By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After a contentious race that revolved around voter accessibility, Republican Incumbent Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling earned a second term by a wide margin.

Dreiling received 9,971 votes, and her Democratic challenger, Laura Allen, received 2,975 in the General Election on Tuesday.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1873ff67-3bab-44c2-896b-8aee3a992496">See full Ellis County results here.</a>

&nbsp;"I take that result [to mean I have had] four years of being county clerk and running a really flawless office. I take it that the voters who voted to keep me in office [know] that I'm going to continue for another four years, and I'll stand by what I said," Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling said.

She said she does not see any major flaws in the office's functions and hopes to continue as she has.

Dreiling's opposition supported opening a voting location on the Fort Hays State University campus. Dreiling said she has not seen the voting participation among students living on campus to support that move.

However, she said she will continue to look at voter turnout.

"I'm going to continue to do what I've been doing for four years because it's worked out," she said. "Everything that has been brought up by my opponent or the ACLU, I'm already doing."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3d714e17-52a8-4997-aba5-25f6a9672cc0">SEE RELATED STORY: Letter to the Editor: Ellis County Clerk says flyer misrepresents her positions</a>

"I would like to No. 1 thank all the voters who put their trust in me four years ago and [hope they will]&nbsp; continue to trust me for the next four years,"&nbsp;" Dreiling said. 

"I want to thank my staff for helping me pull off one of the most important elections that I may see as county clerk, and I definitely want to thank my board workers who put in a long, huge 13-hour day today.

"Everything was flawless. I didn't have one issue at any polling location. It was a really good election."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730910732065.jpeg" alt="Bobbi Dreiling" />
 <figcaption>Bobbi Dreiling</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAfter a contentious race that revolved around voter accessibility, Republican Incumbent Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling earned a second term by a wide margin.Dreiling received 9,971 votes, and her Democratic challenger, Laura Allen, received 2,975 in the General Election on Tuesday.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1873ff67-3bab-44c2-896b-8aee3a992496">See full Ellis County results here.</a>&nbsp;"I take that result [to mean I have had] four years of being county clerk and running a really flawless office. I take it that the voters who voted to keep me in office [know] that I'm going to continue for another four years, and I'll stand by what I said," Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling said.She said she does not see any major flaws in the office's functions and hopes to continue as she has.Dreiling's opposition supported opening a voting location on the Fort Hays State University campus. Dreiling said she has not seen the voting participation among students living on campus to support that move.However, she said she will continue to look at voter turnout."I'm going to continue to do what I've been doing for four years because it's worked out," she said. "Everything that has been brought up by my opponent or the ACLU, I'm already doing."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3d714e17-52a8-4997-aba5-25f6a9672cc0">SEE RELATED STORY: Letter to the Editor: Ellis County Clerk says flyer misrepresents her positions</a>"I would like to No. 1 thank all the voters who put their trust in me four years ago and [hope they will]&nbsp; continue to trust me for the next four years,"&nbsp;" Dreiling said. "I want to thank my staff for helping me pull off one of the most important elections that I may see as county clerk, and I definitely want to thank my board workers who put in a long, huge 13-hour day today."Everything was flawless. I didn't have one issue at any polling location. It was a really good election."

Ellis County Clerk responds after win in heated race

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/senate-house-election-updates-11-5-2024#00000192-feae-dd3b-abfa-feeef4820000">seized control of the U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;late Tuesday after flipping Democratic held seats, holding onto GOP incumbents and wresting away the majority for the first time in four years.

The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the top. Incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-senate-fischer-osborn-independent-ab39436a44e7d14b3c7bb320d15c7d29">independent newcomer Dan Osborn</a>.

Democrats watched their efforts to salvage their slim majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">slip out of reach</a>.

Early in the night, Republicans flipped one seat in West Virginia, with the election of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-senate-justice-elliott-7376ed0ceb9bebd0766190fb14cc0e69">Jim Justice</a>, the state's governor, who replaced retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, and then another in Ohio when Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown lost to wealthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-senate-ohio-brown-moreno-74c4b91e5866215d4201377fefcadad0">newcomer Bernie Moreno</a>.

Democratic efforts to oust firebrand Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-texas-ted-cruz-colin-allred-e791c362621efac9fac78a3a146f77d1">Ted Cruz</a>&nbsp;of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida collapsed.

And there are more Senate races still to come. The focus now turns to the Democratic “blue-wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, where Democrats are fighting to protect seats and avoid a Republican sweep of the Senate.

It's a political coda for outgoing Senate GOP Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mitch-mcconnell">Mitch McConnell</a>, who has made a career charting the path to power and recruiting wealthy Republicans in races that topped $2 billion with outside spending.

With control of Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">at stake,</a>&nbsp;the contests for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-congress-house-senate-trump-harris-ae84dca1bfe82a270912ae0788d3b437">House and Senate</a>&nbsp;will determine which party holds the majority and the power to boost or block a president’s agenda, or if the White House confronts a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-house-chaos-elections-democrats-republicans-divide-50e562326d5c1d8a43cc86381d5705f5">divided Capitol Hill</a>.

The House races are in a state-by-state slog. For Republicans, it’s a chance to gain full control of Congress as they try to sweep into power. For Democrats, a House majority will give them an important check on the GOP’s power and force compromise in Washington.

In the end, just a handful of seats, or as little as one, could tip the balance in that chamber.

The key contests are playing out alongside the first presidential election since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol</a>, but also in unexpected corners of the country after what has been one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-campaign-house-republicans-majority-elections-ef7ef9a498e1c7a04971bf28b59c81f7">most chaotic congressional sessions</a>&nbsp;in modern times.

Top House races are focused in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-election-new-york-house-67b4dd98abe707d221ff857e0787c2c6">New York</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-house-democrats-republicans-majority-3dbc01320adc71a7eeb7d7f025032550">California</a>, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years with star lawmakers who helped deliver the party to power.

Other House races are scattered around the country in a sign of how narrow the field has become. Only a couple of dozen seats are being seriously challenged, with some of the most contentious in Maine, the “blue dot” around Omaha, Nebraska, and in Alaska.

Vote counting in some races could extend well past Tuesday.

Several states will send&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-senate-harris-black-women-maryland-54c411e0a0f4d3d84de95246b09be304">history-makers</a>&nbsp;to the new Congress.

Voters elected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-senate-harris-black-women-maryland-54c411e0a0f4d3d84de95246b09be304">two Black women to the Senate</a>, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, in a historic first.

Blunt Rochester won the open seat in her state while Alsobrooks defeated Maryland’s popular former governor, Larry Hogan. Just three Black women have served in the Senate, and never before have two served at the same time.

And in New Jersey, Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the Senate, defeating Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw. The seat opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges.

In the House, candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-elections-delaware-primary-politics-21f05b9b8c25a93c83cc80d213d0f8ee">Sarah McBride</a>, a Democratic state lawmaker from Delaware who is close to the Biden family, won her race, becoming the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

What's still unclear is who will lead the new Republican Senate, as longtime leader McConnell prepares to step down from the post.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who previously held that post, are the front-runners to replace McConnell in a secret-ballot election scheduled for when senators arrive in Washington next week.

Voters said the economy and immigration were the top issues facing the country, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting ballots in the presidential election.

AP VoteCast, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ap-votecast-faq">expansive survey</a>&nbsp;of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change as Americans faced a stark choice between former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>.

Congress plays a role in upholding the American tradition of peacefully transferring presidential power. Four years ago, Trump sent his mob of supporters to “fight like hell” at the Capitol, and many Republicans in Congress voted to block&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;election. Congress will again be called upon to certify the results of the presidential election in 2025.

“We’re in striking distance in terms of taking back the House,” House Democratic leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>, who is in line to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-elections-house-hakeem-jeffries-democrats-speaker-f503bef15e57604206e88c53edb3ad57">make history as the first Black speaker</a>&nbsp;if his party wins control,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-2024-california-hakeem-jeffries-da82b5dad17cc3f02bdb0fbceb8c1d43">told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;during a recent campaign swing through Southern California.

But House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, drawing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mike-johnson-majority-trump-election-65d7217e4541cd314849c9a0da2b0081">closer to Trump,</a>&nbsp;predicts Republicans will keep “and grow” the majority. He took over after Kevin McCarthy was booted from the speaker’s office.

One of the most-watched Senate races, in Montana, may be among the last to be decided. Democrat Jon Tester, a popular three-term senator and “dirt farmer” is in the fight of his political career against Trump-backed Tim Sheehy, a wealthy former NAVY Seal, who made derogatory comments about Native Americans, a key constituency in the Western state.

In the Southwestern states, Arizona firebrand Republican Kari Lake has struggled against Democrat Ruben Gallego in the seat opened by Sen. Krysten Sinema’s retirement. In Nevada, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen has been holding out against newcomer Sam Brown.

Democrats had intensified their challenges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-elections-texas-florida-cruz-scott-tester-f22d2f79790478a41f486e3957cfe4be">Cruz and Scott</a>&nbsp;in states where reproductive rights have been a focus in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision rolling back abortion access. Scott defeated Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a former member of Congress.

While Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide in almost 30 years, Colin Allred,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ted-cruz-texas-senate-colin-allred-abortion-immigration-91d4b5877fb9d6467fecfe6ff4f1ddcd">a Dallas-area congressman</a>&nbsp;and former NFL linebacker, positioned himself as a moderate and leaned into his support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">reproductive rights</a>&nbsp;amid Texas’ abortion ban, which is one of the strictest in the nation.

Brown’s loss in Ohio to Moreno, an immigrant from Bogota, Colombia, who built a fortune as a luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur, puts the Democrats on the edge of losing Senate control. A three-term senator, he is the first incumbent to lose reelection.

The Ohio race between Brown and Moreno, who was backed by Donald Trump, is the most expensive of the cycle, at some $400 million.

What started as a lackluster race for control of Congress was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-volunteers-2024-campaign-cef723e29a2ef11c293f07906b550fcd">instantly transformed</a>&nbsp;once Harris stepped in for Biden at the top of the ticket, energizing Democrats with massive fundraising and volunteers that lawmakers said reminded them of the Obama-era enthusiasm of 2008.

Billions of dollars have been spent by the parties, and outside groups, on the narrow battleground for both the 435-member House and 100-member Senate.

Fallout from redistricting, when states redraw their maps for congressional districts, is also shifting the balance of power within the House, with Republicans gaining three seats from Democrats in North Carolina and Democrats picking up a second Black-majority seat in Republican-heavy Alabama.

Lawmakers in the House face voters every two years, while senators serve longer six-year terms.

If the two chambers do in fact flip party control, as is possible, it would be rare.

Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730861742225.png" alt="Texas reelected Senator Ted Cruz-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Texas reelected Senator Ted Cruz-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/senate-house-election-updates-11-5-2024#00000192-feae-dd3b-abfa-feeef4820000">seized control of the U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;late Tuesday after flipping Democratic held seats, holding onto GOP incumbents and wresting away the majority for the first time in four years.The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the top. Incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-senate-fischer-osborn-independent-ab39436a44e7d14b3c7bb320d15c7d29">independent newcomer Dan Osborn</a>.Democrats watched their efforts to salvage their slim majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">slip out of reach</a>.Early in the night, Republicans flipped one seat in West Virginia, with the election of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-senate-justice-elliott-7376ed0ceb9bebd0766190fb14cc0e69">Jim Justice</a>, the state's governor, who replaced retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, and then another in Ohio when Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown lost to wealthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-senate-ohio-brown-moreno-74c4b91e5866215d4201377fefcadad0">newcomer Bernie Moreno</a>.Democratic efforts to oust firebrand Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-texas-ted-cruz-colin-allred-e791c362621efac9fac78a3a146f77d1">Ted Cruz</a>&nbsp;of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida collapsed.And there are more Senate races still to come. The focus now turns to the Democratic “blue-wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, where Democrats are fighting to protect seats and avoid a Republican sweep of the Senate.It's a political coda for outgoing Senate GOP Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mitch-mcconnell">Mitch McConnell</a>, who has made a career charting the path to power and recruiting wealthy Republicans in races that topped $2 billion with outside spending.With control of Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">at stake,</a>&nbsp;the contests for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-congress-house-senate-trump-harris-ae84dca1bfe82a270912ae0788d3b437">House and Senate</a>&nbsp;will determine which party holds the majority and the power to boost or block a president’s agenda, or if the White House confronts a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-house-chaos-elections-democrats-republicans-divide-50e562326d5c1d8a43cc86381d5705f5">divided Capitol Hill</a>.The House races are in a state-by-state slog. For Republicans, it’s a chance to gain full control of Congress as they try to sweep into power. For Democrats, a House majority will give them an important check on the GOP’s power and force compromise in Washington.In the end, just a handful of seats, or as little as one, could tip the balance in that chamber.The key contests are playing out alongside the first presidential election since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol</a>, but also in unexpected corners of the country after what has been one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-campaign-house-republicans-majority-elections-ef7ef9a498e1c7a04971bf28b59c81f7">most chaotic congressional sessions</a>&nbsp;in modern times.Top House races are focused in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-election-new-york-house-67b4dd98abe707d221ff857e0787c2c6">New York</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-house-democrats-republicans-majority-3dbc01320adc71a7eeb7d7f025032550">California</a>, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years with star lawmakers who helped deliver the party to power.Other House races are scattered around the country in a sign of how narrow the field has become. Only a couple of dozen seats are being seriously challenged, with some of the most contentious in Maine, the “blue dot” around Omaha, Nebraska, and in Alaska.Vote counting in some races could extend well past Tuesday.Several states will send&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-senate-harris-black-women-maryland-54c411e0a0f4d3d84de95246b09be304">history-makers</a>&nbsp;to the new Congress.Voters elected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-senate-harris-black-women-maryland-54c411e0a0f4d3d84de95246b09be304">two Black women to the Senate</a>, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, in a historic first.Blunt Rochester won the open seat in her state while Alsobrooks defeated Maryland’s popular former governor, Larry Hogan. Just three Black women have served in the Senate, and never before have two served at the same time.And in New Jersey, Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the Senate, defeating Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw. The seat opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges.In the House, candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-elections-delaware-primary-politics-21f05b9b8c25a93c83cc80d213d0f8ee">Sarah McBride</a>, a Democratic state lawmaker from Delaware who is close to the Biden family, won her race, becoming the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.What's still unclear is who will lead the new Republican Senate, as longtime leader McConnell prepares to step down from the post.South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who previously held that post, are the front-runners to replace McConnell in a secret-ballot election scheduled for when senators arrive in Washington next week.Voters said the economy and immigration were the top issues facing the country, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting ballots in the presidential election.AP VoteCast, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ap-votecast-faq">expansive survey</a>&nbsp;of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change as Americans faced a stark choice between former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>.Congress plays a role in upholding the American tradition of peacefully transferring presidential power. Four years ago, Trump sent his mob of supporters to “fight like hell” at the Capitol, and many Republicans in Congress voted to block&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;election. Congress will again be called upon to certify the results of the presidential election in 2025.“We’re in striking distance in terms of taking back the House,” House Democratic leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>, who is in line to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-elections-house-hakeem-jeffries-democrats-speaker-f503bef15e57604206e88c53edb3ad57">make history as the first Black speaker</a>&nbsp;if his party wins control,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-2024-california-hakeem-jeffries-da82b5dad17cc3f02bdb0fbceb8c1d43">told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;during a recent campaign swing through Southern California.But House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, drawing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mike-johnson-majority-trump-election-65d7217e4541cd314849c9a0da2b0081">closer to Trump,</a>&nbsp;predicts Republicans will keep “and grow” the majority. He took over after Kevin McCarthy was booted from the speaker’s office.One of the most-watched Senate races, in Montana, may be among the last to be decided. Democrat Jon Tester, a popular three-term senator and “dirt farmer” is in the fight of his political career against Trump-backed Tim Sheehy, a wealthy former NAVY Seal, who made derogatory comments about Native Americans, a key constituency in the Western state.In the Southwestern states, Arizona firebrand Republican Kari Lake has struggled against Democrat Ruben Gallego in the seat opened by Sen. Krysten Sinema’s retirement. In Nevada, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen has been holding out against newcomer Sam Brown.Democrats had intensified their challenges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-elections-texas-florida-cruz-scott-tester-f22d2f79790478a41f486e3957cfe4be">Cruz and Scott</a>&nbsp;in states where reproductive rights have been a focus in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision rolling back abortion access. Scott defeated Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a former member of Congress.While Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide in almost 30 years, Colin Allred,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ted-cruz-texas-senate-colin-allred-abortion-immigration-91d4b5877fb9d6467fecfe6ff4f1ddcd">a Dallas-area congressman</a>&nbsp;and former NFL linebacker, positioned himself as a moderate and leaned into his support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">reproductive rights</a>&nbsp;amid Texas’ abortion ban, which is one of the strictest in the nation.Brown’s loss in Ohio to Moreno, an immigrant from Bogota, Colombia, who built a fortune as a luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur, puts the Democrats on the edge of losing Senate control. A three-term senator, he is the first incumbent to lose reelection.The Ohio race between Brown and Moreno, who was backed by Donald Trump, is the most expensive of the cycle, at some $400 million.What started as a lackluster race for control of Congress was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-volunteers-2024-campaign-cef723e29a2ef11c293f07906b550fcd">instantly transformed</a>&nbsp;once Harris stepped in for Biden at the top of the ticket, energizing Democrats with massive fundraising and volunteers that lawmakers said reminded them of the Obama-era enthusiasm of 2008.Billions of dollars have been spent by the parties, and outside groups, on the narrow battleground for both the 435-member House and 100-member Senate.Fallout from redistricting, when states redraw their maps for congressional districts, is also shifting the balance of power within the House, with Republicans gaining three seats from Democrats in North Carolina and Democrats picking up a second Black-majority seat in Republican-heavy Alabama.Lawmakers in the House face voters every two years, while senators serve longer six-year terms.If the two chambers do in fact flip party control, as is possible, it would be rare.Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties.----------

Republicans take Senate majority for first time in 4 years

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — David N’Guessan scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Kansas State to an 89-65 victory over New Orleans on Tuesday night in a season opener for both teams.

Max Jones added 19 points and five assists and Brendan Hausen scored 15 points for Kansas State. The pair each made four of the Wildcats' 13 3-pointers. N’Guessan finished 10-of-14 shooting from the field.

Jah Short scored 19 points to lead New Orleans. James White added 14 points and Dae Dae Hunter had 10.

New Orleans jumped out to a 25-15 lead midway through the first half before the Wildcats surged to a 60-32 advantage at the break. Hausen and Jones each hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the first half. N’Guessan added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

It was just the second meeting between the teams. The Wildcats posted a 62-47 win on Dec. 4, 1999. K-State is 13-1 against the Southland Conference, including 12-0 at home.

It was New Orleans' coach Stacy Hollowell's first game at the helm. Hollowell, the 13th head coach in Privateer history, spent last season at Texas Southern as an assistant under Johnny Jones.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730893119716.jpeg" alt="Kansas State's David N'Guessan (1) drives to the basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at New Orleans on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 in Manhattan, Kan. (Kansas States Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State's David N'Guessan (1) drives to the basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at New Orleans on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 in Manhattan, Kan. (Kansas States Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — David N’Guessan scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Kansas State to an 89-65 victory over New Orleans on Tuesday night in a season opener for both teams.Max Jones added 19 points and five assists and Brendan Hausen scored 15 points for Kansas State. The pair each made four of the Wildcats' 13 3-pointers. N’Guessan finished 10-of-14 shooting from the field.Jah Short scored 19 points to lead New Orleans. James White added 14 points and Dae Dae Hunter had 10.New Orleans jumped out to a 25-15 lead midway through the first half before the Wildcats surged to a 60-32 advantage at the break. Hausen and Jones each hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the first half. N’Guessan added 11 points and 11 rebounds.It was just the second meeting between the teams. The Wildcats posted a 62-47 win on Dec. 4, 1999. K-State is 13-1 against the Southland Conference, including 12-0 at home.It was New Orleans' coach Stacy Hollowell's first game at the helm. Hollowell, the 13th head coach in Privateer history, spent last season at Texas Southern as an assistant under Johnny Jones.

🏀 N’Guessan scores 21 points to lead Kansas State over New Orleans

The Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, reported .6 inches of rain on Monday.

This was the first measurable rain for the month and would bring the yearly precipitation total to 20.75 inches.

That is compared to an average of 22.11 inches of precipitation by the end of November.

The forecast for today is supposed to be sunny, with a high of 59.

However, rain is forecasted to occur every day this week through Saturday.

Highs are forecast to be in the mid-50s to mid-40s. Lows are forecast in the mid-30s.

Ellis County was reportedly in moderate drought on Thursday when the Kansas Drought Monitor was released.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, reported .6 inches of rain on Monday.This was the first measurable rain for the month and would bring the yearly precipitation total to 20.75 inches.That is compared to an average of 22.11 inches of precipitation by the end of November.The forecast for today is supposed to be sunny, with a high of 59.However, rain is forecasted to occur every day this week through Saturday.Highs are forecast to be in the mid-50s to mid-40s. Lows are forecast in the mid-30s.Ellis County was reportedly in moderate drought on Thursday when the Kansas Drought Monitor was released.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730838878768.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Dry spell broken; more rain in forecast

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702995961939.png" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730834751676.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730834763371.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays Police Department arrest log, Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2024

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Several unlocked vehicles were allegedly burglarized over the weekend in Hays.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said personal items were stolen from five cars after a suspect allegedly engaged in 'car surfing,' moving from car to car.

The burglaries occurred on Oak Street, East 19th Street, East 17th Street, and East 16th Street between Friday and the early hours of Saturday.

Personal items such as purses and credit cards were taken, Scheibler said. Some were recovered nearby after being discarded by the suspect, who only kept desired items.

Scheibler reminds residents to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving valuable items inside, especially with upcoming holidays.

If you have any information about the Friday and Saturday burglaries, please call 785-625-1011.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostSeveral unlocked vehicles were allegedly burglarized over the weekend in Hays.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said personal items were stolen from five cars after a suspect allegedly engaged in 'car surfing,' moving from car to car.The burglaries occurred on Oak Street, East 19th Street, East 17th Street, and East 16th Street between Friday and the early hours of Saturday.Personal items such as purses and credit cards were taken, Scheibler said. Some were recovered nearby after being discarded by the suspect, who only kept desired items.No arrests have been made.&nbsp;Scheibler reminds residents to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving valuable items inside, especially with upcoming holidays.If you have any information about the Friday and Saturday burglaries, please call 785-625-1011.

Multiple unlocked vehicles burglarized in Hays over weekend

WASHINGTON (AP) —A news clip that purports to come from the FBI tells voters that they should vote remotely because of a high terror threat at polling stations.

But the FBI said that the clip is bogus, did not come from the bureau and does not accurately represent concerns about safety at polling locations.

Also false is a video depicting a fabricated FBI press release claiming that the management of prisons in several key battleground states rigged inmate voting and colluded with one of the political parties.

The FBI did not identify anyone who it thought might be responsible for the manufactured videos. Over the past two weeks, the agency has blamed Russian influence actors for a variety of manufactured internet postings and videos officials say were released as part of a broader disinformation campaign.

WASHINGTON (AP) —A news clip that purports to come from the FBI tells voters that they should vote remotely because of a high terror threat at polling stations.But the FBI said that the clip is bogus, did not come from the bureau and does not accurately represent concerns about safety at polling locations.Also false is a video depicting a fabricated FBI press release claiming that the management of prisons in several key battleground states rigged inmate voting and colluded with one of the political parties.The FBI did not identify anyone who it thought might be responsible for the manufactured videos. Over the past two weeks, the agency has blamed Russian influence actors for a variety of manufactured internet postings and videos officials say were released as part of a broader disinformation campaign.

FBI warns voters of fabricated videos misusing its name and insignia

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Before early voting poll locations closed at noon Monday in Kansas, the state’s top election official already predicted record-breaking voter turnout.

The Kansas Secretary of State’s office reported Saturday that more than 453,000 early ballots had been cast in person and nearly 123,000 of the 165,700 ballots mailed to voters had been returned. Secretary of State Scott Schwab predicted that Kansas’ total voter turnout will exceed the totals from 2016 and 2020.

Presidential election years typically see higher voter turnout. The office said Kansas saw 71% turnout in 2020 and 67% in 2016. The office reported more than 2 million Kansans are registered to vote this year, which is up from 1.98 million in 2022, 1.93 million in 2020 and 1.74 million in 2016. As of Friday, more than 500,000 people and counting had voted early, a 25% turnout ahead of Election Day.

“We are on track to set a record, so I encourage every voter to get out and exercise their constitutional right,” Schwab said in a Friday news release.

Estimates from the&nbsp;<a href="https://ike-lab.com/dailyev_241105.html" target="_blank">IKE Lab</a>, a project overseen by two associate professors in Wichita State University’s political science department, put the number of in-person early ballots cast at more than 526,000 Monday. That’s compared to about 373,000 early votes cast in-person in 2020 and nearly 275,000 early votes in 2022.

About 53% of this year’s early ballots came from Republicans and almost 30% from Democrats, according to the lab. Nearly 54% of early in-person ballots came from women.

Almost 75% of ballots mailed to voters ahead of the election have been returned, the Secretary of State’s Office wrote Saturday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KansasSOS/status/1852819174835224930" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;to social media platform X, formerly Twitter. In 2020, more than 508,000 ballots were mailed ahead of Election Day, and about 393,000 were returned. About 319,000 people voted in-person in advance of the 2020 election, according to data from the office.

“While we are comparing this year’s advance voting data to 2020 and 2016 elections, remember that the 2020 cycle was unusual due to the pandemic. Take that year with a grain of salt,” Schwab said.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and the Secretary of State’s Office is scheduled to begin releasing results around that time on its website,&nbsp;<a href="http://sos.ks.gov/" target="_blank">sos.ks.gov</a>. Kansans must provide a government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday and delivered to the county election office by Friday, or may be returned on Election Day to any polling place, county election office or ballot drop box. Electioneering is not allowed within 250 feet of a polling place. Voter concerns or suspicious activity can be reported to the Secretary of State’s Office&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voterfraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;or via phone at 800-262-8683.

Schwab encouraged voters in a Monday news release to prepare for voting on Election Day by confirming their polling location via&nbsp;<a href="http://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/" target="_blank">myvoteinfo.voteks.org</a>&nbsp;and viewing a sample ballot.

“Having a voting plan is beneficial and can help ensure a smooth voting experience on Election Day,” Schwab said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is one of a handful of organizations administering the state’s Election Protection program.

Kunyu Ching, a staff attorney with the organization, said in a Monday news release that program volunteers are anticipating simple issues on Election Day, such as voters visiting the incorrect polling location.

“We’re also prepared to address and escalate more serious issues, such as an election worker with a misunderstanding about the law, or voter intimidation by a third party trying to prevent someone from voting,” Ching said.

The ACLU in partnership with national civil rights nonprofit the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; Kansas City, Missouri-based law firm Stinson LLP; and Topeka-based voter advocacy group Loud Light operate a voter assistance hotline and monitor polling locations throughout the state to observe and document any issues.

The hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day and the three days following, and it can be reached at the following numbers:

Voters can call the hotline to report issues or questions, including those that are “resolved at the time without intervention but nevertheless could indicate a trend or issue potentially affecting others,” the ACLU of Kansas news release said.

The ACLU of Kansas also released a report Thursday that found almost 85,000 Kansans have past felony convictions and are eligible to vote, but the vast majority haven’t registered.

The report estimated about 71,000 people with former felony convictions, or 2% of Kansas’ population, are eligible to vote and not registered.

To remedy the registration gap, the ACLU of Kansas suggested a number of policy recommendations, including automatic voting rights restoration, a synchronization of statewide voter registration databases, and vote from jail programs.

“Democracy is at its core the idea that each of us counts and has a say in our decision-making as a community,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. “And in 2024, the absence of returning Kansans from our electoral process impoverishes our democracy, government accountability, policy outcomes that impact all of us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730825881795.png" alt=" Kansas voters cast their ballots Monday morning at the Douglas County Election Office in Lawrence. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas voters cast their ballots Monday morning at the Douglas County Election Office in Lawrence. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Before early voting poll locations closed at noon Monday in Kansas, the state’s top election official already predicted record-breaking voter turnout.The Kansas Secretary of State’s office reported Saturday that more than 453,000 early ballots had been cast in person and nearly 123,000 of the 165,700 ballots mailed to voters had been returned. Secretary of State Scott Schwab predicted that Kansas’ total voter turnout will exceed the totals from 2016 and 2020.Presidential election years typically see higher voter turnout. The office said Kansas saw 71% turnout in 2020 and 67% in 2016. The office reported more than 2 million Kansans are registered to vote this year, which is up from 1.98 million in 2022, 1.93 million in 2020 and 1.74 million in 2016. As of Friday, more than 500,000 people and counting had voted early, a 25% turnout ahead of Election Day.“We are on track to set a record, so I encourage every voter to get out and exercise their constitutional right,” Schwab said in a Friday news release.Estimates from the&nbsp;<a href="https://ike-lab.com/dailyev_241105.html" target="_blank">IKE Lab</a>, a project overseen by two associate professors in Wichita State University’s political science department, put the number of in-person early ballots cast at more than 526,000 Monday. That’s compared to about 373,000 early votes cast in-person in 2020 and nearly 275,000 early votes in 2022.About 53% of this year’s early ballots came from Republicans and almost 30% from Democrats, according to the lab. Nearly 54% of early in-person ballots came from women.Almost 75% of ballots mailed to voters ahead of the election have been returned, the Secretary of State’s Office wrote Saturday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KansasSOS/status/1852819174835224930" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;to social media platform X, formerly Twitter. In 2020, more than 508,000 ballots were mailed ahead of Election Day, and about 393,000 were returned. About 319,000 people voted in-person in advance of the 2020 election, according to data from the office.“While we are comparing this year’s advance voting data to 2020 and 2016 elections, remember that the 2020 cycle was unusual due to the pandemic. Take that year with a grain of salt,” Schwab said.Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and the Secretary of State’s Office is scheduled to begin releasing results around that time on its website,&nbsp;<a href="http://sos.ks.gov/" target="_blank">sos.ks.gov</a>. Kansans must provide a government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday and delivered to the county election office by Friday, or may be returned on Election Day to any polling place, county election office or ballot drop box. Electioneering is not allowed within 250 feet of a polling place. Voter concerns or suspicious activity can be reported to the Secretary of State’s Office&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voterfraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;or via phone at 800-262-8683.Schwab encouraged voters in a Monday news release to prepare for voting on Election Day by confirming their polling location via&nbsp;<a href="http://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/" target="_blank">myvoteinfo.voteks.org</a>&nbsp;and viewing a sample ballot.“Having a voting plan is beneficial and can help ensure a smooth voting experience on Election Day,” Schwab said.<h2>Voter hotline</h2>The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is one of a handful of organizations administering the state’s Election Protection program.Kunyu Ching, a staff attorney with the organization, said in a Monday news release that program volunteers are anticipating simple issues on Election Day, such as voters visiting the incorrect polling location.“We’re also prepared to address and escalate more serious issues, such as an election worker with a misunderstanding about the law, or voter intimidation by a third party trying to prevent someone from voting,” Ching said.The ACLU in partnership with national civil rights nonprofit the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; Kansas City, Missouri-based law firm Stinson LLP; and Topeka-based voter advocacy group Loud Light operate a voter assistance hotline and monitor polling locations throughout the state to observe and document any issues.The hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day and the three days following, and it can be reached at the following numbers:<ul>
 <li>English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)</li><li>Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)</li><li>Asian languages/English: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)</li><li>Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)</li>
 </ul>Voters can call the hotline to report issues or questions, including those that are “resolved at the time without intervention but nevertheless could indicate a trend or issue potentially affecting others,” the ACLU of Kansas news release said.<h2>Felony convictions</h2>The ACLU of Kansas also released a report Thursday that found almost 85,000 Kansans have past felony convictions and are eligible to vote, but the vast majority haven’t registered.The report estimated about 71,000 people with former felony convictions, or 2% of Kansas’ population, are eligible to vote and not registered.To remedy the registration gap, the ACLU of Kansas suggested a number of policy recommendations, including automatic voting rights restoration, a synchronization of statewide voter registration databases, and vote from jail programs.“Democracy is at its core the idea that each of us counts and has a say in our decision-making as a community,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. “And in 2024, the absence of returning Kansans from our electoral process impoverishes our democracy, government accountability, policy outcomes that impact all of us.”

 Kansas voting update: More than a half-million ballots cast, election chief predicts record turnout

Election Day is today. Vote at your polling location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling said Tuesday morning there was a 24.5 percent turnout of early voters. Dreiling said she's expecting a total local turnout as high as 89 percent.

To find out where your polling location is, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/" target="_blank">VoterView</a>&nbsp;website. Here you can&nbsp;enter your name and birth date on the voting registration tab to get your current polling location, county voting history, view your current ballot and more.

Read the Hays Post and listen to Eagle Radio for complete election results.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730813058611.jpeg" alt="Nearly 20 voters were lined up at the Hays Recreation Center Tuesday waiting for polls to open at 7 a.m. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Nearly 20 voters were lined up at the Hays Recreation Center Tuesday waiting for polls to open at 7 a.m. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730813242254.jpeg" alt="Residents out early Tuesday morning to vote in the Nov. general election. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Residents out early Tuesday morning to vote in the Nov. general election. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostElection Day is today. Vote at your polling location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling said Tuesday morning there was a 24.5 percent turnout of early voters. Dreiling said she's expecting a total local turnout as high as 89 percent.To find out where your polling location is, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/" target="_blank">VoterView</a>&nbsp;website. Here you can&nbsp;enter your name and birth date on the voting registration tab to get your current polling location, county voting history, view your current ballot and more.Read the Hays Post and listen to Eagle Radio for complete election results.

Election Day today; find your polling location

WASHINGTON (AP) —Federal law enforcement officials are working around the clock at a command post at FBI headquarters to monitor and respond to any threats surrounding the election.

The FBI runs a command post around every federal election, but this year’s is more “robust” with more federal agencies involved, according to James Barnacle, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.

The command post brings officials from the FBI, Justice Department, Secret Service, Capitol Police, Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies together under one roof to allow law enforcement to quickly respond to any threats to election security.

“Those threats include criminal threats — such as threats to election workers — foreign malign influence, cyber threats and acts of domestic violence,” Barnacle said.

Barnacle said federal officials have seen “some foreign malign influence operations,” as well as attempted cyber attacks “where adversaries are trying to hit the secretaries of state or state governments or local governments and cause issues with their infrastructure.”

The command post will operate 24/7 through at least Saturday, Nov. 9, with about 80 people working per shift, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730748693468.png" alt="Photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Federal law enforcement officials are working around the clock at a command post at FBI headquarters to monitor and respond to any threats surrounding the election.The FBI runs a command post around every federal election, but this year’s is more “robust” with more federal agencies involved, according to James Barnacle, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.The command post brings officials from the FBI, Justice Department, Secret Service, Capitol Police, Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies together under one roof to allow law enforcement to quickly respond to any threats to election security.“Those threats include criminal threats — such as threats to election workers — foreign malign influence, cyber threats and acts of domestic violence,” Barnacle said.Barnacle said federal officials have seen “some foreign malign influence operations,” as well as attempted cyber attacks “where adversaries are trying to hit the secretaries of state or state governments or local governments and cause issues with their infrastructure.”The command post will operate 24/7 through at least Saturday, Nov. 9, with about 80 people working per shift, he said.

Federal officials monitoring threats from election command post

On Oct. 19, over 75 family members, friends and colleagues gathered at "The Bates Farm" one mile north of Nicodemus, Kansas, to celebrate her remarkable 38-year legacy as the founding President and Executive Director of the Nicodemus Historical Society (founded in 1986).&nbsp; Angela’s tireless efforts have ensured the preservation of Nicodemus, Kansas—an essential icon of the African American experience in post-Reconstruction on the Great Plains of western Kansas.&nbsp; She’s also protected and secured the legacy of Nicodemus safeguarding it for future generations.

Under her leadership, she spearheaded efforts to secure Nicodemus as a National Historic Site, securing federal funding for historic preservation of its five historic buildings.&nbsp; The National Park Service Visitor Center, has hosted thousands of visitors since its designation in 1996.&nbsp; The public has an opportunity to learn about the resilience of these Black homesteaders who sought to experience freedom in the West.

Among one of Angela’s most prominent achievements was to spearheadthe creation of the Nicodemus Historical Society and Museum; to collect, preserve and interpret for the nation the rich history of epic story.&nbsp; To this end she collaborated with the Spencer Research Library at Kansas University and created through donations, the Nicodemus Historical Society’s Collection of photos and archives.

Angela has been a prolific public speaker through such organizations as the Kansas Humanities, and as first-person characterizations of African American women of the West. Thousands in attendance of these public events have been educated, entertained and enlightened.&nbsp; She also co-created the Nicodemus Buffalo Soldier Association and performed with them throughout the nation.

Her public speaking and appearances have put Nicodemus on the map as a must-see historical destination and the history of blacks in the West, a must needed chapter in the history and settlement of the West.&nbsp; Her series of children’s books, The Adventures of Nicodemus Annie, has ensured that youth have an opportunity to also learn about this rich history.Ms. Bates is a 4th generation descendant of the original Nicodemus Homesteaders and has been the recipient of many awards, such as the Life Time Achievement Award from the Roundtable Associates and as a designated Kansas Trail Blazer.&nbsp; She has been a recipient of a National Park Preservation Award and WE CAN Preservation Award from the Penner Foundation.&nbsp; Nicodemus is represented at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. because of her efforts.

Most recently, she wrote and produced “Ellis Trail to Nicodemus: The End of the Journey to the Promise Land,” a documentary.&nbsp; It has been aired on Smoky Hills PBS and at other locations across the state and recently submitted for consideration for a Spur Award by the Western Writers of America Association.&nbsp; The film details the last 35-mile trek of an incredible journey of the first Nicodemus pioneer settlers who traveled west from central Kentucky to seek a life of freedom on the High Plains of Kansas.

Increasingly her achievements have also been recognized by local and national media outlets, including the Hays Daily News, Plainville Times, Stockton Sentinel, Preservation Magazine, National Parks Magazine, National Geographic, Kansas City Star, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Denver Post, L.A. Times, the New York Times, Washington Post, and many more.

Dr. Ashley Adams, Descendant and Board President of the Nicodemus Historical Society said, “Angela has made a deep impact, not only within the Nicodemus descendant community but across the nation, honoring the legacy of our ancestors and keeping their memory alive. The ancestors are smiling, and we will continue to build upon what she has created for future generations to come”.

In her retirement she plans to republish her children’s books, finish writing her memoirs, and write a sequel to the documentary.&nbsp; She says she will also, finally pursue her personal lifelong passion as an artist and oil painter.&nbsp; We honor Angela's monumental impact on Kansas and the nation, and wish her all the best in her retirement! “To the stars” as she always quotes from the Kansas motto.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730753792693.png" alt="ANGELA BATES Executive Director Nicodemus Historical Society 1986-2024. (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>ANGELA BATES Executive Director Nicodemus Historical Society 1986-2024. (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedOn Oct. 19, over 75 family members, friends and colleagues gathered at "The Bates Farm" one mile north of Nicodemus, Kansas, to celebrate her remarkable 38-year legacy as the founding President and Executive Director of the Nicodemus Historical Society (founded in 1986).&nbsp; Angela’s tireless efforts have ensured the preservation of Nicodemus, Kansas—an essential icon of the African American experience in post-Reconstruction on the Great Plains of western Kansas.&nbsp; She’s also protected and secured the legacy of Nicodemus safeguarding it for future generations.Under her leadership, she spearheaded efforts to secure Nicodemus as a National Historic Site, securing federal funding for historic preservation of its five historic buildings.&nbsp; The National Park Service Visitor Center, has hosted thousands of visitors since its designation in 1996.&nbsp; The public has an opportunity to learn about the resilience of these Black homesteaders who sought to experience freedom in the West.Among one of Angela’s most prominent achievements was to spearheadthe creation of the Nicodemus Historical Society and Museum; to collect, preserve and interpret for the nation the rich history of epic story.&nbsp; To this end she collaborated with the Spencer Research Library at Kansas University and created through donations, the Nicodemus Historical Society’s Collection of photos and archives.Angela has been a prolific public speaker through such organizations as the Kansas Humanities, and as first-person characterizations of African American women of the West. Thousands in attendance of these public events have been educated, entertained and enlightened.&nbsp; She also co-created the Nicodemus Buffalo Soldier Association and performed with them throughout the nation.Her public speaking and appearances have put Nicodemus on the map as a must-see historical destination and the history of blacks in the West, a must needed chapter in the history and settlement of the West.&nbsp; Her series of children’s books, The Adventures of Nicodemus Annie, has ensured that youth have an opportunity to also learn about this rich history.Ms. Bates is a 4th generation descendant of the original Nicodemus Homesteaders and has been the recipient of many awards, such as the Life Time Achievement Award from the Roundtable Associates and as a designated Kansas Trail Blazer.&nbsp; She has been a recipient of a National Park Preservation Award and WE CAN Preservation Award from the Penner Foundation.&nbsp; Nicodemus is represented at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. because of her efforts.Most recently, she wrote and produced “Ellis Trail to Nicodemus: The End of the Journey to the Promise Land,” a documentary.&nbsp; It has been aired on Smoky Hills PBS and at other locations across the state and recently submitted for consideration for a Spur Award by the Western Writers of America Association.&nbsp; The film details the last 35-mile trek of an incredible journey of the first Nicodemus pioneer settlers who traveled west from central Kentucky to seek a life of freedom on the High Plains of Kansas.Increasingly her achievements have also been recognized by local and national media outlets, including the Hays Daily News, Plainville Times, Stockton Sentinel, Preservation Magazine, National Parks Magazine, National Geographic, Kansas City Star, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Denver Post, L.A. Times, the New York Times, Washington Post, and many more.Dr. Ashley Adams, Descendant and Board President of the Nicodemus Historical Society said, “Angela has made a deep impact, not only within the Nicodemus descendant community but across the nation, honoring the legacy of our ancestors and keeping their memory alive. The ancestors are smiling, and we will continue to build upon what she has created for future generations to come”.In her retirement she plans to republish her children’s books, finish writing her memoirs, and write a sequel to the documentary.&nbsp; She says she will also, finally pursue her personal lifelong passion as an artist and oil painter.&nbsp; We honor Angela's monumental impact on Kansas and the nation, and wish her all the best in her retirement! “To the stars” as she always quotes from the Kansas motto.

Angela Bates celebrates retirement after decades of leadership preserving black history at Nicodemus

MAIZE -&nbsp;
















The remarkable postseason run for the Hays High boys soccer team came to and end Monday in a 1-0 loss to top-seeded Maize South in the 5A State
Quarterfinals.


Maize South improved to 17-2. They will face St. James Academy in the state semifinals Wednesday at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.

Hays PostMAIZE -&nbsp;
















The remarkable postseason run for the Hays High boys soccer team came to and end Monday in a 1-0 loss to top-seeded Maize South in the 5A State
Quarterfinals.
The Indians end their season 10-9.&nbsp;Maize South improved to 17-2. They will face St. James Academy in the state semifinals Wednesday at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.

⚽ HHS falls to Maize South in 5A quarterfinals

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Republican-led states say they will block the Justice Department's election monitors from going inside polling places on Election Day, pushing back on federal authorities'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-government-and-politics-a6ac1197dd47f784536c410a8d902bea">decades-long practice</a>&nbsp;of watching for violations of federal voting laws.

Officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/FLSecofState/status/1852449643021447625/photo/1">Florida</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TXsecofstate/status/1852511234819596772">Texas</a>&nbsp;have said they won't allow federal election monitors into polling sites on Tuesday. And on Monday, Missouri filed a federal lawsuit seeking a court order to block federal officials from observing inside polling places.

The Justice Department announced last week that it's deploying election monitors in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-monitor-polls-27-states-compliance-federal-voting-rights-laws">86 jurisdictions across 27 states</a>&nbsp;on Election Day. The Justice Department declined to comment on Monday on the Missouri lawsuit and the moves by other Republican-led states.

The race between Democratic nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;and Republican nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is a dead heat, and both sides are bracing for potential legal challenges to vote tallies. The Justice Department’s election monitoring effort, a long practice under both Democratic and Republican administrations, is meant to ensure that federal voting rights are being followed.

Here's a look at election monitors and the states' actions:

Election monitors are lawyers who work for the Justice Department, including in the civil rights division and U.S. attorney's offices across the country. They are not law enforcement officers or federal agents.

For decades, the Justice Department's civil rights division has sent attorneys and staff members to monitor polling places across the country in both federal and non-federal elections. The monitors are tasked with ensuring the compliance of federal voting rights laws.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division enforces a number of statutes protecting the right to vote. That includes Voting Rights Act, which prohibits intimidation and threats against those who are casting ballots or counting votes. And it includes the Americans with Disabilities Act, which mandates that election officials ensure people with disabilities have the full and equal opportunity to vote.

The 86 jurisdictions that the Justice Department will send monitors to on Tuesday include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/maricopa-county-election-2024/">Maricopa County, Arizona</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruby-freeman-shaye-moss-gateway-pundit-settlement-3c55e2c7cf75cf0f8dc6496da14b094e">Fulton County, Georgia,</a>&nbsp;which in 2020 became the center of election conspiracy theories spread by Trump and other Republicans. Another place on the list is Portage County, Ohio, where a sheriff came under fire for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-sheriff-social-media-harris-yard-signs-fb116241e7119cac51f4a03a8b6c4cf1">social media post</a>&nbsp;in which he said people with Harris yard signs should have their addresses recorded so that immigrants can be sent to live with them if the Democrat wins the presidency

Other areas where federal monitors will be sent include Detroit, Michigan; Queens, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; Jackson County, South Dakota; Salem, Massachusetts; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Manassas, Virginia; Cuyahoga County, Ohio and Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. The Justice Department's monitors will be in St. Louis, Missouri; four jurisdictions in Florida and eight jurisdictions in Texas.

In filing the lawsuit on Monday, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said state law “clearly and specifically limits who may be in polling places." He also accused the federal government of "attempting to illegally interfere in Missouri’s elections.”

The lawsuit states that Missouri law “permits only certain categories of persons to be present in voting locations, including voters, minor children accompanying voters, poll workers, election judges, etc.,” and not federal officials.

The Justice Department also sought to monitor polling places in Missouri in 2022. The agency planned to have officials at Cole County, which includes Jefferson City, the state capital. County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer had said he wouldn’t let them in if they show up.

The federal agency backed down after Ashcroft showed Justice Department officials the state law, Ashcroft said. He says the Justice Department is now “trying to go through the back door" by contacting local election officials for access.

Messages were left Monday with the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners.

The St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners reached a settlement in 2021 with the Justice Department aimed at ensuring people with mobility and vision impairments can access to polling places after federal officials found problems, such as ramps that were too steep and inaccessible parking, according to the court papers. The settlement, which expires next year, says the board must “cooperate fully” with Justice Department's efforts to monitor compliance, “including but not limited to providing the United States with timely access to polling places (including on Election Day).”

In a letter to the Justice Department on Friday, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said wrote that “Texas law is clear: Justice Department monitors are not permitted inside polling places where ballots are being cast or a central counting station where ballots are being counted.”

“Texas has a robust processes and procedures in place to ensure that eligible voters may participate in a free and fair election," Nelson wrote.

In a similar letter Friday, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd told the Justice Department that Florida law lists who is allowed inside the state's polling places and that Justice Department officials are not included. Byrd said that Florida is sending its own monitors to the four jurisdictions the Justice Department plans to send staff to and they will “ensure there is no interference with the voting process.”

__ Associated Press writer Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee contributed reporting, Salter reported from O’Fallon, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730677370347.png" alt="Photo Johnson County election office" />
 <figcaption>Photo Johnson County election office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Republican-led states say they will block the Justice Department's election monitors from going inside polling places on Election Day, pushing back on federal authorities'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-government-and-politics-a6ac1197dd47f784536c410a8d902bea">decades-long practice</a>&nbsp;of watching for violations of federal voting laws.Officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/FLSecofState/status/1852449643021447625/photo/1">Florida</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TXsecofstate/status/1852511234819596772">Texas</a>&nbsp;have said they won't allow federal election monitors into polling sites on Tuesday. And on Monday, Missouri filed a federal lawsuit seeking a court order to block federal officials from observing inside polling places.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨BREAKING: I filed suit against the Biden-Harris DOJ for sending unauthorized poll monitors to Missouri polling locations. The law is clear that <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a> can’t just send unvetted individuals into our polling places. It’s illegal and undermines trust in our elections.&mdash; Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGAndrewBailey/status/1853454846088659431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Justice Department announced last week that it's deploying election monitors in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-monitor-polls-27-states-compliance-federal-voting-rights-laws">86 jurisdictions across 27 states</a>&nbsp;on Election Day. The Justice Department declined to comment on Monday on the Missouri lawsuit and the moves by other Republican-led states.The race between Democratic nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;and Republican nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is a dead heat, and both sides are bracing for potential legal challenges to vote tallies. The Justice Department’s election monitoring effort, a long practice under both Democratic and Republican administrations, is meant to ensure that federal voting rights are being followed.Here's a look at election monitors and the states' actions:_____<h2>Who are the election monitors?</h2>Election monitors are lawyers who work for the Justice Department, including in the civil rights division and U.S. attorney's offices across the country. They are not law enforcement officers or federal agents.For decades, the Justice Department's civil rights division has sent attorneys and staff members to monitor polling places across the country in both federal and non-federal elections. The monitors are tasked with ensuring the compliance of federal voting rights laws.The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division enforces a number of statutes protecting the right to vote. That includes Voting Rights Act, which prohibits intimidation and threats against those who are casting ballots or counting votes. And it includes the Americans with Disabilities Act, which mandates that election officials ensure people with disabilities have the full and equal opportunity to vote.<h2>Where are election monitors being sent?</h2>The 86 jurisdictions that the Justice Department will send monitors to on Tuesday include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/maricopa-county-election-2024/">Maricopa County, Arizona</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruby-freeman-shaye-moss-gateway-pundit-settlement-3c55e2c7cf75cf0f8dc6496da14b094e">Fulton County, Georgia,</a>&nbsp;which in 2020 became the center of election conspiracy theories spread by Trump and other Republicans. Another place on the list is Portage County, Ohio, where a sheriff came under fire for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-sheriff-social-media-harris-yard-signs-fb116241e7119cac51f4a03a8b6c4cf1">social media post</a>&nbsp;in which he said people with Harris yard signs should have their addresses recorded so that immigrants can be sent to live with them if the Democrat wins the presidencyOther areas where federal monitors will be sent include Detroit, Michigan; Queens, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; Jackson County, South Dakota; Salem, Massachusetts; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Manassas, Virginia; Cuyahoga County, Ohio and Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. The Justice Department's monitors will be in St. Louis, Missouri; four jurisdictions in Florida and eight jurisdictions in Texas.<h2>What's happening in Missouri?</h2>In filing the lawsuit on Monday, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said state law “clearly and specifically limits who may be in polling places." He also accused the federal government of "attempting to illegally interfere in Missouri’s elections.”The lawsuit states that Missouri law “permits only certain categories of persons to be present in voting locations, including voters, minor children accompanying voters, poll workers, election judges, etc.,” and not federal officials.The Justice Department also sought to monitor polling places in Missouri in 2022. The agency planned to have officials at Cole County, which includes Jefferson City, the state capital. County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer had said he wouldn’t let them in if they show up.The federal agency backed down after Ashcroft showed Justice Department officials the state law, Ashcroft said. He says the Justice Department is now “trying to go through the back door" by contacting local election officials for access.Messages were left Monday with the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners.The St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners reached a settlement in 2021 with the Justice Department aimed at ensuring people with mobility and vision impairments can access to polling places after federal officials found problems, such as ramps that were too steep and inaccessible parking, according to the court papers. The settlement, which expires next year, says the board must “cooperate fully” with Justice Department's efforts to monitor compliance, “including but not limited to providing the United States with timely access to polling places (including on Election Day).”<h2>What are the other states saying?</h2>In a letter to the Justice Department on Friday, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said wrote that “Texas law is clear: Justice Department monitors are not permitted inside polling places where ballots are being cast or a central counting station where ballots are being counted.”“Texas has a robust processes and procedures in place to ensure that eligible voters may participate in a free and fair election," Nelson wrote.In a similar letter Friday, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd told the Justice Department that Florida law lists who is allowed inside the state's polling places and that Justice Department officials are not included. Byrd said that Florida is sending its own monitors to the four jurisdictions the Justice Department plans to send staff to and they will “ensure there is no interference with the voting process.”__ Associated Press writer Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee contributed reporting, Salter reported from O’Fallon, Missouri.

Some GOP-led states refuse to let Justice Dept. monitors into polling places

The Kansas Golf Coaches Association is out with their All-State girls’
golf teams.
Hays High’s Jaycee Oakley is Second Team Class 5A.


Oakley finished ninth in last month’s 5A State Tournament.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728644505038.jpeg" alt="Jaycee Oakley (Courtesy HHS golf)" />
 <figcaption>Jaycee Oakley (Courtesy HHS golf)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThe Kansas Golf Coaches Association is out with their All-State girls’
golf teams.
Hays High’s Jaycee Oakley is Second Team Class 5A.
Oakley finished ninth in last month’s 5A State Tournament.

⛳ HHS' Oakley named 5A All-State by KGCA

The Fort Hays Tech | North Central Foundation is announcing its annual Founders' Week, a celebration that pays tribute to the pioneering spirits who envisioned and established Fort Hays Tech | North Central in 1964, and those who have contributed since. As Fort Hays Tech | North Central celebrates its 60th anniversary, Founders' Week, spans from November 4 to November 8, 2024, as a week of reflection, appreciation, and community spirit on both the Beloit and Hays campuses.

A group of remarkable trailblazers had a vision for a local technical education institution in the early 1960’s. Their tenacity and dedication led to the establishment of Fort Hays Tech | North Central as the first technical college in the state of Kansas. Founders' Week is a special time to honor these visionary leaders, as well as the instructors, administrators, and all members of the Fort Hays Tech | North Central community who have contributed to a legacy of excellence.

Founders’ Week is filled with exciting events that will take place in Beloit and Hays, bringing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community together to celebrate the spirit of Fort Hays Tech | North Central.

Monday, November 4 - Birthday Party on Beloit Campus: On Monday, November 4, Founders' Week will begin with a Birthday Party on the Beloit Campus in honor of Fort Hays Tech | North Central Founders and the establishment of the Technical College. A 60th Anniversary staff photo will be at 4:00pm, following this, students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cupcakes, and fun birthday party food and activities.

Tuesday, November 5 - Hays Hall of Fame Award Ceremony: The Fort Hays Tech | North Central Foundation will present this year’s recipient of the Hall of Fame Award on the Hays Campus on Tuesday, November 5, at 4:30 pm in Room B of the Business Occupations Center. Current Board of Trustees member, Dale Montgomery, who has served on the Board since 1987 and is still contributing at every meeting, has played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of the College will be recognized. The public is encouraged to attend.

Wednesday, November 6 - Beloit Hall of Fame Award Ceremony: On Wednesday, November 6, the Fort Hays Tech | North Central Foundation will present the annual Hall of Fame award at

4:30pm in the Conference Room of the Student Union on the Beloit Campus. This year’s recipient is Dean Haddock, the “grandfather of technical education in the state of Kansas.” Dean researched and advocated for post-secondary technical education in the state as well as helped establish Fort Hays Tech | North Central in Beloit. The public is encouraged to attend.

Carpentry Alumni Social Event: At 5:30pm, following the Hall of Fame event, the Carpentry/Construction Technology Program will host an alumni event in the carpentry shop. All carpentry alumni, current students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to attend. This will be a great time to catch up with former classmates and reminisce with former instructors.

Thursday, November 7 - Birthday Party on Hays Campus Rounding out the week on Thursday, November 7, another Birthday Party will be hosted on the Hays Campus to honor Fort Hays Tech | North Central Founders and the establishment of our Technical College. A 60th Anniversary staff photo at 11:30am, following this, students, faculty, and staff will enjoy a food truck lunch, cake and fun birthday activities.

Ending November 8 - Week of Giving Match Campaign: Throughout Founders' Week, Fort Hays Tech | North Central is joining forces with our amazing donors to make a difference in the lives of future students. All supporters are invited to participate in our Week of Giving Match Campaign from November 4-8, where all donations made through our website donation portal will be generously matched. For more information about donating during our Founders' Week of Giving and to contribute, please visit https://fhtechnc.edu/donate-now/.

Founders' Week is a time to celebrate our past, present, and future. We invite the community to join us in commemorating our rich history and supporting the continued success of Fort Hays Tech | North Central.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727899367603.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Fort Hays Tech | North Central Foundation is announcing its annual Founders' Week, a celebration that pays tribute to the pioneering spirits who envisioned and established Fort Hays Tech | North Central in 1964, and those who have contributed since. As Fort Hays Tech | North Central celebrates its 60th anniversary, Founders' Week, spans from November 4 to November 8, 2024, as a week of reflection, appreciation, and community spirit on both the Beloit and Hays campuses.A group of remarkable trailblazers had a vision for a local technical education institution in the early 1960’s. Their tenacity and dedication led to the establishment of Fort Hays Tech | North Central as the first technical college in the state of Kansas. Founders' Week is a special time to honor these visionary leaders, as well as the instructors, administrators, and all members of the Fort Hays Tech | North Central community who have contributed to a legacy of excellence.Founders’ Week is filled with exciting events that will take place in Beloit and Hays, bringing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community together to celebrate the spirit of Fort Hays Tech | North Central.Monday, November 4 - Birthday Party on Beloit Campus: On Monday, November 4, Founders' Week will begin with a Birthday Party on the Beloit Campus in honor of Fort Hays Tech | North Central Founders and the establishment of the Technical College. A 60th Anniversary staff photo will be at 4:00pm, following this, students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cupcakes, and fun birthday party food and activities.Tuesday, November 5 - Hays Hall of Fame Award Ceremony: The Fort Hays Tech | North Central Foundation will present this year’s recipient of the Hall of Fame Award on the Hays Campus on Tuesday, November 5, at 4:30 pm in Room B of the Business Occupations Center. Current Board of Trustees member, Dale Montgomery, who has served on the Board since 1987 and is still contributing at every meeting, has played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of the College will be recognized. The public is encouraged to attend.Wednesday, November 6 - Beloit Hall of Fame Award Ceremony: On Wednesday, November 6, the Fort Hays Tech | North Central Foundation will present the annual Hall of Fame award at4:30pm in the Conference Room of the Student Union on the Beloit Campus. This year’s recipient is Dean Haddock, the “grandfather of technical education in the state of Kansas.” Dean researched and advocated for post-secondary technical education in the state as well as helped establish Fort Hays Tech | North Central in Beloit. The public is encouraged to attend.Carpentry Alumni Social Event: At 5:30pm, following the Hall of Fame event, the Carpentry/Construction Technology Program will host an alumni event in the carpentry shop. All carpentry alumni, current students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to attend. This will be a great time to catch up with former classmates and reminisce with former instructors.Thursday, November 7 - Birthday Party on Hays Campus Rounding out the week on Thursday, November 7, another Birthday Party will be hosted on the Hays Campus to honor Fort Hays Tech | North Central Founders and the establishment of our Technical College. A 60th Anniversary staff photo at 11:30am, following this, students, faculty, and staff will enjoy a food truck lunch, cake and fun birthday activities.Ending November 8 - Week of Giving Match Campaign: Throughout Founders' Week, Fort Hays Tech | North Central is joining forces with our amazing donors to make a difference in the lives of future students. All supporters are invited to participate in our Week of Giving Match Campaign from November 4-8, where all donations made through our website donation portal will be generously matched. For more information about donating during our Founders' Week of Giving and to contribute, please visit https://fhtechnc.edu/donate-now/.Founders' Week is a time to celebrate our past, present, and future. We invite the community to join us in commemorating our rich history and supporting the continued success of Fort Hays Tech | North Central.

Founders’ week of events at Fort Hays Tech | North Central: Honoring Trailblazers, celebrating community and giving back

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian-American journalist who once worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster is believed to have been detained by Iran for months now, authorities said Sunday, further raising the stakes as Tehran threatens to retaliate over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attack-shahroud-guard-base-satellite-photos-b9cdb18b252d6dd9014dc4dcb3dd4b2f">an Israeli attack on the country</a>.

The imprisonment of Reza Valizadeh was confirmed to The Associated Press by the U.S. State Department as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10e62420e55c4eff9ddb96319f704fbc">Iran marked the 45th anniversary of the takeover of the American Embassy</a>&nbsp;and hostage crisis on Sunday. It also followed a threat by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a day earlier to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/national/irans-supreme-leader-threatens-israel-and-us-with-a-crushing-response-over-israeli-attack/article_7a23d4f9-73e2-58ae-86b9-119f381e44f6.html">"a crushing response”</a>&nbsp;to Israel and the U.S. as long-range B-52 bombers reached the Middle East in an attempt to deter Tehran.

Valizadeh had worked for Radio Farda, an outlet under Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that's overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. In February, he wrote on the social platform X that his family members had been detained in an effort to make him return to Iran.

In August, Valizadeh apparently posted two messages suggesting he had returned to Iran despite Radio Farda being viewed by Iran's theocracy as a hostile outlet.

“I arrived in Tehran on March 6, 2024. Before that, I had unfinished negotiations with the (Revolutionary Guard's) intelligence department,” the message read in part. “Eventually I came back to my country after 13 years without any security guarantee, even a verbal one.”

Valizadeh added the name of a man who he claimed belonged to Iran's Intelligence Ministry. The AP could not verify if the person worked for the ministry.

Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Valizadeh had been detained. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, which monitors cases in Iran, said that he had been detained on arrival to the country earlier this year but later released.

He was then rearrested and sent to Evin prison, where he now faces a case in Iran's Revolutionary Court, which routinely holds closed-door hearings in which defendants face secret evidence, the agency reported. Valizadeh had faced arrest in 2007 as well, it said.

The State Department told the AP that it was “aware of reports that this dual U.S.-Iranian citizen has been arrested in Iran" when asked about Valizadeh.

“We are working with our Swiss partners who serve as the protecting power for the United States in Iran to gather more information about this case,” the State Department said. “Iran routinely imprisons U.S. citizens and other countries’ citizens unjustly for political purposes. This practice is cruel and contrary to international law.”

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty separately said that Valizadeh “has been detained in Iran.”

“We have had no official confirmation of the charges against him,” it said in a statement. "Reza, a U.S.-Iranian national, left RFE/RL in November 2022. We are profoundly concerned about the continued arrest, harassment and threats against media professionals by the Iranian regime.”

Iran has not acknowledged detaining Valizadeh. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment.

The Voice of America, another U.S. government-funded media outlet overseen by the Agency for Global Media, first reported that the State Department was acknowledging Valizadeh's detention in Iran.

Since the 1979 U.S. Embassy crisis, in which dozens of hostages were released after 444 days in captivity, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations with the world. In September 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-prisoner-swap-sanctions-assets-4e1fa477f8e6af45fb764acd259c2f1a">five Americans detained for years in Iran were freed in exchange</a>&nbsp;for five Iranians in U.S. custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets to be released by South Korea.

Valizadeh is the first American known to be detained by Iran since then.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television broadcast video Sunday of different cities across the country marking the anniversary of the embassy takeover.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard, also spoke in Tehran, where he repeated a pledge made the day before by Khamenei.

“The resistance front and Iran will equip itself with whatever necessary to confront and defeat the enemy,” he said, referring to militant groups like Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah backed by Tehran.

In Tehran, thousands of people at the gate of the former U.S. Embassy chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Some burned flags of the countries and effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian-American journalist who once worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster is believed to have been detained by Iran for months now, authorities said Sunday, further raising the stakes as Tehran threatens to retaliate over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attack-shahroud-guard-base-satellite-photos-b9cdb18b252d6dd9014dc4dcb3dd4b2f">an Israeli attack on the country</a>.The imprisonment of Reza Valizadeh was confirmed to The Associated Press by the U.S. State Department as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10e62420e55c4eff9ddb96319f704fbc">Iran marked the 45th anniversary of the takeover of the American Embassy</a>&nbsp;and hostage crisis on Sunday. It also followed a threat by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a day earlier to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/national/irans-supreme-leader-threatens-israel-and-us-with-a-crushing-response-over-israeli-attack/article_7a23d4f9-73e2-58ae-86b9-119f381e44f6.html">"a crushing response”</a>&nbsp;to Israel and the U.S. as long-range B-52 bombers reached the Middle East in an attempt to deter Tehran.Valizadeh had worked for Radio Farda, an outlet under Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that's overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. In February, he wrote on the social platform X that his family members had been detained in an effort to make him return to Iran.In August, Valizadeh apparently posted two messages suggesting he had returned to Iran despite Radio Farda being viewed by Iran's theocracy as a hostile outlet.“I arrived in Tehran on March 6, 2024. Before that, I had unfinished negotiations with the (Revolutionary Guard's) intelligence department,” the message read in part. “Eventually I came back to my country after 13 years without any security guarantee, even a verbal one.”Valizadeh added the name of a man who he claimed belonged to Iran's Intelligence Ministry. The AP could not verify if the person worked for the ministry.Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Valizadeh had been detained. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, which monitors cases in Iran, said that he had been detained on arrival to the country earlier this year but later released.He was then rearrested and sent to Evin prison, where he now faces a case in Iran's Revolutionary Court, which routinely holds closed-door hearings in which defendants face secret evidence, the agency reported. Valizadeh had faced arrest in 2007 as well, it said.The State Department told the AP that it was “aware of reports that this dual U.S.-Iranian citizen has been arrested in Iran" when asked about Valizadeh.“We are working with our Swiss partners who serve as the protecting power for the United States in Iran to gather more information about this case,” the State Department said. “Iran routinely imprisons U.S. citizens and other countries’ citizens unjustly for political purposes. This practice is cruel and contrary to international law.”Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty separately said that Valizadeh “has been detained in Iran.”“We have had no official confirmation of the charges against him,” it said in a statement. "Reza, a U.S.-Iranian national, left RFE/RL in November 2022. We are profoundly concerned about the continued arrest, harassment and threats against media professionals by the Iranian regime.”Iran has not acknowledged detaining Valizadeh. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment.The Voice of America, another U.S. government-funded media outlet overseen by the Agency for Global Media, first reported that the State Department was acknowledging Valizadeh's detention in Iran.Since the 1979 U.S. Embassy crisis, in which dozens of hostages were released after 444 days in captivity, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations with the world. In September 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-prisoner-swap-sanctions-assets-4e1fa477f8e6af45fb764acd259c2f1a">five Americans detained for years in Iran were freed in exchange</a>&nbsp;for five Iranians in U.S. custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets to be released by South Korea.Valizadeh is the first American known to be detained by Iran since then.Meanwhile, Iranian state television broadcast video Sunday of different cities across the country marking the anniversary of the embassy takeover.Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard, also spoke in Tehran, where he repeated a pledge made the day before by Khamenei.“The resistance front and Iran will equip itself with whatever necessary to confront and defeat the enemy,” he said, referring to militant groups like Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah backed by Tehran.In Tehran, thousands of people at the gate of the former U.S. Embassy chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Some burned flags of the countries and effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.They also carried images of killed top figures of Iran’s allied militant groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Palestinian Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The crowd in the state-organized rallies chanted that they were ready to defend the Palestinians.___