By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Downtown Ellis will glow one more time tonight as the beloved holiday train returns for its final evening.

The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m., with miniature train rides starting after Ellis Recreation’s free Candy Cane Hunt at 5:30 p.m. at Twilight Baseball Field.

A suggested $5 donation per rider offers a trip through a magical one-mile route lined with thousands of holiday lights and seasonal displays. This year’s theme adds a playful touch with yeti sightings and a tribute to first responders.

All donations support programs for local children. Saturday was the only night for cookies and a family visit with Santa Claus.

You can follow Ellis Polar Express on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellispolarexpress/">Facebook</a>&nbsp;for any updates.

📷 Ellis Polar Express to make final stop tonight

On Tuesday, December 16 from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. , we will be having a Drive-Through Caroling Night combined with a food drive at Roosevelt Elementary School, 2000 MacArthur Street. 

 Our students and families will line the Roosevelt drive and will collect any food items or other donations anyone is able to provide.  We will be singing Christmas carols for them to enjoy while driving through. 

 Even if someone is not able to donate, we still want community members to drive through and enjoy the Christmas carols

Drive-through Caroling Night Dec. 16 at Roosevelt School includes food drive

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

One of the perks of having had an interesting and memorable childhood full of interesting and memorable characters, is having a treasure chest full of stories at one’s disposal should all other inspiration elude me as I sit down to pen a weekly column. And with deer rifle season beginning in Kansas, here is a story full of those characters.

I’ve often mentioned that during our first several years of deer hunting my brother and I were part of a neighborhood group of landowners and farmers that often hunted deer together. We would converge on a property, “post” two or three guys along one edge, then walk through from the other side as a group and attempt to run the deer out past the “posters” for a shot. 

We had some colorful and amusing individuals in our assembly. As in every group, we had Dave, the local cop who always shot straight, looked sharp and made no mistakes. Many deer were spotted from his kitchen window as we all sat around warming up with a hot drink. Someone (usually Dave) would spot a deer crossing the road, and coffee cups and chairs would fly as we headed for the trucks.

The Beck clan, brothers Don and Paul and most of Paul’s kids made up the bulk of the group. As I talked with my brother the other evening, he reminded me that the first advice I gave him when he began hunting with us was, “When the Becks start shootin’, just get on the ground!”

 I remember standing beside Don one day in the woods when a big buck erupted from a brush pile in front of us. I was behind the pile and couldn’t see well enough for a shot, but Don emptied both barrels of his old double barrel at the fleeing buck. The buck danced away unscathed and the next day Don had a different gun. 

His brother Paul (known to all of us as junior) had a live-in girl friend named Elaine. They were both pretty coarse and crude around the edges, and the best way I know to describe Paul is to compare him to Jackie Gleason’s character Ralph Kramden - always grousing and whining over something. Elaine hunted with us, too, and when they were dressed in hunting garb, the only way to tell them apart was that Elaine was the bigger one. Her favorite line, uttered often as we stood somewhere loitering and planning our assault was “I’m goin’ deer huntin’, you pansies!”

Of the Becks, Ralph, who was my age, was my favorite. He was a big, hairy guy (that earned him the nickname Wolf) who didn’t know his own strength. Turkey shoots were popular back in those days and sponsored by numerous organizations. For a fee you were given one shotgun shell and stood in a line in front of a row of paper targets. After everyone had shot, the targets were pulled down and the number of pellets was counted in each target. The winner was obviously the person putting the most pellets in their target and the prize was a turkey or a ham.

 Ralph had an old single-shot 12-gauge shotgun that broke open to load. The mechanism that allowed it to hinge open had long since ceased to function, so to load it, he simply pulled the pin and the gun became two pieces. He’d load the shell, reinsert the pin and close the gun. It was worth going with him to turkey shoots just to watch. All other shooters up and down the firing line sporting expensive custom-built shotguns would sneer and snicker as he walked up and broke the battered old 12-gauge in half and loaded his shell. The reactions became quite different, though as he fired the old cannon and walked away with the turkey every time.

As with most childhood stories, everything has changed now. I moved to Kansas and have lost touch with most of the old hunting gaggle. 

My brother and I and our families remain active deer hunters and trappers, I’d say in part because of those early experiences. Back then, we harvested few deer, but I learned respect for nature and for my elders. I learned hunter safety without a book or video to teach me. I also learned I’m glad that here in Kansas I can hunt deer with a rifle instead of a shotgun! 

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Whitetails, shotguns and turkey shoots

On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Ellis High School inducted nine juniors and fifteen seniors into the local chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). 

The requirements for NHS membership include maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.5, demonstrating leadership in seven organizations within the school or community, completing 40 hours of community service, and receiving a positive character evaluation from teachers. 

The following students were inducted into the National Honor Society:

SENIORS: Owen Richards, son of Brady and Jamie Richards; Jaren Frickey, son of Brian and Michelle Frickey; Ethan Carroll, son of Matt and Nicole Carroll; Kia Mader, daughter of Michael and Mindi Mader; Payten Burd, daughter of Shaun and Emily Burd; Kinzie Sunley, granddaughter of Allen and Kim Weber; Eliana Brull, daughter of Steven and Sheresa Brull; Leah Reed, daughter of Darin and April Reed; Avery Boydston, daughter of Monte and Deidre Boydston; Sienna Schmidt, daughter of Dick and Shannon Schmidt; Ashlyn Kroeger, daughter of Matt and Rachael Kroeger; Raegan Jimenez, daughter of Javi and Jessica Jimenez; Carson Schartz, son of Jake and Jennifer Schartz; Mason Rohleder, son of Logan and Ashley Kauten; and Augustus Peine, son of Derek and Sarah Peine.

JUNIORS: Jersee Fabrizius, daughter of Chad and Jessica Fabrizius; Taylor Kohl, daughter of Jeff and Emily Kohl; Evelyn Merriman, daughter of Rob and Amber Merriman; Aiden Aschenbrenner, son of Gary and Tara Aschenbrenner; Colton Metzler, son of Jim and Becky Metzler; Wyatt Dixson, son of Tanner and Jill Dixson; Maggie Fitzgerald, daughter of Michael Fitzgerald and Mandy Stoecklein; Madison Birdsong, daughter of Jerry and Tara Birdsong; and Jocelyn Eck, daughter of Mark and Sarah Eck.

Ellis High School inducts 24 into National Honor Society 

Join the Kansas Wetlands Education Center staff in celebrating the Christmas season with a Holiday Open House from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 13.

The KWEC gift store is stocked with perfect gift selections for any nature enthusiast. Visitors can take advantage of a 40 percent discount on one item, excluding consignment items. Find the hidden Christmas Goose and be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate.

Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to decorate bird-shaped sugar cookies that resemble birds that visit Cheyenne Bottoms. Information about some of the winter birds commonly found in the area will also be presented. In addition, participants can create a unique eagle ornament to take home.&nbsp;Bald eagles are a common sight at Cheyenne Bottoms in the winter.&nbsp;

This year, we're also adding a festive twist to the nature trail.&nbsp;Three beautiful stained-glass bird ornaments will be hidden along the path, waiting to be discovered.&nbsp;If you find one, it's yours to keep as a special holiday treasure.&nbsp;Take a stroll, enjoy the winter scenery, and see if you can spot these colorful surprises during your visit.

No registration is required for this free, family-friendly event.&nbsp;Kick start your holiday spirit with a visit to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center.&nbsp;For more information, visit wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu or call 1-877-243-9268.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU's Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of K-156 Hwy. Great Bend, Kan. 67530.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s 2025 Holiday Open House

By RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight Kansas

Last month, two Kansas cities made decisions central to their future. 

The first city was Prairie Village, a town of barely 20,000 people; the second was Wichita, the largest municipality in the state, with almost 20 times PV’s population. Despite their differences and the many distinct issues in play in both cities, though, their decisions reflect a common argument.

Hiring a professional manager to handle the executive functions of a city is a common form of urban government, though not the one experienced by the greatest number of Americans. Most larger cities—as well as many smaller ones—have a “strong mayor” system, with voters electing a mayor with authority to deal with the agendas presented by an elected city council, in the same way the legislative and executive branches function on the state and national level. The replacement of that system in many places with one of supposedly apolitical professionalization is over 100 years old—yet challenges to it remain.

Those challenges were on display in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/24/prairie-village-abandon-question-2025-election/">municipal election in Prairie Village</a>. PV’s government includes a traditional elected mayor with veto power, and elected council members representing their constituents’ interests.

But a group of citizens organized under the name PV United had pushed forward a ballot referendum, asking Prairie Village’s residents if they wished to “abandon” their current system. PV United’s official goals, as stated by various supporters, are to reduce the size of the council and move more urban responsibilities over to a “professionally trained and experienced city manager” instead.

Of course, like every other form of government in existence, PV is not lacking in hired staff to research ordinances, administer policies, and enforce laws; they in fact already have someone serving as “city administrator.” But such supporting staff wasn’t enough for PV United; in their view, a “professionally run city” would ideally have a “council-mayor-manager” system instead.

That ballot referendum&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/11/05/prairie-village-rejects-abandon-question-273254/">lost badly</a>. The defeat was likely more about stopping various political and business actors who opposed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2023/05/04/prairie-village-housing-rezoning-ballot-200895/">easier zoning changes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/10/23/prairie-village-city-hall-election-272064/">civic development plans</a>&nbsp;than it was about government, but given that strong mayor systems&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/what-does-tulsa-have-that-wichita">arguably handle matters pertaining to growth and diversity more positively</a>&nbsp;than council-manager ones, the vote remains relevant.

By contrast, Wichita’s decision—made by city leaders, rather than voters—was to maintain their council-manager system of government, as their city manager of 17 years is retiring. His&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.zippia.com/city-manager-jobs/demographics/">unusually long tenure</a>&nbsp;had garnered much praise, but also controversy, and when he announced his plans months ago, there were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article303451121.html">some</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article303335736.html">suggestions</a>&nbsp;(including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wide-open/id1853863873">an entire podcast series</a>) that it was time for Wichita to debate the representativeness, and effectiveness, of continuing with a system that nominally (<a target="_blank" href="https://klcjournal.com/local-nonpartisan-elections-2021/">though rarely actually</a>) tries to leaves politics out of city decisions.

Such conversations never truly took place, however—and, with almost no citizen input, just before Thanksgiving the Wichita City Council&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article313140781.html">decided upon their new city manager</a>.

The vote to do so wasn’t unanimous, however, with councilmembers and others alleging interference with the hiring committee, misrepresentation of priorities, frustration over&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article313044373.html">the only local (and only non-white) finalist dropping out without explanation</a>, and more. In other words, some serious political complaints were made—but which now have no real political route forward.

The point is not that the decision of Prairie Village voters was obviously correct, or that the decision made by Wichita’s current leadership obviously wasn’t. It is simply that this supposedly boring argument over government structure isn’t&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://inmedias.blogspot.com/2019/12/its-time-for-wichita-and-its-government.html">going</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/13-points-on-the-possible-strong">away</a>. So perhaps talking more explicitly and openly about these decisions, and the motivations behind them, would be a good idea.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Questions for, and about, city managers in Kansas

<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 Heartland Soil Services LLC and Flatlander Dirt Works of Hays for a Back to the Basics Event - Understanding Soil pH and Soil Fertility to Maximize Productivity.&nbsp; This event focuses on what really matters below the surface - understanding soil fertility and pH for better results in the field.

Week 3 Reindeer Radio winner announced; play with KAYS, Hays Post

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Sunset Valley MHP, Hays, KS public water supply system located in Ellis County. The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure due to required maintenance in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind notice following testing at a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the Sunset Valley MHP, Hays, KS indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 308-629-7874 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F468%2FDisruption-in-Water-Service%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019af4a4e68b-ae85a77f-5f26-46ad-a0f5-89f160f0d000-000000/RZeUmS3CCQWcgN2WbtaFseA5swSLhCd0lV-RQ39eYuI=434">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>.

Boil water advisory rescinded for Sunset Valley Mobile Home Park

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to the Hays Post

Three Hays churches are collaborating to present the annual “Blue Christmas Service” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall St.

In addition to First Presbyterian, the other two churches are St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and Trinity Lutheran Church.

The Rev. Brenda Roger, pastor at Trinity, said, “While society pushes this to be 'the most wonderful time of the year,’ that isn't true for everyone. For many, it doesn't matter how festive and bright the surroundings are or how joy-filled and triumphantly we sing the familiar hymns; people can be weighed down by their own circumstances with loss, grief, and despair.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Blue Christmas Service offers a safe space to mourn the losses past and present and acknowledge those feelings that keep us from feeling jolly and bright during this season.”

The service will last an hour and will include music, scripture readings, and prayers. A combined choir from the three churches will be featured, under the direction of Ash McKinley, director of sacred music at St. Michael’s.

The Rev. Ben Houchen, pastor at First Presbyterian and St. Michael’s, said there will be an opportunity for attendees to light memorial candles from one central candle.

Houchen said, “The Advent season is one of anticipation. For some, that anticipation is joyous and bright. Others wait in more somber spaces. Pain, loss, and the weight of this life hang heavy on them. Oftentimes that weight can feel like a wedge between us and this time of Christmas cheer.

“The Blue Christmas service is an invitation into this season on more tender terms. It is a service where we encourage people to enter and exit quietly,” he added.

&nbsp;Roger stressed that the community is invited to attend. “This is a service for everyone, as we have all suffered a loss of some kind.”

'Blue Christmas Service' to be held Dec. 10 at Hays First Presbyterian Church; all invited 

Downtown Hays invites the community to bundle up and experience the magic of the 25th annual&nbsp;FrostFest Illuminated Parade on Sunday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. This year marks a major milestone as FrostFest&nbsp;celebrates a quarter-century of glowing floats, community pride, and holiday wonder — and with 50+ registered&nbsp;parade entries, it’s shaping up to be the most spectacular procession yet.

This year’s theme, “Timeless Traditions,” reflects the parade’s long-standing place in Hays’ holiday season. Floats&nbsp;and entries will shine in a nod both to the parade’s 25th anniversary and to the nostalgic traditions that return year after year.

“Reaching 25 years of FrostFest is something truly special,” said Lee Ann June, executive director of The Bricks. 

“This parade is woven into the heart of the community. Families come every year, businesses and organizations&nbsp;pour their creativity into their floats, and the glow on Main Street feels like pure Christmas magic. We couldn’t be&nbsp;more excited to celebrate this milestone with a record number of entries.”

This year, FrostFest also honors the Christmas Magic on Main Street Tree Topper Sponsor, Werth Wealth&nbsp;Management, who will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2025 parade in recognition of their generous support of&nbsp;the Christmas Magic on Main Street imitative.

In addition, thanks to the support of the Hays Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau, parade participants will compete for&nbsp;cash prizes across multiple categories including among others, People’s Choice — adding an extra spark of friendly&nbsp;community competition to this year’s festivities.

The FrostFest Illuminated Parade is part of the larger Christmas Magic on Main Street season — a community-driven initiative supported by sponsors, donors, and volunteers who help bring festive events, lights, and holiday&nbsp;activities to Downtown Hays.

Spectators are encouraged to arrive early, dress warmly, and enjoy the twinkling lights, festive music, and&nbsp;community spirit that make FrostFest a beloved holiday tradition.

The FrostFest Parade is one of many free, family-friendly events offered as part of Christmas Magic on Main Street,&nbsp;generously supported by sponsors at every tier — from Candlelight Contributors to Tree Topper and Secret Santa&nbsp;sponsors. Their commitment helps keep these experiences free and accessible to all.

For full event listings, parade details, and seasonal activities, visit <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/frostfest">www.downtownhays.com</a>.

🎤 FrostFest Illuminated Parade celebrates 25 years in downtown Hays on Sunday

&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

A decorated U.S. Army Colonel and combat veteran, Kansas State Representative Pat Proctor,&nbsp;representing the 41st House District,&nbsp; is running for Secretary of State.

Come hear his plan for Kansas on Tuesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Trails Room of the Memorial Union at Fort Hays State University. 

He is hosted&nbsp;by FHSU College Republicans.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DR2znn-kreA/?igsh=dXFjanh2bjBodDB2">https://www.instagram.com/p/DR2znn-kreA/?igsh=dXFjanh2bjBodDB2</a>

Kansas Secretary of State candidate Pat Proctor to speak at Fort Hays State University

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS (SHPBS) is proud to announce the broadcast of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Football Championship games, featuring the top teams in the 8-Player DI &amp; DII classifications and 6-Player.

The games, originally played on November 29, will air on December 6 and 7, bringing the excitement of Kansas high school football directly to viewers across western and central Kansas.

This exciting announcement reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality sports content to our audience and celebrating the achievements of talented athletes in our communities.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS is proud to be at the forefront of showcasing the passion, dedication, and sportsmanship of the young high school athletes within our viewing area.

DATE:&nbsp;&nbsp;Saturday, December 6

8-Player DI –&nbsp;South Central vs. Lincoln

6-Player&nbsp; –&nbsp;Cunningham vs. Weskan

DATE:&nbsp;&nbsp;Sunday, December 7

8-Player DII –&nbsp;Hanover vs. Victoria

Victoria among state football champion games on Smoky Hill PBS 

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance (ECMA) will have its monthly meeting at noon Wednesday, Dec. 10, at First Call for Help of Ellis County, 607 E. 13th&nbsp;St.

Anyone wishing to make a presentation to the group must make prior arrangements by contacting the ECMA president, Cheryl Glassman, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:president@ourecma.com">president@ourecma.com</a>.

Ellis County Ministerial Alliance sets December meeting

COLBY — “Christmas in Killarney” is the&nbsp;Western Plains Arts Association&nbsp;holiday season program this year. It will be held Friday, December 5 at the Oakley High School auditorium starting at 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;

Admission to the show can be purchased at the door or by WPAA season tickets.&nbsp;

“Christmas in Killarney” transports audiences to 1920s Ireland through world-champion Irish dance and beloved holiday classics. Don’t miss this holiday special that shows what it means to celebrate Christmas the “Irish Way,” where many of our Christmas traditions originated.&nbsp;

We would like to thank all the area sponsors. This project is also generously funded by the Logan County Community Foundation and the Dane G Hansen Foundation. Additionally, sponsored in part by the state of Kansas through the Kansas Arts&nbsp; Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

'Christmas in Killarney' comes to Oakley on Dec. 5

The Ellis County Ham Operators will have their radios set up for kids to talk to Santa and share their wish list with him on Sunday, December 7 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. &nbsp;

Bring the kids to Vanderbilt’s, 2704 Vine, Hays.

Kids can talk to Santa Claus via Ellis County Ham Operators on Saturday 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Manhattan. Just before 12:30a.m.&nbsp;December 6, police responded to the 800 block of Colorado Street in Manhattan, for a reported welfare check of an injured man, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

First responders located a 36-year-old man, identified as Mark Rickenbaker of Manhattan who had serious injuries to his body. During the investigation, officers discovered that Rickenbaker had been involved in an altercation prior to their arrival.&nbsp; Rickenbaker was transported by ambulance to Via Christi Hospital and died as a result of his injuries. &nbsp;

This is an isolated incident, according to the RCPD. Police released no additional details.

Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;Crime Stoppers. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police investigating 36-year-old man's murder in Manhattan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-layoffs-doge-musk-trump-93efbed33957af5ec8ac37744d0592de">Social Security Administration</a>&nbsp;is hoping to cut visits to its field offices in half next year, a move that advocates for the agency fear signals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-offices-closures-doge-trump-b2b1a5b2ba4fb968abc3379bf90715ff">more closures</a>&nbsp;are coming.

Field offices have long been community-based branches that serve as the public face of the SSA, which provide in-person help for people applying for retirement and disability benefits, getting Social Security cards and other important services.

A November internal field office operating plan shared with The Associated Press outlines a proposed target of 50% fewer field office visitors in fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal year 2025, or no more than 15 million field office visits by members of the public. Agency field offices saw more than 31.6 million field office visits from SSA recipients from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, according to the agency document.

Barton Mackey, a Social Security spokesperson, said “field offices are, and will always remain, our front-line, providing in-person services to the approximately 75 million Americans who receive monthly payments and more than 330 million Americans with Social Security numbers, which the Commissioner has reiterated countless times since his confirmation.”

“The Social Security Administration under President Trump’s leadership is serving more Americans than ever before at quicker speeds, and meeting customers where they want to be served,” Mackey said. “Through technology improvements and modernization, more Americans are choosing to easily and quickly manage their benefits online or over the phone.”

Nextgov/FCW first reported on the agency’s plan to reduce field office foot traffic.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-layoffs-doge-musk-trump-93efbed33957af5ec8ac37744d0592de">At least 7,000 SSA</a>&nbsp;workers have been laid off from the agency this year as the Trump administration has proposed a number of plans to streamline services at the SSA.

In March, after outcry from lawmakers and the public, SSA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-administration-disability-benefits-dd53fb317dbd0e41cee436fdea9e6095">leadership partially backtracked on a plan</a>&nbsp;that would require all new and existing beneficiaries who are unable to use the agency’s online portal to travel to a Social Security field office to verify their identity.

Jessica LaPointe, a union leader for 30,000 Social Security workers through the American Federation of Government Employees, or AFGE, said field offices are part of the quality of life agenda within communities, especially for “people who don’t have the resources to purchase technology to navigate the online world and they should be able to walk into an office to get help.”

She said the SSA wants “to allow AI and the internet to replace a well-trained, well-vetted workforce.”

Several field offices in rural areas of the U.S. have already closed this year because of a lack of staffing.

The Social Security website lists several office closures as well as offices that are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/agency/emergency/" target="_blank">only able to assist by phone</a>&nbsp;until further notice. The agency says the closures are not permanent, rather, the offices are closed due to maintenance or facilities issues that the agency is working to resolve, the agency says.

Chris Delaney, a Social Security claims specialist and president of AFGE Local 3343 in Hudson, says he cannot imagine how SSA can have a goal of cutting foot traffic when his office is seeing an increase in foot traffic and a growing aging population reliant on SSA income. The Hudson office sees roughly 30 to 60 visitors per day who have questions about their benefits.

“A lot of people can’t get past the ID verification on&nbsp;<a href="http://login.gov/" target="_blank">login.gov</a>, and just because they have a cellphone doesn’t mean they’re capable of creating an online account,” Delaney said. “Having people in the office when they need it is important.”

The 2026 operating plan also calls for all requested appointments to be scheduled within 30 days, instead of the current rate of 78.3% of all appointments scheduled within 30 days.

Social Security is one of the nation’s largest and most popular social programs. A January poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that two-thirds of U.S. adults think the country is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-poll-government-spending-social-security-medicare-8a8ddb0e721355a4e9585da4147efe1a">spending too little on Social Security</a>.

The agency has faced several lawsuits over the Trump administration’s plans to overhaul the agency.

In October, Democracy Forward, a legal group challenging the Trump administration’s policies, filed a lawsuit to compel SSA to release public records about service disruptions and policy changes.

“After executing the largest staffing cuts in the 90-year history of Social Security, they’re trying to deal with a problem they created without any meaningful discussion,” LaPointe said. “What they’re doing is void of public input.”

What Social Security Admin. plan to cut field office visits means for you

By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer

The nation's freight railroads are going to be able to try relying more on technology and inspect their tracks in person less often after the federal government approved their waiver request on Friday.

The Association of American Railroads trade group asked for the relief from inspection requirements that were written back in 1971 because railroads believe the automated track inspection technology they use today is so good at spotting problems early that human inspections aren't needed as frequently. They say that extended tests that BNSF and Norfolk Southern ran show that safety actually improved even when human inspections were reduced from twice a week to twice a month.

The Federal Railroad Administration didn't go quite that far in its decision, but the agency said railroads will be able to cut inspections down to only once a week under the approved waiver.

The railroads had also asked for permission to have up to three days to repair defects identified by the automated inspections. But the Federal Railroad Administration said any serious defects in the tracks must be repaired immediately and all defects should be addressed within 24 hours.

These automated inspection systems use an array of cameras and lasers installed either on a locomotive or on a railcar that can be pulled as part of a train to assess whether the tracks are moving out of alignment or shifting. But the union that represents track inspectors says the technology can’t detect things like the rock underneath the track shifting, vegetation growing into the path of the trains, a crack in the rail or railroad ties rotting out. Plus, inspectors can spot a combination of small defects that might together derail a train where the machine might not register a problem, the union says.

“This is everyday defects across the entire country that we find through visual inspections that cannot be detected by this machinery,” Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union President Tony Cardwell said. “And that technology is not there. It has been here for 30 years. It hasn’t really advanced much at all. It’s a glorified tape measure.”

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union that represents track inspectors acknowledges that this technology does help spot problems. But the union says that this automated inspection equipment should supplement — not replace — human inspections because reducing track inspections would increase the risk of derailments.

The railroads counter that even if these systems can't see the ballast shifting under the tracks or the ties starting to rot, the system will notice the symptoms of those problems because the track geometry — basically the alignment of the tracks — will be affected when those things happen.

“What it is looking at is the ultimate performance. If those components are doing their job, then the track geometry is being maintained. If they’re not doing their job, the track geometry is not being maintained,” said Mike Rush, the Association of American Railroads' senior vice president of safety and operations.

Companies say technology is more effective

BNSF railroad said when it was arguing with the Federal Railroad Administration about whether their test should be extended that the “technology has proven to be far more sensitive and effective at detecting geometry defects on BNSF’s network than the regime of manual visual inspections mandated by the historic regulations.”

Over two years of testing, manual inspections detected only 0.01 defects per 100 miles, compared with the section of the railroad where the test was being run where the combination of the technology and reduced inspections found 4.54 defects per 100 miles.

The Federal Railroad Administration agreed that tracks don't need to be inspected visually as frequently when these automated track inspection systems are used regularly.

Cardwell and the union's safety director, Roy Morrison, think that's a bad idea. They said that one of the benefits of frequent inspections is that the inspectors become intimately familiar with their territories, which helps them spot subtle changes. If they aren't out on the tracks as often, it may be harder to spot problems, they said.

“A track inspector who’s out on his mainline track twice a week, he knows that track inside out, and a lot of times he’ll spot a defect without even knowing what he’s looking at yet,” Morrison said. “He’ll get out of the truck and say, hey, there’s something wrong here. Take some measurements and go, OK, this is what’s going on.”

But the railroads say that freeing up inspectors from some of these mandated track inspections will allow them to focus more on switches and other equipment that must be inspected manually. Plus, Norfolk Southern noted in its comments on the request that even if regular inspections aren't being done as often, special inspections will still be done regularly anytime there is a major storm or flooding in a certain area to make sure the tracks weren't affected.

Norfolk Southern said that during its 18-month test of reducing inspections while using the technology, the railroad saw improvements in areas that the automated system can't find because inspectors were free to spend more time focused on those areas.

Railroads will be allowed to reduce inspections and rely more on technology to spot track problems

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Kansas men made their initial appearances before a federal judge following indictments in connection with a $4 million retail sales investment scheme.

According to court documents, Baha Ibrahim, 21, and Jawad Albadawi, 21, both of Overland Park, were indicted on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, nine counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, six counts of money laundering, and seven counts of transacting in criminal proceeds.&nbsp;

According to court documents, Ibrahim and Albadawi allegedly solicited money from investors by falsely claiming that their business would purchase merchandise wholesale and then sell the items online as individual retail sales, thereby yielding high returns. From March 2024 to August 2024, Ibrahim and Albadawi are accused of failing to purchase bulk items or sell them consistent with representations they made to investors. &nbsp;They are accused of misappropriating investors’ funds for their own personal benefit, including the purchase of luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and lavish trips to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Greece, and Las Vegas.&nbsp;

Ibrahim and Albadawi made their initial court appearances on November 24, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

2 Kan. men accused of using investors' money to take luxury trips

WASHINGTON (AP) — The publisher of the beloved children’s character Franklin the Turtle and Pop singer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sabrina-carpenter">Sabrina Carpenter</a>&nbsp;are disavowing the Trump administration’s use of their imagery and music to support its agenda.

Responding to the use of her song “Juno” in a video montage depicting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Carpenter tweeted Tuesday: “this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”

In the caption for the clip, the White House quoted Carpenter’s lyrics “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye.”

On Monday, Franklin the Turtle publisher Kids Can Press condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s post on X featuring a manipulated image showing Franklin aiming a bazooka at boats. Hegseth posted the image with the caption “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.”

“We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values,” the publisher said in a tweet.

The Trump administration has conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-drugs-25000-lives-c6e4c750b0dc6f15d397d598c9bd169f">multiple strikes</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean on small boats accused of ferrying drugs in the region. More than 80 people have been killed in such strikes since early September.

There is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ronald-reagan-hip-hop-and-rap-phil-collins-bruce-springsteen-394ddb622b30a718f1b4621a316a78c3">a long list of performers</a>&nbsp;and artists who have objected to the Trump administration using their songs and copyright material, including ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/semisonic-trump-cling-time-b9984c537f8aca5c68e80454aaa1cf22">Semisonic</a>, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-campaign-songs-celine-dion-objections-a6add3c61426768fa30fddb596db9797">Celine Dion</a>, Beyoncé and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/state-elections-music-general-news-gubernatorial-elections-fa03d5927b4b4f039ba97ced85c0b8ad">Adele</a>.

Pop singer, publisher condemn Trump admin.'s use of their work

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — An international body tasked with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">governing the Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;under the next phase of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-un-us-plan-israel-45c3a49cf3c135821a7c1722354b5b94">U.S.-brokered ceasefire</a>&nbsp;is expected to be announced by the end of the year, an Arab official and a Western diplomat said Friday.

According to the ceasefire agreement, the authority — known as the Board of Peace and chaired by U.S. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;— is to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-gaza-ceasefire-us-resolution-russia-107e44e276fe04a5365ff6d914545718">under a two-year, renewable U.N. mandate</a>.

It will include about a dozen other Middle Eastern and Western leaders, the Arab official and the Western diplomat told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/10/global-support-for-president-trumps-bold-vision-for-peace-in-gaza/">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;global support of the President's plan for peace in Gaza

Also to be announced is a committee of Palestinian technocrats who will run the day-to-day administration of post-war Gaza, they two said. The Western diplomat, who spoke to the AP over the phone from Cairo, said the announcement about this will likely happen when Trump and Israeli Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;meet later this month.

The ceasefire deal also calls for an armed International Stabilization Force to keep security and ensure the disarming of the militant Hamas group, a key demand of Israel.

The announcement would be a significant step forward in implementing Trump’s 20-point plan for the territory devastated by Israel’s two-year campaign against Hamas.

The shaky ceasefire, which came into effect on Oct. 10, has been tested by outbursts of violence and accusations by both sides of violations of the truce. The first phase of the ceasefire has neared completion, though Hamas is still to hand over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-netanyahu-ran-gvili-594f8faf7514f49750756de52f5c5f95">remains of a last Israel hostage called for under the deal</a>.

The Arab official said that talks are still ongoing over which countries will take part in the international force for Gaza but that he expects deployment will begin in the first quarter of 2026.

A U.S. official gave a similar timeline, saying that “boots on the ground” could be a reality in early 2026. The official spoke to the AP on the same condition of anonymity. Axios first reported the anticipated announcement on Thursday.

The Arab official said that “extensive talks” will start immediately with Hamas and Israel on the details of the second phase, which he expects to be tough.

Those talks are expected the tackle the issue of disarming Hamas, a step the militant group has not yet agreed to. The plan also calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from the roughly half of the Gaza Strip that they still control as the international force deploys.

Funding for a rebuilding plan for the Gaza Strip still has not been determined. Some Palestinians have expressed concern over the apparent lack of a Palestinian voice in the body and the lack of a firm promise in the plan that they will eventually gain statehood.

Netanyahu’s government rejects the creation of a Palestinian state, and the U.S.-brokered deal includes only a vague provision that a pathway toward statehood may be possible if certain conditions are met.

Israel’s plan to open a Gaza border crossing with Egypt

Israel announced on Wednesday that it plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-palestinians-hamas-rafah-1e1f8a208a58c0bb671b52304e2d6afa">reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt</a>&nbsp;in the coming days, allowing Palestinians to leave the devastated strip as laid out by the ceasefire agreement. That could be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-war-rafah-crossing-egypt-09acfdacaa4cbc48b19aaade5a0e1d2c">a major development for residents</a>, for whom leaving has been extremely difficult — if not impossible — for most of the war.

However, the governments of Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar all expressed “deep concern” on Friday about the plan.

A dispute also emerged between Egypt and Israel — Cairo wants Palestinians to be able to return to Gaza through the crossing and says it would only be opened if movement is allowed both ways. Israel has said that Palestinians will not be able to return to Gaza through the crossing until the last hostages’ remains are returned from Gaza.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the eight countries said the Rafah crossing must be open in both directions to allow for “freedom of movement” for Palestinians. They also expressed concern that if Palestinians were to leave Gaza, they might not be allowed to return.

The ministers underscored “their absolute rejection of any attempts to expel the Palestinian people from their land,” they wrote.

On Friday, Israel’s military said it killed a man in northern Gaza who was approaching the troops with another man, both of whom were “carrying suspicious objects.”

Israeli forces also killed another man in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a 38-year-old was shot by Israeli forces in the northern West Bank while the military said the man threw a rock at soldiers.

The killings mark the latest violence in the Palestinian territories, which has fueled concern that it could shake Gaza’s fragile truce.

The latest Israel-Hamas war started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 others hostage. Israel’s subsequent campaign in Gaza has killed more than 70,100 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.

Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Doha, Qatar, and Megan Janetsky in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

U.S. to reveal 'Board of Peace' for Gaza before Christmas

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a theft at a department store in Topeka.

Just before 10:30a.m. Friday, police responded to the report of a theft at TJ Maxx, 2170 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a media release from Topeka Police.

A woman reported her purse had been stolen from a shopping cart in the business.

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