Chamber in Hays The Chamber in Hays, Kansas, recognized eight outstanding individuals and organizations Tuesday during the 41st-Annual Chamber Awards Banquet at Memorial Union on the campus of Fort Hays State University.

More than 400 people attended the event, which celebrated those who have made a lasting impact on Ellis County through business excellence, professional achievement and volunteer service.

Video entertainment for the evening featured Chamber’s Got Talent, during which Marley Dechant, a student at Hays Middle School, received top honors for her dance performance.

The following award winners were announced:

• Vyve Broadband Rising Star Award: Macey Pfeifer, executive director for First Call for Help of Ellis County

• Commerce Bank Helping Hands Award: Kiwanis Club of Hays, Kansas

• Nex-Tech Wireless Businesswoman of the Year Award: Melissa Romme, principal and CPA for Adams Brown

• Grow Hays Robert E. Schmidt Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Israel Luna, owner of Las Hefas Latin Cuisine

• Werth Wealth Management Member Investor of the Year Award: Nex-Tech

• City of Hays Small Business Achievement of the Year Award: Hays Veterinary Hospital

• Nex-Tech Citizen of the Year Award: Scott Heimann, Hays Police Department sergeant (posthumous)

• Golden Belt Bank Hall of Fame Award: Clare Gustin, board chair for the Innovation Center The annual banquet honors individuals and organizations whose leadership, service, and dedication help strengthen Hays and Ellis County. Sincere notes of thanksgiving are extended to all sponsors whose generous support helped make the event possible.

Thanks to the dedicated service business professionals across the community, The Chamber offered nearly 250 ways for members to engage in 2025, and advocated on behalf of quality of life for all Ellis County residents.

For more information about the Chamber in Hays or the 2026 award winners, visit <a href="http://hayschamber.com">hayschamber.com</a>.

Chamber in Hays honors community members, organizations during banquet

Nex-Generation is excited to announce that more than 350 paid internship positions are now available for high school and college students across&nbsp;Northwest and&nbsp;North&nbsp;Central Kansas. These opportunities connect students with local businesses and organizations while providing valuable, real-world work experience.

Students interested in applying can visit the Nex-Generation website, where they will find links to the job board and application portal. Positions are available across a variety of industries, providing meaningful career exploration and skill-building opportunities.

“These paid internships are a win for both students and employers,” said Janette Meis, Executive Director. “Students gain hands-on experience, while local businesses invest in the future workforce&nbsp;in Northwest and North Central Kansas.”

The application process ends March 1, so students are encouraged to apply soon. For more information and to access the internship job board, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://nex-generation.secure-platform.com/site">https://nex-generation.secure-platform.com/site</a>

Nex-Generation round up for youth offers over 350 paid internship opportunities 

COLBY —&nbsp;Colby Community College recognized 206 students who earned academic distinction on the President's and Vice President's honor rolls for the fall 2025 semester. The individuals completed at least 12 credit hours with no failing grades.

The President's Honor Roll includes 135 students with a 4.0 grade point average. Seventy-one students on the Vice President's Honor Roll had GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99.

Names are listed by hometown or country, as indicated by the student. Some names have been withheld upon request.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Atwood:&nbsp;Paige Lankas Bird City:&nbsp;Harley McPherson&nbsp; Brewster:&nbsp;Chante Quenzer, Chessie Quenzer Colby:&nbsp;Esteban Alvarado, Morenikeji Adigun, Hailey Bolyard, Rilee Brown, Victoria Emhoff, Zsofia Hardik, Emma Johnson, Faith Kibet, Dawson Lemmer, Dalton Long, Louise Lopes, Kennedy Morrison, Logan Nolan, Jalyssa Sabatka, Aspen Sharpe, Priscilla Stallings, Harper Vaughn, Sierra Vernon, Saranya Watts, Natalie Wederski, Kendra Wendt, Allison Zimmerman, Kade Youngman Collyer:&nbsp;Selena Gorsky&nbsp; Ellinwood:&nbsp;Gracyn Dombroski&nbsp; Goodland:&nbsp;Christine Arjona, Tiffani Benavides, Alexis Martinez, Aleah Tew, Kayla Valenti, Alyssa Wear&nbsp; Grinnell:&nbsp;Abigail Dohm&nbsp; Hays:&nbsp;Chloe Purinton&nbsp; Healy:&nbsp;Cheyenne Cramer&nbsp; Hill City:&nbsp;Ryleigh Garrison, Danielle Headding&nbsp; Hoxie:&nbsp;Taylor Russell&nbsp; Lenora:&nbsp;Harlee Voss&nbsp; Ludell:&nbsp;Kaci Dirks&nbsp; Norton:&nbsp;Trae Cliff, Kenzie Skrdlant Oakley:&nbsp;Morgan Berkgren&nbsp; Phillipsburg:&nbsp;Alysia Bebb, Gavin Driggs&nbsp;&nbsp; Rexford:&nbsp;Dylan Wark&nbsp;&nbsp; Saint Francis:&nbsp;Mercy Obrecht&nbsp; Scott City:&nbsp;Veronica Catano, Brooklynn Gossman, Reghan Haynes, Priscilla Saenz, Tatum Wells Sharon Springs: Kenli Larson Stockton:&nbsp;Peyton Krob&nbsp; WaKeeney:&nbsp;Bailee Billinger, Morgan Brown, Adell Fabrizius, Madigan Hille&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Winona:&nbsp;Lincoln Stramel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Almena:&nbsp;Justin Davis Alton:&nbsp;Addison Poore&nbsp; Atwood:&nbsp;Joseph Dozbaba, Emma Draper&nbsp; Bird City:&nbsp;Cooper Paugh&nbsp; Burdett:&nbsp;Owen Reece&nbsp; Colby:&nbsp;Mica Donohue, Karli Hills, Musa Keita, Kelvin Kimtai, Kambree Lahnanen, Beth McKinney, Lyssa Rinehart&nbsp; Ellinwood:&nbsp;Emma Hahn&nbsp; Goodland:&nbsp;Christine Albers Hill City:&nbsp;Charlie Swain Hoxie:&nbsp;Charlotte Walker Larned:&nbsp;Cade Colglazier Norton:&nbsp;Serenity Porter, Traxton Ragland Oakley:&nbsp;Audrey Holzmeister, Cadence Koch&nbsp; Plainville:&nbsp;Jada Rathbun&nbsp; Russell:&nbsp;Kelly Lopez Scott City:&nbsp;Kylan Stroud&nbsp;&nbsp; Sharon Springs:&nbsp;Aubree Richardson WaKeeney:&nbsp;Kallan Rothchild&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Area students on fall honor rolls at Colby Community College

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp; announced&nbsp;ten&nbsp;Kansas communities have secured&nbsp;over&nbsp;$2.5&nbsp;million&nbsp;in federal&nbsp;Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act&nbsp;(IIJA) funding from the&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Infrastructure Grant&nbsp;(AIG)&nbsp;program. &nbsp;

“Investing in&nbsp;Kansas’&nbsp;airport&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;is crucial&nbsp;to&nbsp;enhancing connectivity and supporting local economies&nbsp;across the state,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;"I'm pleased&nbsp;that these projects are receiving vital infrastructure grants, which will not only improve our airports but also strengthen the entire state’s transportation network.”&nbsp;

Combined with just over $145,000 in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund and over $22,000 in local contributions, the total investment into airport infrastructure in Kansas through this round of grants is more than $2.6 million.&nbsp;

“The City of Chanute has been planning funding for over&nbsp;three&nbsp;years to rehabilitate our runway and taxiway pavements. With most of our local matching funds dedicated&nbsp;to&nbsp;Runway 18-36, the availability of&nbsp;Build Kansas&nbsp;Funds&nbsp;allowed us to take advantage of&nbsp;additional&nbsp;federal&nbsp;funds and complete taxiway repairs in the same year,”&nbsp;said Ryan Follmer, Chanute assistant city manager.&nbsp;“Completing these repairs now will extend the life of our taxiway by 10-15 years,&nbsp;eliminate&nbsp;the need for costly reconstruction, and&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;operations.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;airport&nbsp;projects receiving funding&nbsp;include

In addition to the ten&nbsp;awards&nbsp;for airport infrastructure, the Build Kansas Fund has provided the required match dollars for 79&nbsp;other federal grant awards across Kansas. The combined total investment by the Build Kansas Fund in all projects&nbsp;across the state&nbsp;is over $47.7&nbsp;million, which has resulted in federal grant awards of more than $153.4&nbsp;million.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas Infrastructure Hub connects multiple state agencies and serves as a resource center for Kansas communities to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;best practices for maximizing IIJA funding opportunities. The Build Kansas Fund provides state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas that successfully apply for federal grants under IIJA.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Colby, Great Bend airports secure federal, state funding for improvements

The Chamber in Hays, Kansas, will kick off its annual Legislative Coffee series on Saturday,&nbsp;February 7th, offering community members an opportunity to hear updates&nbsp;directly&nbsp;state legislators.&nbsp;Legislators in attendance will include Senator Rick Billinger, Representative Ken Rahjes, and Representative Barb Wasinger.

A second session is planned for&nbsp;February 28th, and&nbsp;a third session is scheduled for March 28th.

The events, held from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., are free and open to the public, and will be hosted at the Hays Public Library, 1205 Main St.

Each Legislative Coffee is designed to give attendees a forum to learn about current issues under consideration at the state&nbsp;level.

Residents will be able to ask questions of individual legislators or a&nbsp;panel as a whole, making&nbsp;it a valuable chance for open dialogue regarding legislative priorities and policies affecting Ellis County and the surrounding region.

“Our Legislative Coffee series&nbsp;is one of the primary ways our chamber advocates for the quality of life for Ellis County residents,” said Sarah Wasinger, President and CEO of The Chamber in Hays, Kansas. “When we practice social discourse together and have positive conversations surrounding the topics that impact all of us,&nbsp;it empowers our elected officials to&nbsp;more effectively represent their constituents.”

Attendees will have the option to submit questions on cards during the event, and&nbsp;questions may&nbsp;be&nbsp;submitted in advance via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hayscc@hayschamber.com">hayscc@hayschamber.com</a>.Questions sent to the email&nbsp;address&nbsp;the morning of the event will not be considered.

In order to&nbsp;be considered, questions must be received by noon the Friday before each Legislative Coffee.&nbsp;Due to the limited event time,&nbsp;some submitted questions may not be answered. The Chamber endeavors to address as many topics as possible during each Legislative Coffee, with Wasinger serving as the moderator.

A special thank you is extended to Midwest Energy and Eagle Media for serving as premier sponsors for the event.&nbsp;The Chamber also expressed gratitude to the Hays Public Library for once again opening its doors to host the series.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to secure seating and settle in before the program begins.&nbsp;Refreshments from&nbsp;Breathe&nbsp;Coffee House&nbsp;and Cathy’s Breads will be available.

For more information about the Legislative Coffee series, or to learn more about The Chamber in Hays, Kansas—its programs, membership benefits and various community events—visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hayschamber.com/">hayschamber.com</a>&nbsp;or call (785) 628-8201.

 Chamber announces Legislative Coffee Series dates for February, March

<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

TMP-Marian at Great Bend Tuesday, Jan. 27th, 6 p.m Great Bend, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3489334">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The TMP-Marian Monarchs travel to Great Bend Tuesday for a non-league contest with the Panthers.&nbsp;

Tip-off for the girls' game is set for 6:00 p.m. The Hertz Rent-a-Car Pregame Show begins at 5:40 p.m. on 99.5 KZ Country.

🏀🎥 TMP travels to Great Bend to take on the Panthers

Hays Catholic schools announced the death on Jan. 22 of alumnus&nbsp;John L. Allen Jr., 61, from cancer.

Allen was a journalist reporting on the Vatican. He was the editor of the Catholic news website, Crux.

He also worked for CNN and covered the conclaves in 2005 and 2013.

He wrote multiple books on the Catholic Church.

He was a 1983 graduate of TMP and earned degrees from Fort Hays State University and the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

He was also honored by TMP with the Point of Light award.

Hays native, Vatican journalist dies

Do you have photos or videos of a news or weather event? Did you shoot a clip of a fun event in our community?

Submit your videos or photos to&nbsp;hayspost@eaglemedia.com&nbsp;for possible publication on the Hays Post.

Eagle Media ... Your Community Connected!

📷 Send Hays Post your snow photos or videos

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission discussed several potential bond projects during a work session on Monday.

Commissioners received updates on the law enforcement center, courthouse HVAC replacement and the Ellis emergency services building.

Darin Myers, county administrator, said the next step is to consider a resolution next week authorizing the sale of the bonds. Bids for the bond sale are expected to come back by the March 10 commission meetings.

For the law enforcement center, Myers said the plan is to begin phase one of the remodel this summer, focusing on basement work. Phase two would start in December.

Myers said the main floor will receive some paint and carpet updates, with most of the work focused on the reception area, nearby offices and restrooms.

Myers said plans for the main floor also include adding a training room, a new bonding area for inmates and a dedicated space for meetings with children experiencing mental health issues.

The courthouse HVAC replacement would follow the law enforcement center as the next project. Myers said that once bond funding is secured for the Ellis emergency services building, the county would move forward with site analysis for construction.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3c4ef7e6-c79c-401e-8440-0fcc702901c8">SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County Commission sees decreased costs for multiple projects</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f3b95f3e-27e4-40b1-8080-b1b3ff0fdf53">SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County Commission reviews improvement district for Stonewood Estates North Addition</a>

Commissioners discussed right-of-way issues. These range from unmaintained roads to private right-of-ways the county maintains, as well as areas the county maintains that provide little public benefit.

Eugene Rupp, county appraiser,&nbsp;said maintaining private roads raises fairness concerns, as it results in some landowners receiving county services that others do not.

He also said maintaining roads without a legal right-of-way raises liability concerns, noting those areas are untaxable.

Commissioner Nathan Leiker proposed a structured committee review process that would examine the county by quadrants, such as the northwest and northeast. The goal would be to notify affected landowners before any changes are made.

Brendan Mackay, public works director, said the county could also consider organizing the review by right-of-way status categories.

The commission discussed establishing clearer minimum maintenance standards for community improvement district road agreements so future developments know what to expect.

• The initial work plus three seal-coat maintenance cycles • The initial work plus two maintenance cycles • Contractor-built options

The Ellis County Health Department shared an update reflecting on 2025 and outlining initiatives planned for the year ahead.

Ellis County Commission hears updates on potential bond projects

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

&nbsp;Snow in Hays during the weekend led law enforcement to respond to several accidents.

Hays Police Lt. Brandon Wright said officers responded to four accidents involving vehicles sliding into one another. One incident saw a vehicle hitting a sign when going through a roundabout on Vine Street.

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office reported one crash after a vehicle slid off the road and went over a box culvert. Two people were taken to Hays Medical Center with minor injuries.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/894eed0b-8f72-498e-8272-d9571c69a149">Hays set two record lows during the weekend, reaching -15 overnight on Saturday and Sunday.</a>&nbsp;The K-State Ag Research Center reported 5 inches of snow during the weekend. Hays has received 8 inches of snow for the season.

Today's high is forecast at 31, with a low of 10. Sunny skies are expected on Wednesday, with a slight chance of snow returning starting Thursday.

Weekend snow storm leads to sliding vehicles in Hays

DORRANCE —&nbsp;The Dorrance American Legion will host a steak feed Saturday, February 7th

American Legion steak feed in Dorrance set for Feb. 7

&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

January 29, 2026 is a fifth Thursday of the month; therefore, there won't be a Hays City Commission work session that day.

No Hays City Commission work session this week

Anyone interested in taking drivers education this summer through Hays High&nbsp;School, please contact Jessica Dale,&nbsp;USD 489 drivers ed coordinator, at Hays Middle School.&nbsp;You may email Jessica Dale at jdale@usd489.com or call 785-623-2450.

Pre-enrollment for middle school students will be during science classes&nbsp;February 10 and 11 at Hays Middle School.

Pre-enrollment for Hays High students will be during advisory time period at Hays High School, February 17 and 18 in the hospitality room.

There will also be an informational meeting for all students and parents&nbsp; Tuesday, February 17 at the new Hays Middle School in the gym at 6:00 pm.

Four sessions will once again be offered. The sessions include the following&nbsp;dates

Session 1: May 26 – June 4 Session 2: June 8 - 18 Session 3: June 22 – July 2 Session 4: July 6 - 16

We do accept students from outside of the USD 489 school district.

Enrollment forms are available at both the middle school and high school&nbsp;offices as well as on the school websites.

Time to sign up for summer driver's ed at Hays High School

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For Kansas road conditions, visit <a href="https://www.kandrive.gov/">https://www.kandrive.gov/</a>

Latest cancellations and delays

Theme: We Wear Many Hats at ECHS

The Ellis County Historical Society (ECHS) will host its annual meeting on at 7 p.m. Monday, January 26 at the ECHS Museum, located at 100 W. Seventh Street in Hays.

This year’s meeting embraces the theme “We Wear Many Hats at ECHS,” celebrating the many roles, stories, and responsibilities involved in preserving Ellis County history. In keeping with the theme, a special display of antique hats from the Society’s collection will be on view, offering attendees a chance to take a walk down memory lane and explore fashion and function from decades past. Guests are encouraged to wear a hat and join in the fun.

The meeting will take place in the museum’s newly renovated upstairs gallery. Handicap parking is available on the south side of the building, and an elevator provides access to the meeting space.

The evening will include a review of highlights and accomplishments from 2025, along with a look ahead to 2026—a milestone year marking the Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Volga Germans in Western Kansas. Plans and projects connected to this historic anniversary will be shared.

The Annual Meeting is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. Voting privileges are reserved for current, paid members of the Ellis County Historical Society.

For those interested in local history, heritage preservation, or upcoming Sesquicentennial events, the Annual Meeting offers an engaging and informative evening—complete with a bit of historical flair.

For more information, contact the Ellis County Historical Society at 785-628-2624.

Ellis County Historical Society to have annual meeting Monday

ELLIS — Friends of the Ellis Public Library in Ellis, KS will host “Children of the Promised Land,” a presentation and discussion by Angela Bates on Feb. 1 at 3:00pm at the Ellis Public Library, 907 Washington St. 

Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. 

Contact the library at 785-726-3464 or any Friends board member for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.

Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. Black homesteaders settled the town, which today is a national historic site. This pictorial history explores the unique experience of mothers and their children in Nicodemus, some of whom were the first members of their families born free.

Bates is the executive director and past president of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She presents educational programs across the nation covering Nicodemus, Exodusters and black towns in the West, Buffalo Soldiers, and black women in the West.

“My great uncle, Henry Williams, was the first baby born in Nicodemus just a month after my great-grandmother Emma arrived with the first group of settlers in 1877,” said Bates. “He was one of the first in his generation born on the free soils of Kansas. He represents the many children of his generation that were reared by parents who were former slaves.”

For more information about “Children of the Promised Land” in Ellis contact the Ellis Public Library at 785-726-3464 or visit their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellispubliclibrary">Facebook page Ellis Public Library</a>.

“Children of the Promised Land” is part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau and “21st Century Civics,” a collection of resources that invite Kansans to participate in community discussions and learn more about the history of American democracy and the shared responsibilities of citizenship. “21st Century Civics” is made possible with support from “A More Perfect Union: America at 250,” an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Nicodemus' 'Children of The Promised Land' discussion at Ellis Public Library

Submit your videos or photos to hayspost@eaglemedia.com for possible publication on the Hays Post.

Send Hays Post your snow videos, photos

Join the United Way of Ellis County for a special Dueling Pianos fundraiser and party with a purpose!

Enjoy&nbsp;a request-driven show where two&nbsp;talented&nbsp;pianists battle it out, playing&nbsp;all your&nbsp;favorites&nbsp;from classic rock to modern hits, ensuring a night of non-stop singing, laughing and fun!&nbsp;

Best of all, every ticket&nbsp;purchased&nbsp;goes directly to supporting vital community programs offered by our 15 non-profit partner agencies here in Ellis County.&nbsp;A&nbsp;great night out for an even greater cause!&nbsp;

This benefit event will take place on Saturday, February 7 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds,&nbsp;Unrein Building, 1344 Fairground Road, Hays.&nbsp;Doors open at&nbsp;6:00&nbsp;p.m.;&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;catered by&nbsp;Thirsty’s&nbsp;at 6:30 p.m.; pianos at 8 p.m.&nbsp;Those enjoying the pianos only may enter at 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Purchase your tickets&nbsp;now online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/dueling-pianos-12?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExV2J4WmRrQVJVRXR6OHVSeXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5VT-DQtW63JqEFEafPNPRLn8dmOqyJAiyJ6xScOwneh9S2EuW5jQrpmZQOpQ_aem_8l26WJoc12s-o3VElCMdAw">https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/dueling-pianos-12 </a>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">www.liveunited.us</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

For more information, contact Janelle VanKooten, United Way of Ellis County executive director, at 785-628-8281 or director@liveunited.us.

A big thanks to our sponsors including&nbsp;

PREMIERE SPONSORS &nbsp;M &amp; D Excavating&nbsp;&nbsp; Commerce Bank&nbsp; Nex-Tech &nbsp; EVENT SUPPORTERS Golden Belt Bank Midwest Energy Car Zone Doghouse Liquor Emprise Bank Northwestern Printers Astra Bank PoPt! SILENT AUCTION DONOR Genuine Appliance&nbsp; Auto World Creekside Resort The Niche Chris Schmidt Ashley Furniture&nbsp; Nex-Tech Wireless Second Wind IV&nbsp; Jaren Kanak Dylan Dreiling

UNITED WAY OF ELLIS COUNTY PARTNER AGENCIES&nbsp; Big Brothers Big Sisters Ellis County&nbsp; Cancer Council of Ellis County CASA Court-Appointed Special Advocates CPRF Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas First Call for Help Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County Hays Senior Center High Plains Mental Health Center Options Domestic &amp; Sexual Violence Services PACT&nbsp;Parents and Teachers Together Salvation Army St. Michael's Episcopal Church Western Kansas Association on Concerns of the Disabled Western KS Child Advocacy Center

🎙 Dueling Pianos fundraiser February 7 for United Way of Ellis County  

By GARY FIELDS, JOSH FUNK and ED WHITE&nbsp;

WASHINGTON (AP) — National Transportation Safety Board members were deeply troubled Tuesday over years of ignored warnings about helicopter traffic dangers and other problems, long before last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-american-airlines-helicopter-ntsb-acc8bf751427eb6824d9d1fad30895b8">midair collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines jet from Wichita and an Army Black Hawk, which killed 67 people near Washington, D.C.

The board heard hours of testimony from investigators who outlined their findings in the collision and subsequent crash near Reagan National Airport a year ago. Key themes emerged, including “overwhelmed” air traffic control, a failure to alert the jet's pilot about the other aircraft and a history of missed opportunities to reroute helicopter traffic.

“I’m sorry for you, as these pages of these reports are written in your family members' blood,” board member Todd Inman told the audience. “I’m sorry that we have to be here.”

Family members listened intently during the hearing. Some were escorted out, including two in tears, as an animation of the flights was displayed on video screens. Others wore black shirts bearing the names of crash victims.

“The negligence of not fixing things that needed to be fixed killed my brother and 66 other people. So I’m not very happy,” Kristen Miller-Zahn, who watched from the front row, said during a break.

The NTSB's job at this point is to determine the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-f2e87b625583c077acfca694700de37f">biggest factors</a>&nbsp;in the crash and make recommendations. Victims' families say they hope there’s meaningful change.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/public-affairs-event/officials-hold-meeting-on-cause-of-midair-collision/439872">Click here to watch</a> a replay of the hearing

Before hearing from investigators, Inman said “systemic issues across multiple organizations,” not an error by any individual, caused the tragedy.

Everyone aboard the jet, flying from Wichita, Kansas, and the helicopter died when the two aircraft collided and plummeted into the icy Potomac River. It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest plane crash</a>&nbsp;on U.S. soil since 2001, and the victims included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-079cca60567e6929f4b84a8e9d6c330d">28 members of the figure skating community</a>.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-dc-plane-crash-faa-helicopters-07ea495a557b8a2767d0eca4277e8be1">made a permanent change</a>&nbsp;to ensure helicopters and planes no longer share the same airspace around the airport.

NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said she couldn’t believe the FAA didn’t realize the helicopter route in use during the crash didn’t provide adequate separation from planes landing on Reagan’s secondary runway. She noted that the FAA had refused to add detailed information about helicopter routes to pilots' charts so they could better understand the risks.

“We know over time concerns were raised repeatedly, went unheard, squashed — however you want to put it — stuck in red tape and bureaucracy of a very large organization,” Homendy said. “Repeated recommendations over the years.”

NTSB investigators said the Army and FAA weren’t sharing all safety data with each other before the crash, and that Army helicopter pilots often weren’t even aware when they were involved in a near-miss around Reagan.

NTSB human performance investigator Katherine Wilson said an air traffic controller felt a “little overwhelmed” when traffic volume increased to 10 aircraft about 10 to 15 minutes before the collision, but then “felt the volume was manageable when one or two helicopters left the airspace.”

Yet about 90 seconds before the collision, Wilson said, “traffic volume increased to a maximum of 12 aircraft consisting of seven airplanes and five helicopters. Radio communication showed that the local controller was shifting focus between airborne, ground and transiting aircraft.”

The workload “reduced his situational awareness,” Wilson said.

Details were difficult for families to hear

NTSB investigators showed a video animation to demonstrate how difficult it would have been for the pilots in both aircraft to spot the other amid the lights of Washington. The animation also showed how the windshields of both aircraft and the helicopter crew’s night vision goggles restricted views.

Ahead of the hearing, Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters, said she was hoping for “clarity and urgency” from the NTSB process.

No one else, she said, should have to “wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone.”

Whether that happens depends on how Congress, the Army and the Trump administration respond after the hearing. A pending bill would require all aircraft to have advanced locator systems to help avoid collisions.

Even before Tuesday, the NTSB had already spelled out many key factors that contributed to the crash. Investigators said controllers in the Reagan tower had been overly reliant on asking pilots to spot other aircraft and maintain visual separation.

The night of the crash, the controller approved the Black Hawk's request to do that twice. However, the investigation has shown that the helicopter pilots likely never spotted the American Airlines plane as the jet circled to land on the little-used secondary runway.

In a statement, the FAA said it has reduced hourly plane arrivals at Reagan airport from 36 to 30 and increased staff. The agency said it has 22 certified controllers in the tower and eight more in training.

“We will diligently consider any additional recommendations” from the NTSB, the FAA said.

Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-crash-aviation-safety-76215f9d429274f3b5089e81baa97d6a">high-profile crashes and close calls</a>&nbsp;followed the D.C. collision, alarming the flying public. But NTSB statistics show that the total number of crashes last year was the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, with 1,405 nationwide.

Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska, and White reported from Detroit.

NTSB investigator Katherine Wilson said an air traffic controller felt a “little overwhelmed” when traffic volume increased to 10 aircraft about 10 to 15 minutes before the collision, but then “felt the volume was manageable when one or two helicopters left the airspace.”

“I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again,” Feres said. “That nobody else has to wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone.”

🎥NTSB on deadly jet from Kansas, helicopter crash: We should be angry

WICHITA, KS – The Kansas Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for the cases of Reginald and Jonathan Carr for Wednesday, January 28.

Below is a summary provided by the district attorney's office on the current status of these appeals, and a summary of what has happened in the cases so far.

Prosecutors said the brothers broke into a Wichita home in December 2000 and forced the three men and two women there to have sex with one another and later to withdraw money from ATMs.

According to authorities, the women were raped repeatedly before all five were taken to a soccer field and shot. Four victims died: Aaron Sander, 29; Brad Heyka, 27; Jason Befort, 26; and Heather Muller, 25. One of the women survived to testify against the Carr brothers. Other crimes over six days left a fifth person dead.

The defendants each appealed Judge Goering’s denial that was issued in April of 2024.&nbsp; The arguments on those appeals scheduled for next week are to resolve those appeals.&nbsp; The defendants’ arguments are (summarized) that they should be granted new sentencing hearings at which point the question of the death penalty would have to be re-litigated.&nbsp; The State’s argument (summarized) is that the question has been resolved, and no new sentencing should be granted.

When any capital murder or other “off-grid” case is appealed in Kansas, the appellate proceedings are as follows:

Then when the direct appeals are exhausted,

Then when the collateral attacks are exhausted,

Kan. High Court to hear death row appeal in Wichita massacre

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar">U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar</a>&nbsp;and was tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall in Minneapolis, where tensions over federal immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">have come to a head</a>&nbsp;after agents fatally shot an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-alex-pretti-border-patrol-shooting-investigation-9d8ac8531f0d195ada3374c86a9deb21">intensive care nurse</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">mother of three</a>&nbsp;this month.

The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.”

Just before that Omar had called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.

Minneapolis police said officers saw a man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid at Omar. They immediately arrested him and booked him at the county jail for third-degree assault, spokesperson Trevor Folke said in an email. Police also said forensic scientists responded to the scene.

Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room by her security detail, saying she would not be intimidated. Journalists said there was a strong, vinegar-like smell when the man pushed on the syringe.

Walking out afterward, Omar said she felt a little flustered but was not hurt. She was going to be screened by a medical team.

She later posted on the social platform X: “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.

President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman and has stepped up verbal attacks on her in recent months as he turned his focus on Minneapolis.

During a Cabinet meeting in December, he called her “garbage” and added that “her friends are garbage.”

Hours earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country.”

“They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.

He added: “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”

Fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, denounced the assault on Omar.

“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, also condemned the attack on X, saying: “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk.”

He added that he was relieved that Omar “is OK” and thanked police for their quick response, concluding: “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”

The attack came days after a man was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sundance-film-festival-congressman-assault-ff98382c02bdecdbf5c28ac0b677ac6a">arrested in Utah</a>&nbsp;for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 and the aftermath of that year’s Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, before dipping slightly only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-threat-assessment-cases-2024" target="_blank">U.S. Capitol Police</a>.

Lawmakers have discussed the chill the threats bring on their ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing the threat environment in their decisions not to seek reelection.

Omar has faced the most particular concern, long targeted with harsh language and personal attacks by Trump and other Republicans.

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