By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Midwest Energy board of directors approved an average 5.4% annual increase in residential customer electric rates each year for three years during a meeting on Monday.

The utility proposed the rate change to raise funds for infrastructure improvements, Mike Morley, director of corporate communications, said during a community meeting on the rate increases on Wednesday in Hays.

An average residential customer would see about a $12 increase per month by 2028, with a $34 per month increase in their utility bill in the peak months of June through September.

Morley shared several slides showing sample bills and how the rate changes might affect those households.

Morley said the sample bills above assume no changes in behavior. Reducing the use of high-energy appliances, such as electric ovens and dryers, during the summer demand hours between 3 and 7 p.m. can lower demand charges.

Morley said his family dropped their demand rate from 12 to 8 by not running their clothes dryer between 3 and 7 p.m. in the summer. A clothes dryer is about a 5kWh appliance. Running that appliance just once during peak demand times during the summer will raise your bill by $40, Morley said.

"If you do that one thing, you'll save over $100 a year on your bill," he said.

One audience member at the Wednesday community presentation said the increase will be significant and challenging for seniors to afford.

Another resident asked why the increase was not phased in earlier and spread out over time.&nbsp;

Morley referred back to the need to make infrastructure improvements.

Upon request, Midwest Energy will provide a forecast bill showing your probable increase based on your 2024 usage, Morley said.

You can also access usage broken down in 15-minute increments on Customer Connect on the <a href="https://www.mwenergy.com/">Midwest Energy website</a>. This can help customers see where their usage may have increased their demand rates, Morley said.

Other classes of electricity users will also see changes. Small commercial users would see a 2.6% increase per year for three years. Medium commercial users would see a 1.2% decrease each year for three years.

The rate change will also affect irrigation and oil customers. You can learn more about those changes by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mwenergy.com/residential/electric-rate-changes">Midwest Energy website</a>.&nbsp;

Morley said Midwest Energy is trying to equalize rates, which is why residential rates are increasing more than commercial rates.

Morley said it is the result of a cost-of-service study.

The study examines the amount of revenue required to sustain the utility's operations and then investigates disparities in how that revenue is collected and allocated among different customer classes.

"It is basically meant to rebalance your costs with your revenues in each class to make sure you're not overcollecting from one class or undercollecting from one class," Morley said.

Although the utility has not had a residential increase in the cost per kilowatt hour in years, <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7ab10654-51e7-4774-9284-3f15d92347e3">it introduced demand rates in 2022</a>.

Morley said reducing Midwest Energy's peak demand could potentially save millions of dollars, which could be passed on to customers as lower rates. However, the utility is facing regulations that require it to increase the amount of reserve capacity it has beyond its peak, which is also increasing costs.

Morley said aging infrastructure, combined with an increase in costs to maintain that infrastructure, is driving up utility rates across the country.

The rate change is expected to raise $14.7 million over three years, Morley said. The funds raised through the rate increase will be used to fund electric distribution upgrades throughout the Midwest Energy system.

The primary repairs will focus on improvements within communities, rather than the large transmission system.

A significant portion of Midwest Energy’s infrastructure was installed in the 1950s through ‘70s. Poles have been replaced because of storm damage, but many of the conductors have not, Morley said.

FEMA has contributed to repairs after natural disasters in the past, but Midwest Energy can’t rely on those funds moving forward, Morley said.

The utility has seen very significant increases in the cost to replace distribution lines, substations, transmission lines, poles, transformers and utility trucks.

Morley said Midwest Energy’s rates will still be lower than the national average. He attributed that in part to access to affordable wholesale energy, some of which comes from wind.

Midwest Energy will also be changing some terminology on its bills, listing customer, demand and energy charges as delivery charges. This change will exempt those charges from state sales tax, Morley said.

This will save customers $2.5 million per year.

Midwest Energy board approves electric rate increase

The Hays Post delivered food and monetary donations to St. Joseph's Food Pantry on Thursday afternoon.

Thank you to all who also donated to the Community Assistance Center,&nbsp; which received 197 items thanks to the food drive on Nov. 11, and First Call for Help, which received food on Wednesday.

From all of us at HaysPost.com, Hull Broadcasting and Eagle Media. Our Community…Connected!

St. Joseph Food Pantry receives food from Hays Post food drive

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Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;

If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

The Ellis County Historical Society (ECHS) is bringing back a beloved favorite just in time for the holidays — Spitzbuben, the delicate, jam-filled sandwich cookie that has become a sweet symbol of our Volga German heritage.

Following a complete sellout during Oktoberfest, ECHS is excited to announce that Spitzbuben will now be available for holiday purchase, freshly baked and boxed by the dozen. 

New this season, the Society is partnering with Hays High School’s Culinary Classes, taught by Nicole Linenberger, to help with the baking.

“This partnership gives us a wonderful opportunity to share a treasured Volga German baking tradition with our youth,” said Amanda Rupp, executive director of ECHS. “By involving the students, we’re not only continuing the tradition — we’re passing it on.”

Each batch of Spitzbuben features the signature buttery shortbread dusted with powdered sugar and filled with a variety of fruit jam. ECHS uses homemade jams from Gwen Urban of Oma’s Farmhouse Baked Goods, Grainfield. Customers can choose from MIX boxes (four Blueberry, four Peach, four Strawberry) or single-flavor boxes of twelve Strawberry Rhubarb cookies. These cookies freeze well for weeks and weeks and can be taken out as needed (or wanted!).

Spitzbuben will be available by the dozen for $20 (cash or check only) and can be purchased in person at the ECHS office at 7th &amp; Main Street in Hays.

Pickup times are 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

If any remain, ECHS will offer the boxes at their booth during the Downtown Hays Christmas Tree Lighting on November 29.

“These ‘naughty boys,’ as the name translates, always sell out fast,” Rupp added. “We encourage everyone to grab a box early, enjoy a taste of tradition, and support our mission to keep Ellis County’s heritage alive.”

Ellis County Historical Society offers traditional Spitzbuben for the holidays

Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center Blue Ribbon Trees will be with community partners in Scott City, Hays at Big Creek Crossing and Las Hefas Latin Cuisine, Liberal and Garden City. Trees were put up on Nov. 14 and taken down on Dec. 12. 

Help fill the holiday wish list of a child receiving services through the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center.

Help fill holiday wishes of children at the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center

By BILL FIANDER Insight Kansas

In a world of cancelled flights, SNAP ping-pong, gerrymanders run amok, and “Dancing with the Stars” blackouts, it was refreshing to see an old friend – the town hall budget meeting – could not be shut down last week.&nbsp;

Billed as a statewide listening tour to guide her penultimate 2026&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/796/55">“People’s Budget”</a>, I attended Governor Kelly’s fifth stop at the Leawood community center in Johnson County to hear some old-fashioned Q&amp;A about budget priorities.

Intimately adorned with only microphones, chairs, and ideas for muses, the Governor and Budget Director/Secretary of Administration (Adam Proffitt) went full MTV Unplugged to hear from Kansans.

But it was not stripped-down acoustic rock songs we heard. Instead, the respectful crowd heard a budgetary medley of old hits, new material, and deep cuts that included:

• “She Works Hard for the Money” – Kelly is a notorious budget wonk. She admitted her obsession with the budget, forged through years as a legislator during the Brownback tax experiment. She considers it to be the most important thing she does. She and Proffitt contrasted the “People’s Budget” tour with the part-time Legislature’s confusing, shortsighted, and rogue budget process last session to which few in the public and front-facing agencies were invited.&nbsp;

• “Mr. Brightside” – Due in part to Proffitt’s elimination of budget maneuvers and accounting tricks inherited from Brownback/Colyer, the rainy-day fund has gone from zero to $2B. Kelly and he contrasted paying cash for the state’s two new office buildings in downtown Topeka vs. the Legislature’s unnecessary bonding ($325 million) and 4% flat income tax path as ominous warnings of “dark days” nobody wants to go back to.

•  “Carry on Wayward Son” – While there was consternation about the welfare of children (childcare crisis, foster care, pre-K, etc.), Kelly hit a different note when asked about priorities to stem the state’s loss of younger adults. The focus on big economic development gains – like Panasonic in DeSoto and Hilmar Cheese in Dodge City – and attainable housing production must remain budget priorities to give young or boomerang Kansans a place to lay their weary heads.

• “Be True to Your School” – Fully funding public schools for the last seven years is certainly a greatest hit she does not mind spinning again. But maybe some notes were off key. Both the federal government and Kansas Legislature have woefully underfunded their statutory obligations to cover a percentage of special education costs in our school districts. This forces schools to rob Peter – general students - to pay Paul – special ed students. The angriest public rant (if you can call it that) also made it known retired schoolteachers have not seen a COLA increase since 1998.&nbsp;

• “Friends in Low Places” – For an encore, I asked Kelly about property tax solutions. Not a fan of caps and gimmicks, her main advice…sit down&nbsp;with&nbsp;local municipalities. They are the ones with the most to lose. Not the state. She pondered if state “unfunded mandates” on local government is a stone worth turning over. Given 100% of all property taxes ultimately goes to local government services, legislators might want to slip on down to the Oasis to visit their friends.

Budgets, not laws, deliver services. Good budgets don’t have to be rock shows. Stripped down, you’ll hear pitch perfect dynamics of people’s needs, values, and dreams. In a time where seemingly nothing worked as it should, it took meeting people where they are to bring meaning back to how it should.&nbsp;

Bill Fiander, Washburn University, is a university lecturer in Kansas specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government.

Insight Kansas: The People’s Budget unplugged

The Healing Hearts Grief Support Group has two events coming up in November. Its annual “Memorial Tree Dedication” will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Hays Public Library.

The event invites anyone who has experienced the loss of a child of any age to place an ornament on the tree in memory of that person.

The event is for parents, grandparents, siblings, other family members, teachers, friends, and others.

Individuals may bring their own special ornaments to place on the tree or may use one of the free ornaments that will be available, said Dr. Kate McGonigal, the group’s facilitator.

The grief support group’s monthly meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury Drive. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m.; attendees are asked to use the south door.

The guest speaker will be Micki Armstrong, president of A Different Mindset Association. A Different Mindset “consists of individuals who have lost someone to dementia, know someone currently dealing with the disease, or work in a profession that assists individuals suffering with dementia,” its website states.

“As diagnoses of the disease increases, we believe there is a need to network with resources in the Ellis County area to promote awareness and educate about neurodegenerative diseases.

“Additionally, we provide support groups for those caring for a loved one with dementia/Alzheimer’s as well as day programs for those suffering with dementia/Alzheimer’s,” the website says.

The 501(c) 3 organization offers both online and in-person support groups. More information about A Different Mindset is available at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.adiffmindsetassoc.org/">https://www.adiffmindsetassoc.org/</a>.&nbsp;

Healing Hearts Grief Support Group plans November events

94.3 FM / 1400 AM KAYS invites you to listen to Reindeer Radio and win! Each day Monday through Thursday we will give out a code word. Enter that word right here for your chance to win. The code word changes daily.

This week's feature sponsor is The Arc of the Central Plains and the prize is $250 in Chamber Cheque from the Hays Chamber!

The Arc of Central Plains is committed to bringing enrichment and purpose to the lives of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilitiesthrough participation in activities, education and lifelong inclusionin every aspect of community life.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🦌 WIN WITH REINDEER RADIO!

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission discussed a Kansas State 911 Board grant that funds indoor and outdoor geographic infrastructure mapping during its Wednesday meeting.

Ellis County Communications Director Jeff Ridgway said the program aims to improve emergency response by allowing dispatchers and first responders to view detailed floor plans.

Dispatchers will specifically be able to pinpoint the exact room or location of a 911 call.

"Other potential aspects of this project even tie into connecting to the camera system of some of the schools or facilities if they elect to provide those resources to first responders," Ridgway said.

Local facilities eligible for grant funding include:

• Public and private K–12 schools • Public post-secondary educational institutions • Government buildings • Mass gathering sites • Health care facilities&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ridgway said four local schools were approved in the first round of funding: Hays High School, the new Hays Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary School and Thomas More Prep-Marian.

Ridgway said the definition of mass gathering sites is open to interpretation since the grant does not provide clear guidance.

Ridgway said the Kansas Legislature plans to renew the program annually until all schools and post-secondary schools are mapped.

"The goal from my perspective locally is that priority would be on our schools and then focus on our government buildings, whether it be like the Ellis County Administrative Center, the law enforcement center, the courthouse, Hays Medical Center and Fort Hays, which would be a big undertaking in itself," he said.

Commissioner Michael Berges agreed with Ridgway’s plan to prioritize mapping schools first before moving on to other facilities as more funding becomes available.

The commission also approved a request of the Ellis County Public Works Department to assist the city of Schoenchen in repairing a ditch along Front Street. The cost estimate is $758.

The commission approved a conditional-use permit for Tilman Infrastructure to construct a cellular tower and telecommunications equipment at 753 Vincent Ave. in Victoria.

Steve Pfeifer, a landowner in the Suburban Estates development, discussed with the commission road improvements for the neighborhood and the possibility of establishing a community improvement district to help fund them.

Mapping project will allow first responders to see school floor plans in case of emergency

HaysMed is proud to welcome Kelly Moeder, MD, to its growing team of providers, where she will serve patients through both HaysMed Family Medicine and HaysMed Sports Medicine, alongside Dr. Wally Walstrom.

Dr. Moeder brings a unique blend of clinical excellence, athletic insight, and leadership experience to her new role. She completed her Sports Medicine Fellowship and Family Medicine Residency at Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas, after earning her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She also holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Nutritional Sciences and Public Health Nutrition from Kansas State University.

Her clinical interests include musculoskeletal conditions, ultrasound-guided procedures, and interventional treatments that help patients, from athletes to active families, return to doing what they love. Dr. Moeder has provided sideline coverage for high school, NCAA Division I and II, and semi-professional sports teams, and she is passionate about continuing that work in western Kansas.

“I’m thrilled to join Dr. Walstrom and the HaysMed Sports Medicine team,” said Dr. Moeder. “This opportunity allows me to combine my passion for sports medicine with my commitment to family care. I look forward to serving the community, whether it’s on the sidelines, in the clinic, or in the exam room.”

Her leadership journey began early. At Kansas State University, Dr. Moeder was a team captain for the women’s basketball team, a three-time All-Big 12 Academic Team honoree, and served as President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. In 2016, she was named a Big 12 Champion for Life, a distinction awarded to student-athletes who exemplify leadership, perseverance, and community service.

Dr. Moeder’s addition strengthens HaysMed’s commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality care to patients of all ages, whether they’re recovering from injury, managing chronic conditions, or striving for peak performance.

HaysMed welcomes doctor to Family Medicine, Sports Medicine teams

Kansas Department of Transportation

TOPEKA —&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place Oct. 22, 2025, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

KDOT announces approved October bids for northwest Kansas

DODGE CITY — United Wireless Arena, managed by&nbsp;VenuWorks, is excited to announce that&nbsp;Lee Brice with special guest Jackson&nbsp;Wendell is coming to Dodge City on&nbsp;Friday, February 13, for a live acoustic&nbsp;experience. 

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will&nbsp;start at 7:30 p.m.

The pre-sale for Lee Brice Acoustic begins Thursday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m., ending&nbsp;at 10:00 p.m., while the public on-sale starts Friday, November 21 at 10:00 a.m.

When Curb Records recording artist, Lee Brice, isn't selling out arenas, writing and recording&nbsp;songs, or building new brands like Dulce Vida Tequila and Loud Lemon, you'll find the family&nbsp;man with his wife, Sara, two young boys, and daughter. 

Meanwhile, with over 10 billion career&nbsp;streams, Brice continues to enjoy massive success at country radio, digital streaming services,&nbsp;and on the road. He has reached the #1 spot at Country Radio with Platinum-selling “Memory I&nbsp;Don’t Mess With,” which consecutively follows three prior #1s: ASCAP’s 2021 Country Song&nbsp;of the Year and 3x Platinum track “One of Them Girls,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with&nbsp;Carly Pearce, and the 4x Platinum hit “Rumor,” which was nominated in the category Single of&nbsp;The Year at the 55th Annual Awards. One of the most played country artists of all time on&nbsp;Pandora, he was the second country artist behind Keith Urban to receive the Pandora Billionaire&nbsp;plaque.

&nbsp;Lee is also a GRAMMY nominee, a CMA and ACM award winner, and he's taken nine&nbsp;radio singles to Number One: "A Woman Like You," "Hard to Love," "I Drive Your Truck," "I&nbsp;Don’t Dance," "Drinking Class," “Rumor," “I Hope You’re Happy Now," “One of Them Girls,”&nbsp;and “Memory I Don’t Mess With.” Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, and others&nbsp;have recorded his songs, and he's performed on numerous TV shows, including NBC's Today,&nbsp;ABC's The Bachelor, NBC's The Voice, and FOX's Miss USA 2018. Lee performed as part of&nbsp;the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoring Garth Brooks, which aired&nbsp;on PBS in March of 2020. 

At the 54th Annual CMA Awards, Lee took home the prize for&nbsp;Musical Event of the Year for his song with Carly Pearce, "I Hope You're Happy Now." At the&nbsp;56th ACM Awards, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” won Single of the Year and Music Event of&nbsp;the Year, and Lee and Carly Pearce performed the song live. Lee’s album, Hey World, has been&nbsp;certified as Platinum and features several multi-Platinum-selling 

hits. Lee kicked off 2024 with&nbsp;an intimate acoustic tour, the Me &amp; My Guitar Tour, and this Spring he released his latest radio&nbsp;single, "Drinkin’ Buddies" with Nate Smith and Hailey Whitters. The single was followed by&nbsp;the nostalgic summertime track, "Summer of Us.” 

In 2025, Brice announced the return of his&nbsp;acoustic tour, the You, Me &amp; My Guitar Tour, and released his latest single, “Cry,” available&nbsp;now.

Since his appearance in last year’s Good For Country Concert Series, Jackson has continued to&nbsp;gain momentum releasing original music and performing in dance halls and venues throughout&nbsp;the south, sharing stages with some of the biggest names in country music along the way. 

It’s&nbsp;obvious that Jackson has been playing guitar and writing songs since his early teenage years because when you listen to his lyrics, you would imagine you were hearing the stories of a&nbsp;much older songwriter, as each song takes you right to the middle of a familiar feeling. Jackson&nbsp;IS the future of country music, and his show is one you don’t want to miss.

Tickets to see Lee Brice with special guest Jackson Wendell will go on sale Friday,&nbsp;November 21 at 10:00 a.m. CST. Tickets can be purchased at the United Wireless Arena box&nbsp;office or online through Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices start at $61 for reserved seating,&nbsp;depending on location, plus applicable fees and taxes.

 United Wireless Arena is an exclusive&nbsp;Ticketmaster facility and cannot guarantee tickets purchased as resale or through a third-party&nbsp;vendor. 

Doors will open one hour before showtime.

Handicapped accessible seating must be arranged directly through the United Wireless Arena&nbsp;Ticket Office. 

United Wireless Arena has a clear bag policy in place. Please check our website&nbsp;for more details

Lee Brice brings acoustic solo concert to United Wireless Arena with special guest Jackson Wendell

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

GREAT BEND — The Shafer Art Gallery, Barton Community College, Great Bend, will celebrated the unveiling of its “Museum Exchange” exhibition with a free reception on Nov. 14 featuring music, light refreshments, and a gallery discussion.&nbsp;

The collaborative exhibition unites 11 art institutions and four community partners in a shared celebration of creativity, cooperation, and community spirit. The show will run through Dec. 13.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shafer Art Gallery Director Alyssa Bliven said the idea for the exhibition was inspired by preparations for co-hosting the Kansas Museums Association Conference, which will be held this November.&nbsp;

“As we began planning for the conference, I realized that the best way to honor this community was through partnership,” she said. “Having lived in other parts of the country, I can confidently say this area of Kansas is unique in the number of art institutions it sustains. Together, they’ve built a vibrant artistic community that continues to inspire and surprise.”&nbsp;

Participating institutions include the Shafer Art Gallery, Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Salina Art Center, Carriage Factory Gallery, Grassroots Art Center, Barton Arts Council, Great Bend Public Library, Lincoln Art Center, Red Barn Studio Museum, and Vernon Filley Art Museum.&nbsp;

Each institution contributed works that represent their artistic communities, creating a diverse and dynamic exhibition that showcases the region’s shared commitment to creativity and collaboration.&nbsp;

Bliven said the exhibit is being presented in partnership with the Kansas Museums Association Conference, co-hosted by the Shafer Art Gallery and the City of Great Bend. The exhibition and conference together encourage visitors, artists, museum professionals, and community members to explore how art and collaboration strengthen cultural life across Kansas.&nbsp;

“Museum Exchange celebrates the strength that grows through connection,” she said. “We’re excited to welcome visitors to experience this gathering of regional talent and to join us in recognizing the power of partnership.”&nbsp;

The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. For more information, contact Bliven at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:shafergallery@bartonccc.edu">shafergallery@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9342.|&nbsp;

Hays, Lucas museums part of 'Museum Exchange' exhibition in Great Bend

Make your nomination below to help us recognize an Ellis County Child Care Provider.

Nominate a Child Care Champion

High Plains Mental Health Center is launching a new event to help take some of the stress out of holiday shopping – and all proceeds will benefit an important community project.

An all-new “12 Days of Christmas” holiday auction will launch online Dec. 1, running through Dec. 12. All proceeds will help raise money to support development of a Crisis Intervention Center in Hays to serve Northwest Kansas adults experiencing mental health or substance use crisis.

Each day will feature a new round of holiday gift items and themed gift baskets, each available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for one day only. Items will be gift wrapped and can be delivered locally in northwest Kansas or shipped directly to the recipient's address. (Shipping charges may apply if costs exceed $10.) The online auction format will feature gifts and donations from throughout the 20 counties served by High Plains Mental Health Center.

“If you have holiday shopping to do, let us make it easier while supporting an important cause,” said James Gerstner, development officer. “We’ll take care of the prep, wrapping and delivery and you get to go into the holidays knowing you helped fellow Kansans struggling with mental health challenges.”

Register now at <a href="https://event.auctria.com/f156e88c-b3c2-4933-8e1e-b69c72f3f7e8/">https://auctria.events/12DaysOfChristmas</a> and keep watching for further updates and exciting new gift items to be added. There will be something for everybody! Donations are continuing to come in from northwest Kansas, and we appreciate the community’s generosity and support of our mission.

About the Crisis Intervention Center

Opening in early 2026, the Crisis Intervention Center will provide lifesaving and life-changing, no-cost psychiatric treatment for adults experiencing mental health or substance use crises. The facility will provide 24/7/365 stabilization services, starting with capacity for 16 patients with room to expand. Owned and operated by High Plains Mental Health Center, it will be the nearest point of access for families across a 30-county region of Kansas.

The CIC will reduce the waitlist for admissions at Larned State Hospital and improve patient outcomes by providing prompt medical attention when it’s needed most. The CIC will save lives and change lives, while also reducing the current burden on rural law enforcement and emergency rooms. Currently, many rural patients experiencing psychiatric or substance use crises are held in emergency rooms and jails due to lack of better alternatives.

“This facility will be a vital resource for individuals facing mental health and substance use crises. Too often, those in crisis find themselves in emergency rooms unequipped to provide the specialized care they need or, even worse, in jail due to a lack of appropriate alternatives,” said Craig Poe, executive director of High Plains Mental Health Center. “The CIC will change that by offering immediate stabilization, treatment, and support in a safe, therapeutic environment that upholds the dignity of every individual.”

To get involved or make a donation to support the CIC, visit <a href="https://donatehighplains.com/">donatehighplains.com</a>, email us at donate@hpmh.com or visit <a href="https://event.auctria.com/f156e88c-b3c2-4933-8e1e-b69c72f3f7e8/">https://auctria.events/12DaysOfChristmas</a> to participate in the holiday auction. Donors of more than $500 will be recognized with a plaque on our mobile donor recognition wall.

Online holiday gift auction will raise money for Crisis Intervention Center opening in Hays

View the night sky with special FHSU Science Cafe event

Secretary of State candidate Ken Rahjes to meet with FHSU College Republicans

This criminal illegal alien was RELEASED into the country under the Biden administration, granted a work authorization, and was even issued a commercial driver’s license by Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 31-year-old Akhror Bozorov, a criminal illegal alien from Uzbekistan wanted in his origin country for belonging to a&nbsp;terrorist&nbsp;organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Uzbekistan authorities issued an arrest warrant for Bozorov in 2022 for being a member of a terrorist organization. He is accused of distributing terrorist propaganda calling for jihad online and recruiting terrorists to join the jihad movement.

ICE arrested him in Kansas on November 9, while he was working as a commercial truck driver. Governor Josh Shapiro’s Pennsylvania issued him a commercial driver's license (CDL). The Biden administration granted him work authorization in January 2024.

“Not only was Akhror Bozorov—a wanted&nbsp;terrorist—RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration, but he was he was also given a commercial driver’s license by Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania. This should go without saying, but terrorist illegal aliens should not be operating 18-wheelers on America’s highways,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.&nbsp;“Biden and Mayorkas allowed countless terrorists to come into our country. President Trump and Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target these national security threats.”

Bozorov illegally entered the United States in February 2023. He was then arrested by U.S. Border Patrol and released into American communities by the Biden administration.

ICE arrests truck driver in Kansas, wanted on international terrorism warrant

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 5a.m. Tuesday at Kansas City International Airport.

A Honda Fit was traveling the wrong way on International Circle, just south of 1 KC Boulevard, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The car&nbsp; collided head-on with a Subaru. 

The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead from the medical staff at a local hospital. The driver and passenger of the Subaru were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

 This is Fatality #59 vs #82 last year in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Becchina.

Driver killed in head-on crash at Kansas City International Airport

At the Great Bend City Council meeting on Nov. 17, School Resource Officer Paul Millard was awarded the Bronze Wreath of Valor by the Wichita Police Department for his heroic off-duty action during the Towne East Mall shooting on August 8.

"Due to your actions that day, not only were we able to get all three people into custody, but both juveniles who were shot survived, and all three juvenile suspects were all charged in district court, which is still pending," said WPD Detective Rogers. "It was your quick actions that day that helped us come in and get everybody medical attention and get people in custody as fast as we could. So I thank you for that."

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu also provided a letter of gratitude that was presented to Millard as well.

"Please accept my warmest congratulations on receiving the Wichita Police Department's Bronze Wreath of Valor," Wu wrote. "There's a recognition that is most deserved and one that symbolizes our collective appreciation and admiration for your valor."

The Bronze Wreath of Valor is the third-highest award given by the WPD for officers who demonstrate, “bravery, intelligence, or devotion to duty, and who, in the performance of such acts or acts, shall be motivated solely by the desire to serve the city without thought of personal gain or advantage,” as outlined in WPD Policy 201.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, Millard and his wife were leaving Towne East Mall after a day of shopping when they heard gunshots in the parking lot. Taking immediate action, Millard rushed over to the scene, restrained a suspect and stopped the threat until the Wichita Police arrived.

With 27 years of service at the Great Bend Police Department, Millard has spent the past decade as the SRO for the USD 428 School System. He also leads the department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program and has been member of the bike patrol unit and SWAT team, as well as a supervisor throughout his extensive career.

In addition to this honor, Millard received national recognition as SRO of the Month by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) on Aug. 18.

Great Bend officer honored for response to mall shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Education Department is handing off some of its biggest grant programs to other federal agencies as the Trump administration accelerates its plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-shutdown-b1d25a2e1bdcd24cfde8ad8b655b9843">shut down the department</a>.

It represents a major step forward for the administration’s dismantling of the department, which has mainly involved cutting jobs since President Donald Trump called for its elimination with an executive action in March.

Six new agreements signed by the Education Department will effectively move billions of dollars in grant programs to other agencies. Most notable is one that will put the Department of Labor over some of the largest federal funding streams for K-12 schools, including Title I money for schools serving low-income communities.

Opponents have urged against such a shake-up, saying it could disrupt programs that support some of the nation’s most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-layoffs-closure-c7cddd1dbf310dadcd70e003d62a6df0">vulnerable student populations</a>. Some argue that other agencies don’t have the expertise that schools and families rely on at the Education Department.

A union representing department workers said students, educators and families depend on the agency's support for schools.

“That national mission is weakened when its core functions are scattered across other federal or state agencies that are not equipped or positioned to provide the same support and services as ED staff,” AFGE Local 252 President Rachel Gittleman said.

Department officials said the programs will continue to be funded at levels set by Congress. They did not say whether the changes would bring further job cuts at the department, which has been thinned by waves of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-layoffs-civil-rights-8cbf463cce765f497c10d688ab4d51e1">mass layoffs</a>&nbsp;and voluntary retirement offers.

“The Trump Administration is taking bold action to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “Cutting through layers of red tape in Washington is one essential piece of our final mission.”

The action leaves in place the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-dismantling-education-department-8b5d0961700f0fe69d18ea80b437c8b8">$1.6 trillion student loan portfolio</a>&nbsp;and its funding for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-iep-disability-civil-rights-trump-85a6687d9ef1f5236f2637924d66a560">students with disabilities</a>, though McMahon has suggested both would be better managed by other federal departments. Also unaffected is the department's Office for Civil Rights, which works with students and families who bring allegations of discrimination.

McMahon and her staff have spent months hammering out the deals, which allow the department to lop off large parts of its footprint without action from Congress. It’s being done through formal agreements that agencies often make with one another when their work overlaps.

The Education Department tested the idea in June with a deal that moved adult education programs to Labor. The new agreements take it a step further and lay the groundwork for more.

Under the new plan, Labor will oversee almost all grant programs that are now managed by the Education Department’s offices for K-12 and higher education. Along with the $18 billion Title I program, that includes smaller funding pools for teacher training, English instruction and TRIO, a program that helps steer low-income students to college degrees.

It will effectively outsource the department’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and Office of Postsecondary Education, two of the agency’s largest units. Two major roles of the postsecondary office will remain with the Education Department: oversight of student loan policy and the accreditation of colleges for eligibility to receive students’ federal financial aid.

States and schools should not expect any disruptions in their funding, the department said, but their federal money will now come from the Department of Labor.

Another deal will put Health and Human Services in charge of a grant program for parents who are attending college, along with management of foreign medical school accreditation. The State Department will take on foreign language programs. Interior will oversee programs for Native American education.

McMahon has increasingly pointed to what she sees as failures of the department as she argues for its demise. In its 45 years, she says it has become a bloated bureaucracy while student outcomes continue to lag behind. She points to math and reading scores for the country’s K-12 students, which plummeted in the wake of pandemic restrictions.

Her vision would abolish the Education Department and give states wider flexibility in how they spend money that’s now earmarked for specific purposes, including literacy and education for homeless students. That, however, would require approval from Congress. The task is complicated by the fact that some of the department’s core work has long had bipartisan support.

The new deals are part of a broader plan to prove that America’s schools and colleges can operate without the department. As part of the plan, officials say McMahon will continue touring the country to highlight the successes of local schools — and she will also spend more time making her pitch to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Kan. U.S. Senator applauds new steps to dismantle U.S. Dept. of Education

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a double shooting in Hutchinson that sent two men to the hospital.

Just before 8p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at an address in the 1100 block West 19th Avenue in Hutchinson, according to a media release from Hutchinson Police.

First responders located a man with wound to his lower extremity. He was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center in stable condition and later released after being treated. 

Moments later, officers were dispatched to 19th Avenue and Monroe Street where they located another adult man in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to HRMC in critical condition and later to St. Francis in Wichita. 

Detectives are interviewing several individuals who were present during the shooting, as well as others with relevant information. No arrests have been made.&nbsp;Based on what police know at this time, there is no known current threat to the public.

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