Editor's note: After board member Derek Yarmer said he thought the community was not getting everything residents expected out of the bond projects during a school board meeting on Monday, the Hays Post asked him to elaborate with more specifics.

Yarmer responded with the following written statement via email. It is included here in its entirety.

We are using money out of the capital outlay fund (which is meant to maintain our facilities) for things that should be covered under the bond.

Looking at the bond project on the large scale:

The bond was passed for $143.5 million with the promise to completely build, equip, and furnish a new high school campus. The bond also promised to renovate, make additions to, equip, and furnish the other buildings in the district (O’Loughlin, Roosevelt, Wilson, the current Hays Middle School and the current Hays High School).

The bond money is now projected to be $164.9 million after accruing interest, collecting returns on investments, and the sales of district property. Even after the additional $21.5 million, we are spending millions of dollars out of other funds and will still not address some of the major concerns brought forward by the bond planning committee.

1. The current Hays High School is a 124,000-square-foot structure that was found to be in poor condition prior to passing the bond.

• Planned renovations through the bond are $7 million.&nbsp; • The current plans don’t address the plumbing, which received a 1/5 score from the Planning Committee • The current 5-year capital outlay plan calls for spending money in addition to the bond of: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;a. $645,000 for roofing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;b. $710,000 for classroom/bathroom updates &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;c. $500,000 for parking lot (a large new parking lot already exists there, and as a new middle school, the building will not require as many parking spots) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;d. $75,000 for lockers and paint

2. The current Hays Middle School is a 102,730-square-foot structure that was found to have multiple deficiencies prior to passing the bond.

• Planned renovations through the bond are $3.8 million • The current 5-year capital outlay plan calls for spending money in addition to the bond of: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;a. $175,000 for asbestos removal &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;b. $260,000 for roofing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;c. $175,000 for furniture &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;d. $660,000 for room renovation &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;e. $150,000 for playground relocation

3. Wilson Elementary is a 40,206-square-foot structure found to be in poor condition prior to passing the bond.

• The initial bond called for the renovation of Wilson, but currently, there are no funds allocated for the building through the bond. • The current 5-year capital outlay plan calls for spending:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;a. $1.5 million to remodel rooms &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;b. $150,000 for A/V renovations &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;c. $30,000 for tuck point &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;d. $500,000 for warehouse/maintenance shop &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;e. $160,000 for roofing

The 3-year average of expenditures from the capital outlay fund prior to starting the bond was $3.5 million per year.

Since passing the bond, we are projected to spend $6.4 million in 2024-25, $5.3 million in 2025-26, and $5.5 million in 2026-27, respectively.

It is my opinion that the school’s administration has failed to follow through on its promise to the taxpayers of USD 489 regarding its use of the bond money. 

I have spoken to members of the bond planning committees, and there was supposed to be an oversight committee to make sure that the funds were being used properly. 

Ron Wilson lacks the capability to effectively manage the bond project, and I believe he has poor judgment regarding spending priorities for the district. 

We are spending $753,700 for a concession stand, $777,680 for digital score boards, $687,937 for tennis courts, and $66,364 for a marquee sign this year, while putting off roofing projects and classroom remodeling for years to come. 

After the taxpayers graciously approved a bond which gave the administration $164.9 million to improve the school district, we are still taxing citizens at the highest rate possible and spending over $2 million more each year from the capital outlay fund than before the bond passed. 

The school board is also to blame for this reckless spending by failing to provide proper oversight of the school administration, and for this I am sorry.

— Derek Yarmer, Hays USD 489 school board member

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706030081038.jpeg" alt="Board members Derek Yarmer, left, and Jayme Goetz, right, at a past school board meeting. File photo" />
 <figcaption>Board members Derek Yarmer, left, and Jayme Goetz, right, at a past school board meeting. File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Editor's note: After board member Derek Yarmer said he thought the community was not getting everything residents expected out of the bond projects during a school board meeting on Monday, the Hays Post asked him to elaborate with more specifics.Yarmer responded with the following written statement via email. It is included here in its entirety.We are using money out of the capital outlay fund (which is meant to maintain our facilities) for things that should be covered under the bond.Looking at the bond project on the large scale:The bond was passed for $143.5 million with the promise to completely build, equip, and furnish a new high school campus. The bond also promised to renovate, make additions to, equip, and furnish the other buildings in the district (O’Loughlin, Roosevelt, Wilson, the current Hays Middle School and the current Hays High School).The bond money is now projected to be $164.9 million after accruing interest, collecting returns on investments, and the sales of district property. Even after the additional $21.5 million, we are spending millions of dollars out of other funds and will still not address some of the major concerns brought forward by the bond planning committee.1. The current Hays High School is a 124,000-square-foot structure that was found to be in poor condition prior to passing the bond.• Planned renovations through the bond are $7 million.&nbsp; • The current plans don’t address the plumbing, which received a 1/5 score from the Planning Committee • The current 5-year capital outlay plan calls for spending money in addition to the bond of: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;a. $645,000 for roofing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;b. $710,000 for classroom/bathroom updates &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;c. $500,000 for parking lot (a large new parking lot already exists there, and as a new middle school, the building will not require as many parking spots) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;d. $75,000 for lockers and paint2. The current Hays Middle School is a 102,730-square-foot structure that was found to have multiple deficiencies prior to passing the bond.• Planned renovations through the bond are $3.8 million • The current 5-year capital outlay plan calls for spending money in addition to the bond of: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;a. $175,000 for asbestos removal &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;b. $260,000 for roofing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;c. $175,000 for furniture &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;d. $660,000 for room renovation &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;e. $150,000 for playground relocation3. Wilson Elementary is a 40,206-square-foot structure found to be in poor condition prior to passing the bond.• The initial bond called for the renovation of Wilson, but currently, there are no funds allocated for the building through the bond. • The current 5-year capital outlay plan calls for spending:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;a. $1.5 million to remodel rooms &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;b. $150,000 for A/V renovations &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;c. $30,000 for tuck point &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;d. $500,000 for warehouse/maintenance shop &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;e. $160,000 for roofingThe 3-year average of expenditures from the capital outlay fund prior to starting the bond was $3.5 million per year.Since passing the bond, we are projected to spend $6.4 million in 2024-25, $5.3 million in 2025-26, and $5.5 million in 2026-27, respectively.It is my opinion that the school’s administration has failed to follow through on its promise to the taxpayers of USD 489 regarding its use of the bond money. I have spoken to members of the bond planning committees, and there was supposed to be an oversight committee to make sure that the funds were being used properly. Ron Wilson lacks the capability to effectively manage the bond project, and I believe he has poor judgment regarding spending priorities for the district. We are spending $753,700 for a concession stand, $777,680 for digital score boards, $687,937 for tennis courts, and $66,364 for a marquee sign this year, while putting off roofing projects and classroom remodeling for years to come. After the taxpayers graciously approved a bond which gave the administration $164.9 million to improve the school district, we are still taxing citizens at the highest rate possible and spending over $2 million more each year from the capital outlay fund than before the bond passed. The school board is also to blame for this reckless spending by failing to provide proper oversight of the school administration, and for this I am sorry.— Derek Yarmer, Hays USD 489 school board member

Opinion: Hays USD 489 board member critical of use of bond, capital funds

Board member alleges 'mistakes' in bond projects, declines to offer specifics or sources

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board voted against hiring a project manager who would answer specifically to the school board at its meeting on Monday night.

The district is in the middle of construction projects funded by a $143 million bond issue.

The largest project is a new $100 million high school, which is set to open in August. Roosevelt Elementary School's addition and expansion are complete, and renovations at O'Loughlin Elementary School are ongoing.

The current Hays High School will be renovated into a middle school, and the former middle school will be renovated into an elementary school.

Board members Allen Park and Derek Yarmer have expressed concerns about bond spending.

Board President Curt Vajnar said he thought hiring a project manager was too late in the construction process.

Board member Ruth Ruder said she didn't think it would be effective to hire a project manager now that the district's largest bond-funded project—Hays High—is almost complete and the O'Loughlin project is underway.

Board Vice President Jayme Goetz said a significant portion of what a project manager would do is already done. The contracts on the projects have already been signed.&nbsp;

Yarmer said, "We have $61 [million], $62 million still out that is not spent at this point. That's a good chunk of money that could be some potential saving in that. I don't know how much a project manager would cost. I think it is worth looking into."

Park said, "I talked to a couple of superintendents, who said, 'If I was starting it, I would not do it. It's hard for me to do my job and be a project manager.' Really, it should be a separate job."

Park suggested a project manager not only look at projects that are underway, but Roosevelt, which is finished.&nbsp;

"Was it all done the right way?" Park said.

Hays USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson explained Nabholz Construction, the district's construction manager at risk, was providing project management. A construction manager at risk takes on the financial risk. They provide a guaranteed maximum price, which means they are responsible for any costs exceeding that price.

They are responsible for making sure projects stay on budget and schedule.

Project managers alone similarly deal with budgets and scheduling, but they don't assume any financial responsibility.

"They have the district's best interest," Wilson said of Nabholz. "I can tell you 25, 30, 40 times where they have looked at projects and [said] we can't do it this way, we need to go back and figure out how to do it cheaper. 

"They have been tremendous. That is what they are. They are project managers. You have a project manager. You have a project manager who you are paying already."

"You are not quite understanding what Nabholz's role is," Wilson said. "They are an incredible organization that really is looking out for the best interest of the district because their reputation is on the line," Wilson said.

Nabholz's fee is set. They can't earn any more money. Savings go back to the school district, Wilson said.

Wilson said he and the other members of the administration team, including Chris Hipp, director of finance, Rusty Lindsay, director of building and grounds, and Scott Summers, technology director, were serving as owner representatives.&nbsp;

They are working with Nabholz and the design team and reporting back to the board and the community on the projects' progress, Wilson said.

"You are paying us as well to be representatives for the school district because we do care about this school district as well," Wilson said.

Park said he did not think Wilson had the expertise to handle the bond-funded projects.&nbsp;

This is the third bond Wilson has been involved in his education career, he said.

Yarmer challenged the spending on the bond projects.

"The people I talked to think we just got a high school out of this. I think I agree with them," Yarmer said.&nbsp;

"We're spending $164 million with the money we're making off the bond money," Yarmer said, "and we are still not getting all of the things that we expected out of the entire project."

The Hays Post contacted Yarmer after the meeting and asked him to elaborate on this comment. He responded by email. Because of the length of his response, it has been posted separately. See the link below.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52e53c90-5182-42f0-919e-2c7dc145305b">SEE RELATED STORY: Opinion: Hays USD 489 board member critical of use of bond, capital funds</a>

Yarmer continued to push for a project manager who would answer directly to the board.

"While contracts are signed for three of the projects, there is probably money we could still save on the other ones," Yarmer said. "I think it would be wise to get somebody to take a look at the books and the project to try to figure out what we can do to maximize what we have left."

"I have no idea what it will cost. $200,000?" Yarmer said of hiring another project manager.

Ruder said, "We should have looked at this beforehand, not when we are almost done with the bond. Folks, we are almost done with the bond."

Ruder also noted that it would take time to launch a search for a project manager, which means the district would be even deeper into its projects. Hiring a headhunter to perform a search for another manager would cost additional funds, she said.

She also questioned Yarmer and Park's estimates of the cost of hiring a new and separate project manager.

Multiple sources, including a source from Wayne State University, quoted project manager fees from 1.5% to 5% of the project's total cost.

At 1.5 %, that would have added more than $1.4 million to the total cost of the bond projects and at least $900,000 to the remaining $60 million in projects to have a separate liaison specifically for the school board.

Wilson said the project has a third party, Kaw Valley, which periodically inspects the projects, providing additional oversight.

Yarmer said to Wilson, "I have talked to people who worked for Nabholz or subcontractors who say you really don't know what you're doing. ... You have no idea."

Wilson said, "I disagree with you that I do know what I'm doing, and we've done a great job, tremendous job."&nbsp;

"On a $100 million high school, we've had $400,000 in change orders," Wilson said. "That's amazing."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7b2976df-a6d0-4414-bce5-d81cae678365">$400,000 is well under the contingency that was established for the high school project.</a>

Yarmer said the district is not taking care of the middle schoolers and elementary school students.

Yarmer said, "I have heard multiple things that have gone wrong step-wise throughout the project, and they got swept under the rug and money moved to other things."

After the meeting, the Hays Post asked Yarmer to elaborate on what specific problems had occurred on the new Hays High School project and where he received his information.&nbsp;

He refused to answer, saying that he wanted a copy of his quote before he would discuss it further with the Hays Post.

The Hays Post contacted Yarmer on Wednesday by email, asking him what specific proof he had of malfeasance on the Hays High project. He again did not give specific instances of mistakes or who had made the allegations.

"I spoke to several people who have worked on the bond project in different capacities. The people I have spoken with have expressed concerns about the management of the project and gave me several examples of mistakes that were made and not brought to the board’s attention. I am keeping the people’s names and the information that I have received confidential at this time because I promised them I would. I was only given 24 hours to respond to these questions and due to my busy schedule, I was unable to speak to all the individuals involved prior to giving my response."

"The common theme expressed by the people I spoke with is that Ron Wilson is not qualified to oversee the bond project. It was stated by multiple people that he is in over his head and says 'yes' to everything. The comments I made at the meeting were in response to the lack of forethought, planning, and responsible allocation of resources to the different components of the bond project."

Wilson said after the meeting on Monday there was no malfeasance in the Hays High project, noting that Yarmer had no proof of any major issues or errors in the Hays High project.

At the meeting on Monday, Park continued to push for hiring another project manager.

Park said, "We have half of the bond left. I agree we are way late. It doesn't hurt. Let's see what we can do. ... It is something fiscally important that we do so we are accountable to our taxpayers."

Although most of the members on the school board now were elected after the bond issue was passed, Park was a part of the board when the bond plan was created.

Yarmer made a motion to look into hiring a project manager for the remainder of the bond and interview a prospective manager under the guise of the board.

Yarmer's motion failed on a vote of 3-4. Yarmer, Park and Vajnar voted in favor of the motion, with the remaining board members voting against.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743098984199.jpeg" alt="The new $100 million Hays High School is under construction and is scheduled to open in August. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The new $100 million Hays High School is under construction and is scheduled to open in August. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Board member alleges 'mistakes' in bond projects, declines to offer specifics or sources</h2>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board voted against hiring a project manager who would answer specifically to the school board at its meeting on Monday night.The district is in the middle of construction projects funded by a $143 million bond issue.The largest project is a new $100 million high school, which is set to open in August. Roosevelt Elementary School's addition and expansion are complete, and renovations at O'Loughlin Elementary School are ongoing.The current Hays High School will be renovated into a middle school, and the former middle school will be renovated into an elementary school.Board members Allen Park and Derek Yarmer have expressed concerns about bond spending.Board President Curt Vajnar said he thought hiring a project manager was too late in the construction process.Board member Ruth Ruder said she didn't think it would be effective to hire a project manager now that the district's largest bond-funded project—Hays High—is almost complete and the O'Loughlin project is underway.Board Vice President Jayme Goetz said a significant portion of what a project manager would do is already done. The contracts on the projects have already been signed.&nbsp;Yarmer said, "We have $61 [million], $62 million still out that is not spent at this point. That's a good chunk of money that could be some potential saving in that. I don't know how much a project manager would cost. I think it is worth looking into."Park said, "I talked to a couple of superintendents, who said, 'If I was starting it, I would not do it. It's hard for me to do my job and be a project manager.' Really, it should be a separate job."Park suggested a project manager not only look at projects that are underway, but Roosevelt, which is finished.&nbsp;"Was it all done the right way?" Park said.Hays USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson explained Nabholz Construction, the district's construction manager at risk, was providing project management. A construction manager at risk takes on the financial risk. They provide a guaranteed maximum price, which means they are responsible for any costs exceeding that price.They are responsible for making sure projects stay on budget and schedule.Project managers alone similarly deal with budgets and scheduling, but they don't assume any financial responsibility."They have the district's best interest," Wilson said of Nabholz. "I can tell you 25, 30, 40 times where they have looked at projects and [said] we can't do it this way, we need to go back and figure out how to do it cheaper. "They have been tremendous. That is what they are. They are project managers. You have a project manager. You have a project manager who you are paying already.""You are not quite understanding what Nabholz's role is," Wilson said. "They are an incredible organization that really is looking out for the best interest of the district because their reputation is on the line," Wilson said.Nabholz's fee is set. They can't earn any more money. Savings go back to the school district, Wilson said.Wilson said he and the other members of the administration team, including Chris Hipp, director of finance, Rusty Lindsay, director of building and grounds, and Scott Summers, technology director, were serving as owner representatives.&nbsp;They are working with Nabholz and the design team and reporting back to the board and the community on the projects' progress, Wilson said."You are paying us as well to be representatives for the school district because we do care about this school district as well," Wilson said.Park said he did not think Wilson had the expertise to handle the bond-funded projects.&nbsp;This is the third bond Wilson has been involved in his education career, he said.Yarmer challenged the spending on the bond projects."The people I talked to think we just got a high school out of this. I think I agree with them," Yarmer said.&nbsp;"We're spending $164 million with the money we're making off the bond money," Yarmer said, "and we are still not getting all of the things that we expected out of the entire project."The Hays Post contacted Yarmer after the meeting and asked him to elaborate on this comment. He responded by email. Because of the length of his response, it has been posted separately. See the link below.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52e53c90-5182-42f0-919e-2c7dc145305b">SEE RELATED STORY: Opinion: Hays USD 489 board member critical of use of bond, capital funds</a>Yarmer continued to push for a project manager who would answer directly to the board."While contracts are signed for three of the projects, there is probably money we could still save on the other ones," Yarmer said. "I think it would be wise to get somebody to take a look at the books and the project to try to figure out what we can do to maximize what we have left.""I have no idea what it will cost. $200,000?" Yarmer said of hiring another project manager.Ruder said, "We should have looked at this beforehand, not when we are almost done with the bond. Folks, we are almost done with the bond."Ruder also noted that it would take time to launch a search for a project manager, which means the district would be even deeper into its projects. Hiring a headhunter to perform a search for another manager would cost additional funds, she said.She also questioned Yarmer and Park's estimates of the cost of hiring a new and separate project manager.Multiple sources, including a source from Wayne State University, quoted project manager fees from 1.5% to 5% of the project's total cost.At 1.5 %, that would have added more than $1.4 million to the total cost of the bond projects and at least $900,000 to the remaining $60 million in projects to have a separate liaison specifically for the school board.Wilson said the project has a third party, Kaw Valley, which periodically inspects the projects, providing additional oversight.Yarmer said to Wilson, "I have talked to people who worked for Nabholz or subcontractors who say you really don't know what you're doing. ... You have no idea."Wilson said, "I disagree with you that I do know what I'm doing, and we've done a great job, tremendous job."&nbsp;"On a $100 million high school, we've had $400,000 in change orders," Wilson said. "That's amazing."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7b2976df-a6d0-4414-bce5-d81cae678365">$400,000 is well under the contingency that was established for the high school project.</a>Yarmer said the district is not taking care of the middle schoolers and elementary school students.Wilson said he disagreed.Yarmer said, "I have heard multiple things that have gone wrong step-wise throughout the project, and they got swept under the rug and money moved to other things."After the meeting, the Hays Post asked Yarmer to elaborate on what specific problems had occurred on the new Hays High School project and where he received his information.&nbsp;He refused to answer, saying that he wanted a copy of his quote before he would discuss it further with the Hays Post.The Hays Post contacted Yarmer on Wednesday by email, asking him what specific proof he had of malfeasance on the Hays High project. He again did not give specific instances of mistakes or who had made the allegations.His response is below: "I spoke to several people who have worked on the bond project in different capacities. The people I have spoken with have expressed concerns about the management of the project and gave me several examples of mistakes that were made and not brought to the board’s attention. I am keeping the people’s names and the information that I have received confidential at this time because I promised them I would. I was only given 24 hours to respond to these questions and due to my busy schedule, I was unable to speak to all the individuals involved prior to giving my response.""The common theme expressed by the people I spoke with is that Ron Wilson is not qualified to oversee the bond project. It was stated by multiple people that he is in over his head and says 'yes' to everything. The comments I made at the meeting were in response to the lack of forethought, planning, and responsible allocation of resources to the different components of the bond project."Wilson said after the meeting on Monday there was no malfeasance in the Hays High project, noting that Yarmer had no proof of any major issues or errors in the Hays High project.At the meeting on Monday, Park continued to push for hiring another project manager.Park said, "We have half of the bond left. I agree we are way late. It doesn't hurt. Let's see what we can do. ... It is something fiscally important that we do so we are accountable to our taxpayers."Although most of the members on the school board now were elected after the bond issue was passed, Park was a part of the board when the bond plan was created.Yarmer made a motion to look into hiring a project manager for the remainder of the bond and interview a prospective manager under the guise of the board.Yarmer's motion failed on a vote of 3-4. Yarmer, Park and Vajnar voted in favor of the motion, with the remaining board members voting against.

Hays USD 489 board votes not to add another manager for bond work

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A Colorado man was arrested March 21 after allegedly trying to sell drugs at a gas station in Hays.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said officers responded to a report of a suspicious man at a gas station on North Vine Street. The man allegedly gave a false name and denied involvement in any drug activity.

Scheibler said the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted at the scene with a roadside fingerprint scanner, which ultimately identified the suspect as 38-year-old Andrew David Voda of New Castle, who had a felony warrant out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Scheibler said a search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered liquid methamphetamine, resulting in several charges, including possession with intent to distribute, DUI, open container violation, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement.

Scheibler said the suspect was also charged with violating a protection from abuse order and possessing stolen property, as the vehicle he was driving was allegedly stolen from Colorado.

Scheibler credited the Kansas Highway Patrol for helping officers identify the suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743186402825.png" alt="Voda photo Elis Co." />
 <figcaption>Voda photo Elis Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Colorado man was arrested March 21 after allegedly trying to sell drugs at a gas station in Hays.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said officers responded to a report of a suspicious man at a gas station on North Vine Street. The man allegedly gave a false name and denied involvement in any drug activity.Scheibler said the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted at the scene with a roadside fingerprint scanner, which ultimately identified the suspect as 38-year-old Andrew David Voda of New Castle, who had a felony warrant out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.Scheibler said a search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered liquid methamphetamine, resulting in several charges, including possession with intent to distribute, DUI, open container violation, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement.Scheibler said the suspect was also charged with violating a protection from abuse order and possessing stolen property, as the vehicle he was driving was allegedly stolen from Colorado.Scheibler credited the Kansas Highway Patrol for helping officers identify the suspect.

Colorado man arrested in Hays for alleged attempted drug sale

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he was pulling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination</a>&nbsp;to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a stunning turnaround for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-cabinet-confirmation-tracker/">Cabinet pick</a>&nbsp;after her confirmation had been stalled for months over concerns about Republicans'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-results-mike-johnson-5103c8b5c0ef03a1e61a1c0f9ca3dd4f">tight margins in the House</a>.

Trump confirmed he was withdrawing the New York Republican's nomination in a Truth Social post, saying that it was “essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.”

“We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress,” the president said. He did not say whom he would nominate to replace her and fill his last remaining Cabinet seat.

The abrupt withdrawal reflects growing concern among House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, that their historically slim majority could be at risk, particularly ahead of two special elections in Florida next week. The loss of a mere handful of seats could swing the House majority to Democrats and derail their efforts to enact Trump’s sweeping agenda in the months ahead.

Johnson praised Stefanik, the former No. 4 House leader, as “selfless” and “patriotic" after Trump announced the move.

“It is well known Republicans have a razor-thin House majority, and Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our Conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies,” Johnson said in a post on X. He added that he “will invite her to return to the leadership table immediately,” although its unclear what position she would take since there are no vacancies.

Stefanik’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump had tapped Stefanik to represent the U.S. at the international body shortly after winning reelection in November. She was seen as among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-special-elections-congress-matt-gaetz-trump-cfa3db23a51eeeb0f5b67c9369993717">the least controversial Cabinet picks</a>, and her nomination advanced out of committee in late January, but House Republicans' razor-thin majority kept her ultimate confirmation in a state of purgatory for the last several months.

In recent weeks, it had seemed as if Stefanik's nomination would advance to the Senate floor, given two U.S. House special elections in Florida in districts that Trump easily won in 2024. Filling those vacant GOP seats would have allowed Stefanik to finally resign from the House and given Republicans, who currently hold 218 seats, a little more breathing room on passing legislation in a growingly divided Congress. Democrats hold 213 seats.

Both districts have long been Republican strongholds, and a win by either Democratic candidate would be a major surprise, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders are looking to at least narrow the margin from November, when Trump carried both districts in the presidential election by more than 30 points. That, coupled with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-democratic-party-donald-trump-election-094e907bd9af0d55a3ac76bb5e22d17c">Democrats’ upset in a Tuesday special election</a>&nbsp;for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities, has surely given Republicans pause.

Trump's statement Thursday also seemed to indicate an anxiety about the party's ability to hold on to Stefanik’s seat if she were to take on the U.N. post, even though the sprawling district in northern New York is one of the state’s most conservative and is considered to be solid Republican territory. Stefanik herself cruised to reelection last year, winning 62% of the vote over her Democratic opponent. Almost all of the counties in her district voted for Trump last year.

Stefanik is the fourth Trump administration nominee who didn’t make it through the confirmation process. Previously, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-15b223953a668e63d8b947fdaeaa51d4">withdrew from consideration</a>&nbsp;for attorney general, Chad Chronister was pulled for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chad-chronister-trump-withdrawing-nominee-032bd91a5ef447e820e2b1f63e50861e">Drug Enforcement Administration</a>&nbsp;and former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dave-weldon-cdc-director-9a3d061832e2f0f644f2c58fbae36965">yanked from contention</a>&nbsp;to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The former congresswoman had been in a state of limbo for months, not able to engage in her official duties as a member of the 119th Congress or to participate in the action at the U.N. The vacancy of a permanent U.S. ambassador was happening at a critical moment for the international body as the world leaders had been discussing the two major wars between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia and Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel and Hamas</a>.

In late February, the U.S. mission, under Trump, split with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three U.N. resolutions seeking an end to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">three-year war</a>. Dorothy Shea, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has been the face of America’s mission in New York during the transition.

The withdrawal of Stefanik’s nomination came after she had launched a recent farewell tour of her district, meeting with supporters and thanking them for their support. On her Instagram page, Stefanik had also been conducting what appeared to be a retrospective of her time in Congress, with one post containing images from 2016 that showed her on a cable news show and posing with supporters atop a caption that began with “Congressional throwback continued.”

Reflecting the abruptness of Trump's decision, Stefanik's last throwback post was made Thursday morning.

Amiri reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in New York and Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Fla., contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731349681761.png" alt="-File photo Rep. Elise Stefanik and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu" />
 <figcaption>-File photo Rep. Elise Stefanik and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he was pulling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination</a>&nbsp;to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a stunning turnaround for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-cabinet-confirmation-tracker/">Cabinet pick</a>&nbsp;after her confirmation had been stalled for months over concerns about Republicans'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-results-mike-johnson-5103c8b5c0ef03a1e61a1c0f9ca3dd4f">tight margins in the House</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743100573376.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump confirmed he was withdrawing the New York Republican's nomination in a Truth Social post, saying that it was “essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.”“We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress,” the president said. He did not say whom he would nominate to replace her and fill his last remaining Cabinet seat.The abrupt withdrawal reflects growing concern among House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, that their historically slim majority could be at risk, particularly ahead of two special elections in Florida next week. The loss of a mere handful of seats could swing the House majority to Democrats and derail their efforts to enact Trump’s sweeping agenda in the months ahead.Johnson praised Stefanik, the former No. 4 House leader, as “selfless” and “patriotic" after Trump announced the move.“It is well known Republicans have a razor-thin House majority, and Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our Conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies,” Johnson said in a post on X. He added that he “will invite her to return to the leadership table immediately,” although its unclear what position she would take since there are no vacancies.Stefanik’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Trump had tapped Stefanik to represent the U.S. at the international body shortly after winning reelection in November. She was seen as among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-special-elections-congress-matt-gaetz-trump-cfa3db23a51eeeb0f5b67c9369993717">the least controversial Cabinet picks</a>, and her nomination advanced out of committee in late January, but House Republicans' razor-thin majority kept her ultimate confirmation in a state of purgatory for the last several months.In recent weeks, it had seemed as if Stefanik's nomination would advance to the Senate floor, given two U.S. House special elections in Florida in districts that Trump easily won in 2024. Filling those vacant GOP seats would have allowed Stefanik to finally resign from the House and given Republicans, who currently hold 218 seats, a little more breathing room on passing legislation in a growingly divided Congress. Democrats hold 213 seats.Both districts have long been Republican strongholds, and a win by either Democratic candidate would be a major surprise, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders are looking to at least narrow the margin from November, when Trump carried both districts in the presidential election by more than 30 points. That, coupled with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-democratic-party-donald-trump-election-094e907bd9af0d55a3ac76bb5e22d17c">Democrats’ upset in a Tuesday special election</a>&nbsp;for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities, has surely given Republicans pause.Trump's statement Thursday also seemed to indicate an anxiety about the party's ability to hold on to Stefanik’s seat if she were to take on the U.N. post, even though the sprawling district in northern New York is one of the state’s most conservative and is considered to be solid Republican territory. Stefanik herself cruised to reelection last year, winning 62% of the vote over her Democratic opponent. Almost all of the counties in her district voted for Trump last year.Stefanik is the fourth Trump administration nominee who didn’t make it through the confirmation process. Previously, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-15b223953a668e63d8b947fdaeaa51d4">withdrew from consideration</a>&nbsp;for attorney general, Chad Chronister was pulled for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chad-chronister-trump-withdrawing-nominee-032bd91a5ef447e820e2b1f63e50861e">Drug Enforcement Administration</a>&nbsp;and former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dave-weldon-cdc-director-9a3d061832e2f0f644f2c58fbae36965">yanked from contention</a>&nbsp;to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The former congresswoman had been in a state of limbo for months, not able to engage in her official duties as a member of the 119th Congress or to participate in the action at the U.N. The vacancy of a permanent U.S. ambassador was happening at a critical moment for the international body as the world leaders had been discussing the two major wars between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia and Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel and Hamas</a>.In late February, the U.S. mission, under Trump, split with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three U.N. resolutions seeking an end to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">three-year war</a>. Dorothy Shea, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has been the face of America’s mission in New York during the transition.The withdrawal of Stefanik’s nomination came after she had launched a recent farewell tour of her district, meeting with supporters and thanking them for their support. On her Instagram page, Stefanik had also been conducting what appeared to be a retrospective of her time in Congress, with one post containing images from 2016 that showed her on a cable news show and posing with supporters atop a caption that began with “Congressional throwback continued.”Reflecting the abruptness of Trump's decision, Stefanik's last throwback post was made Thursday morning.___Amiri reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in New York and Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Fla., contributed to this report.

Why Trump is withdrawing his nominee for UN Ambassador

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major overhaul,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-health-and-human-services">the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>&nbsp;will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-trump-health-secretary-vote-5dbefeef0537dc241e6fb33b8f2a748b">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;criticized the department he oversees as an inefficient “sprawling bureaucracy” in a video announcing the restructuring Thursday. He faulted the department's 82,000 workers for a decline in Americans' health.

“I want to promise you now that we're going to do more with less,” Kennedy said in the video, posted to social media.

Kennedy acknowledged that it will be a “painful period” for the nation's top health agencies, which are responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting foods and hospitals and overseeing health insurance programs for nearly half the country.

Overall, the department will downsize to 62,000 positions — losing 10,000 jobs through layoffs and another 10,000 workers who took early retirement and voluntary separation offers encouraged by President Donald Trump's administration.

HHS provided on Thursday a breakdown of cuts at the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:

— 3,500 jobs at the FDA, which inspects and sets safety standards for medications, medical devices and foods.

— 2,400 jobs at the CDC, which monitors for infectious disease outbreaks and works with public health agencies nationwide.

— 1,200 jobs at the NIH, the world's leading public health research arm.

— 300 jobs at CMS, which oversees the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Medicare and Medicaid.

In its statement, HHS said it anticipates the changes will save $1.8 billion per year, but it did not provide a breakdown or any other details about the savings. The department has a $1.7 trillion annual budget, most of which is dedicated to funding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/medicare">Medicare and Medicaid programs</a>&nbsp;used by older, disabled and poor Americans.

Beyond losing workers, Kennedy said he will shut down entire agencies, some of which were established by Congress decades ago.

Several agencies will be folded into a new Administration for a Healthy America, Kennedy said.

Those include the Health Resources and Services Administration, which oversees and provides funding for hundreds of community health centers around the country, as well as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which funds clinics and oversees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-washington-suicide-313c20b2098469f04ccadcccdfd46b1b">the national 988 hotline</a>. Both agencies pump billions of dollars into on-the-ground work in local communities.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, created by a law signed by then-President George W. Bush and responsible for maintaining the national stockpile that was quickly drained during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be folded into the CDC.

Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-health-and-human-services">https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-health-and-human-services</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743090245316.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall met with Kennedy on Thursday, according to the Senator's social media feed." />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall met with Kennedy on Thursday, according to the Senator's social media feed.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major overhaul,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-health-and-human-services">the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>&nbsp;will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are streamlining HHS to make our agency more efficient and more effective. We will eliminate an entire alphabet soup of departments, while preserving their core functions by merging them into a new organization called the Administration for a Healthy America or AHA. This… <a href="https://t.co/BlQWUpK3u7">pic.twitter.com/BlQWUpK3u7</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1905243470366670926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-trump-health-secretary-vote-5dbefeef0537dc241e6fb33b8f2a748b">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;criticized the department he oversees as an inefficient “sprawling bureaucracy” in a video announcing the restructuring Thursday. He faulted the department's 82,000 workers for a decline in Americans' health.“I want to promise you now that we're going to do more with less,” Kennedy said in the video, posted to social media.Kennedy acknowledged that it will be a “painful period” for the nation's top health agencies, which are responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting foods and hospitals and overseeing health insurance programs for nearly half the country.Overall, the department will downsize to 62,000 positions — losing 10,000 jobs through layoffs and another 10,000 workers who took early retirement and voluntary separation offers encouraged by President Donald Trump's administration.HHS provided on Thursday a breakdown of cuts at the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:— 3,500 jobs at the FDA, which inspects and sets safety standards for medications, medical devices and foods.— 2,400 jobs at the CDC, which monitors for infectious disease outbreaks and works with public health agencies nationwide.— 1,200 jobs at the NIH, the world's leading public health research arm.— 300 jobs at CMS, which oversees the Affordable Care Act marketplace, Medicare and Medicaid.In its statement, HHS said it anticipates the changes will save $1.8 billion per year, but it did not provide a breakdown or any other details about the savings. The department has a $1.7 trillion annual budget, most of which is dedicated to funding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/medicare">Medicare and Medicaid programs</a>&nbsp;used by older, disabled and poor Americans.Beyond losing workers, Kennedy said he will shut down entire agencies, some of which were established by Congress decades ago.Several agencies will be folded into a new Administration for a Healthy America, Kennedy said.Those include the Health Resources and Services Administration, which oversees and provides funding for hundreds of community health centers around the country, as well as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which funds clinics and oversees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-washington-suicide-313c20b2098469f04ccadcccdfd46b1b">the national 988 hotline</a>. Both agencies pump billions of dollars into on-the-ground work in local communities.The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, created by a law signed by then-President George W. Bush and responsible for maintaining the national stockpile that was quickly drained during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be folded into the CDC.___Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-health-and-human-services">https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-health-and-human-services</a>.

🎥RJK, Jr. explains why he is cutting thousands of jobs at  HHS

William W. 'Bill' Hayes, 71, Fort Dodge, died Saturday,
March 22, 2025 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.

He was born March 14, 1954 in Hays, the son of William Dwayne
and Alice Jean (Dennison) Hayes.&nbsp; He graduated from Hays High School in
1972 and received an Associate Degree from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;
Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1975.&nbsp; He worked for 10 years as
a Sheriff’s Deputy with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, 18 years with the Department
of Corrections in Larned, and 6 years at Larned State Hospital, where he
retired in 2011 as a Special Investigator II.&nbsp; Bill was a member of the
Hays VFW and Eagles Lodge and he loved playing poker, going to the casino,
fishing, and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his two daughters, Megan Orth and husband
Jeremy of Englewood, CO and Samantha Sunley and husband Duane of Castle Rock,
CO, two brothers, Alan Hayes of Cheyenne, WY and Jason Hayes and wife Christy
of Topeka, three sisters, Sharon Wood of Pearland, TX, Pam Haslett and husband
Michael of Gardner, and Jan Hayes of Thornton, CO, four grandchildren, Brett,
Griffin, and Freya Orth and Colton Minear, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Kim
Hayes, and a sister-in-law, Sandy Hayes.

Funeral services and military honors by the Hays VFW Post
#9076 Honor Guard will be at 11:00 am on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Hays
Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; 

Visitation will be from 9:30 am until
service time at the funeral home.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.&nbsp; Condolences
and memories of Bill may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742849795157.jpeg" alt="William W. 'Bill' Hayes" />
 <figcaption>William W. 'Bill' Hayes</figcaption>
 </figure>William W. 'Bill' Hayes, 71, Fort Dodge, died Saturday,
March 22, 2025 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.He was born March 14, 1954 in Hays, the son of William Dwayne
and Alice Jean (Dennison) Hayes.&nbsp; He graduated from Hays High School in
1972 and received an Associate Degree from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;
Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1975.&nbsp; He worked for 10 years as
a Sheriff’s Deputy with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, 18 years with the Department
of Corrections in Larned, and 6 years at Larned State Hospital, where he
retired in 2011 as a Special Investigator II.&nbsp; Bill was a member of the
Hays VFW and Eagles Lodge and he loved playing poker, going to the casino,
fishing, and spending time with his family.Survivors include his two daughters, Megan Orth and husband
Jeremy of Englewood, CO and Samantha Sunley and husband Duane of Castle Rock,
CO, two brothers, Alan Hayes of Cheyenne, WY and Jason Hayes and wife Christy
of Topeka, three sisters, Sharon Wood of Pearland, TX, Pam Haslett and husband
Michael of Gardner, and Jan Hayes of Thornton, CO, four grandchildren, Brett,
Griffin, and Freya Orth and Colton Minear, and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Kim
Hayes, and a sister-in-law, Sandy Hayes.Funeral services and military honors by the Hays VFW Post
#9076 Honor Guard will be at 11:00 am on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Hays
Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 9:30 am until
service time at the funeral home.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.&nbsp; Condolences
and memories of Bill may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com

William W. 'Bill' Hayes

BOWERS: 2025 Senate Scene Week 10

The House of Representatives debated and voted on 50 bills and resolutions last week, with only two weeks remaining till first adjournment. Bill topics ranged from higher education review commissions to fireworks sale regulations. Detailed below is a sample of six bills and resolutions from those deliberated in the House chamber, of which I voted yes on each.

· First is Senate Bill (SB) 156. This piece of legislation would make unlawfully direction of laser pointer lights at both law enforcement officers and aircraft a state crime. Laser pointing at law enforcement officers would be classified as a Class A misdemeanor and laser pointing at aircraft would be Severity Level 9 personal felony. Those using laser pointers for research purposes with aircraft manufacturers, work within federal agencies, and emergency rescue would be exempted.

· Second is SB 30. This bill requires the Kansas Secretary of Labor to conduct state and national criminal record checks on any state employee, including new hires, that is granted direct access to Internal Revenue Service tax information. The Secretary of Labor would also be granted statutory permissions from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on criminal investigation data.

· Third is SB 269. This legislation would alter current filing fee protocol for the Board of Tax Appeals. Instead of current law, where filers with pending and undecided appeals in previous years are charged for new appeals, the bill would eliminate filing fees for appeals.

· Fourth is House Bill 2223. This bill would alter current law by expanding the scope of practice, changing practice definitions, and credentialling for optometrists in Kansas.

· Fifth is House Resolution 6016, which I sponsored. This resolution condemns the planned Satanic Black Mass, scheduled for March 28, on State Capitol grounds. While it may be within their First Amendment rights to conduct such practices the event only serves to create division within our state by offending faithful Christians and insulting the heritage of our state.

· Sixth is SB 44. This legislation would alter the Kansas Promise Scholarship program by expanding the number of eligible post-secondary education intuitions in Kansas and increase funds available for the scholarship, from $10 million to $15 million.

Due to session timeline constraints an Omnibus Budget, a second budgetary bill intended to address errors, was not possible. In order to address those same concerns, the House Appropriations Committee modified Senate Bill 125, the Claims Against the State, with new line-item expenditures. Some members took to calling it the Minibus Budget.

Overall, the bill will increase state spending in fiscal year (FY) 2025 by $10,040,000 and by $7,518,829 in fiscal year 2026. 

The new items included covered an array of topics, some of which I have included here as a sample. 

First was $1.5 million State General Funds (SGF) to the Department of Health and Environment for control and prevention of the spread of Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, given the recent outbreak in the state. 

Second was $40,000 SGF to the Kansas Historical Society to establish a Quindaro Ruins Taskforce in FY 2025, in order to organize efforts for the renovation of the Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park, with reporting deadlines in FY 2026.

Third was bonding authority authorization for Kansas State University (KSU), Wichita State University, and the University of Kansas in FY 2026 and FY 2027. The bonding authority would pay for various projects across the university campuses, including the State of Kansas’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory—which resides on KSU’s campus. The bill passed out of the House Chamber on a vote of 120 to 3, and I voted yes.

HOUSE BILL 2007 SENATE ADJUSTMENTS

The budget process for this session is nearing conclusion and the Senate passed out its own substitute for House Bill (HB) 2007. The House non-concurred on the Senate’s version and a conference committee has been established, which will work to iron out the differences between the two chambers’ version of HB 2007. 

In the interest of your knowledge, and given that I have previously noted the House’s version, I have listed below several important changes made by the Senate. 

First was the deletion of $20 million State General Fund (SGF), from Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 through Fiscal Year 2027, for the Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Program, under the Attorney General. 

Second was the addition of $15.5 million SGF for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul program at the Topeka Regional Airport in FY 2026. 

Third was the transfer of $50 million SGF from the Build Kansas Fund to a new loan program, under the State Treasurer, for entities engaged in the business of maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft in FY 2026. 

Fourth was to increase the one and half percent state operating reductions for all agencies to three percent in FY 2026, a savings of $35,137,904 SGF.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Contact My Office Representative Troy L. Waymaster 300 SW 10th&nbsp;Street Topeka,&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;66612 troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> www.troywaymaster.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="State Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSE DELIBERATIONSThe House of Representatives debated and voted on 50 bills and resolutions last week, with only two weeks remaining till first adjournment. Bill topics ranged from higher education review commissions to fireworks sale regulations. Detailed below is a sample of six bills and resolutions from those deliberated in the House chamber, of which I voted yes on each.· First is Senate Bill (SB) 156. This piece of legislation would make unlawfully direction of laser pointer lights at both law enforcement officers and aircraft a state crime. Laser pointing at law enforcement officers would be classified as a Class A misdemeanor and laser pointing at aircraft would be Severity Level 9 personal felony. Those using laser pointers for research purposes with aircraft manufacturers, work within federal agencies, and emergency rescue would be exempted.· Second is SB 30. This bill requires the Kansas Secretary of Labor to conduct state and national criminal record checks on any state employee, including new hires, that is granted direct access to Internal Revenue Service tax information. The Secretary of Labor would also be granted statutory permissions from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on criminal investigation data.· Third is SB 269. This legislation would alter current filing fee protocol for the Board of Tax Appeals. Instead of current law, where filers with pending and undecided appeals in previous years are charged for new appeals, the bill would eliminate filing fees for appeals.· Fourth is House Bill 2223. This bill would alter current law by expanding the scope of practice, changing practice definitions, and credentialling for optometrists in Kansas.· Fifth is House Resolution 6016, which I sponsored. This resolution condemns the planned Satanic Black Mass, scheduled for March 28, on State Capitol grounds. While it may be within their First Amendment rights to conduct such practices the event only serves to create division within our state by offending faithful Christians and insulting the heritage of our state.· Sixth is SB 44. This legislation would alter the Kansas Promise Scholarship program by expanding the number of eligible post-secondary education intuitions in Kansas and increase funds available for the scholarship, from $10 million to $15 million.SENATE BILL 125Due to session timeline constraints an Omnibus Budget, a second budgetary bill intended to address errors, was not possible. In order to address those same concerns, the House Appropriations Committee modified Senate Bill 125, the Claims Against the State, with new line-item expenditures. Some members took to calling it the Minibus Budget.Overall, the bill will increase state spending in fiscal year (FY) 2025 by $10,040,000 and by $7,518,829 in fiscal year 2026. The new items included covered an array of topics, some of which I have included here as a sample. First was $1.5 million State General Funds (SGF) to the Department of Health and Environment for control and prevention of the spread of Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, given the recent outbreak in the state. Second was $40,000 SGF to the Kansas Historical Society to establish a Quindaro Ruins Taskforce in FY 2025, in order to organize efforts for the renovation of the Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park, with reporting deadlines in FY 2026.Third was bonding authority authorization for Kansas State University (KSU), Wichita State University, and the University of Kansas in FY 2026 and FY 2027. The bonding authority would pay for various projects across the university campuses, including the State of Kansas’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory—which resides on KSU’s campus. The bill passed out of the House Chamber on a vote of 120 to 3, and I voted yes.HOUSE BILL 2007 SENATE ADJUSTMENTS The budget process for this session is nearing conclusion and the Senate passed out its own substitute for House Bill (HB) 2007. The House non-concurred on the Senate’s version and a conference committee has been established, which will work to iron out the differences between the two chambers’ version of HB 2007. In the interest of your knowledge, and given that I have previously noted the House’s version, I have listed below several important changes made by the Senate. First was the deletion of $20 million State General Fund (SGF), from Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 through Fiscal Year 2027, for the Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Program, under the Attorney General. Second was the addition of $15.5 million SGF for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul program at the Topeka Regional Airport in FY 2026. Third was the transfer of $50 million SGF from the Build Kansas Fund to a new loan program, under the State Treasurer, for entities engaged in the business of maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft in FY 2026. Fourth was to increase the one and half percent state operating reductions for all agencies to three percent in FY 2026, a savings of $35,137,904 SGF.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Contact My Office Representative Troy L. Waymaster 300 SW 10th&nbsp;Street Topeka,&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;66612 troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> www.troywaymaster.com&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, March 25, 2025

The Ellis County Workforce Committee recognized housing shortages as one of many factors driving the region’s broader workforce struggles.

The committee, led by Sarah Wasinger, president and CEO of the Chamber in Hays, met for its first meeting Tuesday to discuss workforce recruitment, development and retention for Ellis County.

"This is hopefully going to be the first of many for a concentrated effort to take some of our biggest challenges that we've been experiencing as a county workforce," Wasinger said.

Several representatives from local institutions, such as Fort Hays Technical Northwest, the city of Hays, Grow Hays, Hess Services, HaysMed, and the Kansas Department of Commerce, attended the meeting.

Almost all attendees cited difficulty hiring and keeping staff, as no new workers are entering the area. Matt Orr, vice president of operations at Hess Services, said housing issues make attracting talent especially difficult.

"We're probably to the point where we're all fishing in the same shallow pool without the opportunity to have something that's driving people into the pool," he said.

Orr said Hess Services is especially in need of welders, heavy equipment operators and drivers, as the company competes with firms from Wichita to Kansas City for the same talent.

Several representatives named the housing shortage as the biggest barrier. Vice Mayor Mason Ruder said the city of Hays has offered incentives to boost construction, but the lack of subcontractors and funding remains challenging.

"We basically opened up every possible incentive you could have to build homes," he said. "The process to get those incentives takes almost a year, and that's before you've broken ground. ... It takes a long time to get the funds to make it viable."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/edaf4c5a-5c5b-4c5a-b5c2-1d9d70d4b8a0">SEE RELATED STORY: Grow Hays expects more housing in 2025</a>

In addition to housing issues, local employers face difficulty competing with the higher wages offered by larger cities and national companies.

Ben Shears, president of Fort Hays Tech Northwest, shared student insights and said many local students and workers are leaving Ellis County to pursue higher-paying jobs.

"The salary competition is real. The wages outside of the area are pulling kids out, and there's no doubt about it," Shears said.

Orr said Hess Services struggles to attract candidates for specialized roles because of its rural location and less competitive pay. The company has had a professional structural engineer position open for about four years.

The Chamber in Hays works with various local organizations. Wasinger said nonprofits' salaries cannot keep up with those of the private or government sectors.

"What a lot of nonprofits are experiencing is not being able to even compete with nearly as much as what the for-profit business centers are able to offer," she said.

Wasinger said her organization could not fill a marketing position because of intense competition in the job market.

The meeting delved deeper into Generation Z workers and their workplace behaviors, highlighting how priorities like flexibility and quality of life shape a new generational mindset around job expectations.

Shears said Gen Z is highly transient and won’t hesitate to move on in search of a better school or work experience.

"They work to live, not live to work," Shears said. "Gen Z wants something they can get behind and that has a mission they attach to. If employers can't give those things, they're gonna have a real struggle trying to pull Gen Z."

Ruder said he’s spoken with several local business owners who have unrealistic expectations about the type of employee they hope to hire.

"They want them to have all these credentials before they get there, with no investment from the employer to employee aside from 'Here's your salary. Here's the job. Do it. Then we'll talk as we get down the road,'" he said.

Ruder said the most effective approach he has seen among small businesses is hiring and training employees by working directly with them.

Katie Dorzweiler, chairwoman of the Chamber Board of Directors, said she sees employees often have unrealistic expectations, such as expecting to advance quickly right after finishing school.

"I feel like what we're seeing is a different expectation from the employee standpoint, that they're going to make the salary right out of the gate," Dorzweiler said.

Julia Brown, Workforce Services Specialist with the Kansas Department of Commerce, also attended the committee meeting and recommended using virtual job fairs and posting openings on the <a href="https://www.kansasworks.com/">KansasWorks website</a>. She added Ellis County has seen low turnout for job fairs.

Several representatives at the meeting discussed scholarships and programs that have succeeded in keeping the next generation of workers within the area. These sponsorships often include agreements for students to work for the business after graduation, which helps build local retention.

The next workforce committee meeting is at 2 p.m. on April 29 at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau.

You can follow the Chamber in Hays on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HaysAreaChamber/'">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743026280600.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Workforce Committee recognized housing shortages as one of many factors driving the region’s broader workforce struggles.The committee, led by Sarah Wasinger, president and CEO of the Chamber in Hays, met for its first meeting Tuesday to discuss workforce recruitment, development and retention for Ellis County."This is hopefully going to be the first of many for a concentrated effort to take some of our biggest challenges that we've been experiencing as a county workforce," Wasinger said.Several representatives from local institutions, such as Fort Hays Technical Northwest, the city of Hays, Grow Hays, Hess Services, HaysMed, and the Kansas Department of Commerce, attended the meeting.Almost all attendees cited difficulty hiring and keeping staff, as no new workers are entering the area. Matt Orr, vice president of operations at Hess Services, said housing issues make attracting talent especially difficult."We're probably to the point where we're all fishing in the same shallow pool without the opportunity to have something that's driving people into the pool," he said.Orr said Hess Services is especially in need of welders, heavy equipment operators and drivers, as the company competes with firms from Wichita to Kansas City for the same talent.Several representatives named the housing shortage as the biggest barrier. Vice Mayor Mason Ruder said the city of Hays has offered incentives to boost construction, but the lack of subcontractors and funding remains challenging."We basically opened up every possible incentive you could have to build homes," he said. "The process to get those incentives takes almost a year, and that's before you've broken ground. ... It takes a long time to get the funds to make it viable."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/edaf4c5a-5c5b-4c5a-b5c2-1d9d70d4b8a0">SEE RELATED STORY: Grow Hays expects more housing in 2025</a>In addition to housing issues, local employers face difficulty competing with the higher wages offered by larger cities and national companies.Ben Shears, president of Fort Hays Tech Northwest, shared student insights and said many local students and workers are leaving Ellis County to pursue higher-paying jobs."The salary competition is real. The wages outside of the area are pulling kids out, and there's no doubt about it," Shears said.Orr said Hess Services struggles to attract candidates for specialized roles because of its rural location and less competitive pay. The company has had a professional structural engineer position open for about four years.The Chamber in Hays works with various local organizations. Wasinger said nonprofits' salaries cannot keep up with those of the private or government sectors."What a lot of nonprofits are experiencing is not being able to even compete with nearly as much as what the for-profit business centers are able to offer," she said.Wasinger said her organization could not fill a marketing position because of intense competition in the job market.The meeting delved deeper into Generation Z workers and their workplace behaviors, highlighting how priorities like flexibility and quality of life shape a new generational mindset around job expectations.Shears said Gen Z is highly transient and won’t hesitate to move on in search of a better school or work experience."They work to live, not live to work," Shears said. "Gen Z wants something they can get behind and that has a mission they attach to. If employers can't give those things, they're gonna have a real struggle trying to pull Gen Z."Ruder said he’s spoken with several local business owners who have unrealistic expectations about the type of employee they hope to hire."They want them to have all these credentials before they get there, with no investment from the employer to employee aside from 'Here's your salary. Here's the job. Do it. Then we'll talk as we get down the road,'" he said.Ruder said the most effective approach he has seen among small businesses is hiring and training employees by working directly with them.Katie Dorzweiler, chairwoman of the Chamber Board of Directors, said she sees employees often have unrealistic expectations, such as expecting to advance quickly right after finishing school."I feel like what we're seeing is a different expectation from the employee standpoint, that they're going to make the salary right out of the gate," Dorzweiler said.Julia Brown, Workforce Services Specialist with the Kansas Department of Commerce, also attended the committee meeting and recommended using virtual job fairs and posting openings on the <a href="https://www.kansasworks.com/">KansasWorks website</a>. She added Ellis County has seen low turnout for job fairs.Several representatives at the meeting discussed scholarships and programs that have succeeded in keeping the next generation of workers within the area. These sponsorships often include agreements for students to work for the business after graduation, which helps build local retention.The next workforce committee meeting is at 2 p.m. on April 29 at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau.You can follow the Chamber in Hays on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HaysAreaChamber/'">Facebook</a>.

Ellis County Workforce Committee highlights employment issues

Some folks explore history with metal detectors. Listening to them discuss their unearthed treasures intrigues me. 

I can contribute historical facts by reading old newspapers, memorial collections, and searching archives. Often, decades pass before enough dots connect to construct a meaningful picture of a place or event. Nearly five5 decades after reading mention of Parks Fort, I’ve assembled enough info to share and see what others might add.

By 1866-67, surveyors had recorded Ellis and Trego County surveys. Lincoln had signed the 1862 Homestead Act, and the Kansas Pacific Railroad expanded West. Native people who relied on this regional hunting ground to supply food, shelter, and clothing discouraged such intrusions, leading to one cultural collision after another.

As a result, the post-Civil War Army provided protection for construction crews and settlers. This led to transitory forts that paralleled advancing track. Fort Ogallah, later called Parks Fort, was among those. 

According to sources found at the Trego County Historical Museum, Captain King, U.S. Army established an earth-work fortification six miles west of Ogallah.

In 1867, the site became Parks Fort following a conflict with native tribes. At that time, the fort was a 30' x 30' sod embankment with a deep well where approximately 300 graders under the direction of Thomas Parks and soldiers gathered for meals and water as well as protection. 

An additional source written by soldier E.S. Lane explained that Parks and fellow contractor Charles Saffel followed by a 10th Calvary Buffalo Soldier traveled north to hunt meat for camp. Another group of three also headed north driving a wagon to collect wood they’d cut on the Saline. Indians attacked, wounding Fred Dick in the thigh.

Hastily returning to camp, the three informed the military of the hunters’ danger. Parks’ dog returned to camp, wounded by an arrow, confirming this. A party of more than 50 soldiers and railroad workers set out to search for Parks and companions. They soon found signs of battle: “lances, pieces of cloth, cartridge hulls, trampled ground, and Saffel’s body, scalped and full of arrows.”

Up the ravine, trapped by a collapsed limestone slab, they found Park dead but not scalped. Upon removing the rock pinning Parks’ body, they found Beaton, the badly wounded 10th Cavalry soldier.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINSome folks explore history with metal detectors. Listening to them discuss their unearthed treasures intrigues me. I can contribute historical facts by reading old newspapers, memorial collections, and searching archives. Often, decades pass before enough dots connect to construct a meaningful picture of a place or event. Nearly five5 decades after reading mention of Parks Fort, I’ve assembled enough info to share and see what others might add.By 1866-67, surveyors had recorded Ellis and Trego County surveys. Lincoln had signed the 1862 Homestead Act, and the Kansas Pacific Railroad expanded West. Native people who relied on this regional hunting ground to supply food, shelter, and clothing discouraged such intrusions, leading to one cultural collision after another.As a result, the post-Civil War Army provided protection for construction crews and settlers. This led to transitory forts that paralleled advancing track. Fort Ogallah, later called Parks Fort, was among those. According to sources found at the Trego County Historical Museum, Captain King, U.S. Army established an earth-work fortification six miles west of Ogallah.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742918543065.jpeg" alt="Parks Fort artifacts. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Parks Fort artifacts. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In 1867, the site became Parks Fort following a conflict with native tribes. At that time, the fort was a 30' x 30' sod embankment with a deep well where approximately 300 graders under the direction of Thomas Parks and soldiers gathered for meals and water as well as protection. An additional source written by soldier E.S. Lane explained that Parks and fellow contractor Charles Saffel followed by a 10th Calvary Buffalo Soldier traveled north to hunt meat for camp. Another group of three also headed north driving a wagon to collect wood they’d cut on the Saline. Indians attacked, wounding Fred Dick in the thigh.Hastily returning to camp, the three informed the military of the hunters’ danger. Parks’ dog returned to camp, wounded by an arrow, confirming this. A party of more than 50 soldiers and railroad workers set out to search for Parks and companions. They soon found signs of battle: “lances, pieces of cloth, cartridge hulls, trampled ground, and Saffel’s body, scalped and full of arrows.”Up the ravine, trapped by a collapsed limestone slab, they found Park dead but not scalped. Upon removing the rock pinning Parks’ body, they found Beaton, the badly wounded 10th Cavalry soldier.Lee and Raynesford’s Trails of the Smoky Hill referenced Parks Fort so nominally it wasn’t indexed. However, the 1872 attack on the Jordan hunting party did appear.Later, Parks Fort was referenced in William D. Street’s Twenty-Five Years among the Indians and Buffalo. Street stated that 1874 hunters freighted hides at the site. According to Street, farmers, hunters, and trappers traveling throughout the region frequented it regularly.Reading Jennie Martin’s A Brief History of the Early Days of Ellis, Kansas enriched the story. Martin, sister to Mary Jordan, who vanished in late summer of 1872 while on a buffalo hunt with her husband Dick Jordan, his 19-year-old brother George, and a 23-year-old Swede named Fred Nelson, told the story of the men’s deaths. The three were found either shot with rifles or arrows and scalped. Despite leaving a trail of fabric from her cloak, Mary vanished.According to Martin, around 1872, prior to this event, Dick constructed a home for his new bride and himself at Parks Fort. At that time, a box car on the side of the track served as a telegraph office and the deep well remained. Dick and his bride shared their home and fixed up two dugouts once used by soldiers on the south side of the track. There he could dry buffalo meat.Another pioneer family stayed at Parks Fort in 1879 until they could claim their land. Claire Yoxall of the Cortwright family noted that in 1879, only the deep well remained.Visit Trego County Historical Museum to view artifacts H. and M. Newcomer found near what once served as Park’s Fort. Turn your mind loose with stories of native tribes, hunters, soldiers, railroad builders, and homesteaders. Imagine a meadowlark trill and a prairie wolf howl to complete your time travel.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.