By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Creek Side Resort is lighting up the season with a walking trail illuminated by more than 250,000 bulbs.

Creek Side's trail is at 3301 U.S. Highway 183 bypass and features fire-pit warming stations, along with hot cocoa, beer and snacks for sale. Tickets are $12 at the gate, and children ages 4 and younger are admitted free.

Aaron Dreher, the owner, said the trail is now in its third year and has expanded from basic store-bought decorations to a commercial-grade light display.

"Every year we're gonna keep adding more automation and more unique aspects," Dreher said.

The festive event is open from 6 to 10 p.m. during the following dates: • Nov. 28 to 30 • Dec. 4 to 7 • Dec. 11 to 13 • Dec. 18 to 21 • Dec. 26 to 27

The half-mile trail also features animated lights synchronized to music, a new addition to the resort’s annual tradition.

The trail consists of uneven surfaces, gradual and steep inclines and declines, narrow passages, slick areas, stairs and other potential hazards. Dreher said it is not well-suited for wheelchairs or mobility scooters at the moment, but he hopes to improve accessibility in the future.

"At some point, we'll get to where part of it is drivable with either a golf cart or some sort of tram," he said. "We have people bring out strollers, and that's OK."

Along the route, visitors walk through what Dreher calls the “12 Hays of Christmas,” where local businesses sponsor their own themed display paired with a song.

The event added an inflatable slide last year and remains part of the attraction near the exit.

Creek Side Resort canceled its Nov. 21 opening day due to weather conditions. You can follow its Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CreekSideHays#">here</a>&nbsp;for updates.

📷 Christmas at Creek Side Resort open for season

FHSU daily crime log: Nov. 21-27, 2025

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Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

Downtown Hays is ready to shine brighter than ever as The Bricks hosts two beloved&nbsp;holiday traditions in a single spectacular day: Small Business Saturday in the morning and the Christmas&nbsp;Magic on Main Street Jubilee in the evening.

Kick off your holiday shopping season by supporting local retailers during Small Business Saturday. 

Shoppers can enjoy exploring unique boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and specialty shops throughout&nbsp;The Bricks. This event encourages residents and visitors alike to shop local and uplift the small&nbsp;businesses that help make Downtown Hays vibrant and thriving.

“Our small businesses are the heartbeat of The Bricks,” said Lee Ann June, executive director of The&nbsp;Bricks in Downtown Hays. “Shopping local keeps the community strong and full of life.”

Christmas Magic on Main Street Jubilee | 6–8 p.m.

As night falls, Downtown Hays will transform into a glowing winter wonderland for the Christmas Magic&nbsp;on Main Street Jubilee, a free, family-friendly celebration filled with holiday cheer. Guests can enjoy&nbsp;festive activities including:

• Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus • Free Soup Supper for the first 500 guests • Free hot cocoa and cookies • Holiday crafts, festive music, and community fun

This event is part of a full season of activities planned to bring even more lights, joy, and memorable&nbsp;moments to Main Street. The Christmas Magic on Main Street initiative is supported by generous&nbsp;community sponsors through tiers like Tree Topper, Secret Santa, Sleigh Sponsor, and more.

Both events are part of the 2025 season-long celebration that includes Holiday Open Houses, Clydesdale&nbsp;rides, Santa photos, the Downtown Dollar Giveaway, and the 25th Annual FrostFest Illuminated Parade.

• Small Business Saturday | Nov. 29 • Christmas Magic on Main Jubilee &amp; Tree Lighting (10th &amp; Main St) | Nov. 29, 6–8 p.m. — Free train&nbsp;rides, craft vendors, and soup supper for the first 500 guests (soup supper sponsored by Women&nbsp;Who Lead, prepared by Pfonz Smokehaus &amp; Catering) • Clydesdale Rides (sponsored by Meckenstock Group) &amp; visit with Santa at the Downtown&nbsp;Pavilion (10th &amp; Main St) | Dec. 5 &amp; 12, 5–7 p.m. • 25th Annual FrostFest Illuminated Parade (Main Street) | Dec. 7, 6 p.m. — Theme: “Timeless&nbsp;Traditions” • Customer Appreciation Weekend | Dec. 11–13 • Free Holiday Movie at The Fox (sponsored by Golden Belt Bank) | Dec. 14, 3 p.m. • Downtown Dollar Giveaway (Live on Facebook) | Dec. 20, 5:05 p.m.

To learn more, view the full event schedule or to register for the FrostFest Parade (deadline to enter is Nov.&nbsp;30), visit <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/frostfest">downtownhays.com</a>.

The Bricks continues to bring fun for the whole community Saturday in downtown Hays

HaysMed proudly announces that Annette Herman, clinic office assistant in the Orthopedic Clinic, has been honored with the BEE Award for her exceptional dedication and service.

HaysMed proudly participates in the DAISY Award program, a nationally recognized initiative that honors nurses for the extraordinary care they provide every day. Just as a daisy depends on the bee to thrive, our nurses rely on the support and collaboration of non-nursing healthcare professionals to deliver exceptional care. 

To recognize this vital partnership, HaysMed created the Being Excellent Everyday (BEE) Award, which celebrates outstanding contributions from non-nursing team members who go above and beyond to ensure patients receive the best possible experience.

Herman was nominated multiple times for this award, which speaks volumes about her impact. With over 20 years of experience in the HaysMed Orthopedic Clinic, her primary focus is to always put patients first, and she continues that commitment every day.

Shawna North, physician practice administration business operations manager at HaysMed, shared her enthusiasm for the award and Herman’s recognition, “Annette wears many hats in the orthopedic clinic, and we are incredibly grateful to have her on our team. Her contributions go far beyond her job description to keep the clinic running smoothly.”

Patients, families, and associates are encouraged to nominate non-nursing associates who go above and beyond in their roles. Recipients are selected by a HaysMed committee and honored with a BEE Award pin and a certificate of excellence.

If you know a non-nursing team member who exemplifies excellence in patient care, please take a moment to fill out the BEE Award nomination form and help HaysMed celebrate their incredible impact.

HaysMed honors Annette Herman with BEE Award

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas is pleased to announce that the Esther McMurtrie Memorial Golf Tournament raised over $16,900. The 4-person scramble tournament was held on Friday, September 12 at the Ellis Golf Club.&nbsp;A total of 20 teams participated in the event that included flight and raffle prizes and lunch on the course. 

Proceeds are being used for the renovation of one of DSNWK’s group living homes in Hays. 

DSNWK would like to thank the many participants, contributors and supporters who made the event a success.

DSNWK is a 501(c)3 non-profit serving those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 18 most northwestern Kansas counties. Visit www.dsnwk.org or dsnwk.giftlegacy.com to learn more about services and ways to support DSNWK’s work with individuals with developmental disabilities throughout northwest Kansas

McMurtrie Memorial Golf Tournament in Ellis raises nearly $17,000

<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

Now Hiring: IT Director for Ellis County!

We’re looking for a forward-thinking tech leader to guide our county’s IT vision, manage infrastructure and security, and help move our systems into the future. If you’re driven by challenge, collaboration, and meaningful impact, this is the role.

• What you’ll do: Oversee county-wide technology initiatives, cybersecurity, staff leadership, system improvements, and tech strategy that directly supports public services.

• Why join us? Our benefits are some of the best around: KPERS retirement, employer-matched optional retirement contributions, robust health insurance options, 10 paid holidays + 21 PTO days in the first year, longevity bonuses starting after just 2 years, employer-paid life insurance, and more.

If you’re ready to step into a leadership role where your work truly matters to the community, apply today and help shape the future of county technology!

To apply or learn more about this exciting opportunity, please visit our website at <a href="http://www.ellisco.net/jobs">www.ellisco.net/jobs</a> or contact our HR department at hr@ellisco.net or 785-628-9439. Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of Ellis County’s success story!&nbsp;

Ellis County is an equal opportunity employer.&nbsp;

HaysMed celebrates strength of kidney donor, recipient

By BRENDAN M. LYNCH <a href="https://news.ku.edu/news/article/researchers-at-ku-launch-new-kansas-flood-mapping-dashboard">KU News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — For Jude Kastens, who grew up on a farm in northwest Kansas, rainfall always was serious business. Although flooding wasn’t as big a problem in his hometown as in central and eastern Kansas, it was “always memorable” when heavy rain caused local streams to swell from their banks into surrounding river valleys.

“Being a farm kid in rural Rawlins County shaped my interests in geography, weather and the environment,” Kastens said. “I got my degrees in math at KU and eventually transitioned into applied geospatial work.”

Now, he works as a research professor at the&nbsp;<a href="https://biosurvey.ku.edu/">Kansas Biological Survey &amp; Center for Ecological Research</a>&nbsp;at the University of Kansas, where he still watches for extreme rainfall in Kansas and beyond. Kastens, who directs the&nbsp;<a href="https://kars.ku.edu/">Kansas Applied Remote Sensing</a>&nbsp;(KARS) program at the Biological Survey, recently oversaw launch of the&nbsp;<a href="https://kars.ku.edu/apps/KU::kansas-flood-mapping-dashboard-1/explore">Kansas Flood Mapping Dashboard</a>, a cutting-edge digital tool for emergency managers across the state as well as the public.

“The dashboard grew out of our flood modeling research,” Kastens said. “We started building it after the 2019 floods, and it’s been evolving ever since. It’s now a web-based system that automatically maps flood extent and depth in near real time. When a natural disaster strikes, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansastag.gov/353/State-Emergency-Operations-Center">State Emergency Operations Center</a>&nbsp;activates, and flooding is frequently in focus. This tool gives them a clear picture of where the water is and how deep it’s expected to be along most major Kansas waterways.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kars.ku.edu/apps/KU::kansas-flood-mapping-dashboard-1/explore">Kansas Flood Mapping Dashboard</a>&nbsp;uses stream gauge data from the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, among other sources, along with the terrain-based FLDPLN (“Floodplain”) model developed in Kastens’ 2008&nbsp;<a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1808/5354">dissertation</a>&nbsp;to generate flood inundation maps.&nbsp;

“We’ve automated the maps to update every two hours,” Kastens said. “Over the years, a big part of my research has focused on flooding. It started with mapping river valleys, which are historic floodplains – using hydrologic flow principles applied to terrain data. After realizing we could convert river stage readings to realistic flood inundation maps, we began to develop the Kansas flood mapping system.”

KARS works with Kansas state agencies like the Kansas Water Office and the Department of Agriculture to provide research that helps them better understand and manage land and water resources across the state.

“One of my biggest drives is to utilize science and research for the benefit of the state. Developing applications that get used makes me happy,” Kastens said.

Kastens also was part of a team to report new flood mapping research in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/19/3362">scholarly paper</a>&nbsp;recently featured on the cover of the peer-reviewed journal Remote Sensing.

“The approach is called ‘FLDSensing,’” said the KU researcher. “It uses the FLDPLN model and floodwater boundary points extracted from satellite imagery to estimate floodwater extent and depth. If you know the location of a flood’s shoreline, that’s essentially a proxy gauge. This research demonstrates how edge-of-water coordinates from the field could be used for area-wide flood mapping in the absence of stream gauges.”

The lead author of the study is Jackson Edwards, whose master’s research at KU produced the work. Other co-authors include David Weiss and Xingong Li of KU; Francisco Gomez, Hamid Moradkhani and Sagy Cohen of the University of Alabama; and Son Kim Do and Venkataraman Lakshmi of the University of Virginia.

While Kastens headed work that led to the flood mapping dashboard, he stressed it was a “total” team effort.

“A lot of people contributed to this project,” Kastens said. “My colleague Xingong Li, professor in the KU Department of Geography &amp; Atmospheric Science, laid the groundwork for the real-time mapping, and we’ve had several researchers and graduate students involved over the years. KARS researcher and PhD student David Weiss is the lead architect of the current dashboard, which received praise from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management for its responsiveness and accuracy during severe spring flooding earlier this year.”

Kastens said his group would continue making improvements to the dashboard, with next steps aimed at completing coverage for the western one-third of the state and incorporating roadway impacts. Support from&nbsp;<a href="https://nsfepscor.ku.edu/track-1-arise">Kansas NSF EPSCoR ARISE</a>&nbsp;is helping with the latter effort.

“The goal is to make this resource as helpful as possible for the public and our emergency responders during a flood event,” he said

Rawlins County 'farm kid' life shaped KU prof's interests in geography, weather, environment

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest traveling holidays, with that comes an increase in crashes. The Hays Police Department wants to remind everyone to always buckle up.

Hays PD joins law enforcement across the state to provide education about the importance of seat belts. Drivers can expect to see increased law enforcement presence on local roads during the statewide Thanksgiving Safe Arrival campaign, which runs from Nov. 22-29.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure in your vehicle.

· The shoulder belt should lay flat across the middle of the chest and away from the neck · The lap belt should fit across the hip, not stomach · Never put the seat belt behind the back or under the arm · Children should be properly restrained in car seats according to weight, age and height

For more information on seat belts go to <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts">www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts</a>.

Hays police Thanksgiving campaign stresses importance of buckling up

Cookies with Santa presented by Hays Lions Club on Dec. 3

&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

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS is proud to continue its tradition of bringing local sports to viewers across Kansas this Thanksgiving season.

On Thanksgiving Day, tune in for a special broadcast of the&nbsp;2025 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of legendary Kansas athletes and coaches. It all starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 27.

Then, on&nbsp;November 28h and 29, Smoky Hills PBS will be live from Gowan Stadium in Hutchinson.

Watch the top teams of&nbsp;1A, 2A and 3A high school football&nbsp;teams from across Kansas compete in the KSHSAA State Football Championships&nbsp;Games.&nbsp;Jeremy McGuire and Larry Jantz provide commentary as we&nbsp;find out who will win the KSHSAA State Football Championships.

The action continues in December. On&nbsp;Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, Smoky Hills PBS will broadcast the&nbsp;8-Player Division I, Division II, and 6-Player State Football Championship Games&nbsp;that will be played in Greensburg on November 29.&nbsp;

These broadcasts are made possible thanks to the generous support of viewers like you. Your donations help Smoky Hills PBS continue to share local stories and sports that matter to our communities.

Smoky Hills PBS brings viewers exciting lineup of sports this Thanksgiving

The culvert replacement project scheduled to take place in the 1400 block of Grants Villa Road has been postponed due to the recent weather conditions. 

 If you have any questions, please call Road and Bridge at 785-628-9455.

Culvert replacement project postponed

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post

The free Community Thanksgiving Feast, sponsored by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance (ECMA), will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 200 Main St., Hays.

No reservations are required; the meal is first-come, first-served. There will be no individual carry-out meals. Cheryl Glassman, ECMA president, said that 530 meals have been ordered from the caterer; 225 of those meals will go to Meals on Wheels clients and residents of local shelters and group homes.

On the menu will be roasted turkey, dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, a roll, drink, and dessert.

The Union Catering Co. is catering the main meal. The ECMA is seeking desserts from churches and individuals. Desserts may be brought to the office of First Call for Help of Ellis County, 607 E. 13th, from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Glassman said volunteers are needed at the dinner, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, to help with set-up, serving plates, slicing pies, cleaning up, and other duties. Volunteers may sign up by calling First Call for Help at 785-623-2800.

One familiar aspect of the dinner will be the grocery give-away. Every household in attendance who wants one will receive a free sack of groceries, Glassman said. One feature that will be new this year is each sack will contain recipe cards featuring the food items in the sack. Last year around 200 sacks were distributed.

Glassman said the ECMA sponsors the free community meal each Thanksgiving because “Thanksgiving is a time for gathering--gathering with family, gathering with community.&nbsp;There are also people who are alone for the holidays .&nbsp;. . We want people to feel welcome. All are invited.”

Tax deductible donations to help with the cost of the dinner may be sent to ECMA, P.O. Box 173, Hays, KS 67601, with proceeds to benefit the ECMA Second Mile Fund.

Free Community Thanksgiving Feast to be held at Hays armory

Ellis Knights of Columbus host free Thanksgiving Day meal

Cattleman’s Café, 1230 E. 27th, Hays, will once again offer a free sit-down turkey dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

No reservations or pre-orders will be taken; it is first-come, first-served until the food runs out, a news release said.

A slice of pumpkin pie will be $1. Water will come with the meal, but other drinks will be $2.99 each. 

To-go meals through the drive-thru will be $5 each.

Free Thanksgiving turkey dinner offered by Cattleman's Cafe in Hays

The Hays Eagle Media Center business office, 2300 Hall, will be closed on Friday, Nov. 28.

Eagle Media Center business office to close Friday, Nov. 28

JOHNSON COUNTY —Last week, while on patrol, a State Trooper observed a stolen vehicle that had recently failed to stop for the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, according to a social media report from KHP Troop A.

When the Trooper initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle fled, prompting a pursuit. Thankfully, the Trooper was able to successfully conduct a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), bringing the vehicle to a stop. The driver was then taken into custody on requested charges of felony flee and elude, felony possession of stolen property, misdemeanor interference, driving without a valid license, and a $5,000 fail to appear warrant out of the Johnson County, KS Sheriff's Office

🎥KHP Trooper uses Tactical Vehicle Intervention to stop suspect

KANSAS C ITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a Thanksgiving house fire.

Just before 3:30a.m., crews responded to a reported house fire in the 9500 block of Olmstead Road, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

 On arrival, crews reported heavy smoke and fire through the roof,&nbsp; from a 1-story residence. Interior operations were initiated on an offensive fire attack with 3 hose lines. Companies did encounter a broken natural gas line and power lines down in the rear of the structure and eventually evacuated. 

Moving to a defensive mode, fly piping operations of the structure began. After knocking down the majority of the fire, the aerial was eventually shut down, and the 3 hose lines resumed extinguishing the remaining fire and hot spots. 

Utility crews were on scene and secured their hazards.Searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear. The fire was brought under control at 4:35 a.m.

One firefighter was briefly evaluated by an ambulance on scene but was not transported. No other injuries or patients have been reported.&nbsp;

Dangerous Thanksgiving Day house fire in Kansas City

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-white-house-afghan-national-138fbe6872d7ac30b20973783b39002c">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;vowed on Thanksgiving to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations in a blistering late-night, anti-immigrant screed posted to social media.

The extended rant came in the wake of the Wednesday shooting of two National Guard members who were deployed to patrol Washington, D.C. under Trump’s orders,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-washington-shooting-suspect-b37bc92853ba14625678236318f80751">one of whom died</a>&nbsp;shortly before the president spoke to U.S. troops by video on Thursday evening.

A 29-year-old Afghan national who worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War is facing charges for the shooting. The suspect emigrated as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-afghan-operation-allies-welcome-b11c48fb0b807e8f519c266e2a004d8e">a program to resettle</a>&nbsp;those who has helped American troops after U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “Other than that, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for — You won’t be here for long!”

Trump’s threat to stop immigration would be a serious blow to a nation that has long defined itself as welcoming immigrants.

Elected on a promise to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-violent-crime-trump-republican-convention-bd40d14546bc7eb9a1dbbadfcb190950">crack down on illegal migration</a>, Trump’s raids and deportations have disrupted communities across the U.S. as construction sites and schools have been targets. The prospect of more deportations could be economically dangerous as America’s foreign-born workers account for nearly 31 million jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The president said on Truth Social that “most” foreign-born U.S. residents “are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels” as he blamed them for crime across the country that is predominantly committed by U.S. citizens.

The perception that immigration breeds crime “continues to falter under the weight of the evidence,” according to a review of academic literature last year in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-criminol-030421-033048" target="_blank">Annual Review of Criminology</a>.

“With few exceptions, studies conducted at both the aggregate and individual levels demonstrate that high concentrations of immigrants are not associated with increased levels of crime and delinquency across neighborhoods and cities in the United States,” it said.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w31440" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;by economists initially released in 2023 found immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than people born in the U.S. Immigrants have been imprisoned at lower rates for 150 years, the study found, adding to past research undermining Trump’s claims.

But Trump seemed to have little interest in a policy debate in his unusually lengthy social media post, which the White House, on its own rapid response social media account, called “one of the most important messages ever released by President Trump.”

Trump pledged to “terminate” millions of admissions to the country made during the term of his predecessor, Joe Biden. He also wants to end federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens, denaturalize people “who undermine domestic tranquility” and deport foreign nationals deemed “non-compatible with Western Civilization.”

Trump claimed immigrants from Somalia are “completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota” as he used a dated slur for intellectually disabled people to demean that state’s governor, Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee last year, calling him “seriously retarded.”

Trump has ramped up his rhetoric since the shooting. On Wednesday night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-guard-washington-shooting-6548fbcba4b6efce59a38eeed32b4865">Trump called for the reinvestigation</a>&nbsp;of all Afghan refugees who had entered under the Biden administration.

On Thursday, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said the agency would take additional steps to screen people from 19 “high-risk” countries “to the maximum degree possible.”

Edlow didn’t name the countries.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-travel-ban-exceptions-immigrants-visa-4d5a4d07a4430dd1e1cf24511370bc0e">But in June</a>, the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-travel-ban-d4d74e856e06f1a2626cc1ddbdfaa9f7">banned travel to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;by citizens of 12 countries and restricted access from seven others, citing national security concerns.

The shooting of the two National Guard members appeared to trigger Trump’s anger over immigrants, yet he did not specifically refer to the event in his social media posting.

The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is accused of driving across the country to Washington and shooting two West Virginia National Guard members, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Beckstrom died on Thursday from the shooting, while Wolfe remains in critical condition.

The suspect, currently in custody, was also shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Asked by a reporter on Thursday if he blamed the shootings on all Afghans who came to the U.S., Trump said: “No, but we’ve had a lot of problems with Afghans.”

Trump: U.S. to ‘pause migration from Third World Countries’ after DC shooting

FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. on Thanksgiving in Finney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Kason D. Ramsey, 18, Holcomb, was westbound on Railroad Avenue one mile west of Garden City. The vehicle struck a pedestrian identified as Lance R. Stucky, 31, Garden City, who was walking in the westbound lane.

Stucky was pronounced deceased. Ramsey was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

Man dies after struck by a pickup in southwest Kansas

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is facing multiple charges for the alleged theft of multiple packages from residences since September.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2765/Bennett-RED-COMPLAINT-CB">Curtis D. Bennett&nbsp;</a>faces six counts of Stealing a Postal or Delivery Item, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. Each count of Stealing a Postal or Delivery Item is a class E felony, carrying one to four years in prison upon conviction. If convicted, he could face up to 24 years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2764/Bennett-RED-PC-CB">According to court records</a>, Kansas City detectives received reports from four different victims stating they had packages stolen from their homes. In total, the six packages were worth more than $1,100. Detectives were able to identify and connect Bennett to each incident through victim surveillance video. Bennett admitted to stealing the packages from the residences.&nbsp;

“We take package theft seriously because we understand our community works hard each day to be able to purchase holiday gifts and everyday necessities for their families,”&nbsp;Prosecutor Johnson said. “We’re committed to holding these repeat offenders accountable, but we need the community’s help to bring these cases to our office.”

With the holiday season underway, Prosecutor Johnson urges residents to take proactive steps to protect their deliveries. Install doorbell cameras and surveillance cameras around your home, which provide critical evidence for investigations.&nbsp;

Retrieve your packages immediately after delivery or ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect them if you will not be home. Consider having items delivered to your workplace or request that the post office or delivery service hold packages for pickup if you will be traveling. Requesting a signature requirement for valuable deliveries or using secure package lockers are other ways to ensure packages are protected.&nbsp;

“If you believe your package or mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency and provide any video or photo evidence,”&nbsp;Prosecutor Johnson said. “It’s crucial to report these crimes. Unless these cases reach our desk, we cannot do our job, prosecute, and protect our community.”

Bennett is being held on a $3,000 cash-only bond. &nbsp;

Porch Pirate: KC man admits theft of packages from multiple homes

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — President Donald Trump said that one of the two West Virginia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-ruling-dc-washington-national-guard-1be5c3744e35f8dd68a6a12fa4583186">National Guard members</a>&nbsp;shot by an Afghan national near the White House had died, calling the shooter who had worked with the CIA in his native country a “savage monster.”

As part of his Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops, Trump said that he had just learned that Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, had died, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was “fighting for his life.”

“She’s just passed away,” Trump said. “She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her.”

The president called Beckstrom an “incredible person, outstanding in every single way.”

Trump used the announcement to say the shooting was a “terrorist attack” as he criticized the Biden administration for enabling Afghans who worked with U.S. forces during the Afghanistan War to enter the U.S. The president has deployed National Guard members in part to assist in his administration’s mass deportation efforts.

Trump suggested that the shooter was mentally unstable after the war and departure from Afghanistan.

“He went cuckoo. I mean, he went nuts,” the president said. “It happens too often with these people."

The shooter worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan

The suspect charged with the shooting is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29. The suspect had worked in a special CIA-backed Afghan Army unit before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-afghan-operation-allies-welcome-b11c48fb0b807e8f519c266e2a004d8e">emigrating from Afghanistan</a>, according to two sources who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, and #AfghanEvac, a group that helps resettle Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the two-decade war.

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, declined to provide a motive for Wednesday afternoon’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-washington-shooting-suspect-b37bc92853ba14625678236318f80751">brazen act of violence</a>&nbsp;which occurred just blocks from the White House. The presence of troops in the nation’s capital and other cities around the country has become a political flashpoint.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Webster Springs, where Beckstrom is from, will hold three prayer vigils Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, according to a Facebook post from the Webster County Veterans Auxiliary.

Pirro said that the suspect, Lakanwal, launched an “ambush-style” attack with a .357 Smith &amp; Wesson revolver. The suspect currently faces charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Pirro said that “it’s too soon to say” what the suspect’s motives were.

The charges could be upgraded, Pirro said, adding: “We are praying that they survive and that the highest charge will not have to be murder in the first degree. But make no mistake, if they do not, that will certainly be the charge.”

The rare shooting of National Guard members on American soil, on the eve of Thanksgiving, comes amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-dc-deployment-c1c2b13a7102632632267bf1262506ff">court fights</a>&nbsp;and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem.

Trump issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">emergency order</a>&nbsp;in August that federalized the local police force and sent in National Guard troops. The order expired a month later. But the troops have remained in the city, where nearly 2,200 troops currently are assigned, according to the government’s latest update.

The guard members have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and been assigned to pick up trash and guard sports events. The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington following Wednesday’s shooting.

The suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Shooting raises questions about legacy of Afghanistan War

A resident of the eastern Afghan province of Khost who identified himself as Lakanwal’s cousin said Lakanwal was originally from the province and that he and his brother had worked in a special Afghan Army unit known as Zero Units in the southern province of Kandahar. A former official from the unit, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said Lakanwal was a team leader and his brother was a platoon leader.

The cousin spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.He said Lakanwal had started out working as a security guard for the unit in 2012, and was later promoted to become a team leader and a GPS specialist.

Kandahar is in the Taliban heartland of the country. It saw fierce fighting between the Taliban and NATO forces after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 following the al-Qaida attacks on Sept. 11. The CIA relied on Afghan staff for translation, administrative and front-line fighting with their own paramilitary officers in the war.

Zero Units were paramilitary units manned by Afghans but backed by the CIA and also served in front-line fighting with CIA paramilitary officers. Activists had attributed abuses to the units. They played a key role in the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from the country, providing security around Kabul International Airport as the Americans and withdrew from the country.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that Lakanwal’s relationship with the U.S. government “ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation” of U.S. servicemembers from Afghanistan.

Lakanwal, 29, entered the U.S. in 2021 through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-afghan-operation-allies-welcome-b11c48fb0b807e8f519c266e2a004d8e">Operation Allies Welcome,</a>&nbsp;a Biden administration program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from the country, officials said. Lakanwal applied for asylum during the Biden administration, but his asylum was approved under the Trump administration, #AfghanEvac said in a statement.

The initiative brought roughly 76,000 people to the U.S., many of whom had worked alongside U.S. troops and diplomats as interpreters and translators. It has since faced intense scrutiny from Trump and others over allegations of gaps in the vetting process, even as advocates say there was extensive vetting and the program offered a lifeline to people at risk of Taliban reprisals.

Lakanwal has been living in Bellingham, Washington, about 79 miles (127 kilometers) north of Seattle, with his wife and five children, said his former landlord, Kristina Widman.

Wednesday night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-guard-washington-shooting-6548fbcba4b6efce59a38eeed32b4865">in a video message released on social media,</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump called for the reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees who entered under the Biden administration.

The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said in a social media post Thursday that Trump directed him to review the green cards of people from countries “of concern.”

Edlow didn’t name the countries.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-travel-ban-exceptions-immigrants-visa-4d5a4d07a4430dd1e1cf24511370bc0e">But in June</a>, the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-travel-ban-d4d74e856e06f1a2626cc1ddbdfaa9f7">banned travel to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;by citizens of 12 countries and restricted access from seven others, citing national security concerns. Green card holders and Afghans who worked for the U.S. government or its allies in Afghanistan were listed as exempt.

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