Editor's note: Updated at 7:38 a.m.

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

One of the items discussed at length during the recent <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/909306ea-6223-4960-bd5f-99c19bb83817">Hays City Commission retreat</a> was the proposal for increasing city employee pay to at least $20 an hour.

Commissioner Reese Barrick said he was 'pretty passionate' about it.

During an earlier city work session, Barrick suggested the city should lead the way and encouraged local businesses to follow.

“If we want a community where everyone can participate and put money back into the community by shopping everywhere, then we have to pay people enough so they can participate. We can take care of the poverty level. It’s really a wage thing,” Barrick said at the recent work session.

A recent <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/17290ca2-a64d-4482-aecd-213534370fcd">poverty analysis </a>showed Hays has the highest poverty rate in the multi-county region at 18%.&nbsp;

According to the United Way of Ellis County, another 23% were classified as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE. These households are above the federal poverty level but cannot afford their county's basic cost of living, said Erica Berges, local executive director. They do not qualify for public assistance.

"Forty percent of our Ellis County population is living paycheck to paycheck," Barrick said during the March 1 retreat.&nbsp; "If we want people to live and stay in Hays, that's ($20 an hour) the bare minimum. It's a gross annual wage of $41,600.

"If we want the rest of the city to do it, we should do it. ...&nbsp;

"This would also mean better mental health for our residents when they're not stressed about what bill is coming up next.

"This is feasible, and I think it's the right thing to do," Barrick said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e533b2e3-4579-4f87-a183-e605e9b45f54">Phillip Gage, a sergeant in the Hays police department, commented on Commissioner Reese Barrick' at a November city meeting.&nbsp;</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7e6275e6-d3b6-4d59-bb6c-f2505d0a65ca">LETTER: Response to City Commissioner Barrick's statement on business wages</a>

Information provided by Erin Giebler, director of human resources, shows 20 of Hays' 183 full-time employees make less than $20 an hour, with wages ranging from $17.52 to $19.89 an hour.

The lower starting wage positions are in the offices of account clerk (finance), records clerk (police/courts), AP clerk (finance), administrative assistant (multiple), maintenance worker (multiple), plant operator (water resources), mechanic (public works), and community service officer (police).

Total compensation is not figured in the pay amount.

Giebler outlined four options for adjusting pay plans, each with pros and cons.

The increased cost would range from a high of more than $2 million annually if all 183 full-time employees' pay were increased by the same amount/percentage to a low annual cost of $85,000 if pay were adjusted only for those 20 employees making less than $20 an hour.

Giebler recommended option three, which would pay those who qualify $20 an hour and make minor adjustments to other employees' pay if necessary. The total annual cost would be $204,000.

"When we have done pay plan adjustments in the past, we used option three. ... While not always the popular choice among employees, it is the choice that helps reach $20 and is sustainable now and in the future," Giebler wrote in her information for commissioners.&nbsp;

She noted the changes would cause compression between pay raises and within pay ranges. 

"Employees not given a pay increase may not feel they're being treated fairly,"&nbsp;Giebler said.

"I'll deal with some grumbling of those who did not get a raise," said City Manager Toby Dougherty.

"We need to look at the total compensation package," said Mayor Sandy Jacobs, who ultimately declared herself against the proposal. "This is hard for me.

"You need to look at our vacation and sick leave policies," Jacobs said. "We offer a pretty good package. I think we're a great employer with good salaries and benefits.

Barrick said, "I love our total compensation package, but you're not able to spend all that at the store."

SEE RELATED STORY:&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/de90d95b-f6d4-4373-af24-b2c751449c21">Podcast: Poverty issue solution more complex than just minimum wage</a>

Dougherty said the city has sometimes had difficulty hiring people for the lower paid positions.&nbsp;

"Would other businesses follow our lead?" asked Alaina Cunningham, commissioner. She said HaysMed recently increased its base pay for some positions to $14 an hour from $12 an hour.

"They may or may not," Barrick said, "but somebody has to take the lead." He talked about several restaurants in Seattle raising their wages, which "raised the bar everywhere."

Commissioner Shaun Musil, the former owner of Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market in downtown Hays, said, "I'm think you're going to hurt small businesses."

"We went up 15% on our prices to cover wage increases after McDonald's started paying more, and that hurt us," Musil said.

After considerable discussion, Mayor Jacobs tabled the issue.

"It's in a 'wait and see' hold for now," Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, said this week.

"There's a potential it may come up again for 2026 budget preparations or possibly another work session," he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741714465522.jpeg" alt="Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Editor's note: Updated at 7:38 a.m.By BECKY KISER Hays Post One of the items discussed at length during the recent <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/909306ea-6223-4960-bd5f-99c19bb83817">Hays City Commission retreat</a> was the proposal for increasing city employee pay to at least $20 an hour.Commissioner Reese Barrick said he was 'pretty passionate' about it.During an earlier city work session, Barrick suggested the city should lead the way and encouraged local businesses to follow.“If we want a community where everyone can participate and put money back into the community by shopping everywhere, then we have to pay people enough so they can participate. We can take care of the poverty level. It’s really a wage thing,” Barrick said at the recent work session.A recent <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/17290ca2-a64d-4482-aecd-213534370fcd">poverty analysis </a>showed Hays has the highest poverty rate in the multi-county region at 18%.&nbsp;According to the United Way of Ellis County, another 23% were classified as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE. These households are above the federal poverty level but cannot afford their county's basic cost of living, said Erica Berges, local executive director. They do not qualify for public assistance."Forty percent of our Ellis County population is living paycheck to paycheck," Barrick said during the March 1 retreat.&nbsp; "If we want people to live and stay in Hays, that's ($20 an hour) the bare minimum. It's a gross annual wage of $41,600."If we want the rest of the city to do it, we should do it. ...&nbsp;"This would also mean better mental health for our residents when they're not stressed about what bill is coming up next."This is feasible, and I think it's the right thing to do," Barrick said.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e533b2e3-4579-4f87-a183-e605e9b45f54">Phillip Gage, a sergeant in the Hays police department, commented on Commissioner Reese Barrick' at a November city meeting.&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7e6275e6-d3b6-4d59-bb6c-f2505d0a65ca">LETTER: Response to City Commissioner Barrick's statement on business wages</a>Information provided by Erin Giebler, director of human resources, shows 20 of Hays' 183 full-time employees make less than $20 an hour, with wages ranging from $17.52 to $19.89 an hour.The lower starting wage positions are in the offices of account clerk (finance), records clerk (police/courts), AP clerk (finance), administrative assistant (multiple), maintenance worker (multiple), plant operator (water resources), mechanic (public works), and community service officer (police).Total compensation is not figured in the pay amount.Giebler outlined four options for adjusting pay plans, each with pros and cons.The increased cost would range from a high of more than $2 million annually if all 183 full-time employees' pay were increased by the same amount/percentage to a low annual cost of $85,000 if pay were adjusted only for those 20 employees making less than $20 an hour.Giebler recommended option three, which would pay those who qualify $20 an hour and make minor adjustments to other employees' pay if necessary. The total annual cost would be $204,000."When we have done pay plan adjustments in the past, we used option three. ... While not always the popular choice among employees, it is the choice that helps reach $20 and is sustainable now and in the future," Giebler wrote in her information for commissioners.&nbsp;She noted the changes would cause compression between pay raises and within pay ranges. "Employees not given a pay increase may not feel they're being treated fairly,"&nbsp;Giebler said."I'll deal with some grumbling of those who did not get a raise," said City Manager Toby Dougherty."We need to look at the total compensation package," said Mayor Sandy Jacobs, who ultimately declared herself against the proposal. "This is hard for me."You need to look at our vacation and sick leave policies," Jacobs said. "We offer a pretty good package. I think we're a great employer with good salaries and benefits.Barrick said, "I love our total compensation package, but you're not able to spend all that at the store."SEE RELATED STORY:&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/de90d95b-f6d4-4373-af24-b2c751449c21">Podcast: Poverty issue solution more complex than just minimum wage</a>Dougherty said the city has sometimes had difficulty hiring people for the lower paid positions.&nbsp; "Would other businesses follow our lead?" asked Alaina Cunningham, commissioner. She said HaysMed recently increased its base pay for some positions to $14 an hour from $12 an hour."They may or may not," Barrick said, "but somebody has to take the lead." He talked about several restaurants in Seattle raising their wages, which "raised the bar everywhere." Commissioner Shaun Musil, the former owner of Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market in downtown Hays, said, "I'm think you're going to hurt small businesses.""We went up 15% on our prices to cover wage increases after McDonald's started paying more, and that hurt us," Musil said.After considerable discussion, Mayor Jacobs tabled the issue."It's in a 'wait and see' hold for now," Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, said this week."There's a potential it may come up again for 2026 budget preparations or possibly another work session," he said.

Commissioner Barrick 'passionate' about $20 pay for city employees, local businesses

MORRIS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a high speed chase in Morris County.

Just before midnight March 8, a sheriff's deputy attempted a traffic stop on U.S. 77 at mile post 137 for an alleged traffic violation, according to a media release from the Morris County Sheriff.

The driver, later identified as a juvenile, refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued. Geary County Sheriff's deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers responded to assist. The vehicle avoided spike strips and attempted to exit off Interstate 70 through an east ditch, stuck a tree row and came to rest in an open field. Deputies found illegal drugs in the vehicle. The driver and a 27-year-old passenger identified as Jaquellin Demarquez Holland, 27, Wichita, were not injured.

Deputies arrested them. The teen driver is being held on requested charges that include flee or attempted to elude law enforcement, no proof of insurance and a number of other traffic violations.

Holland, who has a previous counterfeiting conviction, is being held on requested charges that include interference with law enforcement, possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or other stimulant and use/possess with intent to use-drug paraphernalia into human body.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741688954957.png" alt="Holland photo. KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Holland photo. KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>MORRIS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a high speed chase in Morris County.Just before midnight March 8, a sheriff's deputy attempted a traffic stop on U.S. 77 at mile post 137 for an alleged traffic violation, according to a media release from the Morris County Sheriff.The driver, later identified as a juvenile, refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued. Geary County Sheriff's deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers responded to assist. The vehicle avoided spike strips and attempted to exit off Interstate 70 through an east ditch, stuck a tree row and came to rest in an open field. Deputies found illegal drugs in the vehicle. The driver and a 27-year-old passenger identified as Jaquellin Demarquez Holland, 27, Wichita, were not injured.Deputies arrested them. The teen driver is being held on requested charges that include flee or attempted to elude law enforcement, no proof of insurance and a number of other traffic violations.Holland, who has a previous counterfeiting conviction, is being held on requested charges that include interference with law enforcement, possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or other stimulant and use/possess with intent to use-drug paraphernalia into human body.

Kansas felon, teen driver jailed after high-speed chase

OWASSO, Okla. – Fort Hays State Men's Golf placed fifth at the Hillcat Classic held at&nbsp; Bailey Ranch Golf Club, a par-71 venue. The Tigers collectively posted rounds of 277, 289, and 300 for a three-round total of 866 (+14). Cooper Scheck&nbsp;(T-3rd) and Cole Streck&nbsp;(10th) each posted top-10 finishes individually.

The Tigers made a statement on day one with the best team round of the tournament, a 277, which was their lowest team score of the season. It was the lowest stroke total for the team since shooting the same score at the Firekeeper Open in the spring of 2024.

Leading the Tigers was Scheck, who fired an impressive 7-under par 64 in the opening round, the best individual round of the competition. Scheck finished the tournament at 2-under par, tying for third place after backing his opening round with scores of 74 and 73. He tied for the second-most birdies in the tournament with 14, including a remarkable nine birdies in the first round alone. He had a stretch of five-straight birdies in the first round and was 6-under par on the back nine in that round. He was three strokes back of the winning score of 5-under by Elliot Han-Monteremal of Rogers State. Scheck was one of five golfers to finish under par for the tournament.

Streck&nbsp;also put together a strong performance, finishing in 10th with rounds of 71 (E), 67 (-4), and 77 (+6). His second-round score of 4-under par was highlighted by five birdies and just one bogey. He had 10 birdies throughout the event.

Jackson Rader&nbsp;tied for 18th place at +6 with rounds of 69 (-2), 77 (+6), and 73 (+2). Rader had 13 birdies throughout the tournament, along with an eagle on a par-5.

Jacob George&nbsp;showed consistency early with two rounds of 73 followed by a 77 to finish in 27th place. He had 10 birdies in the tournament. Parker Krob&nbsp;finished 35th with rounds of 73, 78, and 78 and had three birdies over two days.

Jordan McCaslin&nbsp;started strong with rounds of 73 and 75, but struggled in round three to an 89. Despite a challenging final round, McCaslin had an eagle and five birdies for the tournament.

Rogers State won the event at 5-under par as a team, shooting 279, 286 and 282. The Tigers were 19 strokes back of the winning total, but just 12 strokes shy of a second-place tie.

The Tigers return to action in Blue Springs, Mo. on March 24-25 at the NSIC Conference Preview Invitational.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741774026127.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsOWASSO, Okla. – Fort Hays State Men's Golf placed fifth at the Hillcat Classic held at&nbsp; Bailey Ranch Golf Club, a par-71 venue. The Tigers collectively posted rounds of 277, 289, and 300 for a three-round total of 866 (+14). Cooper Scheck&nbsp;(T-3rd) and Cole Streck&nbsp;(10th) each posted top-10 finishes individually.The Tigers made a statement on day one with the best team round of the tournament, a 277, which was their lowest team score of the season. It was the lowest stroke total for the team since shooting the same score at the Firekeeper Open in the spring of 2024.Leading the Tigers was Scheck, who fired an impressive 7-under par 64 in the opening round, the best individual round of the competition. Scheck finished the tournament at 2-under par, tying for third place after backing his opening round with scores of 74 and 73. He tied for the second-most birdies in the tournament with 14, including a remarkable nine birdies in the first round alone. He had a stretch of five-straight birdies in the first round and was 6-under par on the back nine in that round. He was three strokes back of the winning score of 5-under by Elliot Han-Monteremal of Rogers State. Scheck was one of five golfers to finish under par for the tournament.Streck&nbsp;also put together a strong performance, finishing in 10th with rounds of 71 (E), 67 (-4), and 77 (+6). His second-round score of 4-under par was highlighted by five birdies and just one bogey. He had 10 birdies throughout the event.Jackson Rader&nbsp;tied for 18th place at +6 with rounds of 69 (-2), 77 (+6), and 73 (+2). Rader had 13 birdies throughout the tournament, along with an eagle on a par-5.Jacob George&nbsp;showed consistency early with two rounds of 73 followed by a 77 to finish in 27th place. He had 10 birdies in the tournament. Parker Krob&nbsp;finished 35th with rounds of 73, 78, and 78 and had three birdies over two days.Jordan McCaslin&nbsp;started strong with rounds of 73 and 75, but struggled in round three to an 89. Despite a challenging final round, McCaslin had an eagle and five birdies for the tournament.Rogers State won the event at 5-under par as a team, shooting 279, 286 and 282. The Tigers were 19 strokes back of the winning total, but just 12 strokes shy of a second-place tie.UP NEXTThe Tigers return to action in Blue Springs, Mo. on March 24-25 at the NSIC Conference Preview Invitational.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⛳ Scheck, Streck finish in top-10, Tigers fifth at Hillcat Classic

OWASSO, Okla. - The Fort Hays State women's golf team continued its spring season this week at the Hillcat Classic, hosted by Rogers State University at the Bailey Ranch Golf Club, a par 71, 5,700-yard course.

The Tigers finished seventh overall in the two-round tournament, posting a team score of 651. FHSU shot 325 on Monday and 326 on Tuesday.

Shayla Nordlund&nbsp;led the team with a 15th-place finish out of 46 competitors, finishing at 14-over par with rounds of 81 and 75. Avery Blasi&nbsp;followed closely behind in 19th place, finishing at 17-over par with rounds of 79 and 80.

Kiley Maier&nbsp;placed 31st with two rounds of 81. Emma Walz and Hayden York finished tied for 35th. Walz shot two rounds of 85, while York shot 84 and 86.

Nordlund finished with a team-high five birdies, tying for second most in the tournament. Blasi contributed three birdies, York and Walz each recorded two, and Maier had one.

The Tigers will be back in action next week (March 17-18) when they head to Warrensburg, Mo. for the Midwest Intercollegiate.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741779757196.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsOWASSO, Okla. - The Fort Hays State women's golf team continued its spring season this week at the Hillcat Classic, hosted by Rogers State University at the Bailey Ranch Golf Club, a par 71, 5,700-yard course.The Tigers finished seventh overall in the two-round tournament, posting a team score of 651. FHSU shot 325 on Monday and 326 on Tuesday.Shayla Nordlund&nbsp;led the team with a 15th-place finish out of 46 competitors, finishing at 14-over par with rounds of 81 and 75. Avery Blasi&nbsp;followed closely behind in 19th place, finishing at 17-over par with rounds of 79 and 80.Kiley Maier&nbsp;placed 31st with two rounds of 81. Emma Walz and Hayden York finished tied for 35th. Walz shot two rounds of 85, while York shot 84 and 86.Nordlund finished with a team-high five birdies, tying for second most in the tournament. Blasi contributed three birdies, York and Walz each recorded two, and Maier had one.UP NEXT The Tigers will be back in action next week (March 17-18) when they head to Warrensburg, Mo. for the Midwest Intercollegiate.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⛳ FHSU women seventh at Hillcat Classic

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;shopped for a new Tesla on the White House driveway on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan to show his support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s electric vehicle company as it faces blowback because of his work to advance the president's political agenda and downsize the federal government.

“Wow," Trump said as he eased his way into the drivers seat of a Model S. “That's beautiful.”

Musk got in on the passenger side and joked about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” as they talked about how to start a vehicle that can reach 60 miles per hour in a few seconds.

Trump told reporters that he would write a check for the car, which retails for roughly $80,000, and leave it at the White House so his staff can drive it. The president also said he hopes his purchase will boost Tesla's fortunes.

“It's a great product,” he said. Referring to Musk, Trump said “we have to celebrate him.”

It was the latest — and most unusual — example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key figure in his second administration. Musk is leading Trump's efforts to overhaul federal agencies and reduce the workforce.

The Republican president announced on social media early Tuesday that he was going to buy a new Tesla as “a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”

Musk continues to run Tesla — as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">the social media platform X</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">the rocket manufacturer SpaceX</a>&nbsp;— while also serving as Trump's adviser.

“Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump wrote. "But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.”

Others have also rallied to Musk's defense. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, said that he bought a customized version of a Cybertruck that he'll give away to a customer of his online store next month.

In addition to Tesla's struggles, Musk has faced other challenges too. He said X was targeted by a “massive cyberattack”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">that disrupted the social media platform</a>&nbsp;on Monday, and the last two test launches of his Starship rocket&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">ended in explosions</a>.

Tesla has faced sagging sales and declining stock prices as Musk devotes his time to overhauling and downsizing the federal government as an adviser to the president.

The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump’s plans for buying a Tesla, such as how the purchase would be handled or where the car would be kept.

Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-b272cb9b4effa902406fb08e6505fb7a">an electric truck</a>&nbsp;while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.

But regardless of the practicality of Trump's purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines between private and public interests.

During his first term, top adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kellyanne-conway-memoir-fdea673fecf56f08e2fdec0b20556bec">Kellyanne Conway</a>&nbsp;urged people to show their support for Trump’s daughter Ivanka by purchasing her retail products.

“Go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” she said. “I’m going to give it a free commercial here.”

Trump's wealth and business savvy is core to his political appeal.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-god-bless-usa-bible-greenwood-2713fda3efdfa297d0f024efb1ca3003">The president promoted his products</a>&nbsp;while running for office last year, and he attached his name to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-watch-sneakers-memecoin-2b49fd975e2cce7a6f61e068f6fd04af">a cryptocurrency meme coin</a>&nbsp;that launched shortly before he took office.

However, it's rare to see Trump use his own money to support an ally, no matter how important they are.

Musk is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/worlds-first-trillionaire-richest-person-list-b00cef4c743eb3417678e8ef5beeeae2">the world's richest person</a>, with billions of dollars in government contracts. He's also exerting sweeping influence over Trump's administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.

During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk “how are you running your other businesses” while also advising Trump.

“But there’s no turning back, you say?” Kudlow responded.

“I’m just here trying to make government more efficient, eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste and fraud</a>,” Musk said.

Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots fired at a dealership in Oregon, and fire officials are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-cybertruck-fire-seattle-7cd720096694b8455684db31159ed666">examining a blaze</a>&nbsp;that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.

At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-downsizing-federal-workers-doge-00683abc4de44a151f26aaa6cb0d0f30">he'll make mistakes along the way</a>.

For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a">Musk presented inflated estimates of fraud</a>&nbsp;in government benefits like Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.

“Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” Musk said in the interview. “That’s the big one to eliminate.”

The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as “lying hacks” and told Democrats to “spare us the fake outrage" about reducing benefits.

“He was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs," the White House posted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741724524957.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;shopped for a new Tesla on the White House driveway on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan to show his support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s electric vehicle company as it faces blowback because of his work to advance the president's political agenda and downsize the federal government.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump and Elon Musk get in Telsa at White House ... <a href="https://t.co/U97BJwH8T0">pic.twitter.com/U97BJwH8T0</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1899553788236562523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump and Elon Musk get in Telsa at White House ... <a href="https://t.co/U97BJwH8T0">pic.twitter.com/U97BJwH8T0</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1899553788236562523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Wow," Trump said as he eased his way into the drivers seat of a Model S. “That's beautiful.”Musk got in on the passenger side and joked about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” as they talked about how to start a vehicle that can reach 60 miles per hour in a few seconds.Trump told reporters that he would write a check for the car, which retails for roughly $80,000, and leave it at the White House so his staff can drive it. The president also said he hopes his purchase will boost Tesla's fortunes.“It's a great product,” he said. Referring to Musk, Trump said “we have to celebrate him.”It was the latest — and most unusual — example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key figure in his second administration. Musk is leading Trump's efforts to overhaul federal agencies and reduce the workforce.The Republican president announced on social media early Tuesday that he was going to buy a new Tesla as “a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”Musk continues to run Tesla — as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">the social media platform X</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">the rocket manufacturer SpaceX</a>&nbsp;— while also serving as Trump's adviser.“Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump wrote. "But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.”Others have also rallied to Musk's defense. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, said that he bought a customized version of a Cybertruck that he'll give away to a customer of his online store next month.In addition to Tesla's struggles, Musk has faced other challenges too. He said X was targeted by a “massive cyberattack”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">that disrupted the social media platform</a>&nbsp;on Monday, and the last two test launches of his Starship rocket&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">ended in explosions</a>.Tesla has faced sagging sales and declining stock prices as Musk devotes his time to overhauling and downsizing the federal government as an adviser to the president.The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump’s plans for buying a Tesla, such as how the purchase would be handled or where the car would be kept.Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-b272cb9b4effa902406fb08e6505fb7a">an electric truck</a>&nbsp;while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.But regardless of the practicality of Trump's purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines between private and public interests.During his first term, top adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kellyanne-conway-memoir-fdea673fecf56f08e2fdec0b20556bec">Kellyanne Conway</a>&nbsp;urged people to show their support for Trump’s daughter Ivanka by purchasing her retail products.“Go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” she said. “I’m going to give it a free commercial here.”Trump's wealth and business savvy is core to his political appeal.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-god-bless-usa-bible-greenwood-2713fda3efdfa297d0f024efb1ca3003">The president promoted his products</a>&nbsp;while running for office last year, and he attached his name to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-watch-sneakers-memecoin-2b49fd975e2cce7a6f61e068f6fd04af">a cryptocurrency meme coin</a>&nbsp;that launched shortly before he took office.However, it's rare to see Trump use his own money to support an ally, no matter how important they are.Musk is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/worlds-first-trillionaire-richest-person-list-b00cef4c743eb3417678e8ef5beeeae2">the world's richest person</a>, with billions of dollars in government contracts. He's also exerting sweeping influence over Trump's administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk “how are you running your other businesses” while also advising Trump.“With great difficulty,” he said.“But there’s no turning back, you say?” Kudlow responded.“I’m just here trying to make government more efficient, eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste and fraud</a>,” Musk said.Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots fired at a dealership in Oregon, and fire officials are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-cybertruck-fire-seattle-7cd720096694b8455684db31159ed666">examining a blaze</a>&nbsp;that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-downsizing-federal-workers-doge-00683abc4de44a151f26aaa6cb0d0f30">he'll make mistakes along the way</a>.For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a">Musk presented inflated estimates of fraud</a>&nbsp;in government benefits like Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.“Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” Musk said in the interview. “That’s the big one to eliminate.”The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as “lying hacks” and told Democrats to “spare us the fake outrage" about reducing benefits.“He was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs," the White House posted.

🎥 Trump turns the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to show support for Musk

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line.

Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members to pass the funding measure, and they got it in the 217-213 House vote. GOP members of the Kansas delegation voted with the majority.

In the Senate, they'll need support from at least eight Democrats to get the bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;desk. It's one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president's second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to rally support.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., moved ahead on the bill, essentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-spending-shutdown-house-senate-426823710920756447076d15077c33d7">daring Democrats to oppose it</a>&nbsp;and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers failed to act on the continuing resolution, often referred to by lawmakers as a CR.

“Here’s the bottom line. If congressional Democrats refuse to support this clean CR, they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government,” Johnson said.

Johnson's strategy had the backing of Trump, who called on Republicans to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”

Lawmakers said the bill would trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion, which are rather flat changes for both categories when compared with an overall topline of nearly $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending. The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on autopilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress.

Democrats are mostly worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. They are already alarmed by the administration's efforts to make major cuts through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-federal-workforce-doge-cuts-republicans-03c307112ebf247a71a7ad54aea6fa6d">the Department of Government Efficiency</a>, or DOGE, run by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. And they say the spending bill would fuel the effort.

Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the legislation. So the administration will have more leeway to reshape priorities.

For example, a Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-deportations-border-immigration-bcd2737e6f9b482ec500238c6caa4f35">mass deportation initiatives</a>.

“This is not a clean CR. This bill is a blank check,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “It’s a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump.”

Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the continuing resolution was not the outcome he sought but said it was time to end the cycle of short-term funding extensions. This will be the third in recent months. He blamed Democrats for trying to rein in Trump’s authority on spending.

“We’re not going to have a Republican Senate and a Republican House restrict a Republican president from the legitimate exercise of executive authority," Cole said. "And then, oh, by the way, ask him to sign the bill.”

Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said he supported this one because it would not lead to a massive, catch-all spending bill and would reduce spending.

"This is not your grandfather’s continuing resolution," Harris said.

Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/thomas-massie">Thomas Massie</a>, R-Ky., was still a holdout, though. He was the only Republican to vote no on the procedural vote, and said he would vote against the bill, too.

Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a “GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble.”

"HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him," Trump posted online.

Massie responded by saying Trump was “attacking me and Canada today. The difference is: Canada will eventually cave.”

House Democratic leaders came out strongly against the legislation. Less clear was how strongly they would push members in competitive battleground districts to follow their lead.

“This Republican shutdown bill does nothing to enhance the American dream. It undermines it,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said ahead of the vote.

Democratic leaders in the Senate generally seemed to be emphasizing patience at this stage and were waiting to see if Republicans can muscle the bill through the House before taking a stand.

“We're going to see what the House does first,” said top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.

Still, several rank-and-file Democrats criticized the measure. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was stunned that Republicans were “trying to jam through something that is their way or the highway.”

Democrats also introduced an alternative bill Monday night funding the government through April 11. The bill could serve as a Plan B if the GOP-led effort falters.

Both parties prepared to blame the other if the bill failed.

“It looks like they're going to try to shut down the government,” Johnson said of Democrats.

“If the government shuts down with a Republican House, Republican Senate and Republican president, it will be solely because the Republicans have moved forward with a terrible, partisan, take-it-or-leave-it bill,” said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.

The spending bill could also have major ramifications for the District of Columbia's government.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the proposal would require the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending in the next six months since it has already passed a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year. That means, officials said, cuts to critical services such as education and public safety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741730320465.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson during a news briefing Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson during a news briefing Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line.Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members to pass the funding measure, and they got it in the 217-213 House vote. GOP members of the Kansas delegation voted with the majority.In the Senate, they'll need support from at least eight Democrats to get the bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;desk. It's one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president's second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to rally support.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., moved ahead on the bill, essentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-spending-shutdown-house-senate-426823710920756447076d15077c33d7">daring Democrats to oppose it</a>&nbsp;and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers failed to act on the continuing resolution, often referred to by lawmakers as a CR.“Here’s the bottom line. If congressional Democrats refuse to support this clean CR, they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government,” Johnson said.Johnson's strategy had the backing of Trump, who called on Republicans to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”Lawmakers said the bill would trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion, which are rather flat changes for both categories when compared with an overall topline of nearly $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending. The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on autopilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress.Democrats are mostly worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. They are already alarmed by the administration's efforts to make major cuts through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-federal-workforce-doge-cuts-republicans-03c307112ebf247a71a7ad54aea6fa6d">the Department of Government Efficiency</a>, or DOGE, run by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. And they say the spending bill would fuel the effort.Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the legislation. So the administration will have more leeway to reshape priorities.For example, a Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-deportations-border-immigration-bcd2737e6f9b482ec500238c6caa4f35">mass deportation initiatives</a>.“This is not a clean CR. This bill is a blank check,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “It’s a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump.”Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the continuing resolution was not the outcome he sought but said it was time to end the cycle of short-term funding extensions. This will be the third in recent months. He blamed Democrats for trying to rein in Trump’s authority on spending.“We’re not going to have a Republican Senate and a Republican House restrict a Republican president from the legitimate exercise of executive authority," Cole said. "And then, oh, by the way, ask him to sign the bill.”Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said he supported this one because it would not lead to a massive, catch-all spending bill and would reduce spending."This is not your grandfather’s continuing resolution," Harris said.Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/thomas-massie">Thomas Massie</a>, R-Ky., was still a holdout, though. He was the only Republican to vote no on the procedural vote, and said he would vote against the bill, too.Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a “GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble.”"HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him," Trump posted online.Massie responded by saying Trump was “attacking me and Canada today. The difference is: Canada will eventually cave.”House Democratic leaders came out strongly against the legislation. Less clear was how strongly they would push members in competitive battleground districts to follow their lead.“This Republican shutdown bill does nothing to enhance the American dream. It undermines it,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said ahead of the vote.Democratic leaders in the Senate generally seemed to be emphasizing patience at this stage and were waiting to see if Republicans can muscle the bill through the House before taking a stand.“We're going to see what the House does first,” said top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.Still, several rank-and-file Democrats criticized the measure. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was stunned that Republicans were “trying to jam through something that is their way or the highway.”Democrats also introduced an alternative bill Monday night funding the government through April 11. The bill could serve as a Plan B if the GOP-led effort falters.Both parties prepared to blame the other if the bill failed.“It looks like they're going to try to shut down the government,” Johnson said of Democrats.“If the government shuts down with a Republican House, Republican Senate and Republican president, it will be solely because the Republicans have moved forward with a terrible, partisan, take-it-or-leave-it bill,” said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.The spending bill could also have major ramifications for the District of Columbia's government.Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the proposal would require the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending in the next six months since it has already passed a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year. That means, officials said, cuts to critical services such as education and public safety.___

Kan. GOP lawmakers help House pass bill to fund gov't  through September

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A Hays man and woman were arrested for allegedly attempting to steal a shopping cart full of items at Walmart.

According to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler, 53-year-old Terri Kim Boehm and 52-year-old Mieczyslaw Michael Nestir allegedly attempted to exit the store without paying on Saturday.

When confronted by Walmart staff, Nestir allegedly fled on foot before police arrived, while Boehm was apprehended at a vehicle. Officers later discovered that the suspects had allegedly altered the vehicle's license plate to avoid detection.

Scheibler said the shopping cart full of merchandise was valued at $770.99.

Nestir turned himself in at the police department on Sunday. Both suspects were charged with theft and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741773934601.png" alt="Nestir photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Nestir photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Hays man and woman were arrested for allegedly attempting to steal a shopping cart full of items at Walmart.According to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler, 53-year-old Terri Kim Boehm and 52-year-old Mieczyslaw Michael Nestir allegedly attempted to exit the store without paying on Saturday.When confronted by Walmart staff, Nestir allegedly fled on foot before police arrived, while Boehm was apprehended at a vehicle. Officers later discovered that the suspects had allegedly altered the vehicle's license plate to avoid detection.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741773896686.png" alt="Boehm photo Ellis Co." />
 <figcaption>Boehm photo Ellis Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Scheibler said the shopping cart full of merchandise was valued at $770.99.Nestir turned himself in at the police department on Sunday. Both suspects were charged with theft and interference with law enforcement.

Two arrested in Hays for alleged theft

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s threat on Tuesday to double his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">planned tariffs</a>&nbsp;on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada led the provincial government of Ontario to suspend its planned surcharges on electricity sold to the United States.

As a result, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the U.S. president pulled back on his doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs, even as the federal government still plans to place a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starting Wednesday.

The drama on Tuesday delivered a win for Trump but also amplified concerns about tariffs that have roiled the stock market and stirred recession risks. Tuesday’s escalation and cooling in the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada only compounded the rising sense of uncertainty of how Trump’s tariff hikes will affect the economies of both countries.

Trump shocked markets Tuesday morning by saying that the increase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;set to take effect on Wednesday had been a response to the 25% price hike that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-ontario-us-trump-tariffs-electricity-834dc3d9defd314923912f9bd8540e31">Ontario put on electricity</a>&nbsp;sold to the United States.

“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called him and Ford agreed to remove the surcharge. He said he was confident that the U.S. president would also stand down on his own plans for 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

“He has to bounce it off the president but I’m pretty confident he will pull back,” Ford said on Trump’s steel and aluminum tariff threat. “By no means are we just going to roll over. What we are going to do is have a constructive conversation.”

After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-economy-tariffs-trump-rates-174603e75feb9d5cca96c08817e0c7c2">brutal stock market selloff</a>&nbsp;on Monday and further jitters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-wall-street-trump-tariffs-33b8562c7b76fe3b967ea6cd9d61719b">Tuesday</a>, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a solid plan to grow the economy. So far the president is doubling down on tariffs and can point to Tuesday’s drama as evidence that taxes on imports are a valuable negotiating tool, even if they can generate turmoil in the stock market.

Trump suggested Tuesday that tariffs were critical for changing the U.S. economy, regardless of stock market gyrations.

The U.S. president has given a variety of explanations for his antagonism of Canada. He has said that his separate 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada, some of which are suspended for a month, are about fentanyl smuggling and voicing objections to Canada putting high taxes on dairy imports that penalize U.S. farmers. He also continued to call for Canada&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">to become part of the United States</a>&nbsp;as a solution, which has infuriated Canadian leaders.

“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State,” Trump posted Tuesday. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741704423999.png" alt="File photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s threat on Tuesday to double his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">planned tariffs</a>&nbsp;on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada led the provincial government of Ontario to suspend its planned surcharges on electricity sold to the United States.As a result, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the U.S. president pulled back on his doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs, even as the federal government still plans to place a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starting Wednesday.The drama on Tuesday delivered a win for Trump but also amplified concerns about tariffs that have roiled the stock market and stirred recession risks. Tuesday’s escalation and cooling in the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada only compounded the rising sense of uncertainty of how Trump’s tariff hikes will affect the economies of both countries.Trump shocked markets Tuesday morning by saying that the increase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;set to take effect on Wednesday had been a response to the 25% price hike that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-ontario-us-trump-tariffs-electricity-834dc3d9defd314923912f9bd8540e31">Ontario put on electricity</a>&nbsp;sold to the United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741703315509.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump posted on Truth Social.Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called him and Ford agreed to remove the surcharge. He said he was confident that the U.S. president would also stand down on his own plans for 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.“He has to bounce it off the president but I’m pretty confident he will pull back,” Ford said on Trump’s steel and aluminum tariff threat. “By no means are we just going to roll over. What we are going to do is have a constructive conversation.”After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-economy-tariffs-trump-rates-174603e75feb9d5cca96c08817e0c7c2">brutal stock market selloff</a>&nbsp;on Monday and further jitters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-wall-street-trump-tariffs-33b8562c7b76fe3b967ea6cd9d61719b">Tuesday</a>, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a solid plan to grow the economy. So far the president is doubling down on tariffs and can point to Tuesday’s drama as evidence that taxes on imports are a valuable negotiating tool, even if they can generate turmoil in the stock market.Trump suggested Tuesday that tariffs were critical for changing the U.S. economy, regardless of stock market gyrations.The U.S. president has given a variety of explanations for his antagonism of Canada. He has said that his separate 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada, some of which are suspended for a month, are about fentanyl smuggling and voicing objections to Canada putting high taxes on dairy imports that penalize U.S. farmers. He also continued to call for Canada&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">to become part of the United States</a>&nbsp;as a solution, which has infuriated Canadian leaders.“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State,” Trump posted Tuesday. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”

Trump halts doubling of tariffs on Canadian metals after Ontario folds

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that he will double his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">planned tariffs</a>&nbsp;on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, escalating a trade war with the United States' northern neighbor.

Trump said on social media that the increase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-ontario-us-trump-tariffs-electricity-834dc3d9defd314923912f9bd8540e31">Ontario put on electricity</a>&nbsp;sold to the United States.

“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social.

Facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-economy-tariffs-trump-rates-174603e75feb9d5cca96c08817e0c7c2">brutal stock market selloff</a>&nbsp;on Monday and Tuesday, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a legitimate plan to grow the economy instead of perhaps pushing it into a recession. But so far the president is doubling down on the tariffs he talked up repeatedly during the 2024 campaign and throwing a once stable economy into utter turmoil as investors expected him to lead with deregulation and tax cuts instead of colossal tax hikes.

The U.S. president has given a variety of explanations for his antagonism of Canada, saying that his separate 25% tariffs are about fentanyl smuggling and voicing objections to Canada putting high taxes on dairy imports that penalize U.S. farmers. But he continued to call for Canada&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">to become part of the United States</a>&nbsp;as a solution, a form of taunting that has infuriated Canadian leaders.

“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State," Trump posted on Tuesday. "This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, after responding to Trump by raising electricity prices, said Tuesday on MSNBC that the U.S. people and its business leaders needed to speak up against the “chaos” caused by Trump's launching of a trade war.

“If we go into a recession it’s self made by one person. It’s called President Trump’s recession,” Ford said. “It shouldn’t be this way. We should be booming, both countries.”

Trump was set to deliver a Tuesday afternoon address to the Business Roundtable, a trade association of CEOs that during the 2024 campaign he wooed with the promise of lower corporate tax rates for domestic manufacturers. But his tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, steel, aluminum — with plans for more to possibly come on Europe, Brazil, South Korea, pharmaceutical drugs, copper, lumber and computer chips — would amount to a massive tax hike.

The stock market’s vote of no confidence over the past two weeks puts the president in a bind between his enthusiasm for taxing imports and his brand as a politician who understands business based on his own experiences in real estate, media and marketing.

Harvard University economist Larry Summers, a former treasury secretary for the Clinton administration, on Monday put the odds of a recession at 50-50.

“All the emphasis on tariffs and all the ambiguity and uncertainty has both chilled demand and caused prices to go up,” Summers posted on X. “We are getting the worst of both worlds - concerns about inflation and an economic downturn and more uncertainty about the future and that slows everything.”

The investment bank Goldman Sachs revised down its growth forecast for this year to 1.7% from 2.2% previously. It modestly increased its recession probability to 20% “because the White House has the option to pull back policy changes if downside risks begin to look more serious.”

Trump has tried to assure the public that his tariffs would cause a bit of a “transition” to the economy, with the taxes prodding more companies to begin the years-long process of relocating factories to the United States to avoid the tariffs. But he set off alarms in an interview broadcast on Sunday in which he didn't rule out a possible recession.

“I hate to predict things like that,” Trump said on Fox News Channel's “Sunday Morning Futures." ”There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing. And there are always periods of — it takes a little time. It takes a little time. But I don’t — I think it should be great for us. I mean, I think it should be great."

The promise of great things ahead did not eliminate anxiety, with the S&amp;P 500 stock index tumbling 2.7% on Monday in an unmistakable Trump slump that has erased the market gains that greeted his victory in November 2024. The S&amp;P 500 index fell roughly 0.4% in Tuesday morning trading.

Trump has long relied on the stock market as an economic and political gauge to follow, only to seemingly ignore it as he remains determined so far to impose tariffs. When he won the election last year, he proclaimed that he wanted his term to be considered to have started Nov. 6, 2024 on Election Day, rather than his January 20, 2025 inauguration, so that he could be credited for post-election stock market gains.

Trump also repeatedly warned of an economic freefall if he lost the election.

“If I don’t win you will have a 1929 style depression. Enjoy it,” Trump said at an August rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump last year claimed that his win in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses caused China’s stock market to retreat.

“China had a crash yesterday in their stock market. You know why? Because I won Iowa,” Trump said at the time.

The White House is no longer treating stocks as a reliable economic indicator. After the markets closed on Monday, the White House highlighted that the tariffs were prompting companies such as Honda, Volkswagen and Volvo to consider new investments in U.S. factories. It issued a statement that Trump's combination of tariffs, deregulations and increased energy production had led industry leaders to promise to “create thousands of new jobs.”

The significance of thousands of additional jobs was unclear, as the U.S. economy added 2.2 million jobs last year alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that he will double his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">planned tariffs</a>&nbsp;on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, escalating a trade war with the United States' northern neighbor.Trump said on social media that the increase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-ontario-us-trump-tariffs-electricity-834dc3d9defd314923912f9bd8540e31">Ontario put on electricity</a>&nbsp;sold to the United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741703315509.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social.Facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-economy-tariffs-trump-rates-174603e75feb9d5cca96c08817e0c7c2">brutal stock market selloff</a>&nbsp;on Monday and Tuesday, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a legitimate plan to grow the economy instead of perhaps pushing it into a recession. But so far the president is doubling down on the tariffs he talked up repeatedly during the 2024 campaign and throwing a once stable economy into utter turmoil as investors expected him to lead with deregulation and tax cuts instead of colossal tax hikes.The U.S. president has given a variety of explanations for his antagonism of Canada, saying that his separate 25% tariffs are about fentanyl smuggling and voicing objections to Canada putting high taxes on dairy imports that penalize U.S. farmers. But he continued to call for Canada&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">to become part of the United States</a>&nbsp;as a solution, a form of taunting that has infuriated Canadian leaders.“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State," Trump posted on Tuesday. "This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”Ontario Premier Doug Ford, after responding to Trump by raising electricity prices, said Tuesday on MSNBC that the U.S. people and its business leaders needed to speak up against the “chaos” caused by Trump's launching of a trade war.“If we go into a recession it’s self made by one person. It’s called President Trump’s recession,” Ford said. “It shouldn’t be this way. We should be booming, both countries.”Trump was set to deliver a Tuesday afternoon address to the Business Roundtable, a trade association of CEOs that during the 2024 campaign he wooed with the promise of lower corporate tax rates for domestic manufacturers. But his tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, steel, aluminum — with plans for more to possibly come on Europe, Brazil, South Korea, pharmaceutical drugs, copper, lumber and computer chips — would amount to a massive tax hike.The stock market’s vote of no confidence over the past two weeks puts the president in a bind between his enthusiasm for taxing imports and his brand as a politician who understands business based on his own experiences in real estate, media and marketing.Harvard University economist Larry Summers, a former treasury secretary for the Clinton administration, on Monday put the odds of a recession at 50-50.“All the emphasis on tariffs and all the ambiguity and uncertainty has both chilled demand and caused prices to go up,” Summers posted on X. “We are getting the worst of both worlds - concerns about inflation and an economic downturn and more uncertainty about the future and that slows everything.”The investment bank Goldman Sachs revised down its growth forecast for this year to 1.7% from 2.2% previously. It modestly increased its recession probability to 20% “because the White House has the option to pull back policy changes if downside risks begin to look more serious.”Trump has tried to assure the public that his tariffs would cause a bit of a “transition” to the economy, with the taxes prodding more companies to begin the years-long process of relocating factories to the United States to avoid the tariffs. But he set off alarms in an interview broadcast on Sunday in which he didn't rule out a possible recession.“I hate to predict things like that,” Trump said on Fox News Channel's “Sunday Morning Futures." ”There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing. And there are always periods of — it takes a little time. It takes a little time. But I don’t — I think it should be great for us. I mean, I think it should be great."The promise of great things ahead did not eliminate anxiety, with the S&amp;P 500 stock index tumbling 2.7% on Monday in an unmistakable Trump slump that has erased the market gains that greeted his victory in November 2024. The S&amp;P 500 index fell roughly 0.4% in Tuesday morning trading.Trump has long relied on the stock market as an economic and political gauge to follow, only to seemingly ignore it as he remains determined so far to impose tariffs. When he won the election last year, he proclaimed that he wanted his term to be considered to have started Nov. 6, 2024 on Election Day, rather than his January 20, 2025 inauguration, so that he could be credited for post-election stock market gains.Trump also repeatedly warned of an economic freefall if he lost the election.“If I don’t win you will have a 1929 style depression. Enjoy it,” Trump said at an August rally in Pennsylvania.Trump last year claimed that his win in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses caused China’s stock market to retreat.“China had a crash yesterday in their stock market. You know why? Because I won Iowa,” Trump said at the time.The White House is no longer treating stocks as a reliable economic indicator. After the markets closed on Monday, the White House highlighted that the tariffs were prompting companies such as Honda, Volkswagen and Volvo to consider new investments in U.S. factories. It issued a statement that Trump's combination of tariffs, deregulations and increased energy production had led industry leaders to promise to “create thousands of new jobs.”The significance of thousands of additional jobs was unclear, as the U.S. economy added 2.2 million jobs last year alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Trade war intensifies: Trump to hike tariffs on Canada metals

The Ellis County Commission approved the Ellis County Health Department's annual grant submission and update during its meeting on Tuesday.

The health department relies on annual grants to support its operations. Director Melissa Miller and Kerry McCue presented three key grants the department has traditionally received.

The three grants include the State Formula Grant, which supports general public health initiatives; the Immunization Action Plan Grant, which aims to improve immunization coverage; and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant, which strengthens readiness for public health emergencies.

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas is applying for Kansas Community Service tax credits to support various organizational improvements.

County Administrator Darin Myers discussed the need for a letter of support in DSNWK's application with the commissioners.

Due to technical issues, the subdevelopment road discussion has been postponed to next Tuesday's county commission meeting.

Residents have approached the commissioners regarding road maintenance concerns in their subdivisions.

Presented by Commission Chair Michael Berges, the meeting will be attended by Hilltop Road homeowners and residents of other subdivisions around Hays to discuss additional road maintenance concerns.

Hilltop Road underwent a road maintenance project last year to improve deficiencies.

Ellis County Treasurer Vernon Ruder spoke to commissioners about removing a wall in the treasury back office to improve space utilization. Commissioners approved the wall removal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission approved the Ellis County Health Department's annual grant submission and update during its meeting on Tuesday.The health department relies on annual grants to support its operations. Director Melissa Miller and Kerry McCue presented three key grants the department has traditionally received.The three grants include the State Formula Grant, which supports general public health initiatives; the Immunization Action Plan Grant, which aims to improve immunization coverage; and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant, which strengthens readiness for public health emergencies.<h2>DSNWK letter of support</h2>Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas is applying for Kansas Community Service tax credits to support various organizational improvements.County Administrator Darin Myers discussed the need for a letter of support in DSNWK's application with the commissioners.The letter of support was approved.<h2>Subdevelopment road</h2>Due to technical issues, the subdevelopment road discussion has been postponed to next Tuesday's county commission meeting.Residents have approached the commissioners regarding road maintenance concerns in their subdivisions.Presented by Commission Chair Michael Berges, the meeting will be attended by Hilltop Road homeowners and residents of other subdivisions around Hays to discuss additional road maintenance concerns.Hilltop Road underwent a road maintenance project last year to improve deficiencies.<h2>Other business</h2>Ellis County Treasurer Vernon Ruder spoke to commissioners about removing a wall in the treasury back office to improve space utilization. Commissioners approved the wall removal.

Ellis County Commission approves health department grants

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nicole Windholz chairwoman of Hays Young Professionals about the restructuring of that organization.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Hays Young Professionals" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=5trbm-1834a80-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nicole Windholz chairwoman of Hays Young Professionals about the restructuring of that organization.

🎙 POST PODCAST: Nicole Windholz discusses restructuring of HYP

The National Weather Service trained attendees to&nbsp;identify and report severe storms during&nbsp;its annual Storm Spotter Preparedness presentation on Thursday in Hays.

Meteorologist Kelly Sugden from the&nbsp;National Weather Service in Dodge City spoke to staff and those unfamiliar with Kansas weather.&nbsp;Ellis County hosted the event at the Emergency Services Building.

The&nbsp;National Weather Service operates around the clock, providing forecasts and warnings for hazardous weather, including severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires.

However, due to distance limitations, the radar in Dodge City cannot capture all storm features in central Kansas, making public observations essential from those in the area.

"The radar beam is going to be looking at the middle to upper portion of the storm. It cannot see the low-level portion where the tornado would be. That's where we need your guys' help," Sugden said.

Kansans are vital in ensuring accurate&nbsp;National Weather Service warnings during severe weather. Whether it's tornadoes, high winds, hail or flooding, you can report conditions by calling the severe weather spotter line at 1-800-824-9943 or the NWNational Weather Service office in Dodge City at 620-225-6514.

When reporting severe weather, state your name and describe the event you witnessed. Include the location or direction of the event, referencing the nearest town, landmarks or highway markers, along with the time it occurred.

"The biggest thing is to call us. We prefer a phone call because it's direct communication," Sugden said. "We're staffed [at&nbsp;National Weather Service Dodge City] all the time, so someone will always answer the phone."

Sugden explained the different storm types, such as single-cell, multi-cell clusters, squall lines and the highly dangerous supercells.

"Supercells are on their own level. This is the mother of all storms, which means that the chances of severe weather are very high," he said.

The significant dangers supercells present are tornadoes, damaging winds exceeding 58 mph, quarter-size hail and flash flooding.

Severe storms form when instability and moisture provide the ideal conditions for strong updrafts. These updrafts are often driven by humid air from the south. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741616908087.jpeg" alt="The 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation hosted by Ellis County and National Weather Service in Dodge City meteorologist Kelly Sugden. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation hosted by Ellis County and National Weather Service in Dodge City meteorologist Kelly Sugden. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe National Weather Service trained attendees to&nbsp;identify and report severe storms during&nbsp;its annual Storm Spotter Preparedness presentation on Thursday in Hays.Meteorologist Kelly Sugden from the&nbsp;National Weather Service in Dodge City spoke to staff and those unfamiliar with Kansas weather.&nbsp;Ellis County hosted the event at the Emergency Services Building.The&nbsp;National Weather Service operates around the clock, providing forecasts and warnings for hazardous weather, including severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires.However, due to distance limitations, the radar in Dodge City cannot capture all storm features in central Kansas, making public observations essential from those in the area."The radar beam is going to be looking at the middle to upper portion of the storm. It cannot see the low-level portion where the tornado would be. That's where we need your guys' help," Sugden said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741632967973.jpeg" alt="A visual from the 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation hosted by Ellis County on how radar is restricted in providing ground information." />
 <figcaption>A visual from the 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation hosted by Ellis County on how radar is restricted in providing ground information.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansans are vital in ensuring accurate&nbsp;National Weather Service warnings during severe weather. Whether it's tornadoes, high winds, hail or flooding, you can report conditions by calling the severe weather spotter line at 1-800-824-9943 or the NWNational Weather Service office in Dodge City at 620-225-6514.When reporting severe weather, state your name and describe the event you witnessed. Include the location or direction of the event, referencing the nearest town, landmarks or highway markers, along with the time it occurred."The biggest thing is to call us. We prefer a phone call because it's direct communication," Sugden said. "We're staffed [at&nbsp;National Weather Service Dodge City] all the time, so someone will always answer the phone."Sugden explained the different storm types, such as single-cell, multi-cell clusters, squall lines and the highly dangerous supercells."Supercells are on their own level. This is the mother of all storms, which means that the chances of severe weather are very high," he said.The significant dangers supercells present are tornadoes, damaging winds exceeding 58 mph, quarter-size hail and flash flooding.Severe storms form when instability and moisture provide the ideal conditions for strong updrafts. These updrafts are often driven by humid air from the south. Lift happens as warm, moist air rises along weather fronts. Cold fronts spark storm development.Wind shear, the variation in wind speed and direction at different altitudes, is essential for supercells. It drives storm rotation and heightens the risk of tornado formation.Sugden said that specific cloud formations can signal whether a developing storm has the potential to become dangerous.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741633025453.jpeg" alt="The severe threat rating of a single cell storm." />
 <figcaption>The severe threat rating of a single cell storm.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741633088839.jpeg" alt="The severe threat rating of a multicell cluster storm." />
 <figcaption>The severe threat rating of a multicell cluster storm.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741633122486.jpeg" alt="The severe threat rating of a squall line storm." />
 <figcaption>The severe threat rating of a squall line storm.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741633146937.jpeg" alt="The severe threat rating of a supercell storms." />
 <figcaption>The severe threat rating of a supercell storms.</figcaption>
 </figure>Sugden also clarified the distinction between severe weather warnings and watches.A severe weather warning indicates a hazardous event is imminent or already happening, requiring immediate action. A severe storm watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather, but it has not yet developed.Sugden advises taking shelter and staying prepared when either advisory is issued but also offers additional guidance for those planning to hunt storms."If you are storm spotting or storm chasing, have an escape route option," he said. "Maintain situational awareness. Weather changes very rapidly and constantly."Before heading out, ensure you have multiple ways to receive warnings, such as phone alerts, radio stations and social media updates from the National Weather Service.Use radar apps or maps to track your position relative to the storm. For the best visibility, position yourself southeast of the storm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741633238427.jpeg" alt="A labeled radar showing different viewing positions&nbsp;from the 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation." />
 <figcaption>A labeled radar showing different viewing positions&nbsp;from the 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741633262958.jpeg" alt="An overview of identifying funnel clouds and tornadoes&nbsp;from the 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation." />
 <figcaption>An overview of identifying funnel clouds and tornadoes&nbsp;from the 2025 Storm Spotting Training Preparedness presentation.</figcaption>
 </figure>Sugden emphasized storm chasing is safer with at least two people. One focuses on driving, and the other acting as a navigator, monitoring radar and hazards.The National Weather Service provides storm spotter certifications to those who complete training sessions and meet the required criteria. These certifications validate your expertise and authorize you to report severe weather officially.For more information, you can find a spotter reference guide <a href="https://www.weather.gov/ddc/SpotterGuide">here</a>. You can also follow the National Weather Service in Dodge City on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSDodgeCity/">Facebook</a>.