From KAKE News
November 19, 2025
SALINA, Kan. (KAKE) — A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that the City of Salina violated the First Amendment by ordering a local restaurant to stop painting a UFO-themed mural.
Steve Howard, owner of the Cozy Inn restaurant, filed the lawsuit with help from the Kansas Justice Institute in early 2024 after Salina officials told him to stop painting the mural. The Cozy has been a Salina institution for over a century, serving hamburgers from its small storefront since 1922.
The dispute began in November 2023 when Salina officials told Howard he couldn’t finish the mural. Salina considered the artwork a regulated sign instead of an unregulated mural. That’s because Salina believed the mural’s flying UFOs too closely resembled hamburgers—The Cozy’s signature item.
“Salina is my hometown, I love it here,” said Howard. “I’m incredibly excited I get to finish my mural. The reason I love this community, this town, is because of all of the support everyone has given me. Thank you for standing behind me and supporting me through this.”
In his opinion, District Court Judge Toby Crouse ruled that Salina’s code violated the First Amendment.
“Because the definition of sign is unlawful, Salina cannot make any determination as to whether a display is a mural or sign without violating the First Amendment,” said Judge Crouse in the ruling.
In response to the ruling, the City of Salina released the following statement:
The full ruling can be found below.