added. “The core mission of what we do has&nbsp;not changed. We want to provide the best collegiate experience, in competition and in the classroom,&nbsp;for our student-athletes when they come to K-State. We want to put them in a position to compete for championships. Fighting Ever Fighting is also about the new opportunities we are providing our student-athletes through additional scholarships; the importance of the economic impact K-State Athletics provides to the city, region and state and the role athletics plays in higher education when it comes to publicity and potential increases in enrollment. Whether donors are long-time supporters, or first-time givers, it takes a collective effort and your support to our Ahearn Excellence fund&nbsp;is more important than ever."

K-State Athletics and Ahearn Fund Announce “Fighting Ever Fighting” Initiative

Progress continues on the new Cico Baseball &amp; Softball Complex in Manhaattan. Turf is laid on three of the four fields, with the warm-up area also underway. The main building’s exterior walls are up, and interior walls and the elevator shaft for the center structure is beginning.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cico Baseball & Softball Complex construction

The Army noted that the Ogden Access Control Point will temporarily close for Ogden's Fall Fest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13 from Noon - 1 PM.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Temporary closure notice for Ogden ACP

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court this week for possession and transfer of machine guns, including machine gun conversion devices or “switches.”

Davorian M. Fleming, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 37 months’ imprisonment, according to the United State's Attorney.

On April 3, 2025, Fleming pleaded guilty to possession and transfer of machineguns. Fleming admitted the ‘switches” were machineguns and that he aided his co-defendants in the transfer of the machineguns.

Fleming’s co-defendant, K’Orion A. Duff, 23, also of Kansas City, Mo., was previously sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the distribution of machinegun conversion devices.&nbsp; Two co-defendants are still awaiting sentencing.&nbsp;

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess or transfer a machinegun, as that term is defined in Title 26, United States Code, Section 5845(b).&nbsp;This definition includes machine gun conversion devices often referred to as “switches.”&nbsp; A machine gun conversion device allows a semi-automatic firearm to be modified to function as a fully automatic firearm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh Ragner.&nbsp; It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Prison: Kansas City man transferred machine guns

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement agencies have cleared the downtown Dodge City area and confirmed there are no safety concerns after a reported bomb threat Friday afternoon.

The section of downtown near the Post Office including the Ford County Courthouse and the Ford County Government Center are now safe and open to the community.

 The City of Dodge City thanked the community for its patience and extends appreciation to everyone involved for their efforts during this situation.

Police reported no injuries or addditional details.

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement in Ford County are investigating a bomb threat.

Just after 2p.m. Friday, the Dodge City Police Department asked all residents downtown near the Post Office, including the Ford County Courthouse and the Ford County Government Center, to avoid the area due to a bomb threat. 

Multiple law enforcement officers were on the scene working to clear the area. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Downtown Dodge City reopens after police investigate bomb threat 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Republicans handed President Donald Trump a political victory Friday, giving final legislative approval to a redistricting plan that could help Republicans win an additional U.S. House seat in next year's elections.

The Senate vote sends&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-governor-redistricting-trump-33bfdc8790cdf8201d80c8c89258df3d">the redistricting plan</a>&nbsp;to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe for his expected signature to make it law. But opponents immediately announced a referendum petition that, if successful, could force a statewide vote on the new map.

Missouri is the third state to take up mid-decade redistricting in an emerging national battle for partisan advantage ahead of the midterm elections. Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-texas-redistricting-trump-map-congress-b6222dd39c494c9ab48beafabc66dc35">lawmakers in Texas</a>&nbsp;passed a new U.S. House map last month aimed at helping their party win five additional seats. Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-texas-redistricting-congressional-map-4c22e21d5d4022d33a257045693b6fd4">lawmakers in California</a>&nbsp;countered with their own redistricting plan aimed at winning five more seats, but it still needs voter approval.

Each seat could be critical, because Democrats need to gain just three seats to win control of the House, which would allow them to obstruct Trump's agenda and launch investigations into him. Trump is trying to stave off a historic trend in which the president’s party typically loses seats in midterm elections.

Republicans currently hold six of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats. The revised map&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-missouri-trump-3e7f49f7805daed8c6c83277bb66ba28">passed the state House</a>&nbsp;earlier this week as the focal point of a special session called by Kehoe.

Missouri's revised map targets a seat held by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-missouri-trump-e5b75246cbee8eb674dfdb27381cc8ac">Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver</a>&nbsp;by shaving off portions of his Kansas City district and stretching the rest of it into Republican-heavy rural areas. The plan reduces the number of Black and minority residents in Cleaver's district, partly by creating a dividing line along a street that Cleaver said had been a historical segregation line between Black and white residents.

Cleaver, who was Kansas City's first Black mayor, has served in Congress for over 20 years. He won reelection with over 60% of the vote in both 2024 and 2022 under districts adopted by the Republican-led state Legislature after the 2020 census.

Missouri passes plan that could help GOP win an additional US House seat

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; who admitted to vandalizing a&nbsp; church in Wichita was to learn his fate on Friday.

Sentencing was delayed for 23-year-old Michael Gonzalez of Saline Countyi, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp; The case was continued until October 10.

In July Gonzalez pleaded guilty to felony charges: of burglary and criminal desecration and two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal damage to property.

Just after 8:30a.m. March 15, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.

Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.

Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.

Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. March 16, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.

&nbsp;Gonzalez remains jailed on bonds totaling over $500,000, according to online jail records.

Sentencing delayed for extreme vandalism at Kansas church

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A suspect on trial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">trying to assassinate</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year forfeited his right to continue making an opening statement on Thursday when he veered off topic and talked about Adolf Hitler and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-routh-assassination-attempt-ukraine-suspicions-florida-530098c668f283d8a38eb5dd5570f1b2">Ryan Routh</a>, who is representing himself, was warned by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to stay on topic. The judge twice asked jurors to leave the courtroom so she could deal with the unconventional turn in Routh’s opening statement.

Both Routh and prosecutors had been given 40 minutes each to make opening statements, but Routh’s initial argument, read from a written statement, lasted less than 10 minutes before the judge said he had forfeited the right to continue because he was addressing unrelated matters.

“I gave you one more chance and you continued to read what has no relevance for this case,” Cannon said.

During the prosecution’s opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley told jurors that Routh wanted to make sure that Trump wasn’t re-elected to the White House.

“This plot was carefully crafted and deadly serious,” Shipley said.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-indictment-b4c956e1a126e4acfb3c4eae0c06ddb1">attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate</a>, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

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Prosecutors have said Routh, 59, methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.

Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-anniversary-crooks-d18804b0e1382003bbb91449638c721c">another attempt</a>&nbsp;on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, before being shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

Five witnesses testified Thursday, including two Secret Service agents, two FBI agents and a witness who followed Routh in his car after the shooting so he could write down his license plate.

Tommy McGee, the witness, testified that he was driving by the golf course when he heard the gunshot and saw a man running out of bushes into the street, almost hitting his car. McGee said the suspect looked at him straight in the eye. Once the suspect jumped in a car and fled, McGee said, he followed him out of a desire to help the police, not realizing that Trump was involved.

Routh asked only a few questions of the witnesses on cross-examination, and when he did he referred to himself in the third-person, leading to some awkward exchanges with Secret Service Agent Robert Fercano, who had spotted him in the bushes. Routh asked the agent if he had been harmed by what happened, and Fercano replied, “I wasn’t physically harmed, but I was mentally harmed from you pointing a gun at me.”

Fercano described being in a golf cart only five feet (1.5 meters) from Routh when he saw him pointing a gun from the bushes.

The trial began nearly a year after prosecutors say Fercano thwarted the attempt to shoot the Republican presidential nominee. It’s expected to run two or three weeks. The trial’s start comes as police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/charlie-kirk-shooting-response-updates">search for the gunman</a>&nbsp;who killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">conservative influencer Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;at a campus in Utah on Wednesday in what political leaders are calling an assassination.

Cannon is a Trump-appointed judge who drew scrutiny for her handling of a criminal case accusing Trump of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">illegally storing classified documents</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch (25.4-cm) fuse.

Wild opening statement in Trump assassination attempt trial

President Donald Trump&nbsp;has granted&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly’s&nbsp;request for a federal disaster declaration for the state due to damages caused by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding during the period of June 3-7, 2025.

Due to severe storms and flooding multiple counties sustained damage to utility infrastructure, roads, and bridges.

“These federal funds will go a long way in supporting the restoration work by those in counties impacted by the storms”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;said.

The declaration allows state and local levels of government, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations that provide vital and essential services, such as rural electric cooperatives, to apply for Public Assistance funds for emergency and permanent work for the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

Counties named in the declaration are Barber, Butler, Chase, Coffey, Cowley, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Hodgeman, Kingman, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Stanton, Sumner, and Wallace.

Trump approves Kan. request for major presidential disaster declaration

OREM, Utah (AP) — The suspect in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassinated-utah-university-shooter-search-b0acf4797f57f3436d8f8d0843dbea43">the Charlie Kirk assassination</a>&nbsp;has been captured, President Donald Trump said Friday in an announcement representing a significant breakthrough in the investigation into a targeted killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in the United States.

“With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Chanel. He said a minister also involved with law enforcement turned the suspect in to authorities.

“Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.

Tyler Robinson, 22, had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and had indicated to a family friend afterward that he was responsible, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. Cox also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed used in the attack as well as chatting app messages attributed to the shooting suspect that a roommate shared with law enforcement.

Cox, a Republican, called Kirk's killing an “attack on the American experiment,” and he urged a new generation to “choose a different path.”

Robinson is believed to have acted alone, and the investigation is ongoing, Cox said.

Robinson's arrest early Friday morning was disclosed by President Donald Trump, who said in a Fox News Channel interview that, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him.”

Calls to telephone numbers listed for Robinson in public records rang unanswered.

News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.

Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>, based in Arizona.

Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterward.

Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday's shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.

“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Trump said Friday. “He was really a good person.”

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassinated-utah-university-shooter-search-b0acf4797f57f3436d8f8d0843dbea43">released photos and a video</a>&nbsp;of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-turning-point-utah-c8192d8eda83312aabf4cf0a3cd6e5f1">was shot as he spoke to a crowd</a>&nbsp;gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.

More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said. Authorities have yet to cite a motive in the killing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-killing-america-divided-violence-politics-9b75c05301668fa033f9b4cc98b046c9">the latest act of political violence</a>&nbsp;to convulse the United States.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the suspect had indicated to a family friend that he was connected to the shooting. Cox, a Republican, said the suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Kirk’s beliefs

The suspect in custody in connection with Kirk's killing is a 22-year-old from Utah, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Authorities have identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The FBI and the Justice Department did not immediately comment, but a news conference in Utah, where the killing took place on a college campus this week, was planned for later Friday. News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.

🎥New details on capture of Charlie Kirk murder suspect

FINNEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4a.m. Friday in Finney County.

According to Garden City police, a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Jaeden Nelson struck a power line post in&nbsp;the 3700 block of E. Mary Street in northeast Garden City.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. Firefighter safely extricated the children from the car, and both were transported to the hospital for treatment. One child was later taken to a Wichita hospital due to the extent of their injuries.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Finney County Sheriff's office,&nbsp; Garden City Fire Department and Finney County EMS assisted police at the scene.

Kansas woman dead, children injured after car strikes power pole

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend returned to court Thursday.

Matthew Wayne Criscenzo, 20,&nbsp; pleaded not guilty in Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He was&nbsp; charged with 1st degree murder and aggravated battery, in the shooting death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.

On May 25, police arrested&nbsp; Criscenzo in the 700 Block of Laura Street in Wichita in connection with the shooting death. At the time of the incident,&nbsp;Oglesby was pregnant, according to Officer Rick Pena. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.

Doctors were able to deliver her infant who was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;A jury trial status hearing in the case is scheduled for October 8. 

Kan. man accused of killing pregnant girlfriend enters plea 

’Honestly, it’s not for everyone’ tagline earned awards but also detractors as a ‘mockery’

Paul Hamme <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/07/wall-of-shame-still-used-by-nebraska-to-convince-delinquent-taxpayers-to-pay-up/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN – John Ricks, the state tourism director who deployed the edgy and controversial marketing pitch “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone,” has resigned.

Ricks, who was paid $133,838-a-year, could not immediately be reached for comment. His resignation was accepted Thursday by the State Tourism Commission, which has since appointed Deputy Director Heather Hogue as interim executive director, as was reported first by the Nebraska Rural Radio Network.

While Ricks got mixed reviews on the tourism pitch, an official with the Nebraska Travel Association said he played a key role in helping increase tourism in the state, citing a 26.4% growth rate in state lodging taxes from 2019-2022 compared to only 2.5% nationally.

“Ricks is to be commended for putting Nebraska on the tourism map,” said Kerri Rempp, president of the state travel association.

Hired in 2016 by then Gov. Pete Ricketts, Ricks had worked as an associate director in Colorado’s state tourism office before taking the Nebraska job. His hiring was touted as bringing a fresh perspective to a state that had been rated by one group as the “least likely” for tourists to visit.

That led to the new “Nebraska: Honestly, it’s not for everyone” marketing pitch, which included advertising emphasizing off-beat adventures in Nebraska, from floating down a river in a horse tank to hop-scotching across Badlands-like formations in Toadstool Park.

The self-deprecating pitch grabbed national attention, and, in 2022, won a national award for best integrated marketing and messaging. According to the State Tourism Commission, it also raised Nebraska’s tourism profile from last to 45th.

But some state leaders, including Gov. Jim Pillen and then Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Tony Goins, disliked the motto, which was coined by a marketing firm from Colorado. Goins said it “made a mockery” of the DED’s pitchline for new residents: “The Good Life is Calling.”

By 2024, the “not for everyone” tagline was dropped by the Tourism Commission and state legislators passed a bill seeking to better coordinate marketing pitches between the independent commission, also known as “Visit Nebraska” and state economic development officials.

The Nebraska Travel Association, in a press release this week, urged the State Tourism Commission to “act swiftly” to replace Ricks.

The tourism agency is funded by lodging taxes paid on motel and hotel bills. Its budget this year is $10.1 million to promote an industry that generates $4.5 billion in spending annually and supports over 41,000 jobs throughout Nebraska.

Nebraska tourism director who deployed ‘not for everyone’ marketing pitch resigns

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie C.J. Kayfus hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Cleveland (75-71) has won six of seven and took three of four in the series against its AL Central rival as it tries to stay in contention for the final AL wild card spot.

The Guardians trail Seattle by three games with 15 games remaining.

Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino became the fourth left-handed batter in Royals history to record 30 home runs in a season with a two-run drive in the first inning. The last Royals lefty batter to reach the mark was Mike Moustakas with 38 in 2017. The others were John Mayberry (34 in 1975) and Hall of Famer George Brett (30 in 1985).

The Royals (74-73) have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games and are 4 1/2 games back for the final wild card.

Guardians' catcher Bo Naylor led off the eighth with a base hit to right field. Kayfus followed with a towering 425-foot drive to right-center on a low fastball on a 1-0 count from John Schreiber (3-3) for his third homer of the season.

Matt Festa (4-3) got the win with a scoreless eighth inning. Cade Smith hit Jonathan India with a fastball to lead off the ninth and then retired the next three batters for his 13th save.

The Royals were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. They had runners at the corners with two outs in the sixth, but Guardians starter Gavin Williams struck out India with a sweeper on a full count to end the frame.

In 30 games since Aug. 10, Pasquatino leads the majors with 33 RBIs and is tied with the Mets’ Juan Soto at 11 home runs.

Royals: Open a three-game series at Philadelphia on Friday with RHP Michael Lorenzen (5-10, 4.63 ERA) on the mound.

⚾ Kayfus' homer in 8th propels Guardians to victory over Royals

CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Loftin singled in the tying run and scored on Maikel Garcia’s double in the seventh inning, sending the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night.

Kansas City snapped a three-game losing streak and moved within 3 1/2 games of Seattle, which holds the third and final American League wild-card position. The Guardians are three behind the Mariners.

Cleveland led 3-2 after six before Loftin drove in Tyler Tolbert, then came around on Garcia’s liner off the wall in left against Hunter Gaddis. Tim Herrin (5-4) was charged with both runs.

Luinder Avila (1-0) worked two scoreless innings for his first career win and Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 39th save.

Kyle Manzardo hit a two-run homer in the first and Bo Naylor had an RBI single in the fourth for Cleveland, which had won five straight. Manzardo’s 432-foot shot off Jonathan Bowlan was the longest of his career and his 26th homer of the season.

Vinnie Pasquantino and Jonathan India both singled in runs for Kansas City. Pasquantino reached 100 RBIs for the first time.

Guardians starter Logan Allen gave up two runs in five innings, remaining winless in seven outings since July 29.

Jac Caglianone walked with one out in the seventh and was replaced by pinch-runner Tolbert, who scored on Loftin’s pinch-hit single off Herrin. Gaddis entered and gave up Garcia’s RBI double.

Kansas City used six pitchers with Bowlan logging the first two innings. Michael Wacha was slated to start before suffering a concussion as a result of what manager Matt Quatraro termed “an off-field accident.”

Royals RHP Stephen Kolek (5-5, 3.88 ERA) faces Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (10-5, 3.17 ERA) in the four-game series finale on Thursday.

⚾ Royals snap 3-game skid with victory over the Guardians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joey Cantillo allowed four hits in a career-best eight-plus innings, José Ramírez homered, doubled and scored twice, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Cantillo (5-3) struck out five and didn't issue a walk. Cade Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save for the Guardians, who entered play 2 1/2 games behind Seattle for the final wild-card spot.

Ramírez, who had three hits, hit a solo homer off Royals starter Noah Cameron (7-6) with two outs in the first. David Fry hit the second of back-to-back to doubles to drive in Ramírez in the fourth.

Cameron, a 26-year-old rookie, gave up two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

The Guardians, who has won six of seven, beat the Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-guardians-score-5675b3be2eb331410784003369761cfa">10-2</a>&nbsp;in the series opener Monday.

Bobby Witt Jr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-india-wacha-1893967f5b5a225280c7786db42aa896">returned</a>&nbsp;from a three-game absence and Jonathan India was activated off the 10-day IL for Kansas City.

Cantillo gave up a leadoff single to Kyle Isbel in the ninth and was replaced by Smith, who got Mikael Garcia to fly out. Isbel moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third when Witt singled before Smith struck out Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez to end the game.

The Guardians clinched the season series — and the head-to-head tiebreaker for any postseason implications — over the Royals.

⚾ Cantillo pitches 8 innings, Ramírez homers as Guardians beat Royals

CLEVELAND (AP) — Slade Cecconi took a bid to end Cleveland's long no-hitter drought into the eighth inning, and the Guardians rolled to a 10-2 win over Kansas City on Monday night and leapfrogged the Royals in the AL wild-card race.

Cecconi (6-6) was six outs from the first no-hitter in the majors this season — and Cleveland's first since Len Barker's perfect game in 1981 — when Kansas City's Michael Massey singled leading off the eighth.

On Cecconi's 95th pitch, Massey lined a 2-1 fastball into left-center. The right-hander received a nice ovation from the crowd in Progressive Field before Cecconi got Carter Jensen to hit into a double play.

Cleveland (73-70) won its fourth straight game and moved past the Royals (73-71) into second place in the AL Central. Cleveland entered the four-game series 2 1/2 games behind Seattle for the third and final wild card spot.

Kyle Manzardo, Daniel Schneemann and Nolan Jones had two RBIs apiece for Cleveland, which set season highs with 16 hits and seven doubles.

The Guardians tagged Ryan Bergert (2-2) for four RBI doubles and six runs in the fourth inning while opening an 8-0 lead. C.J. Kayfus, Brayan Rocchio, Schneemann and Jones hit the doubles.

Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was not in the starting lineup for the third straight game due to back spasms. Manager Matt Quatraro said Witt ran and did some fielding before the game without any issues and was possible to see “game action.”

Witt didn't get in but is expected to play Tuesday.

Second baseman Rocchio made two nice defensive plays to keep Cecconi's bid intact. In the second, he made a diving stop on Salvador Perez's hard shot up the middle. Two innings later, Rocchio slid in the outfield grass to corral Kyle Isbel's grounder before flipping to second for a forceout.

Since Barker’s perfecto at old Municipal Stadium, eight Cleveland pitchers have carried no-hitters into the ninth inning before their bids were ended. On Aug. 6, Gavin Williams was two outs away before allowing a homer to New York's Juan Soto.

Rookie LHP Noah Cameron (7-6, 3.03 ERA) starts for the Royals against Joey Cantillo (4-3, 3.73), who makes his second career start against Kansas City.

⚾ Slade Cecconi loses no-hit bid in 8th, Guards rout Royals 

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Monday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex to preview Friday-night’s game at Arizona. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on ESPN+ – are above, while a transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.

 K-State Previews Non-Conference Finale at Weekly Press Conference

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Byron Buxton and Kody Clemens homered and the Minnesota Twins beat Kansas City 5-1 on Sunday to drop the Royals two games back for the last AL wild card.

Buxton led off the game against Michael Lorenzen (5-10) with his 30th homer, extending his career high. He was hit by a 91.8 mph sinker in the fifth inning and was replaced for the bottom of the sixth because of what the Twins said was a bruised left knee.

Clemens hit his 16th homer in the fourth, a 451-drive that gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead. Minnesota padded its advantage in the fourth with a double steal, with Royce Lewis on first and Luke Keaschall on third.

Kansas City (73-69) fell two games behind Seattle (75-68) for the third AL wild card.

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