By TIM THOMAS Special to Hays Post

In December 1905, the remains of soldiers who had long been buried at the historic Fort Hays were unearthed for reinterment at Fort Leavenworth. What was initially just an administrative move took a macabre turn. Rumors began to spread that some of the buried may not have entered their graves entirely dead.

Fort Hays was established in 1867 and was a key post on the western frontier until its decommissioning in 1889. In 1905, the bodies of soldiers who had died at the fort were to be moved to the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. The bodies in Fort Hays cemetery had been buried for almost 40 years at that point, and many were victims of a cholera epidemic at the post.

The initial report from the Ellis County Republican was published on Dec. 23, 1905. The paper mentioned that during the exhumation of soldiers, “a number of strange things were brought to light.”

These included: a man buried with brass knuckles on his hands, a man whose only remains were hair and feet that were encased in immaculate socks and shoes, hair of the dead turned a reddish color (it was supposed from the clay earth in the cemetery), and “a number of other odd conditions reported by the men employed in digging up the bodies."

The most disturbing detail reported by the Republican was the condition of at least one man.

“In another grave, the body was found lying on its face with the arms and limbs drawn up as if in agony.”

Six days after the initial reports by the Ellis County Republican were published, a story popped up in the Fort Leavenworth Post. This story featured an account from a Hays businessman, J.H. Wood, who spoke with a newspaper representative.

His account stated that there was “unmistakable evidence” that men were buried alive, and the “gruesome evidence was plain in a number of cases” according to the Fort Leavenworth Post. The Post also made mention of the fact that victims of cholera were buried rapidly, which could lead to a person mistakenly being buried alive.

That same day, December 29, 1905, a short article ran on page one of the Kansas City Journal with J.H. Wood’s account of live burials at Fort Hays. From there, the news spread like wildfire, with articles appearing in newspapers all over the country republishing Mr. Wood’s account.

While the story told by J.H. Wood was going the early 20th century version of viral, another report appeared in Nebraska. On Jan. 2, 1906, The Hastings Daily Republican published a news note from Omaha. A Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Black had recently returned from a trip to visit Mrs. Black’s mother in Hays.

It seems Mr. and Mrs. Black had been in town during the exhumation of the bodies, and the Blacks had a gruesome report.

According to the Hastings Daily Republican, “Some of the bodies had turned over, others had the legs drawn up to the neck, and in others the hands were filled with hair that had been torn from the scalp."

The Daily Republican mentioned that the evidence of soldiers being buried alive came from the section of the cemetery where the cholera victims had been buried.

Modern medicine has made it so that many people take doctors' knowledge and abilities for granted. Medicine in the 1800s was not nearly as advanced, and people of the time feared being mistakenly pronounced dead and put in an untimely grave.

So great was this fear that Edgar Allen Poe published a story, “The Premature Burial," about being buried alive in 1844. There were also two different patents for safety caskets to prevent live burial. In 1868, Franz Vester was granted a patent for an “Improved Burial-Case,” and in 1882, John Krichbaum received a patent for a “Device for Indicating Life in Buried Persons."

This fear was compounded by cholera, which, throughout most of the 1800s, would periodically tear through the country. A standard operating procedure for stopping the spread of the disease was to bury the dead as quickly as possible. Pairing this with overworked doctors and limited knowledge could theoretically lead to mistakes being made in properly identifying the dead.

J.H. Wood’s account of soldiers being buried alive had been reprinted in St. Louis area newspapers. One of those newspapers was the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, which published the account on Dec. 31, 1905.

There it came to the attention of Lawrence “Old Larry” Ring. Lawrence Ring sold newspapers in downtown St. Louis. He was a Civil War veteran of the United States Navy. After the war, he spent time as a government teamster, where he passed through Fort Hays during the cholera epidemic.

The 1867 cholera epidemic hit western outposts and towns particularly hard. While en route to Fort Riley, Elizabeth Custer, the wife of General George Armstrong Custer, was stopped in Ellsworth. There, she described the disease as so bad that there was not enough lumber, and coffins had to be improvised from hardtack boxes.

Fort Hays was not spared. At least 30 soldiers and over 100 local civilians would succumb to cholera in just two short months. While at Fort Hays, Lawrence Ring came down with cholera and was nearly buried alive.

“I had been sick but four days,” he said, “when they removed me to the deadhouse.”

According to Ring, a few minutes after his last rites had been read, he was carried off by hospital attendants. He was placed in the “deadhouse” but crawled out and returned to his cot to the surprise of the staff.

“When the doctor saw me on my cot the next morning, he acted like he thought I was a ghost,” Ring said, “it was the only bit of humor I recall out of my experiences during the plague.”

After recovering, Mr. Ring worked as a hospital orderly, where he likely would have interacted with the fort’s most famous cholera victim, Elizabeth Polly. Elizabeth is commonly known as the “Blue Light Lady” for her spectral appearances around the fort. During his time as an orderly, Mr. Ring attested to the speed at which burials occurred.

“I witnessed much misery,” he said, “I know too, that no time was lost in burying the dead, as the laws respecting interment of cholera victims were very stringent.”

That brings the story back to Hays and the question of whether soldiers were truly buried alive during the 1867 cholera epidemic.

The Ellis County Republican published a small note on Jan. 13, 1906. In the paper, it claimed regarding the possibility of people being buried alive that “Only one body was found bordering on this.”

This body, they claimed, was of the man who was found buried while still wearing brass knuckles. This was accounted for in a Dec. 30, 1905, letter to the editor by Hill P. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson stated the man was a soldier from the 38th U.S. Infantry. In 1868, the soldier had attempted to break into a house while wearing brass knuckles and was shot dead. The soldier was left dead in the house for people to view, which Mr. Wilson did and was then buried while still wearing the brass knuckles.

This account certainly explains the man wearing brass knuckles. Still, it does not explain the body that was found flipped over with its arms and legs drawn up “in agony” as originally reported by the Republican.

It also leaves the people who related their stories to other newspapers, J.H. Wood and Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Black. At the time, Hays was a small town with a population of less than 2,000. It is possible that rumors could have spread quickly. It is also possible that they could have witnessed the exhumations firsthand, as many newspaper reports at the time said it was a spectacle for the town.

After 120 years it is impossible to know and it’s probably true that the people of Hays may have wanted it that way to keep a dark tale from spreading about their home.

As stated in the Hastings Daily Republican, “The matter was being discussed as little as possible by the authorities, and no information was given out voluntarily.”

Buried alive at historic Fort Hays

Hays Police Department activity log: Dec. 21-27, 2025

Hays Police Department arrest log: Dec. 21-27, 2025

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media

Venezuela is now storing crude-oil in aging and obsolete oil tankers parked in its coastal waters. Inventories are mounting, with production of 1.1 million barrels a day, and shipping delays across the board prompted by the US blockade. Reuters reports an emerging backlog filling onshore storage. Venezuelan stockpiles are the highest since August, rising over 22 million barrels. They began transferring barrels to tankers over the weekend.

Reuters reported at least one crude carrier flagged to Panama returned to port in Venezuela following the US interception of another.&nbsp; Two tankers, the "Kelly" and the "Centuries," left port under escort by the Venezuelan Navy. The Coast Guard intercepted the Centuries. The Kelly returned to Caracas.

The United States told the United Nations it will impose and enforce sanctions (quote:) "to the maximum extent"... to deprive Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of resources.

Iran state media reports its Navy seized an oil tanker reportedly carrying 25-thousand barrels of smuggled fuel in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Officials did not disclosed the flag of the tanker, nor the nationalities of the 16 crew members taken into custody Friday.

India's largest conglomerate is still receiving crude-oil shipments from Russian supplier Rosneft, despite US sanctions against the company and its customers. Reuters reports Reliance Industries has what it calls a temporary arrangement allowing it to receive Russian cargoes while working toward compliance. The Administration specifically sanctioned Rosneft, and gave its customers until November to comply. Additional shipments were expected in December and January.

The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes dated Tuesday shows an increase of three oil rigs. The gas tally was unchanged. The total of 545 rigs of all types is down 44 from a year ago. This week, Texas is up two, Louisiana is up one and New Mexico is down one.

Independent Oil and Gas Service notes 15 active drilling rigs in a report dated Christmas Day. Most of those rigs are shut down for the holiday, but actual drilling is reported on leases in Gove and Bourbon County. The current active-rig inventory is unchanged from last week, 14 percent higher than a month ago, and 37 percent lower than a year ago.

In it's final Red Top report for the year, Independent Oil and Gas Service notes 189 active licensed operators in Kansas who have drilled a well here this year. That's down 68 operators, or 26 percent, from last year. Overall activity is down 37 percent compared to last year.

There are nine new well-completions in the final weekly report, or completed wells 1,078 wells year-to-date.&nbsp; The completion tally trails last year by nearly three hundred wells.&nbsp; The statewide leaders are in eastern Kansas: Woodson County with 135 wells, and Anderson County with 117.*Ellis County with 25 well-completions this year, compared to 24 by the end of last year.*Barton County operators completed 33 wells, up from 30 last year.*Russell County completions drop by nearly half, from 19 a year ago to ten this year.*Stafford County is down four from last year to 17 wells.*Finney County operators completed 32 wells, Gove County reports 29 and Haskell County notches 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The US House passed a sweeping permitting and regulatory reform bill, the so-called SPEED Act, which stands for Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development. The measure eliminates some environmental reviews and accelerates approvals for major energy projects, along with infrastructure, manufacturing and data centers. The bill's supporters say it eliminates duplicate reviews and blocks litigation. Critics say it ties the hands of judges and local communities. It now faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

Crude oil production in North Dakota increased slightly in October. The Department of Mineral Resources in the number-three crude producing state reports output inched up by 483 barrels per day from September to October to 1.168 million barrels per day. Natural gas production is down, and statewide flared volume increased by nearly four percent. Operators were able the capture 95.2 percent of the natural gas coming out of their oil wells. The rest is vented or burned off.

News from the Oil Patch: Kansas completion stats up, down

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays received one inch of snow on Sunday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

Hays had wind gusts of up to 45 mph early Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Although Hays saw seasonably warm temperatures during the holiday, it did not reach a record high last week.

Hays has received .2 inches of precipitation for December compared to an annual average of .71 inches by the end of the month.

Hays has received 26.48 inches of precipitation year-to-date, compared to an average annual precipitation rate of 22.96 inches.

The high for today is forecast at 36 degrees, with sunny skies and the wind dying down in the afternoon.

Highs are forecast to be in the 50s on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a high of 46 degrees forecast for New Year's Day.

The forecast calls for sunny skies Tuesday and Wednesday and no precipitation through Friday.

Hays receives snow Sunday, but forecast calls for warming trend

Ellis County Jail bookings: Dec. 21-27, 2025

Ellis County Sheriff's activity log: Dec. 21-27, 2025

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post

Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com.

Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;

If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

SHERMAN COUNTy —Streets are back open and a suspect is in custody following an overnight incident in Goodland.&nbsp; No injuries are reported at this time to the suspect or officers.&nbsp; Police released no additional details on what prompted the 'shelter in place' order or the name of the suspect and possible charges.

SHERMAN COUNTY —Police in northwest Kansas issued a shelter in place order for portions of the city of Goodland late Sunday.

According to Goodland Police, a situation occurred that required the assistance of the Kansas Highway Patrol SRT Team, according to a social media report from police.

They asked residents to stay away from the area of 4th/5th and Caldwell Streets. "Please stay in your homes and away from windows. We have the situation contained to a household; however, we ask that everyone shelter in place until the suspect is in custody." Police have Caldwell from 3rd to 5th closed, and 4th Street from Clark to Cherry closed.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The scene was still active early Monday.

Police released no additional information.

Police: Shelter in place order lifted, NW Kan. suspect in custody

HaysMed announces that Gina Givens, RN, a nurse in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU), has been honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Gina provides specialized care for patients requiring close monitoring and advanced support, bridging the gap between intensive care and general medical care. Her role demands exceptional clinical skill, quick decision-making, and a compassionate approach to ensure patients and families feel safe and supported during challenging times.

A patient who nominated Gina for the award shared: “I’m nominating Gina Givens for the Daisy award because of the outstanding care she gave me during my stay at HaysMed. From the moment we met, this nurse treated me with kindness, respect and professionalism. What meant the most to me was how she handled the more difficult moments, especially when I was experiencing confusion and delusional episodes. This nurse remained calm, patient and compassionate, always making sure I felt safe and heard. She explained everything clearly in simple, understandable terms, both to me and my family, which brought us all comfort and peace of mind.

Beyond her clinical skills, Gina has a warm and friendly personality that helped put me at ease. She makes a tough experience much more manageable and I’m truly grateful for her dedication and care. All of the doctors, nurses, and aids and staff I encountered at HaysMed were wonderful, but this nurse truly stood out in the most meaningful way. HaysMed is lucky to have such a remarkable nurse. This nurse embodies what their profession is all about- compassion, competence, and a genuine heart for helping other’s. With heartfelt thanks!”

Joben Rieth, HaysMed Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, stated: “Gina’s ability to combine clinical excellence with genuine compassion is what makes her stand out. The DAISY Award is about recognizing nurses who make a lasting impact, and Gina exemplifies that every day. Her calm presence and dedication to patient-centered care truly reflect the heart of nursing.”

The DAISY Award is an international program that celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care provided by nurses. HaysMed is proud to be a DAISY Award Hospital Partner.

To nominate a nurse or team at HaysMed for the DAISY Award, visit: <a href="https://www.haysmed.com/daisy-nomination-form/">https://www.haysmed.com/daisy-nomination-form/</a>

Hays Medical Center (HaysMed) is a private, not-for-profit, 200+ bed hospital providing the only tertiary-level services in the region. As the premier provider in western Kansas for specialized care, HaysMed offers a wide variety of specialty programs including cardiology, orthopedics, cancer, surgery (general, minimally invasive and robotic), ENT, pulmonology, critical care and women’s services. HaysMed is a Level III Trauma Center and a certified Primary Stroke Center.

Other services include rehabilitation, hospice, neonatal, intensive care and diagnostic imaging, as well as a Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center and a Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Center. HaysMed is proud to be one of only 20 U.S. hospitals recognized by Vizient in 2023 as a Top Performer in the Complex Care Medical Center cohort. In 2024, HaysMed was named as one of the top 100 rural and community hospitals in the country by the National Rural Health Association and earned the prestigious five-star designation in the 2024 CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. Learn more at <a href="https://www.haysmed.com/">haysmed.com</a>.

DAISY Award presented to recipient for outstanding nursing excellence

PHILLIPS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest following a police pursuit in northwest Kansas.

Just before 3p.m. Saturday, the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a vehicle pursuit that began in Smith County, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

 The pursuit continued into Rooks County, where a Rooks County Sheriff’s Deputy successfully deployed spike strips, bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop.

With the vehicle disabled, the male driver—identified as being from Pennsylvania—was given clear commands and taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported. Area agencies maintained communication throughout the incident, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Rooks County Sheriff’s Office, and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office coordinated to ensure the pursuit was resolved safely and efficiently.

Suspect arrested after northwest Kansas police chase

The Board of Ellis County Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to have an executive session. The purpose of the executive session is for non-elected personnel matters for interviews.

Ellis County Commission to hold special meeting

Make your nomination below to help us recognize an Ellis County Child Care Provider.

Nominate a Child Care Champion

The Dec. 30 (Tuesday) Hays City Commission work session has been canceled.

Hays City Commission work session canceled this week

City of Hays offices will be closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026, in observance of the New Year's Day holiday.

City of Hays offices closed on New Year's day holiday

Join our new Hays Post Newsletter and receive the top news stories from your community every morning in your email inbox plus one-click access to the latest obituaries.&nbsp;

Sign up for free Hays Post Newsletter

&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 Eagle Media office will close at noon today for the Christmas holiday. The office will also be closed on Thursday for Christmas Day and reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday.

From all of us at Eagle Media, we wish you a Merry Christmas!

Hays Eagle Media office to close at noon Christmas Eve

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy: new strength training program for older adults

The Heartland Catholic Parishes have announced the following times for services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (services are listed in chronological order):

Dec. 24 (Wednesday) - Christmas Eve

Immaculate Heart of Mary - 1805 Vine, 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. (Bilingual).

St. Joseph, 215 W. 13th&nbsp;- 5 p.m., 11:30 p.m. choir music, Mass at midnight.

St. Nicholas of Myra, 2901 E. 13th&nbsp;- 5 p.m.

Comeau Catholic Campus Center, 506 W. Sixth – 9 a.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, 9 a.m., English; noon, Spanish. No 6 p.m. Mass or confessions.

Hays Medical Center Chapel, 2220 Canterbury Dr. - 11:15 a.m.

The following Protestant churches in Hays have announced their Christmas Eve services. (This is not a comprehensive list. It represents those churches who provided their service times. Services are listed in chronological order):

Celebration Community Church, 5790 230th&nbsp;Ave. - 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2422 Hyacinth Ave. - 2 p.m.

North Oak Community Church, 3000 Oak St. - 5:30 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 2703 Fort St. - 5:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall St. - 6 p.m.

First Baptist Church, 1111 Fort St. - 6:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 305 W. Seventh - 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The 5:30 p.m. service will be in both Spanish and English.

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2900 Canal Blvd. - 11 p.m.

UPDATED: Hays churches announce Christmas Eve, Christmas Day service times

Community members typically provide desserts for the Hays Community Christmas and we are in need of more.&nbsp;

Anyone wanting to provide dessert can contact 785-675-1344 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com">communitychristmasdinner@gmail.com</a>.

Desserts still needed for Hays Community Christmas 

KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced charges against a Kansas City man in connection with a fatal stabbing and assault stemming from a domestic dispute.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2785/Leonard-Johnson-Complaint">Leonard J. Johnson</a>, 54, faces 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and 1st Degree Assault.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2786/JohnsonLeonard-PC-1">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a residence on Dec. 22 on a reported cutting and located an injured victim who said she was stabbed in her head and neck area while in a vehicle with the defendant. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Detectives found the defendant’s vehicle at his home with blood and a knife in plain view inside the vehicle. While at his home, police located the defendant who had apparent blood on his hands and shoes. He was taken into custody without incident.&nbsp;

Officers were informed by a party on scene that there was a deceased female in the residence. Officers then entered the defendant’s residence and found a deceased female victim on the kitchen floor with several stab wounds.

Witnesses reported to police that the deceased victim was the defendant’s girlfriend, and the defendant had a history of violence toward her.&nbsp;

During an interview with detectives, the defendant admitted that he killed the victim, then later said he didn’t kill anyone.&nbsp;

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $500,000 cash-only.&nbsp;

Police found blood and a knife in KC murder suspect's car

SEWARD COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a small plane mishap that occurred just after 1:30p.m. Monday in Seward County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Cessna 2100 piloted by Braxon G.&nbsp;Blackwood, 20, Sublette, was coming&nbsp;in for landing at Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport. The pilot was unsure if the landing gear was deployed and landed on the belly of the aircraft on the runway.

Blackwood was not injured. The FAA and NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.

Kansas pilot lands on belly of small plane on the runway

A Utah judge on Monday ordered the release of a transcript from a closed-door hearing in October over whether the man charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">killing Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;must be shackled during court proceedings.

State District Judge Tony Graf said the transcript must be posted on the court docket by the end of the day. Attorneys for media outlets including The Associated Press had argued for details of the closed hearing to be made public.

Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Sept. 10 shooting</a>&nbsp;of the conservative activist on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-police-charlie-kirk-d7d464c949ec9d4abad0eb3910d6a96b">Utah Valley University</a>&nbsp;campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">seek the death penalty</a>.

Defense attorneys for Robinson in early October requested that he be allowed to appear in court in civilian clothes and without restraints, to prevent any bias against him among potential jurors.

Days after an Oct. 24 closed door hearing on the matter, Graf ruled that Robinson could appear in civilian clothes but must wear restraints. Utah court rules require defendants who are in custody to be restrained unless otherwise ordered.

Graf wrote in an Oct. 27 order that restraints for Robinson would protect the safety of court staff and the defendant, by allowing him to be quickly secured if court proceedings were disrupted.

But the judge said Monday that public transparency was “foundational” to the judicial system before ordering details of the closed hearing to be released. The judge ordered limited redactions to remove discussions of security protocols in the closely watched case.

Graf also ordered the release of an audio recording of the hearing, again with redactions.

Lawyers for the media wrote in recent filings that an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” while fostering public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the U.S. have long been open to the public, which the attorneys argued is proof that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting reporters.

Graf has said in a separate order that Robinson's restraints could not be shown by media outlets that publish photographs of court proceedings or broadcast them.

Graf briefly stopped a media livestream of a hearing earlier this month and ordered the camera be moved after Robinson’s attorneys said the stream showed the defendant’s shackles.

In a separate ruling Monday, Graf denied a request from attorneys for the media who sought to intervene in the case. The judge said members of the press do not need to be formal parties in the proceedings to access court records.

Robinson was not present in court Monday but appeared via audio link from the Utah County Jail. In a separate ruling on

A preliminary hearing, where prosecutors will lay out their case against him, is scheduled for the week of May 18.

Judge gives media significant win in Charlie Kirk murder trial

DOUGLAS COUNTY —The Lawrence Kansas Police Department is issuing a Silver Alert and asking for help in finding 77-year-old Roger Harry Bean.  He has not been seen since December 23.

Mr Bean has cognitive issues, and is known to wander and hitchhike. He is described 6-feet-2&nbsp; and weighs 195 pounds.&nbsp;If you see Mr. Bean, please call dispatch at 785.843.0250 or 911 immediately.

Silver Alert for Kansas man missing since December 23

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert"></a>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. has “hit” a dock facility along a shore as he wages a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-tankers-shipbuilding-3c711c500a627243329807df42fa6ef8">pressure campaign on Venezuela</a>, but the U.S. offered few details.

(click below to listen to the President's explanation of the attack)

Trump initially seemed to confirm a strike in what appeared to be an impromptu radio interview Friday, and when questioned Monday by reporters about “an explosion in Venezuela,” he said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs “load up.”

“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-arab-nations-229253766673f18c1195550572edd2ce">met in Florida with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>. “They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. There’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.”

It is part of an escalating effort to target what the Trump administration says are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">boats smuggling drugs</a>&nbsp;bound for the United States. It moves closer to shore strikes that so far have been carried out by the military in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Trump declined to say if the U.S. military or the CIA carried out the latest strike or where it occurred. He did not confirm it happened in Venezuela.

“I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was. But you know it was along the shore,” Trump said.

Trump first referenced the strike on Friday, when he called radio host John Catsimatidis during a program on WABC radio and discussed the U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats. The attacks have killed at least 105 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">29 known strikes</a>&nbsp;since early September.

“I don’t know if you read or saw, they have a big plant or a big facility where they send the, you know, where the ships come from,” Trump said. “Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So, we hit them very hard.”

Trump did not offer any additional details in the interview.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or one of the U.S. military’s social media accounts has in the past typically announced every boat strike in a post on X, but there has been no post of any strike on a facility.

The Pentagon on Monday referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking more details. The press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s statement.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">for months has suggested</a>&nbsp;he may conduct land strikes in South America, in Venezuela or possibly another country, and in recent weeks has been saying the U.S. would move beyond striking boats and&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4.-1.0.json?type=new" target="_blank">would strike on land “soon</a>.”

In October, Trump confirmed he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cia-covert-operations-venezuela-ecb477ac7f07d5beaf48d44dee75c5e5">authorized the CIA</a>&nbsp;to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. The agency did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.

Along with the strikes, the U.S. has sent warships, built up military forces in the region,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized two oil tankers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-blockade-ship-intercepted-coast-guard-00056eed8071c51ca681fc74528d66f1">pursued a third</a>.

The Trump administration has said it is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">“armed conflict” with drug cartels</a>&nbsp;and seeking to stop the flow of narcotics into the United States.

Venezuelan President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from power.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-interview-donald-trump-a9b42bf0580f9ebdf93a45e7d19382f5">in an interview with Vanity Fair</a>&nbsp;published this month that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro ‘cries uncle.’”

Price reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

🎥 Trump says U.S. hit drug boat loading dock in Venezuela

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire in an apartment building in Kansas City.

Just before 2:30a.m. Sunday, crews responded to a reported fire in the 1800 block of 15th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

&nbsp; On arrival crews reported heavy fire and smoke from a two-story vacant apartment building. Interior operations were initiated using multiple handlines. Searches of the structure were conducted, and no injuries were reported. Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were called to the scene.&nbsp;

Cause of fire in 2-story KC apartment under investigaiton

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/annie-ma">ANNIE MA</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it will begin garnishing the wages of student loan borrowers who are in default early next year.

The department said it will send notices to approximately 1,000 borrowers the week of January 7, with more notices to come at an increasing scale each month.

Millions of borrowers are considered in default, meaning they are 270 days past due on their payments. The department must give borrowers 30 days notice before their wages can be garnished.

The department said it will begin collection activities, “only after student and parent borrowers have been provided sufficient notice and opportunity to repay their loans.”

In May, the Trump administration ended the pandemic-era pause on student loan payments, beginning to collect on defaulted debt through withholding tax refunds and other federal payments to borrowers.

The move ended a period of leniency for student loan borrowers. Payments restarted in October of 2023, but the Biden administration extended a grace period of one year. Since March 2020, no federal student loans had been referred for collection, including those in default, until the Trump administration’s changes earlier this year.

The Biden administration tried multiple times to give broad forgiveness to student loans, but those efforts were eventually stopped by courts.

Persis Yu, deputy executive director for the Student Borrower Protection Center, criticized the decision to begin garnishing wages, and said the department had failed to sufficiently help borrowers find affordable payment options.

“At a time when families across the country are struggling with stagnant wages and an affordability crisis, this administration’s decision to garnish wages from defaulted student loan borrowers is cruel, unnecessary, and irresponsible,” Yu said in a statement. “As millions of borrowers sit on the precipice of default, this Administration is using its self-inflicted limited resources to seize borrowers’ wages instead of defending borrowers’ right to affordable payments.”

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Student loan borrowers in default may see wages garnished in 2026

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a violent attack in the fall of 2020, on a teen, later identified as his girlfriend, was scheduled to learn his fate on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For the third time in two months sentencing for&nbsp;24-year-old Dominic Thomas was postponed, the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office reported on Monday.

 In November of 2024, a jury convicted Thomas, who was 19 at the time of the crime, of attempted first-degree murder.

Just after 10 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2020 police responded to an assault report at a home in the 3900 block of North Litchfield in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 17-year-old girl who was visibly shaken and wet. The investigation revealed 19-year-old Dominic Thomas and the victim were talking near a pond at 37th Street North and Sullivan when a disturbance occurred.

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