By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications

Crude prices rose to four-week highs Monday afternoon, with the near-month NYMEX contract for light sweet crude rising over $80 a barrel, and London Brent trading over $84.

Kansas common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $68.75 per barrel, up three dollars from last week.

The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes dropped by four oil rigs to 590 rigs nationwide. The tally in New Mexico was up one for the week. Texas and Louisiana were each down two rigs. Oklahoma was down one.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is unchanged from a week ago with 13 active rigs east of Wichita and 19 in Western Kansas. The tally is down 27% from a year ago. Drilling was underway on Monday on a lease in Russell County and two more in Stafford County.

Regulators in Kansas approved 15 permits for drilling at new locations across the state last week, with seven west of Wichita including three in Barton County and one in Russell County. That's 435 new permits this year, compared to 622 a year ago.

Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 30 newly-completed wells statewide, 16 in western Kansas including two in Barton County, one in Russell County and one in Stafford County. That's 817 completions year-to date, compared to 817 by this time last year.

Shale-oil drilling in the United States last week dropped to a nearly three-year low. The national rig count from Baker Hughes was 594, the lowest total since January 4th of 2022. Bloomberg reports that productivity gains last year have prompted executives to slow activity amid a shrinking inventory of top-tier drilling locations, as well as industry consolidation and promises to return profits to shareholders. Total spending in North America is forecast to drop one percent this year, according to the report. 

Those promised cost reductions have yet to impact workers in a significant way. Wages in the oil patch set a new record in April, according to a Labor Department report. Average earnings for top oil and gas workers rose by half a percent from March to $44.67 per hour. That's an increase of more than three percent from a year ago.

DOE makes another seven-figure paper profit refilling our strategic crude stockpiles. The Energy Department added another 300,000 barrels to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which rises to 370.5 million barrels. We’re paying $15 a barrel less than what we sold it for two years ago, and saving more than five billion dollars in the process. Commercial crude-oil stockpiles increased last week by nearly four million barrels to 459.7 million barrels. That’s four percent below the five year average for this time of year. Crude production was down slightly in Alaska, but up slightly in the lower 48 states. Total output for the week averages 13,225,000 barrels per day, up 100,000 barrels from last week. 

Energy Information Administration  reports a big run-up in crude-oil imports, and a big drop-off in exports. The Energy Information Administration reported a spike in crude-oil imports for the week, up 1.2 million barrels a day to over 8.3 million. The four week average rose more than 11%. Crude imports outpaced exports by more than five million barrels a day. Exports dropped last week. U.S. traders shipped out nearly 3.2 million barrels of crude per day, down more than a million barrels a day.

The number-three crude producing state continues to pump up output since their big winter downturn. North Dakota crude output in April rose about one percent to 1.24 million barrels a day, an increase of more than 11,000 daily barrels from the month before. That's up more than 130,000 barrels a day from January, when a winter weather event shut in nearly half the state's production. The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources says the gas-capture rate remains at 95% with only five percent of well-head gas being flared or vented. Natural gas production rose three percent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle CommunicationsCrude prices rose to four-week highs Monday afternoon, with the near-month NYMEX contract for light sweet crude rising over $80 a barrel, and London Brent trading over $84.Kansas common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $68.75 per barrel, up three dollars from last week.The Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes dropped by four oil rigs to 590 rigs nationwide. The tally in New Mexico was up one for the week. Texas and Louisiana were each down two rigs. Oklahoma was down one.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is unchanged from a week ago with 13 active rigs east of Wichita and 19 in Western Kansas. The tally is down 27% from a year ago. Drilling was underway on Monday on a lease in Russell County and two more in Stafford County.Regulators in Kansas approved 15 permits for drilling at new locations across the state last week, with seven west of Wichita including three in Barton County and one in Russell County. That's 435 new permits this year, compared to 622 a year ago.Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 30 newly-completed wells statewide, 16 in western Kansas including two in Barton County, one in Russell County and one in Stafford County. That's 817 completions year-to date, compared to 817 by this time last year.Shale-oil drilling in the United States last week dropped to a nearly three-year low. The national rig count from Baker Hughes was 594, the lowest total since January 4th of 2022. Bloomberg reports that productivity gains last year have prompted executives to slow activity amid a shrinking inventory of top-tier drilling locations, as well as industry consolidation and promises to return profits to shareholders. Total spending in North America is forecast to drop one percent this year, according to the report. Those promised cost reductions have yet to impact workers in a significant way. Wages in the oil patch set a new record in April, according to a Labor Department report. Average earnings for top oil and gas workers rose by half a percent from March to $44.67 per hour. That's an increase of more than three percent from a year ago.DOE makes another seven-figure paper profit refilling our strategic crude stockpiles. The Energy Department added another 300,000 barrels to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which rises to 370.5 million barrels. We’re paying $15 a barrel less than what we sold it for two years ago, and saving more than five billion dollars in the process. Commercial crude-oil stockpiles increased last week by nearly four million barrels to 459.7 million barrels. That’s four percent below the five year average for this time of year. Crude production was down slightly in Alaska, but up slightly in the lower 48 states. Total output for the week averages 13,225,000 barrels per day, up 100,000 barrels from last week. Energy Information Administration reports a big run-up in crude-oil imports, and a big drop-off in exports. The Energy Information Administration reported a spike in crude-oil imports for the week, up 1.2 million barrels a day to over 8.3 million. The four week average rose more than 11%. Crude imports outpaced exports by more than five million barrels a day. Exports dropped last week. U.S. traders shipped out nearly 3.2 million barrels of crude per day, down more than a million barrels a day.The number-three crude producing state continues to pump up output since their big winter downturn. North Dakota crude output in April rose about one percent to 1.24 million barrels a day, an increase of more than 11,000 daily barrels from the month before. That's up more than 130,000 barrels a day from January, when a winter weather event shut in nearly half the state's production. The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources says the gas-capture rate remains at 95% with only five percent of well-head gas being flared or vented. Natural gas production rose three percent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: Crude prices rise to four-week highs

EDITOR'S NOTE: This post was updated at 3:50 p.m. June 17, 2024 to reflect a change in the booking charge for Melissa Ann Unrein due to incorrect information supplied by the Ellis County Sheriff's Department.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708970452306.jpeg" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718657189954.png" alt="06/17/2024&nbsp; 01:27&nbsp; Melissa Ann Unrein&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Driving under the influence&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;of alcohol; 1st conv." />
 <figcaption>06/17/2024&nbsp; 01:27&nbsp; Melissa Ann Unrein&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Driving under the influence&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;of alcohol; 1st conv.</figcaption>
 </figure>EDITOR'S NOTE: This post was updated at 3:50 p.m. June 17, 2024 to reflect a change in the booking charge for Melissa Ann Unrein due to incorrect information supplied by the Ellis County Sheriff's Department.&nbsp;

CORRECTION: Ellis County Jail bookings report, June 10-17, 2024

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with District 111 Representative Barbara Wasinger.&nbsp;

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VG5fXQSMzgc?si=B-doP6FQ71Io1v0_" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with District 111 Representative Barbara Wasinger.&nbsp;

🎤Forward Ever: District 111 Rep. Barbara Wasinger

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Allison Lubbers of Hays has received the following degree(s) from The University of Alabama: Educational Specialist. UA awarded over 6,000 degrees during its&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.g63uWesTOoMiEDvepx4RZYbJ-XQ_DL7vxxWCOSu88TmnppJBD2AsclH2U_fjEUzJCCN2TJU4t9eaIntQcQfi-TGBqY24ijuvCSyGJBHce44/477/eHGhcjErR1aE8Qmv7gyY9w/h0/h001.2m1a74bm_tjc7lJ_HYlVgcAUREVKLq1Cc-Seco1tv7I">spring commencement ceremonies</a>.

A&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.g63uWesTOoMiEDvepx4RZYbJ-XQ_DL7vxxWCOSu88Tm8LsaCfilNE-fDeJG7tr8qoYTDicrLGZHZwiuFz8BA8LOYXEnpTIVcamX3rYDjOUM/477/eHGhcjErR1aE8Qmv7gyY9w/h1/h001.kmrSOTJ5g4kO_DTAeD8ixscZPKQToCYtjnsdjt5kWKU">recent economic analysis found that a degree</a>&nbsp;from The University of Alabama has proven to provide an abundant return on investment for graduates, setting the stage for legendary careers while also creating priceless experiences and memories.

The University provides numerous opportunities for service and growth to help prepare future generations through its educational, cultural and social experiences. UA is not only home to competitive academic programs, expert faculty and a beautiful campus, but it is also the place Where Legends Are Made.

The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state's flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state's largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718483180691.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedTUSCALOOSA, AL — Allison Lubbers of Hays has received the following degree(s) from The University of Alabama: Educational Specialist. UA awarded over 6,000 degrees during its&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.g63uWesTOoMiEDvepx4RZYbJ-XQ_DL7vxxWCOSu88TmnppJBD2AsclH2U_fjEUzJCCN2TJU4t9eaIntQcQfi-TGBqY24ijuvCSyGJBHce44/477/eHGhcjErR1aE8Qmv7gyY9w/h0/h001.2m1a74bm_tjc7lJ_HYlVgcAUREVKLq1Cc-Seco1tv7I">spring commencement ceremonies</a>.A&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.g63uWesTOoMiEDvepx4RZYbJ-XQ_DL7vxxWCOSu88Tm8LsaCfilNE-fDeJG7tr8qoYTDicrLGZHZwiuFz8BA8LOYXEnpTIVcamX3rYDjOUM/477/eHGhcjErR1aE8Qmv7gyY9w/h1/h001.kmrSOTJ5g4kO_DTAeD8ixscZPKQToCYtjnsdjt5kWKU">recent economic analysis found that a degree</a>&nbsp;from The University of Alabama has proven to provide an abundant return on investment for graduates, setting the stage for legendary careers while also creating priceless experiences and memories.The University provides numerous opportunities for service and growth to help prepare future generations through its educational, cultural and social experiences. UA is not only home to competitive academic programs, expert faculty and a beautiful campus, but it is also the place Where Legends Are Made.The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state's flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state's largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

Allison Lubbers of Hays awarded degree from UA

Hays High School claimed a pair of Kansas State High School Clay Target League state titles over this past week.

Hays won the Class 1A Skeet Team Overall competition with a team total of 435. Their score was 46 better than second place. Logan Schmidt was the team's high gun with a 91. Daniel Maier scored a 90. Cole McDonough, Jaxon Stoffel and Gunner Weigel rounded out the team score.

Schmidt's 91 was good enough for a second place tie in the individual placings. Maier tied for fourth, McDonough tied for sixth with an 88 and Stoffel tied for eighth with an 86. Weigel finished just outside the top ten in a tie for eleventh with an 80.

Hays High also claimed the 2A Trap Shooting Novice title with a score of 361. LaCrosse finished second at 333. Brandon Dague was the high gun for the team with an 83. Callie Bets, Makayla Lewallen, Jack McMurtrie, and Eleanor Stoffel rounded out the scoring. Lewallen was second on the team and the top female high gun with a 72.

Dague was the competition's top novice male. 

The junior varsity shot a 384 and placed 14th. The varsity team finished eighth with a 472. 

 Kaeilin Maier was the junior varsity's female high gun and had the highest team score with an 86. Dakota Schmidt was the team's male high gun at 84. The varsity team was led by Jaxon Stoffel with a 97. Mariella Dreiling was the top female gun at 87.

Maier placed second junior varsity female scores. Stoffel tied for 11th in the varsity male high gun scores.

Area shooters that finished in the top three included&nbsp;Trego's Quintin Walt, who shot a perfect 100 and was the varsity male champion and was the overall state champion. Second, third and fourth place each missed just one shot for a 99.

Trego's Karlie Long finished third in the female novice division with a 79. Denton Pfannenstiel of LaCrosse was third in the male novice division on an 80 score. Sarah Clements of Trego shot 86 and was third in the female junior varsity division.&nbsp;

Hays PostHays High School claimed a pair of Kansas State High School Clay Target League state titles over this past week.Hays won the Class 1A Skeet Team Overall competition with a team total of 435. Their score was 46 better than second place. Logan Schmidt was the team's high gun with a 91. Daniel Maier scored a 90. Cole McDonough, Jaxon Stoffel and Gunner Weigel rounded out the team score.Schmidt's 91 was good enough for a second place tie in the individual placings. Maier tied for fourth, McDonough tied for sixth with an 88 and Stoffel tied for eighth with an 86. Weigel finished just outside the top ten in a tie for eleventh with an 80.Hays High also claimed the 2A Trap Shooting Novice title with a score of 361. LaCrosse finished second at 333. Brandon Dague was the high gun for the team with an 83. Callie Bets, Makayla Lewallen, Jack McMurtrie, and Eleanor Stoffel rounded out the scoring. Lewallen was second on the team and the top female high gun with a 72.Dague was the competition's top novice male. The junior varsity shot a 384 and placed 14th. The varsity team finished eighth with a 472. Kaeilin Maier was the junior varsity's female high gun and had the highest team score with an 86. Dakota Schmidt was the team's male high gun at 84. The varsity team was led by Jaxon Stoffel with a 97. Mariella Dreiling was the top female gun at 87.Maier placed second junior varsity female scores. Stoffel tied for 11th in the varsity male high gun scores.Area shooters that finished in the top three included&nbsp;Trego's Quintin Walt, who shot a perfect 100 and was the varsity male champion and was the overall state champion. Second, third and fourth place each missed just one shot for a 99.Trego's Karlie Long finished third in the female novice division with a 79. Denton Pfannenstiel of LaCrosse was third in the male novice division on an 80 score. Sarah Clements of Trego shot 86 and was third in the female junior varsity division.&nbsp;

Hays High shooting team claims pair of titles; Trego's Walt overall champ

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office responded to 285&nbsp; incidents June 9-15, 2024, according to the activity report.

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 </figure>ECSOThe Ellis County Sheriff's Office responded to 285&nbsp; incidents June 9-15, 2024, according to the activity report.<figure>
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Ellis County Sheriff activity report, June 9-15, 2024

It's CDL Night at the RPM races

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

Area lawmakers are headed back to Topeka this week for a
special legislative session to once again, take up tax policy, after the
governor vetoed prior attempts to reach an agreement on a tax-cutting deal, but
a deal announced late last week could signal a quick session.

Lawmakers in Kansas will return Tuesday, June 18 for the
special session. The special session comes after Democratic Governor Laura
Kelly vetoed three prior tax plans.

Her final veto came in May after lawmakers reached an
agreement in the final hours of the legislative session. 

In a statement Kelly said the legislature, “played political
games with reckless tax policies,” when it did not follow her recommendations.

The measure passed both the house and the senate with
overwhelming bipartisan support.

Hays Representative Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, 111th
District, is a member of the House Taxation Committee is scheduled to be back
in Topeka Monday to begin work ahead of the special session. 

Wasinger, like many Republican lawmakers expressed
frustration with the need for a special session. 

“In the last set of vetoes, she vetoed her own tax plans and
she knew if she vetoed the last one, she was going to cost Kansas even more
money to come back (for a special session),” Wasinger said. “I just sometimes think
that political people do not use good common sense and they don’t think about
the people they are affecting when they do things like this.”

Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th district also voiced his
disappointment with the need for a special session that is expected to cost
taxpayers approximately $84,000 per day.

“I think it was avoidable. It's disappointing that we have
to do this,” Rahjes said. “The legislature, in a bipartisan fashion, had
something and the governor decided to play games and so here we are.”

Late Thursday Kelly announced that she and Republican
leadership in the legislature had reached an agreement on a plan before
Tuesday’ session. 

Kelly said in a statement, “Legislative leadership and I
have come to a consensus on a tax relief package that will be presented to the
House and Senate during the upcoming special session.”

Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and House Speaker
Dan Hawkins of Wichita said in a joint statement, “It simplifies the tax code
into two brackets, lowers rates, includes substantial exemptions to help
lower-income Kansans, reduces statewide property taxes and repeals the state
tax on Social Security.”

Both the house and senate must still approve the latest tax
measure before it can go to the governor. Kelly has said she would sign the
latest bill.

Rahjes said he believes it important to get something of
substance done because the stat does currently have a surplus and said high
inflation and other economic factors continue to weigh on Kansans.

“A week ago, Caterpillar said they're going to be really
shuttering their facility in Wamego and Wamego is one of the bright spots in
the state of Kansas, that people continue to grow,” Rahjes said. “But 400 jobs
in that in that area, is tremendous.”

Rahjes said he also planned to be in Topeka Monday and has
volunteered to be on the taxation committee now that there is an opening.

He added, “To worry about these other things and playing
games to try to gain a seat or two in the legislature, that is not what Kansans
want. Kansas, is used to being pragmatic, and getting solutions that are good
for Kansans.”

Wasinger said she is focused on easing the tax burden on
many groups of Kansans. 

“I want to give tax relief to Kansans,” Wasinger said. “I
want to stop taxing our seniors, so they leave the state and take their money
other places, I want them to stay in Kansas, I want them to have the same tax
advantages that other states around us have done.”

Wasinger added, “I want our veterans, particularly our
disabled veterans to have some tax relief, so they can live in their homes without
concern. There's so much we need to do for our taxpayers, that is just not
getting done.”

Rahjes said he believes that many lawmakers agree with
Wasinger and himself on the need for relief for seniors and veterans but they
also expressed the need top find a way to give taxpayers property tax relief.

“People are always saying, Ken we need property tax relief
on our homes and for everything else, especially knowing that there's a surplus
there that can be used for that relief,” Rahles said. “So that to me is the
priority.”

According to reports from the Associate Press, the deal
announced last week would save Kansas taxpayers $1.2 billion over the next
three years.

It would also move Kansas to a two income tax rate system
and cut property taxes by at least $230 million more over the next three years.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostArea lawmakers are headed back to Topeka this week for a
special legislative session to once again, take up tax policy, after the
governor vetoed prior attempts to reach an agreement on a tax-cutting deal, but
a deal announced late last week could signal a quick session.Lawmakers in Kansas will return Tuesday, June 18 for the
special session. The special session comes after Democratic Governor Laura
Kelly vetoed three prior tax plans.Her final veto came in May after lawmakers reached an
agreement in the final hours of the legislative session. In a statement Kelly said the legislature, “played political
games with reckless tax policies,” when it did not follow her recommendations.The measure passed both the house and the senate with
overwhelming bipartisan support.Hays Representative Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, 111th
District, is a member of the House Taxation Committee is scheduled to be back
in Topeka Monday to begin work ahead of the special session. Wasinger, like many Republican lawmakers expressed
frustration with the need for a special session. “In the last set of vetoes, she vetoed her own tax plans and
she knew if she vetoed the last one, she was going to cost Kansas even more
money to come back (for a special session),” Wasinger said. “I just sometimes think
that political people do not use good common sense and they don’t think about
the people they are affecting when they do things like this.”Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th district also voiced his
disappointment with the need for a special session that is expected to cost
taxpayers approximately $84,000 per day.“I think it was avoidable. It's disappointing that we have
to do this,” Rahjes said. “The legislature, in a bipartisan fashion, had
something and the governor decided to play games and so here we are.”Late Thursday Kelly announced that she and Republican
leadership in the legislature had reached an agreement on a plan before
Tuesday’ session. Kelly said in a statement, “Legislative leadership and I
have come to a consensus on a tax relief package that will be presented to the
House and Senate during the upcoming special session.”Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and House Speaker
Dan Hawkins of Wichita said in a joint statement, “It simplifies the tax code
into two brackets, lowers rates, includes substantial exemptions to help
lower-income Kansans, reduces statewide property taxes and repeals the state
tax on Social Security.”Both the house and senate must still approve the latest tax
measure before it can go to the governor. Kelly has said she would sign the
latest bill.Rahjes said he believes it important to get something of
substance done because the stat does currently have a surplus and said high
inflation and other economic factors continue to weigh on Kansans.“A week ago, Caterpillar said they're going to be really
shuttering their facility in Wamego and Wamego is one of the bright spots in
the state of Kansas, that people continue to grow,” Rahjes said. “But 400 jobs
in that in that area, is tremendous.”Rahjes said he also planned to be in Topeka Monday and has
volunteered to be on the taxation committee now that there is an opening.He added, “To worry about these other things and playing
games to try to gain a seat or two in the legislature, that is not what Kansans
want. Kansas, is used to being pragmatic, and getting solutions that are good
for Kansans.”Wasinger said she is focused on easing the tax burden on
many groups of Kansans. “I want to give tax relief to Kansans,” Wasinger said. “I
want to stop taxing our seniors, so they leave the state and take their money
other places, I want them to stay in Kansas, I want them to have the same tax
advantages that other states around us have done.”Wasinger added, “I want our veterans, particularly our
disabled veterans to have some tax relief, so they can live in their homes without
concern. There's so much we need to do for our taxpayers, that is just not
getting done.”Rahjes said he believes that many lawmakers agree with
Wasinger and himself on the need for relief for seniors and veterans but they
also expressed the need top find a way to give taxpayers property tax relief.“People are always saying, Ken we need property tax relief
on our homes and for everything else, especially knowing that there's a surplus
there that can be used for that relief,” Rahles said. “So that to me is the
priority.”According to reports from the Associate Press, the deal
announced last week would save Kansas taxpayers $1.2 billion over the next
three years.It would also move Kansas to a two income tax rate system
and cut property taxes by at least $230 million more over the next three years.

Area lawmakers focused on tax relief in this week's special session

The Wild West Festival, a 30-year-long annual tradition in the heart of Hays, is issuing a rallying cry to the community for volunteers to help with this year's event. With preparations underway for another memorable festival, the support of volunteers is more crucial than ever to ensure its success.

"As we gear up for another exciting year of the Wild West Festival, we are reaching out to our community for their support in making this event possible," said Jeff Ridgway, president of the Wild West Festival board. "Volunteers play a vital role in every aspect of the festival, from planning and setup to execution and cleanup."

This year, the Wild West Festival has implemented changes to its volunteer structure, making it easier than ever for individuals to get involved and contribute their time and talents. With a variety of roles available, ranging from event setup and logistics to hospitality and entertainment, there is something for everyone to help with.

"We understand that everyone has busy schedules, which is why we've made it a priority to offer flexible volunteer opportunities that accommodate different time commitments," Ridgway said. "Whether you can spare an hour or dedicate an entire week, there are ways for you to make a meaningful impact and be a part of this community event."

To sign up as a volunteer for the Wild West Festival, interested individuals can visit the event website at wildwestfestival.com, where they will find sign-up forms and more information about available roles and responsibilities.

Event set-up is expected to begin the morning of June 29 and conclude with a clean-up day on July 7.

“The Wild West Festival, known for its family-friendly atmosphere, live entertainment, delicious food vendors, and exciting activities, has been a highlight of the summer season in Hays for years. By volunteering your time and energy, you can play a direct role in preserving this cherished tradition and creating lasting memories for generations to come.”

For more information about volunteering for the Wild West Festival, please visit wildwestfestival.com.

“Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of something special and contribute to the vibrancy and success of our community. Join us in celebrating the spirit of the Wild West and making this year's festival one to remember,” Ridgway said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688232441566.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Wild West Festival, a 30-year-long annual tradition in the heart of Hays, is issuing a rallying cry to the community for volunteers to help with this year's event. With preparations underway for another memorable festival, the support of volunteers is more crucial than ever to ensure its success."As we gear up for another exciting year of the Wild West Festival, we are reaching out to our community for their support in making this event possible," said Jeff Ridgway, president of the Wild West Festival board. "Volunteers play a vital role in every aspect of the festival, from planning and setup to execution and cleanup."This year, the Wild West Festival has implemented changes to its volunteer structure, making it easier than ever for individuals to get involved and contribute their time and talents. With a variety of roles available, ranging from event setup and logistics to hospitality and entertainment, there is something for everyone to help with."We understand that everyone has busy schedules, which is why we've made it a priority to offer flexible volunteer opportunities that accommodate different time commitments," Ridgway said. "Whether you can spare an hour or dedicate an entire week, there are ways for you to make a meaningful impact and be a part of this community event."To sign up as a volunteer for the Wild West Festival, interested individuals can visit the event website at wildwestfestival.com, where they will find sign-up forms and more information about available roles and responsibilities.Event set-up is expected to begin the morning of June 29 and conclude with a clean-up day on July 7.“The Wild West Festival, known for its family-friendly atmosphere, live entertainment, delicious food vendors, and exciting activities, has been a highlight of the summer season in Hays for years. By volunteering your time and energy, you can play a direct role in preserving this cherished tradition and creating lasting memories for generations to come.”For more information about volunteering for the Wild West Festival, please visit wildwestfestival.com.“Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of something special and contribute to the vibrancy and success of our community. Join us in celebrating the spirit of the Wild West and making this year's festival one to remember,” Ridgway said.

Wild West Festival calls for volunteers to ensure success of annual event

REXFORD —&nbsp;McCarty Family Farms is pleased to announce the official opening of McCarty Family Farms North, a state-of-the-art dairy farm along with the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center.

The new farming facilities have expanded north of their flagship dairy in Rexford and is designed to house and care for 10,000 milking cows. The new site includes two 120-cow milking carousels, the largest in the world, and eight freestall barns built for optimum cow comfort.

“Our family has had a longtime commitment to continuously improve.” Says Ken McCarty,” This expansion allows us to use new technologies to do even more to provide best-in-class cow care and environmental stewardship.”

The McCarty Family Farms milk condensing plant also received numerous upgrades to accommodate the farm expansion with added capabilities to better serve their customers.

The Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, which is a non-profit educational experience, was established to provide visitors with an immersive experience on the farm while allowing the McCarty Family to operate on a new level of transparency. The center is named in honor of Judy McCarty, the late mother of current farm owners Mike, Clay, Dave, and Ken McCarty to honor Judy’s passion for welcoming the public to their farm.

“We’ve always believed in farming transparently and through the learning center we can bring people in and let them see our work firsthand.” Says Tom McCarty, “Our family is looking forward to the Grand Opening and sharing Judy’s legacy as the original tour guide with our community.”

Visitors can get an up-close look at a real working dairy while interactive games and displays provide information about milk's journey from soil to yogurt cup, including information about cow care, water conservation, and regenerative farming.

To celebrate the completion of McCarty Family Farms North and the Grand Opening of the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, the McCarty family is hosting a community open house on June 27th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.mccartyfamilyfarms.com/grandopening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718316486413.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedREXFORD —&nbsp;McCarty Family Farms is pleased to announce the official opening of McCarty Family Farms North, a state-of-the-art dairy farm along with the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center.The new farming facilities have expanded north of their flagship dairy in Rexford and is designed to house and care for 10,000 milking cows. The new site includes two 120-cow milking carousels, the largest in the world, and eight freestall barns built for optimum cow comfort.“Our family has had a longtime commitment to continuously improve.” Says Ken McCarty,” This expansion allows us to use new technologies to do even more to provide best-in-class cow care and environmental stewardship.”The McCarty Family Farms milk condensing plant also received numerous upgrades to accommodate the farm expansion with added capabilities to better serve their customers.The Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, which is a non-profit educational experience, was established to provide visitors with an immersive experience on the farm while allowing the McCarty Family to operate on a new level of transparency. The center is named in honor of Judy McCarty, the late mother of current farm owners Mike, Clay, Dave, and Ken McCarty to honor Judy’s passion for welcoming the public to their farm.“We’ve always believed in farming transparently and through the learning center we can bring people in and let them see our work firsthand.” Says Tom McCarty, “Our family is looking forward to the Grand Opening and sharing Judy’s legacy as the original tour guide with our community.”Visitors can get an up-close look at a real working dairy while interactive games and displays provide information about milk's journey from soil to yogurt cup, including information about cow care, water conservation, and regenerative farming.To celebrate the completion of McCarty Family Farms North and the Grand Opening of the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, the McCarty family is hosting a community open house on June 27th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.mccartyfamilyfarms.com/grandopening.

McCarty Family Farms expands flagship dairy, opens on-site visitor center

WASHINGTON —Twenty-five U.S. colleges and universities are the first to receive the&nbsp;<a href="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/elective-classifications/leadership/leadership-about/">Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification</a>, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE), the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

This classification recognizes institutions that have committed to campus-wide efforts to advance leadership in pursuit of public goods like justice, equity, diversity, and liberty.

“For several years the Doerr Institute for New Leaders has substantively supported the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation’s collaborative efforts to establish the classification.&nbsp;We are excited about continuing such efforts in service of improving higher education’s commitment to fostering integrated and intentional leader development for students,” said Bernard B. Banks, director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.

After a period of rigorous self-study, each institution demonstrated a steadfast commitment to creating a campus culture of leadership through several learning, teaching, and research goals: fostering leadership skills campus-wide; enhancing public and scholarly awareness of leadership’s universal benefits while recognizing the social and political contexts in which leadership operates; getting students ready to be leaders for the public good in their careers, communities, and society.

“ACE is proud to welcome the inaugural recipients of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “The institutions in this cohort serve as models in higher education, demonstrating excellence in nurturing leaders who are prepared to address and solve pressing public challenges, which is sorely needed in our society right now.”

Representing 19 states across the United States, 15&nbsp;of the institutions classified in the inaugural 2024 cycle are public institutions—including two service academies—and 10 are private, including a women’s college.&nbsp;Seven are Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), with one MSI also designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution.

“Congratulations to these pioneering recipients of the inaugural Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification,” said Carnegie Foundation President Timothy F.C. Knowles. “These institutions have demonstrated a relentless commitment to fostering leaders dedicated to the pursuit of vital public goods. Students from these institutions will undoubtedly shape a brighter future for us all, upholding fundamental American values and advancing opportunity for the nation.”

The 2024 Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification recipients are:

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

<a href="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/elective-classifications/leadership/leadership-about/">The Elective Classifications</a>&nbsp;provide an independent and rigorous assessment of an institution’s extraordinary commitment to, investment in, and accomplishment at addressing pressing issues of the societies they serve. There are currently two Elective Classifications that institutions in the United States can pursue: Community Engagement and Leadership for Public Purpose. The Australian version of the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement was recently launched, and Canada is set to launch its own

SubmittedWASHINGTON —Twenty-five U.S. colleges and universities are the first to receive the&nbsp;<a href="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/elective-classifications/leadership/leadership-about/">Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification</a>, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE), the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.This classification recognizes institutions that have committed to campus-wide efforts to advance leadership in pursuit of public goods like justice, equity, diversity, and liberty.“For several years the Doerr Institute for New Leaders has substantively supported the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation’s collaborative efforts to establish the classification.&nbsp;We are excited about continuing such efforts in service of improving higher education’s commitment to fostering integrated and intentional leader development for students,” said Bernard B. Banks, director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.After a period of rigorous self-study, each institution demonstrated a steadfast commitment to creating a campus culture of leadership through several learning, teaching, and research goals: fostering leadership skills campus-wide; enhancing public and scholarly awareness of leadership’s universal benefits while recognizing the social and political contexts in which leadership operates; getting students ready to be leaders for the public good in their careers, communities, and society.“ACE is proud to welcome the inaugural recipients of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “The institutions in this cohort serve as models in higher education, demonstrating excellence in nurturing leaders who are prepared to address and solve pressing public challenges, which is sorely needed in our society right now.”Representing 19 states across the United States, 15&nbsp;of the institutions classified in the inaugural 2024 cycle are public institutions—including two service academies—and 10 are private, including a women’s college.&nbsp;Seven are Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), with one MSI also designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution.“Congratulations to these pioneering recipients of the inaugural Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification,” said Carnegie Foundation President Timothy F.C. Knowles. “These institutions have demonstrated a relentless commitment to fostering leaders dedicated to the pursuit of vital public goods. Students from these institutions will undoubtedly shape a brighter future for us all, upholding fundamental American values and advancing opportunity for the nation.”The 2024 Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification recipients are:Arizona State UniversityBoise State UniversityCalifornia State University-FresnoClaremont McKenna CollegeCreighton UniversityEast Carolina UniversityFlorida International UniversityFort Hays State UniversityGettysburg CollegeJames Madison UniversityMiami Dade CollegeMontclair State UniversityOklahoma State UniversityOral Roberts UniversityRice UniversitySaint Peter’s UniversitySan Antonio CollegeSimmons UniversityU.S. Coast Guard AcademyU.S. Naval AcademyUniformed Services University of the Health SciencesUniversity of CincinnatiUniversity of PortlandValparaiso UniversityWartburg College<a href="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/elective-classifications/leadership/leadership-about/">The Elective Classifications</a>&nbsp;provide an independent and rigorous assessment of an institution’s extraordinary commitment to, investment in, and accomplishment at addressing pressing issues of the societies they serve. There are currently two Elective Classifications that institutions in the United States can pursue: Community Engagement and Leadership for Public Purpose. The Australian version of the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement was recently launched, and Canada is set to launch its own

FHSU receives Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718568646170.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><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

By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas Outdoors

What do you get when you mix equal amounts of water and cider vinegar in a jar with a drop or two of dishwashing soap? According to a friend of ours, you get a redneck fruit fly trap. This time of the year along with all the fresh fruit and veggies from our gardens also comes those pesky tiny fruit flies that buzz around our produce. This concoction draws them to the scent of the cider vinegar and the dishwashing soap eliminates water surface tension so that when they land in the jar they sink straight to the bottom. She says it works great!

An effective hillbilly mouse trap can be made by filling a five gallon bucket a couple inches from the top with water, smearing peanut butter on the upper lip of the bucket or pouring grain or livestock feed to float on the water, then leaning a board at an angle from the floor to the top of the bucket for a ramp. Mice searching for an easy meal will attempt to hang onto the rim to get the peanut butter or lean out over the water to eat some floating feed and ultimately end up in the drink.

After hearing from my brother last night about all he has to go through to protect his garden from deer and other critters where he lives deep in the southern Ohio woods, I referred to a book by America’s Master Gardener, Jerry Baker, entitled “Bug Off” in which he presents bushels full of down-home remedies for keeping all manner of critters, especially raccoons, rabbits and deer, out of gardens and truck patches. I realize a couple of these may not be realistic to try, but here goes anyway.

· Raccoons are the bane of the sweet corn patch. Jerry recommends corralling all the electric fans you can barter for at garage sales, then, using outdoor extension cords place them all around the garden and run them on high all night for several nights in a row to dampen the coon’s interest.

· Evidently raccoons hate the smell of both bleach and ammonia, so fill old margarine tubs with either liquid and place them among your most vulnerable plants.

· As a trapper, I know that coons’ have very sensitive feet and this hindrance uses that weakness against them. Around the perimeter of the garden, lay a three-foot-wide strip of broken pot shards, jagged stones, thorny rose or bramble canes, wire mesh or anything else sharp or prickly and coons will refuse to cross it. This one requires the most work but will last the longest.

· Rabbits can devour a patch of greens’ overnight. Much of Jerry’s advise for deterring rabbits centers around fencing where practical, and making your yard or garden less inviting by removing nearby cover, growing plants rabbits don’t like and luring them away from the garden with plants they can’t resist. He does however have a couple novel suggestions.

· The first is a spray he calls his Hot Bite Spray, concocted from cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce, ammonia and baby shampoo. He guarantees that any critter who tastes this stuff will never come back for a second bite (contact me for the formula and directions.)

· The other suggestion is to buy a ferret, or make friends with someone who owns a ferret and offer to babysit. ((: ((:

· Someone recently asked me how to keep deer away from his grapes and berries, and a friend of mine in Minnesota who operates a full-time animal control business recommended electric fence about waist high around the patch. Jerry Baker takes that one step further and

says to smear the fence with peanut butter. The smell of the peanut butter will cause them to smell it or lick it, resulting in a zap to the snoot or tongue, and they will never return.

· Instead of washing or tossing your husband’s old smelly socks and sneakers, hang them around your truck patch. Jerry calls this a classic deer-chasing trick.

· We trappers use all manner of strange animal scents and smells, and Jerry says that urine from any major predator will send deer running. Coyote urine is readily available, and a little sprinkled around your garden will never be noticed by you, but the deer will surely flee.

These are just a few of the more novel suggestions Jerry Baker has for keeping four-footed critters from ravaging your produce, and this book is just one of many he has published full of the same kind of down-home suggestions. Although there’s really nothing “Redneck” about any of these remedies as the title implies, I figured it might grab your attention and get you to read further, and if you’re reading this sentence, I’d say it worked! So, eat well as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsWhat do you get when you mix equal amounts of water and cider vinegar in a jar with a drop or two of dishwashing soap? According to a friend of ours, you get a redneck fruit fly trap. This time of the year along with all the fresh fruit and veggies from our gardens also comes those pesky tiny fruit flies that buzz around our produce. This concoction draws them to the scent of the cider vinegar and the dishwashing soap eliminates water surface tension so that when they land in the jar they sink straight to the bottom. She says it works great!An effective hillbilly mouse trap can be made by filling a five gallon bucket a couple inches from the top with water, smearing peanut butter on the upper lip of the bucket or pouring grain or livestock feed to float on the water, then leaning a board at an angle from the floor to the top of the bucket for a ramp. Mice searching for an easy meal will attempt to hang onto the rim to get the peanut butter or lean out over the water to eat some floating feed and ultimately end up in the drink.After hearing from my brother last night about all he has to go through to protect his garden from deer and other critters where he lives deep in the southern Ohio woods, I referred to a book by America’s Master Gardener, Jerry Baker, entitled “Bug Off” in which he presents bushels full of down-home remedies for keeping all manner of critters, especially raccoons, rabbits and deer, out of gardens and truck patches. I realize a couple of these may not be realistic to try, but here goes anyway.· Raccoons are the bane of the sweet corn patch. Jerry recommends corralling all the electric fans you can barter for at garage sales, then, using outdoor extension cords place them all around the garden and run them on high all night for several nights in a row to dampen the coon’s interest.· Evidently raccoons hate the smell of both bleach and ammonia, so fill old margarine tubs with either liquid and place them among your most vulnerable plants.· As a trapper, I know that coons’ have very sensitive feet and this hindrance uses that weakness against them. Around the perimeter of the garden, lay a three-foot-wide strip of broken pot shards, jagged stones, thorny rose or bramble canes, wire mesh or anything else sharp or prickly and coons will refuse to cross it. This one requires the most work but will last the longest.· Rabbits can devour a patch of greens’ overnight. Much of Jerry’s advise for deterring rabbits centers around fencing where practical, and making your yard or garden less inviting by removing nearby cover, growing plants rabbits don’t like and luring them away from the garden with plants they can’t resist. He does however have a couple novel suggestions.· The first is a spray he calls his Hot Bite Spray, concocted from cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce, ammonia and baby shampoo. He guarantees that any critter who tastes this stuff will never come back for a second bite (contact me for the formula and directions.)· The other suggestion is to buy a ferret, or make friends with someone who owns a ferret and offer to babysit. ((: ((:· Someone recently asked me how to keep deer away from his grapes and berries, and a friend of mine in Minnesota who operates a full-time animal control business recommended electric fence about waist high around the patch. Jerry Baker takes that one step further andsays to smear the fence with peanut butter. The smell of the peanut butter will cause them to smell it or lick it, resulting in a zap to the snoot or tongue, and they will never return.· Instead of washing or tossing your husband’s old smelly socks and sneakers, hang them around your truck patch. Jerry calls this a classic deer-chasing trick.· We trappers use all manner of strange animal scents and smells, and Jerry says that urine from any major predator will send deer running. Coyote urine is readily available, and a little sprinkled around your garden will never be noticed by you, but the deer will surely flee.These are just a few of the more novel suggestions Jerry Baker has for keeping four-footed critters from ravaging your produce, and this book is just one of many he has published full of the same kind of down-home suggestions. Although there’s really nothing “Redneck” about any of these remedies as the title implies, I figured it might grab your attention and get you to read further, and if you’re reading this sentence, I’d say it worked! So, eat well as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Redneck garden remedies

Brews on the Bricks 2024 brought the heart of Hays to life with a celebration of craft beer, regional flavors and community spirit Saturday.

Scroll down to see some of the highlights.

Brews on the Bricks 2024 brought the heart of Hays to life with a celebration of craft beer, regional flavors and community spirit Saturday.Scroll down to see some of the highlights.<figure>
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📷 Brew-tiful moments: Brews on the Bricks 2024 in pictures

If you were in Hays on June 8th, 2024, you may have noticed an event at Municipal Park, that drew a lot of folks to Hays on South Main Street for the Thunder on the Plains Car show.

It was a beautiful day down in the park and many car, truck, motorcycle and tractor enthusiasts were able to showcase their rides and take in the wonders of all the classic and classy vehicles, many from the past, restored and all treasured.

If you happened to be present early that afternoon, you would have observed how these enthusiasts showed another aspect of their collective characters. These beautiful souls are equally engaged in their community and in support of their community. At that time, Thunder on the Plains Car Show extended their hands in a great outpouring of financial support upon many different organizations in our community. Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK and Custom Creations) were among the recipients.. We remain deeply grateful to everyone associated with Thunder on the Plains Car Show and all the sponsors who helped make the day possible. The amazing support shared helps us continue in our work serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in this community.

The above alone is worthy of recognition but, wait, there's more to the story. One of their continued car show participants, unable to join the Thunder on the Plains Car Show event downtown this year because of health challenges, received an overpowering surprise (yet another gift) from this amazing group of people! As a neighbor living across the street, we were blessed to witness another example of the class of this group of people. Even though the car show was a wrap and each fatigued by the activities of the day, they dug in deeper.

Unbeknownst to our neighbor, the parade of classic cars drove down our street, coming to their planned stop to offer their gift of love, encouragement and hope. I heard someone say,

So Thank You to everyone involved in the Thunder on the Plains Car Show event, and especially for this final surprise gift of hope and encouragement. DSNWK was blessed to directly receive the generous support of this group. As a proverbial 'fly on the wall', we were also gifted witnessing this beautiful outpouring of love and support that impacted yet another life. Living with Purpose is our motto at DSNWK, and I am grateful to witness this as a prime example. This world is a better place when we too rise above ourselves to serve, to give and to support one another.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718315791278.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JERRY MICHAUDIf you were in Hays on June 8th, 2024, you may have noticed an event at Municipal Park, that drew a lot of folks to Hays on South Main Street for the Thunder on the Plains Car show.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>It was a beautiful day down in the park and many car, truck, motorcycle and tractor enthusiasts were able to showcase their rides and take in the wonders of all the classic and classy vehicles, many from the past, restored and all treasured.If you happened to be present early that afternoon, you would have observed how these enthusiasts showed another aspect of their collective characters. These beautiful souls are equally engaged in their community and in support of their community. At that time, Thunder on the Plains Car Show extended their hands in a great outpouring of financial support upon many different organizations in our community. Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK and Custom Creations) were among the recipients.. We remain deeply grateful to everyone associated with Thunder on the Plains Car Show and all the sponsors who helped make the day possible. The amazing support shared helps us continue in our work serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in this community.The above alone is worthy of recognition but, wait, there's more to the story. One of their continued car show participants, unable to join the Thunder on the Plains Car Show event downtown this year because of health challenges, received an overpowering surprise (yet another gift) from this amazing group of people! As a neighbor living across the street, we were blessed to witness another example of the class of this group of people. Even though the car show was a wrap and each fatigued by the activities of the day, they dug in deeper.Unbeknownst to our neighbor, the parade of classic cars drove down our street, coming to their planned stop to offer their gift of love, encouragement and hope. I heard someone say,"It's what love does."So Thank You to everyone involved in the Thunder on the Plains Car Show event, and especially for this final surprise gift of hope and encouragement. DSNWK was blessed to directly receive the generous support of this group. As a proverbial 'fly on the wall', we were also gifted witnessing this beautiful outpouring of love and support that impacted yet another life. Living with Purpose is our motto at DSNWK, and I am grateful to witness this as a prime example. This world is a better place when we too rise above ourselves to serve, to give and to support one another.

Thundering in Silence - A Story of generosity and love

Free snow cone day July 11 courtesy Genoa Healthcare in Hays

By BILL FIANDER Insight Kansas

Last semester, I asked my sustainable city planning class to close their eyes and visualize the typologies of five cradle-to-grave residences: birth residence, high school residence, current residence, parent’s residence, and oldest family member’s residence.

About 80% visualized at least two of the four basic residential typologies – single-family detached, single-family attached, small multi-family, and large multi-family (20+ units).

Yet, local zoning laws are almost exclusively tilted towards only one type - single-family detached. It’s common to find 80-90% of residential zoning dedicated to the most expensive and land-consumptive typology.

Unsuspectingly, my students demonstrated two profound points: equitable housing choices are a basic need in life, and ignoring zoning reform will be done at the peril of your community’s prosperity.

Just ask The Fonz! The iconic leather-jacketed uber-cool greaser of ABC’s Happy Days sitcom from my 70s childhood. Long before today’s demographic and economic shifts necessitated rethinking our love affair with single-family zoning – delayed marriages, lower birth rates, elderly adults soon outnumbering children, rising single-person households – Fonzie was making zoning reform cool.

He lived in a small accessory dwelling unit (ADU) above the Cunningham family’s garage subordinate to their primary residence. Lending to his coolness, it was illegal. But it offset Mr. and Mrs. C’s mortgage costs and gave suburbia a housing choice for working-class mechanics it didn’t have otherwise. The property not only posed theatrically as a quintessential 1950s suburb but as a bellwether for today’s zoning reform front lines.

The fact that it is still illegal in most of America should come as no surprise. What may surprise you is the juice this idea is gaining in city halls and capitals to address critical shortfalls in housing. California, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, and Maine have led state-enabling acts for ADUs and prohibit local bans. Others as big as Texas are very close. Some cities like Minneapolis and Alexandria, Virginia have monumentally done away with single-family zoning altogether.

While ADU zoning is decidedly a local matter, housing supply is of mutual interest to states and locals. Cooperative state legislation has shown it can provide political cover to local governments prone to the weight of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) proselytizing. As Cincinnati’s Mayor, Aftab Pureval puts it, “The third rail of local politics is zoning”.

In Kansas, legislators and mayors should be aware that easing up on zoning to allow small and multi-family units garnered astonishing support in the statewide Kansas Speaks survey last year – 44% favored vs. 14% against. This is not true everywhere like Prairie Village. However, Topeka is the latest of a few municipalities to go down the zoning reform path with ADUs. As they mull a proposal to open 100% of their residential zoning to ADUs under certain conditions, its significance should not be understated; if only 5% of the newly opened areas

contained ADUs, around 2,500 units would be created or 30% of their 20-year multi-family demand. Other benefits – aging in place, multigenerational living, and passive income for homeowners – are no less significant.

ADUs are not a silver bullet. Addressing other zoning barriers for live-work units, “missing middle” typologies (duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, small apartments), transit-oriented development, minimum lot sizes, density caps, and parking mandates are complimentary.

But wouldn’t it be cool if openness to naturally occurring affordable housing is closer in reach with the stroke of a pen and some new map colors than a tax dollar?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708024541249.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BILL FIANDER Insight KansasLast semester, I asked my sustainable city planning class to close their eyes and visualize the typologies of five cradle-to-grave residences: birth residence, high school residence, current residence, parent’s residence, and oldest family member’s residence.About 80% visualized at least two of the four basic residential typologies – single-family detached, single-family attached, small multi-family, and large multi-family (20+ units).Yet, local zoning laws are almost exclusively tilted towards only one type - single-family detached. It’s common to find 80-90% of residential zoning dedicated to the most expensive and land-consumptive typology.Unsuspectingly, my students demonstrated two profound points: equitable housing choices are a basic need in life, and ignoring zoning reform will be done at the peril of your community’s prosperity.Just ask The Fonz! The iconic leather-jacketed uber-cool greaser of ABC’s Happy Days sitcom from my 70s childhood. Long before today’s demographic and economic shifts necessitated rethinking our love affair with single-family zoning – delayed marriages, lower birth rates, elderly adults soon outnumbering children, rising single-person households – Fonzie was making zoning reform cool.He lived in a small accessory dwelling unit (ADU) above the Cunningham family’s garage subordinate to their primary residence. Lending to his coolness, it was illegal. But it offset Mr. and Mrs. C’s mortgage costs and gave suburbia a housing choice for working-class mechanics it didn’t have otherwise. The property not only posed theatrically as a quintessential 1950s suburb but as a bellwether for today’s zoning reform front lines.The fact that it is still illegal in most of America should come as no surprise. What may surprise you is the juice this idea is gaining in city halls and capitals to address critical shortfalls in housing. California, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, and Maine have led state-enabling acts for ADUs and prohibit local bans. Others as big as Texas are very close. Some cities like Minneapolis and Alexandria, Virginia have monumentally done away with single-family zoning altogether.While ADU zoning is decidedly a local matter, housing supply is of mutual interest to states and locals. Cooperative state legislation has shown it can provide political cover to local governments prone to the weight of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) proselytizing. As Cincinnati’s Mayor, Aftab Pureval puts it, “The third rail of local politics is zoning”.In Kansas, legislators and mayors should be aware that easing up on zoning to allow small and multi-family units garnered astonishing support in the statewide Kansas Speaks survey last year – 44% favored vs. 14% against. This is not true everywhere like Prairie Village. However, Topeka is the latest of a few municipalities to go down the zoning reform path with ADUs. As they mull a proposal to open 100% of their residential zoning to ADUs under certain conditions, its significance should not be understated; if only 5% of the newly opened areascontained ADUs, around 2,500 units would be created or 30% of their 20-year multi-family demand. Other benefits – aging in place, multigenerational living, and passive income for homeowners – are no less significant.ADUs are not a silver bullet. Addressing other zoning barriers for live-work units, “missing middle” typologies (duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, small apartments), transit-oriented development, minimum lot sizes, density caps, and parking mandates are complimentary.But wouldn’t it be cool if openness to naturally occurring affordable housing is closer in reach with the stroke of a pen and some new map colors than a tax dollar?Heeey!

INSIGHT KANSAS: Happy days of housing supply

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718484498807.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

RUSSELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Saturday in Russell County.

The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2010 Nissan Titan driven by Joy L&nbsp;Torrez, 63, Great Bend was westbound on 15th Street Road approximately three miles north of Interstate 70.

The driver&nbsp;failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of 200th Boulevard.&nbsp; &nbsp;The pickup collided with a 2018 Chevy Malibu driven by Allyson Jayna&nbsp; Kaiser, 19, Great Bend, in the northwest corner of the intersection. 

After impact the pickup traveled in a northwest direction, rolled one time and came to rest in the ditch. The car also came to rest in the ditch.

EMS transported Torrez to Russell Regional Medical Center. A private vehicle transported Kaiser to the hospital in Great Bend. Torrez was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

RUSSELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Saturday in Russell County.The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2010 Nissan Titan driven by Joy L&nbsp;Torrez, 63, Great Bend was westbound on 15th Street Road approximately three miles north of Interstate 70.The driver&nbsp;failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of 200th Boulevard.&nbsp; &nbsp;The pickup collided with a 2018 Chevy Malibu driven by Allyson Jayna&nbsp; Kaiser, 19, Great Bend, in the northwest corner of the intersection. After impact the pickup traveled in a northwest direction, rolled one time and came to rest in the ditch. The car also came to rest in the ditch.EMS transported Torrez to Russell Regional Medical Center. A private vehicle transported Kaiser to the hospital in Great Bend. Torrez was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

2 Kansas women hospitalized after pickup, car crash

Laura Allen, focusing on voting rights and access, will be the Democratic Party candidate for Ellis County Clerk, challenging incumbent Bobbi Dreiling.

With no opponents in the Democratic primary, she will be the party’s candidate for office.

“I really want to open a discussion about voting and voting access in our community,” she said. “We should be engaging Ellis County residents, especially new residents, on how and where to vote.”

Allen said she is a champion of creating access to voting on the Fort Hays State campus.

“I absolutely think that access to voting at Fort Hays State should be a priority for our community,” she said. “Let’s meet students where they are and give them the opportunity to vote on campus.”

She continued, “As a parent and voter, I am thrilled to see young adults campaigning for their voting rights. I have the utmost respect for the faculty and staff at Fort Hays for the support they have offered their students. I hope that all election officials look forward to working with voters in every stage of their voting careers, ensuring strong elections and voter turnout.”

Allen, an Ellis County native, raised her family in Hays and has worked in the non-profit sector for the past seven years.

“I have always gravitated to career positions that provide services to others,” she said.

She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fort Hays State University and that, coupled with her career experience, gives her confidence in her ability to perform the multitude of administrative duties in the clerk office.

“I do best when I am busy, because I am great at prioritizing,” she said. “I am a quick learner and I love to research. If I am unsure how something is done, I find out how to do it correctly, which includes not being afraid to ask for help and input from others.”

“And,” she continued, “I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves. Duties will not always be in the 8 to 4 business hours.”

The conversation she wants to start includes helping voters realize the importance of local elections.

“In a local election, our votes select the people whose decisions affect our everyday lives. If you want your voices to be heard, and you want your votes to make a difference, vote in local elections!”

Allen said that innovation and collaboration often lead to the best changes.

“Working with our community, which includes FHSU and its students, is an essential function of any elected official but especially the County Clerk, who has such a wide range of responsibilities,” she said.

People she speaks to about the clerk’s office generally have no idea, beyond voter registration, what the office does, unless some item of personal business takes them there.

“Hays has an engaged and committed community, and county officials should be a part of that community,” she said.

In addition to voter registration and controlling polling locations, the clerk’s office performs services in the areas of drinking licenses; transient merchant licenses; passports; moving permits; various tax forms for homestead claims, low-income seniors and property tax relief; ownership transfers for real estate taxes and other areas.

Primary: Register to vote by Tuesday, July 16. The primary is Tuesday, August 6.

General: Register to vote by Tuesday, October 15. Advance voting begins Wednesday, October 16. The election is Tuesday, November 5.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688753467308.jpeg" alt="Laura Allen" />
 <figcaption>Laura Allen</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedLaura Allen, focusing on voting rights and access, will be the Democratic Party candidate for Ellis County Clerk, challenging incumbent Bobbi Dreiling.With no opponents in the Democratic primary, she will be the party’s candidate for office.Her focus in the campaign is voting.“I really want to open a discussion about voting and voting access in our community,” she said. “We should be engaging Ellis County residents, especially new residents, on how and where to vote.”Allen said she is a champion of creating access to voting on the Fort Hays State campus.“I absolutely think that access to voting at Fort Hays State should be a priority for our community,” she said. “Let’s meet students where they are and give them the opportunity to vote on campus.”She continued, “As a parent and voter, I am thrilled to see young adults campaigning for their voting rights. I have the utmost respect for the faculty and staff at Fort Hays for the support they have offered their students. I hope that all election officials look forward to working with voters in every stage of their voting careers, ensuring strong elections and voter turnout.”Allen, an Ellis County native, raised her family in Hays and has worked in the non-profit sector for the past seven years.“I have always gravitated to career positions that provide services to others,” she said.She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fort Hays State University and that, coupled with her career experience, gives her confidence in her ability to perform the multitude of administrative duties in the clerk office.“I do best when I am busy, because I am great at prioritizing,” she said. “I am a quick learner and I love to research. If I am unsure how something is done, I find out how to do it correctly, which includes not being afraid to ask for help and input from others.”“And,” she continued, “I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves. Duties will not always be in the 8 to 4 business hours.”The conversation she wants to start includes helping voters realize the importance of local elections.“In a local election, our votes select the people whose decisions affect our everyday lives. If you want your voices to be heard, and you want your votes to make a difference, vote in local elections!”Allen said that innovation and collaboration often lead to the best changes.“Working with our community, which includes FHSU and its students, is an essential function of any elected official but especially the County Clerk, who has such a wide range of responsibilities,” she said.People she speaks to about the clerk’s office generally have no idea, beyond voter registration, what the office does, unless some item of personal business takes them there.“Hays has an engaged and committed community, and county officials should be a part of that community,” she said.In addition to voter registration and controlling polling locations, the clerk’s office performs services in the areas of drinking licenses; transient merchant licenses; passports; moving permits; various tax forms for homestead claims, low-income seniors and property tax relief; ownership transfers for real estate taxes and other areas.The schedule for the 2024 election:Primary: Register to vote by Tuesday, July 16. The primary is Tuesday, August 6.General: Register to vote by Tuesday, October 15. Advance voting begins Wednesday, October 16. The election is Tuesday, November 5.

Allen files as Democratic candidate for Ellis County Clerk 

SHERMAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Friday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Ahmed J. Hassan, 32, Garden City, was eastbound on Interstate 70 eight mies east of Goodland.

The semi overturned due to strong winds and came to rest on the driver's side, blocking both lanes of traffic.

EMS transported&nbsp;Hassan to University of Denver Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SHERMAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Friday in Sherman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Ahmed J. Hassan, 32, Garden City, was eastbound on Interstate 70 eight mies east of Goodland.The semi overturned due to strong winds and came to rest on the driver's side, blocking both lanes of traffic.EMS transported&nbsp;Hassan to University of Denver Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after winds blow semi over on I-70

TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;As part of continuing efforts to protect the senior community, the Internal Revenue Service today issued a warning about the rising threat of impersonation scams.

These scams are targeting older adults in Kansas and elsewhere across the country by pretending to be government officials, aiming to steal sensitive personal information and money. By posing as representatives from agencies such as the IRS, or other government agencies,&nbsp;these fraudsters use fear and deceit to exploit their victims.

“Scammers often target seniors, attempting to steal personal information through phone calls, emails or text messages by pretending to be from the IRS or other agencies or businesses,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Preventing these types of scams requires assistance from many different places. By partnering with other federal agencies and others in the tax community, we can reach more seniors and other taxpayers to help protect them against these terrible scams.”

This is part of a wider effort taking place this week leading up to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Saturday, June 15. WEAAD, observed since June 15, 2006, aims to foster a better understanding of the neglect and abuse faced by millions of older adults, focusing attention on the contributing cultural, social, economic and demographic factors.

The IRS also has been engaged in long-term efforts to protect against scams and other related schemes, including identity theft. This has been an ongoing focus of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>&nbsp;partnership between the IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax professional community since 2015.

The IRS has identified a concerning trend where fraudulent actors are increasingly targeting unsuspecting individuals, particularly senior citizens, by masquerading as IRS agents. Victims are pressured into making immediate payments through unorthodox methods such as gift cards or wire transfers under the pretense of resolving fictitious tax liabilities or securing false refunds.

These scammers deploy advanced techniques to fabricate a veneer of credibility, including the manipulation of caller IDs to appear legitimate. Here are just a few examples of their schemes:

If an individual receives an unexpected call from someone alleging to be from the IRS, but they have not been notified by mail about any issues with their IRS account, they should hang up immediately. The call is likely from a scammer.

Do not return the call using the number provided by the caller or the one displayed on their caller ID. If taxpayers are uncertain about the legitimacy of IRS communications, they can contact IRS customer service for verification at&nbsp;<a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>, or for the hearing impaired, TTY/TDD&nbsp;<a href="tel:800-829-4059">800-829-4059</a>.

To view details about an individual’s tax account, they can set up or check their IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-individual-online-account">individual online account</a>&nbsp;on IRS.gov.

Electronic scams are also on the rise, with scammers sending malicious emails and texts posing as IRS representatives to steal personal information. The IRS reminds taxpayers that it does not&nbsp;initiate&nbsp;contact via email, text, or social media regarding tax bills or refunds.

IRSTOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;As part of continuing efforts to protect the senior community, the Internal Revenue Service today issued a warning about the rising threat of impersonation scams.These scams are targeting older adults in Kansas and elsewhere across the country by pretending to be government officials, aiming to steal sensitive personal information and money. By posing as representatives from agencies such as the IRS, or other government agencies,&nbsp;these fraudsters use fear and deceit to exploit their victims.“Scammers often target seniors, attempting to steal personal information through phone calls, emails or text messages by pretending to be from the IRS or other agencies or businesses,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Preventing these types of scams requires assistance from many different places. By partnering with other federal agencies and others in the tax community, we can reach more seniors and other taxpayers to help protect them against these terrible scams.”This is part of a wider effort taking place this week leading up to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Saturday, June 15. WEAAD, observed since June 15, 2006, aims to foster a better understanding of the neglect and abuse faced by millions of older adults, focusing attention on the contributing cultural, social, economic and demographic factors.The IRS also has been engaged in long-term efforts to protect against scams and other related schemes, including identity theft. This has been an ongoing focus of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>&nbsp;partnership between the IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax professional community since 2015.Understanding the threatsThe IRS has identified a concerning trend where fraudulent actors are increasingly targeting unsuspecting individuals, particularly senior citizens, by masquerading as IRS agents. Victims are pressured into making immediate payments through unorthodox methods such as gift cards or wire transfers under the pretense of resolving fictitious tax liabilities or securing false refunds.These scammers deploy advanced techniques to fabricate a veneer of credibility, including the manipulation of caller IDs to appear legitimate. Here are just a few examples of their schemes:<ul>
 <li>Impersonation of known entities: Fraudsters often pose as representatives from government agencies — including the IRS, Social Security Administration and Medicare — others in the tax community or familiar businesses and charities. By spoofing caller IDs, scammers can deceive victims into believing they are receiving legitimate communications.</li><li>Claims of problems or prizes: Scammers frequently fabricate urgent scenarios, such as outstanding debts or promises of significant prize winnings. Victims may be falsely informed that they owe the IRS money, are owed a tax refund, need to verify accounts or must pay fees to claim non-existent lottery winnings.</li><li>Pressure for immediate action: These deceitful actors create a sense of urgency, demanding that victims take immediate action without allowing time for reflection. Common tactics include threats of arrest, deportation, license suspension or computer viruses to coerce quick compliance.</li><li>Specified payment methods: To complicate traceability, scammers insist on unconventional payment methods, including cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps or gift cards, and often require victims to provide sensitive information like gift card numbers.</li>
 </ul>Scam precautions and reportingIf an individual receives an unexpected call from someone alleging to be from the IRS, but they have not been notified by mail about any issues with their IRS account, they should hang up immediately. The call is likely from a scammer.Do not return the call using the number provided by the caller or the one displayed on their caller ID. If taxpayers are uncertain about the legitimacy of IRS communications, they can contact IRS customer service for verification at&nbsp;<a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>, or for the hearing impaired, TTY/TDD&nbsp;<a href="tel:800-829-4059">800-829-4059</a>.To view details about an individual’s tax account, they can set up or check their IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-individual-online-account">individual online account</a>&nbsp;on IRS.gov.Electronic scams are also on the rise, with scammers sending malicious emails and texts posing as IRS representatives to steal personal information. The IRS reminds taxpayers that it does not&nbsp;initiate&nbsp;contact via email, text, or social media regarding tax bills or refunds.Report the call or electronic scam by visiting the Hotline page of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and using an&nbsp;IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form&nbsp;or by calling&nbsp;<a href="tel:800-366-4484">800-366-4484</a>. Forms to report different types of fraud are available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tigta.gov/reportcrime-misconduct">Hotline page of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration website</a>. Taxpayers can click the appropriate option under "IRS Scams and Fraud" and follow the instructions.Key points to remember:Individuals should understand how and when the IRS contacts taxpayers to help them verify whether any communication they receive is genuinely from an IRS employee.Most IRS communications are initiated through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service. However, in certain situations, the IRS may make phone calls or visit homes or businesses. These situations include having an overdue tax bill, an unfiled tax return or missing employment tax deposit.Additionally, an IRS employee might review assets or inspect a business as part of a collection investigation, audit or ongoing criminal investigation.Remember the following:<ul>
 <li>The IRS will&nbsp;never&nbsp;demand immediate payment via prepaid debit cards, gift cards or wire transfers. Typically, if taxes are owed, the IRS will send a bill by mail first.</li><li>The IRS will&nbsp;never&nbsp;threaten to involve local police or other law enforcement agencies.</li><li>The IRS will&nbsp;never&nbsp;demand payment without allowing opportunities to dispute or appeal the amount owed.</li><li>The IRS will&nbsp;never&nbsp;request credit, debit or gift card numbers over the phone.</li>
 </ul>Remaining vigilant and informed about these scams can help protect taxpayers from financial loss and identity theft. The IRS and partnering federal agencies urge everyone to be cautious, especially when dealing with unsolicited communications concerning taxes.In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice introduced the National Elder Fraud Hotline to address fraud targeting elderly Americans and support affected individuals. If an individual has fallen victim to elder fraud, they can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).The hotline operates Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, and services are available in English, Spanish, and other languages.More information<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scamsconsumer-alerts">Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing">Report Phishing and Online Scams</a></li><li><a href="https://outlook.office.com/local/path/file:///C:/Users/1twsb/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/1F08LAHN/Dirty%20Dozen%20lists%20a%20variety%20of%20common%20scams%20that%20taxpayers%20may%20encounter%20anytim">The IRS Dirty Dozen: Annual list of scams affecting taxpayers</a></li><li><a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam#IRS">Federal Trade Commission- How to avoid a government impersonation scam</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit partnership</a></li>
 </ul>