<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DAVE%20COLLINS%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DAVE COLLINS &nbsp;Associated Press</a>

Democratic attorneys general in several states vowed Thursday to file a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from accessing federal payment systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-trump-doge-intelligence-cia-4a4e99c7925b02e014e6e65d2ef9a055">containing Americans' sensitive personal information.</a>

A dozen attorneys general, including New York's Letitia James, said in a statement that they were taking action “in defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on."

“As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law," the statement said. “The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.

Government officials and labor unions have been among those raising concerns about DOGE's involvement with the payment system for the federal government, saying it could lead to security risks or missed payments for programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Also Thursday, a federal judge ordered that two Musk allies have “read only” access to Treasury Department payment systems, but no one else will get access for now, including Musk himself. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by federal workers unions trying to stop the billionaire’s DOGE from following through on what they call a massive privacy invasion.

It was not immediate clear when the Democratic attorneys general will file their lawsuit.

Joining James in the statement were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island and Vermont.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;tapped Musk, the world’s richest man, to shrink the size of the U.S. government.

Democrats have criticized the tech billionaire’s maneuvers, which include the hostile seizure of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-treasury-5e26cc80fcb766981cea56afd57ae759">taxpayer data</a>&nbsp;and the apparent closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-foreign-aid-freeze-trump-peter-marocco-8253d7dda766df89e10390c1645e78aa">government’s leading international humanitarian aid agency</a>.

DOGE recently has gained access to sensitive payment data within the Treasury Department. It came after Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk resigned under pressure after more than 30 years of service. The Washington Post reported that Lebryk resigned after Musk and DOGE requested access to sensitive Treasury data.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738777949415.png" alt="Elon Musk-file photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk-file photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DAVE%20COLLINS%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DAVE COLLINS &nbsp;Associated Press</a>Democratic attorneys general in several states vowed Thursday to file a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from accessing federal payment systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-trump-doge-intelligence-cia-4a4e99c7925b02e014e6e65d2ef9a055">containing Americans' sensitive personal information.</a>A dozen attorneys general, including New York's Letitia James, said in a statement that they were taking action “in defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on."“As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law," the statement said. “The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.Government officials and labor unions have been among those raising concerns about DOGE's involvement with the payment system for the federal government, saying it could lead to security risks or missed payments for programs such as Social Security and Medicare.Also Thursday, a federal judge ordered that two Musk allies have “read only” access to Treasury Department payment systems, but no one else will get access for now, including Musk himself. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by federal workers unions trying to stop the billionaire’s DOGE from following through on what they call a massive privacy invasion.It was not immediate clear when the Democratic attorneys general will file their lawsuit.Joining James in the statement were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island and Vermont.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;tapped Musk, the world’s richest man, to shrink the size of the U.S. government.Democrats have criticized the tech billionaire’s maneuvers, which include the hostile seizure of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-treasury-5e26cc80fcb766981cea56afd57ae759">taxpayer data</a>&nbsp;and the apparent closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-foreign-aid-freeze-trump-peter-marocco-8253d7dda766df89e10390c1645e78aa">government’s leading international humanitarian aid agency</a>.DOGE recently has gained access to sensitive payment data within the Treasury Department. It came after Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk resigned under pressure after more than 30 years of service. The Washington Post reported that Lebryk resigned after Musk and DOGE requested access to sensitive Treasury data.

States to sue over DOGE access to government payment systems, personal data

WASHINGTON (AP) —Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that NTSB officials in a briefing told senators that the helicopter's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) — an aviation surveillance technology that transmits aircraft location and other data to air traffic control and other aircraft — was off.

“The reason for turning it off does not seem justified," Cruz said. "And in this instance, this was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off.”

President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed the deadly collision of a passenger jet and Army helicopter last week on what he called an “obsolete” computer system used by U.S. air traffic controllers.

He vowed to replace it after NTSB officials told members of Congress that advanced surveillance technology available on the helicopter was turned off.

Trump said during an event that “a lot of mistakes happened” on Jan. 29 when an American Airlines flight out of Wichita, Kansas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">collided</a>&nbsp;with an Army helicopter as the plane was about to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fatal-washington-flight-passengers-ca062f03b729c130058d4f74393dfa31">killing all 67 people</a>&nbsp;on board the two aircraft.

NTSB officials also told media outlets that the helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crash-reagan-washington-buttigieg-diversity-biden-ef1e07684bbc845e9e7981c1ae060af2">blamed it on diversity hiring programs</a>. But on Thursday, he blamed the computer system used by the country's air traffic controllers.

During a speech at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-prayer-breakfast-30ff6f55a2e3c7b8643a15e7b158537d">National Prayer Breakfast</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol, Trump said the U.S. spent billions of dollars trying to “renovate an old, broken system” instead of investing in a new one. He said in his private jet, he uses a system from another country when he lands because his pilot says the existing system in the U.S. is obsolete.

“I think what is going to happen is we’re all going to sit down and do a great computerized system for our control towers,” he said.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Elon Musk said in posts on X that Musk's team at the Department of Government Efficiency is going to help rapidly upgrade the nation’s aviation safety system.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been working since the mid-2000s to upgrade the air traffic control system through its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/nextgen">NextGen program</a>.

Federal officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airlines-faa-close-calls-senate-hearing-7309801ccbf64bcecfb0cf58e3e58498">have been raising concerns</a>&nbsp;about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system for years, especially after a series of close calls between planes at U.S. airports. Among the reasons they have cited for staffing shortages are uncompetitive pay, long shifts, intensive training and mandatory retirements.

Trump said that if the nation had a newer system, alarms would have sounded when the Black Hawk helicopter, which was on a training exercise, reached the same altitude as the plane.

But an FAA report after the crash said that the controller did get an alert that the plane and helicopter were converging when they were still more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) apart. The controller responded by asking the helicopter if it had the plane in sight and directed the helicopter to pass behind the plane. The helicopter responded that it did have the plane in sight.

The FAA made it clear Thursday it is going to ensure that helicopters and planes will no longer share the same airspace over the Potomac River.

An early focus of the investigation has been confirming the altitude of the plane and helicopter. The jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325 feet (99 meters), plus or minus 25 feet (7.6 meters).

Data from the airport’s air traffic control system suggests the helicopter was above its 200-foot (61-meter) flight ceiling. The screen the controller was looking at that night showed that based on radar and other data, the helicopter was at 300 feet (91 meters), the NTSB said, noting that the figure would have been rounded to the nearest 100 feet (30 meters).

To get more precise information, investigators need to be able to examine the wreckage of the Black Hawk. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday afternoon that all major components of the helicopter and jet have been removed from the river. Salvage crews will work to remove smaller debris with baskets over the next 10 days before finishing work on Feb. 16.

“We will continue pushing forward in the coming days until we are confident the river is safe for navigation and that elements of evidentiary value are recovered and provided to the appropriate authorities,” the Corps Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera said.

This crash was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground.

There was concern after the crash that Trump's efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">slash the size</a>&nbsp;of the federal workforce could worsen the shortage of air traffic controllers if some of them accepted the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyout-offer-federal-workers-doge-bdb6cd89e383ff1120eeb262904b4060">deferred resignation offers</a>&nbsp;sent to all federal employees last week. But air traffic controllers were told by their union Thursday that certain positions within the Federal Aviation Administration, including theirs, were exempt.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in its email to members that additional positions might be exempt based on the employees’ “national security or public safety responsibilities.” The union had already recommended to its members that they reject the offers, which were extended the day before the midair collision.

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Adriana Gomez Licon and Thomas Beaumont contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738207177867.png" alt="Image of the moment of impact from Kennedy Center web camera" />
 <figcaption>Image of the moment of impact from Kennedy Center web camera</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that NTSB officials in a briefing told senators that the helicopter's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) — an aviation surveillance technology that transmits aircraft location and other data to air traffic control and other aircraft — was off.“The reason for turning it off does not seem justified," Cruz said. "And in this instance, this was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738703092495.png" alt="The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, working with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGMidAtlantic?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USNavy?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Navy</a>&nbsp;Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), began wreckage removal operations on Monday, at the site of the Potomac River Aviation Incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Phoso U.S. Army Corps of Engineers" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, working with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGMidAtlantic?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USNavy?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Navy</a>&nbsp;Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), began wreckage removal operations on Monday, at the site of the Potomac River Aviation Incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Phoso U.S. Army Corps of Engineers</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed the deadly collision of a passenger jet and Army helicopter last week on what he called an “obsolete” computer system used by U.S. air traffic controllers.He vowed to replace it after NTSB officials told members of Congress that advanced surveillance technology available on the helicopter was turned off.Trump said during an event that “a lot of mistakes happened” on Jan. 29 when an American Airlines flight out of Wichita, Kansas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">collided</a>&nbsp;with an Army helicopter as the plane was about to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fatal-washington-flight-passengers-ca062f03b729c130058d4f74393dfa31">killing all 67 people</a>&nbsp;on board the two aircraft.NTSB officials also told media outlets that the helicopter crew was likely wearing night vision goggles.In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crash-reagan-washington-buttigieg-diversity-biden-ef1e07684bbc845e9e7981c1ae060af2">blamed it on diversity hiring programs</a>. But on Thursday, he blamed the computer system used by the country's air traffic controllers.During a speech at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-prayer-breakfast-30ff6f55a2e3c7b8643a15e7b158537d">National Prayer Breakfast</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol, Trump said the U.S. spent billions of dollars trying to “renovate an old, broken system” instead of investing in a new one. He said in his private jet, he uses a system from another country when he lands because his pilot says the existing system in the U.S. is obsolete.“I think what is going to happen is we’re all going to sit down and do a great computerized system for our control towers,” he said.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Elon Musk said in posts on X that Musk's team at the Department of Government Efficiency is going to help rapidly upgrade the nation’s aviation safety system.The Federal Aviation Administration has been working since the mid-2000s to upgrade the air traffic control system through its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/nextgen">NextGen program</a>.Federal officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airlines-faa-close-calls-senate-hearing-7309801ccbf64bcecfb0cf58e3e58498">have been raising concerns</a>&nbsp;about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system for years, especially after a series of close calls between planes at U.S. airports. Among the reasons they have cited for staffing shortages are uncompetitive pay, long shifts, intensive training and mandatory retirements.Trump said that if the nation had a newer system, alarms would have sounded when the Black Hawk helicopter, which was on a training exercise, reached the same altitude as the plane.But an FAA report after the crash said that the controller did get an alert that the plane and helicopter were converging when they were still more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) apart. The controller responded by asking the helicopter if it had the plane in sight and directed the helicopter to pass behind the plane. The helicopter responded that it did have the plane in sight.The FAA made it clear Thursday it is going to ensure that helicopters and planes will no longer share the same airspace over the Potomac River.An early focus of the investigation has been confirming the altitude of the plane and helicopter. The jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325 feet (99 meters), plus or minus 25 feet (7.6 meters).Data from the airport’s air traffic control system suggests the helicopter was above its 200-foot (61-meter) flight ceiling. The screen the controller was looking at that night showed that based on radar and other data, the helicopter was at 300 feet (91 meters), the NTSB said, noting that the figure would have been rounded to the nearest 100 feet (30 meters).To get more precise information, investigators need to be able to examine the wreckage of the Black Hawk. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday afternoon that all major components of the helicopter and jet have been removed from the river. Salvage crews will work to remove smaller debris with baskets over the next 10 days before finishing work on Feb. 16.“We will continue pushing forward in the coming days until we are confident the river is safe for navigation and that elements of evidentiary value are recovered and provided to the appropriate authorities,” the Corps Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera said.This crash was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground.There was concern after the crash that Trump's efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">slash the size</a>&nbsp;of the federal workforce could worsen the shortage of air traffic controllers if some of them accepted the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyout-offer-federal-workers-doge-bdb6cd89e383ff1120eeb262904b4060">deferred resignation offers</a>&nbsp;sent to all federal employees last week. But air traffic controllers were told by their union Thursday that certain positions within the Federal Aviation Administration, including theirs, were exempt.The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in its email to members that additional positions might be exempt based on the employees’ “national security or public safety responsibilities.” The union had already recommended to its members that they reject the offers, which were extended the day before the midair collision.___Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Adriana Gomez Licon and Thomas Beaumont contributed to this report.

Senator: Helicopter in midair crash had a safety system off

LABETTE COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal crash during a police chase have identified the man who died as 52-year-old John H. Jones, according to a statement from the Labette County Sheriff.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, while driving northbound on Wallace Road., a Labette County Deputy observed a tan Ford F-150 run the stop sign at 20000 and Wallace Road. at a high rate of speed, acc

Upon seeing the deputy, the driver later identified as Jones attempted several evasive maneuvers to lose the deputy, including driving through a field. 

 Upon activating the emergency lights, Jones started driving northbound on Wallace Road at speeds over 100 mph. 

The driver ran four motorists off the road and at one point, Jones slammed on their brakes, causing the deputy to sideswipe the suspect’s vehicle. 

Once the deputy went around the suspect’s vehicle, the Jones sped up, attempting to ram the deputy’s vehicle.&nbsp; Jones continued northbound at high speeds on Wallace Road., ignoring the warning signs. The suspect missed the curve at 22097 Wallace Road., then collided with a tree near 22097 Wallace Road

 Emergency medical and Oswego and Neosho fire departments were dispatched to the accident scene. Jones was transported to Labette Health, where he died of his injuries.&nbsp;

Deputies learned that Jones’ was driving while suspended and had arrest warrants issued out of Montgomery County and Neosho County.&nbsp; He also had previous convictions for aggravated burglary, theft, criminal threat obstruction and seven for drug related activity, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

LABETTE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash during a police chase that occurred just before 2p.m. Thursday in Labette County.

According to the Patrol, law enforcement was northbound on Wallace Road one mile south of U.S. 400 in pursuit of a vehicle. 

The the driver of the suspect vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right struck a tree.&nbsp; The KHP released no additional details early Friday.

Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

LABETTE COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal crash during a police chase have identified the man who died as 52-year-old John H. Jones, according to a statement from the Labette County Sheriff.Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, while driving northbound on Wallace Road., a Labette County Deputy observed a tan Ford F-150 run the stop sign at 20000 and Wallace Road. at a high rate of speed, accUpon seeing the deputy, the driver later identified as Jones attempted several evasive maneuvers to lose the deputy, including driving through a field. Upon activating the emergency lights, Jones started driving northbound on Wallace Road at speeds over 100 mph. The driver ran four motorists off the road and at one point, Jones slammed on their brakes, causing the deputy to sideswipe the suspect’s vehicle. Once the deputy went around the suspect’s vehicle, the Jones sped up, attempting to ram the deputy’s vehicle.&nbsp; Jones continued northbound at high speeds on Wallace Road., ignoring the warning signs. The suspect missed the curve at 22097 Wallace Road., then collided with a tree near 22097 Wallace Road Emergency medical and Oswego and Neosho fire departments were dispatched to the accident scene. Jones was transported to Labette Health, where he died of his injuries.&nbsp;Deputies learned that Jones’ was driving while suspended and had arrest warrants issued out of Montgomery County and Neosho County.&nbsp; He also had previous convictions for aggravated burglary, theft, criminal threat obstruction and seven for drug related activity, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.---------------LABETTE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash during a police chase that occurred just before 2p.m. Thursday in Labette County.According to the Patrol, law enforcement was northbound on Wallace Road one mile south of U.S. 400 in pursuit of a vehicle. The the driver of the suspect vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right struck a tree.&nbsp; The KHP released no additional details early Friday.Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP investigating fatal crash during police chase

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Kady Stevens remembers when she first entered Oxford House.

Struggling with alcohol and drugs, she slept outside of a women's Oxford House in Hays the night before she was set to interview to become a member.

At that point, she said meth had taken her life away.

Members of the house who had worked overnight shifts stayed up to give her an interview on a Monday morning. She felt grateful.

Although she had bumps along the way, Stevens will celebrate her fourth year sober on Feb. 27. She is now an alumna helping other women establish a new Oxford House for women in Hays.

This new Oxford House is for women and is the first in Hays to include housing for women with children.

The Midnight Oxford House, on MacArthur Road in Hays, can accommodate eight women and has two rooms for women with children.

The first Oxford House in the country opened in 1975. Hays has six Oxford Houses. Midnight is the second women's house in Hays.

All Oxford House members agree to stay clean, said Stevens, who is an outreach coordinator for the Friends of Recovery Association and is living in the Midnight Oxford House to assist the house getting off the ground.

Members are encouraged to participate in some type of recovery program, which could include programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery or a church-sponsored sobriety program.

Members often go to meetings together, Stevens said. They also celebrate members' sobriety milestones together.

"If someone is getting their 30-day tag or their 60-day tag, we'll try to go as a house and make it a unity event," she said.

Eighty percent of Oxford House members retain long-term sobriety, according to information provided by Oxford House.

Stevens said having stable housing is the bedrock for staying sober.&nbsp;

About 23% of members entering Oxford Houses were staying with family before becoming members, and another 17% were homeless. Only about a third of members were living independently before entering a house, according to Oxford House Inc.

"If you are worrying about where you're going to sleep, that takes a lot of effort and a lot of energy," Stevens said. "If you have a safe place to come home to every day, your focus can be on so many other things—finding a job, working that job, working the program of recovery."

Stevens said when she was in the throes of her addiction, she was living at someone else's house and had no possessions to her name.

"When you are living every day trying to find out where you're going to live, you don't have time to think of anything else," she said. "By providing a safe place for people to come home to and be supported and surrounded by other people doing the same thing, it pushes you in a strong direction of doing better."

Oxford houses are self-governed and self-supported financially.

Stevens said living in an Oxford House helped her in her recovery journey.

"Living in the home helps teach responsibility back into our lives and different things we've lost through addiction like not paying bills or not keeping up on our house—some of those you let go of when you're in addiction," she said.&nbsp;

The house members meet weekly to make rules and vote on issues involving the house. Oxford Houses also have chapter meetings, where the leaders of each area's houses come together.

All of the members in the houses have chores. They pay what they call equal expense shares, which are the expenses of the home divided among the members of the home.

Houses get start-up loans. Those can come from other Oxford Houses or the state association. Those funds are paid back through monthly payments.

Stevens initially struggled with her sobriety and left the house in Hays. After a stint in treatment, she began again at an Oxford House in Topeka. Since her treatment, she has remained clean, and she gives some of the credit for her success to Oxford House.

 She went to a chapter meeting on her first day at the house in Topeka.

"I got involved in fundraising and could just see the sense of purpose that being involved in something like this was doing for other people, and I wanted that too," she said.

In 2021, Stevens moved back to Hays to be closer to family and interviewed and was accepted to live in a women's Oxford house in Hays again.&nbsp;

Stevens said living in an Oxford House provides a sense of community and support.

"You gain a whole family," she said. "I can't even begin to tell you the amount of people I have in my life today because of my involvement in Oxford House all across the state and other states."

She said living in Oxford House helps a person who has struggled with addiction learn to be a good human again and a good member of society.

"Living with other people working toward that same goal helps instill those principles back into your life," Stevens said.

The length of stay in an Oxford House varies. The likelihood of staying sober increases if you stay for at least 18 months, Stevens said.

Stevens' first stay in an Oxford House was in a house that only accepted women, no children. For her to work to regain custody of her children, she had to move out of the house.

"I was only in Oxford House as a member for a year, and then I had to move out. I wish I could have stayed longer," she said.

Stevens said she has found success in her sobriety by continuing to be involved as an alumna.

"I truly think I experienced addiction in the way that I did to be able to do what I do today and be a voice and show people that you can come out of it. Had I not experienced a lot of those things, I don't think I could connect to a lot of people the way that I do," she said. "Who am I if I haven't experienced it also?"

Stevens said she has found a purpose in helping others.

"I really enjoy seeing people come in. They come in so lost and confused. Sometimes, you get that person, and they're at the end of everything. They stick with it, and you can slowly see that light turn back on in their eyes, and that hope comes back," Stevens said.

The Midnight House has openings now.&nbsp;

To apply for any Oxford House online at <a href="http://oxfordvacancies.com">oxfordvacancies.com</a>. You can search by location anywhere in the United States. You can also call houses directly. Contact information is available on the website.

Everyone who enters a house goes through an interview process with the other house members. It takes an 80% approval of the current membership of an individual house to enter that house.

Oxford Houses can accept monetary donations, which go toward the operation of the houses.  Furniture is accepted when new houses open.

You can learn more about donating to a house by calling that house. You can find contact information on the Oxford House website listed above.

Stevens said the Hays Oxford House chapter plans to open a new men's house by the end of March.

Most of the furnishings for the Midnight house were donated. The house received so many donations that some are being stored for the next house.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738862920831.jpeg" alt="The latest Oxford House in Hays supports sober living for women and their children. The house is the first of its kind in Hays to allow children. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post." />
 <figcaption>The latest Oxford House in Hays supports sober living for women and their children. The house is the first of its kind in Hays to allow children. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostKady Stevens remembers when she first entered Oxford House.Struggling with alcohol and drugs, she slept outside of a women's Oxford House in Hays the night before she was set to interview to become a member.At that point, she said meth had taken her life away.Members of the house who had worked overnight shifts stayed up to give her an interview on a Monday morning. She felt grateful.Although she had bumps along the way, Stevens will celebrate her fourth year sober on Feb. 27. She is now an alumna helping other women establish a new Oxford House for women in Hays.This new Oxford House is for women and is the first in Hays to include housing for women with children.The Midnight Oxford House, on MacArthur Road in Hays, can accommodate eight women and has two rooms for women with children.The first Oxford House in the country opened in 1975. Hays has six Oxford Houses. Midnight is the second women's house in Hays.All Oxford House members agree to stay clean, said Stevens, who is an outreach coordinator for the Friends of Recovery Association and is living in the Midnight Oxford House to assist the house getting off the ground.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738863542297.jpeg" alt="Oxford Houses are self-governed and self-supported financially. Members vote on house rules and financial decisions. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Oxford Houses are self-governed and self-supported financially. Members vote on house rules and financial decisions. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Members are encouraged to participate in some type of recovery program, which could include programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery or a church-sponsored sobriety program.Members often go to meetings together, Stevens said. They also celebrate members' sobriety milestones together."If someone is getting their 30-day tag or their 60-day tag, we'll try to go as a house and make it a unity event," she said.Eighty percent of Oxford House members retain long-term sobriety, according to information provided by Oxford House.Stevens said having stable housing is the bedrock for staying sober.&nbsp;About 23% of members entering Oxford Houses were staying with family before becoming members, and another 17% were homeless. Only about a third of members were living independently before entering a house, according to Oxford House Inc."If you are worrying about where you're going to sleep, that takes a lot of effort and a lot of energy," Stevens said. "If you have a safe place to come home to every day, your focus can be on so many other things—finding a job, working that job, working the program of recovery."Stevens said when she was in the throes of her addiction, she was living at someone else's house and had no possessions to her name.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738863587552.jpeg" alt="Oxford Houses provide stable homes for people who are engaging in recovery programs. Women in the Oxford Houses often attend recovery meetings together and celebrate recovery milestones. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Oxford Houses provide stable homes for people who are engaging in recovery programs. Women in the Oxford Houses often attend recovery meetings together and celebrate recovery milestones. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>"When you are living every day trying to find out where you're going to live, you don't have time to think of anything else," she said. "By providing a safe place for people to come home to and be supported and surrounded by other people doing the same thing, it pushes you in a strong direction of doing better."Oxford houses are self-governed and self-supported financially.Stevens said living in an Oxford House helped her in her recovery journey."Living in the home helps teach responsibility back into our lives and different things we've lost through addiction like not paying bills or not keeping up on our house—some of those you let go of when you're in addiction," she said.&nbsp;The house members meet weekly to make rules and vote on issues involving the house. Oxford Houses also have chapter meetings, where the leaders of each area's houses come together.All of the members in the houses have chores. They pay what they call equal expense shares, which are the expenses of the home divided among the members of the home.Houses get start-up loans. Those can come from other Oxford Houses or the state association. Those funds are paid back through monthly payments.Stevens initially struggled with her sobriety and left the house in Hays. After a stint in treatment, she began again at an Oxford House in Topeka. Since her treatment, she has remained clean, and she gives some of the credit for her success to Oxford House. She went to a chapter meeting on her first day at the house in Topeka."I got involved in fundraising and could just see the sense of purpose that being involved in something like this was doing for other people, and I wanted that too," she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738863736251.jpeg" alt="The newly opened Oxford House for women in Hays has openings. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The newly opened Oxford House for women in Hays has openings. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2021, Stevens moved back to Hays to be closer to family and interviewed and was accepted to live in a women's Oxford house in Hays again.&nbsp;Stevens said living in an Oxford House provides a sense of community and support."You gain a whole family," she said. "I can't even begin to tell you the amount of people I have in my life today because of my involvement in Oxford House all across the state and other states."She said living in Oxford House helps a person who has struggled with addiction learn to be a good human again and a good member of society."Living with other people working toward that same goal helps instill those principles back into your life," Stevens said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738864794046.jpeg" alt="Most of the furniture for the new women's Oxford Hosue was donated. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Most of the furniture for the new women's Oxford Hosue was donated. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The length of stay in an Oxford House varies. The likelihood of staying sober increases if you stay for at least 18 months, Stevens said.Stevens' first stay in an Oxford House was in a house that only accepted women, no children. For her to work to regain custody of her children, she had to move out of the house."I was only in Oxford House as a member for a year, and then I had to move out. I wish I could have stayed longer," she said.Stevens said she has found success in her sobriety by continuing to be involved as an alumna."I truly think I experienced addiction in the way that I did to be able to do what I do today and be a voice and show people that you can come out of it. Had I not experienced a lot of those things, I don't think I could connect to a lot of people the way that I do," she said. "Who am I if I haven't experienced it also?"Stevens said she has found a purpose in helping others."I really enjoy seeing people come in. They come in so lost and confused. Sometimes, you get that person, and they're at the end of everything. They stick with it, and you can slowly see that light turn back on in their eyes, and that hope comes back," Stevens said.The Midnight House has openings now.&nbsp;To apply for any Oxford House online at <a href="http://oxfordvacancies.com">oxfordvacancies.com</a>. You can search by location anywhere in the United States. You can also call houses directly. Contact information is available on the website.Everyone who enters a house goes through an interview process with the other house members. It takes an 80% approval of the current membership of an individual house to enter that house.Oxford Houses can accept monetary donations, which go toward the operation of the houses. Furniture is accepted when new houses open.You can learn more about donating to a house by calling that house. You can find contact information on the Oxford House website listed above.Stevens said the Hays Oxford House chapter plans to open a new men's house by the end of March.Most of the furnishings for the Midnight house were donated. The house received so many donations that some are being stored for the next house.

New Oxford House for women provides opportunity for sober living in Hays

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration presented a plan Thursday to dramatically cut staffing worldwide for U.S. aid projects as part of its dismantling of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-trump-musk-leave-notice-rubio-943b4306b96f726703842e5d55c05aea">U.S. Agency for International Development</a>, leaving fewer than 300 workers out of thousands.

Late Thursday, federal workers associations filed suit asking a federal court to stop the shutdown, arguing that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;lacks the authority to shut down an agency enshrined in congressional legislation.

Two current USAID employees and one former senior USAID official told The Associated Press of the administration's plan, presented to remaining senior officials of the agency Thursday. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to a Trump administration order barring USAID staffers from talking to anyone outside their agency.

The plan would leave fewer than 300 staffers on the job out of what are currently 8,000 direct hires and contractors. They, along with an unknown number of 5,000 locally hired international staffers abroad, would run the few life-saving programs that the administration says it intends to keep going for the time being.

It was not immediately clear whether the reduction to 300 would be permanent or temporary, potentially allowing more workers to return after what the Trump administration says is a review of which aid and development programs it wants to resume.

The administration earlier this week gave almost all USAID staffers posted overseas 30 days, starting Friday, to return to the U.S., with the government paying for their travel and moving costs. Workers who choose to stay longer, unless they received a specific hardship waiver, might have to cover their own expenses, a notice on the USAID website said late Thursday.

Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;said during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-panama-canal-gaza-migration-usaid-b148af6bb15da37a8b6e4edf5a873829">a trip to the Dominican Republic</a>&nbsp;on Thursday that the U.S. government will continue providing foreign aid.

“But it is going to be foreign aid that makes sense and is aligned with our national interest,” he told reporters.

The Trump administration and billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://elon%20musk/">Elon Musk</a>, who is running a budget-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, have targeted USAID hardest so far in an unprecedented challenge of the federal government and many of its programs.

Since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, a sweeping funding freeze has shut down most of the agency’s programs worldwide, and almost all of its workers have been placed on administrative leave or furloughed. Musk and Trump have spoken of eliminating USAID as an independent agency and moving surviving programs under the State Department.

Democratic lawmakers and others call the move illegal without congressional approval.

The same argument was made by the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees in their lawsuit, which asks the federal court in Washington to compel the reopening of USAID’s buildings, return its staffers to work and restore funding.

Government officials “failed to acknowledge the catastrophic consequences of their actions, both as they pertain to American workers, the lives of millions around the world, and to US national interests," the suit says.

AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738896794184.jpeg" alt="Democrat members of Congress protest USAID cuts Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Democrat members of Congress protest USAID cuts Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration presented a plan Thursday to dramatically cut staffing worldwide for U.S. aid projects as part of its dismantling of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-trump-musk-leave-notice-rubio-943b4306b96f726703842e5d55c05aea">U.S. Agency for International Development</a>, leaving fewer than 300 workers out of thousands.Late Thursday, federal workers associations filed suit asking a federal court to stop the shutdown, arguing that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;lacks the authority to shut down an agency enshrined in congressional legislation.Two current USAID employees and one former senior USAID official told The Associated Press of the administration's plan, presented to remaining senior officials of the agency Thursday. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to a Trump administration order barring USAID staffers from talking to anyone outside their agency.The plan would leave fewer than 300 staffers on the job out of what are currently 8,000 direct hires and contractors. They, along with an unknown number of 5,000 locally hired international staffers abroad, would run the few life-saving programs that the administration says it intends to keep going for the time being.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/UeyP7NHjAo">pic.twitter.com/UeyP7NHjAo</a>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1887543203953275347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was not immediately clear whether the reduction to 300 would be permanent or temporary, potentially allowing more workers to return after what the Trump administration says is a review of which aid and development programs it wants to resume.The administration earlier this week gave almost all USAID staffers posted overseas 30 days, starting Friday, to return to the U.S., with the government paying for their travel and moving costs. Workers who choose to stay longer, unless they received a specific hardship waiver, might have to cover their own expenses, a notice on the USAID website said late Thursday.Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;said during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-panama-canal-gaza-migration-usaid-b148af6bb15da37a8b6e4edf5a873829">a trip to the Dominican Republic</a>&nbsp;on Thursday that the U.S. government will continue providing foreign aid.“But it is going to be foreign aid that makes sense and is aligned with our national interest,” he told reporters.The Trump administration and billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://elon%20musk/">Elon Musk</a>, who is running a budget-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, have targeted USAID hardest so far in an unprecedented challenge of the federal government and many of its programs.Since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, a sweeping funding freeze has shut down most of the agency’s programs worldwide, and almost all of its workers have been placed on administrative leave or furloughed. Musk and Trump have spoken of eliminating USAID as an independent agency and moving surviving programs under the State Department.Democratic lawmakers and others call the move illegal without congressional approval.The same argument was made by the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees in their lawsuit, which asks the federal court in Washington to compel the reopening of USAID’s buildings, return its staffers to work and restore funding.Government officials “failed to acknowledge the catastrophic consequences of their actions, both as they pertain to American workers, the lives of millions around the world, and to US national interests," the suit says.___AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Trump administration to lay off nearly all USAID staff

Welcome to the 2025 legislative session. It is an honor to represent the citizens of the 40th Kansas Senate District. This will be my nineth year as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and I will continue as the Chairman.

In the past, both the House and Senate worked on the Governor’s budget simultaneously. This session, Ways and Means and the Appropriations committee will not wait on the Governor’s budget; we will work on the legislative budget instead of the Governor’s budget. The budget process will start in the House, which was the process years ago. After the completion of the House bill, the plan is to pass the bill to the Senate on approximately February 13.

This year I will also serve on a new committee, Government Efficiencies, which will focus on outdated government rules, policies, regulations, and ways the state can do better saving tax dollars. 

The Committee of Efficiency has launched a Government Efficiency portal on the Kansas Legislature’s website to receive input from the public. Citizens may also opt to simply send e-mails to kansascogo@senate.ks.gov. The portal, which is a simple form, can be accessed at: <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/">https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansacoge/</a>.

“One of the reasons we created COGE was to receive ideas directly from Kansans on how government can operate more efficiently and effectively. This easy-to-access portal allows the public to submit ideas that the committee can then study and potentially turn into legislation,” said Senate President Masterson.

The annual March for Life Rally was held in Topeka last Wednesday. Hundreds of Kansans marched to the State Capitol, where they were joined by dozens of pro-life legislators. The event highlighted the pro-life legislative successes of the past two years and acknowledged the work ahead for the movement, while mourning the 19,467 lives tragically lost in Kansas to abortion in 2023.

The Do No Harm bill passed the Senate and the House this week and has now gone to the Governor for approval. The Do No Harm will protect children in Kansas from harmful drugs and transgender surgery.

SB35 which would eliminate the 1.5 mill levy for state educational and institutional buildings. The 1.5 mill levy is the only instance in which the state government puts property tax revenue into the state general fund, all other property taxes are local in nature. The money for the impacted buildings would be made up from the state general fund. This is a demand transfer which means it is included in the budget every year. This 1.5 mill elimination will equate to approximately a $75 million reduction in property tax for the state taxpayers. The bill passed the Senate 38-2 and has been passed to the House for consideration.

SB10, which passed 37-3, would exempt an array of residential vehicles from property tax, including motorized bicycle, electric wheelchairs, electric scooters, watercraft, snowmobiles, and trailers. The bill was supported by county appraisers who said it would create efficiencies and lower costs, as often the resources required to assess these vehicles exceeded the revenue collected. School districts impacted by this exemption would automatically receive equivalent revenue from the state general fund. This bill has also been sent to the House for consideration.

My office has several dates available for 6th graders through high school to serve as a page. Working as a page in the Kansas Legislature is an excellent way to learn more about the legislative process. If your child is interested in being a page for my office the following dates are available: February 17, March 3 and March 10.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.

I will try to keep everyone up to date as to what is happening under the dome.

Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the 40th District senator.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644852447177.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Welcome to the 2025 legislative session. It is an honor to represent the citizens of the 40th Kansas Senate District. This will be my nineth year as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and I will continue as the Chairman.In the past, both the House and Senate worked on the Governor’s budget simultaneously. This session, Ways and Means and the Appropriations committee will not wait on the Governor’s budget; we will work on the legislative budget instead of the Governor’s budget. The budget process will start in the House, which was the process years ago. After the completion of the House bill, the plan is to pass the bill to the Senate on approximately February 13.This year I will also serve on a new committee, Government Efficiencies, which will focus on outdated government rules, policies, regulations, and ways the state can do better saving tax dollars. The Committee of Efficiency has launched a Government Efficiency portal on the Kansas Legislature’s website to receive input from the public. Citizens may also opt to simply send e-mails to kansascogo@senate.ks.gov. The portal, which is a simple form, can be accessed at: <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/">https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansacoge/</a>. “One of the reasons we created COGE was to receive ideas directly from Kansans on how government can operate more efficiently and effectively. This easy-to-access portal allows the public to submit ideas that the committee can then study and potentially turn into legislation,” said Senate President Masterson.The annual March for Life Rally was held in Topeka last Wednesday. Hundreds of Kansans marched to the State Capitol, where they were joined by dozens of pro-life legislators. The event highlighted the pro-life legislative successes of the past two years and acknowledged the work ahead for the movement, while mourning the 19,467 lives tragically lost in Kansas to abortion in 2023.The Do No Harm bill passed the Senate and the House this week and has now gone to the Governor for approval. The Do No Harm will protect children in Kansas from harmful drugs and transgender surgery.SB35 which would eliminate the 1.5 mill levy for state educational and institutional buildings. The 1.5 mill levy is the only instance in which the state government puts property tax revenue into the state general fund, all other property taxes are local in nature. The money for the impacted buildings would be made up from the state general fund. This is a demand transfer which means it is included in the budget every year. This 1.5 mill elimination will equate to approximately a $75 million reduction in property tax for the state taxpayers. The bill passed the Senate 38-2 and has been passed to the House for consideration.SB10, which passed 37-3, would exempt an array of residential vehicles from property tax, including motorized bicycle, electric wheelchairs, electric scooters, watercraft, snowmobiles, and trailers. The bill was supported by county appraisers who said it would create efficiencies and lower costs, as often the resources required to assess these vehicles exceeded the revenue collected. School districts impacted by this exemption would automatically receive equivalent revenue from the state general fund. This bill has also been sent to the House for consideration.My office has several dates available for 6th graders through high school to serve as a page. Working as a page in the Kansas Legislature is an excellent way to learn more about the legislative process. If your child is interested in being a page for my office the following dates are available: February 17, March 3 and March 10.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.I will try to keep everyone up to date as to what is happening under the dome.Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the 40th District senator.

BILLINGER: Senate Update, Feb. 3

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

SALINA – The TMP-Marian Monarchs split Thursday night's
final non-league games of the season. The girls earned a 55-45 win over Sacred
Heart, while the boys fell short against the state-ranked Knights 68-53. 

Girls: TMP 55,
Sacred Heart 45 After trailing by four three times in the first quarter, the
TMP-Marian Lady Monarchs outscored Sacred Heart 12-2 over a
four-and-a-half-minute stretch that closed out the first quarter and opened the
second, building a 23-16 lead—a lead they never relinquished on their way to
the victory.

Hannah Rose started the second quarter with a three-pointer
and capped off the run with her second three-pointer of the night on the way to
a career-high 17 points. 

In the third quarter, Sacred Heart closed within five
points, while TMP held onto a 38-35 lead through three quarters.

In the final frame, TMP outscored the Knights by five as
they claimed a 55-45 victory.

Rose led all scorers with 17 points, and Claire Schippers
matched her career-high for a second straight game with 12 points.

BOYS: Sacred Heart 68, TMP 53 After Sacred Heart and TMP went back and forth for the
better part of three quarters, the Knights used a 26-9 run to end the third and
open the fourth quarter on their way to a 68-53 win Thursday.

The second-ranked Knights jumped out to an early 9-4 lead
before TMP closed the game to just one, 9-8, with less than three and a half
minutes left in the first quarter. 

And that would be the theme of the night for TMP. Each time
the Monarchs closed the gap; Sacred Heart answered with a big run and again
controlled the game. 

With less than three minutes left in the first quarter, Sacred
Heart closed the quarter and opened the second quarter on a 15-2 run for a
24-10 lead.

Ty Schmeidler and Jacob Seib combined to score the next 15
points to close out the first half, and then Will Eck added a three-pointer to
open the second half, cutting the Knights' lead to 32-28.

TMP got as close as two with just under six and a half
minutes left in the third quarter but could get no closer. 

Sacred Heart built on its lead, using a 26-9 run to end the
third quarter and into the fourth quarter, on its way to the 68-53 victory.

Ty Schmeilder scored a team—high 19 points for the second
time in three games and Jacob Seib added 12 for TMP.

The Monarchs travel to Smith Center on Friday. 

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostSALINA – The TMP-Marian Monarchs split Thursday night's
final non-league games of the season. The girls earned a 55-45 win over Sacred
Heart, while the boys fell short against the state-ranked Knights 68-53. Girls: TMP 55,
Sacred Heart 45 After trailing by four three times in the first quarter, the
TMP-Marian Lady Monarchs outscored Sacred Heart 12-2 over a
four-and-a-half-minute stretch that closed out the first quarter and opened the
second, building a 23-16 lead—a lead they never relinquished on their way to
the victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2028305444&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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/john-linn-postgame-interview-vs-salina-sacred-heart-feb-6th-25" title="John Linn Postgame Interview Vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">John Linn Postgame Interview Vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)</a></div></div>Hannah Rose started the second quarter with a three-pointer
and capped off the run with her second three-pointer of the night on the way to
a career-high 17 points. The Monarchs led 29-23 at halftime.In the third quarter, Sacred Heart closed within five
points, while TMP held onto a 38-35 lead through three quarters.In the final frame, TMP outscored the Knights by five as
they claimed a 55-45 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2028309412&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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/tmp-wbkb-highlights-vs-salina" title="TMP WBKB Highlights vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP WBKB Highlights vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)</a></div></div>Rose led all scorers with 17 points, and Claire Schippers
matched her career-high for a second straight game with 12 points.BOYS: Sacred Heart 68, TMP 53 After Sacred Heart and TMP went back and forth for the
better part of three quarters, the Knights used a 26-9 run to end the third and
open the fourth quarter on their way to a 68-53 win Thursday.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2028307904&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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/bill-meagher-postgame-2" title="Bill Meagher Postgame Interview vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Bill Meagher Postgame Interview vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)</a></div></div>The second-ranked Knights jumped out to an early 9-4 lead
before TMP closed the game to just one, 9-8, with less than three and a half
minutes left in the first quarter. And that would be the theme of the night for TMP. Each time
the Monarchs closed the gap; Sacred Heart answered with a big run and again
controlled the game. With less than three minutes left in the first quarter, Sacred
Heart closed the quarter and opened the second quarter on a 15-2 run for a
24-10 lead.Ty Schmeidler and Jacob Seib combined to score the next 15
points to close out the first half, and then Will Eck added a three-pointer to
open the second half, cutting the Knights' lead to 32-28.TMP got as close as two with just under six and a half
minutes left in the third quarter but could get no closer. Sacred Heart built on its lead, using a 26-9 run to end the
third quarter and into the fourth quarter, on its way to the 68-53 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2028308800&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=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/tmp-mbkb-highlights-vs-salina" title="TMP MBKB Highlights vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP MBKB Highlights vs Salina Sacred Heart (Feb 6th 25)</a></div></div>Ty Schmeilder scored a team—high 19 points for the second
time in three games and Jacob Seib added 12 for TMP.The Monarchs travel to Smith Center on Friday.

🏀 TMP-Marian girls win 2nd straight; boys fall short against No. 2 Sacred Heart

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Julie Ryder, executive director of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation about upcoming events, and the internship available for the position of downtown market manager.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Downtown Hays February events and activities" 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=sb9gd-17e7454-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, executive director of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation about upcoming events, and the internship available for the position of downtown market manager.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Downtown Hays February events, activities

Wendell Payton, the man accused in fatal fire that killed 32-year-old Kelsey Payton, and a juvenile made his first appearance in Reno County District Court Thursday and was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of aggravated endangering a child, and two counts of interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

Court records show that Payton is alleged to have concealed, destroyed or altered evidence. &nbsp;Records also show that he gave false information when questioned by police. &nbsp;

&nbsp;Just before 3:30a.m.&nbsp; Saturday, crews were dispatched to a fire at a home in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street in Hutchinson with possible people trapped, according to a media release.

First responders&nbsp; located four individuals at the residence. Two of the individuals 32-year-old Kalsey M. Payton and one juvenile female were found deceased. The other two individuals 37-year-old Wendell Payton and one juvenile female, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, and later to Saint Francis in Wichita. The girl&nbsp; was later released from the hospital. Police arrested Payton.

He has a bond modification hearing scheduled for Friday and a waiver status hearing on March 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738764384897.png" alt="Payton -photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Payton -photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch PostWendell Payton, the man accused in fatal fire that killed 32-year-old Kelsey Payton, and a juvenile made his first appearance in Reno County District Court Thursday and was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of aggravated endangering a child, and two counts of interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;Court records show that Payton is alleged to have concealed, destroyed or altered evidence. &nbsp;Records also show that he gave false information when questioned by police. &nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 3:30a.m.&nbsp; Saturday, crews were dispatched to a fire at a home in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street in Hutchinson with possible people trapped, according to a media release.First responders&nbsp; located four individuals at the residence. Two of the individuals 32-year-old Kalsey M. Payton and one juvenile female were found deceased. The other two individuals 37-year-old Wendell Payton and one juvenile female, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, and later to Saint Francis in Wichita. The girl&nbsp; was later released from the hospital. Police arrested Payton.He has a bond modification hearing scheduled for Friday and a waiver status hearing on March 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. man accused in fire that killed woman, child makes court appearance

Thomas More Prep-Marian had an early release today and will be released early Friday at 12:30 p.m. due to illness.

Cafeteria workers are ill, and there are not enough workers available to prepare lunch for students.&nbsp;

The Holy Family Elementary School office also said the school has been dealing with widespread illness, and custodians have been working after school to disinfect classrooms.

Holy Family is not scheduled to have an early release on Friday.

The Center for Health Improvement posted a reminder for members to stay home if they are sick. They also asked members to wipe down equipment and use hand sanitizer.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/13d91040-a39b-4478-b187-38c5ff0ebbf3">HaysMed issued visitor restrictions last week due to increasing cases of influenza. Visitors who are feeling unwell or are younger than the age of 12 have been asked to refrain from visiting.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738871854895.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThomas More Prep-Marian had an early release today and will be released early Friday at 12:30 p.m. due to illness.Cafeteria workers are ill, and there are not enough workers available to prepare lunch for students.&nbsp;The Holy Family Elementary School office also said the school has been dealing with widespread illness, and custodians have been working after school to disinfect classrooms.Holy Family is not scheduled to have an early release on Friday.The Center for Health Improvement posted a reminder for members to stay home if they are sick. They also asked members to wipe down equipment and use hand sanitizer.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/13d91040-a39b-4478-b187-38c5ff0ebbf3">HaysMed issued visitor restrictions last week due to increasing cases of influenza. Visitors who are feeling unwell or are younger than the age of 12 have been asked to refrain from visiting.</a>

TMP sets early release due to illness

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest twist in a chaotic and distressing saga playing out for millions of government employees.

The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline for them to apply for the deferred resignation program. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston directed the administration to extend that deadline until after a court hearing he scheduled for Monday afternoon. O'Toole did not express an opinion on the legality of the program, which is being challenged by several labor unions, and said he would weigh arguments next week.

At the White House, press secretary Karoline Levitt said more than 40,000 federal workers have applied to leave in return for being paid until Sept. 30.

“We encourage federal workers in this city to accept the very generous offer,” she said at about the same time as the judge's ruling came out. "They don’t want to come into the office. If they want to rip the American people off, then they’re welcome to take this buyout and we’ll find highly qualified people” to replace them.

The deferred resignation program was orchestrated by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who is serving as a top adviser to Trump. It is part of the Republican president's goal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">remaking the federal government</a>, weakening what his allies describe as the “deep state” that undermined his first term. Administration officials said they can save taxpayer money by presenting employees with “a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Democrats and unions warn that workers could be stiffed

On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.

“The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” said the message from the Office of Personnel Management, which has been a nexus of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-congress-4e0c025629e8a0c758d13dc916ab4f43">Musk's efforts to downsize the government</a>.

The email said anyone who remains will be expected to be “loyal” and “will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.” Some employees could be reclassified to limit civil service protections as well.

“Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination,” the email said.

Democrats said workers shouldn't accept the deferred resignation program because it wasn't authorized by Congress, raising the risk they won't get paid.

“It’s a scam and not a buyout,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Kelley said he tells workers that “if it was me, I wouldn’t do it.”

An employee at the Department of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said the administration appeared desperate to get people to sign the agreement. However, she said there were too many red flags, such as a clause waiving the right to sue if the government failed to honor its side of the deal.

The deal is ‘exactly what it looks like,’ says Trump official

Trump put Musk, the world's richest man, in charge of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-government-trump-executive-order-1a2fb7235b9d6f178c764cf6c78d3317">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, which is a sweeping initiative to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. The original email offering the deferred resignation program was titled “Fork in the road,” echoing a similar message that Musk sent Twitter employees two years ago after he bought the social media platform.

Trump administration officials have organized question-and-answer sessions with employees as the deadline approaches.

Rachel Oglesby, the chief of staff at the Department of Education who previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, said Trump is trying to reduce the federal workforce.

“I know there’s been a lot of questions out there about whether it’s real and whether it’s a trick,” she said, according to a recording obtained by The Associated Press. “And it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s one of the many tools that he’s using to try to achieve the campaign promise to bring reform to the civil service and changes to D.C.”

The issue was also discussed during a meeting with Department of Agriculture employees, according to another recording obtained by the AP. Marlon Taubenheim, a human resources official, acknowledged that “these are very trying times” and “there’s a lot of stress.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers,” he said.

Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, another agency leader, said employees “probably didn’t have the runway of time that you might have liked to make a life-changing decision.”

For those who remain, she said, "we’ll just keep plugging along.”

Assurances from administration officials have not alleviated concerns across a range of agencies. Some federal workers said they did not trust the validity of the offers, doubting that Trump has the authority to disburse money. Others point to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10bbe40a86774bac9ad1fbd3a936c808">record of stiffing contractors</a>&nbsp;as a New York real estate mogul.

Musk's plans spark demonstrations in Washington

Scattered protests have sprung up outside federal buildings, including on Tuesday at the Office of Personnel Management.

“I’m taking a risk and being bold and trying to get more federal workers to take a risk to speak out," said Dante O’Hara, who said he works for the government. "Because if we don’t, then we’re all going to lose our jobs and they’re going to put all these loyalists or people that will be their shock troops.”

Government jobs have often been considered secure positions, but O’Hara said there’s fear in the workforce. The sense from his colleagues is “I don’t know if I’m going to be here tomorrow because, like, we don’t know what’s going to happen.’”

Dan Smith, a Maryland resident whose father was a research scientist at the Department of Agriculture, said federal workers are “so underappreciated and so taken for granted.”

“It’s one thing to downsize the government. It’s one thing to try to obliterate it," Smith said. "And that’s what’s going on. And that is what is so frightening and disgusting and requires pushback.”

Mary-Jean Burke, a physical therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, said she's worried that too many people will leave, jeopardizing health care services.

Burke, who also serves as a union official, said doubts have also been growing over whether to take the offer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest twist in a chaotic and distressing saga playing out for millions of government employees.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738115904337.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline for them to apply for the deferred resignation program. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston directed the administration to extend that deadline until after a court hearing he scheduled for Monday afternoon. O'Toole did not express an opinion on the legality of the program, which is being challenged by several labor unions, and said he would weigh arguments next week.At the White House, press secretary Karoline Levitt said more than 40,000 federal workers have applied to leave in return for being paid until Sept. 30.“We encourage federal workers in this city to accept the very generous offer,” she said at about the same time as the judge's ruling came out. "They don’t want to come into the office. If they want to rip the American people off, then they’re welcome to take this buyout and we’ll find highly qualified people” to replace them.The deferred resignation program was orchestrated by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who is serving as a top adviser to Trump. It is part of the Republican president's goal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">remaking the federal government</a>, weakening what his allies describe as the “deep state” that undermined his first term. Administration officials said they can save taxpayer money by presenting employees with “a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."<h2>Democrats and unions warn that workers could be stiffed</h2>On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.“The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” said the message from the Office of Personnel Management, which has been a nexus of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-congress-4e0c025629e8a0c758d13dc916ab4f43">Musk's efforts to downsize the government</a>.The email said anyone who remains will be expected to be “loyal” and “will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.” Some employees could be reclassified to limit civil service protections as well.“Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination,” the email said.Democrats said workers shouldn't accept the deferred resignation program because it wasn't authorized by Congress, raising the risk they won't get paid.“It’s a scam and not a buyout,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.Kelley said he tells workers that “if it was me, I wouldn’t do it.”An employee at the Department of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said the administration appeared desperate to get people to sign the agreement. However, she said there were too many red flags, such as a clause waiving the right to sue if the government failed to honor its side of the deal.<h2>The deal is ‘exactly what it looks like,’ says Trump official</h2>Trump put Musk, the world's richest man, in charge of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-government-trump-executive-order-1a2fb7235b9d6f178c764cf6c78d3317">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, which is a sweeping initiative to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. The original email offering the deferred resignation program was titled “Fork in the road,” echoing a similar message that Musk sent Twitter employees two years ago after he bought the social media platform.Trump administration officials have organized question-and-answer sessions with employees as the deadline approaches.Rachel Oglesby, the chief of staff at the Department of Education who previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, said Trump is trying to reduce the federal workforce.“I know there’s been a lot of questions out there about whether it’s real and whether it’s a trick,” she said, according to a recording obtained by The Associated Press. “And it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s one of the many tools that he’s using to try to achieve the campaign promise to bring reform to the civil service and changes to D.C.”The issue was also discussed during a meeting with Department of Agriculture employees, according to another recording obtained by the AP. Marlon Taubenheim, a human resources official, acknowledged that “these are very trying times” and “there’s a lot of stress.”“Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers,” he said.Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, another agency leader, said employees “probably didn’t have the runway of time that you might have liked to make a life-changing decision.”For those who remain, she said, "we’ll just keep plugging along.”Assurances from administration officials have not alleviated concerns across a range of agencies. Some federal workers said they did not trust the validity of the offers, doubting that Trump has the authority to disburse money. Others point to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10bbe40a86774bac9ad1fbd3a936c808">record of stiffing contractors</a>&nbsp;as a New York real estate mogul.<h2>Musk's plans spark demonstrations in Washington</h2>Scattered protests have sprung up outside federal buildings, including on Tuesday at the Office of Personnel Management.“I’m taking a risk and being bold and trying to get more federal workers to take a risk to speak out," said Dante O’Hara, who said he works for the government. "Because if we don’t, then we’re all going to lose our jobs and they’re going to put all these loyalists or people that will be their shock troops.”Government jobs have often been considered secure positions, but O’Hara said there’s fear in the workforce. The sense from his colleagues is “I don’t know if I’m going to be here tomorrow because, like, we don’t know what’s going to happen.’”Dan Smith, a Maryland resident whose father was a research scientist at the Department of Agriculture, said federal workers are “so underappreciated and so taken for granted.”“It’s one thing to downsize the government. It’s one thing to try to obliterate it," Smith said. "And that’s what’s going on. And that is what is so frightening and disgusting and requires pushback.”Mary-Jean Burke, a physical therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, said she's worried that too many people will leave, jeopardizing health care services.Burke, who also serves as a union official, said doubts have also been growing over whether to take the offer.“Originally, I think people were like, ‘I’m out of here,'" she said. But then they saw a social media post from DOGE, which said employees can "take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits.”The message backfired because "that kind of thing sounded a little bit too good to be true and people were hesitant,” Burke said.Either way, she said, Trump has achieved his apparent goal of shaking up the federal workforce.“Every day, it’s something,” Burke said. “If he signed up to be a disrupter, he’s doing it.”___Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Nathan Ellgren, Gary Fields, Joshua Goodman, Will Weissert and Brian Witte contributed to this report.