By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board approved a&nbsp;$59,449 change order for the new Hays High School at its meeting Monday night.

This brings the total for the project to $114,963,731 and leaves $422,141 of the original $1 million in the project's contingency fund.

The change order included the following items: 1. Relocated wall cabinets and countertops in the journalism lab 2. Relocated markerboards in the journalism classroom 3. Gymnasium athletic court alignments 4. Deletion of gymnasium wrestling mat hoists 5. Revisions to the Performing Arts Center return air HVAC system 6. Addition of wood-finish grilles in the Performing Arts Center for the return air HVAC system 7. Design clarifications to Dressing Room power and lighting plans. 8. Revised Specification Section 087100 – Door Hardware 9. Addition of a wall for the school resource officer's office 10. Relocation of mechanical HVAC and electrical systems in the SRO office 11. Addition of a fire alarm device in SRO office 12. Addition of a new door frame and door for SRO office 13. Design clarifications to the vault finish plan 14. Lowering of the ceiling grid system in Area E commons to accommodate MEP elevations 15. Clarifications to motorized shade control switches in the commons area

The change orders included two deletions: two wrestling mat hoists and one volleyball court for the main gym.

Superintendent Ron Wilson said they thought they could fit three volleyball courts in the main gym, but they could only fit two. The new high school will have two volleyball courts in the main gym and two in gym B.

This is the fourth change order approved on the project.

Nabholz Construction estimates the first sections of the high school will reach substantial completion by July 7. This will include the classroom wings.

The athletic wings, concession stand, and fields and stadium will reach substantial completion by Aug. 13, a Nabholz representative said.

The bond total now stands at $162.8 million.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6ad3de3f-ac12-4721-b09f-f8c2367b44a3">Dirt work is ongoing at the $15.8 million O'Loughlin Elementary School project. </a>That will include street and parking improvements that will ease congestion during pick-up and drop-off.&nbsp;

The 12,000-square-foot addition will include a new cafeteria, commercial kitchen, art room and secure entrance.&nbsp;The Nabholz representative said the work at O'Loughlin is on schedule.

Work will begin this summer on renovations of the current high school into a middle school. That project is estimated to cost $6.47 million. Students and staff are set to move into the renovated space in January.

Once the current middle school is vacated, it will be renovated into an elementary school. That project is estimated to cost $3.8 million.

A renovation and addition at Roosevelt Elementary School is already complete.

Hays USD 489 school board approves HHS change order, hears bond update

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Cruise, Shoes & BBQs Memorial Day weekend in Grainfield

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University will feature several students as musicians and speakers during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/graduation/">spring 2025 commencement ceremonies</a>&nbsp;on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, in Manhattan.

Hays resident among students to sing national anthem at K-State commencement ceremonies

Ellis County Habitat for Humanity fundraiser Wednesday at Applebee's

&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

Healing Hearts Grief Support Group

The Healing Hearts Grief Support Group will hold its annual event remembering and honoring deceased children on Tuesday, May 20.

The “Avenue of Pinwheels” will begin at 7 p.m. in the children’s section of Mt. Allen Cemetery, 27th and Vine. The public is invited to attend. Participants are encouraged to use the south entrance near the children’s area.

The event is for parents who have lost children, regardless of the child’s age. This includes children lost through miscarriage or stillbirth. The service is also for others impacted by a child’s death, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, friends, and teachers.

The ceremony’s purpose is to remember and honor all lost children, not just those buried at Mt. Allen, organizers said.

At the ceremony, pinwheels will be available free of charge to all participants, or people may bring their own. Participants may place a note on their pinwheel with the child’s name and write a personal message. All of the names will be read aloud.

Then the pinwheels will be hammered into the ground by a Healing Hearts volunteer. The pinwheels will be placed in two long rows facing each other, thus creating “The Avenue of Pinwheels.”

The pinwheels will be left up at Mt. Allen until after Memorial Day. Then members of Healing Hearts will pick them up. Organizers will laminate new pinwheels to protect them from the elements. Any damaged pinwheels will be replaced. Then the pinwheels will be safely stored until the following year. Individuals who want to keep their child’s pinwheel are welcome to do so.

The Healing Hearts Grief Support Group began in 2001. In 2006, the group placed a marker in the cemetery’s children’s area and planted a tree. The marker reads: “In memory of our sons and daughters. As parents, we celebrate the lives of our beloved children and hold in our hearts an everlasting love for them.”

More information about the event is available from the support group’s facilitator, Dr. Kate McGonigal, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:klmcgonigal@fhsu.edu">klmcgonigal@fhsu.edu</a>.

'Avenue of Pinwheels' to be held May 20 in Mt. Allen Cemetery

Beginning today, 12th Street will be closed from Main Street to Oak Street for road and utility repairs. Work is anticipated to be completed by Friday, May 16, weather permitting.

The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 628-7350.

12th St. from Main to Oak closed for repairs

The City of Hays will temporarily close ARC Park for two days next week to perform necessary maintenance on the playground’s fall zone surface. The closure is scheduled for May 12 and 13.

The maintenance involves resealing the playground’s rubber safety surfacing, which helps protect children from injury during play.

This process is intended to extend the life of the surfacing and prevent premature wear.

According to Jeff Boyle, director of parks for the City of Hays, the project is essential for maintaining safety and long-term durability at the park.

“This type of maintenance is part of our commitment to keeping ARC Park in top condition for families who use it,” Boyle said. “By resealing the surface now, we’re helping ensure that it remains safe and functional for years to come.”

The resealing process includes the application of a special binding material over the rubber fall zone, which takes approximately half a day to three-quarters of a day to apply.

The remainder of the time is needed for the material to fully dry and cure, allowing it to properly bind the rubber particles together and reduce future flaking or surface damage.

City officials ask for the public’s patience during the closure and encourage families to explore other local parks and recreational facilities during the brief maintenance period.

“The park will reopen once the surface has completely cured and it is safe to walk and play on again,” Boyle said. “This short closure will help preserve the quality and safety of ARC Park for the long term.”

For further details on park amenities, residents can contact the City of Hays Parks Department at (785) 628-7375 or visit the official website at HaysUSA.com.

ARC Park to temporarily close for playground maintenance May 12, 13

Hays Catholic Young Adults sponsoring ecumenical event for community May 21

HOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTES WEEK OF May 12 – May 16, 2025

THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE!

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS…. SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

--May 12 • Memorial of St. Nereus and St. Achilleus, Martyrs; St. Pancras, Martyr. • Free Dress Day – for meeting our school Race for Ed goal. • Wacky Hair Day for Kindergarten. • New Preschool Open House for PK3 and PK4 incoming students. • Field Day – activities in the morning and grilled hot dog lunch outside with classmates. Students &amp; staff will need to come through the A.C. to grab their lunch to take outside. • Rent-a-5th Grader 2:00 p.m. • Students should all head down to the L.T. at _____ to witness the principals getting “PIED” in the face before dismissal.&nbsp;

--May 13 • Our Lady of Fatima. • 5th Graders had their recognition mass this morning at IHM. They have an awards ceremony in the IHM basement following mass and will be dismissed from HFE following. • Last Day of School for 5th Grade. • 2B will have Lunch with the Principal Day for a feed the pig prize. • 1A will have Readers’ Theatre of “Wizard of Oz” at 2:30pm.

--May 14 • Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle. • Kindergarten Field Trip around Hays. • The State of our Catholic Schools Video/Form and HFE/TMP parent form is due today. • Teacher Massages will be set up in the Lounge from 11:00 – 3:00 from Home &amp; School and the Staff Snack/Appreciation Committee. • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 4th grade this afternoon. • 1A Readers’ Theatre of “Wizard of Oz” at 2:30 p.m.&nbsp;

--May 15 • Memorial of St. Isidore. • We recognized our milestone anniversaries at mass this morning for teachers. • End of Qtr. 4 / Semester 2. • LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – Half Day; students will dismiss at 11:00 a.m. • • • • There will be no lunch, no bus services or After School Care today due to the half day. • The office will close at 11:45 a.m. for End of Year Luncheon – luncheon begins at 12:00 in the L.T.&nbsp;

--May 16 • NO SCHOOL – SUMMER BREAK

Holy Family Elementary School Notes, May 12-16, 2025

Seven seniors from Fort Hays State University’s Department of Applied Business Studies were recently honored as outstanding students for 2025.

The department houses three different programs with various concentrations. The Outstanding Student Award recognizes a graduating senior who has demonstrated exceptional performance in academics, leadership, and overall excellence in the respective program at FHSU. The student is a role model who positively characterizes the core values of the awarding program. The awards are given annually to both on-campus and online students.

Business Education Outstanding Student Award Winners:

Lee Ann Darte, Litchfield, Ill. Sydney Walker, Hays

The Business Education program offers concentration areas in Corporate Communication, Talent Development, and Teacher Licensure.

Marketing Outstanding Student Award Winners:

Kirsten Evans, Ottawa McKinsie Woodworth, Mount Hope

The Marketing program offers courses including, but not limited to, business sales and development, digital marketing, social media marketing, marketing research, consumer behavior, and international marketing.

Tourism and Hospitality Management Outstanding Student Award Winners:

Robert Oller, Larned Grace Unruh, Topeka

Tourism and Hospitality Management Outstanding International Student Award Winner:

The Tourism and Hospitality Management program offers courses including, but not limited to, hotel management, event management, international tourism, casino management, food and beverage, health and wellness, and sustainable tourism.

Hays senior honored in Applied Business Studies at Fort Hays State University 

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

An investigation started by the WaKeeney Police Department
into a 2024 incident led to more than 42 charges filed against seven individuals in Trego County last month.&nbsp;

According to information from the Trego County Attorney,
Abraham Pfannenstiel, police in WaKeeney received the report of a stolen
firearm during a vehicle burglary on Nov. 7, 2024.

Pfannenstiel said evidence from the burglary led to other
criminal investigations in Trego, Ness, Ellis and Russell counties.

According to Pfannenstiel, it also led to information on
the burglary and suspected arson at a Collyer home in August 2024. 

The same individuals are suspects in reports of people
turning off the power to homes in WaKeeney in December 2024.

Pfannenstiel charged the seven individuals in Trego County District Court on April 21.

Dakota Justice Wilson has been charged with theft of a
firearm, interference with law enforcement, drug possession, possession of drug
paraphernalia, and minor in possession of alcohol and tobacco.

David Allen Sinclair was charged with racketeering, theft of
a firearm, theft and drug possession. 

The names, ages and hometowns of the juveniles who have been
charged have not been released by the Trego County Attorney’s office. 

The complete list of charges filed against the seven individuals
can be found below:

• Five counts of racketeering—severity level 2 person felony

• Three counts of aggravated arson—severity level 3 person felony

•&nbsp; Two counts of vehicle burglary to steal firearm—severity level 5 nonperson felony

• Five counts of theft of a firearm—severity level 9 nonperson felony

• One count of interference with law enforcement officer—severity level 9 nonperson felony

• One count of interference with law enforcement officer—class A nonperson misdemeanor

• One count of unlawful transmission of visual depiction of a child—Class A person misdemeanor

• 10 counts of criminal deprivation of property—class A nonperson misdemeanor

• One count of unlawful possession of a visual depiction of child—class B person misdemeanor

• Two counts of attempted theft—class B nonperson misdemeanor

• Four counts of possession of marijuana—class B nonperson misdemeanor

• Three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia—class B nonperson misdemeanor

• Two counts of minor in possession of alcohol—class C nonperson misdemeanor

• Two counts of minor in possession of tobacco—tobacco infraction

Wilson and Sinclair are due in court for a first appearance on May 21.

Seven people charged in connection with dozens of Trego County crimes

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media

&nbsp;NYMEX crude prices jumped three percent on Monday, pushing prices over $63 a barrel. London Brent was rising toward $66 a barrel by midday Monday.

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson started the week at $51.25 per barrel, after rising a dollar on Friday.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve continues to prove its usefulness as both price tamer and profit center. The government took delivery on another 600,000 barrels at the SPR last week. Refills since April of last year total more than 35 million barrels, at prices dramatically cheaper than the sale price in 2022. 

The Energy Information Administration said the average price they received was around $95 a barrel. Current prices are below $59. Commercial crude inventories dropped by two million barrels. The Energy Information Administration reports stockpiles as of May 2 stand at 438.4 million barrels. That's about seven percent below the five-year seasonal average.

Domestic crude production dips below 13.4 million barrels a day for only the second week this year. EIA reports cumulative production and the four-week average continue to drop. Each surpasses the last year by about two percent at just over 13.4 million barrels a day.

The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes drops to 578 nationwide. The tally has been this low only once in more than three years. New Mexico drops by four rigs while Texas gains two. Louisiana is down three rigs, Wyoming is down one, and Utah is up one. The report notes a drop of five directional rigs and one horizontal rig.

The Kansas Rig Count is up two in eastern Kansas and one higher west of Wichita. Independent Oil and Gas Service pegs the total at 23 active drilling rigs, up 15% from last week, unchanged from last month, and down 23% from last year.

Up until last week, well-completions were the only oil patch barometer that outpaced the same tallies a year ago. The 17 new well completions for the week through May 8th bring the total for the year to 444 statewide, compared to 452 a year ago. There are two new completions in Russell County and two in Finney County, out of nine in western Kansas.

Kansas regulators okayed 18 new drilling locations. Out of ten in western Kansas, there are two in Barton County and one in Ellis County. That's 258 permits for drilling at new locations this year, down from 331 a year ago.

The world's largest crude-oil exporter announced a billion-dollar-plus drop in profits for the first quarter of the year, blamed largely on sagging crude prices. Saudi Aramco announced earnings of $26 billion, down from $27.3 billion a year ago. 

U.S. crude imports outpace exports by more than two million barrels a day. Crude-oil exports are down slightly but remain above four thousand barrels a day. Crude imports average just over six million barrels a day, up half a million from last week but down nearly a million daily barrels from last year at this time.

The Justice Department follows up on an executive order to challenge state environmental laws, and block states from filing climate-change lawsuits against energy companies. The government filed its own lawsuits to block such laws in Hawaii, Michigan, New York and Vermont, claiming such they are preempted by the federal Clean Air Act.

News from the Oil Patch: Crude prices rally Monday, after tariff tensions eased

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Recent obituaries and service times

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Hays High Principal Shawn Henderson about graduation and the move to the new school on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: Hays High prepares for graduation, move to new school

BARTON COUNTY—A northwest Kansas man is under investigating for alleged child sex crimes.

Just before 8:30p.m. May 10, police&nbsp;initiated a traffic stop in the 2100 block of 24th street in Great Bend after receiving a Flock (License Plate Reader Camera) notification alerting officers to a wanted person, according to a social media report from police.

Police confirmed the driver identified as 42-year-old Michael Podrybau of Alton was confirmed as the wanted subject. 

Officers arrested Podrybau for a warrant issued by the FBI on requested charges of Distribution of Obscene Visual Representation of the Sexual Abuse of Children and for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor of Child, Sexual Abuse Material. 

Podrybau is being held in the Barton County Jail where he awaits extradition, according to police.

NW Kan. man arrested on FBI warrant for alleged child sex crimes

Now in its fifth year, FHSU’s Engaged Scholars Celebration recognized 48 awardees on Wednesday, April 30. This collaboration between Forsyth Library, University Communications, and the Office of the Provost recognized the scholarly activities of the university community. Throughout the year, faculty and staff submit their scholarly works for recognition through Forsyth’s social media page and to be promoted in Tiger Weekly. Annually, in April, these accomplishments are celebrated with an awards ceremony and breakfast. The Engaged Scholars Celebration also allows awardees and their supporters to mingle and discuss their works.

Recognition is categorized as follows: the top downloads from the Scholars Repository, use of Open Education Resources (OERs) within courses, scholarly news, and thought leaders. Acknowledging these scholarly activities shines a light on the amazing work of the talented faculty and staff members at FHSU. This event lifted up the accomplishments of faculty and staff members, honored the time and effort needed to create them, applauded the creation of relationships within and across departments, and championed furthering the reach of each individual’s focus of study.

The FHSU Scholars Repository seeks to collect and preserve the creative and scholarly works of the FHSU community and to make these works available to a global audience. The repository is focused on the principles of Open Access as both an ethical choice and a means of expanding the reach of FHSU’s scholarship. It is designed to make that scholarship easy to find, share, cite, and use. The repository features works from across disciplines, and the awards were given to each of the five colleges. Last year, items in the repository were downloaded 390,145 times across the globe. The winners in this category were responsible for 2,959 of those downloads. The Overall Downloads winner was Dr. Abeni El-Amin, who represented the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, with 1,748 downloads.

The OER Committee created Departmental Awards to recognize departments that are making significant progress in reducing course material costs for students by using OERs and other zero-cost course materials. Awards were given to university departments in three categories: Growth (an increase in use), Innovation (creative ways to integrate OERs into courses), and Impact (advocating for more zero-cost materials for use across the university). The winners for each category respectively were the Department of Psychology, the Department of Economics, Finance, and Accounting, and the Department of Advanced Education Programs.

The university recognized 40 faculty and staff members for their scholarly news. These news-worthy activities highlight scholarly and creative works such as published textbooks, chapters in books, peer-reviewed articles, or OERs; or public performances, exhibits, design, or displays.

Media Thought Leaders were recognized for their efforts in print media, TV, podcasts, and more. During Wednesday’s celebration, the University Communications Office awarded 27 faculty and staff members with this honor. These trailblazers provided an invaluable service to editors and journalists, helped to create and cement relationships with media outlets across the state, and advanced the FHSU brand nationally.

For a full list of awardees, please see the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0fKx-2F0FTTyYa0gHEPYbU-2BYCf2xvbPE2mg-2BjrPU66T0T7rX8bsUo86FOFHWW5r9CUbrvDCP-2BCPFvs54M3tTSRCmgU0CtaW5b4tUDUbZZ70jyesQ-2BeNHwgI9mBLfCSai8zHg-3D-3DDGE7_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOdwsc1GeaJfJEbD7hGTwIu6FI8kE3siaKR3NS4FBeEUzFe5wcFtnrh6NI7sBHy966nyXxKc15cnbzPs3qj-2BMr5EsPehHJTgqQi-2BukYDiEcIsqgQG-2B1ubg0VVdUo50llt-2BmMx-2BGhtONKeaLAWOza9151Jv75TRbOC-2FayDqQjApAjsk-2BUP2VTpk6tecEVteJeChlNGHw0AVPLmqXjj0s7Jk5GfuDr5x9Mi9UyZUVR0LRc8G2ssYlYDN7FyaUjEkmb0V">event program</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

48 awardees recognized at FHSU’s 5th annual Engaged Scholars celebration

&nbsp;FHSU University Communications

Members of FHSU’s Delta Tau Omega Chapter of the Criminal Justice Club attended the 2025 national conference of the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA) March 30-April 4 in Long Beach, Calif. The conference, themed around human trafficking, offered students and faculty a variety of workshops, educational sessions, and professional development opportunities. 

Midwestern states comprised a significant portion of attendees at the conference, with Universities from Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska sending students and faculty to participate.

“The National Conference of ACJA provides students with opportunities to network with current and future professionals in criminal justice systems across the U.S. and to learn how agencies in different parts of the country handle a wide array of problems,” said Dr. Morgan Steele, Region 3 President of ACJA and FHSU assistant professor of criminal justice. “The Universities from the Midwest are traditionally among the highest-performing groups within the National conference each year, which is reflected in the number of individual and team awards and scholarships won at the conference.”

Throughout the week, attendees participated in sessions focused on key topics such as prosecutorial perspectives on investigations, effective report writing, managing critical incidents, and the investigation of sex crimes.

FHSU students and faculty competed in a variety of events, including academic testing, crime scene investigation, firearms, physical agility, and academic research poster presentations. Winners of scholarship awards and national paper competitions were also announced during the conference.

Beyond the conference programming, club members and faculty volunteered at The Midnight Mission, a historic organization founded in 1914 that provides shelter, hot meals, educational services, and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles’ Skid Row community.

"Volunteering at The Midnight Mission was a humbling experience for our students," said Dr. Tamara Lynn, chair and professor of criminal justice and faculty advisor. "It reinforced the importance of service in the field of criminal justice and made a lasting impact on all of us."

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing top finishers across four competition divisions: lower division (freshman and sophomore), upper division (junior and senior), graduate division, and professional division. 

Delta Tau Omega Chapter members achieved outstanding results:

Student Paper Competition: Benjamin Wilkerson, Lawrence – 3rd Place, Lower Division. Matthias Pearce, Wallace – 3rd Place, Upper Division.

Scholarship Competition: Benjamin Wilkerson – 1st Place, Lower Division. Mackenzie Zimmerman, Hays – 3rd Place, Upper Division.

Academic Poster Competition: Vanessa Diaz, Hays – 2nd Place, Lower Division. Caleb Purvis, Westmoreland – 3rd Place, Upper Division. Mariah Carrillo, Hays – 2nd Place, Upper Division.

Academic Testing – Human Trafficking Exam: Mackenzie Zimmerman – 1st Place, Upper Division. Dr. Morgan Steele – 2nd Place, Professional Division.

Corrections Exam: Dr. Ziwei Qi – 2nd Place, Professional Division.

Criminal Law Exam: Dr. Morgan Steele – 3rd Place, Professional Division. Dr. Ziwei Qi – 1st Place, Professional Division.

Juvenile Justice Exam: Dr. Tamara Lynn – 3rd Place, Professional Division. Dr. Ziwei Qi – 2nd Place, Professional Division.

Police Management Exam: Dr. Ziwei Qi – 2nd Place, Professional Division.

Crime Scene Investigation Team: Vanessa Diaz, Matthias Pearce, and Mackenzie Zimmerman – 1st Place, Upper Division.

Physical Agility: Dr. Ziwei Qi – 1st Place, Female 36+ Category.

Group Talent and Lip Sync Competition: Matthias Pearce and Harleigh Smith, Concordia – 3rd Place (Baby Shark Mix Performance)

Other students who attended the conference included Morgan Drake, Parker, Colo., Kylie Huelsmann, Oakley, and Xitlaly Marino, Hays.

Reflecting on the students’ accomplishments, Dr. Lynn noted, "Our students demonstrated exceptional dedication, professionalism, and teamwork throughout the conference. I could not be prouder of how they represented our program and university on the national stage."

Club members are already planning for next year’s ACJA National Conference, which will be held in Bloomington, Minn.

FHSU criminal justice students compete at national conference

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports gambling scandals.

Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-rose-obituary-reds-e0f3dfa057fc46629447e04b6540e4c8">after his death</a>&nbsp;and came a day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor baseball’s career hits leader with Pete Rose Night.

Manfred announced Tuesday that he was changing the league's policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire at death. Several others will also have their status changed by the ruling, including all members of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox, former Philadelphia Phillies president Williams D. Cox and former New York Giants outfielder Benny Kauff.

Under the Hall of Fame’s current rules, the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted would be in 2028.

Rose agreed to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.

Rose first applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Commissioner Bud Selig never ruled on the request.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b8d15e433f68468eab7030a08ed47c09">Manfred in 2015 rejected a petition for reinstatement</a>, saying “Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-rose-obituary-reds-e0f3dfa057fc46629447e04b6540e4c8">Rose died Sept. 30 at age 83</a>, and a new petition was filed Jan. 8 by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Rose. Lenkov and Rose’s daughter Fawn had met with Manfred on Dec. 17.

Rose’s supporters have included U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-rose-reinstatement-00a2532eeb4f1aa3dd81530260de44b8">Manfred discussed Rose with Trump</a>&nbsp;when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.

In a letter to Lenkov, Manfred wrote, “In my view, a determination must be made regarding how the phrase ‘permanently ineligible’ should be interpreted in light of the purposes and policies behind Rule 21, which are to: (1) protect the game from individuals who pose a risk to the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the participation of such individuals; and (2) create a deterrent effect that reduces the likelihood of future violations by others.

"In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game. Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve. Therefore, I have concluded that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual, and Mr. Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list.”

A 17-time All-Star during a playing career from 1963-86, Rose holds record for hits (4,256), games (3,562), at-bats (14,053), plate appearances (15,890) and singles (3,215). He was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, 1973 MVP and 1975 World Series MVP. A three-time NL batting champion, he broke the prior hits record of 4,191 set by Ty Cobb from 1905-28.

“Pete is one of the greatest players in baseball history, and Reds Country will continue to celebrate him as we always have," Reds owner Bob Castellini said. “We are especially happy for the Rose family to receive this news and what this decision could mean for them and all of Pete’s fans.”

Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series. He died in 1951, but he remains one of baseball's most recognizable names in part for his depiction by Ray Liotta in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.

What else needs to happen for Rose or Jackson to reach the Hall of Fame?

Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rose-hall-of-fame-d3da8832097f2717590096d68600fee4">considered for election</a>&nbsp;to the Hall. Jackson was twice considered on ballots by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, but received just 0.9% in 1936 and 1% of a nominating vote in 1940.

Rose’s reinstatement occurred too late for him to be considered for the BBWAA ballot. If not on the permanently banned list, Rose would have been eligible on the ballots each from 1992 through 2006. He was written in on 41 votes in 1992 and on 243 of 7,232 ballots (3.4%) over the 15 years, votes that were not counted.

Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement that players affected by Manfred's ruling Tuesday would be considered.

“The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration,” she said. “Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered."

Without the ban, both players are eligible for the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era, which next meets to consider players in December 2027 and considers those whose greatest contributions to the sport were before 1980.

A 10-person historical overview committee selects the eight ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board and the ballot is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75% or higher vote needed. The committee members include Hall of Fame members, team executives and media/historians.

Among the players in the 2028 class eligible for the BBWAA ballot are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

Trump has said he would pardon Rose, but it’s not clear what a presidential pardon for Rose would entail.

MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them Hall of Fame eligible

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fort Hays State seniors Mason Perez (football) and Savanah Egger (softball) received the 2025 National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American Athlete Award. Both receive the honor based off athletic accomplishments and dedication to strength and training, nominated for the award by Fort Hays State Strength and Conditioning Coach Doug Boucher.

Perez was a three-time All-MIAA performer for the Tigers in football. He was a first-team selection in 2024 at defensive back, ranking second on the team in tackles with 69 and he led the team in tackles for loss with 7.0. He also earned a selection to the D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Team as a safety in 2024. He recorded 212 tackles in his career, while adding 11 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one sack, one fumble recovery, and three blocked kicks. Perez was also strong in the classroom, earning CSC Academic All-District honors all three years he was eligible for the honor.

Egger was a standout pitcher for the Tiger softball team over four years from 2022 to 2025. She was an All-MIAA selection in 2023 and ranks high in several career pitching categories in the FHSU record book. She finished her career with a 2.91 ERA, 48 wins, 72 complete games, 16 shutouts, 550 strikeouts, and six saves over 618 innings. She was also solid in the classroom, set to be listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll for a fourth-straight year.

FHSU's Perez, Egger receive 2025 NSCA All-American athlete award

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)

Tuesday, May 13
 KAYS: Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros, 6:30pm

Wednesday, May 14
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Houston Astros, 6:30pm

Friday, May 16
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian BSB vs. Oberlin/Ell-Salina, approx. 4:45pm KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6:00pm

Saturday, May 17
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 5:30pm

Sunday, May 18
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 12:30pm

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

Hays High School held their annual Academic and Athletic Awards Night Monday.&nbsp;

Molly Martin was named the Jack Roberts Outstanding Female Athlete and Dalton Meyers the Swim, Carpenter, Smith Outstanding Male Athlete.

The Debby Brungardt Student Fan of the Year Award, as selected by the HHS coaches, is awarded to a student, an adult member of the community and a USD 489 faculty or staff member.

Student: Wyatt Kirkpatrick Adult Community: Larry and Deloyd Sander USD 489: Gina Johnson

Martin, Meyers named HHS Outstanding Athletes of the Year

HOUSTON (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. and Jonathan India each drove in two runs to help Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 7-5 on Monday night.

Michael Massey homered as Kansas City improved to 8-2 in its last 10 games. India finished with three hits, and Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino and Kyle Isbel each had two.

Wacha (3-4) allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. Carlos Estévez got three outs for his 12th save.

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