HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State University Athletics will pay tribute to the 1974 Tiger Baseball team for its historic achievement prior to the 7 p.m. game against Northwest Missouri State University on April 25 at Larks Park. The recognition will be a part of the annual Pack the Park event. The team was the first at FHSU to play in a national baseball tournament, specifically the NAIA National Baseball Tournament, now known as the NAIA College World Series.

That season the Tigers won the NAIA District 10 Playoffs, defeating Bethany College, Emporia State, and Benedictine College to reach the NAIA Area 3 Playoffs in Oklahoma City. The Tigers then defeated Kearney State and Southeastern Oklahoma twice to reach the NAIA championship site in St. Joseph, Mo. They fell to Sam Houston State and Wisconsin-Oshkosh at the championship site, wrapping their season at 26-18 overall. The Tigers finished the year at No. 7 in the NAIA national rankings.

It has been 51 years since the 1974 season, yet all 16 players on the team's postseason roster will be in attendance and recognized at Larks Park on Friday night prior to the annual Pack the Park game. The team featured just one senior and the rest were underclassmen.

Below are the individuals planning to be in attendance.

Outfielders: Bill Hall (Hays), Brad Rumble (Great Bend), Val McLean (Lewis) and Dick Kollhoff (Burdett).

Infielders: Lance Wise (Hill City), Keith Harper (Colby), Galen Pfannenstiel (Ransom), Bill Hachmeister (Hill City), Mike Weiser (Great Bend), Mike Giarratano (Pueblo, Colo.) and Larry Koster (Cawker City).

Pitchers; Ray Dolezal (Great Bend), Ken Ubelaker (Osborne), Rick Zimmerman (Denver, Colo.), and Ray Coupal (Hays).

Six Tiger players received post-season honors: All-Great Plains Athletic Conference First Team&nbsp;- Brad Rumble (LF), Lance Wise (SS). Academic All-Conference Team&nbsp;- Val McLean (CF), Bill Hall (RF), Keith Harper (2B), Brad Rumble (LF). All-District 10 First Team&nbsp;- Galen Pfannenstiel (1B), Lance Wise (SS), Bill Hall (OF), Brad Rumble (OF). All-Area III&nbsp;- Bill Hall (OF). NAIA All-America&nbsp;- Bill Hall (OF), Lance Wise (SS).

Tiger records set during the 1974 season: Most doubles -&nbsp;Bill Hall, 16 Most stolen bases -&nbsp;Keith Harper, 26 Most times hit by pitch -&nbsp;Lance Wise, 5 Most strikeouts -&nbsp;Ray Coupal, 94 Most wins -&nbsp;Ray Coupal, 10 Most innings pitched -&nbsp;Ray Coupal, 102.2

Guiding the Tigers to the national tournament was Earl Hobbs (1929-2013) who coached the Tigers from 1967-1976. Both of his assistant coaches, Rod Ruder (1951-2021) and Frank Leo, were graduates of FHSU and were eventually inducted into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame. "We were truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to play for them," commented Brad Rumble. "What they did to help the team reach the national tournament and become part of FHSU baseball history is something we will never forget."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745327713227.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State University Athletics will pay tribute to the 1974 Tiger Baseball team for its historic achievement prior to the 7 p.m. game against Northwest Missouri State University on April 25 at Larks Park. The recognition will be a part of the annual Pack the Park event. The team was the first at FHSU to play in a national baseball tournament, specifically the NAIA National Baseball Tournament, now known as the NAIA College World Series.That season the Tigers won the NAIA District 10 Playoffs, defeating Bethany College, Emporia State, and Benedictine College to reach the NAIA Area 3 Playoffs in Oklahoma City. The Tigers then defeated Kearney State and Southeastern Oklahoma twice to reach the NAIA championship site in St. Joseph, Mo. They fell to Sam Houston State and Wisconsin-Oshkosh at the championship site, wrapping their season at 26-18 overall. The Tigers finished the year at No. 7 in the NAIA national rankings.It has been 51 years since the 1974 season, yet all 16 players on the team's postseason roster will be in attendance and recognized at Larks Park on Friday night prior to the annual Pack the Park game. The team featured just one senior and the rest were underclassmen.Below are the individuals planning to be in attendance.Outfielders: Bill Hall (Hays), Brad Rumble (Great Bend), Val McLean (Lewis) and Dick Kollhoff (Burdett).Infielders: Lance Wise (Hill City), Keith Harper (Colby), Galen Pfannenstiel (Ransom), Bill Hachmeister (Hill City), Mike Weiser (Great Bend), Mike Giarratano (Pueblo, Colo.) and Larry Koster (Cawker City).Pitchers; Ray Dolezal (Great Bend), Ken Ubelaker (Osborne), Rick Zimmerman (Denver, Colo.), and Ray Coupal (Hays).Catcher: Steve Rohr (Hays).Assistant Coach: Frank Leo (Hays).Six Tiger players received post-season honors: All-Great Plains Athletic Conference First Team&nbsp;- Brad Rumble (LF), Lance Wise (SS). Academic All-Conference Team&nbsp;- Val McLean (CF), Bill Hall (RF), Keith Harper (2B), Brad Rumble (LF). All-District 10 First Team&nbsp;- Galen Pfannenstiel (1B), Lance Wise (SS), Bill Hall (OF), Brad Rumble (OF). All-Area III&nbsp;- Bill Hall (OF). NAIA All-America&nbsp;- Bill Hall (OF), Lance Wise (SS).Tiger records set during the 1974 season: Most doubles -&nbsp;Bill Hall, 16 Most stolen bases -&nbsp;Keith Harper, 26 Most times hit by pitch -&nbsp;Lance Wise, 5 Most strikeouts -&nbsp;Ray Coupal, 94 Most wins -&nbsp;Ray Coupal, 10 Most innings pitched -&nbsp;Ray Coupal, 102.2Guiding the Tigers to the national tournament was Earl Hobbs (1929-2013) who coached the Tigers from 1967-1976. Both of his assistant coaches, Rod Ruder (1951-2021) and Frank Leo, were graduates of FHSU and were eventually inducted into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame. "We were truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to play for them," commented Brad Rumble. "What they did to help the team reach the national tournament and become part of FHSU baseball history is something we will never forget."

⚾ First FHSU national tournament team to be recognized at Pack the Park

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board approved a&nbsp;$799,728 purchase of a new English curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grades from Savvas Learning Company at its meeting Monday night.

The district has been saving money from fees in a reserve account for the anticipated purchase of this updated curriculum.

The cost includes both digital and print student materials, as well as teacher materials, for six years.

The district will implement the curriculum this fall.

The board approved marketing partnerships for advertising on the new Hays High School and Hays Middle School scoreboards.

The Hays Middle School scoreboards will have static advertising. Those signs were sold on 10-year contracts. The money from those ads was used to buy new wrestling mats for the middle school.

The new Hays High School will have video scoreboards on the football field and in the new competition gym. These scoreboards had opportunities for both static signs and digital advertising.&nbsp;

These contracts were sold for three years. Those funds will be placed in the district's capital outlay fund to cover the cost of the high school scoreboards.

Chris Hipp, USD 489 superintendent of business services, said once the scoreboard costs are recouped, advertising revenue will continue to be deposited in the capital outlay fund for future capital projects of the board's choosing.

All of the HMS scoreboard advertising has been sold, but some advertising packages for the Hays High scoreboards are still available, Ron Wilson, USD 489 superintendent, said.

Wilson also reported high winds recently damaged a soccer scoreboard. That scoreboard was installed about a year ago and was funded through donations.

The district will work with the sign and insurance companies to determine options for replacing or repairing the scoreboard, he said.

The board also approved capacity for the enrollment of nonresident students for the 2025-26 school year. This is required annually to meet state open enrollment rules.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745283268912.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board approved a&nbsp;$799,728 purchase of a new English curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grades from Savvas Learning Company at its meeting Monday night.The district has been saving money from fees in a reserve account for the anticipated purchase of this updated curriculum.The cost includes both digital and print student materials, as well as teacher materials, for six years.The district will implement the curriculum this fall.<h2>Scoreboard advertising</h2>The board approved marketing partnerships for advertising on the new Hays High School and Hays Middle School scoreboards.The Hays Middle School scoreboards will have static advertising. Those signs were sold on 10-year contracts. The money from those ads was used to buy new wrestling mats for the middle school.The new Hays High School will have video scoreboards on the football field and in the new competition gym. These scoreboards had opportunities for both static signs and digital advertising.&nbsp;These contracts were sold for three years. Those funds will be placed in the district's capital outlay fund to cover the cost of the high school scoreboards.Chris Hipp, USD 489 superintendent of business services, said once the scoreboard costs are recouped, advertising revenue will continue to be deposited in the capital outlay fund for future capital projects of the board's choosing.All of the HMS scoreboard advertising has been sold, but some advertising packages for the Hays High scoreboards are still available, Ron Wilson, USD 489 superintendent, said.Wilson also reported high winds recently damaged a soccer scoreboard. That scoreboard was installed about a year ago and was funded through donations.The district will work with the sign and insurance companies to determine options for replacing or repairing the scoreboard, he said.The board also approved capacity for the enrollment of nonresident students for the 2025-26 school year. This is required annually to meet state open enrollment rules.

Hays USD 489 school board approves new $800,000 English curriculum

TOPEKA — The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced this week that 200 Kansas high school seniors have earned the recognition as 2025 Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholars.

The announcement was made during the Kansas State Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 8, in Topeka.

The Kansas CTE Scholar&nbsp;<a>program is an opportunity to recognize well-rounded, outstanding CTE students who are finishing their senior year of high school.&nbsp;</a>The first Kansas CTE Scholars were named in 2017.

To be named a CTE Scholar, a student must be a high school senior and meet the following criteria:

A&nbsp;minimum&nbsp;of&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;technical&nbsp;skill&nbsp;attainment&nbsp;options&nbsp;must&nbsp;be&nbsp;earned&nbsp;and&nbsp;verified:

CTE scholars receive a commemorative pin, special certificate, graduation honor cord and statewide recognition.

The 2025 Kansas CTE Scholars include the following:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740581713646.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KSDETOPEKA — The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced this week that 200 Kansas high school seniors have earned the recognition as 2025 Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholars.The announcement was made during the Kansas State Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 8, in Topeka.The Kansas CTE Scholar&nbsp;<a>program is an opportunity to recognize well-rounded, outstanding CTE students who are finishing their senior year of high school.&nbsp;</a>The first Kansas CTE Scholars were named in 2017.To be named a CTE Scholar, a student must be a high school senior and meet the following criteria:<ul>
 <li>Have completed (or upon successful completion of current course enrollment) a minimum of three CTE credits with at least two of the three credits above introductory level. Earned credits must be in one pathway.</li><li>Have a CTE grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or better in CTE coursework.</li><li>Be involved in civic engagement leadership, which refers to a student selecting an issue of concern and providing leadership through project-based actions to improve the community, state or nation; or have a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer experience. A letter of validation is required for civic engagement leadership, and documentation of 40 hours with an adult signature is required for community service.</li>
 </ul>Technical Skill AttainmentA&nbsp;minimum&nbsp;of&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;technical&nbsp;skill&nbsp;attainment&nbsp;options&nbsp;must&nbsp;be&nbsp;earned&nbsp;and&nbsp;verified:<ul>
 <li>Earned&nbsp;an&nbsp;end&nbsp;of&nbsp;pathway&nbsp;(aligned&nbsp;with&nbsp;pathway&nbsp;selected)&nbsp;assessment/certiﬁcation&nbsp;for&nbsp;completer&nbsp;status&nbsp;(industry-&nbsp;recognized certiﬁcation or a passing score on a third-party, end-of- pathway assessment) recorded on the K-PAC (Kansas Pathway Assessments, Credentials or Certiﬁcations) columns eight (8) and nine (9).</li><li>Earned&nbsp;an&nbsp;Excel&nbsp;in&nbsp;CTE&nbsp;Qualifying&nbsp;Recognized&nbsp;Credential&nbsp;aligned&nbsp;to&nbsp;the Pathway selected.</li><li>Earned nine (9) + college hours leading to completion of a certiﬁcate, or post-secondary&nbsp;program&nbsp;aligned&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pathway's&nbsp;Program&nbsp;of&nbsp;Study&nbsp;that was selected.</li><li>Completed a high-quality work-based learning career preparation experience,&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Work-Based&nbsp;Learning&nbsp;Continuum,&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pathway selected deﬁned in Kansas Work-Based Learning: Personalized Learning Plan Guidance Document.</li>
 </ul>CTE scholars receive a commemorative pin, special certificate, graduation honor cord and statewide recognition.The 2025 Kansas CTE Scholars include the following:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744724977851.png" alt=" " />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744725157449.png" alt=" " />
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Kansas State Board of Education recognizes area Career and Technical Education Scholars

HAYS -&nbsp;
















The Hays High boys golf team tied Dodge City through 18 holes at Monday's Bob Blazer/Hays
High Invitational at Smoky Hill Country Club. Both teams shot a 325 but Dodge City's&nbsp;fifth man score was lower so they win the tiebreaker.


The Indians placed two in the top-10. Caleb Thompson was fourth with a 6-over-par 77 and Braiden
Bickle eighth with an 80.

Garden City's Maddix Shook won the individual title with an even-par 71.

Team Results Place. School - Score 1. Dodge City - 325 (5th man score 87) 2. Hays - 325 (5th man score 94) 3. Salina-South - 334 4. Salina Sacred Heart - 335 5. Garden City - 336 6. Liberal - 338 7. Topeka Seaman - 345 8. Salina Central - 360 9. Great Bend - 369 10. Junction City - 371

Top 10 Medalists Place. Name - School - Score 1. Maddix Shook - Garden City&nbsp; - 71 2. Kale Miller - Liberal - 73 3. Luke Newell - Salina Sacred Heart - 76 4. Caleb Thompson - Hays - 77 5. Jackson Perry - Salina South - 77 6. Aiden Robinson - Dodge City - 78 7. Rase Smith - Dodge City - 80 8. Braiden Bickle - Hays - 80 9. Bradley William - Topeka Seaman - 80 10. Ledger Michel - Salina South - 81

Hays High Results 4. Caleb Thompson - 77 8. Braiden Bickle - 80 15. Trey Oakley - 84 16. Cooper Johnson - 84 46. Mason Simmons - 94 59. Miles Weimer - 103

Hays Post SportsHAYS -&nbsp;
















The Hays High boys golf team tied Dodge City through 18 holes at Monday's Bob Blazer/Hays
High Invitational at Smoky Hill Country Club. Both teams shot a 325 but Dodge City's&nbsp;fifth man score was lower so they win the tiebreaker.
The Indians placed two in the top-10. Caleb Thompson was fourth with a 6-over-par 77 and Braiden
Bickle eighth with an 80.Garden City's Maddix Shook won the individual title with an even-par 71.Team Results Place. School - Score 1. Dodge City - 325 (5th man score 87) 2. Hays - 325 (5th man score 94) 3. Salina-South - 334 4. Salina Sacred Heart - 335 5. Garden City - 336 6. Liberal - 338 7. Topeka Seaman - 345 8. Salina Central - 360 9. Great Bend - 369 10. Junction City - 371Top 10 Medalists Place. Name - School - Score 1. Maddix Shook - Garden City&nbsp; - 71 2. Kale Miller - Liberal - 73 3. Luke Newell - Salina Sacred Heart - 76 4. Caleb Thompson - Hays - 77 5. Jackson Perry - Salina South - 77 6. Aiden Robinson - Dodge City - 78 7. Rase Smith - Dodge City - 80 8. Braiden Bickle - Hays - 80 9. Bradley William - Topeka Seaman - 80 10. Ledger Michel - Salina South - 81Hays High Results 4. Caleb Thompson - 77 8. Braiden Bickle - 80 15. Trey Oakley - 84 16. Cooper Johnson - 84 46. Mason Simmons - 94 59. Miles Weimer - 103

⛳ HHS loses tiebreaker to Dodge City at Bob Blazer

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long received $137,000 in campaign contributions — just enough to pay off a personal loan to his campaign — soon after he was tapped to lead the Internal Revenue Service.

Some of the donations are connected to companies that will be policed by the agency Long has been nominated to run.

According to recently filed financial disclosures, which were first reported on by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.levernews.com/trump-irs-pick-was-just-enriched-by-tax-schemers/" target="_blank">investigative journalism site The Lever</a>, Long only raised roughly $36,000 in the last two years.&nbsp;

He was named as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/donald-trump-picks-missouris-billy-long-to-lead-the-irs/">President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the IRS</a>&nbsp;in December, and in January received $137,000 in donations. He then paid back the remaining&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00460063/?tab=summary" target="_blank">$130,000 in debt from a $250,000 loan</a>&nbsp;he made to his unsuccessful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign.

The donations, and their timing, have renewed criticism of Long’s appointment, which still awaits Senate confirmation. Senate Democrats have already called for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-cortez-masto-call-for-criminal-investigation-into-evidence-of-fraud-by-promoters-affiliated-with-irs-nominee-billy-long" target="_blank">criminal investigation of firms with ties to Long</a>&nbsp;that they allege are involved in fraudulent tax credit schemes.&nbsp;

Among the donors to Long’s campaign are financial advisers from some of those firms.

“When they told Billy he’d be in charge of revenue collection, did they forget to tell him that meant for the American people, not his own bank account?” said Sean Nicholson, a longtime progressive activist and campaign consultant in Missouri.&nbsp;

Jordan Libowitz, vice president of communications for the liberal watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the timing of the donations and the “explicit knowledge that they’d end up directly in Long’s bank account, it’s hard to see them as anything other than an attempt to curry favor with the future head of the IRS.”

Long did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

After a career as an auctioneer and conservative radio host, Long served six terms representing a Southwest Missouri congressional district. He gave up his seat to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/07/21/billy-longs-chances-in-missouri-gop-senate-primary-depend-on-donald-trump/">run for U.S. Senate in 2022</a>, losing in the GOP primary to now-Sen. Eric Schmitt.&nbsp;

Long then worked for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/24/business/billy-long-irs-tax-credit.html" target="_blank">Lifetime Advisors</a>&nbsp;and earned at least $5,000 in income from&nbsp;<a href="https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/trump-irs-pick-has-ties-to-group-that-pushed-dubious-tax-credits" target="_blank">White River Energy</a>. Both companies have drawn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-presses-irs-nominee-billy-long-on-questionable-record-of-pushing-fraud-ridden-tax-credit" target="_blank">scorn from Senate Democrats</a>, and intense media scrutiny, over their involvement in controversial tax credit programs.&nbsp;

In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/16/ted-cruz-supreme-court-campaign-finance/" target="_blank">U.S. Supreme Court struck down a limit&nbsp;</a>on the amount of post-election funds a candidate can use to pay back personal loans. The majority found the limit an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech, while the dissenting justices argued removing it would pave the way for political corruption.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Even if our broken campaign finance system allows this behavior,” Libowitz said, “it raises serious questions about future conflicts of interest and needs to be addressed in any hearings (Billy Long) has before Congress.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734986359615.png" alt="- Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for to be on the ballot in the Missouri GOP Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>- Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for to be on the ballot in the Missouri GOP Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long received $137,000 in campaign contributions — just enough to pay off a personal loan to his campaign — soon after he was tapped to lead the Internal Revenue Service.Some of the donations are connected to companies that will be policed by the agency Long has been nominated to run.According to recently filed financial disclosures, which were first reported on by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.levernews.com/trump-irs-pick-was-just-enriched-by-tax-schemers/" target="_blank">investigative journalism site The Lever</a>, Long only raised roughly $36,000 in the last two years.&nbsp;He was named as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/donald-trump-picks-missouris-billy-long-to-lead-the-irs/">President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the IRS</a>&nbsp;in December, and in January received $137,000 in donations. He then paid back the remaining&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00460063/?tab=summary" target="_blank">$130,000 in debt from a $250,000 loan</a>&nbsp;he made to his unsuccessful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign.The donations, and their timing, have renewed criticism of Long’s appointment, which still awaits Senate confirmation. Senate Democrats have already called for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-cortez-masto-call-for-criminal-investigation-into-evidence-of-fraud-by-promoters-affiliated-with-irs-nominee-billy-long" target="_blank">criminal investigation of firms with ties to Long</a>&nbsp;that they allege are involved in fraudulent tax credit schemes.&nbsp;Among the donors to Long’s campaign are financial advisers from some of those firms.“When they told Billy he’d be in charge of revenue collection, did they forget to tell him that meant for the American people, not his own bank account?” said Sean Nicholson, a longtime progressive activist and campaign consultant in Missouri.&nbsp;Jordan Libowitz, vice president of communications for the liberal watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the timing of the donations and the “explicit knowledge that they’d end up directly in Long’s bank account, it’s hard to see them as anything other than an attempt to curry favor with the future head of the IRS.”Long did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;After a career as an auctioneer and conservative radio host, Long served six terms representing a Southwest Missouri congressional district. He gave up his seat to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/07/21/billy-longs-chances-in-missouri-gop-senate-primary-depend-on-donald-trump/">run for U.S. Senate in 2022</a>, losing in the GOP primary to now-Sen. Eric Schmitt.&nbsp;Long then worked for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/24/business/billy-long-irs-tax-credit.html" target="_blank">Lifetime Advisors</a>&nbsp;and earned at least $5,000 in income from&nbsp;<a href="https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/trump-irs-pick-has-ties-to-group-that-pushed-dubious-tax-credits" target="_blank">White River Energy</a>. Both companies have drawn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-presses-irs-nominee-billy-long-on-questionable-record-of-pushing-fraud-ridden-tax-credit" target="_blank">scorn from Senate Democrats</a>, and intense media scrutiny, over their involvement in controversial tax credit programs.&nbsp;In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/16/ted-cruz-supreme-court-campaign-finance/" target="_blank">U.S. Supreme Court struck down a limit&nbsp;</a>on the amount of post-election funds a candidate can use to pay back personal loans. The majority found the limit an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech, while the dissenting justices argued removing it would pave the way for political corruption.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Even if our broken campaign finance system allows this behavior,” Libowitz said, “it raises serious questions about future conflicts of interest and needs to be addressed in any hearings (Billy Long) has before Congress.”&nbsp;Last updated 5:57 a.m., Apr. 19, 2025

Billy Long’s bid to lead IRS under scrutiny over donations that paid off personal debt

The undefeated TMP-Marian Monarchs are ranked No. 1 in Class 2-1A in the latest rankings from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.

Great Bend is the only other area school ranked. The Panthers sit at No. 4 in Class 5A.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685535233177.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsThe undefeated TMP-Marian Monarchs are ranked No. 1 in Class 2-1A in the latest rankings from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.Great Bend is the only other area school ranked. The Panthers sit at No. 4 in Class 5A.Class 6A<ol>
 <li>Olathe East</li><li>Lawrence Free State</li><li>Olathe West</li><li>Blue Valley West</li><li>Mill Valley</li><li>Blue Valley Northwest</li><li>Maize</li><li>Wichita-Haysville Campus</li><li>Shawnee Mission East</li><li>Blue Valley</li>
 </ol>Class 5A<ol>
 <li>St. Thomas Aquinas</li><li>Shawnee Heights</li><li>Bishop Carroll</li><li>Great Bend</li><li>Topeka Seaman</li><li>Blue Valley Southwest</li><li>Goddard Eisenhower</li><li>Spring Hill</li><li>Salina South</li><li>Maize South</li>
 </ol>Class 4A<ol>
 <li>McPherson</li><li>Topeka Hayden</li><li>Paola</li><li>Fort Scott</li><li>Mulvane</li><li>Louisburg</li><li>St. George-Rock Creek</li><li>Independence</li><li>Clay Center/Wakefield</li><li>Buhler</li>
 </ol>Class 3A<ol>
 <li>Cheney</li><li>Meriden-Jeff West</li><li>Silver Lake</li><li>Iola</li><li>Haven</li><li>KC-Bishop Ward</li><li>Riverside</li><li>Council Grove</li><li>Hesston</li><li>Columbus</li>
 </ol>Class 2-1A<ol>
 <li>TMP Marian</li><li>Sedgwick</li><li>Richmond-Central Heights</li><li>Eskridge-Mission Valley</li><li>Elkhart</li><li>Little River</li><li>Valley Falls</li><li>Frankfort</li><li>Colony-Crest</li><li>Pittsburg-St. Mary's Colgan</li>
 </ol>

⚾ TMP-Marian No. 1 in latest KABC rankings

ROME (AP) —Pope Francis died Monday, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f684920e3ec74a2fbe58371e09ae9112">concern for the poor</a>&nbsp;but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.

Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.

JD Vance says ‘my heart goes out to millions of Christians’

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is in India and had met&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vance-us-migration-c9fc577cabff138de7bd8026133994fc">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;on Easter Sunday, said his “heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him”

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful,” Vance wrote on X. “May God rest his soul.”

Putin says Francis defended humanism and justice

In a letter of condolences, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the pope’s international clout as a “consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice.”

Putin said that the pope “actively encouraged the development of a dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See.”

King Charles praises Francis for working to protect the environment

King Charles III praised the late pope for his work on safeguarding the planet, saying he had profoundly touched the lives of many.

In a statement signed “Charles R,’’ the monarch says the pope will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith.

“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,’’ Charles said. “The queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.’’

he pope met privately with Charles and Queen Camilla on April 10 at the Vatican during the royal couple’s four-day state visit to Italy. It was the pope’s first known meeting with a foreign dignitary after he was hospitalized for five weeks with double-pneumonia.

Charles had been scheduled to make a full-scale state visit to the Vatican in conjunction with his tour of Italy, but the visit was postponed due to Francis’ illness. The brief private audience earlier this month was scheduled at the last minute and lasted about 20 minutes.

Zelenskyy says Francis was praying for peace in Ukraine

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country grieves together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Francis for spiritual support.

“He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. Eternal memory!” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Head of US bishops says Francis will be remembered for outreach to those on the margins

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement that Francis will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the church and society.

“He renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all,” he said.

“Recently, he expressed anew prayerful hope in his letter of support to the bishops of this country in our attempts to respond to the face of Christ in the migrant, poor, and unborn. In fact, he has always used the strongest and clearest expressions in the defense of the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.”

Head of World Jewish Congress says Francis was a true moral leader

The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, described Francis as “a true moral leader, a man of deep faith and humanity, and a steadfast friend to the Jewish people.”

“From his early years in Argentina to his papacy, Pope Francis was deeply committed to fostering interfaith dialogue and ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust remained a guiding lesson for future generations,” he said.

“In November 2022, our Executive Committee had the honor of convening in Vatican City. There, we held a private audience with Pope Francis where we launched the historic ‘Kishreinu’ (Our Bond) initiative, marking a new chapter in Catholic-Jewish relations and reinforcing the common future of our two peoples.”

Turkish leader says Francis was dedicated to interfaith dialogue

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Francis was dedicated to building interfaith dialogue and addressing “human tragedies” such as the Palestinian issue and the war in Gaza.

“A respected statesman, Pope Francis was also a spiritual leader who valued dialogue between different faith groups and took the initiative in the face of human tragedies, especially the Palestinian issue and the genocide in Gaza,” Erdogan wrote on X.

Israel has adamantly denied allegations of genocide in Gaza, calling them baseless and antisemitic. Pope Francis had said such allegations should be investigated while also calling for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

Iran’s president commends Francis’ position on the war in Gaza

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered condolences for Francis and praised his humanitarian stance including support for “innocent Palestinian women and children” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Irish leader says Francis recognized every human’s essential dignity

Irish President Michael Higgins says Francis’ recognition of the “essential dignity” of every human being helped him confront issues such as climate change and the plight of migrants, as well as the child sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the church.

Higgins, who has been Ireland’s president since 2011, said he discussed these issues with Francis during five meetings over the course of his papacy.

During his last visit to Ireland in 2018, Francis spoke about the child sexual abuse scandal that has undermined support for the church in the once overwhelmingly Catholic country.

“On such matters, and on others such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role,” Higgins said. “I recall at the end of our meetings he would say as to his work on such issues, ‘it is very difficult’, as he asked for and offered prayers.”

Albania’s leader calls Francis the country’s great friend

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama called Francis the country’s “great and unforgettable friend.”

For his first European journey in 2014, Francis chose Albania, a land of 3 million population that has become a symbol of interfaith dialogue.

Albania is a predominantly Muslim nation, with smaller Catholic and Orthodox communities who generally live in harmony. All of them suffered gravely under Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, who declared Albania the world’s first atheist state in 1967. Religious authorities of all faiths were killed, tortured, imprisoned or sent to labor camps.

Churches in the Philippines ring bells to mourn Francis

Churches in the Philippines, the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia, rang their bells Monday to mourn Francis. He visited in 2015 to console survivors of Typhoon Haiyan and celebrate Mass before millions in Manila.

“Pope Francis showed us what it means to suffer with others and find hope in the midst of pain,” Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula said, citing the pope’s visit to a central region where Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in November 2013.

“The Holy Father has reminded us that the church must be close to the poor, merciful to all and a welcoming home for the forgotten,” said Advincula.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Francis “taught us that to be a good Christian is to extend kindness and care to one another. His humility brought many back to the fold of the church.”

Flags across UK ordered to fly at half-staff

British authorities ordered that government buildings fly flags at half-staff until Tuesday evening in light of the pope’s death.

Mother of a slain Israeli-American hostage praises Francis

The mother of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hersh-goldberg-polin-israel-palestinians-gaza-hostages-0be443e7ce616cbce3f2cb984e7971ca">a slain American-Israeli hostage</a>&nbsp;praised Pope Francis’ advocacy for Hamas-held captives in the Gaza Strip.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, who was among families of the hostages who met with the pope in November 2023, said he “felt our sorrow and suffering, and we so appreciated his advocacy on this topic, and on trying to find peace and reconciliation.”

Francis had repeatedly called for the release of the hostages abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and for an end to the war it sparked.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages were killed by their captors last year as Israeli troops closed in on the tunnel where they were being held.

First formal Vatican service for Francis set for Monday evening

The first formal liturgical ritual for Francis will occur at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Monday with the confirmation of the pope’s death and the placement of the body in the coffin.

The Vatican released the announcement from Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the master of liturgical ceremonies. The presiding prelate is Cardinal Joseph Farrell, the camerlengo who has taken over the administration of the Holy See and will remain in charge until a new pope is elected.

Those invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived, are the dean of the College of Cardinals, any relatives of the pope, the director and vice director of the Vatican’s health department.

According to the new rites and rituals Francis approved last year, the body will remain in the chapel for a few days before being brought for public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica. After that there will be the funeral and conclave to elect a new pope.

Canonization of the first millennial saint postponed after Francis’ death

The canonization of the first millennial saint,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/carlo-acutis-saint-millennial-catholic-church-assisi-ec1b2805f12f1795833c02c1c266d9f8">Carlo Acutis</a>, has been postponed due to the death Monday of Pope Francis, the Vatican announced.

Acutis, an Italian teen, used his computer savvy to create an online exhibit about more than 100 eucharistic miracles recognized by the church over many centuries, focused on the real presence of Christ that Catholics believe is in the consecrated bread and wine.

He died of acute leukemia at age 15 in 2006. The canonization was planned for Sunday.

Egypt’s Muslim cleric mourns ‘his brother’ Francis

Egypt’s top Muslim cleric mourned the death of “his brother” Pope Francis and offered condolences to Catholics around the world.

“Pope Francis was a humanitarian icon of the highest caliber, sparing no effort in serving the message of humanity,” Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam, said in a statement.

He recalled that the relationship between the Islamic world and the Vatican was developed under the pontiff’s watch.

Flags flew at half-staff in overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Italy to mourn the death of Francis on Easter Monday, a public holiday.

The faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, where bells tolled in mourning.

Sister Monica Gonzales, who was visiting from Mexico, called Francis’ death “a great loss for the church and for the whole world. A pope who worked so hard for peace, and for the good of all. Let’s all pray for him.”

Eva Bonnano, from Philadelphia, called it “a very sad day. It is honestly impressive, I think, that he made it to Easter, I think that is almost like a miracle for Italy.”

Johann Xavier said he had traveled from Australia, hoping to see the pope during his visit. “But then we heard about it when we came in here. It pretty much devastated all of us. It is really sad,’’ he said.

British prime minister describes Francis as a courageous leader

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Francis as a courageous leader who reached out to people all beliefs around the world.

Starmer says Francis’ leadership in a “complex and challenging time’’ stemmed from the pontiff’s deep humility.

“Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten,’’ Starmer says in a statement. “He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world.’’

Bells of St. Peter’s Basilica toll for pope’s death

Shortly after noon Rome time, the great bells of St. Peter’s Basilica began tolling to mark Francis’ death. Tourists in the square stopped in their tracks to record the moment on their phones.

LGBTQ+ group thanks Francis for his advocacy

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry — a U.S.-based group advocating for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church — thanked Pope Francis for his outreach.

“With simple words and gentle gestures, Pope Francis powerfully moved the Catholic Church to become a more welcoming home for LGBTQ+ people,” he said.

“Francis was not only the first pope to use the word ‘gay’ when speaking about LGBTQ+ people, he was the first pope to speak lovingly and tenderly to them. His kind words of welcome to this community, traditionally marginalized in the church, rang loudly around the globe.”

Vatican prepares first rituals for pope’s death

The Vatican is preparing the first rituals following Francis’ death: The body of the pope is expected to be transferred within the course of the day to the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived, so that Vatican officials can pay their final respects.

There, the head of the Vatican health service examines the body, ascertains the cause of death and writes a report which is expected late Monday.

The body rests in the pope’s personal chapel for the ritual pronouncement of death, presided over by the camerlengo, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See administration between the death or resignation of one pope and the election of another.

For the public, the cardinal archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, is expected to lead a recitation of the Rosary prayer in St. Peter’s Square later Monday.

A bishop in Southern Arabia remembers pope’s visit to Abu Dhabi

Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia, issued a statement saying that “all the people in the UAE are greatly saddened by the death of Pope Francis, whom we remember with gratitude for his visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019.”

He asked all parishes to plan a Mass for Francis. The vicariate oversees the Catholic Church in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, called Francis “a great leader whose compassion and commitment to peace touched countless lives.”

“His legacy of humility and interfaith unity will continue to inspire many communities around the world,” Sheikh Mohammed said in an online message.

Maine bishop says Francis’ legacy is one of mercy and compassion

Bishop James Ruggieri of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, said that Francis’ legacy will be “one of mercy and compassion, but also of hope. In this Jubilee Year, may we honor Pope Francis by carrying on his mission and living as pilgrims of hope.”

World leaders pay tribute to the late Pope Francis

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">sent in another chain</a>&nbsp;with top Trump administration leaders, The New York Times reported.

A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press.

The second chat on Signal — which is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/signal-app-atlantic-war-plans-32699da142c5209b845e57f690df4925">commercially available app</a>&nbsp;not authorized to be used to communicate sensitive or classified national defense information — included 13 people, the person said. They also confirmed the chat was dubbed “Defense ' Team Huddle.”

The New York Times reported that the group included Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer, and his brother&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-brother-signal-dhs-hired-68678a8a653c79a4c6ae31a8bee64836">Phil Hegseth, who was hired at the Pentagon</a>&nbsp;as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. Both have traveled with the defense secretary and attended high-level meetings.

The revelation of the additional chat group brought fresh criticism against Hegseth and President Donald Trump’s wider administration after it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-signal-yemen-atlantic-group-chat-4b09973f4df3711d5d5ff88e8f9f96e0">failed to take action</a>&nbsp;so far against the top national security officials who discussed plans for the military strike in Signal.

“The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X. “Pete Hegseth must be fired.”

The first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/war-plans-trump-hegseth-atlantic-230718a984911dd8663d59edbcb86f2a">came to light</a>&nbsp;because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group.

The contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, shows that Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on Iran-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-yemen-houthis-rebels-attack-airstrike-11b0e080b3982542dd621338a7b18afd">Houthis in Yemen</a>&nbsp;last month.

The White House, the National Security Council and a Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment about the additional chat group.

Hegseth has previously contended that no classified information or war plans were shared in the chat with the journalist.

The Times reported Sunday that the second chat had the same warplane launch times that the first chat included. Multiple former and current officials have said sharing those operational details before a strike would have certainly been classified and their release could have put pilots in danger.

Hegseth’s use of Signal and the sharing of such plans are under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-messaging-app-attack-plans-f8581bcb447b91d2e7f9cb7809ae0f06">investigation by the Defense Department’s acting inspector general</a>. It came at the request of the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee — Republican Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and ranking Democratic member Jack Reed of Rhode Island.

The new revelations come amid further turmoil at the Pentagon. Four officials in Hegseth’s inner circle departed last week as the Pentagon conducts a widespread investigation for information leaks.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caldwell-pentagon-investigation-leaks-hegseth-344d480e47cf4c04e0b2c510bd333b02">Dan Caldwell</a>, a Hegseth aide; Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; and Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ullyot-leaks-pentagon-hegseth-trump-dei-d5306e0441dacae1a0d03c871be265bb">were escorted out of the Pentagon</a>.

While the three initially had been placed on leave pending the investigation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/dandcaldwell/status/1913701312929149363?s=46" target="_blank">joint statement shared by Caldwell</a>&nbsp;on X on Saturday said the three “still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with.”

Caldwell was the staff member designated as Hegseth’s point person in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">Signal chat</a>&nbsp;with Trump Cabinet members.

Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot also announced he was resigning last week, unrelated to the leaks. The Pentagon said, however, that Ullyot was asked to resign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742991811532.png" alt="File photo Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responding to original questions about the Signal Chat-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responding to original questions about the Signal Chat-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where he shared similar details of a March military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">sent in another chain</a>&nbsp;with top Trump administration leaders, The New York Times reported.A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press.The second chat on Signal — which is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/signal-app-atlantic-war-plans-32699da142c5209b845e57f690df4925">commercially available app</a>&nbsp;not authorized to be used to communicate sensitive or classified national defense information — included 13 people, the person said. They also confirmed the chat was dubbed “Defense ' Team Huddle.”The New York Times reported that the group included Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, who is a former Fox News producer, and his brother&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-brother-signal-dhs-hired-68678a8a653c79a4c6ae31a8bee64836">Phil Hegseth, who was hired at the Pentagon</a>&nbsp;as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. Both have traveled with the defense secretary and attended high-level meetings.The revelation of the additional chat group brought fresh criticism against Hegseth and President Donald Trump’s wider administration after it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-signal-yemen-atlantic-group-chat-4b09973f4df3711d5d5ff88e8f9f96e0">failed to take action</a>&nbsp;so far against the top national security officials who discussed plans for the military strike in Signal.“The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X. “Pete Hegseth must be fired.”The first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/war-plans-trump-hegseth-atlantic-230718a984911dd8663d59edbcb86f2a">came to light</a>&nbsp;because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group.The contents of that chat, which The Atlantic published, shows that Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on Iran-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-yemen-houthis-rebels-attack-airstrike-11b0e080b3982542dd621338a7b18afd">Houthis in Yemen</a>&nbsp;last month.The White House, the National Security Council and a Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment about the additional chat group.Hegseth has previously contended that no classified information or war plans were shared in the chat with the journalist.The Times reported Sunday that the second chat had the same warplane launch times that the first chat included. Multiple former and current officials have said sharing those operational details before a strike would have certainly been classified and their release could have put pilots in danger.Hegseth’s use of Signal and the sharing of such plans are under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-messaging-app-attack-plans-f8581bcb447b91d2e7f9cb7809ae0f06">investigation by the Defense Department’s acting inspector general</a>. It came at the request of the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee — Republican Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and ranking Democratic member Jack Reed of Rhode Island.The new revelations come amid further turmoil at the Pentagon. Four officials in Hegseth’s inner circle departed last week as the Pentagon conducts a widespread investigation for information leaks.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caldwell-pentagon-investigation-leaks-hegseth-344d480e47cf4c04e0b2c510bd333b02">Dan Caldwell</a>, a Hegseth aide; Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; and Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ullyot-leaks-pentagon-hegseth-trump-dei-d5306e0441dacae1a0d03c871be265bb">were escorted out of the Pentagon</a>.While the three initially had been placed on leave pending the investigation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/dandcaldwell/status/1913701312929149363?s=46" target="_blank">joint statement shared by Caldwell</a>&nbsp;on X on Saturday said the three “still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with.”Caldwell was the staff member designated as Hegseth’s point person in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">Signal chat</a>&nbsp;with Trump Cabinet members.Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot also announced he was resigning last week, unrelated to the leaks. The Pentagon said, however, that Ullyot was asked to resign.___

New controversy over Hegseth's use of Signal chat 

The Hays USD 489 school board will consider a request for $799,728 to purchase a new English curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grades from Savvas Learning Company at its meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center.

The board also will hear bond project updates,&nbsp;consider approval of the recommendation regarding capacity for the enrollment of nonresident students for the 2025-26 school year and consider marketing partnerships.

Revenue from these partnerships will be used to offset the cost of video and scoreboards. 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board will consider a request for $799,728 to purchase a new English curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grades from Savvas Learning Company at its meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center.The district has been saving money from fees in a reserve account for the anticipated purchase of this updated curriculum.The board also will hear bond project updates,&nbsp;consider approval of the recommendation regarding capacity for the enrollment of nonresident students for the 2025-26 school year and consider marketing partnerships.Revenue from these partnerships will be used to offset the cost of video and scoreboards.

Hays USD 489 school board to consider purchase of new English curriculum

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about the industrial development on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Grow Hays - Industrial Development" 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=337gp-188494a-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>
Podbean Player
 </div>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about the industrial development on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: Grow Hays on A&A Coors' new facility, industrial development

HOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTES WEEK OF April 21 – April 25, 2025

THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE!

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS…. SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

--April 22 • We hope you all had a blessed Easter! • Kindergarten &amp; 1st Grade Easter Fun/Hunts. • Congratulations to the students who had winning pieces in the Hays Arts Council Creative Writing Contest!&nbsp;

--April 23 • 2nd Grade Team Day (feed the pig prize). • No 2nd Grade SPARK today. • Administrative Professionals Day -- thank you to our office ladies, Ms. Karla, Ms. Toni and Ms. Tracy, for all that they do behind the scenes to keep the day-to-day moving smoothly and the communication flowing. They process all payments, manage all of the student files, answer numerous phone calls &amp; emails, &amp; take care of us when we don’t feel well! Give them a high-five if you see them today! • Famous Figures Finals will be at 8:45 a.m. in the L.T. and all are welcome to watch. • 150th Day of School for 1st grade and they’ll celebrate with a 1950s Sock Hop and root beer floats from 12:00-1:30 in the A.C. • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 4th grade this afternoon. • 5th Gr. Joyful Noise will meet at 2:45.

--April 24 • Students, if you didn’t hear, Dominic Savio Club is selling Buddy Bracelets before school in the Activity Center. Bracelets are $1 and come in lots of different colors. All bracelet sales will be used for improvements to our school playground! • No 3rd grade SPARK today. • TMP Students will visit 1B. • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 5th grade at 2:30 p.m.&nbsp;

--April 25 • Hourly staff timesheets are due to Ms. Karla in the office this morning. • It’s RACE FOR EDUCATION DAY! Students will go out at their scheduled race time to walk/jog around the 1/8 mile track out on the playground parking lot. Don’t forget to bring your water bottles outside with you for drink breaks! Thank you for all of the donations made toward Holy Family for this special fundraiser! • 4th Grade Siesta Fiesta feed the pig prize. 5th Grade Sweats &amp; Favorite Team Shirt day for feed the pig prize. • Kindergarten Silly Socks &amp; Hat Day. • 4th &amp; 5th grade will switch lunch times with 2nd &amp; 3rd grade today due to the race.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737555085782.png" alt="Holy Family Elementary School, Hays. File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Holy Family Elementary School, Hays. File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Holy Family Elementary SchoolHOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTES WEEK OF April 21 – April 25, 2025THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE!CATHOLIC SCHOOLS…. SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!MONDAY--April 21 NO SCHOOL!TUESDAY--April 22 • We hope you all had a blessed Easter! • Kindergarten &amp; 1st Grade Easter Fun/Hunts. • Congratulations to the students who had winning pieces in the Hays Arts Council Creative Writing Contest!&nbsp;WEDNESDAY--April 23 • 2nd Grade Team Day (feed the pig prize). • No 2nd Grade SPARK today. • Administrative Professionals Day -- thank you to our office ladies, Ms. Karla, Ms. Toni and Ms. Tracy, for all that they do behind the scenes to keep the day-to-day moving smoothly and the communication flowing. They process all payments, manage all of the student files, answer numerous phone calls &amp; emails, &amp; take care of us when we don’t feel well! Give them a high-five if you see them today! • Famous Figures Finals will be at 8:45 a.m. in the L.T. and all are welcome to watch. • 150th Day of School for 1st grade and they’ll celebrate with a 1950s Sock Hop and root beer floats from 12:00-1:30 in the A.C. • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 4th grade this afternoon. • 5th Gr. Joyful Noise will meet at 2:45.THURSDAY--April 24 • Students, if you didn’t hear, Dominic Savio Club is selling Buddy Bracelets before school in the Activity Center. Bracelets are $1 and come in lots of different colors. All bracelet sales will be used for improvements to our school playground! • No 3rd grade SPARK today. • TMP Students will visit 1B. • Sr. Rose Marie will visit 5th grade at 2:30 p.m.&nbsp;FRIDAY--April 25 • Hourly staff timesheets are due to Ms. Karla in the office this morning. • It’s RACE FOR EDUCATION DAY! Students will go out at their scheduled race time to walk/jog around the 1/8 mile track out on the playground parking lot. Don’t forget to bring your water bottles outside with you for drink breaks! Thank you for all of the donations made toward Holy Family for this special fundraiser! • 4th Grade Siesta Fiesta feed the pig prize. 5th Grade Sweats &amp; Favorite Team Shirt day for feed the pig prize. • Kindergarten Silly Socks &amp; Hat Day. • 4th &amp; 5th grade will switch lunch times with 2nd &amp; 3rd grade today due to the race.

Holy Family Elementary School notes, April 21-25, 2025

KANSAS CITY—A&nbsp; Kansas City father and son face charges in connection with a fatal dog mauling that took place last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2589/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux II</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2588/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux I</a>&nbsp;face one count of 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of 2nd Degree Assault each.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2587/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 3200 block of East 80th Street on Nov. 2, 2024, and found numerous dogs attacking the victim. Officers used sirens and air horns to scare away the dogs and they retreated to Thibeaux II’s yard through holes in a chain-link fence. The fence was improperly installed, allowing the dogs to enter and exit the yard.

The victim, who suffered severe wounds, died days later. Another person was also bitten while trying to stop the attack.

Surveillance video showed the dogs behind the fence in Thibeaux II’s yard before the attack. One of the dogs was outside the fence and began attacking the victim. The other dogs crawled under the chain-link fence and joined in the attack.&nbsp;

Witnesses reported the dogs regularly roamed the neighborhood, had attacked neighbors’ pets, were aggressive toward people, and even bit someone in the neighborhood on two separate occasions. Text messages revealed Thibeaux I knew about the dogs’ behavior.&nbsp;

Detectives also discovered Thibeaux II operated a dog breeding business, as evidenced by social media posts advertising puppies for sale. Thibeaux II also admitted in texts that one of his dogs had bitten him while he tried to break up a fight between his dogs, just months before the fatal attack.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745011329889.png" alt="John R. Thibeaux-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>John R. Thibeaux-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A&nbsp; Kansas City father and son face charges in connection with a fatal dog mauling that took place last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2589/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux II</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2588/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux I</a>&nbsp;face one count of 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of 2nd Degree Assault each.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745011303839.png" alt="John R. Thibeaux II photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>John R. Thibeaux II photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2587/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 3200 block of East 80th Street on Nov. 2, 2024, and found numerous dogs attacking the victim. Officers used sirens and air horns to scare away the dogs and they retreated to Thibeaux II’s yard through holes in a chain-link fence. The fence was improperly installed, allowing the dogs to enter and exit the yard.The victim, who suffered severe wounds, died days later. Another person was also bitten while trying to stop the attack.Surveillance video showed the dogs behind the fence in Thibeaux II’s yard before the attack. One of the dogs was outside the fence and began attacking the victim. The other dogs crawled under the chain-link fence and joined in the attack.&nbsp;Witnesses reported the dogs regularly roamed the neighborhood, had attacked neighbors’ pets, were aggressive toward people, and even bit someone in the neighborhood on two separate occasions. Text messages revealed Thibeaux I knew about the dogs’ behavior.&nbsp;Detectives also discovered Thibeaux II operated a dog breeding business, as evidenced by social media posts advertising puppies for sale. Thibeaux II also admitted in texts that one of his dogs had bitten him while he tried to break up a fight between his dogs, just months before the fatal attack.&nbsp;Both defendants are in custody on a $100,000 bond each.&nbsp;