Gail Ann Brandyberry, 69 of Lenora, Kansas,was born to
parents John M. and Mary Margaret(Lightfoot) Cossman in Jetmore, Kansas.&nbsp;

Gail began her education at Pleasant View Country School.

She occasionally rode horses, and delighted in racing the
neighbor boy home on his go-cart— she always won.

In school, Gail enjoyed the arts; in the summers, she worked
on her tan, driving an open-station Minneapolis Moline tractor for her dad. She hung out
in the kitchen with her motherand learned to be an excellent cook.

Gail graduated from Jetmore High School in 1973. She
attended Emporia State University,where she was active in the theater department, developing a
passion for costume design. That passion carried over when she made Halloween ensembles
for her children.

Gail married Roger Fernandez, and the pair welcomed Brent
Mathew in 1979. Gail worked as a bank teller, worked at the business office
for Saint Mary of the Plains College, she sold cars at a Chevrolet Dealership, and
created ads for High Plains Public Radio.

Gail met David Brandyberry, one of her father’s harvest
hands, by chance. She originally disliked him because he had taken her job driving the truck.
She changed her opinion; the two were married in 1985. The pair’s 40 years of married life started in Kalvesta, as
proprietors of the ‘Ol Home Fill’er Up and Keep on Truckin’ Cafe.’

Their daughter, Amanda Lacey, was born in 1987. After three
years of running the cafe, they moved to Cimarron, Kan., and opened a retail store. In 1991, Kerby David was born. The next year, the family
moved to a farm north of Lenora. On the farm, she showcased her green thumb, knack for
preserving food, and talent for serving great meals. Gail was a certified master
gardener.&nbsp; In Norton County, Gail worked as a school secretary and
part-time helper at Sunshine Day Care before becoming a major force behind B-bar-K Tree
Services. In her life, Gail planted literally hundreds of thousands of trees throughout Kansas
and Nebraska.

In 1995, Gail started working for the US Postal Service as a
postmaster relief or PMR (an acronym she affectionately joked stood for “peon must
report”). After 14 years working at post offices in Norton, Graham, and Decatur Counties, she
was appointed postmaster in Jennings in 2007. Gail later served as postmaster in Hill
City (beginning in 2012) and Norton (2015-2025).

Gail fiercely loved her only grandchild, Jasper Eames
Fernandez, born in 2009; her daughters-in-law, Natasha Fernandez (of Chicago, Illinois),
Sierra Brandyberry (of Spearfish, South Dakota); and soon-to-be-son-in-law Elias
Zamora (of Tulsa, Oklahoma).

She is survived by brothers Max and Nick Cossman, numerous
nieces and nephews, five sisters-in-law, and one brother-in-law.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Gary;
her maternal and paternal grandparents; and in-laws Frank and Edna (Swank)
Brandyberry.

Gail’s passing leaves a very large hole for those who knew
and worked with her. She will be remembered fondly by those who knew her best.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made care of
Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy, Hill City, KS 67642.&nbsp; A Memorial Service for
Gail will be held September 13, 2025, at the United Parish Church in Lenora, Kansas, at 11:00 A.M.
Luncheon to follow in the church basement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757004336621.jpeg" alt="Gail Ann Brandyberry" />
 <figcaption>Gail Ann Brandyberry</figcaption>
 </figure>Gail Ann Brandyberry, 69 of Lenora, Kansas,was born to
parents John M. and Mary Margaret(Lightfoot) Cossman in Jetmore, Kansas.&nbsp;Gail began her education at Pleasant View Country School.She occasionally rode horses, and delighted in racing the
neighbor boy home on his go-cart— she always won.In school, Gail enjoyed the arts; in the summers, she worked
on her tan, driving an open-station Minneapolis Moline tractor for her dad. She hung out
in the kitchen with her motherand learned to be an excellent cook.Gail graduated from Jetmore High School in 1973. She
attended Emporia State University,where she was active in the theater department, developing a
passion for costume design. That passion carried over when she made Halloween ensembles
for her children.Gail married Roger Fernandez, and the pair welcomed Brent
Mathew in 1979. Gail worked as a bank teller, worked at the business office
for Saint Mary of the Plains College, she sold cars at a Chevrolet Dealership, and
created ads for High Plains Public Radio.Gail met David Brandyberry, one of her father’s harvest
hands, by chance. She originally disliked him because he had taken her job driving the truck.
She changed her opinion; the two were married in 1985. The pair’s 40 years of married life started in Kalvesta, as
proprietors of the ‘Ol Home Fill’er Up and Keep on Truckin’ Cafe.’Their daughter, Amanda Lacey, was born in 1987. After three
years of running the cafe, they moved to Cimarron, Kan., and opened a retail store. In 1991, Kerby David was born. The next year, the family
moved to a farm north of Lenora. On the farm, she showcased her green thumb, knack for
preserving food, and talent for serving great meals. Gail was a certified master
gardener.&nbsp; In Norton County, Gail worked as a school secretary and
part-time helper at Sunshine Day Care before becoming a major force behind B-bar-K Tree
Services. In her life, Gail planted literally hundreds of thousands of trees throughout Kansas
and Nebraska.In 1995, Gail started working for the US Postal Service as a
postmaster relief or PMR (an acronym she affectionately joked stood for “peon must
report”). After 14 years working at post offices in Norton, Graham, and Decatur Counties, she
was appointed postmaster in Jennings in 2007. Gail later served as postmaster in Hill
City (beginning in 2012) and Norton (2015-2025).Gail fiercely loved her only grandchild, Jasper Eames
Fernandez, born in 2009; her daughters-in-law, Natasha Fernandez (of Chicago, Illinois),
Sierra Brandyberry (of Spearfish, South Dakota); and soon-to-be-son-in-law Elias
Zamora (of Tulsa, Oklahoma).She is survived by brothers Max and Nick Cossman, numerous
nieces and nephews, five sisters-in-law, and one brother-in-law.She is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Gary;
her maternal and paternal grandparents; and in-laws Frank and Edna (Swank)
Brandyberry.Gail’s passing leaves a very large hole for those who knew
and worked with her. She will be remembered fondly by those who knew her best.Go rest high on that mountain.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made care of
Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy, Hill City, KS 67642.&nbsp; A Memorial Service for
Gail will be held September 13, 2025, at the United Parish Church in Lenora, Kansas, at 11:00 A.M.
Luncheon to follow in the church basement.

Gail Ann Brandyberry

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence chatbot makers OpenAI and Meta say they are adjusting how their chatbots respond to teenagers and other users asking questions about suicide or showing signs of mental and emotional distress.

OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, said Tuesday it is preparing to&nbsp;<a href="https://openai.com/index/building-more-helpful-chatgpt-experiences-for-everyone/">roll out new controls</a>&nbsp;enabling parents to link their accounts to their teen's account.

Parents can choose which features to disable and “receive notifications when the system detects their teen is in a moment of acute distress,” according to a company blog post that says the changes will go into effect this fall.

Regardless of a user's age, the company says its chatbots will redirect the most distressing conversations to more capable AI models that can provide a better response.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

The announcement comes a week after the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT coached the California boy in planning and taking his own life earlier this year.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, also said it is now blocking its chatbots from talking with teens about self-harm, suicide, disordered eating and inappropriate romantic conversations, and instead directs them to expert resources. Meta already offers parental controls on teen accounts.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbots-selfharm-chatgpt-claude-gemini-da00880b1e1577ac332ab1752e41225b">study published last week</a>&nbsp;in the medical journal Psychiatric Services found inconsistencies in how three popular artificial intelligence chatbots responded to queries about suicide.

The study by researchers at the RAND Corporation found a need for “further refinement” in ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude. The researchers did not study Meta's chatbots.

The study's lead author, Ryan McBain, said Tuesday that "it’s encouraging to see OpenAI and Meta introducing features like parental controls and routing sensitive conversations to more capable models, but these are incremental steps.”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence chatbot makers OpenAI and Meta say they are adjusting how their chatbots respond to teenagers and other users asking questions about suicide or showing signs of mental and emotional distress.OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, said Tuesday it is preparing to&nbsp;<a href="https://openai.com/index/building-more-helpful-chatgpt-experiences-for-everyone/">roll out new controls</a>&nbsp;enabling parents to link their accounts to their teen's account.Parents can choose which features to disable and “receive notifications when the system detects their teen is in a moment of acute distress,” according to a company blog post that says the changes will go into effect this fall.Regardless of a user's age, the company says its chatbots will redirect the most distressing conversations to more capable AI models that can provide a better response.EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.The announcement comes a week after the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT coached the California boy in planning and taking his own life earlier this year.Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, also said it is now blocking its chatbots from talking with teens about self-harm, suicide, disordered eating and inappropriate romantic conversations, and instead directs them to expert resources. Meta already offers parental controls on teen accounts.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbots-selfharm-chatgpt-claude-gemini-da00880b1e1577ac332ab1752e41225b">study published last week</a>&nbsp;in the medical journal Psychiatric Services found inconsistencies in how three popular artificial intelligence chatbots responded to queries about suicide.The study by researchers at the RAND Corporation found a need for “further refinement” in ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude. The researchers did not study Meta's chatbots.The study's lead author, Ryan McBain, said Tuesday that "it’s encouraging to see OpenAI and Meta introducing features like parental controls and routing sensitive conversations to more capable models, but these are incremental steps.”

OpenAI say they're fixing AI chatbots to better respond to teens in distress

The Elephant Bistro &amp; Bar announced on Wednesday that it will permanently close after eight years in business.

The restaurant,&nbsp;732 Main St, Hoxie, posted the following statement on Facebook.

With heavy hearts, we announce that 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝘽𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤 &amp; 𝘽𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 27, 2025, after 8 incredible years. Thank you for the love and support that made this place a cherished community hub. Join us to celebrate our final days.

𝙄𝙈𝙋𝙊𝙍𝙏𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝙂𝙐𝙀𝙎𝙏 𝙄𝙉𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙈𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙂𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨* Gift cards will be honored through our final service on 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 27, 2025.* We encourage guests to use them soon.

𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨* Reservations can be made online here: <a href="https://theelephantbistrobar.com/reservations/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVHhaelM2UzVDRVNnVWtoawEe50OAFMfhukkj6L8taxZnPF_0kf_OGr04YHc43pCGcWRY9XKsSK6CdVLtgaY_aem_p0r8XfAGlWLuuyCkjhnXbA" target="_blank">https://theelephantbistrobar.com/reservations/</a>* Or by calling us directly at 785-677-3977.

𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨* Events scheduled before September 27 will proceed as planned.* If you have an event scheduled after that date, we will reach out to you directly to discuss options.

𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙* While we are closing this chapter, our hope is that The Elephant will one day see new life, whether through new ownership or a different form of service to the community.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757002770770.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Elephant Bistro &amp; Bar announced on Wednesday that it will permanently close after eight years in business.The restaurant,&nbsp;732 Main St, Hoxie, posted the following statement on Facebook.With heavy hearts, we announce that 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝘽𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤 &amp; 𝘽𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 27, 2025, after 8 incredible years. Thank you for the love and support that made this place a cherished community hub. Join us to celebrate our final days. 𝙄𝙈𝙋𝙊𝙍𝙏𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝙂𝙐𝙀𝙎𝙏 𝙄𝙉𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙈𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙂𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨* Gift cards will be honored through our final service on 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 27, 2025.* We encourage guests to use them soon.𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨* Reservations can be made online here: <a href="https://theelephantbistrobar.com/reservations/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVHhaelM2UzVDRVNnVWtoawEe50OAFMfhukkj6L8taxZnPF_0kf_OGr04YHc43pCGcWRY9XKsSK6CdVLtgaY_aem_p0r8XfAGlWLuuyCkjhnXbA" target="_blank">https://theelephantbistrobar.com/reservations/</a>* Or by calling us directly at 785-677-3977.𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨* Events scheduled before September 27 will proceed as planned.* If you have an event scheduled after that date, we will reach out to you directly to discuss options.𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙* While we are closing this chapter, our hope is that The Elephant will one day see new life, whether through new ownership or a different form of service to the community.

The Elephant Bistro in Hoxie announces it will close on Sept. 27

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post Sports

HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs committed four turnovers and
dropped their first game of the season Thursday night to the Russell Broncos
29-22.

TMP jumped out to an early lead, scoring on its first
possession of the game. Quarterback Carson Liles found running back Jackson
Gillespie for a 49-yard catch and run to put the Monarchs up 7-0, with five and
a half minutes left in the first quarter. 

After their first possession stalled in TMP territory, Russell
was able to get their ground game going on their second possession of the game
and answered with a two-yard touchdown pass for a 7-7 game with just under 90
seconds left in the first quarter.

On the Monarchs’ second offensive possession of the game,
they took advantage of a short field thanks to a good kickoff return from Grant
Nehls. 

TMP started the drive at the Russell 45-yard line and on
fourth and short, Gillespie broke free for 26 yards, setting up a goal-to-go
situation that resulted in a two-yard Liles touchdown, putting TMP up 14-7.

The Broncos had a bad snap and TMP recovered the fumble deep
in Russell territory, but two plays later, they gave it right back on one of
four turnovers, an interception.

The Broncos took advantage of the second chance and capped
off their next offensive possession with a 49-yard touchdown pass, tying the
game at 14.

The Monarchs quarterback, Carson Liles, threw his second
straight interception on the very next play, and Russell’s Trey Zorn returned
it 31 yards for the score. He also scored the two-point conversion, putting
Russell up 22-14.

They went into the halftime break with the score still in
Russell’s favor.

TMP used the passing game to get back into the game in the
second half.

Liles found Jacob Seib through the air six times in the
second half, including on a 14-yard pitch and catch for the touchdown, tying
the game at 22 in the final minutes of the third quarter.

In the final frame, both teams had their chances to break
the tie, but it was Russell who broke through, scoring on a 12-yard touchdown
pass on their way to a 29-22 victory.

Russell outgained TMP 343 to 252 yards of total offense.

Carson Liles finished 8-of-19 passing for 135 yards with two
touchdowns and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble.

TMP will travel to Norton next Friday while Russell takes on
Oakley.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post SportsHAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs committed four turnovers and
dropped their first game of the season Thursday night to the Russell Broncos
29-22.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2165204766&color=%23234c78&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/09-04-25-tmp-coach-grant" title="09-04-25 TMP Coach Grant Stephenson Interview" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">09-04-25 TMP Coach Grant Stephenson Interview</a></div></div>TMP jumped out to an early lead, scoring on its first
possession of the game. Quarterback Carson Liles found running back Jackson
Gillespie for a 49-yard catch and run to put the Monarchs up 7-0, with five and
a half minutes left in the first quarter. After their first possession stalled in TMP territory, Russell
was able to get their ground game going on their second possession of the game
and answered with a two-yard touchdown pass for a 7-7 game with just under 90
seconds left in the first quarter.On the Monarchs’ second offensive possession of the game,
they took advantage of a short field thanks to a good kickoff return from Grant
Nehls. TMP started the drive at the Russell 45-yard line and on
fourth and short, Gillespie broke free for 26 yards, setting up a goal-to-go
situation that resulted in a two-yard Liles touchdown, putting TMP up 14-7.The Broncos had a bad snap and TMP recovered the fumble deep
in Russell territory, but two plays later, they gave it right back on one of
four turnovers, an interception.The Broncos took advantage of the second chance and capped
off their next offensive possession with a 49-yard touchdown pass, tying the
game at 14.The Monarchs quarterback, Carson Liles, threw his second
straight interception on the very next play, and Russell’s Trey Zorn returned
it 31 yards for the score. He also scored the two-point conversion, putting
Russell up 22-14.They went into the halftime break with the score still in
Russell’s favor.TMP used the passing game to get back into the game in the
second half.Liles found Jacob Seib through the air six times in the
second half, including on a 14-yard pitch and catch for the touchdown, tying
the game at 22 in the final minutes of the third quarter.In the final frame, both teams had their chances to break
the tie, but it was Russell who broke through, scoring on a 12-yard touchdown
pass on their way to a 29-22 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2165204073&color=%23234c78&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/09-04-25-tmp-vs-russell" title="09-04-25 TMP vs Russell Football Highlights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">09-04-25 TMP vs Russell Football Highlights</a></div></div>Russell outgained TMP 343 to 252 yards of total offense.Carson Liles finished 8-of-19 passing for 135 yards with two
touchdowns and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble.TMP will travel to Norton next Friday while Russell takes on
Oakley.

🏈 Monarchs cannot overcome mistakes in loss to Russell

The Kansas Highway Patrol on Wednesday responded to reports of confusion over a personal social media post by a State Trooper. The KHP wrote, "The KHP is aware of a social media post by an employee who appears to be either soliciting or accepting donations in furtherance of personal travel."

On his private social media page Monday, KHP Trooper Ben Gardner wrote that he was driving his Jeep back and forth to Michigan and using a lot of gas. He wrote, "folks had already reached out, so he shared ways that others could help."

Not everyone believed the post was actually from beloved Trooper Ben.

The Kansas Highway Patrol responded, "Because the employee's private posts are often difficult to distinguish from their professional posts, the messages can be confusing and are neither approved by nor associated with KHP business."

The Kansas Highway Patrol on Wednesday responded to reports of confusion over a personal social media post by a State Trooper. The KHP wrote, "The KHP is aware of a social media post by an employee who appears to be either soliciting or accepting donations in furtherance of personal travel."On his private social media page Monday, KHP Trooper Ben Gardner wrote that he was driving his Jeep back and forth to Michigan and using a lot of gas. He wrote, "folks had already reached out, so he shared ways that others could help."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTrooperBenKS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02nBTzcurRD3DytfPsNhT5Yh5sSqSqv8EYqtYbJtBB2McqwxaEQkTRinUuctd6FBN6l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="698" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Not everyone believed the post was actually from beloved Trooper Ben.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756989004553.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Highway Patrol responded, "Because the employee's private posts are often difficult to distinguish from their professional posts, the messages can be confusing and are neither approved by nor associated with KHP business."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTrooperBenKS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02K9KPVZySupyerHHWof5rEEGXfajoz3t8zGkpVSrUtpGtACevpWNNVFZ93AvqsfNjl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="737" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

KHP responds after confusion over personal post by State Trooper

The fundraising campaign continues for the new Crisis Intervention Center in Hays.&nbsp;

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser has an update on the project with Craig Poe, CEO, High Plains Mental Health Center along with Sarah Wasinger, president/CEO, The Chamber in Hays.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Crisis Intervention Center update from High Plains Mental Health Center" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=faiw5-1950ef0-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>The fundraising campaign continues for the new Crisis Intervention Center in Hays.&nbsp;On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser has an update on the project with Craig Poe, CEO, High Plains Mental Health Center along with Sarah Wasinger, president/CEO, The Chamber in Hays.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Crisis Intervention Center update from High Plains Mental Health Center

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar reopened its doors with a fresh community-focused vision.

The Chamber in Hays hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday to mark the new chapter for Breaks under its new owner, Brent Lang.

"Everything we make here is made from scratch. All of our sauces and sandwiches... It's something I don't think you're going to find anywhere else in town," Lang said.

Breaks will also be offering all-day promotions Friday with food and drink specials. Deals include $16 beer buckets (five beers), $24.99 whiskey flights, $4 Prosecco, buy-one-get-one-free on select menu items and half-price wings.

"As far as the wings go, I'm excited for my special hot sauce blend. It's called Brent's Bonfire. It's a spicy Parmesan."

Breaks’ relaunch features a refreshed menu, longer hours and reduced prices. Lang highlighted food favorites like prime sandwiches, Philly cheesesteak and French dip.

"Breakfast burritos. I personally love it, but I'd say it's probably the most undervalued with the quality ingredients we put in there," Lang said.

Lang said Breaks is well-staffed, but he is continually seeking bartenders, as the restaurant is now open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day, for both food and bar services.

Other menu items include avocado toast, classic French toast, fluffy pancakes, omelets, breakfast burgers, and a variety of salads and pastas.

Lang said <a href="https://www.toasttab.com/catering/tbd-3203-vine-street">Breaks offers off-site catering</a> along with a banquet room that seats up to 250, in addition to the dining room, which holds about 185.

“I'm constantly working every day. I've spent a lot of hours here. I'm very dedicated to this because I love customer service and I want the customer to get the best experience," Lang said.

You can follow the restaurant on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/breakseatery">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and visit its website <a href="https://breakseatery.com/">here</a>.

Before Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar hit Vine Street in May 2024, the location was Whisky Creek, a fixture in Hays for almost two decades.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eddb013b-e9b8-436d-b564-18be1f40c36f">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Whiskey Creek closes after 18 years, rebrands to Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756928239002.jpeg" alt="Brent Lang, Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar owner, preparing to cut a ribbon to celebrate the restaurant's grand reopening in Hays while surrounded by family, staff and community members. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Brent Lang, Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar owner, preparing to cut a ribbon to celebrate the restaurant's grand reopening in Hays while surrounded by family, staff and community members. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostBreaks Eatery &amp; Bar reopened its doors with a fresh community-focused vision.The Chamber in Hays hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday to mark the new chapter for Breaks under its new owner, Brent Lang."Everything we make here is made from scratch. All of our sauces and sandwiches... It's something I don't think you're going to find anywhere else in town," Lang said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756931175854.jpeg" alt="Seating area of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Seating area of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756931205743.jpeg" alt="Seating area of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Seating area of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Breaks will also be offering all-day promotions Friday with food and drink specials. Deals include $16 beer buckets (five beers), $24.99 whiskey flights, $4 Prosecco, buy-one-get-one-free on select menu items and half-price wings."As far as the wings go, I'm excited for my special hot sauce blend. It's called Brent's Bonfire. It's a spicy Parmesan."Breaks’ relaunch features a refreshed menu, longer hours and reduced prices. Lang highlighted food favorites like prime sandwiches, Philly cheesesteak and French dip."Breakfast burritos. I personally love it, but I'd say it's probably the most undervalued with the quality ingredients we put in there," Lang said.Lang said Breaks is well-staffed, but he is continually seeking bartenders, as the restaurant is now open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day, for both food and bar services.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756931243022.jpeg" alt="The bar counter of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The bar counter of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Other menu items include avocado toast, classic French toast, fluffy pancakes, omelets, breakfast burgers, and a variety of salads and pastas.Lang said <a href="https://www.toasttab.com/catering/tbd-3203-vine-street">Breaks offers off-site catering</a> along with a banquet room that seats up to 250, in addition to the dining room, which holds about 185.“I'm constantly working every day. I've spent a lot of hours here. I'm very dedicated to this because I love customer service and I want the customer to get the best experience," Lang said.You can follow the restaurant on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/breakseatery">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and visit its website <a href="https://breakseatery.com/">here</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756928289184.jpeg" alt="The front of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The front of Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Before Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar hit Vine Street in May 2024, the location was Whisky Creek, a fixture in Hays for almost two decades.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eddb013b-e9b8-436d-b564-18be1f40c36f">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Whiskey Creek closes after 18 years, rebrands to Breaks Eatery &amp; Bar</a>

Breaks Eatery & Bar reopens in Hays; celebration continues Friday

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post

Kansans for Life is bringing a traveling memorial exhibit to Hays on Monday, Sept. 22, and is seeking volunteers to help with the event that day.

Father Andy Hammeke, chaplain at Comeau Catholic Campus Center in Hays, said in a news release that about 50 volunteers are needed. The exhibit, called “Aftermath,” will have 19,467 models of babies on display.

This was the number of babies aborted in Kansas in 2023, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Vital Statistics Report, which was published in December 2024, the most recent report available. This number represents a 58 percent increase from 2022 and a 148 percent increase from 2021, according to the report.

The exhibit will be on display at the Hays Downtown Pavilion, 117 E. 10th St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

“Sometimes when we hear how many abortions have taken place, the&nbsp;number is hard to comprehend.&nbsp; But a good image can help make the numbers strike&nbsp;closer to home,” Hammeke said.&nbsp;“These won't be bloody images or images of dead babies.&nbsp; Simply lots and lots of baby&nbsp;models.”&nbsp;The exhibit is suitable for fifth graders and older, he said.

The exhibit will also provide pro-life information, including resources for women who have had an abortion. In addition to Hays, the exhibit will be traveling to 11 other Kansas cities.

According to the website, volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the exhibit, greet visitors, and staff the information table. Volunteers may get more information and sign up at <a href="https://aftermathks.com/">aftermathks.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756913406071.png" alt="Kansans For Life" />
 <figcaption>Kansans For Life</figcaption>
 </figure>By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post Kansans for Life is bringing a traveling memorial exhibit to Hays on Monday, Sept. 22, and is seeking volunteers to help with the event that day.Father Andy Hammeke, chaplain at Comeau Catholic Campus Center in Hays, said in a news release that about 50 volunteers are needed. The exhibit, called “Aftermath,” will have 19,467 models of babies on display.This was the number of babies aborted in Kansas in 2023, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Vital Statistics Report, which was published in December 2024, the most recent report available. This number represents a 58 percent increase from 2022 and a 148 percent increase from 2021, according to the report.The exhibit will be on display at the Hays Downtown Pavilion, 117 E. 10th St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22.“Sometimes when we hear how many abortions have taken place, the&nbsp;number is hard to comprehend.&nbsp; But a good image can help make the numbers strike&nbsp;closer to home,” Hammeke said.&nbsp;“These won't be bloody images or images of dead babies.&nbsp; Simply lots and lots of baby&nbsp;models.”&nbsp;The exhibit is suitable for fifth graders and older, he said.The exhibit will also provide pro-life information, including resources for women who have had an abortion. In addition to Hays, the exhibit will be traveling to 11 other Kansas cities.According to the website, volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the exhibit, greet visitors, and staff the information table. Volunteers may get more information and sign up at <a href="https://aftermathks.com/">aftermathks.com</a>.

Kansans for Life seeks volunteers for event coming to Hays

By KAREN MADORIN Hays Post

Kevin Costner’s character Ray in Field of Dreams listened to a mysterious voice repeating, “If you build it, they will come.” 

Against others’ advice, that farmer sacrificed a cornfield to construct a baseball diamond in the middle of Iowa farm country. If you watched this film, you know Shoeless Joe Jackson, members of the banned 1919 Black Sox team, and others show up to play some spirited baseball.

I love that concept. If you listen to good advice and prepare, adventure begins. In my case, the result wasn’t mystical, but it was rewarding. 

An insect-loving biologist advised me to garden not only to produce food but also to support butterflies. I’d written previously about adding rows of dill and fennel to my garden. Through her encouragement, I took another step—I interspersed flowers and herbs.

I planted fennel and dill amongst zinnias, larkspur, Indian blanket, bachelor buttons, and marigolds. Over the summer, a visitor would ask about that that ferny-looking stuff that smells like licorice.

Friends also remarked on dill thriving in that flowerbed.

“ Yes, that’s dill. No, not making pickles. I’m growing butterflies.”

Yes. Specifically, swallowtails. Their caterpillars devour dill, parsley, and fennel. Each spring either stunning yellow and black winged or black highlighted with blue and yellow winged creatures sipped nectar from lilacs, lilies, roses, and other summer blossoms. Then they mated and produced eggs. 

Because I followed my friend’s advice and planted to attract more brilliant-colored pollinators, I counted scores of funny looking caterpillars hatching from that summer’s efforts.

When gardeners provide host plants, adult female swallowtails lay yellow eggs on the leaves. After incubating, these tiny deposits hatch into segmented creatures dressed in vivid green adorned by yellow, black, and white stripes, dots, and dashes. 

This developmental stage camouflages pillowy caterpillars from voracious birds, but humans can easily spot these summer residents munching lacy leaves. If you don’t see them, you’ll know they’re busy digesting when you notice healthy poopers dotting soil and landscape rocks beneath garden greenery.

Before that year’s experiment, I was happy to see two or three ugly bugs in clown dress each summer. After adding additional fennel, parsley, and dill plants, I counted growing numbers of puffy, segmented caterpillars chomping foliage. One memorable morning, I counted more than two score of these future butterflies gobbling fennel fronds.

Blessings require patience, so I waited—and waited—and waited to watch these caterpillars transition into pupas. 

Despite researching the process, I wasn’t sure how this worked. I didn’t understand how these insects moved from feasting grounds to the site where they’d morph into a neutral-colored chrysalis. This was a live and learn lesson. Then I waited through fall and winter before seeing butterflies emerge and fill the sky as temperatures warmed and yards greened.

Not every egg that made it to caterpillar stage survived transitioning to a butterfly. Despite those losses, vivid yellow and black swallowtails pirouetted above my front flowerbed that following spring. All that fennel, parsley, and dill multiplied as well, so the current homeowners will enjoy butterflies forever more.

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756478831200.jpeg" alt="Caterpillars. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Caterpillars. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN Hays PostKevin Costner’s character Ray in Field of Dreams listened to a mysterious voice repeating, “If you build it, they will come.” Against others’ advice, that farmer sacrificed a cornfield to construct a baseball diamond in the middle of Iowa farm country. If you watched this film, you know Shoeless Joe Jackson, members of the banned 1919 Black Sox team, and others show up to play some spirited baseball.I love that concept. If you listen to good advice and prepare, adventure begins. In my case, the result wasn’t mystical, but it was rewarding. An insect-loving biologist advised me to garden not only to produce food but also to support butterflies. I’d written previously about adding rows of dill and fennel to my garden. Through her encouragement, I took another step—I interspersed flowers and herbs.I planted fennel and dill amongst zinnias, larkspur, Indian blanket, bachelor buttons, and marigolds. Over the summer, a visitor would ask about that that ferny-looking stuff that smells like licorice.“That’s fennel.”Friends also remarked on dill thriving in that flowerbed.“ Yes, that’s dill. No, not making pickles. I’m growing butterflies.”“Butterflies?”Yes. Specifically, swallowtails. Their caterpillars devour dill, parsley, and fennel. Each spring either stunning yellow and black winged or black highlighted with blue and yellow winged creatures sipped nectar from lilacs, lilies, roses, and other summer blossoms. Then they mated and produced eggs. Because I followed my friend’s advice and planted to attract more brilliant-colored pollinators, I counted scores of funny looking caterpillars hatching from that summer’s efforts.When gardeners provide host plants, adult female swallowtails lay yellow eggs on the leaves. After incubating, these tiny deposits hatch into segmented creatures dressed in vivid green adorned by yellow, black, and white stripes, dots, and dashes. This developmental stage camouflages pillowy caterpillars from voracious birds, but humans can easily spot these summer residents munching lacy leaves. If you don’t see them, you’ll know they’re busy digesting when you notice healthy poopers dotting soil and landscape rocks beneath garden greenery.Before that year’s experiment, I was happy to see two or three ugly bugs in clown dress each summer. After adding additional fennel, parsley, and dill plants, I counted growing numbers of puffy, segmented caterpillars chomping foliage. One memorable morning, I counted more than two score of these future butterflies gobbling fennel fronds.Blessings require patience, so I waited—and waited—and waited to watch these caterpillars transition into pupas. Despite researching the process, I wasn’t sure how this worked. I didn’t understand how these insects moved from feasting grounds to the site where they’d morph into a neutral-colored chrysalis. This was a live and learn lesson. Then I waited through fall and winter before seeing butterflies emerge and fill the sky as temperatures warmed and yards greened.Not every egg that made it to caterpillar stage survived transitioning to a butterfly. Despite those losses, vivid yellow and black swallowtails pirouetted above my front flowerbed that following spring. All that fennel, parsley, and dill multiplied as well, so the current homeowners will enjoy butterflies forever more.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: If you plant it, they will come

Catch all of the live action of Hays High and TMP Marian sports this school year on <a href="https://team1sports.com/eagleradio/">HaysPost.com</a>.

To purchase your season-long or single game pass, go to <a href="https://team1sports.com/eagleradio/">HaysPost.com</a> today.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755620673007.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Eagle MediaCatch all of the live action of Hays High and TMP Marian sports this school year on <a href="https://team1sports.com/eagleradio/">HaysPost.com</a>. To purchase your season-long or single game pass, go to <a href="https://team1sports.com/eagleradio/">HaysPost.com</a> today.

Purchase your pass for live action Hays High, TMP sports on Hays Post this season 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Survivors of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein's</a>&nbsp;sexual abuse made their voices heard Wednesday on Capitol Hill, pressuring lawmakers to force the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier and pushing back on President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;effort to dismiss the issue as a “hoax.”

In a news conference on the Capitol lawn that drew hundreds of supporters and chants of “release the files,” the women shared — some publicly for the first time — how they were lured into Epstein's abuse by his former girlfriend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>. They demanded that the Trump administration provide transparency and accountability for what they endured as teenagers.

It was a striking stand as the push for disclosure of the so-called Epstein files reaches a pivotal moment in Washington. Lawmakers are battling over how Congress should delve into the Epstein saga while the Republican president, after initially signaling support for transparency on the campaign trail, has been dismissing the matter as a “Democrat hoax.”

“No matter what you do it’s going to keep going,” Trump said Wednesday. He added, “Really, I think it’s enough."

But the survivors on Capitol Hill, as well as at least one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, disagreed. Some of the women pleaded for Trump to support their cause.

“It feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real. We’re here in person,” said Haley Robson, one of the survivors who said she is a registered Republican.

Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6184561-Jeffrey-Epstein-indictment.html">was accused</a>&nbsp;of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them.

Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidant and former girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-guilty-what-next-5082bd54ec442632c53319e6c43c2dd4">luring teenage girls</a>&nbsp;for him to abuse. Four women testified at her trial that they were abused by Epstein as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at his homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. The allegations have also spawned dozens of lawsuits.

Georgia Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-marjorie-taylor-greene-bffe84ad45cdb140ec81b353238b1242">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>, who is usually closely aligned with Trump, described her support for a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the information it has compiled on Epstein and Maxwell as a moral fight against sexual predation.

“This isn’t one political party or the other. It’s a culmination of everyone working together to silence these women and protect Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal,” Greene said at the news conference.

She also told reporters that she had spoken with Trump on Wednesday to tell him that he should host the survivors in the Oval Office, “not any of Jeffrey Epstein's rich, powerful friends.”

Greene is one of four Republicans — three of them women — who have defied House GOP leadership and the White House in an effort to force a vote on their bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quash the effort by putting forward his own resolution and arguing that a concurrent investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the best way for Congress to deliver transparency.

“I think the Oversight probe is going to be wide and expansive, and they’re going to follow the truth wherever it leads," Johnson, R-La., said.

He added that the White House was complying with the committee to release information and that he had spoken with Trump about it Tuesday night. “He says, ‘Get it out there, put it all out there,’" Johnson told reporters.

The Oversight Committee on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-congress-justice-department-trump-3e0d2146ce0cd0f6cecaab0198402ac7">Tuesday night released</a>&nbsp;what it said was the first tranche of documents and files it has received from the Justice Department on the Epstein case. The folders posted on Google Drive contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, but contained practically nothing new.

Meanwhile, the White House was warning House members that support for the bill to require the DOJ to release the files would be seen as a hostile act. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kentucky-thomas-massie-primary-iran-55252ce7fbda9c27f6fbd9123927b1b4">Thomas Massie</a>, a Kentucky Republican who is pressing for the bill, said that the White House was sending that message because “They’ve dug in.”

“They decided they don’t want it released,” he said. “It’s a political threat.”

But with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracies-97200cfab77572a36bc9ab25841a8833">Trump sending a strong message</a>&nbsp;and Republican leadership moving forward with an alternative resolution, Massie was left looking for support from at least two more Republicans willing to cross political lines. It would take six GOP members, as well as all House Democrats, to force a vote on their bill. And even if that passes the House, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by Trump.

Still, the survivors saw this moment as their best chance in years to gain some justice for what had been done by Epstein. One survivor, Chauntae Davies said that she remembered feeling powerless when she saw how Epstein was connected to some of the most rich and powerful people in the world. Davies said she once traveled to Africa with Epstein on a trip that included former President Bill Clinton and other notable figures.

“He bragged about his powerful friends, including current President Donald Trump. It was his biggest brag, actually,” Davies said.

Now, the women say it's time to reveal a full accounting of everyone involved or complicit in Epstein's behavior. Several of them are compiling a list of people who may have been involved, but are still deliberating whether to release that publicly, fearing potential repercussions.

Bradley Edwards, an attorney who has represented many of the survivors, refuted the notion that Epstein kept a list of clients, but said others were still involved.

“His scheme was to personally abuse women,” Edwards said. “When they reached a certain age, he did farm a section of them, some of them, out to some of his friends. That doesn’t mean all of his friends.”

Ultimately, the women said they spoke out in hope that lawmakers and federal officials would act to ensure that abusers like Epstein are not let off lightly or allowed to continue their abuse. They were especially affronted that Maxwell had recently been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">moved to a minimum-security prison camp</a>&nbsp;in Texas.

“Justice and accountability are not favors from the powerful. They are obligations decades overdue” Jess Michaels, a survivor who said she was first abused by Epstein in 1991, told the rally on the Capitol lawn. “This moment began with Epstein’s crimes. But it’s going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Survivors of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein's</a>&nbsp;sexual abuse made their voices heard Wednesday on Capitol Hill, pressuring lawmakers to force the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier and pushing back on President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;effort to dismiss the issue as a “hoax.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Epstein abuse survivor Haley Robson: &quot;We can&#39;t read the news or do anything without hearing crazy stories that are only able to live on because the government continues to hide the evidence and the truth. So, people just make up stories. Those stories hurt.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/WCcHbdqEhp">pic.twitter.com/WCcHbdqEhp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1963265219725054229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a news conference on the Capitol lawn that drew hundreds of supporters and chants of “release the files,” the women shared — some publicly for the first time — how they were lured into Epstein's abuse by his former girlfriend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>. They demanded that the Trump administration provide transparency and accountability for what they endured as teenagers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump on Jeffrey Epstein Files: &quot;This is a Democrat hoax that never ends...I think it&#39;s enough because I think we should talk about the greatness of our country and the success that we&#39;re having...that&#39;s what I want to talk about...not the Epstein hoax.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0CowxRnOVk">pic.twitter.com/0CowxRnOVk</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1963271648414425599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was a striking stand as the push for disclosure of the so-called Epstein files reaches a pivotal moment in Washington. Lawmakers are battling over how Congress should delve into the Epstein saga while the Republican president, after initially signaling support for transparency on the campaign trail, has been dismissing the matter as a “Democrat hoax.”“No matter what you do it’s going to keep going,” Trump said Wednesday. He added, “Really, I think it’s enough."But the survivors on Capitol Hill, as well as at least one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, disagreed. Some of the women pleaded for Trump to support their cause.“It feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation. These women are real. We’re here in person,” said Haley Robson, one of the survivors who said she is a registered Republican.Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6184561-Jeffrey-Epstein-indictment.html">was accused</a>&nbsp;of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them.Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidant and former girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-guilty-what-next-5082bd54ec442632c53319e6c43c2dd4">luring teenage girls</a>&nbsp;for him to abuse. Four women testified at her trial that they were abused by Epstein as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at his homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. The allegations have also spawned dozens of lawsuits.<h2>A Trump ally crosses party lines</h2>Georgia Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-marjorie-taylor-greene-bffe84ad45cdb140ec81b353238b1242">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>, who is usually closely aligned with Trump, described her support for a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the information it has compiled on Epstein and Maxwell as a moral fight against sexual predation.“This isn’t one political party or the other. It’s a culmination of everyone working together to silence these women and protect Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal,” Greene said at the news conference.She also told reporters that she had spoken with Trump on Wednesday to tell him that he should host the survivors in the Oval Office, “not any of Jeffrey Epstein's rich, powerful friends.”Greene is one of four Republicans — three of them women — who have defied House GOP leadership and the White House in an effort to force a vote on their bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quash the effort by putting forward his own resolution and arguing that a concurrent investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the best way for Congress to deliver transparency.“I think the Oversight probe is going to be wide and expansive, and they’re going to follow the truth wherever it leads," Johnson, R-La., said.He added that the White House was complying with the committee to release information and that he had spoken with Trump about it Tuesday night. “He says, ‘Get it out there, put it all out there,’" Johnson told reporters.The Oversight Committee on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-congress-justice-department-trump-3e0d2146ce0cd0f6cecaab0198402ac7">Tuesday night released</a>&nbsp;what it said was the first tranche of documents and files it has received from the Justice Department on the Epstein case. The folders posted on Google Drive contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, but contained practically nothing new.<h2>Warnings from the White House</h2>Meanwhile, the White House was warning House members that support for the bill to require the DOJ to release the files would be seen as a hostile act. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kentucky-thomas-massie-primary-iran-55252ce7fbda9c27f6fbd9123927b1b4">Thomas Massie</a>, a Kentucky Republican who is pressing for the bill, said that the White House was sending that message because “They’ve dug in.”“They decided they don’t want it released,” he said. “It’s a political threat.”But with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracies-97200cfab77572a36bc9ab25841a8833">Trump sending a strong message</a>&nbsp;and Republican leadership moving forward with an alternative resolution, Massie was left looking for support from at least two more Republicans willing to cross political lines. It would take six GOP members, as well as all House Democrats, to force a vote on their bill. And even if that passes the House, it would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by Trump.<h2>Survivors speak out</h2>Still, the survivors saw this moment as their best chance in years to gain some justice for what had been done by Epstein. One survivor, Chauntae Davies said that she remembered feeling powerless when she saw how Epstein was connected to some of the most rich and powerful people in the world. Davies said she once traveled to Africa with Epstein on a trip that included former President Bill Clinton and other notable figures.“He bragged about his powerful friends, including current President Donald Trump. It was his biggest brag, actually,” Davies said.Now, the women say it's time to reveal a full accounting of everyone involved or complicit in Epstein's behavior. Several of them are compiling a list of people who may have been involved, but are still deliberating whether to release that publicly, fearing potential repercussions.Bradley Edwards, an attorney who has represented many of the survivors, refuted the notion that Epstein kept a list of clients, but said others were still involved.“His scheme was to personally abuse women,” Edwards said. “When they reached a certain age, he did farm a section of them, some of them, out to some of his friends. That doesn’t mean all of his friends.”Ultimately, the women said they spoke out in hope that lawmakers and federal officials would act to ensure that abusers like Epstein are not let off lightly or allowed to continue their abuse. They were especially affronted that Maxwell had recently been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">moved to a minimum-security prison camp</a>&nbsp;in Texas.“Justice and accountability are not favors from the powerful. They are obligations decades overdue” Jess Michaels, a survivor who said she was first abused by Epstein in 1991, told the rally on the Capitol lawn. “This moment began with Epstein’s crimes. But it’s going to be remembered for survivors demanding justice, demanding truth, demanding accountability.”

🎥Epstein survivors implore Congress to act as push for disclosure builds

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida will work to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates in the state, building on the effort by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-desantis-florida-cdc-fda-4c903eae40ef2d9012fef6f6cfa7062e">curb vaccine requirements</a>&nbsp;and other health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DeSantis also announced on Wednesday the creation of a state-level “Make America Healthy Again” commission modeled after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maha-report-children-health-food-rfk-f0c624d30da939fc9cca09687f8a4273">similar initiatives</a>&nbsp;pushed at the federal level by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

On the vaccines, state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo cast current requirements in schools and elsewhere as an “immoral” intrusion on people's rights bordering on “slavery,” and hampers parents' ability to make health decisions for their children.

“People have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions,” said Ladapo, who has frequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-florida-ron-desantis-ccea6d2ca421f837257b08cb0efe7b4c">clashed with the medical establishment</a>, at a news conference in Valrico, Florida, in the Tampa area. “They don’t have the right to tell you what to put in your body. Take it away from them.”

The state Health Department, Ladapo said, can scrap its own rules for some vaccine mandates, but others would require action by the Florida Legislature. He did not specify any particular vaccines but repeated several times the effort would end “all of them. Every last one of them.”

Florida would be the first state to eliminate so many vaccine mandates, Ladapo added.

Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who is running for Orlando mayor, said in a social media post that scrapping vaccines “is reckless and dangerous” and could cause outbreaks of preventable disease.

“This is a public health disaster in the making for the Sunshine State,” she said on the social platform X.

Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon and California announced Wednesday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-west-coast-vaccines-trump-fd5ce557532a3c9f37b77ff9f14b07b9">they created an alliance</a>&nbsp;to safeguard health policies, contending that the administration of President Donald Trump is politicizing public health decisions.

The partnership plans to coordinate health guidelines by aligning immunization plans based on recommendations from respected national medical organizations, according to a joint statement from Gov. Bob Ferguson of Washington, Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California.

In Florida, vaccine mandates for child day care facilities and public schools include shots for measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), polio and other diseases, according to the state&nbsp;<a href="https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/children-and-adolescents/school-immunization-requirements/index.html">Health Department’s website.</a>

Under DeSantis, Florida resisted imposing COVID vaccines on schoolchildren, requiring “passports” for places that draw crowds, school closures and mandates that workers get the shots to keep their jobs.

“I don’t think there’s another state that’s done as much as Florida. We want to stay ahead of the curve,” the governor said.

The state “MAHA” commission would look into such things as allowing informed consent in medical matters, promoting safe and nutritious food, boosting parental rights regarding medical decisions about their children, and eliminating “medical orthodoxy that is not supported by the data,” DeSantis said. The commission will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis.

“We’re getting government out of the way, getting government out of your lives," Collins said.

The commission's work will help inform a large “medical freedom package” to be introduced in the Legislature next session, which would address the vaccine mandates required by state law and make permanent the recent state COVID decisions relaxing restrictions, DeSantis said.

“There will be a broad package,” the governor said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756922257490.png" alt="Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo from the video provided Wednesday by the state of Florida." />
 <figcaption>Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo from the video provided Wednesday by the state of Florida.</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida will work to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates in the state, building on the effort by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-desantis-florida-cdc-fda-4c903eae40ef2d9012fef6f6cfa7062e">curb vaccine requirements</a>&nbsp;and other health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Governor DeSantis Announces Florida MAHA Commission and Medical Freedom Protections <a href="https://t.co/o4lglzuXAT">https://t.co/o4lglzuXAT</a>&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1963244415520268670?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>DeSantis also announced on Wednesday the creation of a state-level “Make America Healthy Again” commission modeled after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maha-report-children-health-food-rfk-f0c624d30da939fc9cca09687f8a4273">similar initiatives</a>&nbsp;pushed at the federal level by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.On the vaccines, state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo cast current requirements in schools and elsewhere as an “immoral” intrusion on people's rights bordering on “slavery,” and hampers parents' ability to make health decisions for their children.“People have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions,” said Ladapo, who has frequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-florida-ron-desantis-ccea6d2ca421f837257b08cb0efe7b4c">clashed with the medical establishment</a>, at a news conference in Valrico, Florida, in the Tampa area. “They don’t have the right to tell you what to put in your body. Take it away from them.”The state Health Department, Ladapo said, can scrap its own rules for some vaccine mandates, but others would require action by the Florida Legislature. He did not specify any particular vaccines but repeated several times the effort would end “all of them. Every last one of them.”Florida would be the first state to eliminate so many vaccine mandates, Ladapo added.Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who is running for Orlando mayor, said in a social media post that scrapping vaccines “is reckless and dangerous” and could cause outbreaks of preventable disease.“This is a public health disaster in the making for the Sunshine State,” she said on the social platform X.Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon and California announced Wednesday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-west-coast-vaccines-trump-fd5ce557532a3c9f37b77ff9f14b07b9">they created an alliance</a>&nbsp;to safeguard health policies, contending that the administration of President Donald Trump is politicizing public health decisions.The partnership plans to coordinate health guidelines by aligning immunization plans based on recommendations from respected national medical organizations, according to a joint statement from Gov. Bob Ferguson of Washington, Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California.In Florida, vaccine mandates for child day care facilities and public schools include shots for measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), polio and other diseases, according to the state&nbsp;<a href="https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/children-and-adolescents/school-immunization-requirements/index.html">Health Department’s website.</a>Under DeSantis, Florida resisted imposing COVID vaccines on schoolchildren, requiring “passports” for places that draw crowds, school closures and mandates that workers get the shots to keep their jobs.“I don’t think there’s another state that’s done as much as Florida. We want to stay ahead of the curve,” the governor said.The state “MAHA” commission would look into such things as allowing informed consent in medical matters, promoting safe and nutritious food, boosting parental rights regarding medical decisions about their children, and eliminating “medical orthodoxy that is not supported by the data,” DeSantis said. The commission will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis.“We’re getting government out of the way, getting government out of your lives," Collins said.The commission's work will help inform a large “medical freedom package” to be introduced in the Legislature next session, which would address the vaccine mandates required by state law and make permanent the recent state COVID decisions relaxing restrictions, DeSantis said.“There will be a broad package,” the governor said.

First state will end all vaccine requirements for kids to attend school

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Thursday's work session agenda for the Hays City Commission is brief, with just three items, all of which deal with nuisance abatements.

City staff will investigate any improvements before the meeting.

The nuisance abatements are recommended for

• 515 E. 11th • 1716 Douglas Drive • 231 E. 12th

The property owners on Douglas Drive and East 12th have also been cited for inoperable vehicles.

The complete Sept. 4 agenda is available <a href="https://haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1567">here</a>.

The work session starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThursday's work session agenda for the Hays City Commission is brief, with just three items, all of which deal with nuisance abatements.City staff will investigate any improvements before the meeting.The nuisance abatements are recommended for• 515 E. 11th • 1716 Douglas Drive • 231 E. 12thThe property owners on Douglas Drive and East 12th have also been cited for inoperable vehicles.The complete Sept. 4 agenda is available <a href="https://haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1567">here</a>.The work session starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

Three nuisance abatements to be considered by Hays city commission

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Lee Ann June, executive director of The Bricks in Downtown Hays about upcoming events, including Wines &amp; Steins, Farm to Fork and the Christmas season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Upcoming events on The Bricks in Downtown Hays" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=dcna3-1952e4b-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Lee Ann June, executive director of The Bricks in Downtown Hays about upcoming events, including Wines &amp; Steins, Farm to Fork and the Christmas season.

🎙 Post Podcast: Upcoming events on The Bricks in Downtown Hays

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/anne-dinnocenzio">ANNE D’INNOCENZIO</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is ending a program that allows members of its Prime membership subscription program to share their free shipping benefits with people who don’t have the same primary address.

In an update to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GXULX24SE2RD7EXS" target="_blank">customer service section</a>&nbsp;of its website, the online behemoth says it will eliminate the sharing on Oct. 1 and is encouraging users outside the household of the account holder to sign up for their own Prime subscription.

Amazon is encouraging users who don’t live with the account holder to subscribe to their own membership at a discounted rate of $14.99 for one year. After that, it’s $14.99 per month or $139 annually. The offer starts this Friday and is valid until Dec. 31, 2025.

Amazon is replacing the so-called Prime Invitee program with Amazon Family, which lets account holders share the free two-day shipping perk as well as a broad range of other perks like exclusive deals and movies with only one other adult in their household, up to four teens (who were added before April 7) and up to four profiles for children, according to Amazon’s website. Amazon said that the adult could be a spouse, family member or roommate.

The news comes as the Seattle-based company is making big investments in expanding its network to bring faster delivery to customers in less densely populated areas across the U.S. The service is available in 1,000 of the more than 4,000 smaller cities, towns and rural communities targeted by year-end, the company said in late July.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687370941423.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/anne-dinnocenzio">ANNE D’INNOCENZIO</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is ending a program that allows members of its Prime membership subscription program to share their free shipping benefits with people who don’t have the same primary address.In an update to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GXULX24SE2RD7EXS" target="_blank">customer service section</a>&nbsp;of its website, the online behemoth says it will eliminate the sharing on Oct. 1 and is encouraging users outside the household of the account holder to sign up for their own Prime subscription.Amazon is encouraging users who don’t live with the account holder to subscribe to their own membership at a discounted rate of $14.99 for one year. After that, it’s $14.99 per month or $139 annually. The offer starts this Friday and is valid until Dec. 31, 2025.Amazon is replacing the so-called Prime Invitee program with Amazon Family, which lets account holders share the free two-day shipping perk as well as a broad range of other perks like exclusive deals and movies with only one other adult in their household, up to four teens (who were added before April 7) and up to four profiles for children, according to Amazon’s website. Amazon said that the adult could be a spouse, family member or roommate.The news comes as the Seattle-based company is making big investments in expanding its network to bring faster delivery to customers in less densely populated areas across the U.S. The service is available in 1,000 of the more than 4,000 smaller cities, towns and rural communities targeted by year-end, the company said in late July.

Amazon announced major change to prime benefits

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of membership in a Venezuelan gang, blocking a signature administration push that is destined for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-judge-ruling-f1988c63140c95f8228b42368caed96b">lower court judges</a>&nbsp;who argued the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">Alien Enemies Act</a>&nbsp;of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs like Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan group Trump targeted in his March invocation.

Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said Tuesday: “The Trump administration’s use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administration’s view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador where, it argued, U.S. courts could not order them freed.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prisoner-swap-venezuela-united-states-el-salvador-a0c3070355fbdc31f028a16096c5655c">deal announced in July</a>, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela.

The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars — in the War of 1812 and the two World Wars. The Trump administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the president’s determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuela’s government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act.

In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they “found no invasion or predatory incursion” in this case.

The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, a George W. Bush appointee, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Joe Biden appointee. Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, dissented.

The majority opinion said Trump’s allegations about Tren de Aragua do not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act.

“A country’s encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States,” the judges wrote.

In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trump’s conduct of foreign affairs and national security, realms where courts usually give the president great deference.

“The majority’s approach to this case is not only unprecedented—it is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent,” Oldham wrote.

The panel did grant the Trump administration one legal victory, finding the procedures it uses to advise detainees under the Alien Enemies Act of their legal rights is appropriate.

The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue.

Indeed, the ruling and dissent both seemed to acknowledge the judges were weighing in on issues destined to be settled only by the nation's highest court, repeatedly noting the unprecedented nature of the case and delving into 18th century conflicts and other landmark events in the nation's early decades as justification.

The Supreme Court has already gotten involved twice before in the tangled history of the Trump administration's use of the AEA. In the initial weeks after the March declaration, the court ruled that the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">could deport people under the act</a>, but unanimously found that those targeted needed to be given a reasonable chance to argue their case before judges in the areas where they were held.

Then, as the administration moved to rapidly deport more Venezuelans from Texas, the high court stepped in again with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aclu-trump-deport-venezuelans-supreme-court-5d85ffec44fca7c267315b34cec9ddb2">an unusual, post-midnight ruling</a>&nbsp;that they couldn't do so until the 5th Circuit decided whether the administration was providing adequate notice to the immigrants and could weigh in on the broader legal issues of the case. The high court has yet to address whether a gang can be cited as an alien enemy under the AEA.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743444105379.png" alt="Image from video provided by U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt" />
 <figcaption>Image from video provided by U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of membership in a Venezuelan gang, blocking a signature administration push that is destined for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-judge-ruling-f1988c63140c95f8228b42368caed96b">lower court judges</a>&nbsp;who argued the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">Alien Enemies Act</a>&nbsp;of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs like Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan group Trump targeted in his March invocation.Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said Tuesday: “The Trump administration’s use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administration’s view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts.”The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The administration deported people designated as Tren de Aragua members to a notorious prison in El Salvador where, it argued, U.S. courts could not order them freed.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prisoner-swap-venezuela-united-states-el-salvador-a0c3070355fbdc31f028a16096c5655c">deal announced in July</a>, more than 250 of the deported migrants returned to Venezuela.The Alien Enemies Act was only used three times before in U.S. history, all during declared wars — in the War of 1812 and the two World Wars. The Trump administration unsuccessfully argued that courts cannot second-guess the president’s determination that Tren de Aragua was connected to Venezuela’s government and represented a danger to the United States, meriting use of the act.In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said they granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs because they “found no invasion or predatory incursion” in this case.The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the majority were U.S. Circuit Judges Leslie Southwick, a George W. Bush appointee, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a Joe Biden appointee. Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee, dissented.The majority opinion said Trump’s allegations about Tren de Aragua do not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act.“A country’s encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt, or to otherwise harm the United States,” the judges wrote.In a lengthy dissent, Oldham complained his two colleagues were second-guessing Trump’s conduct of foreign affairs and national security, realms where courts usually give the president great deference.“The majority’s approach to this case is not only unprecedented—it is contrary to more than 200 years of precedent,” Oldham wrote.The panel did grant the Trump administration one legal victory, finding the procedures it uses to advise detainees under the Alien Enemies Act of their legal rights is appropriate.The ruling can be appealed to the full 5th Circuit or directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is likely to make the ultimate decision on the issue.Indeed, the ruling and dissent both seemed to acknowledge the judges were weighing in on issues destined to be settled only by the nation's highest court, repeatedly noting the unprecedented nature of the case and delving into 18th century conflicts and other landmark events in the nation's early decades as justification.The Supreme Court has already gotten involved twice before in the tangled history of the Trump administration's use of the AEA. In the initial weeks after the March declaration, the court ruled that the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-deportations-el-salvador-9988b667199e1b02fc0a6a83570225c1">could deport people under the act</a>, but unanimously found that those targeted needed to be given a reasonable chance to argue their case before judges in the areas where they were held.Then, as the administration moved to rapidly deport more Venezuelans from Texas, the high court stepped in again with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aclu-trump-deport-venezuelans-supreme-court-5d85ffec44fca7c267315b34cec9ddb2">an unusual, post-midnight ruling</a>&nbsp;that they couldn't do so until the 5th Circuit decided whether the administration was providing adequate notice to the immigrants and could weigh in on the broader legal issues of the case. The high court has yet to address whether a gang can be cited as an alien enemy under the AEA.