By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

What sat vacant for several months has been revived into a renewed cornerstone for floral services in Plainville, thanks to the Brewster family.

Joe and Lolly Brewster bought the location, 200 W. Mill St., after quietly eyeing it for four months. Lolly said an unexpected message soon arrived, setting their family on a new chapter.

"The realtor texted me in September of last year and asked, 'Do you have any interest?' and I said, 'How did you know?' because I've never pursued it," Lolly said.

Lolly said she has always loved floral design, landscaping and interior design, but she never envisioned her niche becoming a career. Paradise Flats Gifts &amp; Florals carries locally made items along with a variety of other gifts and décor available for delivery.

Their inventory includes custom seasonal arrangements, roses and a variety of wrapped bouquets. The shop’s shelves are lined with gifts such as stuffed animals, popcorn, candles, health and beauty items, religious items and seasonal décor.

The Brewster family began remodeling as soon as they purchased the shop on Nov. 21, 2024, but chose to remain open throughout the process to ensure Rooks County continued to have access to its floral services. The business was previously known as Mill Street Market.

Paradise Flats celebrated its one-year anniversary this month with an open house.

"We're very grateful to Deanna Hammerschmidt, the previous owner, and Carol Van Dyke, the owner before Deanna. We've learned from both of them and it's been very beneficial," Lolly said.

Its floral services cover a wide range of holidays and occasions. These include prom, homecoming, graduations and cemetery arrangements with delivery. The shop also provides tuxedo rentals and purchases through Jim’s Formal Wear, with measurements done in-house.

The shop also offers subscription packages for recurring monthly flower deliveries. With the first order, customers receive a vase that is reused for each subsequent arrangement.

The family of eight runs the business together, handling in-store services and social media marketing. Lolly said their family was deeply rooted in the community long before purchasing the shop and continues to strengthen those ties through their relationships with customers.

Joe said, "We wanted to provide a place where people could still shop locally versus going to Hays or Phillipsburg."

"We're not professionals by any means, but we try to serve our community," Lolly said.

Lolly graduated from Plainville High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Washburn University. She spent about 11 years in the nursing field before stepping away as their family grew to six children.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You can view Paradise Flats Gifts &amp; Florals' services on its <a href="https://plainvilleflowers.com/">website</a>&nbsp;and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paradiseflatsgifts/">Facebook</a>.

Paradise Flats Gifts & Florals blooms under new ownership

Kansas Livestock Association&nbsp;

TOPEKA — Twenty young Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) members from across the state graduated from the Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA) November 21 during the annual KLA Convention. Merck Animal Health again partnered with KLA to host members in their 20s for a series of four seminars throughout 2025. The program, which began in 2006, now has graduated 376&nbsp;members.

The annual KLA Convention in Manhattan was the fourth and final session for this year’s class. Participants had the opportunity to gain additional industry knowledge and network with other KLA members from across the state during the three-day event.&nbsp;YSA&nbsp;members also got a firsthand look at the inner workings of the association by attending the KLA Chairmen’s Circle meeting and participated in the policy-making process by joining in on committee and council meetings.&nbsp;

During their first session in Topeka in February, attendees participated in advocacy and media training, were exposed to the state legislative process and learned about member services provided by KLA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.&nbsp;In May, the class met in the Kansas City area, where they learned about beef marketing, agribusiness and the animal health industry. In September, the third installment allowed the group to tour beef and dairy operations throughout eastern and central Kansas that represented various segments of each industry.&nbsp;

Members of the 2025 YSA class are Paige Adams, Hutchinson; Kyler Berning, Leoti; Walker Clawson, Meade; Jenna Fitzsimmons, Cunningham; Jenna Goetzmann, Manhattan; Hayden Guetterman, Bucyrus; Luke Higgason, Larned; Jenna Hlavaty, Cimarron; Hunter Hope, Jetmore; Jordan Koons, Buffalo, OK; Elizabeth Lutz, Nickerson; Camryn Ricker, Ford; Jamie Schaake, Garden City; Luke Schneider, Saint John; Madelyn Stackley, El Dorado; Caleb Volkman, Hugoton; Daniel Walsh, Manhattan; Clayton Wharton, Syracuse; Cassandra Wolff, Caldwell; and Wyatt Woods, Cimarron.

KLA is a 5,500-member trade organization representing the state’s livestock business on legislative, regulatory and industry issues at both the state and federal levels. The association’s work is funded through voluntary dues dollars paid by its members.

Western Kansas residents among Young Stockmen’s Academy class graduates

Enjoy Home for the Holidays in Plainville on Dec. 13

By MARK Mark R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas

Leaders can unite or divide, whether it be by design or by misstep.

Thanksgiving’s evolution shows how both can happen.

On October 3, 1863, amid profound division and upheaval of the Civil War, President Lincoln issued a formal proclamation that established a National Day of Thanksgiving. He invited his “fellow citizens in every part of the United States…to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”

Perfectly timed after the Gettysburg victory, the proclamation capitalized on the Union’s improved outlook and Lincoln’s emerging stature as a unifier.

Lincoln hoped a shared day of thanks would help “heal the wounds of the nation” and establish a tradition that would bond Americans for generations.

Editor of the Ladies’ Magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, and author of the children’s poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Hale had lobbied state and federal officials for nearly 40 years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

She wrote to Lincoln in the summer of 1863 asserting that only the president had the power to make the holiday, “permanently, an American custom and institution.”

Presidents thereafter followed Lincoln’s example.

However, in 1939, during the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt issued his own proclamation. He called for Thanksgiving to be moved back to the third Thursday of November.

At the time, retailers waited until after Thanksgiving to display Christmas decorations and hold sales. By adding an additional seven days to the shopping season, Roosevelt hoped to boost consumer spending. A Gallup opinion poll showed 62 percent of Americans disapproved. Roughly 80 percent of Republicans disapproved, while a majority of Democrats supported it.

Twenty-two mostly Democrat-leaning states observed Thanksgiving on the new date. Twenty-two mostly Republican-leaning states resisted. Three celebrated Thanksgiving on both dates.

A day meant to unite the country turned into a symbol of political difference. A reminder that partisan polarization is nothing new in U.S. politics. Kansas Republican Governor Payne Ratner announced that in the sunflower state “we do not destroy tradition merely to gain newspaper headlines.”

Alf Landon, FDR’s rival in the 1936 election, criticized Roosevelt’s “impulsiveness” and strongly objected to “springing it [the change] upon an unprepared country with the omnipotence of a Hitler.”

People started calling Thanksgiving “Franksgiving.”

Amid unprecedented crises, Lincoln and Roosevelt used Thanksgiving for different purposes. Lincoln envisioned it as a path toward national reconciliation. Roosevelt saw it as a lever for economic activity.

One president embraced tradition. The other disrupted it.

Eventually, Congress intervened and established Thanksgiving as a federal holiday, restoring its observance to the fourth Thursday in November.

The partisan fight faded. Black Friday emerged as a defining feature of American consumer culture, a phenomenon widely embraced by Democrats and Republicans.

Retailers now start promotions in late October and continue through Cyber Monday.

Thanksgiving ultimately became two traditions. First a day for gratitude, then a day for deals.

Insight Kansas: The two traditions of Thanksgiving

<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

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11-year-old hospitalized after NW Kansas rollover accident

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners voted unanimously this week on several items that move forward with planned business and housing developments.

Jesse Rohr, public works director, presented recommendations to vacate DK Ranch Addition and a portion of Country Club Estates Sixth Addition for consideration of the Smoky Hill Plains Addition final plat. The project proposal also required the deannexation of DK Ranch and the annexation of Smoky Hill Plains Addition to streamline the property's legal description.

No comments were made during the public hearing for the deannexation.

Several current homeowners in the Columbine and 30th Street area had earlier expressed concerns about additional stormwater runoff and drainage through the new plat.

John Pyle told the commission that a group of neighbors met with Rohr, Curtis Deines, superintendent of the Planning &amp; Development Division, and Kate Armstrong, Planning &amp; Zoning technician, who explained the city's stormwater policy to them.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haysusa.com/343/Stormwater-Division">stormwater management regulations</a> are written so that the post-development cannot shed any more water than the pre-development, which happens through the mandatory retention area.

"They pretty much settled all our concerns," Pyle said. "They were very, very clear in explaining when we had a question...and just put our minds at ease."&nbsp;

The development is designed to have two points of access from Columbine and to include green space for the drainage way running north to south across the property. Street access to future 33rd Street improvements at the north end of the development will also be provided.

A multi-use path will be incorporated from 33rd Street south along Columbine to 27th Street, utilizing the stormwater drainage area/green space.

Also approved was a low bid award of $3.9 million from Smoky Hill, LLC, Salina, for infrastructure in 90 acres owned by the city at Interstate 70 Exit 161.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Because the bid was about $1 million below budget, an upgrade of the 27th Street roadway from the intersection of 27th and Commerce to the new intersection of the internal street will be constructed for an additional $160,000. An additional $203,417 contingency will also be added.

Funding for construction services will be paid from general obligation bonds.&nbsp;A portion of the project will be funded with a $2 million state grant acquired by Grow Hays.

The initial new infrastructure would serve about 11 buildable lots, ranging in size from 2 to 8 acres, for commercial and residential development.

🎙New Hays housing and business developments begin moving forward 

DORRANCE — The Dorrance American Legion Post 334 will host a steak feed Saturday, Dec. 7.

Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with the meal at 6 :30 p.m.

12 or 6-ounce ribeye steak with baked potato, corn, green beans, tea or water, and a big selection of desserts will be served.&nbsp;

Cold beer and mixed drinks will be available.

Call-in and carry-out orders are available by phoning 785-666-4275.&nbsp;

Proceeds benefit the Dorrance American Legion Post 334.

Dorrance American Legion hosts steak feed Dec. 7

If you have tried booking a counseling appointment recently, you may have found that there are longer waitlists than there used to be.

This is due to our mental health system being overwhelmed with high levels of need, and the workers running the system are getting burnt out.

As a graduate student and future social worker, I have the opportunity to witness this crisis firsthand.

As a current case manager working in family preservation, I have seen the struggles of burnout and feelings of failure when the caseload and workload are so high that it feels impossible to give all your families your all when helping and supporting them through difficult situations.

 Therapists, social workers, and case managers are often working overtime to meet this skyrocketing need. With higher-than-manageable caseloads and administrative burdens, many are getting burned out and leaving the field altogether. The result? Even fewer mental health professionals are available to meet the higher demands of people in need, resulting in longer waitlist times.

Mental health issues are on the rise, especially among young adults. Anxiety, depression and burnout are common topics on a college campus, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While awareness and sensitivity toward mental health issues appears to be on the rise, access to overall care is decreasing and creating further gaps. 

The U.S. is facing a tremendous shortage of mental health professionals, and rural areas often get hit the hardest.

Why is this happening? To start, the cost of graduate programs to become a mental health professional can be tens of thousands of dollars, with starting salaries often not matching the educational and emotional requirements of being a quality worker.

Fort Hays State University's Master of Social Work program charges roughly $22,000 for online in-state tuition.

The average starting salary for a master's-level mental health professional in Kansas is $45,000, with many individuals also carrying student debt. Burnout is another considerable factor.

1. Support mental health education: Our universities and employers should expand scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for students/employees entering the mental health field.

2. Pay providers fairly: An overall advocacy for healthier wages and benefits (including paid time off) can assist with retention of skilled professionals and attract hard-working individuals.

3. Care for the caregivers: Mental health professionals need to balance their own mental health and needs, too. Ensuring they have access to support systems and resources is crucial for their mental health maintenance.

As students entering the mental health profession or utilizing the mental health field, we can raise our voices and advocate for change. We can support our peers who are choosing to enter this field and make a positive impact on numerous lives.

We can also remind policymakers that mental health care is a necessity and should be a basic human right.

To ensure a healthier future, we must invest in the people who help us get there.

— Jozlyn Karnosky, Master of Social Work student at Fort Hays State University

Opinion: Mental health workers burned out, we are all feeling it

Cookies with Santa presented by Hays Lions Club on Dec. 3

&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

Downtown Hays is ready to shine brighter than ever as The Bricks hosts two beloved&nbsp;holiday traditions in a single spectacular day: Small Business Saturday in the morning and the Christmas&nbsp;Magic on Main Street Jubilee in the evening.

Kick off your holiday shopping season by supporting local retailers during Small Business Saturday. 

Shoppers can enjoy exploring unique boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and specialty shops throughout&nbsp;The Bricks. This event encourages residents and visitors alike to shop local and uplift the small&nbsp;businesses that help make Downtown Hays vibrant and thriving.

“Our small businesses are the heartbeat of The Bricks,” said Lee Ann June, executive director of The&nbsp;Bricks in Downtown Hays. “Shopping local keeps the community strong and full of life.”

Christmas Magic on Main Street Jubilee | 6–8 p.m.

As night falls, Downtown Hays will transform into a glowing winter wonderland for the Christmas Magic&nbsp;on Main Street Jubilee, a free, family-friendly celebration filled with holiday cheer. Guests can enjoy&nbsp;festive activities including:

• Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus • Free Soup Supper for the first 500 guests • Free hot cocoa and cookies • Holiday crafts, festive music, and community fun

This event is part of a full season of activities planned to bring even more lights, joy, and memorable&nbsp;moments to Main Street. The Christmas Magic on Main Street initiative is supported by generous&nbsp;community sponsors through tiers like Tree Topper, Secret Santa, Sleigh Sponsor, and more.

Both events are part of the 2025 season-long celebration that includes Holiday Open Houses, Clydesdale&nbsp;rides, Santa photos, the Downtown Dollar Giveaway, and the 25th Annual FrostFest Illuminated Parade.

• Small Business Saturday | Nov. 29 • Christmas Magic on Main Jubilee &amp; Tree Lighting (10th &amp; Main St) | Nov. 29, 6–8 p.m. — Free train&nbsp;rides, craft vendors, and soup supper for the first 500 guests (soup supper sponsored by Women&nbsp;Who Lead, prepared by Pfonz Smokehaus &amp; Catering) • Clydesdale Rides (sponsored by Meckenstock Group) &amp; visit with Santa at the Downtown&nbsp;Pavilion (10th &amp; Main St) | Dec. 5 &amp; 12, 5–7 p.m. • 25th Annual FrostFest Illuminated Parade (Main Street) | Dec. 7, 6 p.m. — Theme: “Timeless&nbsp;Traditions” • Customer Appreciation Weekend | Dec. 11–13 • Free Holiday Movie at The Fox (sponsored by Golden Belt Bank) | Dec. 14, 3 p.m. • Downtown Dollar Giveaway (Live on Facebook) | Dec. 20, 5:05 p.m.

To learn more, view the full event schedule or to register for the FrostFest Parade (deadline to enter is Nov.&nbsp;30), visit <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/frostfest">downtownhays.com</a>.

The Bricks continues to bring fun for the whole community Saturday in downtown Hays

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS is proud to continue its tradition of bringing local sports to viewers across Kansas this Thanksgiving season.

On Thanksgiving Day, tune in for a special broadcast of the&nbsp;2025 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of legendary Kansas athletes and coaches. It all starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 27.

Then, on&nbsp;November 28h and 29, Smoky Hills PBS will be live from Gowan Stadium in Hutchinson.

Watch the top teams of&nbsp;1A, 2A and 3A high school football&nbsp;teams from across Kansas compete in the KSHSAA State Football Championships&nbsp;Games.&nbsp;Jeremy McGuire and Larry Jantz provide commentary as we&nbsp;find out who will win the KSHSAA State Football Championships.

The action continues in December. On&nbsp;Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, Smoky Hills PBS will broadcast the&nbsp;8-Player Division I, Division II, and 6-Player State Football Championship Games&nbsp;that will be played in Greensburg on November 29.&nbsp;

These broadcasts are made possible thanks to the generous support of viewers like you. Your donations help Smoky Hills PBS continue to share local stories and sports that matter to our communities.

Smoky Hills PBS brings viewers exciting lineup of sports this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest traveling holidays, with that comes an increase in crashes. The Hays Police Department wants to remind everyone to always buckle up.

Hays PD joins law enforcement across the state to provide education about the importance of seat belts. Drivers can expect to see increased law enforcement presence on local roads during the statewide Thanksgiving Safe Arrival campaign, which runs from Nov. 22-29.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure in your vehicle.

· The shoulder belt should lay flat across the middle of the chest and away from the neck · The lap belt should fit across the hip, not stomach · Never put the seat belt behind the back or under the arm · Children should be properly restrained in car seats according to weight, age and height

For more information on seat belts go to <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts">www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts</a>.

Hays police Thanksgiving campaign stresses importance of buckling up

The culvert replacement project scheduled to take place in the 1400 block of Grants Villa Road has been postponed due to the recent weather conditions. 

 If you have any questions, please call Road and Bridge at 785-628-9455.

Culvert replacement project postponed

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post

The free Community Thanksgiving Feast, sponsored by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance (ECMA), will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 200 Main St., Hays.

No reservations are required; the meal is first-come, first-served. There will be no individual carry-out meals. Cheryl Glassman, ECMA president, said that 530 meals have been ordered from the caterer; 225 of those meals will go to Meals on Wheels clients and residents of local shelters and group homes.

On the menu will be roasted turkey, dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, a roll, drink, and dessert.

The Union Catering Co. is catering the main meal. The ECMA is seeking desserts from churches and individuals. Desserts may be brought to the office of First Call for Help of Ellis County, 607 E. 13th, from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Glassman said volunteers are needed at the dinner, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, to help with set-up, serving plates, slicing pies, cleaning up, and other duties. Volunteers may sign up by calling First Call for Help at 785-623-2800.

One familiar aspect of the dinner will be the grocery give-away. Every household in attendance who wants one will receive a free sack of groceries, Glassman said. One feature that will be new this year is each sack will contain recipe cards featuring the food items in the sack. Last year around 200 sacks were distributed.

Glassman said the ECMA sponsors the free community meal each Thanksgiving because “Thanksgiving is a time for gathering--gathering with family, gathering with community.&nbsp;There are also people who are alone for the holidays .&nbsp;. . We want people to feel welcome. All are invited.”

Tax deductible donations to help with the cost of the dinner may be sent to ECMA, P.O. Box 173, Hays, KS 67601, with proceeds to benefit the ECMA Second Mile Fund.

Free Community Thanksgiving Feast to be held at Hays armory

Ellis Knights of Columbus host free Thanksgiving Day meal

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man who admitted to charges in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a motorcyclist is going to prison.

Last Friday, Judge William Woolley sentenced 31-year-old Nathan Luck&nbsp;to 69 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;On September 26, Luck pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence and failure to stop at the scene of a crash, according to the district attorney's office.

Just before 10p.m. July 28, 2024, police responded to a 2-vehicle collision the area of East Central and Bristol in Wichita.

Police determined a motorcycle driven by 64-year-old Steven Golik was westbound on Central Avenue in Wichita when an eastbound Honda CR-V driven by Luck failed to yield the right of way, struck the motorcycle and fled the accident scene. EMS transported Golik to to a local hospital. He died days later.

Officers later located the Honda&nbsp; CR-V in the 500 block of Bristol Court and took Luck into custody.

Prison for SUV driver in deadly hit-and-run crash

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City, Missouri, woman was sentenced this week to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jennifer L. Cabral, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to 60 months in federal prison on for one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering to run concurrently and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $306,034.28 to her former employer and to forfeit $1,393.50.

As part of her plea, Cabral admitted that she stole money from the checking account of her employer and used those funds for her personal benefit, including purchasing a 2019 Mazda CX-9 automobile, in which she has since agreed to forfeit all interests.

According to information presented in court, Cabral made unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments to herself&nbsp;using her employer’s online account at a local financial institution.&nbsp; Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to&nbsp;her personal bank accounts at two other financial institutions. Once those funds were deposited in her personal accounts, she used them for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.

KC woman admits stealing money from employer to buy a car

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Saturday said that the airspace “above and surrounding”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;should be considered as “closed in its entirety,” an assertion that raised more questions about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-cartel-soles-us-drugs-terrorist-f778922c04b4f514092bd29b91e77358">U.S. pressure</a>&nbsp;on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. His government accused Trump of making a ”colonial threat" and seeking to undermine the South American country's sovereignty.

The White House did not respond to questions about what Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, and it was unclear whether he was announcing a new policy or simply reinforcing the messaging around his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-us-trump-drugs-strikes-negotiations-70e6017cdde101d06ebbc15cbb5a44fd">campaign against Maduro</a>, which has involved&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 as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-venezuela-trump-ford-strikes-drugs-241ea9e039d717b9f80f793922cb7cc9">buildup of naval forces</a>&nbsp;in the region. More than 80 people have been killed in such strikes since early September.

The Republican president addressed his call for an aerial blockade to “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” rather than to Maduro.

Venezuela’s government said it “forcefully rejects” Trump’s claim about closing the airspace and that it was a “colonial threat” intended to undermine the country's "territorial integrity, aeronautical security and full sovereignty.”

The Foreign Ministry said “such declarations constitute a hostile, unilateral and arbitrary act.”

The statement also said that U.S. immigration authorities had unilaterally suspended biweekly deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants. Following negotiations between the two governments, more than 13,000 Venezuelans have been deported to Venezuela this year on dozens of chartered flights, the latest of which arrived late Friday in Caracas, the capital, according to flight-tracking data.

International airlines last week began to cancel flights to Venezuela after the Federal Aviation Administration told pilots to be cautious flying around the country because of heightened military activity.

The FAA’s jurisdiction is generally limited to the United States and its territories. The agency does routinely warn pilots about the dangers of flying over areas with ongoing conflicts or military activity around the globe, as it did earlier this month with Venezuela. The FAA works with other countries and the International Civil Aviation Organization on international issues. The FAA and ICAO did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.

Trump's administration has sought to ratchet up pressure on Maduro. The U.S. government does not view Maduro as the legitimate leader of the oil-rich but increasingly impoverished South American nation and he faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.

U.S. forces have conducted bomber flights near Venezuela and the USS Gerald R. Ford, America's most advanced aircraft carrier, was sent to the area. The Ford rounds off the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-buildup-caribbean-venezuela-ships-troops-810f6181371f53536c723ea562c5277c">buildup of U.S. firepower</a>&nbsp;in the region in generations. With its arrival, the “Operation Southern Spear” mission includes nearly a dozen Navy ships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines.

There are bipartisan calls for greater oversight of the U.S. military strikes against vessels in the region after The Washington Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed as part of the Sept. 2 attack on suspected drug smugglers.

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and its top Democrat, Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, said in a joint statement late Friday that the committee "will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances.”

Trump’s team has weighed both military and nonmilitary options with Venezuela, including covert action by the CIA.

Trump has publicly floated the idea of talking to Maduro. The New York Times reported Friday that Trump and Maduro had spoken. The White House declined to answer questions about the conversation.

President Trump declares Venezuela airspace closed

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7a.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas.

According to Kansas City, Kansas police, an SUV driven by a man in 60s was northbound in the 1300 Block of N 38th Street. The vehicle veered off the road into a parking lot and struck two posts.

First responders pronounced the man deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Police did n ot release his name of additional details.

Driver dies after SUV crash in Kansas City parking lot

WASHINGTON — Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s upcoming resignation from Congress set off a series of questions and misinformation about what health care and pension benefits lawmakers receive once they leave public service.&nbsp;

The system is a bit complex and determined by when a lawmaker entered Congress as well as how long they stayed. Members must serve at least five years, putting Greene just over the eligibility line&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/11/21/georgia-congresswoman-marjorie-taylor-greene-says-she-will-resign-in-january/" target="_blank">when she officially steps aside</a>&nbsp;in January.&nbsp;

Members of Congress elected after 1984 are covered under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System. The four House lawmakers and one senator elected before then may be under the Civil Service Retirement System, so their benefit may be calculated differently than that of their colleagues.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service explains in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/RL/PDF/RL30631/RL30631.39.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;about lawmakers’ retirement benefits that “pensions, like those of other federal employees, are financed through a combination of employee and employer contributions.”&nbsp;

“Under both CSRS and FERS, Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at the age of 62 if they have completed at least 5 years of service,” the report states. “Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on length of service (as measured in months) and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.”

All members also must pay into Social Security, and how much in taxes they pay and benefits they receive are the same as for all beneficiaries.

Members of Congress, except for leadership, are paid $174,000 a year.

Greene, who began her congressional career on Jan. 3, 2021, will be just over the five-year requirement when she formally resigns on Jan. 5.&nbsp;

Greene will receive about $8,700 in pension benefits per year for the rest of her life, after she turns 62. She is now 51.

Former U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was first sworn in on June 2, 1987, after winning a special election, will receive considerably more in pension benefits given that she was a member for decades longer than Greene and had a higher salary during her time in leadership.&nbsp;

The National Taxpayers Union Foundation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/pelosi-to-exit-congress-with-one-of-the-largest-pensions-on-record" target="_blank">expects</a>&nbsp;Pelosi will receive an annual pension of $107,860 after she retires in January 2027.&nbsp;

Members of Congress who retire or resign are eligible to purchase health insurance from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program as long as they had health insurance from the District of Columbia’s Affordable Care Act marketplace “for the five years of service immediately prior to retirement,” according to a different CRS&nbsp;<a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R43194.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>.&nbsp;

While in Congress, lawmakers are eligible to have some of their health coverage offset by their employer — the federal government — as long as they purchase it through the D.C. marketplace, known as DC Health Link. Like others in the states, it was created by the Affordable Care Act.

As with group health insurance plans, the amount subsidized by the federal government depends on whether a lawmaker selects a health plan that covers themselves or themselves plus eligible family members.&nbsp;

Rep. MTG's retirement launches speculation about congressional pensions

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tyson Foods' decision to close a beef plant that employs nearly one third of residents of Lexington, Nebraska, could devastate the small city and undermine the profits of ranchers nationwide.

Closing a single slaughterhouse might not seem significant, but the Lexington plant employs roughly 3,200 people in the city of 11,000 and has the capacity to slaughter some 5,000 head of cattle a day. Tyson also plans to cut one of the two shifts at a plant in Amarillo, Texas, and eliminate 1,700 jobs there. Together those two moves will reduce beef processing capacity nationwide by 7-9%.

Consumers may not see prices change much at the grocery store over the next six months because all the cattle that are now being prepared for slaughter will still be processed, potentially just at a different plant. But in the long run, beef prices may continue to climb even higher than the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beef-prices-record-high-cattle-steak-cows-e9fc33bbaec6a76fb243e277bbbb7c0e">current record highs</a>&nbsp;— caused by a variety of factors from drought to tariffs — unless American ranchers decide to raise more cattle, which they have little incentive to do.

An increase in beef imports from Brazil, like President Donald Trump encouraged last week by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-brazil-tariffs-coffee-fruit-beef-1754b7cd5f33e899bf2876a4fd66f549">slashing tariffs</a>&nbsp;on the South American country, may help insulate consumers while ranchers and feedlots struggle with high costs and falling prices.

Here's what we know about the impact of the plant closure and the changing tariffs:

Clay Patton, vice president of the Lexington-area Chamber of Commerce said Monday that Tyson’s announcement Friday felt like a “gut punch” to the community in the Platte River Valley that serves as a key link in the agricultural production chain.

When it opened in 1990, the Lexington plant that Tyson later acquired revitalized and remade the formerly dwindling town by attracting thousands of immigrants to work there and nearly doubling the population.

When the plant closes in January, the ripple effects will be felt throughout the community, undermining many first-generation business owners and the investment in new housing, Patton said. Tyson said it will offer Lexington workers the chance to move to take open jobs at one of its other plants if they are willing to uproot their families for jobs hundreds of miles away.

“I’m hopeful that we can come through this and we’ll actually become better on the other side of it,” Patton said.

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