By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-winter/">ALLISON WINTER</a> <a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/">States Newsroom</a>/<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee advanced a sweeping farm bill early this month, attempting to revive Congress’ stalled effort to rewrite the nation’s agriculture law the same way it’s been done for decades.

But the vote also exposed the fragile coalition that will determine whether the legislation can ever move forward.&nbsp;

Those who watch the process closely told States Newsroom they are not sure a new farm bill will be enacted, given the rupture in the traditional alliance that has in the past successfully brought together agriculture interests and anti-hunger advocates to support farm bills across party lines.

Historically, farm bills have brought together a diverse coalition of advocates and lawmakers across party lines. The arrangement dates back to the 1973 farm bill, when Congress first combined nutrition programs with farm subsidies to build a coalition strong enough to pass the legislation. The sweeping legislation now includes food and nutrition programs, energy, conservation, and rural development, as well as farm support and crop insurance.&nbsp;

Now, cuts and changes in the nation’s biggest nutrition program, which could impose major new financial burdens on states, have been made by Republicans completely outside the usual farm bill process. This added to changes Democrats made in 2022, when they skipped the farm bill and used budget reconciliation to increase funding for climate-friendly farm conservation programs — though it is the food aid cuts that have most roiled the current debate.

These recent shifts could fundamentally change how the farm bill moves through Congress, said Christopher Neubert, deputy director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University. He is also a former Democratic staffer on both the Senate Agriculture and Budget committees.

“It’s a careful balance …. but the farm bill was one thing that felt kind of certain,” Neubert said in an interview. “Now we’re entering a new period that I think does make a lot of people uneasy.”

“Unless there’s a real push to take a look at some of the serious challenges that exist and meaningfully address them, it might be very difficult to get a five-year farm bill across the finish line,” Neubert said.

The Agriculture Committee approved its version of the farm bill in a 34–17 vote March 5, following a markup that stretched more than 20 hours and featured sharp partisan disputes, particularly over the previous cuts to nutrition programs.

The legislation would set policy and funding levels for major food, agriculture and conservation programs for the next five years. The text and a title-by-title summary of the&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill/" target="_blank">802-page bill</a>&nbsp;can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill/" target="_blank">here.</a>&nbsp;

The farm bill’s five-year timeline in the past gave some certainty and planning ability to farmers and ranchers, while bringing lawmakers and stakeholders back to the table periodically to reexamine the programs.

Congress last passed a farm bill in 2018, which expired in 2023. Since then, lawmakers have kept many programs running through temporary extensions, as negotiations over new versions fell through.

In the meantime, Congress made some of the largest changes to farm bill programs outside the normal reauthorization process – a major shift that has disrupted the usual process.

Last year’s GOP spending and tax cuts package, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” reshaped nutrition funding, cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.&nbsp;

SNAP, administered by states, is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program. It provides monthly, income-based benefits to help low-income individuals and families purchase groceries. Democrats have widely criticized the changes to the program.

Even so, the House Agriculture Committee vote showed some bipartisan support.&nbsp;

Seven Democrats joined Republicans in backing the legislation: Reps. Jim Costa of California, Sharice Davids of Kansas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, Adam Gray of California, Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan and Josh Riley of New York.&nbsp;

That was slightly more bipartisan than when the committee advanced a farm bill two years ago. Only four Democrats supported a measure that included some SNAP cuts within the farm bill.

Among those crossing party lines this year was Rivet, a freshman lawmaker and member of the moderate New Democrat Coalition.

Rivet hosted a press event on March 10 at a Saginaw County farm to promote the bill, highlighting the balancing act some moderate Democrats may face if the legislation reaches the House floor in an election year.&nbsp;

“Farmers need solutions and certainty,” Rivet said, noting that she backed the bill because of provisions related to disaster relief, crop insurance and specialty crop support.

Still, she acknowledged the legislation will need changes as it moves forward.

“I was excited to be able to vote ‘yes’ on this farm bill,” Rivet said. “But I need to say that the bill is not perfect. We do need to reverse the devastating cuts to SNAP for hungry kids and families.”

The debate over SNAP and other nutrition programs loomed over much of the committee’s work and will continue to be a major factor as the legislation moves forward.&nbsp;

“The historic cuts to SNAP jeopardize the path forward for this bill and future farm bills,” Davids said during the committee debate.

Democrats offered multiple amendments to restore SNAP funding, but Republicans did not support any.

Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs at the liberal-leaning Environmental Working Group and a longtime farm policy advocate, said the longstanding alliance between those who back SNAP and farm supporters helped Congress pass farm bills for decades even as fewer Americans lived in rural communities.&nbsp;

But he argues that the recent policy decisions have effectively dismantled that agreement. The cuts to nutrition programs in last year’s budget reconciliation bill helped offset new investment in farm subsidies, which Faber and other advocates contend go disproportionately to large farmers and do little to support smaller farms.

“Republicans chose to blow up the farm bill coalition in the one big, beautiful bill …so if Congress fails to pass another farm bill ever again, it will be Republicans who rightfully will bear the blame,” Faber said in an interview.

Faber called the political shift around the farm bill “a historic once-in-a-generation miscalculation by the farm lobby that will, in the long run, undermine public support for the farm safety net.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the SNAP changes would reduce federal SNAP spending by roughly 20% through 2034 while imposing stricter work requirements and shifting some program costs to states.

Some provisions will not take effect until 2027 and 2028, meaning the full effects have yet to be felt.

The changes have drawn criticism from hunger advocates and state officials who warn the shift could strain state budgets and make it harder for families to access food assistance.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nga.org/advocacy-communications/letters-nga/nga-joins-coalition-letter-outlining-snap-recommendations/" target="_blank">recent letter,</a>&nbsp;the National Governors Association and other state and local organizations told Congress that the policy changes could throw hundreds of millions of dollars in costs onto states and risk destabilizing the program if lawmakers do not intervene.

During debate on an amendment from Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., that would have reversed the SNAP cuts, a proposal that ultimately failed, the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, warned the longstanding farm bill coalition could be unraveling.

“We could be driving the last nail in the coffin of this coalition today,” Craig said. “For some of us, this is your first farm bill markup. For all of us, it could likely be our last, because by decimating the nutrition title in the farm bill, by splitting the food and farm programs apart as Republicans have done in this process, you have destroyed the farm bill coalition.”

Craig said a path forward for this committee’s bill would be fraught, calling it a “shell of a farm bill” that is “absolutely flawed” and “a missed opportunity” to address the economic pressures facing agriculture.

“It is going to have challenges getting broad bipartisan support on the House floor if it even makes it there,” Craig said during the markup. “My sincere hope is that this is just ‘act one’ of several acts.”

The House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill proposal, titled the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, closely resembles the legislation the panel advanced two years ago.&nbsp;

That earlier bill never received a vote on the House floor, and the Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to advance its own farm bill framework.

Throughout the markup, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., urged lawmakers to support the measure. He repeatedly encouraged members to “not let the perfect be the enemy of the good” as they debated amendments to the bill’s 12 titles covering farm supports, conservation, trade, rural development and nutrition.

“I am proud of this bill and the work we have done to further improve it. There is more work to be done,” Thompson said at the conclusion of the markup, which he called a “long slog.”&nbsp;

Thompson has said he has met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., about bringing the measure to the House floor.&nbsp;

But the legislation will likely need some Democratic support, particularly to move through the Senate, where votes to advance legislation like the farm bill typically require a 60-vote supermajority.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said during a hearing March 10 that she hopes lawmakers can craft a bipartisan farm bill that addresses the needs of both farmers and families who rely on SNAP.

“I am hoping we can get to a better place. I hope as we look at a farm bill, that we include some corrections to what happened last summer,” Klobuchar said, referencing the “big beautiful” law.

For his part, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., said he appreciated the House effort to advance the farm bill and indicated he may want to go in a similar direction.

“This builds off the historic investments we made in the Working Families Tax Cuts to strengthen the farm safety net and provide producers with greater certainty while demonstrating unwavering support for strengthening rural communities and safeguarding our food supply,” Boozman said in a statement.&nbsp;

Farm groups are watching closely, hoping a five-year farm bill will provide some certainty farmers have lacked in recent years.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall called on Congress to “finish the job and deliver a modern farm bill” and urged farmers to contact lawmakers and encourage them to advance the legislation. The Farm Bureau has 5 million members.

The National Farmers Union, which represents about 220,000 family farmers and ranchers, said it is grateful for progress on the farm bill but offered a more cautious response.

“We remain concerned that this proposal does not yet meet the scale of the crisis facing family farmers and ranchers,” NFU President Rob Larew said in a statement. “The path from committee to a final, signed farm bill is long. NFU will continue working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to strengthen this legislation.”

GOP cuts in federal food aid scramble passage of long-delayed farm bill

GOVE COUNTY —Three people were injured in separate accident blamed on the high winds on Sunday afternoon in northwest Kansas.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Just after 1:30p.m., a 2022 Chevy Silverado driven by Stephen Blackwell, 78, Cortez, Colorado, was eastbound on Interstate 70 one mile east of Kansas 216, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Due to strong winds the vehicle's trailer began to rollover. The driver attempted corrective action. The trailer broke loose from the pickup.&nbsp; The trailer and began to spin. The pickup entered the median and rolled. Trailer came to rest in the driving lane.

EMS transported the Blackwell and a passenger Melba Blackwell, 77, Cortez, Colorado, to the Logan County Health Center. They were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Just after 2p.m., a 2022 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp; Reynol&nbsp;Garcia, 48, Kansas City, Misouri, was westbound on Interstate 70 one&nbsp;mile east of Voda Road in Trego County. The driver lost control due to the high winds in the area. The semi spun clockwise and overturned.&nbsp;

EMS transported the driver to Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

3 hospitalized after I-70 accidents due to strong wind gusts

Fort Hays Tech NC March Mania Bracket Challenge

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with David Clingan of Grow Hays about the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

🎙 Post Podcast: Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors I wrote a column awhile back entitled “The Greatest and the Smallest in the Kansas Skies,” referring to turkey vultures (often known as buzzards) and hummingbirds. The greatest will be showing up here again in the next couple weeks, fresh from their winter vacation in South America.

A legend dating back to the turn of the century has it that the famous “Buzzards of Hinckley Ridge” arrive in the town of Hinckley, Ohio every March 15 like clockwork.

 In the northeast corner of Medina County, just south of Cleveland are a series of cliffs and caverns known locally as Old Whipp’s Ledges that are a popular roosting and nesting area for turkey vultures. So popular was the legend that in 1957 the first Sunday after March 15 was dubbed "Buzzard Sunday" and a festival was planned around the event that still takes place today.

Along with the legend of the vulture’s timed arrival is the story of how that came to be. 

The story says that when that area was first settled, farmers began losing livestock left-and-right to bears and wolves that were native to the area. Finally, the farmers had enough and one fall, a huge mass hunt was organized resembling the coyote drives once popular here in Kansas where hundreds of hunters form a circle surrounding an entire section or township and slowly walk toward each other, tightening the circle. 

As the circle tightened, wolves, bears, deer and most wildlife in the area were driven toward the center of the circle, where they were shot. The story goes on to say that after everything was skinned and butchered and all useable meat and hides were taken, the dozens or perhaps hundreds of resulting carcasses were left there for the winter. In the spring, returning turkey vultures were drawn to the scent and sight of the thawing carcasses, and once there to feed, the numerous natural nesting sites among the cliffs and caverns kept them there for the summer, and to this day, keep them coming back each year.

Vultures are migratory, heading for Central and South America each fall and returning to our area from mid-March to early April, depending on the weather. We should begin seeing a few in the next two weeks here in McPherson County. 

Favorite roosting places for turkey vultures are the old water towers that some small towns still have. 

In McPherson, a spring or summer evening will usually find dozens roosting on the handrail of the old water tower. In Marion, a couple hundred routinely spend days soaring over the town and roosting on the water tower handrail at night.

Turkey vultures are amazing birds, the main employees of God’s cleanup crew that can in fact eat diseased meat without any ill effects. 

I often wonder what it would be like to glide and soar above the earth like they can. 

Everyone likes a good legend, and who knows how much of Hinckley’s past that drew the buzzards there in the first place is true, and how much is just legend. 

One thing for sure is that vultures do arrive in Hinckley, Ohio like clockwork every March 15, which this year also happens to be the 69th annual Buzzard Sunday. As an ex-Buckeye myself, I hope to take Joyce there some year to enjoy the spectacle, even if it means "Enjoying Kansas Outdoors" from afar.

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

Explore Kansas Outdoors: The buzzards of Hinckley Ridge

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, is accepting applications for Kansas licensed early child care providers to participate in a project to increase child nutrition knowledge and consumption of local fruits and vegetables.

The project titled “Our Earliest Eaters: Bringing the Farm to Kansas Licensed Early Child Care” will provide selected child care providers with age-appropriate agriculture education curriculum about Kansas fruit and vegetable production and resource kits developed by the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom at no cost. 

While teaching the curriculum, early child care providers and organizations administering the project on behalf of child care providers in a community or region will be eligible to receive reimbursement for purchases of locally grown fruits and vegetables used in the lessons.

The reimbursements offered through this project are a way to incentivize local food purchases to benefit our state's specialty crop producers. 

By building relationships between licensed early child care providers and local farmers and producers, this project will increase nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops in our earliest eaters, while creating new market outlets for Kansas specialty crop producers.

This is the second round of this project; in early 2025 the program was open to licensed early child care facilities. 

The 2026 round of the project is intended for family child care homes. Individual family child care home providers and organizations who intend to administer the project on behalf of a group of family child care homes in their community or region are eligible to apply.

Applications are due to KDA no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2026. Applicants should demonstrate their passion for agriculture education in early childhood development and capacity for purchasing local fruits and vegetables. Recipients will be notified in May if they have been selected to participate in the project. 

For more information, please visit:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2Fpublic-resources%2Fgrants-cost-share-programs%2Four-earliest-eaters%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019cd8f8016b-0d5335e0-c7f0-4222-8a4f-3d3a47ffc1ac-000000/EfDH2Y8p-I6KuvWnu5iU9jzSXB4miTtbsL1lptABPuE=448">agriculture.ks.gov/grants</a>&nbsp;or contact Brittney Grother, KDA ag marketing grants coordinator, at 785-564-6797 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Brittney.Grother@ks.gov">Brittney.Grother@ks.gov</a>.

Funding for this project was made possible by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service.

Farm to Early Childhood Education opportunity for KS licensed early child care providers

Sasha Wasinger, who is attending Tabor College, placed in two categories.

Digital Marketing Strategies: Sasha Wasinger (tcg, g’25, Hays)-third

International Marketing: Sasha Wasinger(tcg, g’25, Hays) -third

Hays student at Tabor College excels at DECA state competition

By&nbsp;MARK R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas

For years, it advanced slowly, almost unnoticed. It wasn’t advertised at freshman orientations or highlighted in admission brochures. Yet it’s everywhere, in classrooms, resident halls, even in the quad where students gather.

Over the past five decades, men have steadily disappeared from college campuses nationwide, including here in Kansas.

At all state universities, males represent a minority of undergraduate students.

K-State and Pitt State are closest to parity, while male enrollment at Wichita State, Emporia, and Fort Hays is particularly low; Emporia the most uneven at just 36% male.

Washburn University is even more lopsided at 35%. The pattern extends beyond universities. At 14 of the 19 state <a href="https://www.kansasregents.gov/resources/PDF/Data/Community_College_Data_Books/Community_College_Data_Book_2026_FINAL.pdf">community colleges</a>, men comprise less than 45%. At six of them, male representation falls below 35%. Only at Coffeyville and Independence do men reach a majority.

Men are also less likely to complete schooling once enrolled. The six-year college completion rate for women is nearly 10 points higher than for men.

The phenomenon has impacted post-graduate education.

Statewide, men account for less than 40% of graduate students, 45% of medical students, and typically less than half of incoming law classes. Nationally, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/11/18/us-women-are-outpacing-men-in-college-completion-including-in-every-major-racial-and-ethnic-group/">47%</a> of 25–34-year-old women have a bachelor’s degree, compared with 37% of men – the gap larger among lower income males.&nbsp;Women now <a href="https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_318.10.asp">earn</a> 45% more doctoral degrees overall, and nearly twice the number of master’s degrees.

To be clear, women are not pushing men out of college. Rather, men are <a href="https://hechingerreport.org/women-far-outnumber-men-in-law-school-med-school-vet-school-and-other-professional-programs/">choosing</a> not to go.

The disparities are in part shaped by factors in place well before college. But as women’s history demonstrates, underrepresentation in higher education carries costs, to those directly affected and society as a whole.

The immediate impact is felt in the classroom. Skewed gender representation, favoring men or women, can subtly change the culture of learning and <a href="https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.19-03-0048">participation</a> norms. This in turn can influence <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00060.2006">teaching strategies</a>.

Friendship networks and partnership patterns are also impacted. College connects individuals through various functions, social clubs, recreational activities, and academic units. The shared experiences are a catalyst for deeper relationships. About a <a href="https://www.clrn.org/how-many-people-meet-their-spouse-in-college/#google_vignette">fifth</a> of individuals meet their partners in college, and <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/09/07/college-grads-in-u-s-tend-to-partner-with-each-other-especially-if-their-parents-also-graduated-from-college/">81%</a> of the college educated are married to or partnered with another college graduate.

The labor market is implicated as well. Early career sorting by education draws men and women into increasingly separate professions. Downstream, this impacts marriage timing and family formation.

Finally, education influences politics. Those with college degrees participate, and they vote Democrat. Those without degrees participate less and they vote Republican.

These divisions will undoubtedly grow if gender imbalances in higher education persist, creating even sharper distinctions between men and women and within the male electorate. 

In 2024, for example, Harris <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/general-results/voter-analysis">edged out</a> Trump among college-educated men by 4 points, but was soundly defeated among non-college men by a whopping 25 points.

Fifty years ago, men dominated college campuses and possessed a substantial educational advantage. Today, that imbalance is gone, only to be replaced by a new one.

A focus on men does not diminish the challenges women still encounter. Instead, it highlights a broad reordering within the nation’s educational pipeline. It’s about work, social mobility, and political power, just as it was fifty years ago.

Dr. Mark Joslynis a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Insight Kansas: Women out-degree men and why that matters

<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

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>

Complete Evcon Furnace and A/C System

Bid on this complete Evcon Furnace and A/C System from All Seasons Plumbing, Heating, and A/C. Here is the description and details on this item: Evcon Furnace, coil and condenser change out 40-120k btu / 1-5 ton A/C system / High efficiency. 96% on furnace. 14 seer A/C. Complete electrical and sheet metal install included. WiFi thermostat included. Will use existing ductwork system. 1 year unlimited warranty… anything happens first year labor and parts covered… Manufactured warranty applies after .. 10 year compressor and heat exchanger warranty. 5 year electrical parts. All to original owner. Haul off of existing equipment included. If outside of 30 mile radius of Hays, buyer will pay for mileage. For more information on this item, please call Tommy Coker at 785-259-4039. This item must be installed by no later than 12-31-2026.

Current Bid: $3,000 Retail Price: $15,000

Attention small business owners — this one’s for you! Did you know that clean, consistent bookkeeping can be the difference between smart decisions and stressful surprises? Freedom Tax &amp; Accounting is&nbsp;auctioning off 3 months of bookkeeping services — a $600 value — with the Freedom Basics Package. This includes up to two managed checking, credit card, or loan accounts, up to 225 transactions, and unlimited email and phone support. Take the guesswork out of your numbers and let Tawny at Freedom Tax &amp; Accounting help your business stay on track. Bid now for this 3-month bookkeeping package — and give your business the gift of clarity and peace of mind!

Retail Price: $600 Starting Bid: $60

This R5 gift certificate can be used toward a Full Residential or Commercial Roof Replacement. This certificate applies to complete roof replacement projects only and may not be used toward repairs, partial replacements, service calls, inspections, or other services. Certificate must be presented at time of estimate and redeemed at contract signing. No cash value. Not valid with other promotions or discounts. Valid for projects located within R5 Roofing’s standard service area. Additional terms may apply. Protect your home or business with trusted craftsmanship and quality materials from R5 Roofing!

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Watkins Roofing &amp; Construction Great Bend

This is a $500 gift certificate towards a roof or gutters from Watkins Roofing and Construction with locations in Hays and Great Bend. Expect quality work and they stand by a 5 year guarantee. Free Inspections. Expiration Date 3/31/27.

Retail price: $500 Current Bid: $100

Check out these Eagle Radio Auction items through today: HVAC system; roofing

By Dustin Armbruster Hays Post Sports

WICHITA - Hays High's bid for their first ever girls basketball title came up just short in a 49-48 loss to St. James Academy.

Hays (25-2) led just once in the game. Trailing 9-2 through the first six minutes, the Indians scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 10-0 lead.

That one point lead at the beginning of the second was the Indians only lead and it was short lived. St. James (23-5) opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run. That burst gave the Thunder a 19-12 lead at the 4:20 mark.

Hays scored the four points to get within three and had the ball but turned the ball over down 19-16. St. James held Hays silent for nearly three minutes. The Thunder used that time to build their lead to a first half high of nine at 25-16. Hays scored right before the first half ended for a 25-18 score into the locker rooms.

Hays scored the first four points of the second half while holding St. James scoreless for three minutes and closed within one possession at 25-22. The Thunder found their groove again and went on a 12-4 run which gave them their first double-digit lead at 37-26. Hays again scored the final points of the quarter on a three pointer from Jenna Schmeidler to pull within a 37-29 score.

The Indians continued to chip away at the fourth quarter deficit. Trailing 43-38, Hays could not score on their next four possessions, missing three shots and turning the ball over once.

St. James pushed their lead back to seven with 1:14 left with two of four shooting at the free throw line.

Brynlee Rupp and Schmeidler made back-to-back threes to pull Hays back within on point at 47-46 and forced a Thunder timeout on the inbound to avoid a five second call. Hays was forced to foul and St. James made both for a 49-46 score.

Hays missed a three on the next possession but St. James fell down with the rebound which was called a travel with 4.1 second left. Hays inbounded one last time but didn't get a look at a three and ended up with a layup at the horn instead, falling 49-48.

Hays ends the season with a school record in wins at 25. It is the programs second ever runner-up finish at the state tournament, tying for their best finish.

St. James win their first title in program history.

Rupp 7, Schmeidler 17, Humphrey 0, LaBarge 0, Armbruster 1, Turner 4, Newell 0, Buckles 8, Winter 11.

Earlier in the day Andover (25-2) defeated Shawnee Heights (22-6) for third place. It is the third consecutive year that Andover has finished in third place.

🏀 Hays girls falls one point short of their first ever state title

FHSU University Communications

GREAT BEND — Cheyenne Bottoms, located on the Central Flyway, a bird migration route that connects Canada to South America, is an ideal place to witness the spring migration of many bird species. 

Seventy percent of all the different shorebird species in North America have been recorded at Cheyenne Bottoms, and late March through early May is prime time to view the birds using the local wetlands for rest and fuel.

This spring, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center is offering 2-hour birdwatching van tours through the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands.&nbsp;Bird communities can change quickly from day to day during the spring, but the migration usually peaks around the last two weeks of April through the first two weeks of May.&nbsp;

Birdwatchers will get the chance to see a variety of wetland birds during the tours, including ducks, such as Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, and Gadwall; shorebirds, such as Long-billed dowitchers, Least sandpipers, Willets, Black-necked stilts, and American avocets; wading birds, such as Great blue herons, Black-crowned night herons, and Snowy Egrets; and other wetland specialist birds, such as American white pelicans, Double-crested cormorants, and Pied-billed grebes.

Saturday, March 21 Saturday, March 28 Saturday, April 18 Monday, April 27 Wednesday, April 29 Saturday, May 9 Saturday, March 28

Time:&nbsp;9–11 a.m. Cost:&nbsp;$5 per person Ages:&nbsp;12 and older Registration:&nbsp;Pre-registration required Capacity:&nbsp;Limited to 11 participants Pre-register for the tours by calling KWEC at 877-243-9268.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. 

More information can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.7LNxDHQVpzCjONIZ4OYIqiohrCVEzT-2Bu22yVklcaqOvmZGt05-2BeOL3r-2Flc3NH2OVG0lv_jsop8PIMT7gxIIR3VBIav8lOuFYBpuHbZjyafuuURjtbMxTr6o-2BCULFYMWFiG8W3FriW2HKWCsmar-2F80lP7v1vq52wJw6YLOXDmCmHbeaROFack9jVp1Qhk-2F6TWh58l5uHAgwtF6DnCPaQD6CREfcGUfXb8G-2B2IKrjxz8DhEkrVoG6hDQrGzuLgkxopxqTdHAsIbYS4XpEeihm3izgkPb4ysmOZp6ovBxyz-2BwbMGrJJx0kHMMYLQcsm2VmElT4vAHWMPF8BMT6iqGiERauIQy5XsHZeUasZu8y4xg10KV0DZDhwutrPCuGeaPq2V-2BTkIqpwEQf0wvorT08R3kYnKhZ7RfvzgWzAWd98eAJOjAZqUd8JDrsQ-2F22u-2Bg3jNbpY0">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center to host spring Bird Migration Tours

<a href="https://www.nordichottubs.com/damour-se/">Check out more details and a video HERE!</a>

It’s love at first sight with the D’Amour SE™! Ease into the deep-seated captain’s chairs and let the Nordic Star™ jets massage your entire body so you emerge, refreshed, and invigorated. Picture yourself enveloped in swirling hot water, letting the stress of the day drift off. Your muscles relax, your mind calms, and a sense of well-being takes over. This is a 2-person hut tub. Includes cover, chemical kit, and steps. DELIVERY NOT INCLUDED. (Available for extra charge per location.) Love your life in a D’Amour SE™! Pools Plus 1609 Main, Hays. It’s love at first sight with the D’Amour SE™! Ease into the deep-seated captain’s chairs and let the Nordic Star™ jets massage your entire body so you emerge, refreshed, and invigorated. Picture yourself enveloped in swirling hot water, letting the stress of the day drift off. Your muscles relax, your mind calms, and a sense of well-being takes over. This is a 2-person hut tub. Includes cover, chemical kit, and steps. DELIVERY NOT INCLUDED. ( Available for extra charge per location. ) Love your life in a D’Amour SE™! Pools Plus 1609 Main, Hays. See more online about this great item by going to: <a href="https://www.nordichottubs.com/damour-se/">https://www.nordichottubs.com/damour-se/</a>

Current Bid: $998 Retail Price: $6,699

Give your child a summer that builds confidence, strengthens skills, and sparks curiosity. The Learning Academy is offering a12-week Summer Care Program, running May 26–August 14, 2026, and this sought?after spot could be yours! Designed for students entering 1st–5th grade, this program blends structured learning with meaningful experiences that prepare children for a strong start to the next school year. What’s Included: Daily structured environment focused on reading, math repetition, and skill refresh / Educational field trips that bring learning to life / Weekly life skills lessons to build independence and confidence / Nutritious meals and snacks provided each day / Weekly pool day for fun and physical activity / Arts, crafts, and creative projects / Intergenerational interaction with community partners / Operation Community Service projects that teach responsibility and kindness / Limited screen time to keep kids engaged and active / Optional in?house tutoring for additional academic support / Convenient hours: Drop off as early as 7:30 AM and pick up as late as 5:30 PM. This program offers structure, enrichment, and real?world learning in a safe, nurturing environment. Secure this item and set your child up for success all summer long.Current Bid: There is no current bid on this item. Retail Price: $3,000 Opening Bid: $300

Your website is your digital storefront. It's so important to have a nice and effective site. This item is for a new website build from The Grace Group, with local service and a vast majority of customers from Hays and Western Kansas. The Grace Group, Inc. is a full-service marketing and consulting agency helping small businesses grow with creative, customized strategies. From social media management to branding, consulting, and website development, The Grace Group is committed to giving businesses the tools they need to succeed. For this radio auction, The Grace Group is offering a complete website build, which includes: Up to 7 custom pages (content, creation, and design included); SEO optimization to help your business get found online; Mobile &amp; tablet optimization for a seamless experience across devices; 2 months of maintenance, support, and training after launch to ensure your success; Please note: this package covers the website build itself but does not include any fees associated with obtaining a domain name or hosting services. This is the perfect opportunity to elevate your business presence with a professional, functional, and beautifully designed website from The Grace Group.Current Bid: There is no current bid on this item.

Retail Price: $1,500 Opening Bid: $150

Check out these Eagle Radio Auction items through Sunday, including a hot tub

WICHITA — Harsh winter weather&nbsp;impacted&nbsp;many communities in February, disrupting blood drive collections&nbsp;and scheduled&nbsp;donation routines.&nbsp;With spring just around the corner, all who are eligible are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood&nbsp;or platelets&nbsp;during&nbsp;Red Cross Month&nbsp;this March.&nbsp;

The Red Cross will perform free A1C testing on successful blood, platelet and plasma donations made March 1-31 (one result per calendar year).&nbsp;Plus, those who come to give&nbsp;March 1-31, will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email.&nbsp;Details can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy7Gu4yAQheGngQ4LxhjGBcVt_BrRAOPYWghZsBLt268S3fY7588BMFntJAfj_Wy8dxrkEXbImpZ1txw1Z2cJd4JoZ9Jk3OKiPINbo0baZ1pd5Jsx2WhtAJfEwupxZv5z_lWVzsJ9KL96XNa4e6_6jo8yfQZZwnFdzyHmHwGbgO39fk-dc-ptjFhay1PrdwFbaYmKOlrlJ91ZwMYvflxDwFapp2M6rlpk5XyS6lyYBqszhy_cfkHMP2BnbVD2cNC_8WzjElYz3Qt_j1NqVY6rM9dPjIgL-QWUWzEpq6NTq0VQs-Xsl-Q9YpKvAP8DAAD__-3MZHg">RedCrossBlood.org/March</a>.&nbsp;

March is Red Cross Month; blood donations needed

VICTORIA — The Victoria Knights of Columbus will hold their second Lenten fish fry on Friday, March 13,&nbsp; beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Victoria VFW Hall.

Victoria Lenten Fish Friday is Friday in Knights of Columbus Hall

&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

TMP-Marian Sports Booster Club presents 'Dueling Pianos' fundraiser March 28

The Thursday, May 12 Hays City Commission meeting has been canceled

Hays City Commission meeting this week is canceled

WICHITA — The American Red Cross urges donors to help the national blood&nbsp;supply recover from a severe blood shortage and empower their health by making an appointment&nbsp;to give blood or platelets in March.

 As a thank-you for helping save lives, successful donations will&nbsp;receive free A1C testing, commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes, in March (one result per&nbsp;calendar year).

New Red Cross data reveals 1 in 5 blood donors have elevated A1C levels — a sign that prediabetes&nbsp;and diabetes are prevalent among adults in generally good health.&nbsp;

The findings are based on the first year of free A1C screening offered by the Red Cross, which provided results to more than 920,000 blood&nbsp;donors nationwide over three testing periods in 2025.

&nbsp;Among donors with elevated A1C&nbsp;levels, 80% had readings indicating prediabetes — a condition that can often be reversed through lifestyle&nbsp;changes such as a balanced diet and regular exercise.

“Too many people still face gaps in access to preventive care, and the Red Cross is proud to help close&nbsp;them by giving our 2.5 million blood and platelet donors easy access to essential health information, like&nbsp;their blood sugar levels,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, Red Cross medical director. “By giving blood and&nbsp;downloading our Blood Donor App, individuals can be informed and empowered to better&nbsp;manage and advocate for their health.”

The A1C test does not require fasting and provides an average blood sugar level over the past&nbsp;three months.

&nbsp;Visit <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/">RedCrossBlood.org</a>, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED&nbsp;CROSS to schedule your March donation appointment.

&nbsp;All who come to give blood, platelets or&nbsp;plasma March 1-31, 2026, will also receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email.&nbsp;See <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/events/march.html">RedCrossBlood.org/March</a> for details.

Donating blood in March is part of Red Cross Month, a national campaign that encourages people to&nbsp;deliver support when help can’t wait by also making a financial donation, volunteering or taking a&nbsp;lifesaving skills class.

Millions of U.S. adults are living with undiagnosed prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, which are often&nbsp;preventable and in many cases, reversible. These conditions often develop silently, though if untreated,&nbsp;they can lead to serious health complications such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.

Early detection isn’t just good for long-term health — it’s also a warning for people’s wallets.

An American Diabetes Association study found that, while people with prediabetes typically incur a few&nbsp;hundred dollars in additional medical costs each year, those with blood sugar levels that have progressed&nbsp;to the diabetic range could face several thousand dollars more in annual expenses — as much as 25&nbsp;times higher.

How to Find Out Your A1C from the Red Cross

After making a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation in March, donors can access their&nbsp;A1C result within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal&nbsp;at RedCrossBlood.org. Anyone with an elevated A1C level is encouraged to consult their health care&nbsp;provider.

In addition, donors can access and track their blood pressure, hemoglobin, pulse and body temperature,&nbsp;which are taken during each donation’s mini-physical to ensure they’re healthy enough to give.

How Blood Donation Can Help Bridge Health Care Gaps

As the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to help bridge existing health&nbsp;care gaps by providing blood donors with critical health insights. Through the Red Cross Blood Donor&nbsp;App and online donor portal, donors can track their results and share them with their health care&nbsp;provider.

These efforts are part of the broader Red Cross mission, which has supported the health of communities&nbsp;for 145 years. 

Today in Kansas, this work includes installing free smoke alarms in neighborhoods at high&nbsp;risk for home fires, providing basic health and mental health services to disaster survivors, and supporting the well-being of military families, veterans and their caregivers.

Q: Why is the Red Cross testing blood, platelet and plasma donors’ A1C levels?

A: The Red Cross values the health and well-being of blood donors. By providing this vital health insight,&nbsp;the Red Cross is helping to bridge existing care gaps and empower donors to take an important&nbsp;step toward preventative care and lifesaving intervention.

Q: Should I fast to receive the A1C test on my blood donation?

A: No, the A1C test does not require individuals to fast. This is noteworthy because eating a nutritious&nbsp;meal prior to blood donation is important.

Q: Can I donate blood if I have prediabetes or diabetes?

A: People with prediabetes or diabetes are generally eligible to donate blood, platelets and plasma if they&nbsp;are feeling well on the day of their donation. In most situations, the type of medication donors take to&nbsp;manage their diabetes does not disqualify them from donating blood.

Q: Can I donate blood while taking GLP-1 medication?

A: In most situations, the type of medication you take to manage your diabetes or insulin&nbsp;resistance won't disqualify you from donating blood. Whether you take insulin injections like Apidra or&nbsp;Humalog, an injected diabetes medication like Ozempic or Mounjaro, or oral medications like metformin,&nbsp;you are still eligible to donate if you are feeling well on the day of your donation.

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