HOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTES WEEK OF March 10 – 14, 2025

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

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS…. SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

--March 10 •&nbsp;2nd Grade has Silly Sock Day today for a feed the pig prize.

•&nbsp;Hourly staff timesheets are due this morning to Ms. Karla in the office. •&nbsp;FHSU Foundations of Ed students will be observing classrooms 12:30-1:20. •&nbsp;Our last Home &amp; School Mtg of the year will be at 7:00 p.m. in L.T. •&nbsp;Happy Birthday to Jade Drohman, PK3.

•&nbsp;Happy Birthday to Keely Ford, 3A, and Lana Schmeidler, 3B.

•&nbsp;Spirit Day. •&nbsp;4th Grade Team Day for a feed the pig prize. •&nbsp;It’s our HFE Jalisco Fundraising Day all day! We hope you can enjoy Jalisco for dinner and support the school! All orders all day, dine-in or carry-out, will give a % back to HFE! •&nbsp;Early Release Day, and students will dismiss at 1:15 p.m.&nbsp; •&nbsp;Dominic Savio Club will meet again after school today. •&nbsp;The Faculty will meet in the Library after dismissal for a presentation from Noalee. •&nbsp;Creative Writing Contest entries are due to the office at 4:00 p.m. for the H.A.C. •&nbsp;Happy Birthday to Jacob Whitmer, 1B, &amp; Kennedi Crathorne, 4B.&nbsp;&nbsp;

•&nbsp;March Birthday Mass &amp; Lunch. •&nbsp;TMP Students will visit 4B this morning. •&nbsp;Sr. Rose Marie will visit 5th grade this afternoon.

•&nbsp;Kindergarten Sweats &amp; Team Shirt Day for a feed the pig prize. •&nbsp;5th Grade Mix-it and Match-it Day today for a feed the pig prize. •&nbsp;Stations of the Cross at 2:35 p.m. at IHM. •&nbsp;Next week is SPRING BREAK so we will not have school! We hope you all have a safe, wonderful break full of rest and fun! •&nbsp;Greetings to all celebrating a birthday over Spring Break: Lyla Fox, 1B, Finley Patterson, 2B, Miden Pfannenstiel, 3B, Twynn Tetuan, 5A, Lydia Schmeidler, PK4, Victoria Heimann, 2B, Ryker Staab, 3B, Kenton Randa, 5B, Lahna Denton, 2B, and Mrs. Devann Fischer, School Psychologist

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613660020276.png" alt="Holy Family Elementary School, Hays. File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Holy Family Elementary School, Hays. File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>HFEHOLY FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTES WEEK OF March 10 – 14, 2025THE SUCCESSES OF TOMORROW BEGIN TODAY, CATHOLIC EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME ADVANTAGE!CATHOLIC SCHOOLS…. SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!MONDAY--March 10 •&nbsp;2nd Grade has Silly Sock Day today for a feed the pig prize.•&nbsp;Hourly staff timesheets are due this morning to Ms. Karla in the office. •&nbsp;FHSU Foundations of Ed students will be observing classrooms 12:30-1:20. •&nbsp;Our last Home &amp; School Mtg of the year will be at 7:00 p.m. in L.T. •&nbsp;Happy Birthday to Jade Drohman, PK3.TUESDAY--March 11•&nbsp;Happy Birthday to Keely Ford, 3A, and Lana Schmeidler, 3B.WEDNESDAY--March 12 •&nbsp;Spirit Day. •&nbsp;4th Grade Team Day for a feed the pig prize. •&nbsp;It’s our HFE Jalisco Fundraising Day all day! We hope you can enjoy Jalisco for dinner and support the school! All orders all day, dine-in or carry-out, will give a % back to HFE! •&nbsp;Early Release Day, and students will dismiss at 1:15 p.m.&nbsp; •&nbsp;Dominic Savio Club will meet again after school today. •&nbsp;The Faculty will meet in the Library after dismissal for a presentation from Noalee. •&nbsp;Creative Writing Contest entries are due to the office at 4:00 p.m. for the H.A.C. •&nbsp;Happy Birthday to Jacob Whitmer, 1B, &amp; Kennedi Crathorne, 4B.&nbsp;&nbsp; THURSDAY--March 13•&nbsp;March Birthday Mass &amp; Lunch. •&nbsp;TMP Students will visit 4B this morning. •&nbsp;Sr. Rose Marie will visit 5th grade this afternoon.FRIDAY--March 14•&nbsp;Kindergarten Sweats &amp; Team Shirt Day for a feed the pig prize. •&nbsp;5th Grade Mix-it and Match-it Day today for a feed the pig prize. •&nbsp;Stations of the Cross at 2:35 p.m. at IHM. •&nbsp;Next week is SPRING BREAK so we will not have school! We hope you all have a safe, wonderful break full of rest and fun! •&nbsp;Greetings to all celebrating a birthday over Spring Break: Lyla Fox, 1B, Finley Patterson, 2B, Miden Pfannenstiel, 3B, Twynn Tetuan, 5A, Lydia Schmeidler, PK4, Victoria Heimann, 2B, Ryker Staab, 3B, Kenton Randa, 5B, Lahna Denton, 2B, and Mrs. Devann Fischer, School Psychologist

Holy Family Elementary School notes, March 10-14, 2025

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Xavier Worthy was released Saturday after a district attorney in Texas declined to pursue charges against the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver following an arrest in which he had been accused of felony domestic violence.

Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick told the Austin American-Statesman his office had spoken with witnesses and was not accepting the case at this time. He also said Worthy and his lawyers were fully cooperating with the investigation.

Records showed that Worthy had been arrested Friday by deputies and held in the county jail on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking in common terms. The online court listing for the case was updated to “dismissed/declined” later Saturday.

Williamson County includes parts of Austin, where Worthy played college football at the University of Texas.

In a statement, Worthy's attorneys, Chip Lewis and Sam Bassett, said their client was innocent of the charge against him. They said the allegation was made by a female who had been living in Worthy's home, and that she had been asked to leave the home multiple times over the last two weeks “upon discovery of her infidelity.”

“She has refused to vacate the residence and made a number of extortive efforts prior to resorting to this baseless allegation against Mr. Worthy,” the lawyers' statement said. “The complainant further destroyed a room in the residence, scratched Mr. Worthy's face and ripped out parts of his hair, which there is photographic evidence of. Worthy told law enforcement at the time of the incident he did not want to press charges against the complainant.”

The Chiefs told The Associated Press on Saturday that they were aware of the situation and still gathering information.

Under Texas law, impeding breathing means “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person’s throat or neck or by blocking the person’s nose or mouth.”

Worthy was chosen by the Chiefs with the 28th overall pick in last year's draft after setting the record for the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He got off to a quick start by scoring a pair of touchdowns in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-ravens-nfl-opener-0ea1b2027f61a147d5365bad6a7f6cbb">NFL debut</a>, and after a midseason lull, he became the Chiefs' go-to wide receiver as they chased an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.

Worthy finished with 59 catches for 638 yards and six TDs while running 20 times for 104 yards and three more scores.

He was one of the few bright spots for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">Chiefs in a 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl</a>, too. Worthy caught all eight of his targets for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns at the Superdome in New Orleans.

The Chiefs came to rely on Worthy in part because of a season-ending injury to wide receiver Rashee Rice, who was coming off a brilliant rookie season of his own. Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two TDs in four games before getting hurt.

Rice and another driver, Theodore Knox, were involved in a high-speed car crash in March 2024 that triggered a chain reaction on a highway in Dallas, close to where he had played college football at SMU. Rice is currently facing at least two civil lawsuits along with numerous criminal charges for his role in the wreck.

Rice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-dallas-crash-kansas-city-chiefs-b9c772b81b1b64ad111e249b38c8c4b5">turned himself in following the crash</a>, and his attorney, Texas Sen. Royce West, said that the wide receiver admitted that he was driving the Lamborghini involved. Rice also posted on social media that he took responsibility for his role in the crash.

Skretta reported from Kansas City, Missouri. Associated Press writer Juan A. Lozano contributed to this report from Houston.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721240895604.jpeg" alt="File photo Xavier Worthy" />
 <figcaption>File photo Xavier Worthy</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Xavier Worthy was released Saturday after a district attorney in Texas declined to pursue charges against the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver following an arrest in which he had been accused of felony domestic violence.Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick told the Austin American-Statesman his office had spoken with witnesses and was not accepting the case at this time. He also said Worthy and his lawyers were fully cooperating with the investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741483775149.png" alt="Court listing for Xavier Worthy has been updated to “dismissed/declined”" />
 <figcaption>Court listing for Xavier Worthy has been updated to “dismissed/declined”</figcaption>
 </figure>Records showed that Worthy had been arrested Friday by deputies and held in the county jail on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking in common terms. The online court listing for the case was updated to “dismissed/declined” later Saturday.Williamson County includes parts of Austin, where Worthy played college football at the University of Texas.In a statement, Worthy's attorneys, Chip Lewis and Sam Bassett, said their client was innocent of the charge against him. They said the allegation was made by a female who had been living in Worthy's home, and that she had been asked to leave the home multiple times over the last two weeks “upon discovery of her infidelity.”“She has refused to vacate the residence and made a number of extortive efforts prior to resorting to this baseless allegation against Mr. Worthy,” the lawyers' statement said. “The complainant further destroyed a room in the residence, scratched Mr. Worthy's face and ripped out parts of his hair, which there is photographic evidence of. Worthy told law enforcement at the time of the incident he did not want to press charges against the complainant.”The Chiefs told The Associated Press on Saturday that they were aware of the situation and still gathering information.Under Texas law, impeding breathing means “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person’s throat or neck or by blocking the person’s nose or mouth.”Worthy was chosen by the Chiefs with the 28th overall pick in last year's draft after setting the record for the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He got off to a quick start by scoring a pair of touchdowns in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-ravens-nfl-opener-0ea1b2027f61a147d5365bad6a7f6cbb">NFL debut</a>, and after a midseason lull, he became the Chiefs' go-to wide receiver as they chased an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.Worthy finished with 59 catches for 638 yards and six TDs while running 20 times for 104 yards and three more scores.He was one of the few bright spots for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">Chiefs in a 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl</a>, too. Worthy caught all eight of his targets for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns at the Superdome in New Orleans.The Chiefs came to rely on Worthy in part because of a season-ending injury to wide receiver Rashee Rice, who was coming off a brilliant rookie season of his own. Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two TDs in four games before getting hurt.Rice and another driver, Theodore Knox, were involved in a high-speed car crash in March 2024 that triggered a chain reaction on a highway in Dallas, close to where he had played college football at SMU. Rice is currently facing at least two civil lawsuits along with numerous criminal charges for his role in the wreck.Rice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-dallas-crash-kansas-city-chiefs-b9c772b81b1b64ad111e249b38c8c4b5">turned himself in following the crash</a>, and his attorney, Texas Sen. Royce West, said that the wide receiver admitted that he was driving the Lamborghini involved. Rice also posted on social media that he took responsibility for his role in the crash.___Skretta reported from Kansas City, Missouri. Associated Press writer Juan A. Lozano contributed to this report from Houston.

Chiefs receiver released after Texas DA declines to pursue charges

No. 2 seed #9 Fort Hays State (26-3) vs. No. 3 seed Missouri Western (20-8) MIAA Tournament Semifinals Saturday, March 8, 2025 • 8:15 p.m. Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal Auditorium

Radio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The ninth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will play in the semifinal round of the MIAA Championship presented by Southern Bank for an eighth-straight season on Saturday when the second-seeded Tigers take on No. 3 Missouri Western&nbsp;beginning at 8:15 p.m. inside historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.

The Tigers advanced to the MIAA semifinals for a 12th time since joining the league 19 years ago, tied with Emporia State for the most semifinal appearances during that span. FHSU's streak of eight-straight semifinal appearances is the longest active streak in the league and is the second-longest such streak since the Tigers joined the league in 2006-07.

This is Fort Hays State's 16th trip to the MIAA Championship, with the Tigers accumulating a record of 23-13 all-time in the tournament. FHSU is 6-5 in the semifinals, 4-0 as the No. 2 seed, 3-2 against the No. 3 seed, 2-0 against MWSU&nbsp;and 18-12 inside Municipal Auditorium.

A win Saturday would put the Tigers in the championship round for the second year in a row, the sixth time in the last eight seasons and the seventh time since joining the league 19 years ago. Only Emporia State (nine) has been in more title games than FHSU during that span.

Fort Hays State moved on to the semifinals after a 90-74 win over Central Missouri in the quarterfinals on Thursday, the most points scored by the Tigers in tournament history and the most points scored by any team in the MIAA tournament since 2016.

Talexa Weeter&nbsp;led the Tigers with a career-high 35 points, 11 rebounds and three 3-pointers. Her 35 points are the most scored by a Tiger in the MIAA tournament, fourth-most by any player in tournament history, the most points ever scored by a non-starter in the tournament, the ninth-most points scored by a Tiger in a single game in program history and the most scored by any FHSU player in over 20 years.

Two of Fort Hays State's three losses this season have come against the Griffons by a combined two points. The Griffons have won the last four overall in the series.

The Tigers led the conference with five All-MIAA selections, including Player of the Year Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;and Defensive Player of the Year Olivia Hollenbeck. The graduate student duo were both first team picks, while Kate Dilsaver, Brooke Loewe and Talexa Weeter&nbsp;were all honorable mention recipients. Hollenbeck and Dilsaver were also listed on the MIAA All-Defensive Team.

DeGarmo is the fifth player since 1980 to earn the conference's top honor in consecutive seasons and the first to do so since Washburn's Crystal Walker in 2001-02 and 2002-03. She is the third player in school history to earn first team honors three times, joining Annette Wiles and Kate Lehman. It is her fourth All-MIAA honor overall after also picking up second team status in 2021-22.

The Maize, Kan. native led the team with 16.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, ranking third in the league in each category. She was also third in assist/turnover ratio in the league (1.9) and ranked 12th in the conference with 1.6 steals per game. She is the program record holder with 1,199 career rebounds while ranking second with 2,198 points. DeGarmo is also fourth all-time in assists, fifth in steals and second in field goals at FHSU.

Hollenbeck is the first five-time all-conference performer in school history. This is her initial first team honor after garnering third team recognition each of the last two years and honorable mention status in her first two seasons at FHSU. She is the first Tiger to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors since Kate Lehman did it in three-straight seasons between 2013 and 2015.

The Lincoln, Neb. native ranked second in the conference with 2.3 steals per night while ranking third with 1.7 steals per game. She also ranked fifth in the league in scoring with 16.5 points per contest while posting the second-best field goal percentage in the league at 62.1 percent. Hollenbeck ranks fourth in school history with 1,864 points, second with 217 blocks and eighth with 200 steals in her career. She also ranks third in field goals and needs 30 rebounds to crack the top 10 list in that category at FHSU.

Dilsaver earned her first All-MIAA recognition after averaging 2.0 steals per game, third-most in the league. She ranked fourth on the team with an average of 9.1 points per game while pouring in 24 3-pointers, second-most on the squad. The senior rounded out her stat line with 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, making her the only player on the team to average two or more in four of the five major stat categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks).Loewe collected her first All-MIAA honor after leading the league with 192 assists this season, averaging 7.1 assists per game. The junior point guard ranks second in Division II in total assists while slotting third in average. She also ranked ninth in the league and third on the team with 1.7 steals per game while ranking fifth on the team with 7.2 points per contest. She broke the single season school record with her 192 assists and already ranks ninth in program history with 347 assists in just three seasons.

Weeter picked up her first All-MIAA award after averaging 13.1 points per game off the bench. She ranked 17th in the league in scoring, making her the only player to rank in the top 25 in the league in scoring that is not a starter for their team. She scored in double figures 20 times this year, including five games with 20 or more points. The sophomore also ranks second on the team with 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per night.

DeGarmo has totaled 168 points and 93 rebounds in 11 games in the MIAA Tournament, ranking fifth all-time in points and third in rebounds. She needs 45 points and 13 rebounds to tie the career record in each category. The graduate student averages 15.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in league tournament contests, scoring in double figures eight times and scoring at least 20 points four times.

The winner of Saturday's semifinal will move on to the MIAA Championship game Sunday afternoon (March 9, 3:30 p.m.) to take on either top-seeded Pittsburg State or No. 5 seed Washburn. The loser will look ahead to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship Selection Show which is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Sunday live on NCAA.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741442774367.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsNo. 2 seed #9 Fort Hays State (26-3) vs. No. 3 seed Missouri Western (20-8) MIAA Tournament Semifinals Saturday, March 8, 2025 • 8:15 p.m. Kansas City, Mo. • Municipal AuditoriumRadio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The ninth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will play in the semifinal round of the MIAA Championship presented by Southern Bank for an eighth-straight season on Saturday when the second-seeded Tigers take on No. 3 Missouri Western&nbsp;beginning at 8:15 p.m. inside historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.The Tigers advanced to the MIAA semifinals for a 12th time since joining the league 19 years ago, tied with Emporia State for the most semifinal appearances during that span. FHSU's streak of eight-straight semifinal appearances is the longest active streak in the league and is the second-longest such streak since the Tigers joined the league in 2006-07.This is Fort Hays State's 16th trip to the MIAA Championship, with the Tigers accumulating a record of 23-13 all-time in the tournament. FHSU is 6-5 in the semifinals, 4-0 as the No. 2 seed, 3-2 against the No. 3 seed, 2-0 against MWSU&nbsp;and 18-12 inside Municipal Auditorium.A win Saturday would put the Tigers in the championship round for the second year in a row, the sixth time in the last eight seasons and the seventh time since joining the league 19 years ago. Only Emporia State (nine) has been in more title games than FHSU during that span.Fort Hays State moved on to the semifinals after a 90-74 win over Central Missouri in the quarterfinals on Thursday, the most points scored by the Tigers in tournament history and the most points scored by any team in the MIAA tournament since 2016.Talexa Weeter&nbsp;led the Tigers with a career-high 35 points, 11 rebounds and three 3-pointers. Her 35 points are the most scored by a Tiger in the MIAA tournament, fourth-most by any player in tournament history, the most points ever scored by a non-starter in the tournament, the ninth-most points scored by a Tiger in a single game in program history and the most scored by any FHSU player in over 20 years.Two of Fort Hays State's three losses this season have come against the Griffons by a combined two points. The Griffons have won the last four overall in the series.The Tigers led the conference with five All-MIAA selections, including Player of the Year Katie DeGarmo&nbsp;and Defensive Player of the Year Olivia Hollenbeck. The graduate student duo were both first team picks, while Kate Dilsaver, Brooke Loewe and Talexa Weeter&nbsp;were all honorable mention recipients. Hollenbeck and Dilsaver were also listed on the MIAA All-Defensive Team.DeGarmo is the fifth player since 1980 to earn the conference's top honor in consecutive seasons and the first to do so since Washburn's Crystal Walker in 2001-02 and 2002-03. She is the third player in school history to earn first team honors three times, joining Annette Wiles and Kate Lehman. It is her fourth All-MIAA honor overall after also picking up second team status in 2021-22.The Maize, Kan. native led the team with 16.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, ranking third in the league in each category. She was also third in assist/turnover ratio in the league (1.9) and ranked 12th in the conference with 1.6 steals per game. She is the program record holder with 1,199 career rebounds while ranking second with 2,198 points. DeGarmo is also fourth all-time in assists, fifth in steals and second in field goals at FHSU.Hollenbeck is the first five-time all-conference performer in school history. This is her initial first team honor after garnering third team recognition each of the last two years and honorable mention status in her first two seasons at FHSU. She is the first Tiger to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors since Kate Lehman did it in three-straight seasons between 2013 and 2015.The Lincoln, Neb. native ranked second in the conference with 2.3 steals per night while ranking third with 1.7 steals per game. She also ranked fifth in the league in scoring with 16.5 points per contest while posting the second-best field goal percentage in the league at 62.1 percent. Hollenbeck ranks fourth in school history with 1,864 points, second with 217 blocks and eighth with 200 steals in her career. She also ranks third in field goals and needs 30 rebounds to crack the top 10 list in that category at FHSU.Dilsaver earned her first All-MIAA recognition after averaging 2.0 steals per game, third-most in the league. She ranked fourth on the team with an average of 9.1 points per game while pouring in 24 3-pointers, second-most on the squad. The senior rounded out her stat line with 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, making her the only player on the team to average two or more in four of the five major stat categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks).Loewe collected her first All-MIAA honor after leading the league with 192 assists this season, averaging 7.1 assists per game. The junior point guard ranks second in Division II in total assists while slotting third in average. She also ranked ninth in the league and third on the team with 1.7 steals per game while ranking fifth on the team with 7.2 points per contest. She broke the single season school record with her 192 assists and already ranks ninth in program history with 347 assists in just three seasons.Weeter picked up her first All-MIAA award after averaging 13.1 points per game off the bench. She ranked 17th in the league in scoring, making her the only player to rank in the top 25 in the league in scoring that is not a starter for their team. She scored in double figures 20 times this year, including five games with 20 or more points. The sophomore also ranks second on the team with 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per night.DeGarmo has totaled 168 points and 93 rebounds in 11 games in the MIAA Tournament, ranking fifth all-time in points and third in rebounds. She needs 45 points and 13 rebounds to tie the career record in each category. The graduate student averages 15.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in league tournament contests, scoring in double figures eight times and scoring at least 20 points four times.The winner of Saturday's semifinal will move on to the MIAA Championship game Sunday afternoon (March 9, 3:30 p.m.) to take on either top-seeded Pittsburg State or No. 5 seed Washburn. The loser will look ahead to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship Selection Show which is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Sunday live on NCAA.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎧 LISTEN: #9 FHSU women face Griffons in MIAA semifinals Saturday

Charges have been dropped against Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy. The District Attorney refused to file charges in the case.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas —&nbsp; Sheriff's deputies in Texas arrested Kansas City Chiefs standout wide receiver Xavier Worthy on Friday.

The 21-year-old was booked into the&nbsp;&nbsp;Williamson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; assaulting a family/house member by impeding their breathing or circulation, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison.&nbsp;

Williamson County is just north of Austin where Worthy played college football at the University of Texas.&nbsp; Police have released no additional details on the arrest.

The Chiefs selected Worthy with their first pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He scored two touchdowns in the Chiefs'&nbsp;Super Bowl loss&nbsp;to Philadelphia.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741449455694.png" alt="Worthy photo Williamson County Texas Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Worthy photo Williamson County Texas Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741483775149.png" alt="Court listing for Xavier Worthy has been updated to “dismissed/declined”" />
 <figcaption>Court listing for Xavier Worthy has been updated to “dismissed/declined”</figcaption>
 </figure>Charges have been dropped against Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy. The District Attorney refused to file charges in the case.------------WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas —&nbsp; Sheriff's deputies in Texas arrested Kansas City Chiefs standout wide receiver Xavier Worthy on Friday.The 21-year-old was booked into the&nbsp;&nbsp;Williamson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; assaulting a family/house member by impeding their breathing or circulation, according to online jail records.&nbsp;The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741449585493.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Williamson County is just north of Austin where Worthy played college football at the University of Texas.&nbsp; Police have released no additional details on the arrest.The Chiefs selected Worthy with their first pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He scored two touchdowns in the Chiefs'&nbsp;Super Bowl loss&nbsp;to Philadelphia.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Texas DA refused to charge Chiefs star receiver after arrest

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Julie Ryder, Downtown Hays Development Corporation executive director about the upcoming Downtown Hays Market.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="POST PODCAST: Downtown Hays Market" 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=se8vw-182a1ee-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Julie Ryder, Downtown Hays Development Corporation executive director about the upcoming Downtown Hays Market.&nbsp;

🎙 POST PODCAST: Downtown Hays Market

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

United Way of Ellis County's 71st-annual fundraising campaign came up just short of its fundraising goal.

United Way raised about $282,405.62 of its $350,000 goal to fund local programs.

Executive Director Erica Berges said that while they did not meet their internal goal, the total raised reflects the strong commitment of their donors.

"These funds will support 16 different agencies that provide essential services to Ellis County," Berges said. "Our program reaches every demographic in the community, from birth to senior citizens, ensuring everyone has access to the resources they need."

United Way prioritizes Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, Healthy Communities and Community Resilience. It strives to create lasting change by tackling the root causes of social issues rather than just addressing their symptoms.

Partner agencies are carefully selected through the Care Council, which will be announced soon.

Although the campaign goal was not met, United Way strengthened its reserves through unexpected legacy gifts, allowing it to maintain allocation levels.

Berges said this year's campaign total is lower than last year's, an expected decline due to factors like economic uncertainty, increased competition for donor support and shifting giving patterns.

"Now more than ever, if you are able to contribute, it will make a great difference in helping our community thrive. Your support can help us continue to provide essential services and build a stronger, more resilient community," Berges said.

United Way accepts donations outside of its annual campaign efforts.&nbsp;You can donate by cash or check at the United Way office at 1200 Main St., Suite 102, or <a href="http://www.liveunited.us">online</a>.

You can give a one-time gift, a monthly gift or a roundup option.&nbsp;

United Way Board President Jaden Richardson said the organization's start to 2025 has been exciting, with the success of its Dueling Pianos event on Feb. 8.

"In the new year, we are reflecting on past accomplishments while keeping an open mind to new ideas that can grow the campaign and the fundraising efforts for our partner agencies," Richardson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687976834535.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostUnited Way of Ellis County's 71st-annual fundraising campaign came up just short of its fundraising goal.United Way raised about $282,405.62 of its $350,000 goal to fund local programs.Executive Director Erica Berges said that while they did not meet their internal goal, the total raised reflects the strong commitment of their donors."These funds will support 16 different agencies that provide essential services to Ellis County," Berges said. "Our program reaches every demographic in the community, from birth to senior citizens, ensuring everyone has access to the resources they need."United Way prioritizes Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, Healthy Communities and Community Resilience. It strives to create lasting change by tackling the root causes of social issues rather than just addressing their symptoms.Partner agencies are carefully selected through the Care Council, which will be announced soon.Although the campaign goal was not met, United Way strengthened its reserves through unexpected legacy gifts, allowing it to maintain allocation levels.Berges said this year's campaign total is lower than last year's, an expected decline due to factors like economic uncertainty, increased competition for donor support and shifting giving patterns."Now more than ever, if you are able to contribute, it will make a great difference in helping our community thrive. Your support can help us continue to provide essential services and build a stronger, more resilient community," Berges said.United Way accepts donations outside of its annual campaign efforts.&nbsp;You can donate by cash or check at the United Way office at 1200 Main St., Suite 102, or <a href="http://www.liveunited.us">online</a>.You can give a one-time gift, a monthly gift or a roundup option.&nbsp;United Way Board President Jaden Richardson said the organization's start to 2025 has been exciting, with the success of its Dueling Pianos event on Feb. 8."In the new year, we are reflecting on past accomplishments while keeping an open mind to new ideas that can grow the campaign and the fundraising efforts for our partner agencies," Richardson said.

United Way of Ellis county falls short of fundraising campaign goal

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post

HAYS - Hays High and Hutchinson battled on Friday evening for a spot in the 5A State Basketball Tournament. The Indians trailed early then went on a big run and never looked back and won 56-17.

Hutchinson scored the first four points of the game. It took the Indians nearly three minutes to put anything on their side of the scoreboard. Katie Linenberger hit a pair of free throws and opened the flood gates.

Hays held the Salthawks scoreless for the remainder of the quarter for an 8-2 lead after the first eight minutes. The second quarter belonged to the Indians. Linenberger scored the first six points of the frame forcing a Hutchinson timeout.

The Salthawks scored out of the time out for their only points of the second quarter. Molly Buckles scored the final two points of the quarter right before the buzzer to polish off a 13-0 run and a 27-6 halftime lead.

Hutchinson scored the first three points out of the locker room. Hays responded with a 22-5 run for the remainder of the quarter. Molly Martin and Jenna Schmeidler scored 21 of the 22 points in the second for a 49-13 lead through three quarters.

Once again the fourth quarter was a running clock. Hays still outscored Hutchinson 7-4 for the 56-17 victory.

The 17 points scored by Hutchinson is the eleventh time the Indians have held an opponent to 29 or less points. It is the twelfth game an opponent had single digit made field goals in a game against Hays. Zoe Winter and Molly Buckles combined for 18 rebounds which was three more than Htuchinson had as a team.

Hays (22-0) sets a school record for wins in a season. The teams to beat Hutchinson (15-7) are a combined 132-6.&nbsp;

The Indians reach the state tournament for the first time since 1996.&nbsp;

Jenna Schmeidler 15; Annie Humphrey 0; Katie Linenberger 10; Molly Martin 16; Kenlee Winter 0; Morgan Armbruster 0; Jaysa Roa 0; Kinslee Newell 0; Riley Dreher 0; Molly Buckles 6; Zoe Winter 9; Liz Cunningham 0.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741405959148.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays PostHAYS - Hays High and Hutchinson battled on Friday evening for a spot in the 5A State Basketball Tournament. The Indians trailed early then went on a big run and never looked back and won 56-17.Hutchinson scored the first four points of the game. It took the Indians nearly three minutes to put anything on their side of the scoreboard. Katie Linenberger hit a pair of free throws and opened the flood gates.Hays held the Salthawks scoreless for the remainder of the quarter for an 8-2 lead after the first eight minutes. The second quarter belonged to the Indians. Linenberger scored the first six points of the frame forcing a Hutchinson timeout.The Salthawks scored out of the time out for their only points of the second quarter. Molly Buckles scored the final two points of the quarter right before the buzzer to polish off a 13-0 run and a 27-6 halftime lead.Highlights<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2049360884&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/hhs-wbkb-highlights-v-1" title="HHS WBKB Highlights v Hutchinson Mar 7, 2025" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">HHS WBKB Highlights v Hutchinson Mar 7, 2025</a></div></div>Hutchinson scored the first three points out of the locker room. Hays responded with a 22-5 run for the remainder of the quarter. Molly Martin and Jenna Schmeidler scored 21 of the 22 points in the second for a 49-13 lead through three quarters.Once again the fourth quarter was a running clock. Hays still outscored Hutchinson 7-4 for the 56-17 victory.Coach Len Melvin<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2049360752&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/len-melvin-post-v-hutchinson" title="Len Melvin Post v Hutchinson Mar 7, 2025" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Len Melvin Post v Hutchinson Mar 7, 2025</a></div></div>The 17 points scored by Hutchinson is the eleventh time the Indians have held an opponent to 29 or less points. It is the twelfth game an opponent had single digit made field goals in a game against Hays. Zoe Winter and Molly Buckles combined for 18 rebounds which was three more than Htuchinson had as a team.Hays (22-0) sets a school record for wins in a season. The teams to beat Hutchinson (15-7) are a combined 132-6.&nbsp;The Indians reach the state tournament for the first time since 1996.&nbsp;Jenna Schmeidler 15; Annie Humphrey 0; Katie Linenberger 10; Molly Martin 16; Kenlee Winter 0; Morgan Armbruster 0; Jaysa Roa 0; Kinslee Newell 0; Riley Dreher 0; Molly Buckles 6; Zoe Winter 9; Liz Cunningham 0.

🏀 Hays High girls end 29 year drought, state tourney bound

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/devi-shastri">DEVI SHASTRI</a> Associated Press

An adult who was infected with measles has died in New Mexico, state health officials announced Thursday, though the virus has not been confirmed as the cause.

The person who died was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care, a state health department spokesperson said in a statement. The person’s exact age and other details were not immediately released.

The person was from Lea County, just across the state line from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the West Texas</a>&nbsp;region where 159 measles cases have been identified and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">a school-age child died last week</a>. New Mexico health officials have not linked the outbreak there to the Texas cases.

The person is the 10th in Lea County to have a confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles infection</a>. Seven were unvaccinated. The vaccination status of the other three is unknown. Six of the cases are in adults and the rest are in children younger than 17.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that they were sending a team to Texas to help local public health officials respond to the outbreak, which began in late January.

Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html" target="_blank">according to the CDC</a>.

he measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years.

“We don’t want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, the deputy state epidemiologist. “The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740584009532.png" alt="A sign warning of measles is posted on a glass door as a patient checks in for an appointment in the family medicine wing of at the Texas Tech Physicians of the Permian Basin Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Odessa, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)" />
 <figcaption>A sign warning of measles is posted on a glass door as a patient checks in for an appointment in the family medicine wing of at the Texas Tech Physicians of the Permian Basin Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Odessa, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/devi-shastri">DEVI SHASTRI</a> Associated PressAn adult who was infected with measles has died in New Mexico, state health officials announced Thursday, though the virus has not been confirmed as the cause.The person who died was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care, a state health department spokesperson said in a statement. The person’s exact age and other details were not immediately released.The person was from Lea County, just across the state line from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the West Texas</a>&nbsp;region where 159 measles cases have been identified and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">a school-age child died last week</a>. New Mexico health officials have not linked the outbreak there to the Texas cases.The person is the 10th in Lea County to have a confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles infection</a>. Seven were unvaccinated. The vaccination status of the other three is unknown. Six of the cases are in adults and the rest are in children younger than 17.On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that they were sending a team to Texas to help local public health officials respond to the outbreak, which began in late January.Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html" target="_blank">according to the CDC</a>.he measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years.“We don’t want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, the deputy state epidemiologist. “The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease.”

2nd suspected measles death reported in US outbreak

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The lunch rush in downtown Topeka’s restaurants and cafés hasn’t been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Seth Wagoner, an investment executive.

Thousands of state employees who once worked in office buildings in Kansas’ capital and frequented downtown businesses for lunch and happy hour now work from home all or part of the time. They could be called back to the office under proposed legislation.

At a Thursday hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, legislators considered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb256/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 256</a>, or the “back to work act.” Wagoner, the CEO of private equity firm AIM Strategies, said in testimony that at some lunch hotspots in downtown Topeka, business is still down by 10% from pre-pandemic times, accounting for inflation.

He was the one proponent to speak, and five state employees, testifying as private citizens, spoke against the bill.

One employee, Frances Dewell, who works in the protection report center within Kansas Department for Children and Families, which fields calls related to suspected abuse and neglect, said mandating state workers back to the office full time risks losing at least a quarter of their staff.

“Yes, state workers could return to a pre-COVID office setting,” Dewell said. “However, the changes that have developed over the last five years have compelled us to evolve.”

A virtual work culture has developed in her workplace and allowed prioritization of employee growth and well-being, she said.

A 2023 report from the Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit examining 81 state executive branch agencies found that 30% of state workers work from home all or part of the time.

Of the state’s roughly 18,000 employees, the estimated 5,500 who work remotely under a telework agreement, the state’s official term for working from home full-time or on a hybrid schedule involving remote and in-office work, would be required to return to office buildings full-time with some exceptions. Agency heads would be allowed to offer exemptions to employees with atypical work hours, positions that don’t reasonably require in-office work and if office space constraints would mean added costs to accommodate a return to work mandate.

In smaller agencies that have around 100 employees or fewer, most or all of them telework, according to the data from spring 2023. That includes the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Sentencing Commission, the state board of optometry examiners and the board of mortuary arts. It also includes the Kansas Board of Regents, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Office of the State Bank Commissioner.

In the largest agencies, the popularity of remote work varies. In the Kansas Department for Children and Families, 85% of employees engaged in some form of remote work as of April 2023. At the Kansas Department of Transportation, which employed more than 2,100 people at the same time, around 14% had telework agreements. More than half of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s roughly 1,500 employees worked remotely.

“Telework is viewed as a benefit by many state employees,” said Adam Proffitt, speaking on behalf of the Department of Administration, which includes Gov. Laura Kelly’s office.

Proffitt, who shared that he often works from home one day a week usually when the Legislature is not in session, told legislators that the state offers a template for agencies that dictates the roles eligible for telework and the number of days employees can work remotely. He said telework can be a tool to attract and retain employees, and “can actually expand our radius of talent,” by hiring employees who don’t live in Topeka or cannot commute.

The department of administration will be required under the bill to create a report for the government efficiency committee listing state agencies granting exceptions to the mandate, the number of exceptions granted, the job descriptions or titles associated with each exception, the number and costs of buildings leased by each agency and the number of state employees assigned to a physical office space but working remotely.

However, concerns for state employees with disabilities arose in the Thursday hearing because of the job description or title reporting requirement. Employees with disabilities could be identifiable in smaller agencies, a violation of legal protections including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Martha Gabehart, the executive director of the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns, said in written testimony that the mandate would be out of sync with Kansas’ reputation as a model employer for people with disabilities.

“By creating a policy that would, if not implemented correctly, violate the rights of employees with disabilities, we would no longer be considered a model employer,” she said.

A back to work mandate would be costly to the state, according to a fiscal note attached to the bill. The health department estimates the change would cost the state a combined $1.3 million over the next two fiscal years. More than 160 of the department’s employees are fully remote, and office space for them does not currently exist. Several other agencies noted increased costs associated with finding new office space for returning employees and the possibility of employees resigning if the back to work act is implemented. Agencies including the Department of Corrections noted no or minimal cost increases because the majority of their employees have returned to in-person work.

The bill is awaiting final approval in the Senate committee and has yet to be introduced in the House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741373059207.png" alt="Adam Proffitt, Secretary of the Department of Administration and the state budget director, addressing Kansas legislators on Jan. 16, 2025. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Adam Proffitt, Secretary of the Department of Administration and the state budget director, addressing Kansas legislators on Jan. 16, 2025. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The lunch rush in downtown Topeka’s restaurants and cafés hasn’t been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Seth Wagoner, an investment executive.Thousands of state employees who once worked in office buildings in Kansas’ capital and frequented downtown businesses for lunch and happy hour now work from home all or part of the time. They could be called back to the office under proposed legislation.At a Thursday hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, legislators considered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb256/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 256</a>, or the “back to work act.” Wagoner, the CEO of private equity firm AIM Strategies, said in testimony that at some lunch hotspots in downtown Topeka, business is still down by 10% from pre-pandemic times, accounting for inflation.He was the one proponent to speak, and five state employees, testifying as private citizens, spoke against the bill.One employee, Frances Dewell, who works in the protection report center within Kansas Department for Children and Families, which fields calls related to suspected abuse and neglect, said mandating state workers back to the office full time risks losing at least a quarter of their staff.“Yes, state workers could return to a pre-COVID office setting,” Dewell said. “However, the changes that have developed over the last five years have compelled us to evolve.”A virtual work culture has developed in her workplace and allowed prioritization of employee growth and well-being, she said.A 2023 report from the Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit examining 81 state executive branch agencies found that 30% of state workers work from home all or part of the time.Of the state’s roughly 18,000 employees, the estimated 5,500 who work remotely under a telework agreement, the state’s official term for working from home full-time or on a hybrid schedule involving remote and in-office work, would be required to return to office buildings full-time with some exceptions. Agency heads would be allowed to offer exemptions to employees with atypical work hours, positions that don’t reasonably require in-office work and if office space constraints would mean added costs to accommodate a return to work mandate.In smaller agencies that have around 100 employees or fewer, most or all of them telework, according to the data from spring 2023. That includes the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Sentencing Commission, the state board of optometry examiners and the board of mortuary arts. It also includes the Kansas Board of Regents, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Office of the State Bank Commissioner.In the largest agencies, the popularity of remote work varies. In the Kansas Department for Children and Families, 85% of employees engaged in some form of remote work as of April 2023. At the Kansas Department of Transportation, which employed more than 2,100 people at the same time, around 14% had telework agreements. More than half of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s roughly 1,500 employees worked remotely.“Telework is viewed as a benefit by many state employees,” said Adam Proffitt, speaking on behalf of the Department of Administration, which includes Gov. Laura Kelly’s office.Proffitt, who shared that he often works from home one day a week usually when the Legislature is not in session, told legislators that the state offers a template for agencies that dictates the roles eligible for telework and the number of days employees can work remotely. He said telework can be a tool to attract and retain employees, and “can actually expand our radius of talent,” by hiring employees who don’t live in Topeka or cannot commute.The department of administration will be required under the bill to create a report for the government efficiency committee listing state agencies granting exceptions to the mandate, the number of exceptions granted, the job descriptions or titles associated with each exception, the number and costs of buildings leased by each agency and the number of state employees assigned to a physical office space but working remotely.However, concerns for state employees with disabilities arose in the Thursday hearing because of the job description or title reporting requirement. Employees with disabilities could be identifiable in smaller agencies, a violation of legal protections including the Americans with Disabilities Act.Martha Gabehart, the executive director of the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns, said in written testimony that the mandate would be out of sync with Kansas’ reputation as a model employer for people with disabilities.“By creating a policy that would, if not implemented correctly, violate the rights of employees with disabilities, we would no longer be considered a model employer,” she said.A back to work mandate would be costly to the state, according to a fiscal note attached to the bill. The health department estimates the change would cost the state a combined $1.3 million over the next two fiscal years. More than 160 of the department’s employees are fully remote, and office space for them does not currently exist. Several other agencies noted increased costs associated with finding new office space for returning employees and the possibility of employees resigning if the back to work act is implemented. Agencies including the Department of Corrections noted no or minimal cost increases because the majority of their employees have returned to in-person work.The bill is awaiting final approval in the Senate committee and has yet to be introduced in the House.

Kansas ‘back to work act’ would force state employees to return to offices

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays Post

In a weird twist in the draw of the seedings, both the Fort Hays State University men’s and women’s teams ended up playing the University of Central Missouri in this year’s quarterfinals of the MIAA Basketball Championships.

Some Tiger fans glanced at each other and chuckled when it was announced that the UCM dancers would be performing during a break in the women’s game Thursday night.

“And here from Central Missouri are the Mule Kickers,” came the announcement over the PA system.

It was the Tigers who actually did the kicking on this day, assuring the teams and their large following they would be enjoying the sites of Kansas City until at least Saturday.

While the Tiger men and women have turned in several exciting doubleheaders this season, fans were treated to a doozy on Thursday in historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.

In their first game, the FHSU men led by as many as 26 points in the first half but had to withstand a furious second-half comeback by the Mules to hold on for the win.

A long MIAA banner stretched down the length of the seats is the only thing separating fans from opposing teams sitting behind their teams’ benches.

As the Mules made basket after basket in their comeback and got to within three points late in the game, players from the UCM women’s team were part of the loud cheering section in the crowd.

The Jennies (the UCM women’s mascot) started jawing back and forth with a young man just a few seats away in the Tiger section.

In the end, it was the Tiger fan who got in the last jab as FHSU pulled out the 67-61 victory.

Tiger faithful wondered if the Jennies might have worn themselves out cheering for their men’s team. A few hours later, the UCM women fell to FHSU, 90-74.

Fort Hays State showed Central Missouri – and other MIAA teams – it’s here to stay as a conference stalwart after sophomore Telexa Weeter’s 35-point, 11-rebound performance in the women’s game.

It was uplifting to see how many Fort Hays State students get to take part in the MIAA Championships.

There was Garrett Wellbrock sitting courtside with Pittsburg State student Nick Butler, dressed in shirts, ties and suit jackets announcing the game alongside professional announcers.

Students from the video production programs at MIAA members FHSU, Central Missouri and Pittsburg State are streaming the tournament games for the MIAA Network this week.

Just a few seats down from Garrett was his dad, Gerard Wellbrock, longtime Voice of the Tigers for Eagle Radio in Hays.

Most fans who learned of the father-son connection surely were in unison while thinking, “How cool is that?”

Besides the players and their team managers, there was the pep band, the cheerleaders and the Tiger Debs dance team.

The university mascot, Victor E. Tiger, is always a crowd favorite.

And student workers from the Tigers’ athletic department were helping out FHSU Assistant Athletic Director Matt Cook, chair of the MIAA Basketball Tournament Committee.

“This is great for our students to have them around all our alumni and networking with other professionals as well,” said Curtis Hammeke, FHSU’s athletic director. “The tournament is a great platform that is beneficial for our students in a lot of ways.”

The 2025 tournament is a nostalgic one for Hammeke, who is retiring in June after 21 years as the Tiger athletic director. Hammeke, an FHSU graduate, also served as the Tigers’ baseball coach for several years.

Bill and Sandi Hubbard from Lawrence traveled east to Kansas City to watch their daughter, Sally, play in the Tiger pep band.

“That’s awesome that you’re from Lawrence (home of KU) and your daughter came out west to college Fort Hays,” a Tiger fan told the Hubbards as they stood in line for prime seats.

Yes, people stand in line in the hallway – some for as long as an hour – to nab their favorite seat behind the Tiger bench.

“We gave our kids the privilege to say they paid for their own college education,” Sandi said with a smile, mentioning the affordability and numerous scholarship opportunities at Fort Hays State.

“We’re here to cheer on the band and want the Tigers to keep winning,” Bill added. “The more they win, the more we get to watch our daughter in the band. ”

Rest assured, other FHSU supporters have the same wish.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741372591527.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke gets a hug from FHSU President Tisa Mason Thursday at the MIAA Basketball Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Hammeke, recognized for his 21 years of service before retiring this summer, was joined a midcourt by his wife, Annette. Photo by Ryan Prickett, FHSU Sports Information" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke gets a hug from FHSU President Tisa Mason Thursday at the MIAA Basketball Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Hammeke, recognized for his 21 years of service before retiring this summer, was joined a midcourt by his wife, Annette. Photo by Ryan Prickett, FHSU Sports Information</figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays PostIn a weird twist in the draw of the seedings, both the Fort Hays State University men’s and women’s teams ended up playing the University of Central Missouri in this year’s quarterfinals of the MIAA Basketball Championships.Some Tiger fans glanced at each other and chuckled when it was announced that the UCM dancers would be performing during a break in the women’s game Thursday night.“And here from Central Missouri are the Mule Kickers,” came the announcement over the PA system.It was the Tigers who actually did the kicking on this day, assuring the teams and their large following they would be enjoying the sites of Kansas City until at least Saturday.While the Tiger men and women have turned in several exciting doubleheaders this season, fans were treated to a doozy on Thursday in historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741372803583.jpeg" alt="As usual, the black and gold of Fort Hays State stood out in the stands in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium Thursday as many Tiger fans showed up to support their teams. Photo by Ryan Prickett, FHSU Sports Information" />
 <figcaption>As usual, the black and gold of Fort Hays State stood out in the stands in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium Thursday as many Tiger fans showed up to support their teams. Photo by Ryan Prickett, FHSU Sports Information</figcaption>
 </figure>In their first game, the FHSU men led by as many as 26 points in the first half but had to withstand a furious second-half comeback by the Mules to hold on for the win.A long MIAA banner stretched down the length of the seats is the only thing separating fans from opposing teams sitting behind their teams’ benches.As the Mules made basket after basket in their comeback and got to within three points late in the game, players from the UCM women’s team were part of the loud cheering section in the crowd.The Jennies (the UCM women’s mascot) started jawing back and forth with a young man just a few seats away in the Tiger section.In the end, it was the Tiger fan who got in the last jab as FHSU pulled out the 67-61 victory.Tiger faithful wondered if the Jennies might have worn themselves out cheering for their men’s team. A few hours later, the UCM women fell to FHSU, 90-74.Fort Hays State showed Central Missouri – and other MIAA teams – it’s here to stay as a conference stalwart after sophomore Telexa Weeter’s 35-point, 11-rebound performance in the women’s game.<h2>FHSU student participation</h2>It was uplifting to see how many Fort Hays State students get to take part in the MIAA Championships.There was Garrett Wellbrock sitting courtside with Pittsburg State student Nick Butler, dressed in shirts, ties and suit jackets announcing the game alongside professional announcers.Students from the video production programs at MIAA members FHSU, Central Missouri and Pittsburg State are streaming the tournament games for the MIAA Network this week.Just a few seats down from Garrett was his dad, Gerard Wellbrock, longtime Voice of the Tigers for Eagle Radio in Hays.Most fans who learned of the father-son connection surely were in unison while thinking, “How cool is that?”Besides the players and their team managers, there was the pep band, the cheerleaders and the Tiger Debs dance team.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741372842515.jpeg" alt="The Tiger Debs dance team is just one group of Fort Hays State University students participating in the 2025 MIAA Basketball Championships this week in Kansas City, Mo. Photo by Ryan Prickett, FHSU Sports Information" />
 <figcaption>The Tiger Debs dance team is just one group of Fort Hays State University students participating in the 2025 MIAA Basketball Championships this week in Kansas City, Mo. Photo by Ryan Prickett, FHSU Sports Information</figcaption>
 </figure>The university mascot, Victor E. Tiger, is always a crowd favorite.And student workers from the Tigers’ athletic department were helping out FHSU Assistant Athletic Director Matt Cook, chair of the MIAA Basketball Tournament Committee.“This is great for our students to have them around all our alumni and networking with other professionals as well,” said Curtis Hammeke, FHSU’s athletic director. “The tournament is a great platform that is beneficial for our students in a lot of ways.”The 2025 tournament is a nostalgic one for Hammeke, who is retiring in June after 21 years as the Tiger athletic director. Hammeke, an FHSU graduate, also served as the Tigers’ baseball coach for several years.Bill and Sandi Hubbard from Lawrence traveled east to Kansas City to watch their daughter, Sally, play in the Tiger pep band.“That’s awesome that you’re from Lawrence (home of KU) and your daughter came out west to college Fort Hays,” a Tiger fan told the Hubbards as they stood in line for prime seats.Yes, people stand in line in the hallway – some for as long as an hour – to nab their favorite seat behind the Tiger bench.“We gave our kids the privilege to say they paid for their own college education,” Sandi said with a smile, mentioning the affordability and numerous scholarship opportunities at Fort Hays State.“We’re here to cheer on the band and want the Tigers to keep winning,” Bill added. “The more they win, the more we get to watch our daughter in the band. ”Rest assured, other FHSU supporters have the same wish.

Musings from MIAA Madness in KC

The City of Salina has spent $538,791 in legal fees related to the ongoing case involving the Cozy Inn, according to Interim City Manager Jacob Wood. The case, which revolves around a dispute regarding artwork on the iconic 103-year-old establishment, has yet to go to trial but has involved multiple legal proceedings.

Wood stated that the city’s legal team, Fairfield and Woods, a Colorado-based law firm specializing in sign and mural-related cases, has been handling the matter.

"There's certainly been lots of court actions," Wood said. "So most recently, we have filed a motion for summary judgment, and then they've [Cozy Inn Inc.]&nbsp; also filed a motion as well, and we're waiting for the court to hear that, and once the court makes a decision, they really have the option to grant all or part of that summary judgment, and depending on the result of that, then it could go to trial."

In 2024, Howard commissioned artwork on the restaurant’s exterior without city approval, sparking a legal dispute over whether it qualified as art or a sign under Salina’s zoning codes. City officials flagged the mural as a sign code violation, stating it far exceeded the allowable size for commercial signage.

Under&nbsp;<a href="https://library.municode.com/ks/salina/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH42ZORE_ARTXSI">Salina’s commercial sign regulations</a>, businesses are allotted a specific amount of signage space based on their building frontage. In the C-4 commercial district, where the Cozy Inn is located, businesses are allowed three square feet of signage per linear foot of street frontage.

The Cozy Inn, with a 20.8-foot frontage, is allowed approximately 63 square feet of signage. The restaurant already uses 52.88 square feet for existing signs, leaving only about 10 square feet available. The new mural, estimated at 528 square feet, exceeds the allotted amount by nearly nine times the legal limit.

Depending on the outcome, the case could either be resolved or proceed to trial in the fall of 2025, tentatively between October and November. Steve Howard, the owner of the iconic burger joint, The Cozy Inn,&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUTWVmLiTQcdKeCuRdHGrhObFtpAmqNqXzpRRwxU4Zb2-2BoEyY03VwQVkWBe6RECH38iYVm0KzdGhLXN0bDZZvwls-3D-MCN_7wBycvMPybCLu9GEHh-2FcwqfbnXzgwmf7GRZSag-2BFX4lUpRt6aeWBQhflJsGWNYaQ8qxX7ipByHIK4v-2FxkDTNjzJ3funygAXOW8VTBoXX1SdPiWInznp49Uq13sycpaAMzqgtbobwD7gTiYtCJZVqF-2Fk9Z0PqkuOgn0ah2l9ofTcwMK5gqFzm7PFE9e2rUiqz1888kcw-2BIMziWPu503DZBedxTC-2FWPU5lVTIlKkx4fKz2zpNjbEVyWS7diBaj6MIiuQz-2FNAambyU5ffDHq3lusQjc6OxiFNHhKTLgeC5avT4SwWXn6nYsH6NKMY2uH-2FPkKSHd6rLKjEounYBz8DSVEk9QJ59001oKM3dc7Gy2E04-3D" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;with the support of the Kansas Justice Institute back in Feb. of 2024 against the City of Salina, Kansas.&nbsp;

While Wood did not have an exact number of hours billed by the legal firm, he noted that retrieving such details would require a formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Salina Post is in the process of submitting a FOIA request and will update this story as new information becomes available.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699905373563.jpeg" alt="Cozy Inn Hamburgers' new mural was put on pause by the City of Salina because restaurant owner, Steve Howard, did not follow procedures set in place by the Salina City Design and Review Board. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Cozy Inn Hamburgers' new mural was put on pause by the City of Salina because restaurant owner, Steve Howard, did not follow procedures set in place by the Salina City Design and Review Board. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostThe City of Salina has spent $538,791 in legal fees related to the ongoing case involving the Cozy Inn, according to Interim City Manager Jacob Wood. The case, which revolves around a dispute regarding artwork on the iconic 103-year-old establishment, has yet to go to trial but has involved multiple legal proceedings.Wood stated that the city’s legal team, Fairfield and Woods, a Colorado-based law firm specializing in sign and mural-related cases, has been handling the matter."There's certainly been lots of court actions," Wood said. "So most recently, we have filed a motion for summary judgment, and then they've [Cozy Inn Inc.]&nbsp; also filed a motion as well, and we're waiting for the court to hear that, and once the court makes a decision, they really have the option to grant all or part of that summary judgment, and depending on the result of that, then it could go to trial."In 2024, Howard commissioned artwork on the restaurant’s exterior without city approval, sparking a legal dispute over whether it qualified as art or a sign under Salina’s zoning codes. City officials flagged the mural as a sign code violation, stating it far exceeded the allowable size for commercial signage.Under&nbsp;<a href="https://library.municode.com/ks/salina/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH42ZORE_ARTXSI">Salina’s commercial sign regulations</a>, businesses are allotted a specific amount of signage space based on their building frontage. In the C-4 commercial district, where the Cozy Inn is located, businesses are allowed three square feet of signage per linear foot of street frontage.The Cozy Inn, with a 20.8-foot frontage, is allowed approximately 63 square feet of signage. The restaurant already uses 52.88 square feet for existing signs, leaving only about 10 square feet available. The new mural, estimated at 528 square feet, exceeds the allotted amount by nearly nine times the legal limit.Depending on the outcome, the case could either be resolved or proceed to trial in the fall of 2025, tentatively between October and November. Steve Howard, the owner of the iconic burger joint, The Cozy Inn,&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUTWVmLiTQcdKeCuRdHGrhObFtpAmqNqXzpRRwxU4Zb2-2BoEyY03VwQVkWBe6RECH38iYVm0KzdGhLXN0bDZZvwls-3D-MCN_7wBycvMPybCLu9GEHh-2FcwqfbnXzgwmf7GRZSag-2BFX4lUpRt6aeWBQhflJsGWNYaQ8qxX7ipByHIK4v-2FxkDTNjzJ3funygAXOW8VTBoXX1SdPiWInznp49Uq13sycpaAMzqgtbobwD7gTiYtCJZVqF-2Fk9Z0PqkuOgn0ah2l9ofTcwMK5gqFzm7PFE9e2rUiqz1888kcw-2BIMziWPu503DZBedxTC-2FWPU5lVTIlKkx4fKz2zpNjbEVyWS7diBaj6MIiuQz-2FNAambyU5ffDHq3lusQjc6OxiFNHhKTLgeC5avT4SwWXn6nYsH6NKMY2uH-2FPkKSHd6rLKjEounYBz8DSVEk9QJ59001oKM3dc7Gy2E04-3D" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;with the support of the Kansas Justice Institute back in Feb. of 2024 against the City of Salina, Kansas.&nbsp;While Wood did not have an exact number of hours billed by the legal firm, he noted that retrieving such details would require a formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.Salina Post is in the process of submitting a FOIA request and will update this story as new information becomes available.&nbsp;

Legal fight over Cozy Inn mural expensive for city of Salina

The Hays Police Department is requesting the public's assistance in locating two suspects involved in a robbery.

At about 12:26 a.m. on March 1, Hays Police responded to a report of possible aggravated battery in the 500 block of West 7th St. in the back alley of Chucks, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.

A Hays man was allegedly accosted at gunpoint by two male suspects and taken to an area between houses, where he was physically assaulted and pistol-whipped.

Scheibler said the man was allegedly stripped of his clothing, except for his underwear, and robbed of his wallet and phone.

Twenty-year-old Roqua James Fleenor of Hays is wanted for alleged aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated battery.

Twenty-six-year-old Isaiah Tai Simpson of Hays is wanted for allegedly aiding and abetting in aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, and interference with law enforcement.

Both suspects should be considered armed and dangerous. Scheibler cautions the public from approaching the suspects.

If the public has any information about the robbery or the suspects' locations, please call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1030 and request to speak to Detective Scott Heimann.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741358029777.jpeg" alt="Wanted suspect Roqua James Fleenor (Hays Police Department believe the right photo is the most accurate of how he looks today)" />
 <figcaption>Wanted suspect Roqua James Fleenor (Hays Police Department believe the right photo is the most accurate of how he looks today)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Hays Police Department is requesting the public's assistance in locating two suspects involved in a robbery.At about 12:26 a.m. on March 1, Hays Police responded to a report of possible aggravated battery in the 500 block of West 7th St. in the back alley of Chucks, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.A Hays man was allegedly accosted at gunpoint by two male suspects and taken to an area between houses, where he was physically assaulted and pistol-whipped.Scheibler said the man was allegedly stripped of his clothing, except for his underwear, and robbed of his wallet and phone.Twenty-year-old Roqua James Fleenor of Hays is wanted for alleged aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated battery.Twenty-six-year-old Isaiah Tai Simpson of Hays is wanted for allegedly aiding and abetting in aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, and interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741357826276.png" alt="Wanted suspect Isaiah Tai Simpson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Wanted suspect Isaiah Tai Simpson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Both suspects should be considered armed and dangerous. Scheibler cautions the public from approaching the suspects.If the public has any information about the robbery or the suspects' locations, please call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1030 and request to speak to Detective Scott Heimann.

Hays police ask for help locating wanted robbery suspects 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement across the state continue to report drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.

On Thursday morning during work and school morning traffic, not on a highway, it was on a city street in Bel Aire between Woodlawn and Rock Road on 53rd St. N., according to Bel Aire Police.

This driver was initially observed on radar traveling at 102 mph in a posted 40 mph zone. The officer locked the speed at 99 mph. The driver was late for school. 

"This is not an excuse to be driving that fast on a city street or any street/highway to begin with. Obey the speed limit and avoid a costly citation, trip to jail, or worse."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741308581388.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement across the state continue to report drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.On Thursday morning during work and school morning traffic, not on a highway, it was on a city street in Bel Aire between Woodlawn and Rock Road on 53rd St. N., according to Bel Aire Police.This driver was initially observed on radar traveling at 102 mph in a posted 40 mph zone. The officer locked the speed at 99 mph. The driver was late for school. "This is not an excuse to be driving that fast on a city street or any street/highway to begin with. Obey the speed limit and avoid a costly citation, trip to jail, or worse."

Police: Kan. driver late for school clocked at 102mph in a 40mph zone

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s not his fault.

Billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;is telling Republican lawmakers that he is not to blame for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/veterans-affairs-cuts-doge-musk-trump-f587a6bc3db6a460e9c357592e165712">firings of thousands of federal workers</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-veterans-fired-1032360fdc6b2fb33d88edaf8f54d5ca">veterans</a>, as pushes to downsize the government. Instead, he said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-cuts-congress-5f2101c129924c9d416437aca05e1e11">private talks this week</a>&nbsp;that those decisions are left to the various federal agencies.

The message from one of President Donald Trump’s most influential advisers came as Republicans publicly support Musk’s work at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-federal-job-cuts-congressional-districts-data-5d79e2a7ef2160166b0bee59dfa4e9e2">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;digging up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste, fraud and abuse</a>, but are privately raising questions as personnel cuts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-science-medicine-research-cancer-funding-university-0ef3fa47694784e47b0ecd51680410ba">ripple through communities across the nation</a>.

“Elon doesn’t fire people,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., after a dinner-time pizza meeting with Musk in the basement of the Capitol.

“He doesn’t have hiring and firing authority,” added Hudson, who leads the House Republicans’ campaign arm. “The president’s empowered him to go uncover this information, that’s it.”

It’s a remarkable shift of emphasis away from the chainsaw-wielding tech entrepreneur whose vast power has made him an admired, revered and deeply feared figure in the second Trump administration.

The Republican president weighed in Thursday after a Cabinet meeting, saying he has instructed department secretaries to work with DOGE but to “be very precise” about which workers will stay or go — using a “‘scalpel’” he said in a social media post “rather than the ‘hatchet.”

“I don’t want to see a big cut where a lot of good people are cut,“ Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump suggested that Cabinet and agency leaders would take the lead, but Musk could push harder down the line.

“If they can cut, it’s better. And if they don’t cut, then Elon will do the cutting.”

He had said in the earlier post that Musk and Cabinet officials will meet every two weeks to advance their cost-cutting goals.

The comments come amid mounting legal disputes over Musk’s attempts to centralize management of the government workforce and bypass the traditional role of Congress to appropriate federal dollars.

For example, the White House’s Office of Personnel Management directed federal agencies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-layoffs-doge-406752da1614755b8fabe9c94e0c71a8">to fire probationary workers</a>, who lack full civil service protection. The scorched-earth approach led to deep cuts that have occasionally been reversed, such as when workers on nuclear weapons programs were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-doge-firings-trump-federal-916e6819104f04f44c345b7dde4904d5">brought back on the job.</a>

A federal judge in San Francisco expressed concerns that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-employees-firings-a85d1aaf1088e050d39dcf7e3664bb9f">layoffs violated the law</a>, leading administration officials to insist that it was individual agencies — not Musk or the Office of Personnel Management — calling the shots.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said Musk told lawmakers that “some of the folks that were the probationary people, he didn’t fire them, they were actually supposedly fired by the agencies —and they messed up.”

Did Musk actually say “they messed up?”

“Well, if they were in fact, you know, critical people, and the agency did the firing, then yeah, they messed up,” Gimenez said. “But not him.”

Musk and his team have burrowed into agencies, accessing sensitive data and rattling career officials with their demands. Top officials, including at the Social Security Administration,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-elon-musk-doge-164c91f8477d5e7833af7f6de4bbde57">abruptly stepped down</a>&nbsp;after refusing to comply with Musk’s team. Tens of thousands of workers accepted an offer to resign early and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-elon-musk-federal-workers-layoffs-d295d4bb2cdd5023c27d9cb03754e81b">more are facing potential layoffs.</a>

“We’re making good progress,” Musk said late Wednesday as he dashed through the halls of the Capitol.

The richest person in the world, Musk is known as a driven, demanding executive who is willing to take bold risks, often with great rewards. His enterprises include the rocket company SpaceX, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and social media platform X, known the world over.

But his perch at DOGE is Musk’s first public foray into the grit of governing. The speed and scale of the cuts, which are being challenged in dozens of court cases, are introducing businessman to the concept of political blowback.

When the topic of the fired federal workers came up during a Senate lunch, Musk deflected blame.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741308398885.png" alt="Musk met with Trump Cabinet secretaries Thursday -Photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Musk met with Trump Cabinet secretaries Thursday -Photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s not his fault.Billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;is telling Republican lawmakers that he is not to blame for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/veterans-affairs-cuts-doge-musk-trump-f587a6bc3db6a460e9c357592e165712">firings of thousands of federal workers</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-veterans-fired-1032360fdc6b2fb33d88edaf8f54d5ca">veterans</a>, as pushes to downsize the government. Instead, he said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-cuts-congress-5f2101c129924c9d416437aca05e1e11">private talks this week</a>&nbsp;that those decisions are left to the various federal agencies.The message from one of President Donald Trump’s most influential advisers came as Republicans publicly support Musk’s work at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-federal-job-cuts-congressional-districts-data-5d79e2a7ef2160166b0bee59dfa4e9e2">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;digging up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste, fraud and abuse</a>, but are privately raising questions as personnel cuts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-science-medicine-research-cancer-funding-university-0ef3fa47694784e47b0ecd51680410ba">ripple through communities across the nation</a>.“Elon doesn’t fire people,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., after a dinner-time pizza meeting with Musk in the basement of the Capitol.“He doesn’t have hiring and firing authority,” added Hudson, who leads the House Republicans’ campaign arm. “The president’s empowered him to go uncover this information, that’s it.”It’s a remarkable shift of emphasis away from the chainsaw-wielding tech entrepreneur whose vast power has made him an admired, revered and deeply feared figure in the second Trump administration.The Republican president weighed in Thursday after a Cabinet meeting, saying he has instructed department secretaries to work with DOGE but to “be very precise” about which workers will stay or go — using a “‘scalpel’” he said in a social media post “rather than the ‘hatchet.”“I don’t want to see a big cut where a lot of good people are cut,“ Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office.Trump suggested that Cabinet and agency leaders would take the lead, but Musk could push harder down the line.“If they can cut, it’s better. And if they don’t cut, then Elon will do the cutting.”He had said in the earlier post that Musk and Cabinet officials will meet every two weeks to advance their cost-cutting goals.The comments come amid mounting legal disputes over Musk’s attempts to centralize management of the government workforce and bypass the traditional role of Congress to appropriate federal dollars.For example, the White House’s Office of Personnel Management directed federal agencies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-layoffs-doge-406752da1614755b8fabe9c94e0c71a8">to fire probationary workers</a>, who lack full civil service protection. The scorched-earth approach led to deep cuts that have occasionally been reversed, such as when workers on nuclear weapons programs were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-doge-firings-trump-federal-916e6819104f04f44c345b7dde4904d5">brought back on the job.</a>A federal judge in San Francisco expressed concerns that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-employees-firings-a85d1aaf1088e050d39dcf7e3664bb9f">layoffs violated the law</a>, leading administration officials to insist that it was individual agencies — not Musk or the Office of Personnel Management — calling the shots.Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said Musk told lawmakers that “some of the folks that were the probationary people, he didn’t fire them, they were actually supposedly fired by the agencies —and they messed up.”Did Musk actually say “they messed up?”“Well, if they were in fact, you know, critical people, and the agency did the firing, then yeah, they messed up,” Gimenez said. “But not him.”Musk and his team have burrowed into agencies, accessing sensitive data and rattling career officials with their demands. Top officials, including at the Social Security Administration,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-elon-musk-doge-164c91f8477d5e7833af7f6de4bbde57">abruptly stepped down</a>&nbsp;after refusing to comply with Musk’s team. Tens of thousands of workers accepted an offer to resign early and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-elon-musk-federal-workers-layoffs-d295d4bb2cdd5023c27d9cb03754e81b">more are facing potential layoffs.</a>“We’re making good progress,” Musk said late Wednesday as he dashed through the halls of the Capitol.The richest person in the world, Musk is known as a driven, demanding executive who is willing to take bold risks, often with great rewards. His enterprises include the rocket company SpaceX, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and social media platform X, known the world over.But his perch at DOGE is Musk’s first public foray into the grit of governing. The speed and scale of the cuts, which are being challenged in dozens of court cases, are introducing businessman to the concept of political blowback.When the topic of the fired federal workers came up during a Senate lunch, Musk deflected blame.“I would say that there was an argument that that’s not coming from DOGE, it’s actually coming from individual agencies,” said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.Another Republican, Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky, said that Musk went so far as to emphasize that not only had DOGE not recommended mass termination of probationary employees, but that he thought some federal agencies were either incompetent or sabotaging the effort. Musk told them he wanted more precise terminations of those not performing.“The point that he was making is that DOGE had not made recommendations for across-the-board cuts of all probationary employees at every agency,” Barr said.“But the agencies had implemented it improperly through either incompetence or in a handful of cases actual malicious efforts to sabotage and create a public relations problem for DOGE.”In fact, scores of fired workers are being recalled back to work across the federal agencies. This week, about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-reinstatements-c1f0b33d677e5a02a4df1210b82ca930">180 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;were being told they could come back, in an email that said: “Read this email immediately.”Musk was invited to Capitol Hill this week by Trump’s allies and party leaders to provide more information to lawmakers facing questions about the DOGE cuts. Many Republicans are being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/town-halls-musk-doge-trump-gop-749d91ea516284057e4c7bcb1615527e">hammered at town halls</a>&nbsp;back home, so much so that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has encouraged them to meet with constituents in other venues.Musk gave his cellphone number to the senators –- though not the members of the House –- and his team is setting up a dedicated phone line the lawmakers can call if they have further questions, complaints or suggestions about his work, and about jobs and agencies that should be spared.Democrats, and their allies in outside advocacy groups, have been highlighting the way the cutbacks will hurt Americans.On Thursday, 141 House Democrats led by Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, urged the OPM to reinstate all the probationary employees who have been unlawfully terminated.“We write in strong opposition to the expansion of the Trump Administration’s efforts to purge nonpartisan civil servants from the federal workforce, specifically recent unlawful mass terminations of employees in probationary status,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter to the office’s acting director, Charles Ezell.“Indiscriminately firing thousands of these employees threatens the future of the nonpartisan federal workforce and our government’s ability to deliver life-saving services to the American people.”House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said that if the White House wants to abolish an entire agency such as the Department of Education, “Bring the bill to Congress. We welcome that fight.”Jeffries added: “We’ll stand on the side of the American people, and they’ll continue to stand on the side of Elon Musk.”