ATCHISON - Benedictine College has recognized those students who have distinguished themselves academically during the last semester. 

Lane Werth of Hays&nbsp;was recently named to the Dean's List for the spring semester, which ended May 9, 2023.

Any full-time student carrying a minimum of 12 hours and a perfect 4.0 grade point average through the spring term is named to the President's List. Full time students with 12 hours and a grade point average of 3.5 are named to the Dean's List. Of the 2,234 students on campus for 2022-2023 academic year, 166 made the President's List and 698 made the Dean's List.

Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581723078465.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseATCHISON - Benedictine College has recognized those students who have distinguished themselves academically during the last semester. Lane Werth of Hays&nbsp;was recently named to the Dean's List for the spring semester, which ended May 9, 2023.Any full-time student carrying a minimum of 12 hours and a perfect 4.0 grade point average through the spring term is named to the President's List. Full time students with 12 hours and a grade point average of 3.5 are named to the Dean's List. Of the 2,234 students on campus for 2022-2023 academic year, 166 made the President's List and 698 made the Dean's List.Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas.&nbsp;

Hays resident Lane Werth receives academic honor  

<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/2023/6/1685631365544.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

McPHERSON - McPherson College, a four-year private college located in central Kansas, announces the names of students earning degrees and graduating from the college on May 20, 2023. 

HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, DEGREE, MAJOR, HONORS (if listed) Hays, KS Chase Brous, Bachelor of Arts, English: Licensure&nbsp;&nbsp;

A complete list of graduates and the ceremony is on the college website, <a href="https://www.mcpherson.edu/academics/graduation/">mcpherson.edu/graduation</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685541067103.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>McPHERSON - McPherson College, a four-year private college located in central Kansas, announces the names of students earning degrees and graduating from the college on May 20, 2023. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, DEGREE, MAJOR, HONORS (if listed) Hays, KS Chase Brous, Bachelor of Arts, English: Licensure&nbsp;&nbsp; A complete list of graduates and the ceremony is on the college website, <a href="https://www.mcpherson.edu/academics/graduation/">mcpherson.edu/graduation</a>.

Hays resident earn honor as McPherson College graduate

The races for the Victoria and Hays school boards are
shaping up to be extremely competitive this fall with at least 10 candidates vying for four seats on both school boards.

According to the Ellis County Election office, there were 11
people filed for four at-large seats on the USD 432 Victoria school board and 10
people filed to run for four seats on the USD 489 school board by the noon deadline on Thursday, June 1.

The 11 Victoria residents that submitted the necessary paperwork to be on the USD 432 ballot in the fall are Janea Dinkel, Terry
Dinkel, Haley Gagnon, Brenton Hoffman, Jacob Hunter, Douglas A. Kuhn, Tammy
Lichter, Matthew K. Orr, Morgan Pfeifer, Gregory Sander and Tammy Lee Schumacher.

In the USD 489 Hays school district race, there are 10 Hays
residents who will be on the ballot in the November General Election.

They are David Clingan, James Feyerherm, Jayme Goetz, Lori
Hertel, Craig Pallister, Allen Park, Ruth A. Ruder, Duff Watson, Dennis Wilkie
and Derek Yarmer.

Despite a large number of candidates, there were not enough candidates to
force a primary election in either race. All of the candidates will show up on the General
Election ballot on Nov. 7.

In Ellis there were five residents who filed for four seats
on the USD 388 school board. They are Cindy Hertel, Aaron Honas, Marty Hollern,
Stephanie Johnson and Brian J. Shannon.

Randall S. Honas was the only candidate to file for the one
unexpired term on the Ellis school board.

In the race for the Ellis City Council, four people filed in
the race for three open seats. They are Devin D. Henderson, Brady A. Richards, John
A. Walz and Terry G. Zerfas.

David R. McDaniel was the only candidate to file for Ellis mayor and Faith Scheck for Ellis treasurer.

In Hays there are two four-year and one two-year term up for
election on the Hays City Commission. There will be five people on the ballot
for those three positions. They are Kelly Ancar, Reese E. Barrick, Alaina
Cunningham, Diana F. Pantle and Mason Ruder.

Kevin Bieker is the only candidate vying for the Schoenchen mayor, and Frederick H Follmer and Kyle Zimmerman were the only two candidates to
file for Schoenchen City Council. There are five positions up for election on
the council.

John Schulte was the only person to file for Victoria mayor, and Joe Leroux for Victoria City Council. There are two positions open on
the city council.

The November General Election also features races for the improvement
districts and Cottonwood Extension District.

You can find a list of those candidates below and you can
find a complete list of candidates <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/DocumentCenter/View/4937/2023-Candidate-Filings">HERE</a>.

Big Creek Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Casey F Herrman Duane Kuhn Larry D
Leiker Keith
Schmidt Duff Watson

Munjor Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp;

Prairie Acres Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shane Gregg Kevin
Zimmer William T
Wierman

Suburban Estates Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cottonwood Extension District #17 - 2 board positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Diana F Pantle Allen P Roth Tatum
Sprague-Kinzey

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685650059944.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThe races for the Victoria and Hays school boards are
shaping up to be extremely competitive this fall with at least 10 candidates vying for four seats on both school boards.According to the Ellis County Election office, there were 11
people filed for four at-large seats on the USD 432 Victoria school board and 10
people filed to run for four seats on the USD 489 school board by the noon deadline on Thursday, June 1.The 11 Victoria residents that submitted the necessary paperwork to be on the USD 432 ballot in the fall are Janea Dinkel, Terry
Dinkel, Haley Gagnon, Brenton Hoffman, Jacob Hunter, Douglas A. Kuhn, Tammy
Lichter, Matthew K. Orr, Morgan Pfeifer, Gregory Sander and Tammy Lee Schumacher.In the USD 489 Hays school district race, there are 10 Hays
residents who will be on the ballot in the November General Election.They are David Clingan, James Feyerherm, Jayme Goetz, Lori
Hertel, Craig Pallister, Allen Park, Ruth A. Ruder, Duff Watson, Dennis Wilkie
and Derek Yarmer.Despite a large number of candidates, there were not enough candidates to
force a primary election in either race. All of the candidates will show up on the General
Election ballot on Nov. 7.In Ellis there were five residents who filed for four seats
on the USD 388 school board. They are Cindy Hertel, Aaron Honas, Marty Hollern,
Stephanie Johnson and Brian J. Shannon.Randall S. Honas was the only candidate to file for the one
unexpired term on the Ellis school board.In the race for the Ellis City Council, four people filed in
the race for three open seats. They are Devin D. Henderson, Brady A. Richards, John
A. Walz and Terry G. Zerfas.David R. McDaniel was the only candidate to file for Ellis mayor and Faith Scheck for Ellis treasurer.In Hays there are two four-year and one two-year term up for
election on the Hays City Commission. There will be five people on the ballot
for those three positions. They are Kelly Ancar, Reese E. Barrick, Alaina
Cunningham, Diana F. Pantle and Mason Ruder.Kevin Bieker is the only candidate vying for the Schoenchen mayor, and Frederick H Follmer and Kyle Zimmerman were the only two candidates to
file for Schoenchen City Council. There are five positions up for election on
the council.John Schulte was the only person to file for Victoria mayor, and Joe Leroux for Victoria City Council. There are two positions open on
the city council.The November General Election also features races for the improvement
districts and Cottonwood Extension District.You can find a list of those candidates below and you can
find a complete list of candidates <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/DocumentCenter/View/4937/2023-Candidate-Filings">HERE</a>.Big Creek Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Casey F Herrman Duane Kuhn Larry D
Leiker Keith
Schmidt Duff WatsonMunjor Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp; Prairie Acres Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shane Gregg Kevin
Zimmer William T
WiermanSuburban Estates Improvement District - 3 Director positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cottonwood Extension District #17 - 2 board positions&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Diana F Pantle Allen P Roth Tatum
Sprague-Kinzey

 Crowded field of candidates vying for Hays, Victoria school boards in fall

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Portis public water supply system located in Osborne County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

The advisory took effect on June 1 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp; announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 758-346-4020, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDEuNzc1OTQ5MDEifQ.B4Ox2cO-OgyLfXAl2KuP2cI04JJzv0qCuRI50Wg4_O4/s/1305913623/br/204088737988-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption.</a>

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov" target="_blank">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the city of Portis public water supply system located in Osborne County.Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:<ul>
 <li>Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.</li><li>Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.</li><li>If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.</li><li>Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.</li><li>Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.</li>
 </ul>The advisory took effect on June 1 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp; announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 758-346-4020, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDEuNzc1OTQ5MDEifQ.B4Ox2cO-OgyLfXAl2KuP2cI04JJzv0qCuRI50Wg4_O4/s/1305913623/br/204088737988-l" target="_blank">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption.</a>Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov" target="_blank">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Boil water advisory Issued for the city of Portis, Osborne County

GOP senator urges federal agency to stay focused on broadband service

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to rely on accurate data to target federal funding at Kansas’ last-place ranking on average internet download speed.

The Kansas Republican said improving the state’s access to high-quality broadband would benefit up to 1 million Kansans, especially rural residents, who live without access to the kind of digital connections important for personal business, education and health.

Moran said in a letter to Gina Raimondo, secretary of the U.S. commerce department, a recent broadband quality study indicated Kansas was last in terms of average download speed and trailed by wide margins speeds available in Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.

<a target="_blank" href="https://broadbandnow.com/research/best-states-with-internet-coverage-and-speed">Kansas ranked 51st among all states and the District of Columbia in download speed</a>, which was among key determinants of quality broadband delivery.

It was important to Kansans, the senator said, because data-intensive consumer and business internet applications were undermined by mediocre download speeds.

“That means many Kansans will be poorer, sicker and less educated than their peers that have access to high-quality broadband,” Moran said. “A lot of work has been done to improve broadband in Kansas, but it is clear there is plenty of work left to do.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has emphasized broadband expansion in Kansas by targeting state and federal investments to improve connectivity. In early May, she directed $30 million in&nbsp;competitive funding through the Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connectivity program to add infrastructure useful for homes and businesses. 

That goal of LINK was to reduce the cost of internet service, increase its availability and improve performance for users. Eligible entities include internet service providers, political subdivisions, tribal governments, cooperatives and non-profit organizations.

“Many have shared their frustration about a lack of access to high-speed internet that is crucial to remote work and precision agriculture, among other needs,” said Jade Piros de Carvalho, the state’s broadband development director.

In Moran’s letter to the U.S. commerce secretary, he recommended the federal government rely on accurate state-by-state data to allocate resources through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.

The senator suggested the federal commerce department avoid subsidizing the overbuilding of broadband services developed by private companies and to maximize broadband provider participation by restraining regulatory burdens.

“Collectively,” Moran said, “these steps will help ensure the program avoids the missteps of prior broadband deployment programs and is successful in bridging the digital divide.”

<h2>GOP senator urges federal agency to stay focused on broadband service</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685636613195.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to stay focused on funding broadband service improvements in Kansas, which ranked 51st nationally in terms of average download speed. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to stay focused on funding broadband service improvements in Kansas, which ranked 51st nationally in terms of average download speed. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to rely on accurate data to target federal funding at Kansas’ last-place ranking on average internet download speed.The Kansas Republican said improving the state’s access to high-quality broadband would benefit up to 1 million Kansans, especially rural residents, who live without access to the kind of digital connections important for personal business, education and health.Moran said in a letter to Gina Raimondo, secretary of the U.S. commerce department, a recent broadband quality study indicated Kansas was last in terms of average download speed and trailed by wide margins speeds available in Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.<a target="_blank" href="https://broadbandnow.com/research/best-states-with-internet-coverage-and-speed">Kansas ranked 51st among all states and the District of Columbia in download speed</a>, which was among key determinants of quality broadband delivery.It was important to Kansans, the senator said, because data-intensive consumer and business internet applications were undermined by mediocre download speeds.“That means many Kansans will be poorer, sicker and less educated than their peers that have access to high-quality broadband,” Moran said. “A lot of work has been done to improve broadband in Kansas, but it is clear there is plenty of work left to do.”Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has emphasized broadband expansion in Kansas by targeting state and federal investments to improve connectivity. In early May, she directed $30 million in&nbsp;competitive funding through the Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connectivity program to add infrastructure useful for homes and businesses. That goal of LINK was to reduce the cost of internet service, increase its availability and improve performance for users. Eligible entities include internet service providers, political subdivisions, tribal governments, cooperatives and non-profit organizations.“Many have shared their frustration about a lack of access to high-speed internet that is crucial to remote work and precision agriculture, among other needs,” said Jade Piros de Carvalho, the state’s broadband development director.In Moran’s letter to the U.S. commerce secretary, he recommended the federal government rely on accurate state-by-state data to allocate resources through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.The senator suggested the federal commerce department avoid subsidizing the overbuilding of broadband services developed by private companies and to maximize broadband provider participation by restraining regulatory burdens.“Collectively,” Moran said, “these steps will help ensure the program avoids the missteps of prior broadband deployment programs and is successful in bridging the digital divide.”

U.S. Sen. Moran upset with Kansas’ last place score for internet download speed

WASHINGTON, D.C. - When a company makes a promise, you expect them to keep their word, right? According to the Federal Trade Commission, Amazon promised to delete children’s personal information and Alexa users’ voice and geolocation information but broke the law instead. In an announcement Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/05/ftc-doj-charge-amazon-violating-childrens-privacy-law-keeping-kids-alexa-voice-recordings-forever">the FTC and the Department of Justice said Amazon violated children’s privacy law</a>&nbsp;by keeping kids’ Alexa voice recordings forever to feed its voice-related algorithms.

Amazon promised parents they could “manage their content and devices” and delete their children’s voice recordings, but according to the FTC, the company didn’t always fulfill parents’ deletion requests, kept children’s sensitive voice data indefinitely, and put people’s data at risk of harm from unnecessary access. The FTC says Amazon also failed to fulfill Alexa users’ requests to delete their voice and geolocation information. Instead, Amazon kept using that information for their algorithms.

The proposed order would, among other things, require Amazon to pay $25 million, change its deletion practices, and implement strong privacy safeguards.

This case — like&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/05/rings-privacy-failures-led-spying-and-harassment-though-home-security-cameras">the Ring case</a>&nbsp;— shows that the FTC continues to take action against companies that don’t safeguard people’s personal information, especially when it comes to sensitive biometric data, like voices or videos (as in the Ring case).

Here are some steps to take to protect your family’s personal information:

Learn more about protecting your privacy online and on apps at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/protecting-your-privacy-online">ftc.gov/yourprivacy</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685627776148.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Federal Trade CommissionWASHINGTON, D.C. - When a company makes a promise, you expect them to keep their word, right? According to the Federal Trade Commission, Amazon promised to delete children’s personal information and Alexa users’ voice and geolocation information but broke the law instead. In an announcement Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/05/ftc-doj-charge-amazon-violating-childrens-privacy-law-keeping-kids-alexa-voice-recordings-forever">the FTC and the Department of Justice said Amazon violated children’s privacy law</a>&nbsp;by keeping kids’ Alexa voice recordings forever to feed its voice-related algorithms.Amazon promised parents they could “manage their content and devices” and delete their children’s voice recordings, but according to the FTC, the company didn’t always fulfill parents’ deletion requests, kept children’s sensitive voice data indefinitely, and put people’s data at risk of harm from unnecessary access. The FTC says Amazon also failed to fulfill Alexa users’ requests to delete their voice and geolocation information. Instead, Amazon kept using that information for their algorithms.The proposed order would, among other things, require Amazon to pay $25 million, change its deletion practices, and implement strong privacy safeguards.This case — like&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/05/rings-privacy-failures-led-spying-and-harassment-though-home-security-cameras">the Ring case</a>&nbsp;— shows that the FTC continues to take action against companies that don’t safeguard people’s personal information, especially when it comes to sensitive biometric data, like voices or videos (as in the Ring case).Here are some steps to take to protect your family’s personal information:<ul>
 <li>Learn&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/protecting-your-childs-privacy-online#choices">how to protect your kids’ privacy</a>.&nbsp;As a parent, you have control over the personal information companies collect online from your kids under 13.&nbsp;Any site attempting to collect personal information from your child has to get your consent, and it has to honor your choices about how that information is used.</li><li>Find out if you have the right to tell a company to delete your data.&nbsp;Some state laws give you that right. Learn more at the&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiapp.org%2Fresources%2Farticle%2Fus-state-privacy-legislation-tracker%2F&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2023%2F02%2Fgoodrxs-not-so-good-privacy-practices-come-light">U.S. State Privacy Legislation Tracker</a>&nbsp;from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.</li><li>Check if you can customize your privacy settings.&nbsp;If a device or an app doesn’t need the info it collects, such as your location, turn off that feature. If the device or app does need it, consider limiting access to only when the device or app is in use.</li>
 </ul>Learn more about protecting your privacy online and on apps at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/protecting-your-privacy-online">ftc.gov/yourprivacy</a>.

FTC: Amazon didn’t protect Alexa users’ or children’s privacy

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

You can help support the mission of the United Way of Ellis County while having fun on the golf course on June 16.

The United Way formerly had the event during Octoberfest but changed the dates to allow more people to participate, Erica Berges, United Way executive director, said.

The United Way is accepting entries for its annual golf tournament at the Smoky Hill Country Club now <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">online</a>.

The cost for the tournament is $500 for a team of four. Golf cart reservations are included in the cost. Lunch will be provided, as well as opportunities to play hole games and participate in raffles.

The United Way also is still accepting sponsors for the tournament. This  also can be done online or you can print and deliver the sponsorship form to the United Way office in the Chestnut Building, 1200 Main, Suite 102. Sponsorships start at $200.

Proceeds from the tournament will support the agency's 13 partner agencies.

The United Way's annual campaign will kick off in August, but the non-profit accepts donations year-round.

The agency is celebrating 70 years in Ellis County. Berges said the agency hopes to have some special events celebrating the anniversary this fall.

Berges said the fundraising goal this year will be likely the same as last year, $370,000.

<a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">You can donate online on the agency's website.</a>&nbsp;A round-up option is included. Donors can opt to round up purchases on debit or credit cards to the nearest dollar with the change going to the United Way. Donors can set monthly limits on these donations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685550233205.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostYou can help support the mission of the United Way of Ellis County while having fun on the golf course on June 16.The United Way formerly had the event during Octoberfest but changed the dates to allow more people to participate, Erica Berges, United Way executive director, said.The United Way is accepting entries for its annual golf tournament at the Smoky Hill Country Club now <a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">online</a>.The cost for the tournament is $500 for a team of four. Golf cart reservations are included in the cost. Lunch will be provided, as well as opportunities to play hole games and participate in raffles.The United Way also is still accepting sponsors for the tournament. This also can be done online or you can print and deliver the sponsorship form to the United Way office in the Chestnut Building, 1200 Main, Suite 102. Sponsorships start at $200.Proceeds from the tournament will support the agency's 13 partner agencies.The United Way's annual campaign will kick off in August, but the non-profit accepts donations year-round.The agency is celebrating 70 years in Ellis County. Berges said the agency hopes to have some special events celebrating the anniversary this fall.Berges said the fundraising goal this year will be likely the same as last year, $370,000.<a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">You can donate online on the agency's website.</a>&nbsp;A round-up option is included. Donors can opt to round up purchases on debit or credit cards to the nearest dollar with the change going to the United Way. Donors can set monthly limits on these donations.Cover photo provided by Pixabay.

Ellis County United Way Golf Tournament set for June 16; sign up now

Four Republicans sidestepping yes-or-no decisions on key education issues

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas State Board of Education member Michelle Dombrosky abstained rather than cast yes-or-no votes on amendments to teacher licensure requirements, high school graduation standards and a popular program allowing high school students to earn college credit.

Dombrosky, an Olathe Republican who represents 10 school districts in Johnson, Miami and Franklin counties, also declined three times since January to take a position on allocation to local school districts of federal COVID-19 relief funding.

During the initial four months of this year, GOP state Board of Education members Cathy Hopkins of Hays, Dennis Hershberger of Hutchinson and Danny Zeck of Leavenworth abstained at least twice on key policy decisions. Dombrosky took that approach at least six times in that period.

Mark Ferguson, legal counsel to the state Board of Education since 2009, said the flurry of abstentions could be consequential because the tactic might be used to undermine a requirement the state board register at least six votes among the 10 members to take formal action on a motion or resolution.

In February, changes to the state’s teacher licensure requirements were passed with a bipartisan majority on a vote of 6-0-4 as four Republicans abstained.

“My conclusion is an abstention is not really the appropriate vote for a board member who is simply in opposition to a position or a board action,” Ferguson said. “I would go out a little further and say that an abstention — a nonvote — is an abdication of the responsibility to vote or to take a position on a particular issue.”

Ferguson recommended the state Board of Education adopt policy to clarify that an abstention would be recorded as a “no” vote. He said a board committee had engaged in preliminary discussions about policy changes.

The board’s attorney also said abstentions should be reserved for members who decided they had a personal, employment or economic conflict of interest and wanted to be released from a specific debate or decision. Under Kansas law, local school board members with a conflict of interest were allowed to step away from the meeting until conclusion of voting on the issue.

He said questions about abstentions became more prominent after election in 2022 of Republican newcomers Hopkins, Hershberger and Zeck. Each started four-year terms in January.

While Dombrosky led the group with six abstentions on significant final-action votes from January through April, Zeck did so three times and Hopkins and Hershberger did so twice each. These board members also cast abstentions in preliminary votes.

State Board of Education members requested a legal analysis of abstentions as it related to the elected body serving interests of K-12 education statewide, Ferguson said.

“It has been something that has gained some momentum and traction each month that we’ve had new board members,” he said.

Ferguson said there was no obligation for board members to explain votes for or against a measure, which would mirror the process deployed by the Kansas Legislature.

Members of the House and Senate were allowed to publicly declare a conflict of interest and step away from participation in a specific vote. Or, a conflict of interest could be cured by a lawmaker through public disclosure and that individual could choose to vote with colleagues.

The incentive of Republicans to abstain on key education policy and budget votes might be removed in November 2024 when the state Board of Education’s three Democrats and two of the seven Republicans were up for reelection. The board’s majority could shift to the right in January 2025.

The upcoming election cycle would determine the future of Democrats Ann Mah of Topeka, Melanie Haas of Overland Park and Betty Arnold of Wichita as well as GOP members Deena Horst of Salina and Jim McNiece of Wichita.

<h2>Four Republicans sidestepping yes-or-no decisions on key education issues</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas State Board of Education member Michelle Dombrosky abstained rather than cast yes-or-no votes on amendments to teacher licensure requirements, high school graduation standards and a popular program allowing high school students to earn college credit.Dombrosky, an Olathe Republican who represents 10 school districts in Johnson, Miami and Franklin counties, also declined three times since January to take a position on allocation to local school districts of federal COVID-19 relief funding.During the initial four months of this year, GOP state Board of Education members Cathy Hopkins of Hays, Dennis Hershberger of Hutchinson and Danny Zeck of Leavenworth abstained at least twice on key policy decisions. Dombrosky took that approach at least six times in that period.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659626439586.png" alt="Cathy Hopkins, member of the Kansas Board of Education from Hays" />
 <figcaption>Cathy Hopkins, member of the Kansas Board of Education from Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>Mark Ferguson, legal counsel to the state Board of Education since 2009, said the flurry of abstentions could be consequential because the tactic might be used to undermine a requirement the state board register at least six votes among the 10 members to take formal action on a motion or resolution.In February, changes to the state’s teacher licensure requirements were passed with a bipartisan majority on a vote of 6-0-4 as four Republicans abstained.“My conclusion is an abstention is not really the appropriate vote for a board member who is simply in opposition to a position or a board action,” Ferguson said. “I would go out a little further and say that an abstention — a nonvote — is an abdication of the responsibility to vote or to take a position on a particular issue.”Ferguson recommended the state Board of Education adopt policy to clarify that an abstention would be recorded as a “no” vote. He said a board committee had engaged in preliminary discussions about policy changes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685563865690.jpeg" alt="The decision of Michelle Dombrosky, an Olathe Republican on the Kansas State Board of Education, to abstain on major policy issues prompted the state board’s attorney to urge policy revisions to affirm abstentions should be reserved for members with conflicts of interest rather than used as an alternative to registering dissent. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The decision of Michelle Dombrosky, an Olathe Republican on the Kansas State Board of Education, to abstain on major policy issues prompted the state board’s attorney to urge policy revisions to affirm abstentions should be reserved for members with conflicts of interest rather than used as an alternative to registering dissent. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The board’s attorney also said abstentions should be reserved for members who decided they had a personal, employment or economic conflict of interest and wanted to be released from a specific debate or decision. Under Kansas law, local school board members with a conflict of interest were allowed to step away from the meeting until conclusion of voting on the issue.He said questions about abstentions became more prominent after election in 2022 of Republican newcomers Hopkins, Hershberger and Zeck. Each started four-year terms in January.While Dombrosky led the group with six abstentions on significant final-action votes from January through April, Zeck did so three times and Hopkins and Hershberger did so twice each. These board members also cast abstentions in preliminary votes.State Board of Education members requested a legal analysis of abstentions as it related to the elected body serving interests of K-12 education statewide, Ferguson said.“It has been something that has gained some momentum and traction each month that we’ve had new board members,” he said.Ferguson said there was no obligation for board members to explain votes for or against a measure, which would mirror the process deployed by the Kansas Legislature.Members of the House and Senate were allowed to publicly declare a conflict of interest and step away from participation in a specific vote. Or, a conflict of interest could be cured by a lawmaker through public disclosure and that individual could choose to vote with colleagues.The incentive of Republicans to abstain on key education policy and budget votes might be removed in November 2024 when the state Board of Education’s three Democrats and two of the seven Republicans were up for reelection. The board’s majority could shift to the right in January 2025.The upcoming election cycle would determine the future of Democrats Ann Mah of Topeka, Melanie Haas of Overland Park and Betty Arnold of Wichita as well as GOP members Deena Horst of Salina and Jim McNiece of Wichita.

Kansas ed board’s attorney says Hays' Hopkins' abstention as substitute for ‘no’ vote an abdication of duty

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

I have a special guest to introduce this week! Camille Dolechek will be working as our Summer Program Assistant this year and we’ll tell you a little about her.

She is excited to intern with Cottonwood Extension Office as a summer program assistant this summer. Camille is a Hoisington native from a farming and ranching family. She is currently attending Kansas State University studying Elementary Education.

Camille is looking forward to assisting with the Barton County Fair, day camps, and working with agents. Growing up, she participated in 4-H, and 4-H is a fantastic program to learn life skills. She also looks forward to seeing the 4-H participants show their animals and arts and crafts this summer!

We are excited to have Camille on-board this summer and hope to let her experience all areas of Extension work. She has jumped in to assist in the office and is helping at a Day Camp the 4-H Junior Leaders are holding on Wednesday. Extension is all about learning experiences and we appreciate the ability to provide to our summer assistants with experiences as much as the communities we serve. Be sure to look for Camille at Extension events and the Barton County Fair this summer!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran&nbsp;is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;(Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran&nbsp;is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;(Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District I have a special guest to introduce this week! Camille Dolechek will be working as our Summer Program Assistant this year and we’ll tell you a little about her.She is excited to intern with Cottonwood Extension Office as a summer program assistant this summer. Camille is a Hoisington native from a farming and ranching family. She is currently attending Kansas State University studying Elementary Education.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685104881742.jpeg" alt="Camille Dolechek (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Camille Dolechek (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Camille is looking forward to assisting with the Barton County Fair, day camps, and working with agents. Growing up, she participated in 4-H, and 4-H is a fantastic program to learn life skills. She also looks forward to seeing the 4-H participants show their animals and arts and crafts this summer!We are excited to have Camille on-board this summer and hope to let her experience all areas of Extension work. She has jumped in to assist in the office and is helping at a Day Camp the 4-H Junior Leaders are holding on Wednesday. Extension is all about learning experiences and we appreciate the ability to provide to our summer assistants with experiences as much as the communities we serve. Be sure to look for Camille at Extension events and the Barton County Fair this summer!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Meet our summer program assistant

TOPEKA&nbsp;–The State Library of Kansas is proud to announce the 2023 Kansas Notable Books list. This year’s list of Kansas Notable Books continues the tradition of celebrating the rich stories and vibrant spirit of the state.

“The authors of the 2023 Kansas Notable Books not only help us gain a deeper understanding of our world, but also encourage empathy for others and reflection on our own life experiences,” State Librarian Ray C. Walling said. “Written by Kansans or about Kansas and Kansans, these fifteen books explore wanderlust, transformative collaboration, hidden struggles, inspiring resilience, and the power of love.”

Authors will be recognized and awarded medals by the State Librarian at the Kansas Book Festival on September 16 at Washburn University. The Book Festival is a free event that is open to the public. For more information on the event, visit <a href="https://www.kansasbookfestival.com/">kansasbookfestival.com</a>.

The selection process for the Kansas Notable Books involved a rigorous evaluation by a selection committee made up of librarians, educators, and literary professionals. Their task was to identify books that exemplify quality writing, compelling storytelling, and significant contributions to the literary landscape. This year's list features a wide range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children's literature, ensuring there is something for every reader.

A program of the Kansas Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book, Kansas Notable Books works to foster a love for reading by promoting these exceptional works across the state. Public libraries, schools, and bookstores feature the Kansas Notable Books prominently and organize events that engage readers and highlight the authors' accomplishments. An annual grant program administrated by the State Library supports Kansas public libraries adding Notable Books titles to their collections in formats best suited to their patrons. Applications will be released mid-June.

For more information about the Kansas Notable Books program, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9rc2xpYi5pbmZvL25vdGFibGVib29rcyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA1MzAuNzc0NTE0NzEifQ.nMEKfcMmpSf5FiGk1AG9olRJHNXhKW0WrwM_l67Di58/s/1303161001/br/203891368201-l" target="_blank">kslib.info/notablebooks</a>&nbsp;or contact the State Library of Kansas at 785-296-3296 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:infodesk@ks.gov" target="_blank">infodesk@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp;

* Cabby Potts, Duchess of Dirt by Kathleen Wilford, Blue Bronco Books

* Easy Beauty: A Memoir by Chloe Cooper Jones, Simon &amp; Schuster

* Hell's Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders by Susan Jonusas, Viking

* Justa’s Escape: A Journey from WWII Ukraine by Justina Neufeld with Russell Binkley, Wipf and Stock

* Kansas Speaks Out: Poems in the Age of Me, Too edited by Dennis Etzel, Jr and Jericho Hockett, An Actual Kansas Press

* Letters to Martin: Meditations on Democracy by Randal Maurice Jelks, Lawrence Hill Books

* The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World by David K. Randall, W. W. Norton &amp; Company

* Native American Stories for Kids: 12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes Across North America by Tom Pecore Weso, Rockridge Press

* A New Guide to Kansas Mushrooms by Sherry Kay, Benjamin Sikes, and Caleb Morse, University Press of Kansas

* Nothing but the Dirt: Stories from an American Farm Town by Kate Benz, University Press of Kansas

* One Boy Watching by Grant Snider, Chronicle Books

* River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard, Doubleday

* The Undead Truth of Us by Britney S. Lewis, Hyperion

* The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel by Rolf Potts, Random House

* Winfield's Walnut Valley Festival by Seth Bate, The History Press

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685548581676.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseTOPEKA&nbsp;–The State Library of Kansas is proud to announce the 2023 Kansas Notable Books list. This year’s list of Kansas Notable Books continues the tradition of celebrating the rich stories and vibrant spirit of the state.“The authors of the 2023 Kansas Notable Books not only help us gain a deeper understanding of our world, but also encourage empathy for others and reflection on our own life experiences,” State Librarian Ray C. Walling said. “Written by Kansans or about Kansas and Kansans, these fifteen books explore wanderlust, transformative collaboration, hidden struggles, inspiring resilience, and the power of love.”Authors will be recognized and awarded medals by the State Librarian at the Kansas Book Festival on September 16 at Washburn University. The Book Festival is a free event that is open to the public. For more information on the event, visit <a href="https://www.kansasbookfestival.com/">kansasbookfestival.com</a>.The selection process for the Kansas Notable Books involved a rigorous evaluation by a selection committee made up of librarians, educators, and literary professionals. Their task was to identify books that exemplify quality writing, compelling storytelling, and significant contributions to the literary landscape. This year's list features a wide range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children's literature, ensuring there is something for every reader.A program of the Kansas Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book, Kansas Notable Books works to foster a love for reading by promoting these exceptional works across the state. Public libraries, schools, and bookstores feature the Kansas Notable Books prominently and organize events that engage readers and highlight the authors' accomplishments. An annual grant program administrated by the State Library supports Kansas public libraries adding Notable Books titles to their collections in formats best suited to their patrons. Applications will be released mid-June.For more information about the Kansas Notable Books program, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9rc2xpYi5pbmZvL25vdGFibGVib29rcyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA1MzAuNzc0NTE0NzEifQ.nMEKfcMmpSf5FiGk1AG9olRJHNXhKW0WrwM_l67Di58/s/1303161001/br/203891368201-l" target="_blank">kslib.info/notablebooks</a>&nbsp;or contact the State Library of Kansas at 785-296-3296 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:infodesk@ks.gov" target="_blank">infodesk@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp;2023 KANSAS NOTABLE BOOKS* Cabby Potts, Duchess of Dirt by Kathleen Wilford, Blue Bronco Books* Easy Beauty: A Memoir by Chloe Cooper Jones, Simon &amp; Schuster* Hell's Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders by Susan Jonusas, Viking* Justa’s Escape: A Journey from WWII Ukraine by Justina Neufeld with Russell Binkley, Wipf and Stock* Kansas Speaks Out: Poems in the Age of Me, Too edited by Dennis Etzel, Jr and Jericho Hockett, An Actual Kansas Press* Letters to Martin: Meditations on Democracy by Randal Maurice Jelks, Lawrence Hill Books* The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World by David K. Randall, W. W. Norton &amp; Company* Native American Stories for Kids: 12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes Across North America by Tom Pecore Weso, Rockridge Press* A New Guide to Kansas Mushrooms by Sherry Kay, Benjamin Sikes, and Caleb Morse, University Press of Kansas* Nothing but the Dirt: Stories from an American Farm Town by Kate Benz, University Press of Kansas* One Boy Watching by Grant Snider, Chronicle Books* River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard, Doubleday* The Undead Truth of Us by Britney S. Lewis, Hyperion* The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel by Rolf Potts, Random House* Winfield's Walnut Valley Festival by Seth Bate, The History Press

2023 Kansas Notable Books list released

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685542885989.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>

H&amp;W Oil Company of Hays is currently seeking a class A CDL driver to haul oilfield fluids. 

H&amp;W offers excellent pay and benefits, which include paid insurance and uniforms. 

Applicant must be able to drive a stick shift and pass all DOT requirements.

 H&amp;W provides a great work environment and well-maintained and updated equipment.

 If interested in joining their team, contact Shawn at (785) 445-2965. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685114004842.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>H&amp;W Oil Company of Hays is currently seeking a class A CDL driver to haul oilfield fluids. No hazmat is required. H&amp;W offers excellent pay and benefits, which include paid insurance and uniforms. They offer bonuses and weekends off. Applicant must be able to drive a stick shift and pass all DOT requirements. H&amp;W provides a great work environment and well-maintained and updated equipment. If interested in joining their team, contact Shawn at (785) 445-2965.

Lincoln resident awarded KS Independent College Foundation scholarship

The Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-methodist-church-breakaway-lgbt-f599979835addfd354856ff5b2024989">couldn’t stay in the United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;anymore — but the congregation he attended was staying.

Michael Hahn always wanted to stay in the UMC — but his congregation was leaving it.

Each has found new church homes, and they’re not alone.

Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">intractable debates</a>&nbsp;over theology and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">role of LGBTQ people</a>. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-marriage-b6a4ec4a28ce2674932573ba6c850f4a">stark differences</a>&nbsp;over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy.

But the dividing line isn’t just running between congregations. It’s running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had long worshipped together.

Those who come up on the short end of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether to stay or go.

According to the Great Plains conference agenda packet, 103 churches' disassociation are set to be approved by resolution today.

Hays United Methodist Church was not among those who voted to leave.

Kansas churches that have voted to leave the denomination include:

Agra, Arnold, Bazine, Bellevue, Blue Mound, Brewster, Burdett, Burlington, Caney, Cawker City, Cherryvale, Copeland, Deerfield, Denton, Dwight, Elkhart, Ellsworth, Fulton, Glasco, Glen Elder, Grainfield, Green, Greensburg, Gypsum, Healy, Holcomb, Howard, Hugoton, Ionia, Iuka, Jetmore, Kanopolis, Kanorado, Kirwin, Kismet, Lancaster, Lenora, Leonardville, Liberty, Long Island, Lucas, Luray, Lydia, Madison, Marysville, Medicine Lodge, Miltonvale, Natoma, Ness City, Norwich, Offerle, Oketo, Oneida, Oxford, Peru, Plains, Quinter, Randolph, Ransom, Republic, Richfield, Rolla, Roeland Park, Satanta, Sawyer, Sharon Springs, Stockton, Utica, Virgil, Wakefield and Webber.

The splintering — often grievous and tense — has spurred new initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some United Methodist regional conferences have begun designating “Lighthouse” congregations — ones that actively welcome people who wanted to stay United Methodist but whose former churches voted to leave. Other conferences use different names, such as “Beacon” or “Oasis,” but the idea is the same.

"The pain is real, and there is a lot of grief and a lot of heartache over the split in the United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Lynda Ferguson, the great-grandchild of a circuit-riding Methodist pastor.

Her North Carolina church, First United Methodist Asheboro, became a Lighthouse congregation. That assures newcomers that it’s committed to staying United Methodist, so they won’t have to worry about another disaffiliation vote. More than 400 congregations have disaffiliated in North Carolina.

Ferguson said she can personally relate to those from departing congregations. Her childhood church — the one that shaped her faith and where at age 12 she felt the call to ministry — also voted to leave.

"Part of the Lighthouse mission is to let people know the United Methodist Church is still here and still welcoming,” said the Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church in Stokesdale, North Carolina, which also became a Lighthouse congregation.

Michael Hahn and his family are among a group of newcomers who have begun participating in Stokesdale after their previous congregations left the denomination.

Hahn, whose family has been Methodist for generations, said he couldn’t imagine leaving the denomination, which he values for blending faith and rationality: “It’s a place where I don’t have to check my logic and reason at the door and blindly accept things.”

Hahn said he, his wife and daughters have found “a very warm and welcoming environment” in the Stokesdale congregation, with people saying, "We’re glad to have you here, we want to walk through this period with you.”

Many of the departing churches are joining the conservative Global Methodist Church, created last year. Others are going independent or joining different denominations.

While the Global Methodist Church doesn’t have a program like the Lighthouse initiative, it has begun launching or adopting congregations that can become homes for those who want to leave the United Methodist Church but whose congregations are staying.

That was the case with the founders of Grace Methodist Church. They launched the church in January in Homosassa, Florida, after their previous congregation voted to stay in the UMC. The new church immediately affiliated with the Global Methodist Church.

Grace Methodist has been renting a former lodge hall for its services and has already started Bible studies and community outreaches, while also working to attract attendees from their neighborhood.

“We’re not there just to go to church on Sunday for an hour; we’re there to help the community," said member Neil Kline. The enthusiasm of participants is evident, he said: “They can’t wait to get to church, and they don’t want to leave.”

Farmer came out of retirement to serve as the church's pastor.

The group's previous congregation “was a good church,” Farmer said, and he wished it well. But “my struggle was with the United Methodist structure, what’s going on in the United States, particularly."

The ongoing schism has been long in the making.

The United Methodist Church — with about 6.5 million members in the United States and at least that many abroad — has long debated its bans on same-sex marriages and the ordination of openly LGBTQ clergy.

The denomination has repeatedly upheld the bans, largely through the voting strength of the growing, more conservative churches abroad. But conservatives chose to form a new denomination amid growing defiance of the bans in U.S. churches.

More than 3,500 U.S. congregations have received their local conferences’ permission to disaffiliate from the UMC, according to United Methodist News Service. With conference season underway, disaffiliations are closing in on 4,000 and could rise even more by the end of the year, said the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative group advocating for departing congregations.

That’s a fraction of the United Methodists’ 30,000 U.S. churches, though several of the departing congregations are among the largest in their states.

Therrell said he had no problem with the Lighthouse concept but renewed his call to allow churches to disaffiliate on reasonable terms.

“I want everyone to be in the theological home that is the best fit,” Therrell said. “Certainly, the United Methodist Church is welcome to try to create churches to do that. I hope they would respect traditionalists and allow us to get to the place where we need to be.”

In the Arkansas Conference, more than 100 churches — out of roughly 600 total — have received permission to disaffiliate. That leaves parts of the state with few or no remaining United Methodist congregations, said the Rev. Michael Roberts, director of the conference’s new Restart Initiative, which is hoping to enlist congregations to be Beacon churches. Such churches would invite self-described “exiles, refugees, nomads” to worship services, help them start home groups or develop other ways to keep them connected.

“We’re just really simply inviting churches to consider how they can provide this kind of hospitality,” Roberts said. “I love the word ‘hospitality’ because the word ‘hospital’ comes from that word. It is about providing healing."

In the Western Pennsylvania Conference, 17 congregations officially became Lighthouse congregations as of May 1.

About a third of the estimated 800 churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference — a sprawling 23-county region — are seeking to have their disaffiliations approved at the conference's June annual meeting, according to Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi.

“There have been very few votes where it was unanimous,” she said. For those on the short end of those votes — sometimes described as pilgrims — the Lighthouse congregations offer places where they can join or just find temporary harbor until they figure out next steps.

But Lighthouse churches aren’t places to settle into old routines, she said.

“This has been an opportunity to really think about folks who are unchurched, and how this nucleus of people looking for a church home might help us discern needs in the community and create faith communities” to reach people in new ways.

Added B.T. Gilligan, senior pastor at Nixon United Methodist Church, a Lighthouse congregation in Butler, Pennsylvania: “I really hope this extends and goes far beyond the disaffiliation, but allows for people who have been hurt by churches for all different kinds of reasons.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

The Associated PressThe Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-methodist-church-breakaway-lgbt-f599979835addfd354856ff5b2024989">couldn’t stay in the United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;anymore — but the congregation he attended was staying.Michael Hahn always wanted to stay in the UMC — but his congregation was leaving it.Each has found new church homes, and they’re not alone.Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">intractable debates</a>&nbsp;over theology and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">role of LGBTQ people</a>. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-marriage-b6a4ec4a28ce2674932573ba6c850f4a">stark differences</a>&nbsp;over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy.But the dividing line isn’t just running between congregations. It’s running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had long worshipped together.Those who come up on the short end of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether to stay or go.<h2>Churches leaving</h2>According to the Great Plains conference agenda packet, 103 churches' disassociation are set to be approved by resolution today.Hays United Methodist Church was not among those who voted to leave. Kansas churches that have voted to leave the denomination include:Agra, Arnold, Bazine, Bellevue, Blue Mound, Brewster, Burdett, Burlington, Caney, Cawker City, Cherryvale, Copeland, Deerfield, Denton, Dwight, Elkhart, Ellsworth, Fulton, Glasco, Glen Elder, Grainfield, Green, Greensburg, Gypsum, Healy, Holcomb, Howard, Hugoton, Ionia, Iuka, Jetmore, Kanopolis, Kanorado, Kirwin, Kismet, Lancaster, Lenora, Leonardville, Liberty, Long Island, Lucas, Luray, Lydia, Madison, Marysville, Medicine Lodge, Miltonvale, Natoma, Ness City, Norwich, Offerle, Oketo, Oneida, Oxford, Peru, Plains, Quinter, Randolph, Ransom, Republic, Richfield, Rolla, Roeland Park, Satanta, Sawyer, Sharon Springs, Stockton, Utica, Virgil, Wakefield and Webber.The splintering — often grievous and tense — has spurred new initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some United Methodist regional conferences have begun designating “Lighthouse” congregations — ones that actively welcome people who wanted to stay United Methodist but whose former churches voted to leave. Other conferences use different names, such as “Beacon” or “Oasis,” but the idea is the same."The pain is real, and there is a lot of grief and a lot of heartache over the split in the United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Lynda Ferguson, the great-grandchild of a circuit-riding Methodist pastor.Her North Carolina church, First United Methodist Asheboro, became a Lighthouse congregation. That assures newcomers that it’s committed to staying United Methodist, so they won’t have to worry about another disaffiliation vote. More than 400 congregations have disaffiliated in North Carolina.Ferguson said she can personally relate to those from departing congregations. Her childhood church — the one that shaped her faith and where at age 12 she felt the call to ministry — also voted to leave."Part of the Lighthouse mission is to let people know the United Methodist Church is still here and still welcoming,” said the Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church in Stokesdale, North Carolina, which also became a Lighthouse congregation.Michael Hahn and his family are among a group of newcomers who have begun participating in Stokesdale after their previous congregations left the denomination.Hahn, whose family has been Methodist for generations, said he couldn’t imagine leaving the denomination, which he values for blending faith and rationality: “It’s a place where I don’t have to check my logic and reason at the door and blindly accept things.”Hahn said he, his wife and daughters have found “a very warm and welcoming environment” in the Stokesdale congregation, with people saying, "We’re glad to have you here, we want to walk through this period with you.”Many of the departing churches are joining the conservative Global Methodist Church, created last year. Others are going independent or joining different denominations.While the Global Methodist Church doesn’t have a program like the Lighthouse initiative, it has begun launching or adopting congregations that can become homes for those who want to leave the United Methodist Church but whose congregations are staying.That was the case with the founders of Grace Methodist Church. They launched the church in January in Homosassa, Florida, after their previous congregation voted to stay in the UMC. The new church immediately affiliated with the Global Methodist Church.Grace Methodist has been renting a former lodge hall for its services and has already started Bible studies and community outreaches, while also working to attract attendees from their neighborhood.“We’re not there just to go to church on Sunday for an hour; we’re there to help the community," said member Neil Kline. The enthusiasm of participants is evident, he said: “They can’t wait to get to church, and they don’t want to leave.”Farmer came out of retirement to serve as the church's pastor.The group's previous congregation “was a good church,” Farmer said, and he wished it well. But “my struggle was with the United Methodist structure, what’s going on in the United States, particularly."The ongoing schism has been long in the making.The United Methodist Church — with about 6.5 million members in the United States and at least that many abroad — has long debated its bans on same-sex marriages and the ordination of openly LGBTQ clergy.The denomination has repeatedly upheld the bans, largely through the voting strength of the growing, more conservative churches abroad. But conservatives chose to form a new denomination amid growing defiance of the bans in U.S. churches.More than 3,500 U.S. congregations have received their local conferences’ permission to disaffiliate from the UMC, according to United Methodist News Service. With conference season underway, disaffiliations are closing in on 4,000 and could rise even more by the end of the year, said the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative group advocating for departing congregations.That’s a fraction of the United Methodists’ 30,000 U.S. churches, though several of the departing congregations are among the largest in their states.Therrell said he had no problem with the Lighthouse concept but renewed his call to allow churches to disaffiliate on reasonable terms.“I want everyone to be in the theological home that is the best fit,” Therrell said. “Certainly, the United Methodist Church is welcome to try to create churches to do that. I hope they would respect traditionalists and allow us to get to the place where we need to be.”In the Arkansas Conference, more than 100 churches — out of roughly 600 total — have received permission to disaffiliate. That leaves parts of the state with few or no remaining United Methodist congregations, said the Rev. Michael Roberts, director of the conference’s new Restart Initiative, which is hoping to enlist congregations to be Beacon churches. Such churches would invite self-described “exiles, refugees, nomads” to worship services, help them start home groups or develop other ways to keep them connected.“We’re just really simply inviting churches to consider how they can provide this kind of hospitality,” Roberts said. “I love the word ‘hospitality’ because the word ‘hospital’ comes from that word. It is about providing healing."In the Western Pennsylvania Conference, 17 congregations officially became Lighthouse congregations as of May 1.About a third of the estimated 800 churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference — a sprawling 23-county region — are seeking to have their disaffiliations approved at the conference's June annual meeting, according to Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi.“There have been very few votes where it was unanimous,” she said. For those on the short end of those votes — sometimes described as pilgrims — the Lighthouse congregations offer places where they can join or just find temporary harbor until they figure out next steps.But Lighthouse churches aren’t places to settle into old routines, she said.“This has been an opportunity to really think about folks who are unchurched, and how this nucleus of people looking for a church home might help us discern needs in the community and create faith communities” to reach people in new ways.Added B.T. Gilligan, senior pastor at Nixon United Methodist Church, a Lighthouse congregation in Butler, Pennsylvania: “I really hope this extends and goes far beyond the disaffiliation, but allows for people who have been hurt by churches for all different kinds of reasons.”___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Kansas Methodist churches vote to split from denomination, Hays stays

GREENE COUNTY –One person died in an accident just after midnight Wednesday, May 24, in Greene County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by former Hays and Schoenchen resident, James J. Brackney, 53, Springfield, was northbound on Farm Road 141 three miles north of Springfield.

The motorcycle struck a deer in the road and ejected both occupants.

EMS transported Brackney to Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The passenger Brandi A. Brackney, 46, Springfield, was transported to Cox South. They were not wearing helmets, according to the MSHP.

St. Joseph PostGREENE COUNTY –One person died in an accident just after midnight Wednesday, May 24, in Greene County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by former Hays and Schoenchen resident, James J. Brackney, 53, Springfield, was northbound on Farm Road 141 three miles north of Springfield.The motorcycle struck a deer in the road and ejected both occupants.EMS transported Brackney to Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The passenger Brandi A. Brackney, 46, Springfield, was transported to Cox South. They were not wearing helmets, according to the MSHP.

Former Hays, Schoenchen resident dead, after motorcycle strikes deer in Missouri

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Another third of an inch of evening rain Tuesday in Hays has helped narrow the moisture deficit for the month.

The official rain amount measured by the K-State Agricultural Center south of town is 0.33 inches.

That puts the total rainfall through May 30 at 3.16 inches, just shy of the average 3.24 inches.

Hays remains behind in moisture for the year, with 6.21 inches measured so far this year. The 157-cumulative average is 7.81 inches of moisture.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d6d656d6-ac97-4c11-83e7-4232aade0f2c">three-day weather forecast</a> calls for a chance of thunderstorms each day through Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653406429503.jpeg" alt="File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAnother third of an inch of evening rain Tuesday in Hays has helped narrow the moisture deficit for the month.The official rain amount measured by the K-State Agricultural Center south of town is 0.33 inches.That puts the total rainfall through May 30 at 3.16 inches, just shy of the average 3.24 inches.Hays remains behind in moisture for the year, with 6.21 inches measured so far this year. The 157-cumulative average is 7.81 inches of moisture.&nbsp;&nbsp;The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d6d656d6-ac97-4c11-83e7-4232aade0f2c">three-day weather forecast</a> calls for a chance of thunderstorms each day through Friday.

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