By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Doctors said Chase Kear would not survive his catastrophic head injury. Today, what doctor's called a miraculous recovery is part of the Catholic Church’s investigation into the canonization of a new saint.

During his sophomore year at Hutchinson Community College, a pole vault attempt sent Chase soaring beyond the landing pit from about 14 feet in the air.

"My legs hit the back edge of the pit, and that whiplashed my head into the ground. I fractured my skull from ear to ear across the front," Chase said. "The next day, they removed portions of my skull to allow my brain to swell, parts that were already essentially dead."

Chase was born in Hays and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, now Holy Family Elementary, before his family relocated to Colwich for better opportunities. His father worked at the K-State Ag Research Center, and his mother taught at St. Mary Catholic School in Ellis.

Chase’s father, Paul Kear, competed in pole vault for a season at Fort Hays State University. When Chase began running track in seventh grade, he also chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and take up pole vaulting himself.

"I started when I was about 12 years old, and I actually took third at state in my senior year of high school," he said.

Chase graduated from Andale High School in 2007 and, after earning a scholarship, enrolled at Hutchinson Community College to study firefighting.

On Oct. 2, 2008, early into his second year of college at age 19, Chase’s life changed forever.

"I remember standing on the runway, bringing all my power and energy down the runway. I jumped off the ground, and the pole just slipped like butter," he said.

Chase described it as the pole overflexing, causing it to react oddly and propel him outward while he was more than a dozen feet in the air.

"I remember the thought going through my head, this could be really good or really bad. I saw the back edge of the pit coming, and I had a split second to determine how much space I had. 'Am I even going to land on the mat?'" he said. "I turned to land on my back, proper form, and then I hit my head. I saw a white flash."

In his final moments of consciousness before blacking out, Chase said he reached up to his head and felt his fractured skull shift.

A helicopter landed on the football field and airlifted him to Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. The next day, surgeons removed a third of his skull and about 10% of his frontal lobe.

Chase’s family began praying immediately after the accident. By the next morning, after doctors told them he was not expected to survive, they specifically began praying for the intercession of Fr. Emil Kapaun.

"That was just something our parish did," Paula Kear, Chase's mother, said. "We prayed before Mass for the sick to Fr. Kapaun."

<a href="https://frkapaun.org/about/">Kapaun was a Roman Catholic priest and U.S. Army chaplain born April 20, 1916 — Holy Thursday — in Pilsen</a>.&nbsp;He risked his life during the Korean War to rescue wounded soldiers and administer the sacraments on the battlefield.

Kapaun died in 1951 after being taken prisoner, where his fellow prisoners of war later credited him with saving countless lives through his leadership and example.

Before long, Chase began improving, surprising medical professionals and leaving them speechless at how he was surviving such a life-threatening injury.

"Two non-Catholic doctors, my surgeon being one of them, used the word miraculous," Chase said. "When two of the doctors who cared for me said they can't explain it, it was a miracle. That's really all I need to know."

After 19 days in the hospital, Chase entered rehabilitation, weakened but determined to recover the abilities he had lost in the accident.

"I couldn't walk... all the things we take for granted, simple things like picking up a fork, putting a bite in your mouth, and how to swallow. I had to relearn everything," he said.

After having a plate placed in his skull in December 2008, he returned to classes online in January 2009, just three months after his near-death experience, before going back to Hutchinson Community College in person the following school year.

A year and a half after his injury, Chase said he felt he had unfinished business in pole vaulting. He returned to the same spot where his life had changed forever and attempted another vault, only this time successfully completing it.

"I had to get back on the horse to prove to myself that I wasn't less the man I was before the injury. I wasn't letting anything hold me back, especially fear," Chase said.

Chase changed his major and ultimately earned an Associate of Arts degree in 2014 before transferring to FHSU that same year. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in communication studies with an emphasis in public relations in May 2018.

Before the accident, Chase said faith was part of his life, but afterward it became central to who he is. He added that he attended the Comeau Catholic Campus Center while at FHSU.

"Call it a renewal of spirit. My faith life is very much stronger," he said.

Chase did not return to pole vaulting during the remainder of his school years, but he did coach the sport for one season at Thomas More Prep-Marian while he was a student.

After graduating from FHSU in 2018, he worked at Spirit AeroSystems and later earned a degree in structural aircraft assembly from Wichita Area Technical College, now Wichita State University Tech.

"In summary, when it comes to schooling, I have three collegiate degrees, and I'm missing 10% of my brain. All three degrees were achieved post-injury," Chase said.

On Oct. 2, 2021, 13 years after his near-fatal accident, Chase began a new chapter when he married his wife. The couple later welcomed three sons and resides in Colwich.

However, that same week, after 70 years away, Kapaun finally returned home to Kansas.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ce615860-14d4-4772-b63d-54725b0cab5e">On March 4, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency reported that the remains of Emil Kapaun were positively identified.</a>

When the Korean War began in 1950, Kapaun was deployed to the battlefield, risking his life to help soldiers and bury the dead, all while under the threat of gunfire.

That same year, he chose to remain with wounded soldiers rather than retreat. Captured by Chinese forces, Kapaun was marched to a North Korean prison camp, where he became the spiritual and physical support for fellow prisoners.&nbsp;

In 1951, weakened by pneumonia and a blood clot, he was taken to the camp's "Death House," where he died at age 35. His fellow prisoners credited him with saving countless lives through his leadership and example.

Kapaun was named a “Servant of God,” the first step towards canonization, by the church in 1993. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/23ecf4b8-eb5e-46da-82d6-71fd76942bb2">His remains were returned to Kansas in September 2021 and were laid to rest inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita</a>, three days before Cahse's wedding.

"It was something I always hoped that I'd see, but I didn't know that I ever would. It seemed like such a long shot that he would ever come home," Chase said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c78f7b8d-078e-4ef3-82bf-d2e0a7eb5ca9">In February 2025, Pope Francis officially declared Emil Kapaun “Venerable,” marking the second step in the Catholic Church’s path toward sainthood.</a>

The next step is beatification, when he would be declared “Blessed,” which requires confirmation of a miracle attributed to his intercession. A second verified miracle would then be needed for canonization, after which the pope could formally declare him a saint.

"That'd be a great day," Chase said regarding Kaupan potentially being canonized. "It'd be amazing and indescribable. I don't know how to put it into words."

The Diocese of Wichita is currently providing information to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints regarding two alleged miracles, one of which involves Chase.

While Chase was in rehab, Father John Hotze of Wichita learned of his unexplained recovery and began investigating the case before later submitting it to the dicastery.

Chase had little familiarity with Kapaun before his accident, but was first introduced to him when Kapaun’s brother, Eugene Kapaun, spoke to his eighth-grade religion class.

After the accident, Chase began looking deeper into the life of the man his parish and family were praying to for his intercession.

When surgeons removed portions of Chase’s brain, they also removed areas typically associated with the ability to draw. Below is a picture Chase completed in 57 minutes.

"It's kind of a visual representation of the miracle," Chase said.

Chase said his family has not received any recent updates on the investigation into his case. The official cause for the Sainthood of Kapaun can be followed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fatherkapaun">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to its <a href="https://frkapaun.org/">website</a>, you can help with the canonization of Kapaun through prayer and spreading his story.

For anyone facing a life-altering challenge like his, Chase offered this advice: “Keep your faith and keep moving forward, even when you're falling 10 steps back, keep moving forward.”

A miracle: Hays native's survival could be part of priest's sainthood

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays received 1 inch of snow on Saturday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

That accounts for .1 inches of moisture. For the month, Hays has received .28 inches of moisture, bringing the year-to-date total to 1.62 inches.

Hays receives an average of .78 inches of moisture in February and 1.19 inches by the end of the month.

Ellis County and the surrounding counties are under an elevated fire risk today, according to the National Weather Service.

Other affected counties include&nbsp;Trego, Scott, Lane, Ness, Rush, Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Hodgeman,&nbsp;Pawnee, Stafford, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Gray, Ford, Edwards, Kiowa,&nbsp;Pratt, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, Clark, Comanche and Barber.

The high in Hays today is forecast to be 51, with highs in the 70s and 60s Tuesday through Friday.

The forecast calls for a 50% chance for rain on Wednesday night.

Hays receives snow Saturday; elevated fire risk today

The Hays USD 489 school board will consider a renovation contract for Felten Elementary School during its 6:30 meeting tonight at the Rockwell Administration Building.

The board will consider updating existing service agreements for HVAC preventive maintenance with Glassman Corp. The amendments proposed include HVAC equipment that was previously under warranty.

The board will review contract extensions for district administrators, such as principals, superintendents and the district directors.

The board will also hear a report from Superintendent Ron Wilson and an update on Early Childhood Connections.

You can see the full agenda <a href="https://usd489.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Id=359">here</a>.

Hays USD 489 to consider renovation contract for Felten Elementary School

The items are arriving fast and furious for the Eagle On-Line Auction at Hays Post.

&nbsp;If you would like to get in on the action of this year’s online auction, click on the link below.&nbsp;

Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>

Bid now on an expansive collection ranging from home essentials to tantalizing restaurant gift cards, and valuable services from esteemed local companies and save.

 Whether you're seeking something specific or just browsing for unexpected finds, our vast selection promises both variety and value. 

The Eagle Radio online auction — where saving money is just a click away!

Eagle Radio Auction live now!

Ellis County Sheriff's activity log: Feb. 15-21, 2026

Ellis County Jail bookings: Feb. 15-21, 2026

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post

Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com.

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

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

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

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

As residents of western Kansas and frequent shoppers in Hays and the surrounding area, we pride ourselves on high voter participation and orderly, well-run elections. 

Our county clerks, poll workers, and volunteers do their jobs carefully and professionally. That is why national proposals like the so-called “SAVE Act” deserve local attention. 

Ellis, Barton, Russell, Trego, Rush and Rooks counties are all affected by the latest proposal by our local politicians, including our senators and representatives, state and federal.

We are neighbors and we know each other without having to carry formal identification. 

I would bet that Jerry Moran’s wife’s birth certificate does not bear the name Moran. Nor does Barb Wasinger's bear that last name. Nor does Ken Rahjes’s spouse’s birth certificate use anything but her maiden name.&nbsp; You get the gist, right?

Many states have gone to same-day voter registration, so if they want to mandate exact matches in last names, then let us do that at the polls, at least. A utility bill, a driver's license, a credit card or a debit card with a photo makes more sense than a passport, which not everyone has.

The bill would require documentary proof of citizenship at the time of voting. In practice, federal agencies have often treated passports and certain certified birth certificates as the primary acceptable documents. 

Many western Kansas residents do not carry or even have passports, and married women whose legal names differ from their birth certificates face additional hurdles or challenges at the polls.

In our counties, that matters. We have a significant population of married women, retirees, rural residents, and working families who may not have ready access to updated documentation reflecting every name change over a lifetime. 

If even a small number of otherwise eligible voters are delayed, challenged or turned away because paperwork does not perfectly align, that affects neighbors, church members, veterans, teachers, Fort Hays State employees, and small business owners right here at home.

Supporters of stricter proof requirements argue they are addressing non-citizen voting. However, documented cases of non-citizen voting in Kansas have been exceedingly rare. 

Our local election officials already verify eligibility during registration. Why should we add another requirement for additional ID at the polls?&nbsp; Before adding new federal mandates, we should carefully weigh whether the burden placed on lawful voters in western Kansas is justified by evidence.

At the same time, we are seeing state-level proposals that could impose additional identification or documentation requirements.

Again, the practical impact would not be abstract. It would fall on local citizens—particularly elderly residents, women who changed their names decades ago, and rural voters who must travel significant distances to government offices to obtain replacement records.

Regardless of party affiliation, we western Kansas citizens should ask whether new federal or state mandates make it easier or harder for eligible neighbors to cast a ballot. Strong elections are secure—but they are also accessible.

I encourage readers to respectfully contact Congressman Tracey Mann, Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, and our state legislators—Representatives Wasinger, Rahjes, Waymaster, and our State Senators Billinger and Blew—and ask how proposed voting changes would affect Ellis County, Russell County, Rush County, Rooks County, Trego County and Rice and Barton County voters specifically.

We deserve clear answers about how these measures would operate in Hays, Russell, Stockton, WaKeeney, Ellsworth and Great Bend and throughout western Kansas.

Our community benefits when lawful participation is protected and confidence in elections is maintained. Both security and access matter. We should insist on policies that preserve both.

—Ron Svaty retired Kansas judge and proud citizen of western Kansas

LETTER: Proposed voting changes could burden western Kansas residents

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

Nearly a year ago, I made a professional leap that surprised a few people: shifting from 4-H Youth Development into the world of Family and Community Wellness. On paper, it may look like an unexpected turn. In practice, it has been a return to my roots.

Before Extension, I spent two decades in banking—years that shaped my passion for financial education, practical skills, and helping people build stability. That experience never left me. It simply waited for the right door to open.

As I settled into this new role, I found myself returning to the business and leadership books that guided me through earlier chapters of my career. Dr. Tim Elmore’s "Habitudes," Mac Anderson and Tom Feltenstein’s "Change is Good; You Go First," and Spencer Johnson’s classic "Who Moved My Cheese?" have all resurfaced on my desk. 

"Who Moved My Cheese?" in particular, remains a favorite. Its simple story about navigating change still manages to hold up a mirror, reminding me that growth often begins with discomfort.

Extension’s mission across Kansas is, in many ways, about helping people “move their cheese.” Whether it’s leadership development through 4-H, horticulture and livestock resources for producers, or workshops that help families make informed decisions, Extension exists to provide research-based tools that improve lives and strengthen communities.

Family and Community Wellness expands that mission even further—supporting early childhood development, nutrition, aging, and financial well-being. It’s a wide-reaching umbrella, but at its heart is a simple goal: helping Kansans thrive.

The forward to "Who Moved My Cheese?" includes a poem by A.J. Cronin that captures this journey beautifully:

“Life is no straight and easy corridor… But always, if we have faith, A door will open for us… One that will ultimately prove good for us.”

I’m grateful for the door that opened for me. This past year has allowed me to work with college students on budgeting and career readiness, and with adults&nbsp;navigating Medicare, financial planning, and everyday money decisions. Each conversation reinforces why this work matters—especially in rural communities where access to resources can make all the difference.

At the end of the day, what’s most important to me is helping our communities not just survive, but truly thrive. I’m thankful for the small part I get to play in that ongoing journey.

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is a Family and Community Wellness Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other K-State Extension resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: A different perspective

<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

Join us in honoring the Thomas More Prep-Marian FFA chapter.

FFA Week will be celebrated&nbsp;Feb. 22-28.

Community Calendar

The City of Hays is reminding residents that pet registrations for 2026 are currently open.

Per city ordinance, all dogs, cats, and non-venomous constrictor snakes exceeding six feet in length must be licensed annually.

To complete the registration, owners of dogs and cats must provide a current rabies vaccination record.

Owners of qualifying constrictor snakes are required to provide proof of microchipping.

“A pet tag is one of the most effective ways to ensure a lost or missing animal returns home,” said Community Service Officer Nikki Hausler. “When an officer or a citizen finds a pet wearing a city license, it allows us to quickly identify the owner and facilitate a safe reunion, often avoiding a trip to the shelter.”

The 2026 licensing fees are $5 for spayed or neutered dogs and cats, while the fee for unaltered pets is $25.

Constrictor snakes exceeding six feet may be registered for $5.

Additionally, owners of breeds classified by ordinance as dangerous, including Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, or Pit Bull mixes, must pay a $50 registration fee in addition to the standard licensing costs.

Residents have until March 1 to register pets currently in their possession before late fees are applied.

Unregistered pets will incur a penalty of $10 per month or partial month past the deadline, with a maximum late fee of $50.

“We’ve worked to make this process as efficient as possible for our residents,” said City Clerk Jami Briet. “The registration can be completed quickly at City Hall, and our staff is ready to assist owners in getting their 2026 tags handled before the March deadline.”

Licenses can be obtained in person at the City Clerk’s Office, 1507 Main St.

The office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information, residents may contact the City Clerk’s Office at (785) 628-7300 or visit <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/">HaysUSA.com</a>.

City of Hays pet registration deadline approaching

BUNKER HILL — The tradition continues as Smoky Hills PBS will provide live coverage of the 2026 Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships. 

The event is begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27 through the semi-finals, and continues Sat., Feb. 28 at 9 a.m.&nbsp;at Gross Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Fort Hays State University, Hays.

Smoky Hills PBS will once again showcase both boys' and girls' competitions, continuing a long-standing commitment to local sports and its tradition of bringing live broadcast coverage of high school sports to viewers across central and western Kansas.

Every match will be broadcast live, co-hosted by Eagle Radio's Mike Holliday. You can find&nbsp;3-2-1A and Hays High School state wrestling results on <a href="https://hayspost.com/">Hays Post</a>.&nbsp;

A rebroadcast of the championship finals will air on&nbsp;Sunday, March 1&nbsp;at noon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Our production crew and our many volunteers take great pride in delivering live, reliable coverage of this championship every year," said Les Kinderknecht, senior producer/director at Smoky Hills PBS. "Covering the 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships is about celebrating the athletes, the schools, and the communities that support them."

3-2-1A state wrestling championships to air live on Smoky Hills PBS

Get your tickets today and then join us&nbsp;as we kick off the Hays Concert Series with a special Lovegrass Music Festival Fundraiser on Saturday, March 14 at the Hays Community Theatre.

Tickets are on sale now at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.list-manage.com/RcpvPPY0b4A?e=ad2f5727f7&amp;c2id=464001e5eac1dfb0bc25eb093087c2fd">https://www.lovegrassmusicfestival.com/benefit</a>

This special night will feature two incredible bands who are not only entertaining but also special to Lovegrass —&nbsp;80 Proof Alice&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rudy and the Lost Boys&nbsp;— plus a silent auction, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres, all in support of Lovegrass Music Festival.

Your attendance helps us raise funds for our upcoming summer concert series, continue our mission of bringing bluegrass arts to rural Kansas, and support our capstone Lovegrass Music Festival this August.&nbsp;

Doors at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. at the&nbsp; Hays Community Theatre, 121 E. 8th, Hays. Suggested donation is $25.

Come enjoy great music, support the arts, and help keep bluegrass thriving in Kansas. We can’t wait to see you there!

Lovegrass Concert Series fundraiser is March 14 in Hays; tickets now available online 

This month’s Science Café presentation, “AI for Advancing Research Across Diverse Disciplines,” is sponsored by FHSU’s Science and Mathematics Education Institute (SMEI) and will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 at The Venue in Thirsty’s Brew Pub &amp; Grill, 2704 Vine.

Dr. Anas Hourani, FHSU Associate Professor of Computer Science in the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, will provide an overview of how artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques are transforming research across diverse disciplines by enabling knowledge extraction from large-scale data.

Please note, while drinks will be available for purchase, no food will be served&nbsp;during Science Café.

Science Café presentations are free and open to the public. Questions can be directed to Cari Rohleder at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cbrohleder@fhsu.edu">cbrohleder@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or 785-628-4743 or by visiting:

<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.7LNxDHQVpzCjONIZ4OYIqgHG-2B9GDc8KXBqj4fLXNv8t-2BV6Hb4Q5M0d-2FSyU8hjsQrSc6LVzLLvmFtB9JY8b1rMg-3D-3DI8e2_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOxhHfie4Psr7PgSLQuwklupqp6-2Bhxxpc08UdaGL7sxv8fcxRSUu4Oi8fMbn7NlB3xF2IVmdUY0rkyJEMwMnz-2BKSGQGMdt0NrU5sqrW-2BrUn39-2B7lX0fgeFEdloM2R-2FhDWQ7RuK85zg2QmPOUmYRoNb2lnw4sIKHCvntK4Eon0Yd0-2FVuaLhx23DMcs7mizek9UY5rDXOQsq8phghkThfnMdZa-2B1GZ1UVXL0RrEqAMv7E23OCuZRncxaF9kkUJP2rIIN">www.facebook.com/FHSUScienceCafe</a>

FHSU’s upcoming Science Café set for Monday, Feb. 23

VICTORIA - Victoria Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fries, Fridays, February 27, March 13, and March 27 beginning at 5:00 pm at the Victoria VFW Hall.

Victoria K of C Lenten fish fries start Feb. 27

Please save the date for "Vessel of Survival," an MFA thesis exhibition by Jonah Simmons, presented in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree at Fort Hays State University.

The exhibition features sculptural ceramic works that explore themes of endurance, vulnerability, and material transformation, drawing from personal narrative as well as broader social and cultural frameworks.

Exhibition:&nbsp;Vessel of Survival Artist:&nbsp;Jonah Simmons, MFA Candidate (Ceramics) Dates:&nbsp;July 14–17 Reception:&nbsp;Friday, July 17, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Location:&nbsp;Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Fort Hays State University

'Vessel of Survival' ceramics exhibition to be presented in July at FHSU

Annual Hays Lions Club pancake feed fundraiser is March 10

Hays USD 489 kindergarten round-up set for next week

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

Just after 9a.m.&nbsp; February 20, police arrested 27-year-old Tyrea Stewart of Junction City in the 100 block of Courthouse Plaza in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. 

Stewart is being without bond for two Riley County District Court warrants for probation violation. The arrest stems from original charges of endangering a child, driving under the influence, improper child passenger safety restraint and transportation of liquor in an open container.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. man accused of DUI with child in the car

HARVEY COUNTY —The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the man who died in a farming accident in Harvey County over the weekend.

Mark Klaassen, 37, of Newton, was shifting soybeans Saturday inside a grain bin on a farm in the 2100 block of South Spencer Road, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. The contents suddenly shifted, trapping and injuring Klaassen.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the incident at 2:30 p.m. Klaassen was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men were working alongside Klaassen. They did not request medical treatment. The death was ruled accidental.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died in grain bin accident

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man wanted in connection with the November shooting death of a 16-year-old Kansas boy is in custody. Just before 9p.m. Sunday, police booked 20-year-old&nbsp; Nassir Tiriq Gill into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police have not released details on the circumstances of his arrest.

On Friday, police asked the public for help to locate him in connection with the November killing of 16-year-old Kingston Scott.

Just before 1a.m. November 22, 2025,&nbsp; police responded to several reports of gunshots around SE 37th Street and SE Adams Street in Topeka. While officers were investigating that area, they received information on a subject arriving at a local hospital by private vehicle with apparent gunshot wounds. The victim later identified as Kingston Scott of Topeka was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

As a result of the investigation police have already arrested two 16-year-old boys from Topeka on&nbsp;&nbsp;charges including murder, Criminal discharge of firearm; Occupied vehicle with great bodily harm and Aggravated Assault; Use of a deadly weapon.

&nbsp;Gill is being held on requested charges of&nbsp; Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony. Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Criminal discharge of firearm; Occupied vehicle w great bodily harm, Criminal discharge of firearm; Recklessly at occupied dwelling and Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt; $1000, according to online jail records.

Suspect in murder of 16-year-old Kan. boy is in custody

SOCORRO, Texas (AP) — In a Texas town at the edge of the Rio Grande and a tall metal border wall, rumors swirled that federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration</a>&nbsp;officials wanted to purchase three hulking warehouses to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigrant-detention-warehouses-ice-trump-51ad28e6b1e1c3fa60a38029d932aeeb">transform into a detention center.</a>

As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigrant-detention-warehouses-ice-trump-a4a71226409cd9fedc9aa5de5ec90654">local officials scrambled</a>&nbsp;to find out what was happening, a deed was filed showing the Department of Homeland Security had already inked a $122.8 million deal for the 826,000-square-foot (76,738-square-meter) warehouses in Socorro, a bedroom community of 40,000 people outside El Paso.

“Nobody from the federal government bothered to pick up the phone or even send us any type of correspondence letting us know what’s about to take place,” said Rudy Cruz Jr., the mayor of the predominantly Hispanic town of low-slung ranch homes and trailer parks, where orchards and irrigation ditches share the landscape with strip malls, truck stops, recycling plants and distribution warehouses.

Socorro is among at least 20 communities with large warehouses across the U.S. that have become stealth targets for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s $45-billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detention-louisiana-trump-3db72b138d1a6ee8a7bb5388669a1666">expansion of detention centers</a>.

As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-ice-minneapolis-deportation-42aff472ccf1ecd7b92ba0c90469c9e7">public support</a>&nbsp;for the agency and President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-republicans-minnesota-immigration-homeland-ice-5fe9c40236203703751c6274f8da435f">sags,</a>&nbsp;communities are objecting to mass detentions and raising concerns that the facilities could strain water supplies and other services while reducing local tax revenue. In many cases, mayors, county commissioners, governors and members of Congress learned about ICE’s ambitions only after the agency bought or leased space for detainees, leading to shock and frustration even in areas that have backed Trump.

“I just feel,” said Cruz, whose wife was born in Mexico, “that they do these things in silence so that they don’t get opposition.”

ICE, which is part of DHS, has purchased at least seven warehouses in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas, signed deeds show. Other deals have been announced but not yet finalized, though buyers scuttled sales in eight locations.

DHS objected to calling the sites warehouses, stressing in a statement that they would be “very well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards.”

The process has been chaotic at times. ICE this past week acknowledged it made a “mistake” when it announced warehouse purchases in Chester, New York, and Roxbury, New Jersey. Roxbury then announced Friday that the sale there had closed.

DHS has confirmed it is looking for more detention space but hasn’t disclosed individual sites ahead of acquisitions. Some cities learned that ICE was scouting warehouses through reporters. Others were tipped off by a spreadsheet circulating online among activists whose source is unclear.

It wasn’t until Feb. 13 that the scope of the warehouse project was confirmed, when the governor’s office in New Hampshire, where there is backlash to a planned 500-bed processing center, released a document from ICE showing the agency plans to spend $38.3 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-detention-facilities-expansion-warehouses-c61c3e23c4246e94a760b4d979cb9c48">to boost detention capacity to 92,000 beds</a>.

Since Trump took office, the number of people detained by ICE has increased to 75,000 from 40,000, spread across more than 225 sites.

ICE could use the warehouses to consolidate and to increase capacity. The document describes a project that includes eight large-scale detention centers, capable of housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees each, and 16 smaller regional processing centers. The document also refers to the acquisition of 10 existing “turnkey” facilities.

The project is funded through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">the big tax and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;passed by Congress last year that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-ice-deportation-budget-be983b14f60a5cdfc17af7cf0307f1c9">nearly doubled DHS’ budget.</a>&nbsp;To build the detention centers, the Trump administration is using military contracts.

Those contracts allow a lot of secrecy and for DHS to move quickly without following the usual processes and safeguards, said Charles Tiefer, a professor emeritus of law at the University of Baltimore Law School.

Socorro facility could be among the largest

In Socorro, the ICE-owned warehouses are so large that 4 1/2 Walmart Supercenters could fit inside, standing in contrast to the remnants of the austere Spanish colonial and mission architecture that defines the town.

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