By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Thomas More Prep-Marian’s homecoming parade rolled through downtown Hays on Friday.

The parade featured the 2025 Point of Light honorees, this year’s Homecoming Court and alumni dating back to the class of 1975.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/82baa293-5c3d-4b4f-aea4-e5f720185b94">Thomas More Prep-Marian also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of its building on Friday.</a>

📷 2025 TMP-Marian Homecoming parade

The Kansas Hospital Association Leadership Institute graduated its 23rd class of 31 students on Sept. 5, 2025, at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Wichita, Kansas. Students were nominated by their hospital's CEO to be part of this select group. They represent the future leaders of Kansas hospitals.

Helping to build future health care leaders is important to the Kansas Hospital Association. “We are committed to strengthening and promoting the leadership capacity of hospital employees in Kansas,” said Chad Austin, president and CEO, Kansas Hospital Association.

 The KHA Leadership Institute was established to help hospitals provide professional development opportunities that accentuate the personal skills and abilities needed to facilitate positive change and innovation in Kansas hospitals.

The 2025 Leadership Institute class was diverse. They represented a wide geographic distribution of hospitals from St. Francis to Liberal and Neodesha to Lawrence – there was representation from all parts of the state. 

Students had been working in health care for as little as a year to 20 years. Several students have been in management positions while others were new managers. Some students also supervisor other staff, from a few to more than 50 employees.

It is important to note that the students nominated to participate in this program were not selected because they needed to learn "management skills." They were nominated because their CEO recognized their potential to be future leaders and wanted to help cultivate that development. Each one of these students made a personal and professional commitment to expanding their skills by attending all six courses of the Leadership Institute.

The curriculum was structured to enhance each student's leadership abilities.

 Course #1 focused on explaining the difference between leadership and management, identifying organizational values and creating a positive organizational climate. Course #2 focused on enhancing communication skills and grassroots advocacy. Course #3 focused on team building - including how to lead a team and how to be part of a team and Course # 4 examined conflict and conflict management. Course #5 was at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show. Students learned about the challenges facing health care.

KHA Leadership Institute Class of 2025&nbsp;

Steven Bazan, Newman Regional Health, Emporia

Lori Bortzfield, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson

Sara Boyd, Memorial Health System, Abilene

Terance Brooks, Select Specialty Hospital, Wichita

Kourtney Brown, Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus, Junction City

Anoria Carlson, Prairie View, Inc., Newton

Jessica Carson, Cheyenne County Hospital, Saint Francis

Shannon Deines, The University of Kansas Health System, Great Bend Campus

Megan Donecker, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned

Misty Duncan, Caldwell Regional Medical Center, Caldwell

Amy Elliott, Amberwell Hiawatha, Hiawatha

Stephanie Flegler, Russell Regional Hospital, Russell

Adam Gall, Wilson Medical Center, Neodesha

Wesley Goforth, Republic County Hospital, Belleville

Ashley Hutchinson, Salina Regional Health Center, Salina

Jayna Kelly, Wamego Health Center, Wamego

Sonjia Lemons, Greenwood County Hospital, Eureka

Amy Meyer, Meade District Hospital/Artesian Valley Health System, Meade

Chandra Michaelis, Rice Community Health, Lyons

Jodi Miller, Minneola Healthcare, Minneola

Monica Mullender, Osborne County Memorial Hospital, Osborne

Jaqueline Nieblas, Southwest Medical Center, Liberal

Cameron Rickel, Holton Community Hospital, Holton

Braden Shackelford, Stormont Vail Health, Topeka

Hanna Sharp, Scott County Hospital, Scott City

Patricia Smith, Edwards County Medical Center, Kinsley

Kristen Srna, Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc., Manhattan

Shawn Weldin, Sabetha Community Hospital, Sabetha

The Kansas Hospital Association is a voluntary, non-profit organization existing to be the leading advocate and resource for members. KHA membership includes 242 member facilities, of which 124 are full-service, community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA’s vision is: “Optimal health for Kansans and Kansas hospitals.”

Hays, Russell members among Kansas Hospital Association Leadership Institute graduates 

Kansas Department of Transportation

NORTON — The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has revised the letting and construction schedule for the final phase of modernization on a 26-mile portion of Highway K-383 in Norton and Phillips counties.

Under the updated schedule, the project is expected to let for construction in December 2026, with work occurring during the 2027 and 2028 construction seasons.

The adjustment is necessary to allow additional time to complete right of way acquisition for several properties along the project. Once the acquisition process is finished, utility relocations can be completed, which are needed before KDOT can begin construction.

“There is a strong desire to see this project completed, and KDOT understands the importance of finishing the work,” said District Three Engineer Jeff Stewart. “We’re working diligently to keep our processes moving and appreciate everyone’s patience as we work towards completion.”

The final phase will widen and add shoulders on the remaining 14 miles of K-383, beginning near Almena and extending to two miles east of Long Island. Phase I was completed in 2022 and reconstructed six miles in Phillips County from east of Long Island to the U.S. 183 junction. Phase II, completed in 2023, reconstructed six miles in Norton County from the east U.S. 36 junction to Almena.

“Even though the project timeline has been extended, KDOT’s commitment to completing the work has not changed,” said KDOT Secretary Calvin Reed. “We know how important this project is to northwest Kansas and remain focused on providing a safe, high-quality roadway that will serve the traveling public for many years to come.”

Schedule revised for final phase of Highway K-383 modernization in Norton, Phillips counties

Reporter Tony Guerrero speaks with Ellis County Health Director Melissa Miller about National Preparedness Month and the upcoming flu season on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Ellis County Heath Director discusses preparedness, flu season

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Thomas More Prep-Marian celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of its building on Friday.

The event was set to coincide with the fall homecoming on Friday night.

Travis Grizzell, advancement director for Hays Catholic Schools, greeted the group at a ribbon-cutting sponsored by the Chamber in Hays.

Placed shortly after the ending of World War I, the stone is inscribed with the words, "For God, for country" in Latin.

Although the cornerstone of the school was set in 1925, drought and the Great Depression intervened, and the school was not opened to students until 1931.

Grizzell said the cornerstone was one of the hidden secrets on the TMP campus.

Grizzell said that despite the wild Jazz Age of the time, a group of people in western Kansas decided to buckle down to ensure the continuation of Catholic education in this area.

"It's an amazing thing to pull up to this campus and see this building in Hays. Our campus is beautiful. The building is awe-inspiring," Grizzell said. "It's humbling, and you wonder how the group of people back then could have persisted through everything they had against them to create a building like this.

"Nothing is too big a task when you are honoring your Lord, and it is that dear to your heart," he said.

This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Hays Catholic Schools homecoming.

Grizzell echoed a statement from TMP Principal Chad Meitner, who said, "It's your job here at TMP-Marian and Hays Catholic Schools to help our young people get to heaven."

Curtis Hammeke, president of Hays Catholic Schools, also spoke to the group of students, staff, clergy, alumni and community members.

He said the word that came to his mind was gift. He said the school was a great gift to the Hays community.

"It's that important to our kids, our grandkids and our future generations," Hammeke said. "I'm proud of this vast history, and I'm very excited about the future. It is something we have to protect.

"There's nothing more important than staying focused on Christ, and this institution allows us to do that in a daily fashion. I can't think of a better gift we can give to our kids and grandkids."

Hammeke said the school's saying used to be, "Give us four years, and we will give you a lifetime."

He said it is more than that. It's eternity.

TMP celebrates 100th anniversary of laying of cornerstone, Catholic schools homecoming

ELLIS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 11:30p.m. Friday in Ellis County.&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Ford Truck driven by Erkin&nbsp;Ismatov, 45, Brooklyn, New York, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of Yocemento Avenue. The truck struck a disabled vehicle which was stationary in the right lane. After impact the truck left the roadway to the south and struck a guardrail.&nbsp;

EMS transported&nbsp;Ismatov to Hays Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized in Hays after I-70 truck crash

COLBY — Western Plains Arts Association (WPAA) opens our 2025-2026 season at the Cultural Arts Center in Colby on Sunday, September 21 at 3:00 p.m. with DIVA 3, an ensemble of superb singers. 

Three female singers with powerhouse voices sing the biggest hits of the greatest divas in music history. This vibrant show spans four decades covering the 1960's through the 1990's with hits by Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Cher, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, ABBA, and many more!

Individual members of the group have all starred in shows on the Las Vegas strip. Since its inception in 2013, the group has gone on to perform not only at several hotels and casinos throughout their hometown of Las Vegas, but also performing arts centers across the United States, as well as international waters as a headlining guest entertainer act aboard luxury cruise ships.

Admission can be purchased at the door or by WPAA season tickets. You can buy season tickets at the door if you haven’t gotten yours already.

This program is made possible through the generous funds from The Dane G. Hansen Foundation and many area businesses and individuals that sponsor WPAA.

Western Plains Arts Association season opens Sept. 21 with DIVA 3 in Colby

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

There has been an increase of insect infestations this growing season around the state. 

Two of the more widespread pests have been lepidoptera larvae (worms): the fall armyworm and the armyworm. These pests have become problematic for our fall planted alfalfa, bromegrass, tritcale planted early for haying, etc. and have the potential to be problematic in our fall-planted wheat. It is advised to not get in any hurry to plant wheat.

Fall armyworm (FAW) – Larvae when mature are 1-1.5 inches long and have a variable color (green to black) with three prominent white lines down their back and a distinctive white, inverted ”Y” pattern on their face between the eyes. These larvae feed on just about anything green and are currently very active in our area and probably all of Kansas.

This moth does not overwinter in the Great Plains but migrates northward annually from southern states. It usually arrives in Kansas in July where it deposits eggs on corn, sorghum and other summer crops. Several generations occur and reproduction may continue through August and into September, putting early-planted wheat at greatest risk. Early-planted fields should be inspected frequently during the first few weeks following emergence. 

The first sign of damage is “window-pane” injury caused by tiny larvae chewing on seedling leaves. The larvae, which are usually too small to be easily observed at this time, hide in or around the base of seedlings. Within a few days the larvae become large enough to destroy entire leaves.

Fields with 25 to 30 percent of plants with windowpane injury should be re-examined daily and treated immediately if stand establishment appears threatened. Larvae increase in size at an exponential rate, and so do their food requirements. Later instars, larger larvae do the most damage, sometimes destroying entire stands, and are the least susceptible to insecticides. Without treatment, problems can continue until larvae reach maturity or until a killing freeze.

In our area there are significant populations of FAW feeding in seedling and established alfalfa, bromegrass, early planted triticale for haying or grazing, etc. Scouting is important because they can destroy seedling crops quickly.

Armyworms (ARW) - Larvae are darker with several conspicuous light-colored stripes on both sides of their bodies, and they present a somewhat different problem than the FAW, because they do overwinter in Kansas.

Therefore, the larvae may be around when the 2025 planted wheat crop germinates. Thus, planting as late as possible is important, as is destroying all volunteer wheat well before wheat planting begins. 

This is also important because it is the female moth that initiates the infestation by where she deposits her eggs, and she won't deposit any eggs unless she detects some greenery for a potential food source for the developing larvae. From past&nbsp;experience with armyworm infestations, they may continue to feed until temperatures dip into the mid-20s °F for a couple of hours, says Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomologist.

Army cutworms - One other worm to consider is the Army cutworm. These moths migrate back into Kansas in the fall, looking for any greenery on which to deposit their eggs. So, they will not be the same problem as armyworms, as their feeding will be ending this fall, but the army cutworms will just be starting their feeding and culminate in the common "Miller moths" in the spring.

The best ways to help mitigate an infestation in fall-planted wheat from any of these worms are to plant as late as possible and destroy all volunteer wheat well before any wheat is planted in your area.

Information provided by Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomology Specialist.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Fall armyworm population is huge

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Follow this link to see more:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://coldwellbankersell.idxbroker.com/idx/details/listing/b596/204644/301-W-20th-St-Hays-KS-67601">https://coldwellbankersell.idxbroker.com/idx/details/listing/b596/204644/301-W-20th-St-Hays-KS-67601</a>

Community Calendar

The Hays Arts Council is pleased to announce a community&nbsp;Meet &amp; Greet&nbsp;with new Executive Director Chandler Reich, on&nbsp;Thursday, Sept. 25 9-11 a.m. at the Hays Arts Center, 112 E 11th. The come-and-go event will feature coffee and donuts and provide an opportunity for the public to meet Reich, learn more about her vision for the organization, and extend a warm welcome.

Reich began her full-time role as executive director in September and has already hit the ground running in leading programs and community initiatives. The council board&nbsp;invites all community members to stop by, say hello, and join in celebrating this new chapter for the region’s oldest arts council.

Public invited to meet and greet for Hays Arts Council executive director

FHSU Student Engagement and Belonging

The 2025 Fort Hays State University Homecoming parade will take place on Saturday, September 27. The parade will take place on The Bricks in downtown Hays, America, at 11:00 a.m. 

Parade entries are still being accepted through September 22. Use the following form to sign up:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tigerlink.fhsu.edu/submitter/form/start/691056">FHSU Homecoming Parade Entry</a>

For more information, please contact the Student Engagement and Belonging office at 785-628-4020 or via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:engage@fhsu.edu">engage@fhsu.edu</a>.

Entries open for FHSU Homecoming parade on Sept. 27

Tasty fundraiser for Hays Area Children's Center; order by Sept. 24

GRAINFIELD — A craft fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 at the historic Grainfield Opera House, 296 Main Street, Grainfield, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

There will be many vendors with a variety of crafts and lunch is available.

Craft fair Saturday at historic Grainfield Opera House

Heartland Community Foundation

The Heartland Community Foundation, dedicated to supporting Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, is excited to announce the opening of its fall grant cycle. Applications can be submitted online until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025. A total of over $150,000 in funding is available.

This grant cycle aims to support local initiatives that fulfill one or more of the following goals:

• Directly benefiting communities in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties. • Enhancing the quality of life for individuals and expanding the capacity or outreach of applying organizations through programs, projects, or capital improvements. • Providing seed funding to kickstart new projects, programs, or organizations that will serve the community

Funding this cycle is made possible by the Legacy Funds of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, along with contributions from the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, the Heartland Healthy Living Fund, and the Heartland Area Action Fund. 

Two new funds will also be making their first grant distributions this fall: the Hays Optimist Friends of Youth Fund will support projects that benefit youth or are youth-led, while the Trego County Enhancement Fund will support projects that promote economic development in Trego County.

Eligible projects must be based in Ellis, Rooks, or Trego counties and will undergo a competitive evaluation process. Nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational institutions, and churches are all encouraged to apply. All applications must be submitted online by the deadline&nbsp;of 11:59 p.m. on November 15. Detailed funding criteria and the application form can be found at <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/">https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/grants/</a>

For further inquiries, please reach out to Sarah Meitner, executive director, at 785-621-4090, Savannah Downing, Trego Development Director, at 785-743-3270, or Deanna Hammerschmidt, Rooks Development Director, at 785-688-5098.

You can easily make a charitable gift by clicking the GIVE ONLINE button.

To learn more about the Heartland Community Foundation, make a donation to one of our managed funds, or apply for a grant, please visit <a href="https://heartlandcommunityfoundation.org/">www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org</a>.&nbsp;

Stay updated on our latest news, grantee stories, and featured funds by following us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF">https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandCF</a>.

Heartland Community Foundation accepting grant applications through Nov. 15

Smith Center's Old Settlers' Day is Sept. 27

The Hays Symphony Orchestra will continue its season with an evening of rich and resonant string music with, “Fall Classics: Simply Strings.”

The free performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, within St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th St.

Under the direction of Benjamin Cline, the orchestra’s string sections will be featured exclusively, performing a diverse program that spans from the Baroque era to the 21st century.

The concert is designed to highlight the versatility, power, and profound beauty of the string family, offering a unique auditory experience for the community.

The selection of St. Joseph Catholic Church as the venue was a deliberate choice to enhance the all-strings repertoire.

Its soaring architecture and resonant acoustics provide an ideal environment for the nuanced tones of violins, violas, cellos, and basses to flourish, Cline said.

“Presenting a strings-only concert is a wonderful way to focus on the core sound and emotional heart of the orchestra,” he said. “The repertoire for ‘Simply Strings’ is a journey through time and texture. We are creating an intimate yet powerful atmosphere, and the magnificent acoustics of St. Joseph’s will amplify every subtle detail, making the music a truly immersive experience for our audience.”

The program will begin with Francesco Geminiani’s vibrant Concerto Grosso, Op. 5, No. 12, famously known as “La Folia.” Based on a centuries-old Portuguese folk tune, this Baroque masterpiece is a thrilling set of variations that showcases the technical brilliance and dynamic interplay between the string sections.

The concert then moves to contemporary works, beginning with “Anthem and Chorale for Strings” by Spanish-American cellist and composer Andrea Casarrubios. This modern piece explores a rich palette of harmonic&nbsp;colors, contrasting stately, hymn-like passages with moments of sweeping, anthem-like grandeur, reflecting a deep emotional landscape.

Following this is “Três Pequenas Variações” (“Three Small Variations”) by the Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad. Known for fusing elements of Brazilian popular music, jazz, and classical traditions, Assad’s work promises to be a rhythmically engaging and melodically inventive exploration of a central theme.

The program also features “Eventide” by American composer Chris Pilsner. A beautifully lyrical and atmospheric piece, “Eventide” evokes the serene and contemplative mood of twilight. Its lush harmonies and soaring melodies have made it a favorite among modern string orchestra compositions.

“This program demonstrates the incredible evolution of string writing,” Cline said. “We have the fiery virtuosity of Geminiani’s Baroque variations set against the deeply personal and modern voices of Casarrubios, Assad, and Pilsner. Each piece tells its own story, but together they paint a comprehensive picture of what a string orchestra can achieve. It’s a showcase of passion, reflection, and pure sonic beauty.”

The evening will conclude with Ralph Vaughan Williams’s magnificent Concerto Grosso. A giant of 20th-century English music, Vaughan Williams composed this piece with a unique structure intended to involve players of all skill levels. The work divides the orchestra into a professional-level solo group (Concertino), the main orchestral body (Tutti), and a third group for beginners (Ad Lib), all weaving together to create a full, glorious sound. This structure embodies the spirit of community music-making, making it a fitting finale for the Hays Symphony, which itself is a blend of faculty, community, and student musicians.

“The Vaughan Williams piece is a celebration of collaboration,” Cline said. “It reflects our own orchestra’s mission of bringing together musicians from different backgrounds, from our university faculty to talented local players and dedicated students, to create something beautiful for our community. It’s a powerful statement about the unifying force of music.” 

Free tickets for “Fall Classics: Simply Strings” are available online at <a href="https://www.hayssymphony.org/">hayssymphony.org</a>.

Hays Symphony to present ‘Fall Classics: Simply Strings’ Sept. 20

Craft boutique benefit for Your Voice Through Cancer on Oct. 4

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge has struck down a ballot summary for an anti-abortion amendment backed by Republican state lawmakers while concluding that it presented an unfair and insufficient description to voters.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Friday that the ballot summary must be rewritten, but he rejected a request by abortion-rights advocates to block the proposed constitutional amendment from going to voters.

The judge said the summary prepared by Republican lawmakers failed to inform voters that the new measure would repeal an abortion-rights amendment adopted by voters last year. He directed the secretary of state's office to write a new summary.

The ruling marks the latest in a series of twists and turns in Missouri’s abortion policies over the past three years.

When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;in 2022, that triggered a Missouri law to take effect banning abortions “except in cases of medical emergency.” But abortion-rights activists then gathered initiative petition signatures to put their own measure on the ballot.

Last November, Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy</a>. That measure, known as Amendment 3, also allows later abortions to protect the life or health of pregnant women and creates a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” that includes birth control, prenatal and postpartum care and “respectful birthing conditions.”

In May, the Republican-led Legislature shut down Democratic opposition and approved a new referendum that would repeal Amendment 3 and instead allow abortions only for a medical emergency or fetal anomaly, or in cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. That proposed amendment also would prohibit gender transition surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors, which already are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">barred under state law</a>.

Abortion-rights advocates had argued in a lawsuit that the entire measure should be stricken, alleging that the combination of abortion and transgender policies violated a constitutional requirement that amendments contain only one subject. But Green agreed with Republican lawmakers that both topics fit under the measure's title of “reproductive health care.”

The court order provided both sides an opportunity to claim victory.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's office said in a statement that the court upheld “the central constitutional issues.”

Tori Schafer, director of policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said abortion-rights advocates are “pleased that the judge saw through the legislature’s deceitful language” in the ballot summary.

Both the attorney general's office and Republican state Rep. Brian Seitz, who championed the latest measure, said they are confident in Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' ability to revise the ballot summary.

If it’s a simple wording change, “I think we would be fine with that, because we do want the Missouri voters to know what they are voting on,” Seitz said Friday.

The proposed amendment will appear on the November 2026 ballot, unless Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe schedules the vote for sooner. The new measure is slated to be listed as Amendment 3 — the same number as the original abortion amendment.

Mo. judge strikes down ballot summary for anti-abortion measure 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a Labor Day weekend homicide have arrested a second teen suspect.

At 4:33 p.m., August 31, police were dispatched to the 2100 block of North Arkansas in Wichita for a reported shooting, according to a media release.

When officers arrived, they found two men inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds in the 600 block of W. 20th Street. Officers, Wichita Fire Department, and EMS personnel provided life-saving measures at the scene.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital in critical condition. At 4:58 p.m., 20-year-old Sebastian Williams was pronounced deceased. The second victim, a 20-year-old male remains hospitalized.

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy and booked him into the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center (JIAC) for felony murder. On Sept. 19, police reported the arrest of a 17-year-old in the case. He was&nbsp;booked in to Sedgwick Co. Juvenile Detention Facility for Felony Murder.

2nd Kansas teen accused in Labor Day weekend killing

ATCHISON COUNTY, Mo. —Just before noon on Saturday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol canceled the Amber Alert. Emily Harrington and Emma Hale were safely recovered in Indiana.

ATCHISON COUNTY, Mo. — The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert early Saturday for missing 12-year-old&nbsp; Emily Harrington and 12-year-old Emma Sue Hale.

They were last seen with a man named Alec or Alex and abducted just after 10:30p.m. Friday in the 600 Block of South Nebraska Street in Rock Port, Missouri.&nbsp;

The patrol indicated the suspect, identified as a white male, may be from California. The girls were seen with him at a football game at Rock Port High School.&nbsp; The Patrol released no additional details early Saturday.

Patrol: Amber Alert canceled, two 12-year-old girls are safe

Sonny Curtis, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/songwriters-hall-nominees-2025-41a3b00e3bbd11d64dffae9eba70c6b8">vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote</a>&nbsp;the raw classic “I Fought the Law” and posed the enduring question “Who can turn the world on with her smile?” as the writer-crooner of the theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died at 88.

Curtis, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets in 2012, died Friday, his wife of more than a half-century, Louise Curtis, confirmed to The Associated Press. His daughter, Sarah Curtis, wrote on his Facebook page that he had been suddenly ill.

Curtis wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from Keith Whitley's country smash “I'm No Stranger to the Rain” to the Everly Brothers' “Walk Right Back,” a personal favorite Curtis completed while in Army basic training. Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, Bruce Springsteen and the Grateful Dead were among other artists who covered his work.

Born during the Great Depression to cotton farmers outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly's and an active musician in the formative years of rock, whether jamming on guitar with Holly in the mid-1950s or opening for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elvis-presley">Elvis Presley</a>&nbsp;when Elvis was still a regional act. Curtis' songwriting touch also soon emerged: Before he turned 20, he had written the hit “Someday” for Webb Pierce and “Rock Around With Ollie Vee” for Holly.

Curtis had left Holly's group, the Crickets, before Holly became a major star. But he returned after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-music-eb2e169f2eb84f9caf532fad36c8b524">Holly died in a plane crash</a>&nbsp;in 1959 and he was featured the following year on the album “In Style with the Crickets,” which included “I Fought the Law” (dashed off in a single afternoon, according to Curtis, who would say he had no direct inspiration for the song) and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drummer-jerry-allison-dies-d744a807870b0f4b821c912d216be6f2">the Jerry Allison collaboration</a>&nbsp;“More Than I Can Say,” a hit for Bobby Vee, and later for Leo Sayer.

Meanwhile, it took until 1966 for “I Fought the Law” and its now-immortal refrain “I fought the law — and the law won” to catch on: The Texas-based Bobby Fuller Four made it a Top 10 song. Over the following decades, it was covered by dozens of artists, from punk (the Clash) to country (Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith) to Springsteen, Tom Petty and other mainstream rock stars.

Curtis' other signature song was as uplifting as “I Fought the Law” was resigned. In 1970, he was writing commercial jingles when he came up with the theme for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fdd1427e301642dbb0c42f6e64ba18e5">a new CBS sitcom starring Moore</a>&nbsp;as a single woman hired as a TV producer in Minneapolis. He called the song “Love is All Around,” and used a smooth melody to eventually serve up lyrics as indelible as any in television history:

“Who can turn the world on with her smile? / Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? / Well it's you girl, and you should know it / With each glance and every little movement you show it.”

The song's endurance was sealed by the images it was heard over, especially Moore's triumphant toss of her hat as Curtis proclaims, “You're going to make it after all.” In tribute, other artists began recording it, including Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Minnesota's Hüsker Dü. A commercial release featuring Curtis came out in 1980 and was a modest success, peaking at No. 29 on Billboard's country chart.

Curtis would recall being commissioned by his friend Doug Gilmore, a music industry road manager who had heard the sitcom's developers were looking for an opening song.

“Naturally I said yes, and later that morning, he dropped off a four-page format — you know 'Girl from the Midwest, moves to Minneapolis, gets a job in a newsroom, can't afford her apartment etc.,' which gave me the flavor of what it was all about,” said Curtis, who soon met with show co-creator (and later Oscar-winning filmmaker)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/jack-nicholson-movies-shirley-maclaine-james-l-brooks-26c0733cb77f4acd8c8758453cf1d049">James L. Brooks.</a>

“James L. Brooks came into this huge empty room, no furniture apart from a phone lying on the floor, and at first, I thought he was rather cold and sort of distant, and he said 'We're not at the stage of picking a song yet, but I'll listen anyway,'” Curtis recalled. “So I played the song, just me and my guitar, and next thing, he started phoning people, and the room filled up, and then he sent out for a tape recorder.”

Curtis would eventually write two versions: the first used in Season 1, the second and better known for the remaining six seasons. The original words were more tentative, opening with “How will you make it on your own?” and ending with “You might just make it after all.” By Season 2, the show was a hit and the lyrics were reworked. The producers had wanted Andy Williams to sing the theme song, but he turned it down and Curtis' easygoing baritone was heard instead.

Curtis made a handful of solo albums, including “Sonny Curtis” and “Spectrum,” and hit the country Top 20 with the 1981 single “Good Ol' Girls.” In later years, he continued to play with Allison and other members of the Crickets. The band released several albums, among them “The Crickets and Their Buddies,” featuring appearances by Eric Clapton, Graham Nash and Phil Everly. One of Curtis' more notable songs was “The Real Buddy Holly Story,” a rebuke to the 1978 biopic “The Buddy Holly Story,” which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gary-busey-sex-offense-horror-convention-new-jersey-491c5f5dbb41d40ec1dfa2bc5e51551f">starred Gary Busey.</a>

Curtis settled in Nashville in the mid-1970s and lived there with his wife, Louise. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991 and, as part of the Crickets, into Nashville's Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007. Five years later, he and the Crickets were inducted into the Rock Hall, praised as “the blueprint for rock and roll bands (that) inspired thousands of kids to start up garage bands around the world.”

Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen contributed reporting.

Sonny Curtis, Crickets member who penned ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ theme, dies 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Looking to reshape the U.S. visa system for highly skilled foreign workers and investors, President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will require a new annual $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications and rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa as a potential pathway to U.S. citizenship.

The moves face near-certain legal challenges and widespread criticism that Trump is going beyond presidential authority by sidestepping Congress. The actions, if they survive legal muster, will deliver staggering price increases for high-skilled and investor visas created by Congress in 1990.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the H-1B visa fee will be $100,000 per year and added that “all big companies” are on board.

H-1B visas are meant to bring the best and brightest foreigners for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill with qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The program instead has turned into a pipeline for overseas workers who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually. That is far less than $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. technology workers.

Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. “I think they're going to be very happy,” he said.

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