Midwest Energy is proposing a new three-part electric rate structure for residential and small business (General Service Small) featuring a customer charge, energy charge and a demand charge and would begin Jan. 1.&nbsp; The proposed rate changes would be revenue-neutral for the cooperative and would be phased in over a period of four years. As demand charges are introduced, energy charges will decline each year, offsetting much (in some cases, all) of the demand charge, resulting in a $0 monthly increase for an average residential customer.​

Currently, most Midwest Energy residential and small business customers have a two-part rate structure; a customer charge, which is a fixed $28 per month charge for all residential customers, and an energy charge, which is based on the volume of kilowatt hours of electricity used during the month.

The proposed rate change would introduce a third component, a demand charge. Demand refers to the amount of electrical power being used at a given time. While the energy charge is based on the volume of electricity used in kilowatt hours (kWh), demand is based on the intensity at which energy is used (or the “demand” one puts on the grid) in kilowatts (kW). &nbsp;

The proposed rate structure sends a price signal for demand, which could lower the cooperative’s costs for system capacity, resulting in lower costs for all customers in the future. &nbsp;Additionally, by adding a demand component to bills, customers will have two ways in which to control their energy savings: through managing their demand, as well as using energy efficiently.&nbsp;

Public information meetings about the new electric rate proposal are scheduled for October. The locations are spread throughout the service area to give as many members as possible a chance to attend. All Midwest Energy electric customers are encouraged to attend.

• Colby:&nbsp; October 11,&nbsp;6:30&nbsp;p.m., Colby Community College, Student Union&nbsp; • Kinsley:&nbsp; October 18,&nbsp;6:30&nbsp;p.m., City Hall, Community Room • Great Bend:&nbsp;October 19,&nbsp;6:30 p.m., Great Bend Front Door, 1615 Tenth St. • Hays:&nbsp; October 20,&nbsp;6:30&nbsp;p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 221&nbsp;W 43rd St.&nbsp;

For more information on the proposed rates, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mwenergy.com/residential/demand_rates">www.mwenergy.com/residential/demand_rates</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586196165303.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseMidwest Energy is proposing a new three-part electric rate structure for residential and small business (General Service Small) featuring a customer charge, energy charge and a demand charge and would begin Jan. 1.&nbsp; The proposed rate changes would be revenue-neutral for the cooperative and would be phased in over a period of four years. As demand charges are introduced, energy charges will decline each year, offsetting much (in some cases, all) of the demand charge, resulting in a $0 monthly increase for an average residential customer.​Currently, most Midwest Energy residential and small business customers have a two-part rate structure; a customer charge, which is a fixed $28 per month charge for all residential customers, and an energy charge, which is based on the volume of kilowatt hours of electricity used during the month.The proposed rate change would introduce a third component, a demand charge. Demand refers to the amount of electrical power being used at a given time. While the energy charge is based on the volume of electricity used in kilowatt hours (kWh), demand is based on the intensity at which energy is used (or the “demand” one puts on the grid) in kilowatts (kW). &nbsp;The proposed rate structure sends a price signal for demand, which could lower the cooperative’s costs for system capacity, resulting in lower costs for all customers in the future. &nbsp;Additionally, by adding a demand component to bills, customers will have two ways in which to control their energy savings: through managing their demand, as well as using energy efficiently.&nbsp;Public information meetings about the new electric rate proposal are scheduled for October. The locations are spread throughout the service area to give as many members as possible a chance to attend. All Midwest Energy electric customers are encouraged to attend.• Colby:&nbsp; October 11,&nbsp;6:30&nbsp;p.m., Colby Community College, Student Union&nbsp; • Kinsley:&nbsp; October 18,&nbsp;6:30&nbsp;p.m., City Hall, Community Room • Great Bend:&nbsp;October 19,&nbsp;6:30 p.m., Great Bend Front Door, 1615 Tenth St. • Hays:&nbsp; October 20,&nbsp;6:30&nbsp;p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 221&nbsp;W 43rd St.&nbsp;For more information on the proposed rates, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mwenergy.com/residential/demand_rates">www.mwenergy.com/residential/demand_rates</a>.

Midwest Energy holding public meetings on proposed rate changes

HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's golf team placed ninth at the Lady Tiger Classic this week at Smoky Hill Country Club. The Tigers posted a team score of 333 in the second round after opening the tournament with a first-round 328 on Monday.

&nbsp; After leading the way following an opening-round score of even-par 72,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6948">Morgan Brasser</a>&nbsp;finished in a tie for ninth after posting an 11-over 83 on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6954">Hannah Nimmo</a>&nbsp;paced the Tigers on Tuesday with a 9-over 81, carding nine pars and nine bogeys. She was the only player on the team without a double bogey or worse on the day. The freshman finished in a tie for 43rd out of 70 golfers at 25-over. Competing as an individual,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6951">Lexie Ridder</a>&nbsp;improved her score by one stroke to place in a tie for 29th at 21-over following a second-round 10-over 82. She opened the day with a birdie on No. 10, one of only 10 birdies on that hole all week. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6952">Kerrigan Rudolph</a>&nbsp;chipped in for eagle on the par-5 second hole and finished her round with back-to-back birdies on holes eight and nine to post a 12-over 84, finishing the week at 28-over to place in a tie for 52nd. Her eagle was one of just three in the entire field across the two rounds. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6953">Aliyah North</a>&nbsp;tied with fellow freshman Nimmo for 43rd at 25-over for the week following a round of 13-over 85 on Tuesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6949">Shauna Lee</a>&nbsp;was one shot back of her teammates across the two rounds, finishing in a tie for 46th after a second-round score of 14-over 86.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6950">Ella McKee</a>&nbsp;fired a 92 on Tuesday, finishing in a tie for 57th at 33-over for the week. Central Missouri won the team title by 22 shots over Rogers State following rounds of 303 and 305, with three Jennies earning all-tournament honors. Mia Rallo won the individual title at seven-over with two others tying for second at eight over. Fort Hays State will take a week off before returning to competition at the Fall Regional Preview in Larchwood, Iowa at Grand Falls Casino &amp; Golf Resort October 8-9. Full FHSU Results 9th - Team - 328 - 333 - 661 (+85) T9th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6948">Morgan Brasser</a>&nbsp;- 72 - 83 -- 155 (+11) T29th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6951">Lexie Ridder</a>&nbsp;- 83 - 82 -- 165 (+21) T43rd -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6953">Aliyah North</a>&nbsp;- 84 - 85 -- 169 (+25) T43rd -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6954">Hannah Nimmo</a>&nbsp;- 88 - 81 -- 169 (+25) T46th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6949">Shauna Lee</a>&nbsp;- 84 - 86 -- 170 (+26) T52nd -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6952">Kerrigan Rudolph</a>&nbsp;- 88 - 84 -- 172 (+28) T57th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6950">Ella McKee</a>&nbsp;- 85 - 92 -- 177 (+33)&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664318685890.jpeg" alt="Hannah Nimmo shot an FHSU team low round of 81 Tuesday at the Lady Tigers Classic at Smoky Hill Country Club (FHSU Athletics/Ryan Prickett)." />
 <figcaption>Hannah Nimmo shot an FHSU team low round of 81 Tuesday at the Lady Tigers Classic at Smoky Hill Country Club (FHSU Athletics/Ryan Prickett).</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's golf team placed ninth at the Lady Tiger Classic this week at Smoky Hill Country Club. The Tigers posted a team score of 333 in the second round after opening the tournament with a first-round 328 on Monday.&nbsp; After leading the way following an opening-round score of even-par 72,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6948">Morgan Brasser</a>&nbsp;finished in a tie for ninth after posting an 11-over 83 on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6954">Hannah Nimmo</a>&nbsp;paced the Tigers on Tuesday with a 9-over 81, carding nine pars and nine bogeys. She was the only player on the team without a double bogey or worse on the day. The freshman finished in a tie for 43rd out of 70 golfers at 25-over. Competing as an individual,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6951">Lexie Ridder</a>&nbsp;improved her score by one stroke to place in a tie for 29th at 21-over following a second-round 10-over 82. She opened the day with a birdie on No. 10, one of only 10 birdies on that hole all week. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6952">Kerrigan Rudolph</a>&nbsp;chipped in for eagle on the par-5 second hole and finished her round with back-to-back birdies on holes eight and nine to post a 12-over 84, finishing the week at 28-over to place in a tie for 52nd. Her eagle was one of just three in the entire field across the two rounds. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6953">Aliyah North</a>&nbsp;tied with fellow freshman Nimmo for 43rd at 25-over for the week following a round of 13-over 85 on Tuesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6949">Shauna Lee</a>&nbsp;was one shot back of her teammates across the two rounds, finishing in a tie for 46th after a second-round score of 14-over 86.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6950">Ella McKee</a>&nbsp;fired a 92 on Tuesday, finishing in a tie for 57th at 33-over for the week. Central Missouri won the team title by 22 shots over Rogers State following rounds of 303 and 305, with three Jennies earning all-tournament honors. Mia Rallo won the individual title at seven-over with two others tying for second at eight over. Fort Hays State will take a week off before returning to competition at the Fall Regional Preview in Larchwood, Iowa at Grand Falls Casino &amp; Golf Resort October 8-9. Full FHSU Results 9th - Team - 328 - 333 - 661 (+85) T9th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6948">Morgan Brasser</a>&nbsp;- 72 - 83 -- 155 (+11) T29th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6951">Lexie Ridder</a>&nbsp;- 83 - 82 -- 165 (+21) T43rd -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6953">Aliyah North</a>&nbsp;- 84 - 85 -- 169 (+25) T43rd -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6954">Hannah Nimmo</a>&nbsp;- 88 - 81 -- 169 (+25) T46th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6949">Shauna Lee</a>&nbsp;- 84 - 86 -- 170 (+26) T52nd -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6952">Kerrigan Rudolph</a>&nbsp;- 88 - 84 -- 172 (+28) T57th -&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6950">Ella McKee</a>&nbsp;- 85 - 92 -- 177 (+33)&nbsp;&nbsp;

⛳ Brasser, Tigers finish ninth at Lady Tiger Classic

WASHINGTON (AP) —A libertarian group in California filed a legal challenge to President Joe Biden’s plan for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">student debt cancellation</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, calling it an illegal overreach that would increase state tax burdens for some Americans who get their debt forgiven.

(Click below to listen to&nbsp;White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre)

The lawsuit, believed to be the first targeting Biden’s plan, was filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento legal advocacy group. It was filed in federal court in Indiana, one of several states that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-minnesota-mississippi-ffe9ed18bf0a434970ab09b1d89800e2">plan to tax</a>&nbsp;any student debt canceled by Biden’s plan.

“Congress did not authorize the executive branch to unilaterally cancel student debt,” said Caleb Kruckenberg, an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation. He said it’s illegal for the executive branch to create the policy “by press release, and without statutory authority.”

The suit’s plaintiff is Frank Garrison, described as a public interest attorney who lives in Indiana and is employed by the libertarian group.

Garrison is on track to get his student debt erased through a separate federal program for public servants. Although most borrowers will need to apply for Biden’s plan, Garrison and many others in that program will automatically get the relief because the Education Department has their income information on file.

Biden’s plan would automatically cancel up to $20,000 of Garrison’s debt, which in turn would trigger an “immediate tax liability” from the state of Indiana, according to the suit. Under the debt forgiveness program he’s enrolled in now, canceled debt cannot be taxed.

“Mr. Garrison and millions of others similarly situated in the six relevant states will receive no additional benefit from the cancellation — just a one-time additional penalty,” the suit argues.

Any student debt forgiven under Biden’s plan would also be subject to state taxes in Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina and Wisconsin, unless lawmakers in those states change their current laws.

Asked about the suit, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said anyone will be able to opt out of the cancellation. She did not explain how that would work — the White House previously said roughly 8 million Americans would automatically get the debt relief without applying.

“The bottom line is this — no one who does not want debt relief will have to get that debt relief," Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing.

A separate statement from the White House called the lawsuit “baseless,” saying opponents “are trying anything they can to stop this program that will provide needed relief to working families.”

The Pacific Legal Foundation is a legal group that promotes individual liberties and the separation of powers. It was formed in the 1970s by staff members under Ronald Reagan when he was governor of California. The group says it has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court 16 times, prevailing in 14 cases.

Biden’s plan promises to cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers with incomes of less than $125,000 per year or households making less than $250,000. Those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college would get an additional $10,000 erased.

An application to receive the benefit is expected by early October.

Conservative groups have been threatening to challenge debt cancellation since Biden first aired the idea, saying it’s legally questionable and unfairly cancels student debt at the expense of Americans who didn’t attend college. One of the main challenges has been finding someone who faces personal harm as a result of Biden’s plan, giving them legal standing to sue.

The Biden administration has repeatedly argued that the plan is on solid legal ground.

In its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">legal justification</a>&nbsp;for debt cancellation, the Biden administration invoked the HEROES Act of 2003, which aimed to provide help to members of the military. The law gives the administration “sweeping authority” to reduce or eliminate student debt during a national emergency, the Justice Department said in an August legal opinion.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said he has the legal authority to cancel debt for people who faced hardship during the pandemic. Cardona says Biden’s plan will ensure borrowers aren’t worse off after the pandemic than they were before.

The suit challenges that rationale, saying Garrison and others will see their debt burdens increase as a result of Biden’s plan. It also contends that the plan doesn’t meet the requirements of the 2003 law, arguing that the problem of high student debt is not a “direct result” of the pandemic.

“Nothing about loan cancellation is lawful or appropriate,” the suit alleges. “In an end-run around Congress, the administration threatens to enact a profound and transformational policy that will have untold economic impacts.”

The legality of mass student debt cancellation has stirred debate since it became a popular idea among Democrats in recent years. After being elected, Biden himself questioned whether he had the authority to cancel debt without Congress, asking the Justice Department to study the question.

The Trump administration took steps to block broad debt cancellation during its final weeks in office, issuing an Education Department memo concluding that the secretary lacked the authority to provide such relief.

The lawsuit asks the court to overturn Biden’s plan and to temporarily halt it while legal questions are resolved.

By COLLIN BINKLEY&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) —A libertarian group in California filed a legal challenge to President Joe Biden’s plan for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">student debt cancellation</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, calling it an illegal overreach that would increase state tax burdens for some Americans who get their debt forgiven.(Click below to listen to&nbsp;White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dc2HRDqXTNc?start=1722" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The lawsuit, believed to be the first targeting Biden’s plan, was filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento legal advocacy group. It was filed in federal court in Indiana, one of several states that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-minnesota-mississippi-ffe9ed18bf0a434970ab09b1d89800e2">plan to tax</a>&nbsp;any student debt canceled by Biden’s plan.“Congress did not authorize the executive branch to unilaterally cancel student debt,” said Caleb Kruckenberg, an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation. He said it’s illegal for the executive branch to create the policy “by press release, and without statutory authority.”The suit’s plaintiff is Frank Garrison, described as a public interest attorney who lives in Indiana and is employed by the libertarian group.Garrison is on track to get his student debt erased through a separate federal program for public servants. Although most borrowers will need to apply for Biden’s plan, Garrison and many others in that program will automatically get the relief because the Education Department has their income information on file.Biden’s plan would automatically cancel up to $20,000 of Garrison’s debt, which in turn would trigger an “immediate tax liability” from the state of Indiana, according to the suit. Under the debt forgiveness program he’s enrolled in now, canceled debt cannot be taxed.“Mr. Garrison and millions of others similarly situated in the six relevant states will receive no additional benefit from the cancellation — just a one-time additional penalty,” the suit argues.Any student debt forgiven under Biden’s plan would also be subject to state taxes in Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina and Wisconsin, unless lawmakers in those states change their current laws.Asked about the suit, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said anyone will be able to opt out of the cancellation. She did not explain how that would work — the White House previously said roughly 8 million Americans would automatically get the debt relief without applying.“The bottom line is this — no one who does not want debt relief will have to get that debt relief," Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing.A separate statement from the White House called the lawsuit “baseless,” saying opponents “are trying anything they can to stop this program that will provide needed relief to working families.”The Pacific Legal Foundation is a legal group that promotes individual liberties and the separation of powers. It was formed in the 1970s by staff members under Ronald Reagan when he was governor of California. The group says it has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court 16 times, prevailing in 14 cases.Biden’s plan promises to cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers with incomes of less than $125,000 per year or households making less than $250,000. Those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college would get an additional $10,000 erased.An application to receive the benefit is expected by early October.Conservative groups have been threatening to challenge debt cancellation since Biden first aired the idea, saying it’s legally questionable and unfairly cancels student debt at the expense of Americans who didn’t attend college. One of the main challenges has been finding someone who faces personal harm as a result of Biden’s plan, giving them legal standing to sue.The Biden administration has repeatedly argued that the plan is on solid legal ground.In its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">legal justification</a>&nbsp;for debt cancellation, the Biden administration invoked the HEROES Act of 2003, which aimed to provide help to members of the military. The law gives the administration “sweeping authority” to reduce or eliminate student debt during a national emergency, the Justice Department said in an August legal opinion.Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said he has the legal authority to cancel debt for people who faced hardship during the pandemic. Cardona says Biden’s plan will ensure borrowers aren’t worse off after the pandemic than they were before.The suit challenges that rationale, saying Garrison and others will see their debt burdens increase as a result of Biden’s plan. It also contends that the plan doesn’t meet the requirements of the 2003 law, arguing that the problem of high student debt is not a “direct result” of the pandemic.“Nothing about loan cancellation is lawful or appropriate,” the suit alleges. “In an end-run around Congress, the administration threatens to enact a profound and transformational policy that will have untold economic impacts.”The legality of mass student debt cancellation has stirred debate since it became a popular idea among Democrats in recent years. After being elected, Biden himself questioned whether he had the authority to cancel debt without Congress, asking the Justice Department to study the question.The Trump administration took steps to block broad debt cancellation during its final weeks in office, issuing an Education Department memo concluding that the secretary lacked the authority to provide such relief.The lawsuit asks the court to overturn Biden’s plan and to temporarily halt it while legal questions are resolved.

🎥.White House responds to lawsuit against student debt cancellation

SEDGWICK&nbsp; —A jury on Friday convicted a Kansas felon for the murder of a woman at a Wichita motel.&nbsp;

The jury found 42-year-old Ricky Hollins guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Stephanie Duran, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. Hollins was also originally charged with buying sexual relations, according the district attorney's office.

Just after 10a.m. October 22, 2020, police responded to a call of an unresponsive woman in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 Block of South Broad in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;A staff member of the motel located Duran in the room and called the police.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. The following evening, police arrested and booked Hollins into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online jail records. He remains jailed on $200,000 bond.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Hollins has two previous drug convictions in Sedgwick County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603833413290.png" alt="Hollins-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hollins-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK&nbsp; —A jury on Friday convicted a Kansas felon for the murder of a woman at a Wichita motel.&nbsp;The jury found 42-year-old Ricky Hollins guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Stephanie Duran, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. Hollins was also originally charged with buying sexual relations, according the district attorney's office.Just after 10a.m. October 22, 2020, police responded to a call of an unresponsive woman in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 Block of South Broad in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;A staff member of the motel located Duran in the room and called the police.She was pronounced dead at the scene. The following evening, police arrested and booked Hollins into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online jail records. He remains jailed on $200,000 bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hollins has two previous drug convictions in Sedgwick County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Jury: Kansas felon guilty of murder while buying sex

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Pieter Miller with the Hutchinson Airport told Hutch Post Tuesday they are going to apply again for federal dollars to get the air traffic control tower replaced.

"There was money specifically set aside to update federal contract control towers," Miller said. "Towers that were built by the federal government back in the 1950s and the 1960s that are staffed by private companies, which is exactly what Hutchinson has."

The current tower was built in 1951. This would be the second application for that money. Their first try was to do the project in phases, but they noted that the ones approved in the first round were full projects, so they are going to try that approach when they apply again. That application is due by the end of October. The internal workings in the tower are updated by the contractor and the FAA, but the actual bricks and mortar are city property.

"Most of the buttons and switches and radios in the tower now have been updated over the last 10 years," Miller said. "What is old is the actual facility itself. The stairways, the access, the break rooms, the restrooms, all the accoutrements that the controllers use to get their job done."

The tower has been staffed by a private contractor since 1992.

"They are in operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year," Miller said. "A couple of the controllers live in Wichita. Most of them are local controllers here, or retired FAA controllers. The company they work for is called Midwest ATC."

Midwest ATC is currently operating nearly 100 air traffic control towers globally. In addition to Hutchinson, they operate towers in Garden City, Salina, Manhattan, both airports in Topeka and the Johnson County Aircenter and New Century Airport in the Kansas City area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664289046719.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Pieter Miller with the Hutchinson Airport told Hutch Post Tuesday they are going to apply again for federal dollars to get the air traffic control tower replaced."There was money specifically set aside to update federal contract control towers," Miller said. "Towers that were built by the federal government back in the 1950s and the 1960s that are staffed by private companies, which is exactly what Hutchinson has."The current tower was built in 1951. This would be the second application for that money. Their first try was to do the project in phases, but they noted that the ones approved in the first round were full projects, so they are going to try that approach when they apply again. That application is due by the end of October. The internal workings in the tower are updated by the contractor and the FAA, but the actual bricks and mortar are city property."Most of the buttons and switches and radios in the tower now have been updated over the last 10 years," Miller said. "What is old is the actual facility itself. The stairways, the access, the break rooms, the restrooms, all the accoutrements that the controllers use to get their job done."The tower has been staffed by a private contractor since 1992."They are in operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year," Miller said. "A couple of the controllers live in Wichita. Most of them are local controllers here, or retired FAA controllers. The company they work for is called Midwest ATC."Midwest ATC is currently operating nearly 100 air traffic control towers globally. In addition to Hutchinson, they operate towers in Garden City, Salina, Manhattan, both airports in Topeka and the Johnson County Aircenter and New Century Airport in the Kansas City area.

Hutchinson Airport to seek control tower replacement

Elma R. “Beanie” Fiser, the daughter of B. E. (Bud) Dresslar and Vera
 (Nesmith) Dresslar, was born August 16, 1934, in Mankato, Kansas, and 
passed away on September 22, 2022, at Bryan Medical Center West, Lincoln,
 NE at the age of 88 years, 1 month, and 6 days.

Beanie attended 
the local public schools, graduating from Belleville High School. On 
September 16, 1954, she was united in marriage to Robert D. Fiser and to
 this union were born Deborah and Frank.

Beanie worked for Scott 
Specialties’ for many years and later, along with her husband, operated 
Holiday Floral in Belleville, KS from 1984 until 1988. They moved to 
Cuba, KS in 2008 and Beanie later moved to Belleville, KS in May of 
2018.

Beanie was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, 
Belleville, KS and was a quilter at both the Cuba and Belleville 
Presbyterian Churches.&nbsp; For the past five years, she has been making 
quilts for Connor’s Cuddles. Beanie also enjoyed her coffee group at the
 Feathered Nest and spending time with her grandchildren and great 
grandchildren. She also was an avid sports fan and loved watching her 
Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Royals play.

She was preceded in
 death by her parents B.E. (Bud) and Vera Dresslar;&nbsp; her husband Robert 
D. Fiser in 2009; sister Barbara (Bobbie) Taylor; brother Ed Dresslar.

Beanie
 is survived by her children&nbsp; Deborah (Tim) Rhine of Mahaska, KS and 
Frank (Donna) Fiser of Georgetown, TX;&nbsp; four grandchildren:&nbsp; Andy Rhine 
of Haddam, KS, Lesley (Matt) Bauer of Grand Rapids, MI, Lucas 
(Katherine) Fiser of Austin, TX, and Jessy (Eric) Whited of Austin, TX; 6
 great grandchildren:&nbsp; Addy Bauer, Grace Bauer, Leilani Fiser, Hayden 
Whited, Drew Whited, and Ashton Whited;&nbsp; one brother, Jack (Carol) 
Dresslar of Gardner, KS; nephews, John Dresslar of Harrisburg, PA and 
Jason (Alaina) Dresslar of Hays, KS, other relatives and friends

Memorial
 services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, October 7, 2022, at the 
United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, KS with Pastor Deb Hadachek, 
officiating.

Inurnment will follow at the National Cemetery, rural Narka, KS.

Friends
 may call from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at the 
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS where the family will 
receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Connor’s Cuddles.

Online condolence at www.bachelor-surber.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664287150135.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Elma R. “Beanie” Fiser, the daughter of B. E. (Bud) Dresslar and Vera
 (Nesmith) Dresslar, was born August 16, 1934, in Mankato, Kansas, and 
passed away on September 22, 2022, at Bryan Medical Center West, Lincoln,
 NE at the age of 88 years, 1 month, and 6 days.Beanie attended 
the local public schools, graduating from Belleville High School. On 
September 16, 1954, she was united in marriage to Robert D. Fiser and to
 this union were born Deborah and Frank.Beanie worked for Scott 
Specialties’ for many years and later, along with her husband, operated 
Holiday Floral in Belleville, KS from 1984 until 1988. They moved to 
Cuba, KS in 2008 and Beanie later moved to Belleville, KS in May of 
2018.Beanie was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, 
Belleville, KS and was a quilter at both the Cuba and Belleville 
Presbyterian Churches.&nbsp; For the past five years, she has been making 
quilts for Connor’s Cuddles. Beanie also enjoyed her coffee group at the
 Feathered Nest and spending time with her grandchildren and great 
grandchildren. She also was an avid sports fan and loved watching her 
Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Royals play.She was preceded in
 death by her parents B.E. (Bud) and Vera Dresslar;&nbsp; her husband Robert 
D. Fiser in 2009; sister Barbara (Bobbie) Taylor; brother Ed Dresslar.Beanie
 is survived by her children&nbsp; Deborah (Tim) Rhine of Mahaska, KS and 
Frank (Donna) Fiser of Georgetown, TX;&nbsp; four grandchildren:&nbsp; Andy Rhine 
of Haddam, KS, Lesley (Matt) Bauer of Grand Rapids, MI, Lucas 
(Katherine) Fiser of Austin, TX, and Jessy (Eric) Whited of Austin, TX; 6
 great grandchildren:&nbsp; Addy Bauer, Grace Bauer, Leilani Fiser, Hayden 
Whited, Drew Whited, and Ashton Whited;&nbsp; one brother, Jack (Carol) 
Dresslar of Gardner, KS; nephews, John Dresslar of Harrisburg, PA and 
Jason (Alaina) Dresslar of Hays, KS, other relatives and friendsMemorial
 services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, October 7, 2022, at the 
United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, KS with Pastor Deb Hadachek, 
officiating.Inurnment will follow at the National Cemetery, rural Narka, KS.Friends
 may call from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at the 
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS where the family will 
receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.Memorials are suggested to Connor’s Cuddles.Online condolence at www.bachelor-surber.com.

Elma R. 'Beanie' Fiser

Betty Jean Perez, 96, passed away September 25, 2022, at Diversicare of Larned.

She was born October 31, 1925, in Northview, Missouri, the daughter of Thomas Vernon and Eva Louvernia Stogsdill Young.

A Larned resident since 1938, she was a homemaker and bookkeeper at 
Perez Body Shop. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 
Larned, and enjoyed going to painting bees’ group, crafts, gardening, 
cooking for her grandchildren, raising chickens and other animals, 
especially her dog, Cruz.

On April 16, 1945, she married Raymond G. Perez in Wichita; he survives.

Other survivors include: two sons, Phillip (Susan) Perez, Larned, 
Jeffrey Perez, Larned; two daughters, Ramona (Rusty) Howard, Larned, 
Lori Perez (Scott Schartz), Larned; brother, Dean Young, Glendale, 
Arizona; two sisters-in-law, Lola Perez and Ann Perez, both of Larned; 
seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; two brothers, Glenn Young, Wayne Smith; and a grandson, Matthew Howard.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 
Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. 
Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, 2022,
 with family present from 4-6 p.m. Burial will be in the Larned 
Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Pawnee County Humane Society in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664283750096.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Betty Jean Perez, 96, passed away September 25, 2022, at Diversicare of Larned.She was born October 31, 1925, in Northview, Missouri, the daughter of Thomas Vernon and Eva Louvernia Stogsdill Young.A Larned resident since 1938, she was a homemaker and bookkeeper at 
Perez Body Shop. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 
Larned, and enjoyed going to painting bees’ group, crafts, gardening, 
cooking for her grandchildren, raising chickens and other animals, 
especially her dog, Cruz.On April 16, 1945, she married Raymond G. Perez in Wichita; he survives.Other survivors include: two sons, Phillip (Susan) Perez, Larned, 
Jeffrey Perez, Larned; two daughters, Ramona (Rusty) Howard, Larned, 
Lori Perez (Scott Schartz), Larned; brother, Dean Young, Glendale, 
Arizona; two sisters-in-law, Lola Perez and Ann Perez, both of Larned; 
seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by: her parents; two brothers, Glenn Young, Wayne Smith; and a grandson, Matthew Howard.Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 
Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. 
Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, 2022,
 with family present from 4-6 p.m. Burial will be in the Larned 
Cemetery.Memorials may be given to Pawnee County Humane Society in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.

Betty Jean Perez

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays school board heard a report on the progress of the bond issues projects at its meeting Monday.

Preston Moore of Nabholz Construction, which is the district's construction manager at risk, discussed his company's role in bidding and managing subcontractors and vendors on the project.

The designs for the new high school, as well as the renovation projects for the current high school, middle school, Roosevelt and O'Loughlin have not been completed.

DLR, the district's architect, is meeting regularly with district staff to define schematics. Superintendent Ron Wilson said district staff members are having several discussions a day with the architects as the designs progress.

Moore said schematics will give the district a better idea of what the buildings will look like but are not the drawings from which contractors build.

As the designs are finalized for the project, Nabholz will send specifications to the local vendors and contractors and come back with a guaranteed price.

It's Nabholz's responsibility as the construction manager at risk to manage the project's budget and stay within that guaranteed price for both individual building work and the project as a whole.

Moore said local contractors have expressed excitement about the project. Local contractors will be given invitations to a summit to get the first look at the specifications for the projects.

Nabholz will write a contractor manager's manual to clarify the specifications of the bids, and they will work to further ensure that no work is duplicated in the bidding process.

Once the bids are opened, Nabholz will bring a list of preferred contractors back to the school district. This is a combination of both the low bidders and those that best meet the full specifications of the projects, Moore said.

Because multiple buildings are involved in the larger bond project, Nabholz will be bidding the projects in phases. Nabholz will come back to the district with regular reports on the budget as the projects reach design milestones, Moore said.

Moore said no final budgets have been determined at this time, but he estimates his company will be ready to start releasing numbers by late October or early November.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board heard a report on the progress of the bond issues projects at its meeting Monday.Preston Moore of Nabholz Construction, which is the district's construction manager at risk, discussed his company's role in bidding and managing subcontractors and vendors on the project.The designs for the new high school, as well as the renovation projects for the current high school, middle school, Roosevelt and O'Loughlin have not been completed.DLR, the district's architect, is meeting regularly with district staff to define schematics. Superintendent Ron Wilson said district staff members are having several discussions a day with the architects as the designs progress. Moore said schematics will give the district a better idea of what the buildings will look like but are not the drawings from which contractors build.As the designs are finalized for the project, Nabholz will send specifications to the local vendors and contractors and come back with a guaranteed price.It's Nabholz's responsibility as the construction manager at risk to manage the project's budget and stay within that guaranteed price for both individual building work and the project as a whole.Moore said local contractors have expressed excitement about the project. Local contractors will be given invitations to a summit to get the first look at the specifications for the projects.Nabholz will write a contractor manager's manual to clarify the specifications of the bids, and they will work to further ensure that no work is duplicated in the bidding process.Once the bids are opened, Nabholz will bring a list of preferred contractors back to the school district. This is a combination of both the low bidders and those that best meet the full specifications of the projects, Moore said.Because multiple buildings are involved in the larger bond project, Nabholz will be bidding the projects in phases. Nabholz will come back to the district with regular reports on the budget as the projects reach design milestones, Moore said.Moore said no final budgets have been determined at this time, but he estimates his company will be ready to start releasing numbers by late October or early November.

Local bidders will be given first look at specs on Hays USD 489 bond

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s plan for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">student debt cancellation</a>&nbsp;will cost the federal government about $400 billion over the next 30 years, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

The figures were released Monday in response to a request from Republican lawmakers who oppose Biden’s plan in large part because of its costs. They were quick to cite the estimates as evidence that the plan will “bury” taxpayers, passing along the costs to huge numbers of Americans who never went to college.

The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years — about $240 billion for the decade — while other estimates put the total cost at $500 billion or more over the decade.

On Monday, the White House noted that the CBO’s estimated cost in the first year — $21 billion — is actually lower than the administration’s early estimate of $24 billion.

To reach the CBO’s $400 billion figure, officials looked at the immediate cost of cancellation along with the longer-term impact, including lower monthly repayments that would have been higher if not for the cancellation.

The office separately estimated that Biden’s latest extension of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-payment-moratorium-extended-d54907ea99a6745dc9f832435beda751">student loan pause</a>&nbsp;will cost an additional $20 billion. Monthly payments on federal student loans have been frozen since the first weeks of the pandemic. Biden in August continued the pause through the end of the year, calling that the final extension.

Biden has played down the cost of the cancellation plan, saying it would be offset by other measures to reduce the federal deficit, including his landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">Inflation Reduction Act</a>. On Monday, the White House defended the plan, saying it will provide relief to struggling borrowers, allowing them to start businesses, buy homes or just pay their bills.

“It’s a stark contrast to the Trump tax bill, which ballooned the deficit by nearly $2 trillion and provided the vast majority of benefits to big corporations and the wealthiest individuals,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan said.

The administration is expected to release its own detailed cost estimates in coming weeks.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who supported debt cancellation, said they don’t agree with some of the assumptions underpinning the CBO estimates. But a joint statement from the senators said the estimates show that “millions of middle class Americans have more breathing room” thanks to Biden’s plan.

“Rather than working with Congress to bring down college costs, President Biden has opted to bury the American people under our unsustainable debt,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, the top Republican on the House education committee.

An application to receive the benefit is expected by early October. The fate of the plan largely depends on whether it can survive legal challenges that conservatives have promised to bring.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, out of 37 million Americans who have federal student loans, about 95% meet the income limit for $10,000 in relief. About 65% also received a Pell Grant, making them eligible for a $20,000 cancellation.

The office warned that its estimates are “highly uncertain” because it’s hard to know exactly how much borrowers would have paid in the future without Biden’s action. Some borrowers probably would have gotten their debt canceled anyway using payment plans that promise to cancel remaining debt after 10 or 20 years.

The estimates are based on everything that’s known about Biden’s plan now, but some details have yet to be hashed out. The office said it may revise its estimates as details emerge.

The $400 billion total notably does not include a separate loan payment plan that Biden proposed to help lower-income borrowers in the future. The new plan would be similar to existing plans that limit monthly bills based on a borrower’s income, but with more generous terms.

It would limit borrowers’ payments to 5% of their discretionary income, down from 10% now, and it would forgive any remaining balance after 10 years, down from 20 years now.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660739578417.png" alt="The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years -White House photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years -White House photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s plan for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">student debt cancellation</a>&nbsp;will cost the federal government about $400 billion over the next 30 years, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden’s $300 billion student loan handout will fuel inflation and do nothing to actually lower the cost of higher education. My full statement below. <a href="https://t.co/NYRuDheaCL">pic.twitter.com/NYRuDheaCL</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1562547995228266496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The figures were released Monday in response to a request from Republican lawmakers who oppose Biden’s plan in large part because of its costs. They were quick to cite the estimates as evidence that the plan will “bury” taxpayers, passing along the costs to huge numbers of Americans who never went to college.The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years — about $240 billion for the decade — while other estimates put the total cost at $500 billion or more over the decade.On Monday, the White House noted that the CBO’s estimated cost in the first year — $21 billion — is actually lower than the administration’s early estimate of $24 billion.To reach the CBO’s $400 billion figure, officials looked at the immediate cost of cancellation along with the longer-term impact, including lower monthly repayments that would have been higher if not for the cancellation.The office separately estimated that Biden’s latest extension of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-payment-moratorium-extended-d54907ea99a6745dc9f832435beda751">student loan pause</a>&nbsp;will cost an additional $20 billion. Monthly payments on federal student loans have been frozen since the first weeks of the pandemic. Biden in August continued the pause through the end of the year, calling that the final extension.Biden has played down the cost of the cancellation plan, saying it would be offset by other measures to reduce the federal deficit, including his landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">Inflation Reduction Act</a>. On Monday, the White House defended the plan, saying it will provide relief to struggling borrowers, allowing them to start businesses, buy homes or just pay their bills.“It’s a stark contrast to the Trump tax bill, which ballooned the deficit by nearly $2 trillion and provided the vast majority of benefits to big corporations and the wealthiest individuals,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan said.The administration is expected to release its own detailed cost estimates in coming weeks.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who supported debt cancellation, said they don’t agree with some of the assumptions underpinning the CBO estimates. But a joint statement from the senators said the estimates show that “millions of middle class Americans have more breathing room” thanks to Biden’s plan.Republicans didn’t see it that way.“Rather than working with Congress to bring down college costs, President Biden has opted to bury the American people under our unsustainable debt,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, the top Republican on the House education committee.Biden’s plan promises to cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers with incomes of less than $125,000 per year or households making less than $250,000. Those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college would get an additional $10,000 erased.An application to receive the benefit is expected by early October. The fate of the plan largely depends on whether it can survive legal challenges that conservatives have promised to bring.The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, out of 37 million Americans who have federal student loans, about 95% meet the income limit for $10,000 in relief. About 65% also received a Pell Grant, making them eligible for a $20,000 cancellation.The office warned that its estimates are “highly uncertain” because it’s hard to know exactly how much borrowers would have paid in the future without Biden’s action. Some borrowers probably would have gotten their debt canceled anyway using payment plans that promise to cancel remaining debt after 10 or 20 years.The estimates are based on everything that’s known about Biden’s plan now, but some details have yet to be hashed out. The office said it may revise its estimates as details emerge.The $400 billion total notably does not include a separate loan payment plan that Biden proposed to help lower-income borrowers in the future. The new plan would be similar to existing plans that limit monthly bills based on a borrower’s income, but with more generous terms.It would limit borrowers’ payments to 5% of their discretionary income, down from 10% now, and it would forgive any remaining balance after 10 years, down from 20 years now.___

GOP: $400B estimated cost of student debt plan will bury taxpayers

Christiane Wade Luehrs, 81, passed away
 quietly in her sleep at her home on July 14, 2022. She was born 
September 30, 1940, to Reynolds W. Wade, M.D., and Theodora Pomeranz 
Wade in Toledo, Ohio, and grew up near the shores of the Great Lakes. 
She graduated from Valparaiso University, earned a Master's Degree in 
History from Washington University in St. Louis, and received a Master's
 Degree in English from Fort Hays State University. At Washington 
University she met Robert Luehrs, a fellow student. It was his good 
fortune to marry her in 1965. The couple moved to Hays in 1968 so that 
Robert could pursue a career as a Professor of History at FHSU.

Chris had the attributes of a 
Renaissance woman. She was a perceptive lady of wit, culture, talent, 
grace, and creativity. She was also devoted to her family and friends. 
At various times she worked as an assistant for professors and 
physicians, was office manager for the Campus Ecumenical Center, and ran
 her own catering business. Primarily, Chris was an educator, as a high 
school history teacher in St. Louis and, for 15 years, as an Instructor 
of English at FHSU, retiring in 2006. She published a number of articles
 on mystery authors who use historical settings for their novels.

She liked shopping for Victorian 
oddities, reading British detective stories, collecting teddy bears, 
preparing various ethnic foods, and being hostess at elaborate parties 
and dinners. She enjoyed mythology and folklore, especially the tales 
attached to Halloween. With her husband, she designed a Halloween 
festival at FHSU in the 1970s and 1980s and subsequent Halloween 
displays in the university's library until last year, quitting not 
because of a lack of ideas but because of a lack of energy. Chris held 
offices in Eastern Star and volunteered at the Hays Arts Council. She 
served as a lay reader and head of the Altar Guild for St. Michael's 
Episcopal Church. She played the piano and organ for pleasure. As befit a
 Renaissance woman, she helped organize the university's annual 
Renaissance Christmas celebration, the Madrigal Dinner, for fifteen 
years, playing the roles of Lady of the Manor for five years and the 
Queen of England twice.

Survivors include her husband, Robert; 
her daughter, Rebecca Johnson of Nowata, Oklahoma; her son-in-law, 
Patrick Johnson; her granddaughter, Roslin Johnson; her brother, E. 
Nicholas Wade of Aurora, Illinois; and her cousin, Martha Ellison of 
Alexandria, Virginia.

Funeral services celebrating Chris' 
life will be 11:00 AM Saturday, October 15, 2022, at St. Michael's 
Episcopal Church, 2900 Canal Blvd, with Vicar Rev. Shay Craig officiating.

If desired, memorials may be made to 
Forsyth Library at FHSU, St. Michael's Episcopal Church, or the Humane 
Society of the High Plains.

Services in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com

Christiane Wade Luehrs, 81, passed away
 quietly in her sleep at her home on July 14, 2022. She was born 
September 30, 1940, to Reynolds W. Wade, M.D., and Theodora Pomeranz 
Wade in Toledo, Ohio, and grew up near the shores of the Great Lakes. 
She graduated from Valparaiso University, earned a Master's Degree in 
History from Washington University in St. Louis, and received a Master's
 Degree in English from Fort Hays State University. At Washington 
University she met Robert Luehrs, a fellow student. It was his good 
fortune to marry her in 1965. The couple moved to Hays in 1968 so that 
Robert could pursue a career as a Professor of History at FHSU.Chris had the attributes of a 
Renaissance woman. She was a perceptive lady of wit, culture, talent, 
grace, and creativity. She was also devoted to her family and friends. 
At various times she worked as an assistant for professors and 
physicians, was office manager for the Campus Ecumenical Center, and ran
 her own catering business. Primarily, Chris was an educator, as a high 
school history teacher in St. Louis and, for 15 years, as an Instructor 
of English at FHSU, retiring in 2006. She published a number of articles
 on mystery authors who use historical settings for their novels.She liked shopping for Victorian 
oddities, reading British detective stories, collecting teddy bears, 
preparing various ethnic foods, and being hostess at elaborate parties 
and dinners. She enjoyed mythology and folklore, especially the tales 
attached to Halloween. With her husband, she designed a Halloween 
festival at FHSU in the 1970s and 1980s and subsequent Halloween 
displays in the university's library until last year, quitting not 
because of a lack of ideas but because of a lack of energy. Chris held 
offices in Eastern Star and volunteered at the Hays Arts Council. She 
served as a lay reader and head of the Altar Guild for St. Michael's 
Episcopal Church. She played the piano and organ for pleasure. As befit a
 Renaissance woman, she helped organize the university's annual 
Renaissance Christmas celebration, the Madrigal Dinner, for fifteen 
years, playing the roles of Lady of the Manor for five years and the 
Queen of England twice.Survivors include her husband, Robert; 
her daughter, Rebecca Johnson of Nowata, Oklahoma; her son-in-law, 
Patrick Johnson; her granddaughter, Roslin Johnson; her brother, E. 
Nicholas Wade of Aurora, Illinois; and her cousin, Martha Ellison of 
Alexandria, Virginia.Funeral services celebrating Chris' 
life will be 11:00 AM Saturday, October 15, 2022, at St. Michael's 
Episcopal Church, 2900 Canal Blvd, with Vicar Rev. Shay Craig officiating.If desired, memorials may be made to 
Forsyth Library at FHSU, St. Michael's Episcopal Church, or the Humane 
Society of the High Plains.Services in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com

Christiane Wade Luehrs

Jennie Sue Smith, 98 passed away Tuesday, September 13, 2022, while 
under the care of Hospice of Western Kentucky.  She was born in Selden, 
KS December 6, 1923, to the late Harley Schrock and Nannie Sue Vaughn 
Schrock. 

 Jennie was a member of the Hoxie Christian Church, where she 
was the organist for many years.  She was a member of the Order of the 
Eastern Star where she had received her 75-year pin in December of 2017 
and the Hoxie Rotary Club.  Jennie started her career working as 
bookkeeper for implement dealers in Hoxie and retired from KN energy on 
March 14, 1986, after 21 years of service.  She enjoyed working in her 
flower garden, playing the organ and piano, knitting, playing cards, 
word searches and time with her family.  Jennie lived 93 years in 
Northwest Kansas before moving to Owensboro, KY to be near a daughter 
and son in law. She enjoyed the activities, new friends and staff at 
Heritage Place assisted living facility.  She was a favorite of the 
staff  there. She also enjoyed car rides and all the beautiful trees of 
Kentucky; she never refused a stop for ice cream on these rides.  Visits
 from friends and family from back home were always welcome.

In
 addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62
 years Ray Smith.  Siblings Loren Schrock, Loraine Merriweather, Mirl 
Schrock, Edith Gilliland, Mary Caywood, and Elden Schrock.

Surviving
 are her son Robert Allen (Marsha) of Derby, KS, daughters Lana Player 
of Albuquerque, NM, Dottie Sinclair (David) of Owensboro, KY, 
Grandchildren Jason Allen of Wichita, KS, Jami Allen, of Derby, KS,  
Cory Sinclair (Rachael) of Louisville, KY,  Emily Sinclair, of 
Shelby,NC, Monica Sinclair, of Houston TX and Janessa Player (James) of 
Albuquerque, NM. Great-Grandchildren, Easton and Isley Nance, Derby, KS,
 Emilia Player, Albuquerque, NM, Elliott Pearson, Shelby, NC and 
Sheridan Sinclair, Houston, TX.   Nieces and Nephews.

Visitation
 will be held, Friday, October 14th, 2022, 4:00 PM – 7:00PM at 
Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, 1024 Sheridan Ave. Hoxie, KS 67740. The 
Celebration of Life Service will be Saturday. October 15, 2022 10:30 AM 
at the Hoxie Christian Church, 1025 Queen Ave, Hoxie KS 67740. 

Memorials
 are suggested to Sheridan County Benefit Walk or the Hoxie Christian 
Church.  Memorials may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, 
PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740.  You may leave words of comfort at 
www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664200386307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jennie Sue Smith, 98 passed away Tuesday, September 13, 2022, while 
under the care of Hospice of Western Kentucky. She was born in Selden, 
KS December 6, 1923, to the late Harley Schrock and Nannie Sue Vaughn 
Schrock. Jennie was a member of the Hoxie Christian Church, where she 
was the organist for many years. She was a member of the Order of the 
Eastern Star where she had received her 75-year pin in December of 2017 
and the Hoxie Rotary Club. Jennie started her career working as 
bookkeeper for implement dealers in Hoxie and retired from KN energy on 
March 14, 1986, after 21 years of service. She enjoyed working in her 
flower garden, playing the organ and piano, knitting, playing cards, 
word searches and time with her family. Jennie lived 93 years in 
Northwest Kansas before moving to Owensboro, KY to be near a daughter 
and son in law. She enjoyed the activities, new friends and staff at 
Heritage Place assisted living facility. She was a favorite of the 
staff there. She also enjoyed car rides and all the beautiful trees of 
Kentucky; she never refused a stop for ice cream on these rides. Visits
 from friends and family from back home were always welcome.In
 addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62
 years Ray Smith. Siblings Loren Schrock, Loraine Merriweather, Mirl 
Schrock, Edith Gilliland, Mary Caywood, and Elden Schrock.Surviving
 are her son Robert Allen (Marsha) of Derby, KS, daughters Lana Player 
of Albuquerque, NM, Dottie Sinclair (David) of Owensboro, KY, 
Grandchildren Jason Allen of Wichita, KS, Jami Allen, of Derby, KS, 
Cory Sinclair (Rachael) of Louisville, KY, Emily Sinclair, of 
Shelby,NC, Monica Sinclair, of Houston TX and Janessa Player (James) of 
Albuquerque, NM. Great-Grandchildren, Easton and Isley Nance, Derby, KS,
 Emilia Player, Albuquerque, NM, Elliott Pearson, Shelby, NC and 
Sheridan Sinclair, Houston, TX. Nieces and Nephews.Visitation
 will be held, Friday, October 14th, 2022, 4:00 PM – 7:00PM at 
Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, 1024 Sheridan Ave. Hoxie, KS 67740. The 
Celebration of Life Service will be Saturday. October 15, 2022 10:30 AM 
at the Hoxie Christian Church, 1025 Queen Ave, Hoxie KS 67740. Memorials
 are suggested to Sheridan County Benefit Walk or the Hoxie Christian 
Church. Memorials may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, 
PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. You may leave words of comfort at 
www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

Jennie (Schrock) Smith

NEW YORK (AP) — When President Joe Biden announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">plan to forgive student loan debt</a>, many borrowers who kept making payments during the pandemic wondered if they'd made the right choice

Borrowers who paid down their debt during a pandemic freeze that started in March 2020 can in fact get a refund — and&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">then apply for forgiveness</a>&nbsp;– but the process for doing that hasn’t always been clear.

If you think you’re eligible, here’s what you need to know:

Borrowers who hold eligible federal student loans and have made voluntary payments since March 13, 2020, can get a refund, according to the Department of Education.

For some people, that refund will be automatic. You can get a refund without applying if your payments brought your loan balance below the maximum debt relief amount: $10,000 for all borrowers, and $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers can check their balance in their&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing">studentaid.gov account</a>.

For example, if a borrower paid $100 a month for 10 months of the pandemic and their balance is now $8,000, that $1,000 will automatically be refunded. Then they can apply to get the rest of their debt forgiven.

But if a borrower paid throughout the pandemic and still owes $14,000, they won’t get an automatic refund. They can, however, apply to have $10,000 of that debt erased.

Another group of people that has to apply for a refund is those who completely paid off their loan balance during the pandemic. If that’s you, you’re eligible for loan forgiveness, but you’ll have to request a refund prior to applying for debt relief. Borrowers should confirm their eligibility for the loan forgiveness program prior to requesting a refund.

For example, if a borrower had $5,000 in debt at the start of the pandemic and paid it all back during the freeze, but is eligible for up to $10,000 in forgiveness, they would apply for a $5,000 refund, then apply to have their debt forgiven.

“Borrowers who paid off their loans during the pause will need to request a refund first, then request cancellation,” said a spokesperson from the Department

The refund is not available for private student loans.

—Direct Loans (defaulted and non defaulted)

—Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans held by ED (defaulted and non defaulted)

—Federal Perkins Loans held by ED (defaulted and non defaulted)

—Defaulted FFEL Program loans not held by ED

If you are not sure which loan you have, visit your&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing">dashboard at studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;and find the “my loan servicers” section. If you can’t access your dashboard, you can call the Federal Student Aid office at 1-800-433-3243 to ask for loan servicer information.

Borrowers who want a specific amount refunded can apply by calling their loan service provider. Right now, refunds are only being done via phone and not through any website or email.

When the Biden Administration announced the forgiveness,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mygreatlakes/posts/pfbid0h5Z1LyJ6u8qPYvGarnxeogUk97jEJLBKf84yz9TjRnkdP65P4c9uhzFkB1VQEfmil">loan servicers found themselves inundated with calls</a>. But many borrowers now say they’re not waiting long when calling.

“I was on hold for about five minutes,” said Megan McParland, of New Jersey, who graduated in 2018 and made several payments during the payment freeze.

McParland requested a refund the first week of September. At first, she felt the servicer tried to dissuade her from making the request. But after confirming that she wanted to proceed, she was told that she would see her refund in about a month.

Sierra Tibbs, a 47-year-old resident of Casselberry, Florida, had a similar experience. The entire phone call with her loan servicer took around 20 minutes.

Tibbs applied for a refund after seeing a video online informing her that she could get back money she paid during the pandemic.

If you are unsure who services your loan, or if the servicer changed during the pandemic, visit your&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing?redirectTo=%2F">student aid account dashboard</a>&nbsp;and scroll to “my loan servicers” or call 1-800-433-3243.

Before calling your loan provider to request your refund, you need to know your account number and the amount you want refunded.

<a href="https://myfedloan.org/">FedLoan Servicing</a>: 1-800-699-2908

<a href="https://mygreatlakes.org/">Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc.</a>: 1-800-236-4300

<a href="https://edfinancial.com/home">Edfinancial</a>: 1-855-337-6884

<a href="https://www.mohela.com/">MOHELA</a>: 1-888-866-4352

<a href="https://aidvantage.com/">Aidvantage</a>: 1-800-722-1300

<a href="https://www.nelnet.com/account/login/">Nelnet</a>: 1-888-486-4722

<a href="https://public.osla.org/">OSLA Servicing</a>: 1-866-264-9762

<a href="https://efpls.ed.gov/">ECSI</a>: 1-866-313-3797

<a href="https://myeddebt.ed.gov/">Default Resolution Group</a>: 1-800-621-3115 (1-877-825-9923 for the deaf or hard of hearing)

HOW WILL THE REFUND WORK — AND WHEN WILL MY LOANS BE FORGIVEN?

When you request a refund, the amount that you have paid during the payment freeze will be added back to your student loan balance, said Katherine Welbeck, Civil Rights Counsel for the Student Borrower Protection Center.

That amount is still eligible for cancellation and can be eliminated after you&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">apply for forgiveness</a>.

You're&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">eligible for debt relief</a>&nbsp;if you had an annual federal income below $125,000 individually or $250,000 if you're married or head of household in 2020 or 2021. The application is expected to open in early October and you can apply until Dec. 31, 2023.

It is unclear when borrowers will see debt relief. So far,&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">the plan only mentions</a>&nbsp;borrowers will be notified by their loan servicer when their debt is forgiven. There is also a possibility that forgiveness could be delayed if the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">Biden administration faces legal challenges</a>.

Laura Baum, a 30-year-old resident of Chicago, paid $5,000 during the payment freeze toward her $15,000 remaining debt. She is eligible to have $20,000 canceled since she was a Pell grant recipient when she was an undergraduate. At the beginning of September, Baum called her loan servicer and asked for a refund.

But because of the uncertainty, she is planning to save that money until the Department of Education confirms her debt has been canceled.

“I’m going to hold on to that refund until I absolutely see $0 in my student loans,” Baum said.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">deadline to apply for a refund</a>&nbsp;is December 31, 2023. However, Welbeck recommends that you apply for a refund before you apply for debt forgiveness.

“If you apply first, you can process the refund to get your money back, and then that balance in your account is canceled,” Welbeck said.

The application process for loan forgiveness is expected to take four to six weeks.

The Department of Education is offering a subscription page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/subscriptions">where you can sign up to be notified</a>&nbsp;when the application is open.

You can get a refund for the entire amount you paid during the payment freeze, according to the Department of Education. However, you can choose a lower amount.

You might pick this option if, during the pandemic, you paid enough to get your debt below the maximum amount of forgiveness. You could get a partial refund, then apply to have your remaining debt wiped out.

Say you had $15,000 worth of debt remaining at the beginning of the payment freeze and have since paid $8,000, but qualify for $10,000 in debt relief. You might decide to ask for a refund of just $3,000. Then, your debt balance will be exactly $10,000, and you can apply for maximum loan forgiveness.

Borrowers should expect to receive their refund six to 12 weeks after requesting it, according to the Department of Education. But you might want to double-check with your loan servicer.

McParland’s loan servicer told her that she should see her refunded amount in 30 to 45 business days, but Baum was told that it would take 60 to 70 business days to see her money back in her bank account.

It is not yet clear if the refunded money will be considered taxable income. Welbeck recommends borrowers check with financial advisers from their own state.

Some states,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-indiana-pell-grant-1a20d161073a073f8d5ed0f954188462">such as Indiana</a>, have already said they will tax debt relief for people who have their student loans canceled. Policies vary from state to state.

Since the Department of Education has not yet announced how the cancellation or refunds will be reported to the credit bureaus, it is still uncertain if these amounts will affect borrowers’ credit scores, said Welbeck.

SHOULD I START PAYING AGAIN WHEN THE PAYMENT FREEZE ENDS?

The pandemic payment freeze is set to end Dec. 31. If you have not seen debt relief by then, you are still expected to start making payments. Welbeck recommends that borrowers enroll in income-driven repayment plans before the end of the payment freeze.

Income-driven repayment plans allow you to set an affordable payment amount based on income and family size.

You can find more information about the four types of income-driven repayment plans&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven#eligibility">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661356712793.png" alt="Image White House" />
 <figcaption>Image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — When President Joe Biden announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">plan to forgive student loan debt</a>, many borrowers who kept making payments during the pandemic wondered if they'd made the right choiceBorrowers who paid down their debt during a pandemic freeze that started in March 2020 can in fact get a refund — and&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">then apply for forgiveness</a>&nbsp;– but the process for doing that hasn’t always been clear.If you think you’re eligible, here’s what you need to know:___WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND?Borrowers who hold eligible federal student loans and have made voluntary payments since March 13, 2020, can get a refund, according to the Department of Education.For some people, that refund will be automatic. You can get a refund without applying if your payments brought your loan balance below the maximum debt relief amount: $10,000 for all borrowers, and $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers can check their balance in their&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing">studentaid.gov account</a>.For example, if a borrower paid $100 a month for 10 months of the pandemic and their balance is now $8,000, that $1,000 will automatically be refunded. Then they can apply to get the rest of their debt forgiven.But if a borrower paid throughout the pandemic and still owes $14,000, they won’t get an automatic refund. They can, however, apply to have $10,000 of that debt erased.Another group of people that has to apply for a refund is those who completely paid off their loan balance during the pandemic. If that’s you, you’re eligible for loan forgiveness, but you’ll have to request a refund prior to applying for debt relief. Borrowers should confirm their eligibility for the loan forgiveness program prior to requesting a refund.For example, if a borrower had $5,000 in debt at the start of the pandemic and paid it all back during the freeze, but is eligible for up to $10,000 in forgiveness, they would apply for a $5,000 refund, then apply to have their debt forgiven.“Borrowers who paid off their loans during the pause will need to request a refund first, then request cancellation,” said a spokesperson from the Departmentof Education.The refund is not available for private student loans.Eligible federal student loans:—Direct Loans (defaulted and non defaulted)—Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans held by ED (defaulted and non defaulted)—Federal Perkins Loans held by ED (defaulted and non defaulted)—Defaulted FFEL Program loans not held by ED—Defaulted HEAL loansIf you are not sure which loan you have, visit your&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing">dashboard at studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;and find the “my loan servicers” section. If you can’t access your dashboard, you can call the Federal Student Aid office at 1-800-433-3243 to ask for loan servicer information.HOW CAN I APPLY FOR A REFUND?Borrowers who want a specific amount refunded can apply by calling their loan service provider. Right now, refunds are only being done via phone and not through any website or email.When the Biden Administration announced the forgiveness,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mygreatlakes/posts/pfbid0h5Z1LyJ6u8qPYvGarnxeogUk97jEJLBKf84yz9TjRnkdP65P4c9uhzFkB1VQEfmil">loan servicers found themselves inundated with calls</a>. But many borrowers now say they’re not waiting long when calling.“I was on hold for about five minutes,” said Megan McParland, of New Jersey, who graduated in 2018 and made several payments during the payment freeze.McParland requested a refund the first week of September. At first, she felt the servicer tried to dissuade her from making the request. But after confirming that she wanted to proceed, she was told that she would see her refund in about a month.Sierra Tibbs, a 47-year-old resident of Casselberry, Florida, had a similar experience. The entire phone call with her loan servicer took around 20 minutes.Tibbs applied for a refund after seeing a video online informing her that she could get back money she paid during the pandemic.If you are unsure who services your loan, or if the servicer changed during the pandemic, visit your&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing?redirectTo=%2F">student aid account dashboard</a>&nbsp;and scroll to “my loan servicers” or call 1-800-433-3243.Before calling your loan provider to request your refund, you need to know your account number and the amount you want refunded.—Loan servicers’ phone numbers:<a href="https://myfedloan.org/">FedLoan Servicing</a>: 1-800-699-2908<a href="https://mygreatlakes.org/">Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc.</a>: 1-800-236-4300<a href="https://edfinancial.com/home">Edfinancial</a>: 1-855-337-6884<a href="https://www.mohela.com/">MOHELA</a>: 1-888-866-4352<a href="https://aidvantage.com/">Aidvantage</a>: 1-800-722-1300<a href="https://www.nelnet.com/account/login/">Nelnet</a>: 1-888-486-4722<a href="https://public.osla.org/">OSLA Servicing</a>: 1-866-264-9762<a href="https://efpls.ed.gov/">ECSI</a>: 1-866-313-3797<a href="https://myeddebt.ed.gov/">Default Resolution Group</a>: 1-800-621-3115 (1-877-825-9923 for the deaf or hard of hearing)HOW WILL THE REFUND WORK — AND WHEN WILL MY LOANS BE FORGIVEN?When you request a refund, the amount that you have paid during the payment freeze will be added back to your student loan balance, said Katherine Welbeck, Civil Rights Counsel for the Student Borrower Protection Center.That amount is still eligible for cancellation and can be eliminated after you&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">apply for forgiveness</a>.You're&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">eligible for debt relief</a>&nbsp;if you had an annual federal income below $125,000 individually or $250,000 if you're married or head of household in 2020 or 2021. The application is expected to open in early October and you can apply until Dec. 31, 2023.It is unclear when borrowers will see debt relief. So far,&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">the plan only mentions</a>&nbsp;borrowers will be notified by their loan servicer when their debt is forgiven. There is also a possibility that forgiveness could be delayed if the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">Biden administration faces legal challenges</a>.Laura Baum, a 30-year-old resident of Chicago, paid $5,000 during the payment freeze toward her $15,000 remaining debt. She is eligible to have $20,000 canceled since she was a Pell grant recipient when she was an undergraduate. At the beginning of September, Baum called her loan servicer and asked for a refund.But because of the uncertainty, she is planning to save that money until the Department of Education confirms her debt has been canceled.“I’m going to hold on to that refund until I absolutely see $0 in my student loans,” Baum said.WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY?The&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation">deadline to apply for a refund</a>&nbsp;is December 31, 2023. However, Welbeck recommends that you apply for a refund before you apply for debt forgiveness.“If you apply first, you can process the refund to get your money back, and then that balance in your account is canceled,” Welbeck said.The application process for loan forgiveness is expected to take four to six weeks.The Department of Education is offering a subscription page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/subscriptions">where you can sign up to be notified</a>&nbsp;when the application is open.HOW MUCH CAN I GET REFUNDED?You can get a refund for the entire amount you paid during the payment freeze, according to the Department of Education. However, you can choose a lower amount.You might pick this option if, during the pandemic, you paid enough to get your debt below the maximum amount of forgiveness. You could get a partial refund, then apply to have your remaining debt wiped out.Say you had $15,000 worth of debt remaining at the beginning of the payment freeze and have since paid $8,000, but qualify for $10,000 in debt relief. You might decide to ask for a refund of just $3,000. Then, your debt balance will be exactly $10,000, and you can apply for maximum loan forgiveness.WHEN WILL I GET MY REFUND?Borrowers should expect to receive their refund six to 12 weeks after requesting it, according to the Department of Education. But you might want to double-check with your loan servicer.McParland’s loan servicer told her that she should see her refunded amount in 30 to 45 business days, but Baum was told that it would take 60 to 70 business days to see her money back in her bank account.IS THE REFUND TAXABLE INCOME?It is not yet clear if the refunded money will be considered taxable income. Welbeck recommends borrowers check with financial advisers from their own state.Some states,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-indiana-pell-grant-1a20d161073a073f8d5ed0f954188462">such as Indiana</a>, have already said they will tax debt relief for people who have their student loans canceled. Policies vary from state to state.DOES THE REFUND AFFECT MY CREDIT SCORE?Since the Department of Education has not yet announced how the cancellation or refunds will be reported to the credit bureaus, it is still uncertain if these amounts will affect borrowers’ credit scores, said Welbeck.SHOULD I START PAYING AGAIN WHEN THE PAYMENT FREEZE ENDS?The pandemic payment freeze is set to end Dec. 31. If you have not seen debt relief by then, you are still expected to start making payments. Welbeck recommends that borrowers enroll in income-driven repayment plans before the end of the payment freeze.Income-driven repayment plans allow you to set an affordable payment amount based on income and family size.You can find more information about the four types of income-driven repayment plans&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven#eligibility">here</a>.___

How to get a student loan refund if you paid during pandemic

Linda Faye Wood-Lummus, 82, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, died Thursday, September 15, 2022 at St. Francis Medical Center.&nbsp; She was born May 3, 1940, in Centerville, Texas, to Virgil Wood and Marie Stafford Durst. She and James Robert Lummus were married October 6, 1962, at Centerville, Texas. She was a graduate of Centerville High School in Texas and Sam Houston State University. She was a customer service representative at Colonial Federal and a teacher in the Cape Girardeau Public School System. She was an avid tennis player. She loved her grandkids and attending their sports activities. She was a longtime member of Cape Bible Chapel. Survivors include her husband, James Robert Lummus of Cape Girardeau; two sons, Lee (Tonya) Lummus of Jackson, Missouri and Lane (Danielle) Lummus of Hays, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Brennen Lee (Macey) Lummus, Savannah Brooke Lummus, Jeremy James Lummus, Brock Lummus, Maia Lummus, Lex Lummus and Sienna Lummus.&nbsp; She was preceded in death by her mother; father; step-father, Joe Bailey Durst; and a brother, Jimmy Lyndon Wood. Visitation will be 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Monday, October 3, 2022, at Ford &amp; Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm Monday, October 3, 2022, at Ford &amp; Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau with the Rev. Ed Rothenberger officiating. Burial will be at Fairmont Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.&nbsp; Online condolences may be made at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com/">www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com</a>. Ford &amp; Sons Funeral Home - Mt. Auburn is in charge of arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664076459665.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Linda Faye Wood-Lummus, 82, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, died Thursday, September 15, 2022 at St. Francis Medical Center.&nbsp; She was born May 3, 1940, in Centerville, Texas, to Virgil Wood and Marie Stafford Durst. She and James Robert Lummus were married October 6, 1962, at Centerville, Texas. She was a graduate of Centerville High School in Texas and Sam Houston State University. She was a customer service representative at Colonial Federal and a teacher in the Cape Girardeau Public School System. She was an avid tennis player. She loved her grandkids and attending their sports activities. She was a longtime member of Cape Bible Chapel. Survivors include her husband, James Robert Lummus of Cape Girardeau; two sons, Lee (Tonya) Lummus of Jackson, Missouri and Lane (Danielle) Lummus of Hays, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Brennen Lee (Macey) Lummus, Savannah Brooke Lummus, Jeremy James Lummus, Brock Lummus, Maia Lummus, Lex Lummus and Sienna Lummus.&nbsp; She was preceded in death by her mother; father; step-father, Joe Bailey Durst; and a brother, Jimmy Lyndon Wood. Visitation will be 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Monday, October 3, 2022, at Ford &amp; Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm Monday, October 3, 2022, at Ford &amp; Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau with the Rev. Ed Rothenberger officiating. Burial will be at Fairmont Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.&nbsp; Online condolences may be made at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com/">www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com</a>. Ford &amp; Sons Funeral Home - Mt. Auburn is in charge of arrangements.

Linda Faye Wood-Lummus

WASHINGTON (AP)—U.S. health officials say 4.4 million Americans have rolled up their sleeves for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-90175dd9277dc4bec6b6699c8f14e6f0">updated COVID-19 booster shot.</a>&nbsp;The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the count Thursday as public health experts bemoaned President Joe Biden’s recent remark that “the pandemic is over.”

The White House said more than 5 million people received the new boosters by its own estimate that accounts for reporting lags in states.

Health experts said it is too early to predict whether demand would match up with the 171 million doses of the new boosters the U.S. ordered for the fall.

“No one would go looking at our flu shot uptake at this point and be like, ‘Oh, what a disaster,’” said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “If we start to see a large uptick in cases, I think we're going to see a lot of people getting the (new COVID) vaccine.”

A temporary shortage of Moderna vaccine caused some pharmacies to cancel appointments while encouraging people to reschedule for a Pfizer vaccine. The issue was expected to resolve as government regulators wrapped up an inspection and cleared batches of vaccine doses for distribution.

“I do expect this to pick up in the weeks ahead,” said White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha. “We’ve been thinking and talking about this as an annual vaccine like the flu vaccine. Flu vaccine season picks up in late September and early October. We’re just getting our education campaign going. So we expect to see, despite the fact that this was a strong start, we actually expect this to ramp up stronger.”

Some Americans who plan to get the shot, designed to target the most common omicron strains, said they are waiting because they either had COVID-19 recently or another booster. They are following public health advice to wait several months to get the full benefit of their existing virus-fighting antibodies.

Others are scheduling shots closer to holiday gatherings and winter months when respiratory viruses spread more easily.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663895423323.png" alt="On Thursday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky received her updated COVID vaccine-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>On Thursday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky received her updated COVID vaccine-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—U.S. health officials say 4.4 million Americans have rolled up their sleeves for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-90175dd9277dc4bec6b6699c8f14e6f0">updated COVID-19 booster shot.</a>&nbsp;The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the count Thursday as public health experts bemoaned President Joe Biden’s recent remark that “the pandemic is over.”The White House said more than 5 million people received the new boosters by its own estimate that accounts for reporting lags in states.Health experts said it is too early to predict whether demand would match up with the 171 million doses of the new boosters the U.S. ordered for the fall.“No one would go looking at our flu shot uptake at this point and be like, ‘Oh, what a disaster,’” said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “If we start to see a large uptick in cases, I think we're going to see a lot of people getting the (new COVID) vaccine.”A temporary shortage of Moderna vaccine caused some pharmacies to cancel appointments while encouraging people to reschedule for a Pfizer vaccine. The issue was expected to resolve as government regulators wrapped up an inspection and cleared batches of vaccine doses for distribution.“I do expect this to pick up in the weeks ahead,” said White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha. “We’ve been thinking and talking about this as an annual vaccine like the flu vaccine. Flu vaccine season picks up in late September and early October. We’re just getting our education campaign going. So we expect to see, despite the fact that this was a strong start, we actually expect this to ramp up stronger.”Some Americans who plan to get the shot, designed to target the most common omicron strains, said they are waiting because they either had COVID-19 recently or another booster. They are following public health advice to wait several months to get the full benefit of their existing virus-fighting antibodies.Others are scheduling shots closer to holiday gatherings and winter months when respiratory viruses spread more easily.Retired hospital chaplain Jeanie Murphy, 69, of Shawnee, Kansas, plans to get the new booster in a couple of weeks after she has some minor knee surgery. Interest is high among her neighbors from what she sees on the Nextdoor app.“There’s quite a bit of discussion happening among people who are ready to make appointments,” Murphy said. “I found that encouraging. For every one naysayer there will be 10 or 12 people who jump in and say, ‘You’re crazy. You just need to go get the shot.’”Biden later acknowledged criticism of his remark about the pandemic being over and clarified the pandemic is “not where it was.” The initial comment didn’t bother Murphy. She believes the disease has entered a steady state when “we’ll get COVID shots in the fall the same as we do flu shots.”Experts hope she's right, but are waiting to see what levels of infection winter brings. The summer ebb in case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths may be followed by another surge, Dowdy said.Dr. Anthony Fauci, asked Thursday by a panel of biodefense experts what still keeps him up at night, noted that half of vaccinated Americans never got an initial booster dose.“We have a vulnerability in our population that will continue to have us in a mode of potential disruption of our social order," Fauci said. “I think that we have to do better as a nation.”Some Americans who got the new shots said they are excited about the idea of targeting the vaccine to the variants circulating now.“Give me all the science you can,” said Jeff Westling, 30, an attorney in Washington, D.C., who got the new booster and a flu shot on Tuesday, one in each arm. He participates in the combat sport jujitsu, so wants to protect himself from infections that may come with close contact. “I have no issue trusting folks whose job it is to look at the evidence.”Meanwhile, Biden’s pronouncement in a “60 Minutes” interview broadcast Sunday echoed through social media.“We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lot of work on it. But the pandemic is over,” Biden said while walking through the Detroit auto show. “If you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it’s changing.”By Wednesday on Facebook, when a Kansas health department posted where residents could find the new booster shots, the first commenter remarked snidely:“But Biden says the pandemic is over.”The president's statement, despite his attempts to clarify it, adds to public confusion, said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington.“People aren’t sure when is the right time to get boosted. ‘Am I eligible?’ People are often confused about what the right choice is for them, even where to search for that information,” Michaud said.“Any time you have mixed messages, it’s detrimental to the public health effort,” Michaud said. “Having the mixed messages from the president’s remarks, makes that job that much harder.”University of South Florida epidemiologist Jason Salemi said he's worried the president's pronouncement has taken on a life of its own and may stall prevention efforts.“That soundbite is there for a while now, and it’s going to spread like wildfire. And it’s going to give the impression that ‘Oh, there’s nothing more we need to do,’” Salemi said.“If we’re happy with 400 or 500 people dying every single day from COVID, there’s a problem with that,” Salemi said. “We can absolutely do better because most of those deaths, if not all of them, are absolutely preventable with the tools that we have.”New York City photographer Vivienne Gucwa, 44, got the new booster Monday. She’s had COVID twice, once before vaccines were available and again in May. She was vaccinated with two Moderna shots, but never got the original boosters.“When I saw the new booster was able to tackle omicron variant I thought, ‘I’m doing that,’” Gucwa said.“I don’t want to deal with omicron again. I was kind of thrilled to see the boosters were updated.”