By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, 41st House District, was in Hays Tuesday to discuss his campaign for Kansas Secretary of State.

The Fort Hays State University College Republicans hosted Proctor, who aims to restore confidence in elections by promoting greater transparency, preventing noncitizens from voting, cleaning voter rolls and limiting ballot harvesting.

Proctor highlighted the end of the state’s three-day grace period for mail ballots. Starting in 2026, all ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

"Sometimes somebody was winning on election night, and a few days later, somebody else is winning. That erodes confidence and transparency," he said.

An attendee raised concerns that ending the three-day grace period would reduce access for disabled and mail-in voters. Proctor responded that many ballots in the 2024 primary arrived without postmarks and could not be legally counted.

Proctor said he is working to add more early-voting days to compensate for the removal of the three-day grace period.

Proctor said noncitizen voting is a top concern he hears from Kansans.&nbsp;He cited the case of <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8470cecb-0838-4214-866b-a7e94a754339">Joe Ceballos, a Kansas man charged with alleged election fraud after being elected mayor of Coldwater</a>.&nbsp;Proctor labeled it a fixable problem.

Proctor said the DMV has, at times, registered noncitizens to vote. He said that last year the Kansas Secretary of State’s office obtained a list of noncitizens with driver’s licenses and identified about 80 on the voter rolls, with roughly 20 suspected of having cast ballots.

Proctor said Kansas now requires the DMV to regularly provide noncitizen lists to the state to clean voter rolls, following the passage of <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2020/">House Bill 2020</a> earlier this year. The Secretary of State cannot remove voters, but can direct county election officers to remove the names of noncitizens from voter rolls.

"Do I believe that there is a vast conspiracy for noncitizens to vote in the state of Kansas? No," he said. "The point is that we can tell people with confidence, no, we know noncitizens aren't voting because we're scrubbing the voter rolls."

Proctor said ballot harvesting is another threat to election integrity, especially in competitive districts like his own. He said left-leaning nonprofits target infrequent voters who would likely support Democratic candidates if they turned out to participate.

"They send them mail-in-ballot requests after mail-in ballot requests that are pre-filled out, so the voter just has to sign it, put it in the mail and they'll get a mail-in ballot. They keep sending it to them until they get sick of receiving them," Proctor said.

Proctor claimed in his district, during his first re-election, he won by a narrow margin and claims nonprofit ballot harvesting almost produced enough votes to cost him the race.

Proctor said nonprofit workers from outside Kansas come into the state to take part in ballot harvesting. He pointed to a law limiting individuals to submitting no more than 10 ballots that are not their own, but said he wants to pursue further changes to strengthen that restriction.

"I want to change the law so that you have to be a qualified Kansas elector to turn in a Kansas ballot because," he said. "The second thing is that right now on the ballot, the person who turns it in for somebody else has to sign. I want them to also have to put their driver's license number."

Proctor said with safeguards to conceal the license number, this step would allow officials to track who is submitting ballots and enforce the 10-ballot limit. He said he would restore a prosecutor and a law enforcement officer to the secretary of state’s office to support enforcement efforts.

Proctor also raised concerns about nonprofits that are not required to disclose their funding sources. He said money will always flow into politics and argued, rather than trying to restrict it through regulations, it should be fully exposed.

"I am for radical disclosure. I believe that whether you get one cent or $1 million from somebody, you should have to report it. It should be 100% transparent," he said.

Proctor said nonprofits campaigning for or against constitutional amendments could accept foreign money because of a loophole. He said this raises concerns not only about sovereignty but also about election integrity.&nbsp;

Proctor and his wife opened a restaurant in Leavenworth in 2006. He said after launching the business, he began receiving numerous notices about regulations he was not following or complying with.

"I'm of the mind that if the state puts a regulation on a business owner, it's the state's responsibility to make sure that the business owner knows the regulation. That's common sense to me," he said.

Proctor often saw businesses closing, buildings sitting vacant and families leaving his hometown. He hopes to make it easier to start a business if elected as Secretary of State.

Proctor spoke about his background and motivation for entering politics after serving 25 years in the army, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2020 and now serves as chairman of both the House Elections Committee and the Joint Committee on Kansas Security. Proctor is also an assistant professor at Wichita State University, where he teaches courses on national security.

Secretary of state candidate Proctor calls for election transparency

KHP: Westbound I-70 closed near Hays for an investigation of a fatal crash

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks about nutrition and fitness tracking apps with Jessica Phelan, assistant professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Nutrition, fitness tracking apps 

K-State Research and Extension

The recent blast of cold weather is a reminder that preparing livestock watering systems for freezing temperatures should begin now. 

Long-time Extension agent Herschel George shares tips and strategies for making sure livestock have drinking water available during the winter months. 

Sometimes a little effort now can save hours of labor thawing frozen waterers in bitter cold weather. Based on decades of real-world experience and ingenuity, the video&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/86fWePfmDgE" target="_blank">Livestock Watering: Wintertime Watering</a>&nbsp;provides down-to-earth examples and instructions for winterizing on-farm livestock waterers.

The video is one of 10 related to livestock watering that can be found at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcare.k-state.edu/pubs/videos.html" target="_blank">https://www.kcare.k-state.edu/pubs/videos.html</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition, KSU Kanopolis Reservoir Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds have potential cost-share assistance to help with alternative water supplies, riparian fencing, cover crops and more.&nbsp; for questions, call Stacie Minson, KSU Watershed Specialist, at 785-769-3297.

K-State Research & Extension: Tips for preparing livestock waterers for freezing weather

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

I recently saw a Facebook post from Amanda Sellers in Arkansas, sharing her feelings concerning comments she received about a hunting picture she’d posted. Her reply sincerely struck a chord with me, so I asked for, and received her permission to share her post as a weekly column. 

In this post, she shows such an awareness and gives such a good and simple explanation of the importance hunting plays in our country, that I thought it needed to be passed-on. So here, in her own words is Amanda’s perception of the role hunting plays in their lifestyle.

“I am a homeschooling mom of 12 kids, raised in north-central Arkansas. I have traveled to many countries and lived halfway across the U.S. just to sell everything and move back to our roots. We do mission work local and foreign, and I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to raise my family the way we do - connected to the land and our heritage!

"I shared a hunting photo recently and it brought in a lot of strong reactions. I understand why. Hunting can feel uncomfortable if you didn't grow up around it. But I want to share why it matters where we live and why so many families in this region still participate in it.

"For generations, people here processed their own food. They understood where it came from. They used the meat to feed their families and honored the animal by not wasting it.

"Today most of us are so disconnected from our food system that we forget what actually has to happen for food to reach a store shelf.

"Hunting in our area is also part of caring for the land. When wildlife populations grow beyond what the ecosystem can support, animals face starvation, disease, and slow painful deaths. Regulated hunting keeps the population healthy and prevents suffering. It is one of the ways we protect the wildlife that lives in the forests around us.

"There is another point that matters to me. If we care this deeply about protecting life in the woods, we should care even more about protecting life in the womb. Human life begins at conception. It is precious from the very first moment it exists and deserves protection just as fiercely.

"My heart in sharing any of this is simple. Connection matters. Stewardship matters. Life matters. And understanding where our food comes from, and why we value all forms of life, is something worth talking about.”

Given the distance our country as a whole has chosen to distance itself from God, and given the fact that now, so many opinions are formed and so many decisions are made using emotions alone, with little or no factual input, its refreshing and comforting to hear the above. 

Thank you, Amanda… Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

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

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Amanda’s perception

During a recent gathering of Kansas Community College presidents held at Garden City Community College, Dennis King, Fort Hays State University associate vice president for enrollment leadership, introduced a new scholarship program designed to provide funds to Kansas Community College presidents to distribute directly to students who plan to attend FHSU, but need additional financial aid to successfully transition to a four-year degree program.

The FHSU Community College President Scholarship will provide scholarship dollars that each of Kansas’ 19 community college presidents can use at their discretion to assist those students in greatest financial need.&nbsp;

“We chose this approach because it aligns well with our goal of maximizing the positive impact of the financial aid dollars we have available each year,” King said.

Funding for this scholarship is one of FHSU’s key institutional aid initiatives, designed to promote transfer pathways and advance student retention at both community college and FHSU. The program will officially launch in the new calendar year, and award recommendations will be due to FHSU from community college partners on April 1 for the fall 2026 semester and on December 1 for the Spring 2027 semester.

“We're really excited by the opportunity to partner with Fort Hays State to offer our most needy students scholarships,” said Kansas Community College Association Executive Director Heather Morgan. “We look forward to seeing the impact of this program on Kansas’ workforce and the role it will undoubtedly play in making Kansas students the key drivers of Kansas’ future economy.”

Colby Community College President Seth Carter expressed his appreciation for FHSU’s new Community College President’s Scholarship, stating, “This is the first scholarship I've ever seen like this in the state of Kansas, and I think it's incredible that FHSU has taken this initiative, and it’s the direct result of a collaborative process that is the hallmark of our relationship with the university.”

Garden City Community College President Ryan Ruda said he sees this new scholarship program as yet another example of FHSU’s ongoing commitment to better serve students. “This will definitely help our students with access and affordability and create a stronger connection between our institutions, a connection that will lead to a stronger transfer process and more fluid communications between FHSU and Kansas’ community colleges.”

For more information on Fort Hays State University’s Community College President’s Scholarship, as well as the wide array of scholarship and financial aid opportunities available at FHSU, go to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0Wiugn9JKxzwm4dkQSJMZeGWudFm-2FmZBVwALvKoxpds97XUKd64r-2FLwHDTLI6f6u7Q-3D-3DCR2q_ai5o7a2ztpywqx-2FSZEU1mC0k3plQ2hEmdQsqZCH-2FtSbSauz5CcYpHe7spQkrAj9oonHh7oZcNejpOknRccnjIjZMGdEhGHfAV483rKzz8fnp4deE4QqIJyNQYFQ-2FHopnhvKgicFO6PZV9baMoYmpN2YISAYdUBI6wukvafkSsM6w8lZvaReHWLhk2TwHnsiERkteOcny22W4UwrZm-2Bpl4Hp9J3WnbhSzm9k6Qx4jTIvlZFTbNzuN0LU-2FyoURRmlCUjCWxUXSQoOB821EG-2BsDcaMddRzbwNi8LHhvhTM9XdHcJSSNY90vpkcCeXawvpEuKXaQRZkjqX9iOKZDJaAiz8g5egr68g1S-2BlEKxru3Dyn3VOZc9He9T8DA3Lc0nPkn">www.fhsu.edu/admissions/scholarships/</a>.

FHSU partners with Kansas’ 19 community colleges on new scholarship program

TOPEKA — With a cold front&nbsp;expected to hit the region this weekend, the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas&nbsp;urges families to take steps to heat their home safely.

Overall, home fires account for most of the 60,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to each year, and home fire responses go up significantly during cold months. On average, Red Cross Disaster Action Teams in Kansas and Oklahoma responded to a fire every six and a half hours in October. In November, it was every five hours. So far this month, it’s every three and a half hours.

“December, January and February are peak months for home heating fires” said Jane Blocher, executive director of the Red Cross of Greater Kansas. “Help protect your family by taking steps to heat your home safely all winter, like keeping heating equipment at least three feet away from anything that can catch fire, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

HOW TO SAFELY HEAT YOUR HOME According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires. Follow these tips on how to safely heat your home:

To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late.

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cisionone-email.us.redcross.org/c/eJwsyz3S2yAUheHVQIcGuPwWFG68Dc8VXCwSFDmg2OPdZ-z52uectyRpyWDmlJR3FoIM0fAtOVnAIqwADh256LMkrcitWGsNlHlLLkKMIKtZo3U3ZQKgBAfKO2bkbIV-t79ix9ZpTOF8DC56vxbxzPmXXT4D72k7z8dkcGH6yvT19Xotg0oex5zLMe5MX2v7U8T7-DdEPzJ2kTd8nDSW7dw736k0FIM64STRSvrC7QcYXFT03kc-0obv-TjmyYwkvHf6Hpd87Hyeg2j_xFDRqxxWsepghLGuipirFRpMCNYoG3Llz6T_BwAA__9Op1_o">local Red Cross</a>&nbsp;for help.

Red Cross tips to heat your home safely as temperatures fall

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

By any honest measure, too many Kansas families are struggling to make ends meet. 

The latest State of ALICE in Kansas report—ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—finds that 38% of Kansas households were below the ALICE Threshold in 2023, meaning they could not afford the basics even while working. That includes 12% living in poverty and another 26% who earn too much to qualify for aid but still can’t cover essentials like housing, child care, food, transportation, and healthcare.

This isn’t a fringe problem; it’s the working backbone of our economy. These are Kansans we depend on daily, like child‑care providers, home‑health aides, cashiers, and delivery drivers. Kansans feel the squeeze. 

In the 2025 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey—conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University—36.1% said the Kansas economy is getting worse, and 46.5% reported feeling very or moderately concerned that the state’s economy could seriously threaten their family’s welfare—a worry that ticked up from last year. When people don’t see a path to stability, they pull back on spending, on investing in education, on starting businesses. That feeds a cycle of slower growth.

Inflation adds insult to injury. In September, prices across the Midwest rose 3.1%. Housing costs are up 4.5% and rent surged 5.0% compared to 3.4% nationally. For a Kansas renter already under ALICE’s budget pressure, that is the difference between paying for a car repair or skipping the prescription refill.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that lower-income households experience greater impact from inflation than higher-income ones, meaning Kansans living on tighter budgets face disproportionate pressures. After adjusting for inflation, Kansas’ median household incomes have barely budged post-COVID, lagging behind national progress. Inflation’s heavier burden on lower-income families widens this gap, as working families spend more of their limited incomes on essentials.

Meanwhile, the recent federal government shutdown made a bad situation worse. Kansas Action for Children reports that the shutdown disrupted key economic data flows (including unemployment statistics) and contributed to state revenues missing estimates by $3.4 million in September due to a steep $35.4 million shortfall in corporate income tax receipts, despite&nbsp;stronger individual income and sales taxes. Overall receipts for the month were about 1.9% lower than in September 2024.

Beyond numbers on a page, the shutdown threatened essential benefits: SNAP and WIC faced imminent disruption, putting nearly 190,000 Kansans at risk of losing food assistance, with 48,000 WIC recipients depending on nutrition support for mothers and children. When Washington cannot keep the lights on, the ripple effects hit our paychecks, our schools, our main streets, and exacerbated those among us who are already vulnerable.

When federal policy falters, Kansas families pay the price first. Stabilize the basics—food assistance, health insurance support, small‑business lending, predictable budgets—and we give vulnerable households the breathing room to become the bedrock of the state’s growth rather than the warning siren of its fragility.

If we want a Kansas where hard work reliably leads to stability, we need policies that stop pushing families underwater and start helping them reach the shore.

As the Kansas Legislature gears up for its 2026 session, lawmakers are already sending signals about where priorities lie—the initial bills suggest little additional support for working families. Early filings include a proposal to delay school start dates until after Labor Day; legislation aimed at loosening library-district governance; and a “Kansas Teacher Shortage Relief Act” to ease re-entry for retired educators.

These bills signal lawmakers’ attention to core community institutions like schools and libraries, but if our state truly wants to lift those families hovering near or beneath the ALICE threshold, the session must go further.

Legislators should prioritize enhanced affordability—expanding access to affordable child care, increasing housing subsidies, and upgrading income thresholds to reflect changing living costs. Federal programs remain vital, but state action can shield families when Washington falters.

The 2026 Legislature has a choice: tinker at the edges or invest in Kansans’ ability to thrive. If leadership is serious about long-term economic resilience, it must anchor its agenda in policies that pair educational and community improvements with real financial support. That means not just making communities stronger, but lifting the families who live in them.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

INSIGHST KANSAS: Kansas families are drowning. Will 2026 lawmakers throw a lifeline?

<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

Winter weather advisory in affect through midnight

MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/">American Legion Boys State of Kansas</a>&nbsp;is accepting applications for its 2026 session. The event is set to be held Sunday, May 31, through Saturday, June 6, at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This will be the program’s 34th consecutive session at KSU and 88th overall.

Traditionally, Kansas&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;has been for individuals who will complete their junior year of high school in the spring just prior to the start of each session. However, the ALBSK program will again expand the pool of applicants for this year’s session to also include those who will complete their sophomore year of high school this spring.

The American Legion&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;of Kansas program provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community,&nbsp;state&nbsp;and nation.&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the&nbsp;state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government, and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.

The cost to attend the&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;of Kansas&nbsp;program is $375; however, in many instances, sponsors pay the majority of the fees, with the delegate or his family paying $50. Those wishing to attend the 2026 session should visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/">ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;to apply. The deadline to apply for the 2026 program is Thursday, April 30; applications are accepted after that date, but on a space-available basis. In addition, those who register by Saturday, Jan. 31, will receive a KBS sweatshirt or polo. Furthermore, delegates who are returning for a second year have the opportunity to attend the 2026 session for just $50 total, provided they get at least three people from their school (or another school) to attend.

Kansas Boys State attendees are eligible to receive a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/collegecredit/">three-hour course credit</a>&nbsp;(Introduction to Political Science [POLSC 110-C]) through Kansas State University at a 72% discount, as well as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/scouts/">earn merit badges</a>&nbsp;to attain the Eagle Scout rank through Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, attendees can&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/our-program/samsung-scholarship/">apply to win a Samsung American Legion Scholarship</a>. The American Legion Department of Kansas finalist is guaranteed a $1,250 scholarship, with the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 as a national scholar.

Potential sponsors, such as American Legion posts, civic organizations, businesses, clubs and interested individuals should visit&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ksbstate.org/sponsor">ksbstate.org/sponsor</a>. Questions? Contact the ALBSK at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@ksbstate.org">info@ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;or (785) 550-6492.&nbsp; For complete information about the American Legion Boys State of Kansas program, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/">ksbstate.org</a>.

For information about the 2026 American Legion Auxiliary Sunflower Girls State, which will be held Sunday, May 31, through Friday, June 5, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksgirlsstate.org/">ksgirlsstate.org</a>.

Applications open for 2026 Kansas Boys State in Manhattan

GREAT BEND — Bundle up and bring the whole family for an afternoon of frosty fun and hands-on discovery at our Winter Wonders of the Wetlands Drop-In STEM event at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center on Friday, December 26, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Explore how animals survive and thrive in Kansas wetlands during the coldest months through five exciting activity stations—each one tied to a different STEAM theme.

S – Track Mysteries - Become a wildlife detective. Match mysterious tracks to their wetland animal owners and learn how to read nature’s clues. Create your own winter track mystery scene.

T – Soundscape Station - Can you match the bird call to the right bird? Listen closely and test your skills with real mounts and audio clips from wetland species.

E – Duck Feet Design - Engineer your own duck foot and test it in water to see how well it paddles. Discover how webbed feet help birds move through chilly wetlands.

A – Build a Snowglobe - Get creative and craft your own winter wetland snowglobe to take home—complete with glittery snow and animal scenes.

M – Migration Distance Math - Play our giant Chutes &amp; Ladders-style tarp game to explore how far birds travel to reach Kansas wetlands in winter.

Free admission and fun for all ages. Drop in anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. No registration required.

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, on 592 NE K-156 Highway. 

More information can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0ToY5DtrhqW4tcsCTuD3Jv2sbxY4kRVWBngdisOboYoX5L5t_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOvt24xkb7U0plK5YizdrcvL-2FPbriLPeAXbw0Ue1wJzAnTmIN3AY-2BMc8exSj6tt1vyrY4JDngYEhoft2kZwh9GFdOEQFj9p3Q0AjIi5u-2B-2BVT9dH3N4U5QAn-2BKtrzSoyHDY2-2FNUI2-2BCmTV35F7vSYSDrzgrjyZMFmsq0a3FS37REHBEw0mwEa3aht9-2FZnj38kjI-2BVcK0fiG6RCRqu5kZAdXpBR8RRn63FK36hI1zw6U-2FsKfsMNSZAOJMXJn4mP896UO">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center to host Winter Wonders of the Wetlands Drop-in STEM event

&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

The Hays High School Chamber Singers are asking you to bring nonperishable food items or cash to their holiday concert on Monday at the HHS performing arts center.

The donations will benefit the students' Holiday Help Project.

Students soliciting food donations; bring items to Hays High Chamber Singers concert Monday

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/c3hays?__cft__[0]=AZaMpMNvM4hYyTcLoTpQdTAUrxg35SK-Mj8l-rSDkwbUUz-cFU_4bfmc1TB49Pq5knF8l6Yp_u-QfNBqfaxN5QJoiquQx5v2JIufjWIqgzfgbq2n0Te6J3KX7hH8qaSW6duj_MQAq4cyl0qb9tEd4gJ7QRlIquS_qZ6QHI7yMePSZA&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Celebration Community Church</a>&nbsp;invites you to view Celebration Community Church’s first Christmas light show at 5790 230th Ave., Hays.

The display will be programmed to run in 30-minute intervals each day, with the exception of a few Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. from now until Christmas.

 To enjoy the choreographed music, tune your FM radio to 98.5. In addition, the church invites you to its Christmas Eve services at 1, 2:30 or 4 p.m.

Celebration Community Church in Hays offers free light display

Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County is seeking donations during this giving season to support affordable housing projects in Ellis County.

Funds donated to the Ellis County chapter stay in Ellis County.

You can send donations to Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County at PO Box 444, Hays, KS 67601.

Also, come by the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 2707 Broadway in Hays and shop. All proceeds also help those in need of a nice place to live and flourish.

The ReStore is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday.

Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County seeks donations to provide affordable housing

Healing Hearts Grief Support Group

The Healing Hearts Grief Support Group will have its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury Drive. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Please use the south entrance.

Healing Hearts is a grief support group for adults who have lost a loved one of any age.

The meeting is a snack potluck, but “the most important item to bring is yourself,” said Dr. Kate McGonigal, the group’s facilitator. McGonigal teaches in the Sociology Department at Fort Hays State University.

“This meeting is about getting through the holidays after the loss of someone close to you,” McGonigal said. “The holidays are so difficult when we are missing our loved ones. As always, all are welcome.”&nbsp;

Healing Hearts Grief Support Group plans meeting

The 16th annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Christmas Day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the VFW in&nbsp;Hays, located at 22nd &amp; Vine.&nbsp;

The meal will consist of roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, a dinner roll, dessert, and&nbsp;is free of charge. 

Donations received will be used to cover expenses and any extra will be given to area organizations that serve and assist residents, in an effort to 'give back' all that has been given.&nbsp;

The Community Christmas Dinner began with the vision to bring the community together for a Christmas meal, and to return to the true reason for the season - the remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas can quickly become overshadowed by the busyness that tends to arise with the holiday season, and focus loss regarding the true meaning. 

The Community Christmas Dinner offers a time to refocus on the birth of Christ, provides the opportunity for community members to serve/be served, and simply enjoy each other's company. Though Jesus is celebrated all are welcome regardless of personal beliefs.

&nbsp;Service also extends beyond the walls of the VFW through the delivery of meals to those who are homebound.&nbsp;The Community Christmas Dinner stands upon the scripture that “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8), and has continued to be an example of this kind of love throughout the years.

Volunteer opportunities will be available on Christmas Day prior to the meal, during the meal, and after. Some of the opportunities include decorating, directing traffic, preparing to-go boxes for delivery, filling drinks, clearing tables, delivering meals, washing dishes, cleaning after the event, and other miscellaneous tasks that arise.&nbsp;

Desserts for the meal are provided by community members, and these remain needed at this time.&nbsp;

For anyone who is homebound and would like a meal delivered, or if wishing to volunteer, provide desserts, or make a donation, please use the following contact information: 785-625-5528 through December 18 and 785-675-1344 December 19 - December 24 or&nbsp;

email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com">communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com</a>

<a href="mailto:communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com"></a>Thank you to the VFW, New Life Center, and Northwestern Printers,&nbsp; as well as all the volunteers who help make this celebration possible.&nbsp; &nbsp;

All invited to Community Christmas Dinner at Hays VFW; volunteers sought

WICHITA — The American Red Cross urges people to make an appointment to give blood now to keep the blood supply steady over the busy holiday season. Be there for patients in need this winter.

All who come to give Dec. 8-18, 2025, will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email. Those who come to give later in the month, Dec. 19, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026, will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last.

Types O positive, O negative and B negative blood donors are especially needed now and in the coming weeks.

December is National Month of Giving, and your Red Cross blood donation can bring hope and healing. Create a new holiday tradition and help spread comfort and support lifesaving care. When the unexpected happens, it’s the blood products already on the shelves that matter.

Redefine the meaning of a gift bag; give something that means something and schedule a blood donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy01uwyAQxfHTwA4Lhq_MgkU2uUY0ZsaJVVukYNXq7atE3f7e-3OBSw02aSkupwjRIaB-FpQMGGlZasrkffU5ArlZJOdkKYteS0KfcQ6ULx7C3bm6gHUW_KyCHSvL1_ptdlo36cNErlgj15jNHnpP03vQW3kex2sof1VwU3A7z3PqwrW3MeatNZ5afyi46V14JdNlExpiVi4fuP-D8leHCa3XvTzpd7zaOFSwQo9NPseptl2Po4vs79iiXzhJMpxCNKEiGFrQmZl4Fo4XKwvpnwJ_AQAA__8I1Ffz">RedCrossBlood.org</a>&nbsp;or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

See&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwsy83u2yAQBPCngRsWLB8OBw65-DWiNbuOUXFJATXq21eJ_sf5zQwluGWng-Rk1uDBmwhRngk0Zs2wZ3egXdGxN4GB1niQWTVaWVKIdo27w_VmwT2MyQdoo8HuwulRiH-VP-rCUrkP5SnH7Cn7VV2u97B8ClnTOedrCHsXsAnY3u_30plyb2PstTVaWn8K2Kj9xsnqS59YXwK2ZznmWM55VXkxFVSdK-NgVSh94fEDwt5NDFFb2dOJ_8arjSmcZnxW_g6X3C45Zme-Pmcd7UGBg6LgvHI5gsIjGrUj7Uz-pvlA-TfB_wAAAP__9bVjNw">RedCrossBlood.org/gifts</a>&nbsp;for details on both offers and visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszLtuwyAUBuCngY0IDhf7DAwZ6gdopapbxOUQoxolBTdV375y1PX7L9nDnIx0nLyanAWrEJCvXqlpMlI5BG2jkQWNcgVtnDEhFZS8eod6wmjCNGswF6VSAakk6MiMHDXTZ_0SLdSN-hA2J0w2JzuJZnp3pyPgm1_3_T6YPjNYGCzjHhKN01qv6x7qdkq3xmDplKg-iMHy8v792t7w48fxRrkG0WmjMEjU7J9w-QemzwodSs27X8PvuN_GzoykcN3oWTyu-dg7UTvGEnXJjpzIzlhhEoIIBZWIIUfKdpZUAn94-AsAAP__Mwpcog">this link</a>&nbsp;to download and share photos of this all-new shirt.

Area blood donations needed to keep supply steady over busy holiday season

Karen Thomason is retiring from Hays Area Children's Center after 37 years.

 Her retirement celebration here at is at Hays Area Children's Center, 94 Lewis Drive, Friday, December 12, 3-7 p.m.

Thomason to retire after 37 years at Hays Area Children's Center; reception Friday

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations.

Just before 3 p.m. Dec. 9, a&nbsp; Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet pickup on 150th&nbsp;Road near U.S. Highway 75, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp; 

The driver, Perkins Whitetail, 70, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methampehtamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of a depressant and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; 

The passenger Ella Montoy Mzhickteno, 55, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of a depressant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At approximately 7 p.m. that day, Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a search warrant at 209 E. Clark Street, Mayetta the residence of Perkins Whitetail.&nbsp; During the search, deputies seized items believed to be illegal drug contraband. The following additional requested charges were added to Whitetail including possession of methampehtamine, possession of an opioid, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Traffic stop led to arrests and drug bust at Kansas home

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;— Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett is urging area residents to remain vigilant against financial scams targeting seniors, following the release of a startling new report by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The “2025 Annual Report to Congress on Department of Justice Activities to Combat Elder Fraud and Abuse” reveals the staggering scope of financial exploitation targeting older adults in the United States. According to the report, thieves attempted to steal or succeeded in stealing more than $2 billion from over 1 million older Americans during the reporting period.

“The figures released in this report are a reminder of the pervasiveness of elder financial abuse,” Bennett said. “While this is a national report, the threat is local. These sophisticated criminal networks do not discriminate by location, and we want to ensure the citizens of Sedgwick County are aware of the scale of this problem so they can better protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The DOJ report details that federal litigators pursued more than 280 enforcement actions against over 600 defendants. These perpetrators included both domestic offenders and transnational criminals operating from overseas, many of whom were extradited to face charges in U.S. courts.

The District Attorney’s Office encourages residents to look out for common “red flags” of fraud, which often include:

“We are putting this information out as a warning,” Bennett added. “If you suspect you or an elderly family member has been targeted, please do not stay silent. Reporting these crimes is the first step in stopping them.”

DOJ report: $2 billion in losses from elder abuse fraud

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a> Associated Press

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged higher this week, though it remains relatively near its low point so far this year.

The uptick brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.22% from 6.19% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.6%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. The rate averaged 5.54%, up from 5.44% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.84%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">interest rate policy decisions</a>&nbsp;to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year yield was at 4.12% at midday Thursday, slightly higher than it was a week ago.

The rise in mortgage rates comes a day after the Federal Reserve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the third time this year and indicated another cut may be ahead in 2026.

The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, so even when it cuts its short-term rates that doesn’t necessarily mean rates on home loans will necessarily decline.

That’s what happened last fall after the central bank cut its main rate for the first time in more than four years. Instead of falling, mortgage rates marched higher, eventually cresting above 7% in January this year. At that time, the 10-year Treasury yield was climbing toward 5%.

Mortgage rates began declining this summer ahead of the central bank’s September rate cut, its first in a year. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage got as low as 6.17%, the lowest level in more than a year, on Oct. 30.

That pullback in rates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-ee7705f4c272edfd5588fa78c2d6b501">helped lift sales of previously occupied U.S. homes in October</a>&nbsp;on an annual basis for the fourth straight month.

Still, affordability remains a challenge for many aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers who don’t have equity from an existing home to put toward a new home purchase. Uncertainty over the economy and job market are also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

The overall decline in mortgage rates this fall has been a boon for homeowners eager to refinance their home loan to a lower rate.

Applications for mortgage refinancing loans jumped 14% last week from the previous week, and accounted for about 58% of all home loan applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for loans to buy a home climbed nearly 5%.

Economists generally forecast that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will remain slightly above 6% next year.

“While this is unlikely to deliver the sharp relief some buyers are hoping for, rates are expected to be low enough to help counterbalance continued, but modest, home price growth,” said Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com.

Average US long-term mortgage rate ticks up but remains close to its low for the year

A shooting Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, left&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">two people dead and at least eight other critically injured.</a>&nbsp;Authorities were still searching for a suspect in the hours afterward.

The shooting occurred on a Saturday afternoon in a campus building with final exams underway. The suspect was dressed in black and left the building on foot, officials said.

The violence prompted a shelter-in-place order for the larger university area. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said “we have all available resources” to find the suspect.

“Sadly, today is a day that the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island prayed would never come,” the mayor said. “We've heard about horrific acts of gun violence and active shooter situations in other places, but not here.”

Brown is a private institution with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students.

Here is a look at other deadly shootings on U.S. college campuses in recent decades:

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-state-university-shooting-976289946dde326a7e9f97a62bb2f82d">KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: December 2025, 1 dead

A shooting at a residence hall at the public historically Black university left one student dead and another critically injured. The suspect, who is a parent of a student, faces murder and assault charges.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY</a>: September 2025, 1 dead

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking on campus during one of his political events, sending hundreds of people running. A 22-year-old suspect faces aggravated murder in connection with Kirk's death. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooting-phoenix-ikner-trial-2e37092ae8cf76e20069c603b7868548">FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: April 2025, 2 dead

Two died and six were wounded in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. A 21-year-old man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-shooting-las-vegas-unlv-55ca455e2d00f1126cc1dbf4cc29139e">UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS</a>: December 2023, 3 dead

A 67-year-old former business professor, whose applications to teach at UNLV had been rejected, opened fire in the building housing the university's business school, killing three professors and badly wounding a fourth. The gunman was killed in a shootout with police outside the building.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-michigan-education-shootings-153ab68bc4f108c2019bb138de2dc8fb">MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: February 2023, 3 dead

A 43-year-old gunman fired inside an academic building and the student union, killing three students and injuring five others. He later killed himself miles away from the campus in East Lansing while being confronted by police.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-virginia-shooting-live-updates-4cd9f0a64201d2460de887674fdfa02b">UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA</a>: November 2022, 3 dead

A student and former member of the school’s football team fatally shot three current players aboard a charter bus as they returned from a field trip, setting off panic and a 12-hour lockdown of the campus until the suspect was captured. Two other students were also wounded on the campus. The shooter has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges and is awaiting sentencing.

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