COLBY — Colby Community College spring 2025 graduate Jaylei Sloan and alumna Gabrielle Hammer were recently awarded distinguished scholarships from Fort Hays State University to further their careers in science and education.

The Noyce project through FHSU is a collaboration with Colby and other regional Kansas community colleges with the intention of attracting teachers from STEM majors and placing them in high-needs communities. The colleges also developed STEM clubs to engage students in activities that increase their interest in teaching careers.&nbsp;

Sloan, who graduates in May with a degree in biology, was selected for the Noyce CREST (Creating Retention and Engagement for STEM Teachers) scholarship at FHSU and receives a renewable award of $15,000. The competitive program supports future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators who have at least junior standing and are pursuing a bachelor's degree. As part of the Noyce initiative, Sloan has also been invited to represent Fort Hays State University in Washington, D.C., later this year.

While at Colby, she has served as a microbiology teaching assistant, tutor, and lab assistant in the biology department. She credits CCC faculty and family for their support.

Biology Instructor and STEM Division Chair Dr. Jeffrey Sekavec is the Noyce CREST site director at Colby.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Sekavec for being such an incredible mentor and offering me a multitude of opportunities throughout my time at CCC,” said Sloan. “I’d also like to give recognition to my family. I couldn’t have done this without my loved ones by my side, along with the added bonus of the friends I have made along the way. CCC’s Dr. Joan Johnson once said, ‘Accept, Adapt, and Persevere.’ Every day since then, I have lived by those words.”

"Above all else, Glory be to God! With the Lord at my side, I am accomplishing all that is meant for me. I am proud to be a part of Colby Community College and optimistic for my next chapter to begin with the Noyce program at FHSU!"

Sloan is the granddaughter of Leanna and Tom Sloan and the daughter of Matt Sloan.

A 2021 CCC graduate, Hammer received the Noyce Post Baccalaureate STEM Teacher Licensure Scholarship from Fort Hays State University. The competitive program provides a $24,788 stipend to individuals with a bachelor’s degree in science or mathematics who are pursuing a teaching career. Recipients complete a specialized post-baccalaureate curriculum delivered primarily online, with required field experiences and student teaching in a rural school district. 

Hammer currently teaches high school science in Sharon Springs, where she also attended school growing up in nearby Wallace.

After earning associate of science and applied science degrees from Colby, Hammer completed a bachelor’s degree in general biology from FHSU in 2023. She previously worked as a physical therapist assistant in long-term care and home health facilities.

“I have always been a western Kansas girl at heart,” said Hammer. “Looking back, I am so grateful for the friendships made, the connections, and the hard lessons learned at CCC. Some of the best people in the world were always willing to lend a hand and help in whatever way they could.”

Hammer was also an active member of the STEM Club at Colby, citing fond memories of scientific activities and engaging presentations from guest speakers.

"It has truly been a privilege to be associated with such great members of the Noyce programs," said Sekavec. "Ms. Sloan and Ms. Hammer are shining stars of the future of STEM education in western Kansas."

"We are quite fortunate to be part of such an incredible partnership with FHSU in bringing such opportunities to members of the STEM/STEM education community."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581529246979.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Colby Community CollegeCOLBY — Colby Community College spring 2025 graduate Jaylei Sloan and alumna Gabrielle Hammer were recently awarded distinguished scholarships from Fort Hays State University to further their careers in science and education.The Noyce project through FHSU is a collaboration with Colby and other regional Kansas community colleges with the intention of attracting teachers from STEM majors and placing them in high-needs communities. The colleges also developed STEM clubs to engage students in activities that increase their interest in teaching careers.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746781726768.png" alt="Jaylei Sloan. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jaylei Sloan. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Sloan, who graduates in May with a degree in biology, was selected for the Noyce CREST (Creating Retention and Engagement for STEM Teachers) scholarship at FHSU and receives a renewable award of $15,000. The competitive program supports future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators who have at least junior standing and are pursuing a bachelor's degree. As part of the Noyce initiative, Sloan has also been invited to represent Fort Hays State University in Washington, D.C., later this year.While at Colby, she has served as a microbiology teaching assistant, tutor, and lab assistant in the biology department. She credits CCC faculty and family for their support.Biology Instructor and STEM Division Chair Dr. Jeffrey Sekavec is the Noyce CREST site director at Colby.“I’d like to thank Dr. Sekavec for being such an incredible mentor and offering me a multitude of opportunities throughout my time at CCC,” said Sloan. “I’d also like to give recognition to my family. I couldn’t have done this without my loved ones by my side, along with the added bonus of the friends I have made along the way. CCC’s Dr. Joan Johnson once said, ‘Accept, Adapt, and Persevere.’ Every day since then, I have lived by those words.”"Above all else, Glory be to God! With the Lord at my side, I am accomplishing all that is meant for me. I am proud to be a part of Colby Community College and optimistic for my next chapter to begin with the Noyce program at FHSU!"Sloan is the granddaughter of Leanna and Tom Sloan and the daughter of Matt Sloan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746781948207.png" alt="Gabrielle Hammer. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Gabrielle Hammer. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>A 2021 CCC graduate, Hammer received the Noyce Post Baccalaureate STEM Teacher Licensure Scholarship from Fort Hays State University. The competitive program provides a $24,788 stipend to individuals with a bachelor’s degree in science or mathematics who are pursuing a teaching career. Recipients complete a specialized post-baccalaureate curriculum delivered primarily online, with required field experiences and student teaching in a rural school district. Hammer currently teaches high school science in Sharon Springs, where she also attended school growing up in nearby Wallace.After earning associate of science and applied science degrees from Colby, Hammer completed a bachelor’s degree in general biology from FHSU in 2023. She previously worked as a physical therapist assistant in long-term care and home health facilities.“I have always been a western Kansas girl at heart,” said Hammer. “Looking back, I am so grateful for the friendships made, the connections, and the hard lessons learned at CCC. Some of the best people in the world were always willing to lend a hand and help in whatever way they could.”Hammer was also an active member of the STEM Club at Colby, citing fond memories of scientific activities and engaging presentations from guest speakers."It has truly been a privilege to be associated with such great members of the Noyce programs," said Sekavec. "Ms. Sloan and Ms. Hammer are shining stars of the future of STEM education in western Kansas.""We are quite fortunate to be part of such an incredible partnership with FHSU in bringing such opportunities to members of the STEM/STEM education community."

Colby students earn prestigious scholarships to FHSU

DODGE
CITY - Hays High boys track and field team continued their Western Athletic
Conference dominance Thursday. The Indians won their fifth-straight league
title, edging Garden City by a point and a half at Memorial Stadium. The Hays girls
won their first title since 2005 after finishing seven points ahead of second
place Garden City.

Kip Keeley was named the WAC Coach of the Year for both the boys and girls.

<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/688096-wac-track-and-field-championship-2025/teams/21788">HHS Results</a>

The
girls won five events. Katie Linenberger the high jump (5-6), Lynsi Kanas the
long jump (17-5.75), Rylen Harrington the javelin (124-11), Zoe Winter the shot
put (38-10) and Aralen Maupin the 400 (1:00.28).

The
girls finished second in six events. Caira Augustine the high jump (5-0), Kenlee
Vehige the pole vault (9-9), Kamryn McCall the long jump (16-2.50) and 200
where she set a new school record (25.65). Lyndi Zimmerman finished second in
the 100 (12.25) and was a part of the 4x100 relay along with Moriah Hellam,
Lynsi Kanak and Kamryn McCall that also finished second (50.05).

Brooke
Bieker placed third in the triple jump (34-10.50) as did McCall in the 100
(12.41) and Zimmerman in the 200 (25.81).

The
boys won four events. Kamani Jones the high jump (6-0), Gus Corsair the discus
(145-3), Dalton Mayers the javelin (183-9) and Bryce Steffan the 300 hurdles
(40.66).

Jones
finished second in the triple jump (43-10.75) as did Wyatt Kirkpatrick in the
javelin (164-11), Jaxson Chartier the shot put (51-2.75) and Steffan in the 110
hurdles (15.58).

Third
place finishers include Jones in the long jump (20-2.50) and 200 (22.43),
Parker McGuire the discus (140.3), Caleb Englert the shot put (49-5.25), Brogan
Albers the 110 hurdles (15.68), Taevian Maupin-Dabney the 400 (51.50). Maupin-Dabney
was also a part of the third place 4x400 relay along with Steffan, Chase Zadina
and Albers (3:32.37).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747403587811.png" alt="The Hays High boys and girls track and field teams both won the 2025 Western Athletic Conference meet on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Dodge City, Kan. (HHS courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>The Hays High boys and girls track and field teams both won the 2025 Western Athletic Conference meet on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Dodge City, Kan. (HHS courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsDODGE
CITY - Hays High boys track and field team continued their Western Athletic
Conference dominance Thursday. The Indians won their fifth-straight league
title, edging Garden City by a point and a half at Memorial Stadium. The Hays girls
won their first title since 2005 after finishing seven points ahead of second
place Garden City.Kip Keeley was named the WAC Coach of the Year for both the boys and girls.<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/688096-wac-track-and-field-championship-2025/teams/21788">HHS Results</a>The
girls won five events. Katie Linenberger the high jump (5-6), Lynsi Kanas the
long jump (17-5.75), Rylen Harrington the javelin (124-11), Zoe Winter the shot
put (38-10) and Aralen Maupin the 400 (1:00.28).The
girls finished second in six events. Caira Augustine the high jump (5-0), Kenlee
Vehige the pole vault (9-9), Kamryn McCall the long jump (16-2.50) and 200
where she set a new school record (25.65). Lyndi Zimmerman finished second in
the 100 (12.25) and was a part of the 4x100 relay along with Moriah Hellam,
Lynsi Kanak and Kamryn McCall that also finished second (50.05).Brooke
Bieker placed third in the triple jump (34-10.50) as did McCall in the 100
(12.41) and Zimmerman in the 200 (25.81).The
boys won four events. Kamani Jones the high jump (6-0), Gus Corsair the discus
(145-3), Dalton Mayers the javelin (183-9) and Bryce Steffan the 300 hurdles
(40.66).Jones
finished second in the triple jump (43-10.75) as did Wyatt Kirkpatrick in the
javelin (164-11), Jaxson Chartier the shot put (51-2.75) and Steffan in the 110
hurdles (15.58).Third
place finishers include Jones in the long jump (20-2.50) and 200 (22.43),
Parker McGuire the discus (140.3), Caleb Englert the shot put (49-5.25), Brogan
Albers the 110 hurdles (15.68), Taevian Maupin-Dabney the 400 (51.50). Maupin-Dabney
was also a part of the third place 4x400 relay along with Steffan, Chase Zadina
and Albers (3:32.37).

👟 HHS boys and girls win WAC meet

LIBERAL
– The Hays High baseball team had already wrapped up their fourth straight Western
Athletic Conference title earlier in the season, Thursday they closed out the WAC
portion of their schedule with a 20-1 rout of Liberal in three innings at the National
Beef Sports Complex.

Hays
(14-8, 11-1 WAC) scored 14 runs in the second inning and six in the third to finish off the three-game series sweep of Liberal (8-17, 4-8 WAC). The Indians out-hit the Redskins 12-3
and took advantage of eight walks.

Jalen
Smith and Carter Graham both hit grand slams. Graham went 4-for-4 and drove in six
runs.

Trenton
Welch allowed one hit with two strikeouts and three walks over two innings and
picked up the win. Kal Lonsdale pitched the final inning.

Hays
will wrap up the regular season at home on Friday with a doubleheader against
Junction City. Game one begins at 4:00 p.m. at Leo-Harper Field.

Hays Post SportsLIBERAL
– The Hays High baseball team had already wrapped up their fourth straight Western
Athletic Conference title earlier in the season, Thursday they closed out the WAC
portion of their schedule with a 20-1 rout of Liberal in three innings at the National
Beef Sports Complex.Hays
(14-8, 11-1 WAC) scored 14 runs in the second inning and six in the third to finish off the three-game series sweep of Liberal (8-17, 4-8 WAC). The Indians out-hit the Redskins 12-3
and took advantage of eight walks.Jalen
Smith and Carter Graham both hit grand slams. Graham went 4-for-4 and drove in six
runs.Trenton
Welch allowed one hit with two strikeouts and three walks over two innings and
picked up the win. Kal Lonsdale pitched the final inning.UP
NEXTHays
will wrap up the regular season at home on Friday with a doubleheader against
Junction City. Game one begins at 4:00 p.m. at Leo-Harper Field.

⚾ Indians wrap up WAC play with blowout win

HAYS
– The Hays High softball team wrapped up their regular season with a sweep of
Manhattan. The Indians cruised to an 11-0 win in game one then held on for a
6-4 victory in the second game.

The
Indians finished the regular season 16-10. They will find out on Saturday who,
when and where they play in next week’s regional.

Game 1: Hays 11, Manhattan 0 (5 innings)
Avery Solida had two
hits including a three-run homer to lead the Hays Indians to the game one win.

HHS
scored four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. They added a
run in the third then six in the fifth to end the game early.

Brynlee
Rupp got the Indians on the board with an RBI triple then scored on a passed
ball in the first. Solida drove in her first run of the day with a single. Lanie
Becker stole home to push the lead to 4-0.

Becker
hit an inside the park home run in the third to put HHS up 5-0.

Rupp
opened the decisive fifth with a single then scored on Riley Dreher’s double. Following
a walk, Solida hit a three-run blast to center to put Hays up 9-0. Alyse Zimmerman
ended the game with a two-run single to center.

Jaylee
Summers scattered three hits with three walks and three strikeouts and picked
up the complete game victory.

Game 2: Hays 6, Manhattan 4
Hays built a 6-0 lead after five then held on for the win.

Alyse
Zimmerman, Brynlee Rupp and Riley Dreher all singled to open the bottom of the
first. Dreher’s base hit scored two to give the Indians the early lead. Dreher
later score on an error to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.

Each
team would get only one baserunner over the next three innings. 

Hays
broke through for three more runs in the fifth. With two outs, Lanie Becker
singled which scored Zimmerman who opened the frame with a double. Following an
Avery Solida single, Brynlee Brous single to push the lead to 5-0. K Jones singled
home courtesy runner Jaylee Summers for the Indians final run.

Manhattan
scored four in the top of the sixth. The first run came on a passed ball. The
Indians threw a runner out at home on a bunt but Josi Alesana hit a bases
loaded double with two outs to make it 6-4. 

Hays Post SportsHAYS
– The Hays High softball team wrapped up their regular season with a sweep of
Manhattan. The Indians cruised to an 11-0 win in game one then held on for a
6-4 victory in the second game.The
Indians finished the regular season 16-10. They will find out on Saturday who,
when and where they play in next week’s regional.Game 1: Hays 11, Manhattan 0 (5 innings)
Avery Solida had two
hits including a three-run homer to lead the Hays Indians to the game one win.HHS
scored four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. They added a
run in the third then six in the fifth to end the game early.Brynlee
Rupp got the Indians on the board with an RBI triple then scored on a passed
ball in the first. Solida drove in her first run of the day with a single. Lanie
Becker stole home to push the lead to 4-0.Becker
hit an inside the park home run in the third to put HHS up 5-0.Rupp
opened the decisive fifth with a single then scored on Riley Dreher’s double. Following
a walk, Solida hit a three-run blast to center to put Hays up 9-0. Alyse Zimmerman
ended the game with a two-run single to center.Jaylee
Summers scattered three hits with three walks and three strikeouts and picked
up the complete game victory.Game 2: Hays 6, Manhattan 4
Hays built a 6-0 lead after five then held on for the win.Alyse
Zimmerman, Brynlee Rupp and Riley Dreher all singled to open the bottom of the
first. Dreher’s base hit scored two to give the Indians the early lead. Dreher
later score on an error to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.Each
team would get only one baserunner over the next three innings. Hays
broke through for three more runs in the fifth. With two outs, Lanie Becker
singled which scored Zimmerman who opened the frame with a double. Following an
Avery Solida single, Brynlee Brous single to push the lead to 5-0. K Jones singled
home courtesy runner Jaylee Summers for the Indians final run.Manhattan
scored four in the top of the sixth. The first run came on a passed ball. The
Indians threw a runner out at home on a bunt but Josi Alesana hit a bases
loaded double with two outs to make it 6-4.

🥎 HHS wraps up regular season with sweep of Manhattan

HILL CITY – The Hoxie girls and Smith Center boys won the Mid-Continent League track and field meet hosted by Hill City High School Thursday. The Indians scored 111 points, 10.5 ahead of second place Ellis. Norton finished third (71). The Redmen boys scored 110 points, six better than Norton. Phillipsburg placed third (67.5).

<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/679983-mcl-track-2025-2025/teams">2025 MCL Track and Field Results</a>

The TMP-Marian girls finished sixth and the boys 11th. Piper Simpson won the girls pole vault, setting a new school record at 10-6. Paige Schlyer finished second in the discus (122-3). Jackson Gillespie led the TMP boys with a second-place finish in the 100 (11.23) and third in the 200 (23.12).

Ellis’ Evelyn Merriman won the 100 (12.31), 200 (25.82) and 400 (1:02.95). Natalie North won the discus (141-5) and shot put (40-8.75). Avery Boydston won the 800 (2:27.37) and finished second in the 1600 (5:20.15). Isabella Eck brought home gold in the high jump (5-4). The Railers 4x100 relay team placed third.

The Railer boys were paced by Aron Bencze won the discus (166-3) and finished second in the shot put (48-3).

Plainville’s Eric Mackey won the high jump (5-10), Davyn Willeford finished second in the long jump (42-4) and Tucker Rudman placed third in the shot put (48-2). Brilynn Trumpp led the Cardinal girls with a second place finish in the 800 (2:29.52) and was third in the 3200 (12:27.38). Alayah Lair finished third in the 100 hurdles (17.09). Caydance Carter placed third in the shot put (38-8).

Hays Post SportsHILL CITY – The Hoxie girls and Smith Center boys won the Mid-Continent League track and field meet hosted by Hill City High School Thursday. The Indians scored 111 points, 10.5 ahead of second place Ellis. Norton finished third (71). The Redmen boys scored 110 points, six better than Norton. Phillipsburg placed third (67.5).<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/679983-mcl-track-2025-2025/teams">2025 MCL Track and Field Results</a>The TMP-Marian girls finished sixth and the boys 11th. Piper Simpson won the girls pole vault, setting a new school record at 10-6. Paige Schlyer finished second in the discus (122-3). Jackson Gillespie led the TMP boys with a second-place finish in the 100 (11.23) and third in the 200 (23.12).Ellis’ Evelyn Merriman won the 100 (12.31), 200 (25.82) and 400 (1:02.95). Natalie North won the discus (141-5) and shot put (40-8.75). Avery Boydston won the 800 (2:27.37) and finished second in the 1600 (5:20.15). Isabella Eck brought home gold in the high jump (5-4). The Railers 4x100 relay team placed third.The Railer boys were paced by Aron Bencze won the discus (166-3) and finished second in the shot put (48-3).Plainville’s Eric Mackey won the high jump (5-10), Davyn Willeford finished second in the long jump (42-4) and Tucker Rudman placed third in the shot put (48-2). Brilynn Trumpp led the Cardinal girls with a second place finish in the 800 (2:29.52) and was third in the 3200 (12:27.38). Alayah Lair finished third in the 100 hurdles (17.09). Caydance Carter placed third in the shot put (38-8).

👟 Hoxie girls, Smith Center boys win MCL meet

HAYS
– Oakley won the Mid-Continent League boys golf tournament Thursday at the Fort
Hays Municipal Golf Course. The Plainsmen shot a 344 and edged Plainville by
three shots. Hoxie finished third, four off the pace. TMP-Marian finished sixth
with a 376, Trego was ninth (394) and Ellis 10th (411).

Hill
City’s AJ Deges shot a 6-over-par 77 and won the individual title. Easton Fink
of Oakley and Eli Jones of Norton tied for second after rounds of 79. Plainville’s
Noah Brewster shot an 82 and tied for fifth. Teammate Easton Ditter tied for
seventh with an 84.

Heuer
Brungardt led TMP-Marian with a 92 and tied for 20th along with Jaren Frickey of
Ellis.

Team Results Place - Team - Score 1 - Oakley -&nbsp;344 2 - Plainville - 347 3 - Hoxie - 348 4 - Hill City - 359 5 - Phillipsburg - 366 6 - TMP-Marian - 376 7 - Norton -&nbsp;380 8 - Russell - 392 9 - Trego -&nbsp;394 10 - Ellis - 411 11 - Smith Center - 414

Top-20 Individual Results Place - Name - School - Total 1 - AJ Deges - Hill City - 77 T2 - Easton Fink - Oakley - 79 T2 - Eli Jones - Norton - 79 4 - Jake Mooney - Russell - 81 5 - Noah Brewster - Plainville - 82 T5 - Avery Jacobs - Phillipsburg - 82 T7 - Easton Ditter - Plainville - 84 T7 - Noah Dowell - Hoxie - 84 T7 - Manuel Mancia - Oakley - 84 10 - Sam Watkins - Hoxie - 85 11 - Mason Laurin - Phillipsburg - 86 T12 - Brodie Tremblay - Hoxie - 88 T12 - Case Haynes - Hill City - 88 14 - Cole Kirchoff - Smith Center - 89 T15 - Jayden Morris - Plainville - 90 T15 - Cauy Bosserman - Oakley - 90 T17 - Carter Selensky - Oakley - 91 T17 - Max Foote	Hoxie - 91 T17 - Owen Brewster - Plainville - 91&nbsp; T20 - Jaren Frickey - Ellis - 92 T20 - Josiah Lopez - Trego - 92 T20 - Heuer Brungardt - TMP-Marian - 92

Hays Post SportsHAYS
– Oakley won the Mid-Continent League boys golf tournament Thursday at the Fort
Hays Municipal Golf Course. The Plainsmen shot a 344 and edged Plainville by
three shots. Hoxie finished third, four off the pace. TMP-Marian finished sixth
with a 376, Trego was ninth (394) and Ellis 10th (411).Hill
City’s AJ Deges shot a 6-over-par 77 and won the individual title. Easton Fink
of Oakley and Eli Jones of Norton tied for second after rounds of 79. Plainville’s
Noah Brewster shot an 82 and tied for fifth. Teammate Easton Ditter tied for
seventh with an 84.Heuer
Brungardt led TMP-Marian with a 92 and tied for 20th along with Jaren Frickey of
Ellis.Team Results Place - Team - Score 1 - Oakley -&nbsp;344 2 - Plainville - 347 3 - Hoxie - 348 4 - Hill City - 359 5 - Phillipsburg - 366 6 - TMP-Marian - 376 7 - Norton -&nbsp;380 8 - Russell - 392 9 - Trego -&nbsp;394 10 - Ellis - 411 11 - Smith Center - 414Top-20 Individual Results Place - Name - School - Total 1 - AJ Deges - Hill City - 77 T2 - Easton Fink - Oakley - 79 T2 - Eli Jones - Norton - 79 4 - Jake Mooney - Russell - 81 5 - Noah Brewster - Plainville - 82 T5 - Avery Jacobs - Phillipsburg - 82 T7 - Easton Ditter - Plainville - 84 T7 - Noah Dowell - Hoxie - 84 T7 - Manuel Mancia - Oakley - 84 10 - Sam Watkins - Hoxie - 85 11 - Mason Laurin - Phillipsburg - 86 T12 - Brodie Tremblay - Hoxie - 88 T12 - Case Haynes - Hill City - 88 14 - Cole Kirchoff - Smith Center - 89 T15 - Jayden Morris - Plainville - 90 T15 - Cauy Bosserman - Oakley - 90 T17 - Carter Selensky - Oakley - 91 T17 - Max Foote	Hoxie - 91 T17 - Owen Brewster - Plainville - 91&nbsp; T20 - Jaren Frickey - Ellis - 92 T20 - Josiah Lopez - Trego - 92 T20 - Heuer Brungardt - TMP-Marian - 92

⛳ Oakley boys win MCL Tournament

HAYS
– The Hays High girls swim team finished runner-up at the WAC meet held at Fort
Hays State’s Tiger Aquatic Center Thursday.

Senior
Izabel Schmidt broke her seventh school record with a first-place finish in the
100 yard breaststroke (1:11.13). Schmidt was also a part of the winning 200
free relay along with Jaylen Hughes, Brekyn Wahlmeier and Lucy Tippy. Hughes
finished first in the 100 backstroke.

Schmidt
was voted the WAC Swimmer of the Year and Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the
Year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747401242874.jpeg" alt="Hays High senior Izabel Schmidt was named the WAC Swimmer of the Year and head coach&nbsp;Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the Year (HHS courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Hays High senior Izabel Schmidt was named the WAC Swimmer of the Year and head coach&nbsp;Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the Year (HHS courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsHAYS
– The Hays High girls swim team finished runner-up at the WAC meet held at Fort
Hays State’s Tiger Aquatic Center Thursday.Senior
Izabel Schmidt broke her seventh school record with a first-place finish in the
100 yard breaststroke (1:11.13). Schmidt was also a part of the winning 200
free relay along with Jaylen Hughes, Brekyn Wahlmeier and Lucy Tippy. Hughes
finished first in the 100 backstroke.Schmidt
was voted the WAC Swimmer of the Year and Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the
Year.

🏊‍♀️ HHS girls runner-up at WAC, Schmidt Swimmer of the Year

By MEHMET GUZEL, HANNA ARHIROVA and SUZAN FRASER Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia and Ukraine were set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, both countries said Thursday, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.

During his Middle East trip, President Trump told reporters he and Putin need to get together to get the Ukraine war solved.

The president insists he’s not disappointed with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not showing up for peace talks in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled from Doha, Qatar, to Abu Dhabi, United Emirates, on Thursday. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying.”

Zelenskyy said he is sending a team headed by his defense minister from the Turkish capital Ankara to Istanbul to meet a Russian delegation, even though Moscow's side doesn't include "anyone who actually makes decisions."

The Ukrainian side would be headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and its aim is "to attempt at least the first steps toward de-escalation, the first steps toward ending the war — namely, a ceasefire," he said.

Few had expected Putin to show up in Turkey, and his absence punctured any hope of significant progress toward ending the 3-year-old war amid peace efforts in recent months by the Trump administration and Western European leaders. It also raised the prospect of intensified international sanctions on Russia that have been threatened by the West.

Zelenskyy, who flew Thursday to Ankara after challenging Putin to sit down with him, accused Moscow of not making a serious effort to end the war by sending a low-level negotiating team that he described as "a theater prop."

His proposal to Putin came amid a flurry of maneuvering last weekend as each side sought a diplomatic advantage.

Zelenskyy said he decided to send the delegation to Istanbul to demonstrate to U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine wants to end the fighting.

The war has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides and more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the U.N. Russian forces are preparing a fresh military offensive, Ukrainian government and Western military analysts say.

At least five civilians were killed and 29 wounded in the past day, according to authorities in five eastern regions of Ukraine where Russia is trying to advance.

The head of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, said in Istanbul that the representatives were ready to meet Ukrainian officials.

"The task of these direct negotiations with Ukraine is to establish long-term peace sooner or later by eliminating the root causes of this conflict," he said in a brief statement.

It was not clear when they would meet. The Russian state news agency Tass reported that the talks will go ahead Friday, citing an unidentified source.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would confer Friday in Istanbul with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Ukrainian delegation, adding that the Russian delegation would be meeting with other members of the U.S. team and that he hoped all sides could get together.

"We don't have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow. And frankly, at this point, I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin," Rubio told reporters in Antalya, Turkey, where he was attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier welcomed Zelenskyy to the presidential palace in Ankara for their own talks. Zelenskyy heads Friday to Albania for a gathering of European officials.

The diplomatic maneuvering began Saturday when European leaders met Zelenskyy in Kyiv and urged the Kremlin to agree to a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward peace. Putin responded early Sunday by proposing direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Then came Zelenskyy's challenge to Putin for face-to-face talks.

After days of silence, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov finally said Thursday that Putin had no plans to travel to Istanbul in the next few days.

Trump said he was not surprised that Putin was a no-show. He had pressed for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet but brushed off the Kremlin leader's decision not to attend.

"I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there," Trump told reporters in Doha, Qatar, on the third day of his visit to the Middle East.

Trump said a meeting between him and Putin was crucial to breaking the deadlock.

"I don't believe anything's going to happen whether you like it or not, until (Putin) and I get together," he said on Air Force One while traveling from Doha to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. "But we're going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."

Peskov said Putin has no plans to meet with Trump in the coming days.

Medinsky, Putin's aide, is leading the Russian team that also includes three other senior officials, the Kremlin said. Putin also appointed four lower-level officials as "experts" for the talks in Istanbul.

Also absent from the talks were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, both of whom represented Russia at talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia in March.

The top-level Ukrainian delegation included Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, a Ukrainian official said. Zelenskyy will sit at the negotiating table only with Putin, said presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.

Putin met Wednesday with senior government officials and members of the delegation in preparation for the talks, Peskov said. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov and National Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu attended.

The Kremlin billed the Istanbul talks as a "restart" of peace negotiations held there in 2022 that quickly collapsed. Moscow accused Ukraine and the West of wanting to continue fighting, while Kyiv said Russia's demands amounted to an ultimatum, not something both sides could agree on. That delegation also was also headed by Medinsky.

Putin's proposal came after more than three months of diplomacy kick-started by Trump, who promised during his campaign to end the war swiftly — although it's been hard to pull off. The Trump administration in recent weeks indicated it might walk away from the effort if there was no tangible progress soon.

Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, met with Rubio and Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday night in Antalya.

Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine's support for Trump's mediation efforts and thanked the U.S. for its continued involvement, urging Moscow to "reciprocate Ukraine's constructive steps" toward peace. "So far, it has not," Sybiha said.

On Thursday morning, Sybiha also met with other European foreign ministers, including his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, who in a post on X reiterated the call for a ceasefire and the threat of "massive sanctions" if Russia doesn't comply.

"We're in a very difficult spot right now, and we hope that we can find the steps forward that provide for the end of this war in a negotiated way and the prevention of any war in the future," Rubio said Thursday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of "standing in the way of peace."

"There was only one country that started this conflict — that was Russia. That was Putin. There's only one country now standing in the way of peace — that is Russia, that is Putin," he said in a visit to Tirana, Albania.

Barrot echoed that sentiment: "In front of Ukrainians, there is an empty chair, one that should have been occupied by Vladimir Putin," he said. "Vladimir Putin is dragging his feet and in all evidence does not want to enter into these peace discussions."

Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels; Illia Novikov and Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Ukraine; Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia; Aamer Madhani in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Matthew Lee in Antalya, Turkey, contributed to this report.

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747337212246.png" alt="Image from CSPAN video" />
 <figcaption>Image from CSPAN video</figcaption>
 </figure>By MEHMET GUZEL, HANNA ARHIROVA and SUZAN FRASER Associated PressANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia and Ukraine were set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, both countries said Thursday, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.During his Middle East trip, President Trump told reporters he and Putin need to get together to get the Ukraine war solved.The president insists he’s not disappointed with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not showing up for peace talks in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump: &quot;Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/iKg3SJQmaf">pic.twitter.com/iKg3SJQmaf</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1923043128061104498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled from Doha, Qatar, to Abu Dhabi, United Emirates, on Thursday. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying.”Zelenskyy said he is sending a team headed by his defense minister from the Turkish capital Ankara to Istanbul to meet a Russian delegation, even though Moscow's side doesn't include "anyone who actually makes decisions."The Ukrainian side would be headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and its aim is "to attempt at least the first steps toward de-escalation, the first steps toward ending the war — namely, a ceasefire," he said.Few had expected Putin to show up in Turkey, and his absence punctured any hope of significant progress toward ending the 3-year-old war amid peace efforts in recent months by the Trump administration and Western European leaders. It also raised the prospect of intensified international sanctions on Russia that have been threatened by the West.Zelenskyy, who flew Thursday to Ankara after challenging Putin to sit down with him, accused Moscow of not making a serious effort to end the war by sending a low-level negotiating team that he described as "a theater prop."His proposal to Putin came amid a flurry of maneuvering last weekend as each side sought a diplomatic advantage.Zelenskyy said he decided to send the delegation to Istanbul to demonstrate to U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine wants to end the fighting.The war has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides and more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the U.N. Russian forces are preparing a fresh military offensive, Ukrainian government and Western military analysts say.At least five civilians were killed and 29 wounded in the past day, according to authorities in five eastern regions of Ukraine where Russia is trying to advance.The head of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, said in Istanbul that the representatives were ready to meet Ukrainian officials."The task of these direct negotiations with Ukraine is to establish long-term peace sooner or later by eliminating the root causes of this conflict," he said in a brief statement.It was not clear when they would meet. The Russian state news agency Tass reported that the talks will go ahead Friday, citing an unidentified source.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would confer Friday in Istanbul with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Ukrainian delegation, adding that the Russian delegation would be meeting with other members of the U.S. team and that he hoped all sides could get together."We don't have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow. And frankly, at this point, I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin," Rubio told reporters in Antalya, Turkey, where he was attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier welcomed Zelenskyy to the presidential palace in Ankara for their own talks. Zelenskyy heads Friday to Albania for a gathering of European officials.Weekend maneuversThe diplomatic maneuvering began Saturday when European leaders met Zelenskyy in Kyiv and urged the Kremlin to agree to a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward peace. Putin responded early Sunday by proposing direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Then came Zelenskyy's challenge to Putin for face-to-face talks.After days of silence, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov finally said Thursday that Putin had no plans to travel to Istanbul in the next few days.Trump said he was not surprised that Putin was a no-show. He had pressed for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet but brushed off the Kremlin leader's decision not to attend."I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there," Trump told reporters in Doha, Qatar, on the third day of his visit to the Middle East.Trump said a meeting between him and Putin was crucial to breaking the deadlock."I don't believe anything's going to happen whether you like it or not, until (Putin) and I get together," he said on Air Force One while traveling from Doha to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. "But we're going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."Peskov said Putin has no plans to meet with Trump in the coming days.Medinsky, Putin's aide, is leading the Russian team that also includes three other senior officials, the Kremlin said. Putin also appointed four lower-level officials as "experts" for the talks in Istanbul.Also absent from the talks were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, both of whom represented Russia at talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia in March.The top-level Ukrainian delegation included Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, a Ukrainian official said. Zelenskyy will sit at the negotiating table only with Putin, said presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.Putin met Wednesday with senior government officials and members of the delegation in preparation for the talks, Peskov said. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov and National Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu attended.Russia calls the talks a 'restart'The Kremlin billed the Istanbul talks as a "restart" of peace negotiations held there in 2022 that quickly collapsed. Moscow accused Ukraine and the West of wanting to continue fighting, while Kyiv said Russia's demands amounted to an ultimatum, not something both sides could agree on. That delegation also was also headed by Medinsky.Putin's proposal came after more than three months of diplomacy kick-started by Trump, who promised during his campaign to end the war swiftly — although it's been hard to pull off. The Trump administration in recent weeks indicated it might walk away from the effort if there was no tangible progress soon.Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, met with Rubio and Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday night in Antalya.Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine's support for Trump's mediation efforts and thanked the U.S. for its continued involvement, urging Moscow to "reciprocate Ukraine's constructive steps" toward peace. "So far, it has not," Sybiha said.On Thursday morning, Sybiha also met with other European foreign ministers, including his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, who in a post on X reiterated the call for a ceasefire and the threat of "massive sanctions" if Russia doesn't comply."We're in a very difficult spot right now, and we hope that we can find the steps forward that provide for the end of this war in a negotiated way and the prevention of any war in the future," Rubio said Thursday.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of "standing in the way of peace.""There was only one country that started this conflict — that was Russia. That was Putin. There's only one country now standing in the way of peace — that is Russia, that is Putin," he said in a visit to Tirana, Albania.Barrot echoed that sentiment: "In front of Ukrainians, there is an empty chair, one that should have been occupied by Vladimir Putin," he said. "Vladimir Putin is dragging his feet and in all evidence does not want to enter into these peace discussions."___Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels; Illia Novikov and Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Ukraine; Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia; Aamer Madhani in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Matthew Lee in Antalya, Turkey, contributed to this report.___Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

🎥 Trump: Not disappointed Putin skipped Ukraine peace talks

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Administrators of public universities in the Kansas Board of Regents system proposed student tuition increases for undergraduate resident students in the upcoming academic year ranging from 2.5% at Pittsburg State University to 4% at Fort Hays State University.

The outlier was Emporia State University, which responded to steady enrollment declines by requesting no increase in tuition for the second consecutive year.

To varying degrees, the six Board of Regents universities in Kansas grapple with a decline in the college-age population, an ongoing crash in international student enrollment, flat state appropriations, instability in federal research spending as well as inflation in operational costs, pressure to raise employee compensation and demands for substantive direct support of college athletics.

The nine-member Board of Regents has authority over tuition adjustments, but typically recommendations from campus leadership have been adopted.

Here are tuition rate increases proposed by university officials for in-state undergraduate students in the 2025-2026 academic year: University of Kansas, 3%; Kansas State University and Wichita State University, 3.5%; Pittsburg State University, 2.5%; and Fort Hays State University, 4%.

On Wednesday, FHSU President Tisa Mason said during a presentation to the Board of Regents the 4% hike at FHSU would balance financial responsibilities of the university with the capacity of students to afford college.

“We believe that the proposed tuition increase is essential for maintaining our high-quality education and our student support services,” she said.

Board member Jon Rolph of Wichita asked whether Mason should consider a more aggressive tuition increase. FHSU historically maintained the state system’s lowest tuition rate due to revenue received from offering instruction to students in China, but the university found it necessary to raise undergraduate tuition by 7% in 2024 and 6% in 2025.

“Our students would loudly say, ‘No,'” Mason told Rolph. “They are feeling these increases right now.”

FHSU issues statement on proposed tuition hike

Scott Cason, FHSU chief communications officer, issued a written statement via email on the tuition increase today.

"Despite the growing costs of higher education, FHSU remains committed to providing its students with an affordable and high-quality college education," Cason said in the statement. "The tuition plan presented this week at the May Kansas Board of Regents meeting would increase tuition by $6.27 per credit hour for the 2025-26 academic year. FHSU has not proposed increasing any student fees for the coming academic year."

If FHSU’s tuition proposal is approved, FHSU Kansas resident students enrolled full-time will pay $3,055 per semester. Despite this proposed increase in our bottom-line price, an FHSU education will still be over $2,500 less per semester than the average cost of Kansas’s three research universities, and nearly $1,000 less per semester than the average of our fellow regional comprehensive universities, the statement said.

"FHSU’s request for a tuition increase is driven by the findings of a market and tuition and fees elasticity study, identifying new efficiencies, implementing budget cuts over the past three years, and incorporating the recommendations of a university tuition task force comprised of faculty, staff, and students in our tuition proposal. The increase will allow FHSU to remain a cost-effective, high-value educational choice," Cason said in the statement.

The final decision on FHSU’s tuition and fees schedule for the coming academic year will be made by the Kansas Board of Regents at the June meeting.

"To ensure the continuing affordability of an FHSU education, we also offer extensive scholarship opportunities, including an automatic first-time freshman scholarship worth up to $15,000 over four years," the statement said.

"FHSU’s affiliation with Fort Hays Tech | North Central and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest marks a strategic investment in expanding FHSU’s affordability advantage to more students and meeting the evolving professional and workforce development needs of students, communities and businesses across Kansas," the statement said.

Ken Hush, president of Emporia State University, defended the decision to request no tuition increase. It meant ESU would go without a tuition rate hike in five of the past seven years. The university projected it would collect 0.4% less revenue from tuition next academic year compared to the current year, a reflection of erosion in enrollment as ESU restructured the university by firing tenured professors and eliminating academic programs.

Since 2016, tuition revenue to ESU has fallen by 26% while the six-university system overall generated an additional $140 million from tuition during that period.

“We are recommending a zero percent increase for the second year in a row,” said Hush, who indicated ESU’s budget factored in a possible 3% enrollment decline in the upcoming year.

Rolph, however, reiterated that he was concerned adopting less-than-necessary tuition increases at this juncture could lead to substantial spikes in the future to fill revenue gaps.

“Do you have that mapped out over two, three, four years where it’s stair-stepped?” Rolph said.

Hush said ESU was proud to offer a high-quality education with a tuition rate that moderated financial barriers faced by students.

“Our goal is to keep it flat from here on out,” Hush said. “We believe its moving in the right direction.”

Rick Muma, president at Wichita State University, said the 3.5% surge in tuition recommended to the Board of Regents reflected an attempt to navigate a difficult financial landscape. He pointed to leveling of investment from the state, uncertainty regarding federal appropriations, employee compensation that was 16% below market rates, the need to allocate $3.5 million to athletics programs and the anticipated reduction in international student enrollment.

“We are seeing the effects of decreased enrollment among international students,” he said. “This just didn’t start this year. It’s significant for us.”

Muma said the tuition increase could net WSU about $3.4 million annually, but the decline in international students could reduce revenue by $5.5 million annually. He said the university planned to implement a 4.8% budget reduction.

Kansas State President Richard Linton said tuition for in-state undergraduates would climb by 3.5%, but a 2.5% tuition increase would be applied to veterinary medicine students and an 8% increase would be sought for students on the aviation campus in Salina.

He expected KSU enrollment to climb 2% in the upcoming year, which would be a second consecutive year of growth following nine years of decline.

“The goal is to be working as hard as we can from a student-affordability standpoint,” Linton said.

KU Chancellor Doug Girod said the plan was to raise undergraduate tuition by 3% and boost student fees by 2%. These adjustments were in reaction to a projected 2.4% inflation rate, challenges with faculty salary compression, the flat state budget, reinvention of federal research funding and arrival of the long-anticipated enrollment decline tied to U.S. population trends. He expected KU also would experience a reduction among international students.

He said financial ramifications of these forces on higher education were difficult to fully predict, especially in terms of what could happen to student enrollment.

“I think the next two years are going to answer that question for all of us,” he said.

Tuition at the six universities in the Board of Regents’ system didn’t rise in 2020 and in 2023. In 2022, only KSU raised tuition. KU didn’t adopt a tuition increase from 2020 through 2023 before embracing increases of 5% in 2024 and 3.5% in the current academic year.

The Hays Post contributed to this story, adding comments from Fort Hays State University Communications.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747337376228.jpeg" alt="Leaders of six Kansas public universities submitted recommendations for tuition adjustments to the Kansas Board of Regents, including members in this image taken during a visit to Wichita State University. The increases range from 2.5% to 4%, with Emporia State University declining to raise tuition in the 2025-2026 academic year. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Leaders of six Kansas public universities submitted recommendations for tuition adjustments to the Kansas Board of Regents, including members in this image taken during a visit to Wichita State University. The increases range from 2.5% to 4%, with Emporia State University declining to raise tuition in the 2025-2026 academic year. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Fort Hays State seeks 4% increase</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Administrators of public universities in the Kansas Board of Regents system proposed student tuition increases for undergraduate resident students in the upcoming academic year ranging from 2.5% at Pittsburg State University to 4% at Fort Hays State University.The outlier was Emporia State University, which responded to steady enrollment declines by requesting no increase in tuition for the second consecutive year.To varying degrees, the six Board of Regents universities in Kansas grapple with a decline in the college-age population, an ongoing crash in international student enrollment, flat state appropriations, instability in federal research spending as well as inflation in operational costs, pressure to raise employee compensation and demands for substantive direct support of college athletics.The nine-member Board of Regents has authority over tuition adjustments, but typically recommendations from campus leadership have been adopted.Here are tuition rate increases proposed by university officials for in-state undergraduate students in the 2025-2026 academic year: University of Kansas, 3%; Kansas State University and Wichita State University, 3.5%; Pittsburg State University, 2.5%; and Fort Hays State University, 4%.<h2>FHSU</h2>On Wednesday, FHSU President Tisa Mason said during a presentation to the Board of Regents the 4% hike at FHSU would balance financial responsibilities of the university with the capacity of students to afford college.“We believe that the proposed tuition increase is essential for maintaining our high-quality education and our student support services,” she said.Board member Jon Rolph of Wichita asked whether Mason should consider a more aggressive tuition increase. FHSU historically maintained the state system’s lowest tuition rate due to revenue received from offering instruction to students in China, but the university found it necessary to raise undergraduate tuition by 7% in 2024 and 6% in 2025.“Our students would loudly say, ‘No,'” Mason told Rolph. “They are feeling these increases right now.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747341839274.png" alt="Courtesy of FHSU" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>FHSU issues statement on proposed tuition hike</h2>Scott Cason, FHSU chief communications officer, issued a written statement via email on the tuition increase today."Despite the growing costs of higher education, FHSU remains committed to providing its students with an affordable and high-quality college education," Cason said in the statement. "The tuition plan presented this week at the May Kansas Board of Regents meeting would increase tuition by $6.27 per credit hour for the 2025-26 academic year. FHSU has not proposed increasing any student fees for the coming academic year."If FHSU’s tuition proposal is approved, FHSU Kansas resident students enrolled full-time will pay $3,055 per semester. Despite this proposed increase in our bottom-line price, an FHSU education will still be over $2,500 less per semester than the average cost of Kansas’s three research universities, and nearly $1,000 less per semester than the average of our fellow regional comprehensive universities, the statement said."FHSU’s request for a tuition increase is driven by the findings of a market and tuition and fees elasticity study, identifying new efficiencies, implementing budget cuts over the past three years, and incorporating the recommendations of a university tuition task force comprised of faculty, staff, and students in our tuition proposal. The increase will allow FHSU to remain a cost-effective, high-value educational choice," Cason said in the statement.The final decision on FHSU’s tuition and fees schedule for the coming academic year will be made by the Kansas Board of Regents at the June meeting."To ensure the continuing affordability of an FHSU education, we also offer extensive scholarship opportunities, including an automatic first-time freshman scholarship worth up to $15,000 over four years," the statement said."FHSU’s affiliation with Fort Hays Tech | North Central and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest marks a strategic investment in expanding FHSU’s affordability advantage to more students and meeting the evolving professional and workforce development needs of students, communities and businesses across Kansas," the statement said.<h2>Emporia State</h2>Ken Hush, president of Emporia State University, defended the decision to request no tuition increase. It meant ESU would go without a tuition rate hike in five of the past seven years. The university projected it would collect 0.4% less revenue from tuition next academic year compared to the current year, a reflection of erosion in enrollment as ESU restructured the university by firing tenured professors and eliminating academic programs.Since 2016, tuition revenue to ESU has fallen by 26% while the six-university system overall generated an additional $140 million from tuition during that period.“We are recommending a zero percent increase for the second year in a row,” said Hush, who indicated ESU’s budget factored in a possible 3% enrollment decline in the upcoming year.Rolph, however, reiterated that he was concerned adopting less-than-necessary tuition increases at this juncture could lead to substantial spikes in the future to fill revenue gaps.“Do you have that mapped out over two, three, four years where it’s stair-stepped?” Rolph said.Hush said ESU was proud to offer a high-quality education with a tuition rate that moderated financial barriers faced by students.“Our goal is to keep it flat from here on out,” Hush said. “We believe its moving in the right direction.”<h2>Wichita State</h2>Rick Muma, president at Wichita State University, said the 3.5% surge in tuition recommended to the Board of Regents reflected an attempt to navigate a difficult financial landscape. He pointed to leveling of investment from the state, uncertainty regarding federal appropriations, employee compensation that was 16% below market rates, the need to allocate $3.5 million to athletics programs and the anticipated reduction in international student enrollment.“We are seeing the effects of decreased enrollment among international students,” he said. “This just didn’t start this year. It’s significant for us.”Muma said the tuition increase could net WSU about $3.4 million annually, but the decline in international students could reduce revenue by $5.5 million annually. He said the university planned to implement a 4.8% budget reduction.<h2>K-State</h2>Kansas State President Richard Linton said tuition for in-state undergraduates would climb by 3.5%, but a 2.5% tuition increase would be applied to veterinary medicine students and an 8% increase would be sought for students on the aviation campus in Salina.He expected KSU enrollment to climb 2% in the upcoming year, which would be a second consecutive year of growth following nine years of decline.“The goal is to be working as hard as we can from a student-affordability standpoint,” Linton said.<h2>KU</h2>KU Chancellor Doug Girod said the plan was to raise undergraduate tuition by 3% and boost student fees by 2%. These adjustments were in reaction to a projected 2.4% inflation rate, challenges with faculty salary compression, the flat state budget, reinvention of federal research funding and arrival of the long-anticipated enrollment decline tied to U.S. population trends. He expected KU also would experience a reduction among international students.He said financial ramifications of these forces on higher education were difficult to fully predict, especially in terms of what could happen to student enrollment.“I think the next two years are going to answer that question for all of us,” he said.Tuition at the six universities in the Board of Regents’ system didn’t rise in 2020 and in 2023. In 2022, only KSU raised tuition. KU didn’t adopt a tuition increase from 2020 through 2023 before embracing increases of 5% in 2024 and 3.5% in the current academic year.The Hays Post contributed to this story, adding comments from Fort Hays State University Communications.

Five of 6 state universities in Kansas seek tuition hikes to grapple with financial obstacles

HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State head volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins has announced the 2025 Tiger volleyball signing class. The group of five incoming Tigers includes one outside hitter, one right-side hitter, one middle hitter, one setter and one defensive specialist. The class includes athletes from three different states, including two newcomers from Kansas and Illinois and one from Colorado. Four will be true freshmen in the fall, while one is a junior transfer.

The 2025 recruiting class includes Peyton Bergschneider, Lauren Clawson, Kaitlyn Cure, Annie Eaton and Kara Feist. This incoming class joins a Tiger squad that advanced to the MIAA Championship Tournament last season.

Peyton Bergschneider OH | 5-10 | Springfield, Ill. Lincoln Land CC | Pleasant Plains HS

Peyton Bergschneider joins the Tigers after two successful seasons at Lincoln Land Community College in her hometown of Springfield, Ill. Bergschneider was a two-time first team NJCAA All-Region 24 selection in addition to a pair of All-MWAC recognitions, including first team honors as a sophomore in 2024. She was also the Mid-West Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023. The outside hitter averaged 3.41 kills, 3.03 digs, 0.33 blocks and 0.44 service aces per set while swinging at a .213 rate in 68 matches as a Logger, leading the team in kills both seasons while leading the team in digs as a freshman. She totaled 821 kills in 241 sets, adding 731 digs, 80 blocks (23 solo), 105 service aces and 53 assists.

Bergschneider was a 2023 graduate of Pleasant Plains High School in Pleasant Plains, Ill. where she earned three varsity letters in volleyball. She was voted Small School Player of the Year as a senior in 2022 in addition to earning All-State honorable mention status and Sangamon County first team all-conference recognition. Bergschneider was chosen as a Channel 1450 All-Area Player of the Week in addition to earning Illinois State Scholar honors and Scholar Athlete of the Week recognition for her work in the classroom.

Lauren Clawson MH | 6-0 | Monument, Colo. Palmer Ridge HS

Lauren Clawson has signed with the Tigers after graduating from Palmer Ridge High School in her hometown of Monument, Colo. Clawson was an all-conference selection as a senior and helped the Bears win the state championship as a junior in 2023. She helped the team to three consecutive regional titles from 2022-24, reaching the state tournament all three years. The middle hitter earned Athlete of the Week recognition at her school as a senior was awarded the team spirit award as a sophomore and junior.

Clawson earned an academic letter each year throughout her high school tenure, earning first team All-Academic honors as a junior and senior. She was nominated for the Rotary Champions Scholarship for her work in the classroom.

Kaitlyn Cure DS | 5-9 | Andover, Kan. Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic HS

Kaitlyn Cure will be a freshman in the fall at Fort Hays State after completing her high school career at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita, Kan. The Andover, Kan. native was a four-time all-league selection in her time as a Crusader, picking up first team honors as a junior and senior after receiving honorable mention status as a freshman and sophomore. The defensive specialist helped Kapaun claim a sub-state championship as a senior, ultimately placing fourth at the 5A state tournament in the first trip to state for the school in more than a decade.

Cure was a two-time Wichita Eagle All-Metro pick, receiving second team status as a senior and third team honors as a junior. She was selected by her teammates to be a team captain both as a junior and senior. She totaled 778 digs, 531 kills, 211 aces and 61 blocks in her high school career, averaging 3.3 digs per set as a senior.

Annie Eaton S | 5-8 | Quincy, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame HS

Annie Eaton heads to Hays after a successful career at Quincy Notre Dame High School in her hometown of Quincy, Ill. She was a four-year starter at setter, racking up a school-record 3,082 assists which ranks fifth most in Illinois High School Association history. She was a first team All-State selection and was named Michio Chicago/illprepvb.com Player of the Year in 2024 after racking up a school-record 884 assists as a senior. Eaton helped the Raiders to three Illinois Class 2A quarterfinal appearances, winning 134 matches and posting a winning percentage of 88.7 percent in her four seasons. She added 845 digs, 238 aces and 363 kills in her high-school career.

Eaton also played soccer as a freshman at QND, helping the Raiders to the IHSA Class 2A state championship as a starter at forward.

Kara Feist RS | 5-11 | Great Bend, Kan. Great Bend HS

Kara Feist has signed with Fort Hays State after four years as a multi-sport standout at Great Bend High School in her hometown of Great Bend, Kan. A 5-11 right-side hitter, Feist was a two-time All-WAC selection, picking up first team honors as a junior in 2023 and second team status as a senior in 2024. She helped the Panthers to a school-record 35 wins as a senior, guiding the team to a sub-state championship and a berth into the KSHSAA Class 5A State Tournament. Feist helped Great Bend win back-to-back Western Athletic Conference titles, the first volleyball conference championships for the school in two decades. She compiled 214 kills, 75 blocks and a .282 hitting percentage as a senior.

A four-year letterwinner in volleyball, Feist also earned three varsity letters in track and field and two in basketball. She picked up multiple first team All-WAC honors in track and field competing in sprints and jumps. Feist graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and is a National Honor Society member.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747333350977.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State head volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins has announced the 2025 Tiger volleyball signing class. The group of five incoming Tigers includes one outside hitter, one right-side hitter, one middle hitter, one setter and one defensive specialist. The class includes athletes from three different states, including two newcomers from Kansas and Illinois and one from Colorado. Four will be true freshmen in the fall, while one is a junior transfer.The 2025 recruiting class includes Peyton Bergschneider, Lauren Clawson, Kaitlyn Cure, Annie Eaton and Kara Feist. This incoming class joins a Tiger squad that advanced to the MIAA Championship Tournament last season.Peyton Bergschneider OH | 5-10 | Springfield, Ill. Lincoln Land CC | Pleasant Plains HSPeyton Bergschneider joins the Tigers after two successful seasons at Lincoln Land Community College in her hometown of Springfield, Ill. Bergschneider was a two-time first team NJCAA All-Region 24 selection in addition to a pair of All-MWAC recognitions, including first team honors as a sophomore in 2024. She was also the Mid-West Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023. The outside hitter averaged 3.41 kills, 3.03 digs, 0.33 blocks and 0.44 service aces per set while swinging at a .213 rate in 68 matches as a Logger, leading the team in kills both seasons while leading the team in digs as a freshman. She totaled 821 kills in 241 sets, adding 731 digs, 80 blocks (23 solo), 105 service aces and 53 assists.Bergschneider was a 2023 graduate of Pleasant Plains High School in Pleasant Plains, Ill. where she earned three varsity letters in volleyball. She was voted Small School Player of the Year as a senior in 2022 in addition to earning All-State honorable mention status and Sangamon County first team all-conference recognition. Bergschneider was chosen as a Channel 1450 All-Area Player of the Week in addition to earning Illinois State Scholar honors and Scholar Athlete of the Week recognition for her work in the classroom.Lauren Clawson MH | 6-0 | Monument, Colo. Palmer Ridge HSLauren Clawson has signed with the Tigers after graduating from Palmer Ridge High School in her hometown of Monument, Colo. Clawson was an all-conference selection as a senior and helped the Bears win the state championship as a junior in 2023. She helped the team to three consecutive regional titles from 2022-24, reaching the state tournament all three years. The middle hitter earned Athlete of the Week recognition at her school as a senior was awarded the team spirit award as a sophomore and junior.Clawson earned an academic letter each year throughout her high school tenure, earning first team All-Academic honors as a junior and senior. She was nominated for the Rotary Champions Scholarship for her work in the classroom.Kaitlyn Cure DS | 5-9 | Andover, Kan. Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic HSKaitlyn Cure will be a freshman in the fall at Fort Hays State after completing her high school career at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita, Kan. The Andover, Kan. native was a four-time all-league selection in her time as a Crusader, picking up first team honors as a junior and senior after receiving honorable mention status as a freshman and sophomore. The defensive specialist helped Kapaun claim a sub-state championship as a senior, ultimately placing fourth at the 5A state tournament in the first trip to state for the school in more than a decade.Cure was a two-time Wichita Eagle All-Metro pick, receiving second team status as a senior and third team honors as a junior. She was selected by her teammates to be a team captain both as a junior and senior. She totaled 778 digs, 531 kills, 211 aces and 61 blocks in her high school career, averaging 3.3 digs per set as a senior.Annie Eaton S | 5-8 | Quincy, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame HSAnnie Eaton heads to Hays after a successful career at Quincy Notre Dame High School in her hometown of Quincy, Ill. She was a four-year starter at setter, racking up a school-record 3,082 assists which ranks fifth most in Illinois High School Association history. She was a first team All-State selection and was named Michio Chicago/illprepvb.com Player of the Year in 2024 after racking up a school-record 884 assists as a senior. Eaton helped the Raiders to three Illinois Class 2A quarterfinal appearances, winning 134 matches and posting a winning percentage of 88.7 percent in her four seasons. She added 845 digs, 238 aces and 363 kills in her high-school career.Eaton also played soccer as a freshman at QND, helping the Raiders to the IHSA Class 2A state championship as a starter at forward.Kara Feist RS | 5-11 | Great Bend, Kan. Great Bend HSKara Feist has signed with Fort Hays State after four years as a multi-sport standout at Great Bend High School in her hometown of Great Bend, Kan. A 5-11 right-side hitter, Feist was a two-time All-WAC selection, picking up first team honors as a junior in 2023 and second team status as a senior in 2024. She helped the Panthers to a school-record 35 wins as a senior, guiding the team to a sub-state championship and a berth into the KSHSAA Class 5A State Tournament. Feist helped Great Bend win back-to-back Western Athletic Conference titles, the first volleyball conference championships for the school in two decades. She compiled 214 kills, 75 blocks and a .282 hitting percentage as a senior.A four-year letterwinner in volleyball, Feist also earned three varsity letters in track and field and two in basketball. She picked up multiple first team All-WAC honors in track and field competing in sprints and jumps. Feist graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and is a National Honor Society member.

🏐 FHSU signs five for 2025

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/casey-means-surgeon-general-podcasts-health-care-9eaa4341a62a0762fe827f459e9b1415">new pick for surgeon general</a>&nbsp;wrote in a recent book that people should consider using unproven psychedelic drugs as therapy and in a newsletter suggested her use of mushrooms helped her find a romantic partner.

Dr. Casey Means’ recommendation to consider guided psilocybin-assisted therapy is notable because psilocybin is illegal under federal law. It’s listed as a Schedule 1 drug, defined as a substance “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Oregon and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-psilocybin-psychedelic-therapy-legal-ptsd-veterans-99fc5a0703d85daa0903d5a2b2acc9be">Colorado</a>&nbsp;have legalized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">psychedelic therapy</a>, though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oregon-psilocybin-psychedelic-mushrooms-ban-9c73a25986171b41bb162100d54d2217">several cities in Oregon</a>&nbsp;have since banned it.

The surgeon general’s job is to provide Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury. Past surgeons general have used their position to educate Americans about health problems like AIDS and suicide prevention. The surgeon general’s warning in 1964 about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smoking-vaping-surgeon-general-db81e873c256e38433734e86d6a50f7e">the dangers of smoking</a>&nbsp;helped change the course of America’s health.

Some, like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d5fa02d63d474102b8c05cd82eab4a50">Dr. C. Everett Koop</a>, surgeon general under President Ronald Reagan, became widely known with substantial impact on policy, and others slipped easily from memory.

Means’ nomination follows a pattern from Trump to select people known for their public personas more than their policy positions. In the case of Means, the Republican president said he chose her solely on the recommendation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-hhs-senate-vaccines-layoffs-measles-8c99853031507ecb5408b4132329cdea">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;“Bobby thought she was fantastic,” Trump said, adding that he did not know her.

Means, who received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University, began a medical residency in Oregon but did not complete it. Her medical license is listed as inactive. Contacted by phone, Means declined to comment on the record.

She made the recommendation about psychedelics in her 2024 book, “Good Energy,” which she wrote with her brother, Calley Means, an entrepreneur who now works in the Trump administration as a health adviser and who has said he invested in biopharmaceutical companies that specialize in psychedelics.

Much of the book focuses on metabolic health, what Casey Means calls “good energy.” She suggests a number of strategies to help people “manage and heal the stressors, traumas, and thought patterns that limit us and contribute to our poor metabolic health and thriving.”

One such strategy is to “consider psilocybin-assisted therapy,” referring to the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms. She details her thinking on the subject in a 750-word passage.

“If you feel called, I also encourage you to explore intentional, guided psilocybin therapy,” she wrote. “Strong scientific evidence suggests that this psychedelic therapy can be one of the most meaningful experiences of life for some people, as they have been for me.”

Though there have been some studies suggesting benefits from psychedelics, it has not been shown that benefits outweigh the risks. Psilocybin can cause hours of hallucinations that can be pleasant or terrifying. When paired with talk therapy, it has been studied as a treatment for psychiatric conditions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mushroom-psychedelic-alcoholism-study-a3b6692ae7590de9fd09a7cac271a199">alcoholism</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">very little research</a>&nbsp;has been done in healthy people. Side effects can include increased heart rate, nausea and headaches. Taking it unsupervised can be dangerous. Hallucinations could cause a user to walk into traffic or take other risks.

Means wrote that psilocybin and other psychedelics have been stigmatized. She touted the benefits of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, for helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The Food and Drug Administration last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelic-drug-fda-ptsd-lykos-709b23613031fb11d3dc5228c8476a39">declined to approve the use of MDMA</a>&nbsp;as a therapy for PTSD after a panel of advisers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelics-fda-ptsd-ecstasy-molly-1f3753324fa7f91821c9ee6246fa18e1">found the research was flawed</a>&nbsp;and there were significant risks in using it.

Means refers to psychedelics in her book as “plant medicine.” She describes how she took mushrooms for the first time around Jan. 1, 2021, after she was inspired by “an internal voice that whispered: it’s time to prepare.”

“I felt myself as part of an infinite and unbroken series of cosmic nesting dolls of millions of mothers and babies before me from the beginning of life,” she wrote, adding that in her experience “psilocybin can be a doorway to a different reality that is free from the limiting beliefs of my ego, feelings, and personal history.”

In a newsletter she published in October, Means said she had also used psychedelics to help her make “space to find love at 35.” She wrote that she “did plant medicine experiences with trusted guides” to become ready for partnership, punctuating the line with a mushroom emoji. She noted she was not necessarily making recommendations that others do the same.

In a post this month about her White House health policy wish list, Means said she wanted more nutritious food served in schools, suggested putting warning labels on ultra-processed foods, called for investigations into vaccine safety and said she wanted to remove conflicts of interest. She did not specifically mention psychedelics but said that researchers have little incentive to study “generic, natural, and non-patentable drugs and therapies” and that a portion of research budgets should be devoted to alternative approaches to health.

Calley Means has also advocated for the use of psychedelic drugs, writing in a 2021 blog post that he first tried psilocybin during a challenging time in his life and “it was the single most meaningful experience of my life — personally, professionally, and spiritually.” He said in 2022 that he had “sold all of my 401k” and bought stocks in two companies that are developing and researching psychedelics. He did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Casey Means’ confirmation hearing has not been scheduled.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-surgeon-general-laura-loomer-794da62da02d5699683e3b1540b8a31f">Trump chose Means</a>&nbsp;after questions were raised about the resume of his first pick for surgeon general, former Fox News medical contributor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-trump-marty-makary-34424f5fefcbbc334c1983b025523aad">Janette Nesheiwat</a>, and he withdrew her nomination.

Associated Press Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson in Washington state and AP writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746656010439.png" alt="Dr. Casey Means from her Instagram page" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Casey Means from her Instagram page</figcaption>
 </figure>PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/casey-means-surgeon-general-podcasts-health-care-9eaa4341a62a0762fe827f459e9b1415">new pick for surgeon general</a>&nbsp;wrote in a recent book that people should consider using unproven psychedelic drugs as therapy and in a newsletter suggested her use of mushrooms helped her find a romantic partner.Dr. Casey Means’ recommendation to consider guided psilocybin-assisted therapy is notable because psilocybin is illegal under federal law. It’s listed as a Schedule 1 drug, defined as a substance “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Oregon and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-psilocybin-psychedelic-therapy-legal-ptsd-veterans-99fc5a0703d85daa0903d5a2b2acc9be">Colorado</a>&nbsp;have legalized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">psychedelic therapy</a>, though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oregon-psilocybin-psychedelic-mushrooms-ban-9c73a25986171b41bb162100d54d2217">several cities in Oregon</a>&nbsp;have since banned it.The surgeon general’s job is to provide Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury. Past surgeons general have used their position to educate Americans about health problems like AIDS and suicide prevention. The surgeon general’s warning in 1964 about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smoking-vaping-surgeon-general-db81e873c256e38433734e86d6a50f7e">the dangers of smoking</a>&nbsp;helped change the course of America’s health.<div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Casey Means, MD (@drcaseyskitchen)</a></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>Some, like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d5fa02d63d474102b8c05cd82eab4a50">Dr. C. Everett Koop</a>, surgeon general under President Ronald Reagan, became widely known with substantial impact on policy, and others slipped easily from memory.Means’ nomination follows a pattern from Trump to select people known for their public personas more than their policy positions. In the case of Means, the Republican president said he chose her solely on the recommendation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-hhs-senate-vaccines-layoffs-measles-8c99853031507ecb5408b4132329cdea">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;“Bobby thought she was fantastic,” Trump said, adding that he did not know her.Means, who received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University, began a medical residency in Oregon but did not complete it. Her medical license is listed as inactive. Contacted by phone, Means declined to comment on the record.She made the recommendation about psychedelics in her 2024 book, “Good Energy,” which she wrote with her brother, Calley Means, an entrepreneur who now works in the Trump administration as a health adviser and who has said he invested in biopharmaceutical companies that specialize in psychedelics.Much of the book focuses on metabolic health, what Casey Means calls “good energy.” She suggests a number of strategies to help people “manage and heal the stressors, traumas, and thought patterns that limit us and contribute to our poor metabolic health and thriving.”One such strategy is to “consider psilocybin-assisted therapy,” referring to the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms. She details her thinking on the subject in a 750-word passage.“If you feel called, I also encourage you to explore intentional, guided psilocybin therapy,” she wrote. “Strong scientific evidence suggests that this psychedelic therapy can be one of the most meaningful experiences of life for some people, as they have been for me.”Though there have been some studies suggesting benefits from psychedelics, it has not been shown that benefits outweigh the risks. Psilocybin can cause hours of hallucinations that can be pleasant or terrifying. When paired with talk therapy, it has been studied as a treatment for psychiatric conditions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mushroom-psychedelic-alcoholism-study-a3b6692ae7590de9fd09a7cac271a199">alcoholism</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">very little research</a>&nbsp;has been done in healthy people. Side effects can include increased heart rate, nausea and headaches. Taking it unsupervised can be dangerous. Hallucinations could cause a user to walk into traffic or take other risks.Means wrote that psilocybin and other psychedelics have been stigmatized. She touted the benefits of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, for helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The Food and Drug Administration last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelic-drug-fda-ptsd-lykos-709b23613031fb11d3dc5228c8476a39">declined to approve the use of MDMA</a>&nbsp;as a therapy for PTSD after a panel of advisers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelics-fda-ptsd-ecstasy-molly-1f3753324fa7f91821c9ee6246fa18e1">found the research was flawed</a>&nbsp;and there were significant risks in using it.Means refers to psychedelics in her book as “plant medicine.” She describes how she took mushrooms for the first time around Jan. 1, 2021, after she was inspired by “an internal voice that whispered: it’s time to prepare.”“I felt myself as part of an infinite and unbroken series of cosmic nesting dolls of millions of mothers and babies before me from the beginning of life,” she wrote, adding that in her experience “psilocybin can be a doorway to a different reality that is free from the limiting beliefs of my ego, feelings, and personal history.”In a newsletter she published in October, Means said she had also used psychedelics to help her make “space to find love at 35.” She wrote that she “did plant medicine experiences with trusted guides” to become ready for partnership, punctuating the line with a mushroom emoji. She noted she was not necessarily making recommendations that others do the same.In a post this month about her White House health policy wish list, Means said she wanted more nutritious food served in schools, suggested putting warning labels on ultra-processed foods, called for investigations into vaccine safety and said she wanted to remove conflicts of interest. She did not specifically mention psychedelics but said that researchers have little incentive to study “generic, natural, and non-patentable drugs and therapies” and that a portion of research budgets should be devoted to alternative approaches to health.Calley Means has also advocated for the use of psychedelic drugs, writing in a 2021 blog post that he first tried psilocybin during a challenging time in his life and “it was the single most meaningful experience of my life — personally, professionally, and spiritually.” He said in 2022 that he had “sold all of my 401k” and bought stocks in two companies that are developing and researching psychedelics. He did not respond to messages seeking comment.Casey Means’ confirmation hearing has not been scheduled.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-surgeon-general-laura-loomer-794da62da02d5699683e3b1540b8a31f">Trump chose Means</a>&nbsp;after questions were raised about the resume of his first pick for surgeon general, former Fox News medical contributor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-trump-marty-makary-34424f5fefcbbc334c1983b025523aad">Janette Nesheiwat</a>, and he withdrew her nomination.___Associated Press Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson in Washington state and AP writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.

Trump surgeon general pick said mushrooms helped her find love

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Sara Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director about spring application deadlines for grant funding, the Youth Action Council, and Table Talk for non-profit organizations.&nbsp;

They also discuss four new funds that have been opened in the past month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt=" " />
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 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Heartland Community Foundation spring deadlines, new funds" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=btedu-18a9a35-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Sara Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director about spring application deadlines for grant funding, the Youth Action Council, and Table Talk for non-profit organizations.&nbsp;They also discuss four new funds that have been opened in the past month.

🎙 Post Podcast: Heartland Community Foundation spring deadlines, new funds

Due to the observance of the Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, Hays refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows: Monday, May 26 and Tuesday, May 27 routes will both be picked up on Tuesday.

 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes will not be altered.

It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule. City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605721681274.jpeg" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>City of Hays Due to the observance of the Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, Hays refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows: Monday, May 26 and Tuesday, May 27 routes will both be picked up on Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes will not be altered.It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule. City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

Hays refuse/recycling collection changed for Memorial Day holiday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has heard its first set of Trump-related arguments in the second Trump presidency. 