NEW YORK (AP) — ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos' inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-jean-carroll">E. Jean Carroll.</a>

As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68351681/58/1/trump-v-american-broadcasting-companies-inc/">part of the settlement</a>&nbsp;made public Saturday, ABC News posted an&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nancy-mace-defends-support-trump-after-found-liable/story?id=107964612">editor's note to its website</a>&nbsp;expressing regret over Stephanopoulos' statements during a March 10 segment on his “This Week” program. The network will also pay $1 million in legal fees to the law firm of Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito.

The settlement agreement describes ABC's presidential library payment as a “charitable contribution," with the money earmarked for a non-profit organization that is being established in connection with the yet-to-be built library.

“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing,” ABC News spokesperson Jeannie Kedas said.

The settlement agreement was signed Friday, the same day a Florida federal judge ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit for separate depositions in the case next week. The settlement means that sworn testimony is no longer required.

The agreement bore Trump’s bold, distinct signature and an electronic signature with the initials GRS in a space for Stephanopoulos’ name. Debra OConnell, the president of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, also e-signed the agreement.

ABC News must transfer the $15 million for Trump's library to an escrow account that's being managed by Brito’s law firm within 10 days, according to the agreement. The network must also pay Brito’s legal fees within 10 days.

While sizeable, ABC's contribution to Trump's presidential library will likely cover just a fraction of the cost. Former President Barack Obama's library in Chicago, for example, was estimated to cost $830 million as of 2021.

Trump sued ABC and Stephanopoulos in federal court in Miami days after the network aired the segment, in which the longtime “Good Morning America” anchor and “This Week” host repeatedly misstated the verdicts in Carroll’s two civil lawsuits against Trump.

During a live “This Week” interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Stephanopoulos wrongly claimed that Trump had been “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim of that rape.”

Neither verdict involved a finding of rape as defined under New York law.

In the first of the lawsuits to go to trial, Trump was found liable last year of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. A jury ordered him to pay her $5 million.

In January, at a second trial in federal court in Manhattan, Trump was found liable on additional defamation claims and ordered to pay Carroll $83.3 million.

Carroll, a former advice columnist, went public in a 2019 memoir with her allegation that Trump raped her in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury Manhattan department store across the street from Trump Tower, after they crossed paths at an entrance.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-donald-trump-new-york-lawsuits-fcc5f482a1eb99609376078422665bc8">denied her claim</a>, saying he didn't know Carroll and never ran into her at the store.

After Trump lashed out, calling Carroll a “nut job” who invented “a fraudulent and false story” to sell her memoir, she sued him for unspecified monetary damages and sought a retraction of what she said were Trump’s defamatory denials.

Testifying in April 2023, Carroll told jurors: “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back."

After she'd agreed to help Trump shop for a gift for a woman, Carroll testified that he pushed her against a dressing room wall, stamped his mouth onto hers, yanked down her tights and shoved his hand and then his penis inside her while she struggled against him.

She said she finally kneed him off her and fled.

In upholding the $5 million judgment in the first trial, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote that the unanimous verdict was almost entirely in favor of Carroll, except that the jury concluded she had failed to prove that Trump raped her “within the narrow, technical meaning of a particular section of the New York Penal Law.”

Kaplan, who presided over both of Carroll's lawsuits against Trump, said the definition of rape in the state code was “far narrower” than how rape is defined in common modern parlance, in some dictionaries, in some federal and state criminal statutes and elsewhere.

Under New York law, a rape finding requires vaginal penetration by a penis. Forcible penetration without consent of the vagina or other bodily orifices by fingers or anything else is labeled “sexual abuse.”

The judge said the verdict did not mean that Carroll “failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape.’ Indeed ... the jury found that Mr. Trump in fact did exactly that.”

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734225278879.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos' inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-jean-carroll">E. Jean Carroll.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734226065846.png" alt="President-elect Trump Saturday at the Army Navy game photo courtesy Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Trump Saturday at the Army Navy game photo courtesy Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734226474443.png" alt="Online apology posted on the ABC News web site" />
 <figcaption>Online apology posted on the ABC News web site</figcaption>
 </figure>As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68351681/58/1/trump-v-american-broadcasting-companies-inc/">part of the settlement</a>&nbsp;made public Saturday, ABC News posted an&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nancy-mace-defends-support-trump-after-found-liable/story?id=107964612">editor's note to its website</a>&nbsp;expressing regret over Stephanopoulos' statements during a March 10 segment on his “This Week” program. The network will also pay $1 million in legal fees to the law firm of Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito.The settlement agreement describes ABC's presidential library payment as a “charitable contribution," with the money earmarked for a non-profit organization that is being established in connection with the yet-to-be built library.“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing,” ABC News spokesperson Jeannie Kedas said.A Trump spokesperson declined comment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734225342471.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734225322338.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The settlement agreement was signed Friday, the same day a Florida federal judge ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit for separate depositions in the case next week. The settlement means that sworn testimony is no longer required.The agreement bore Trump’s bold, distinct signature and an electronic signature with the initials GRS in a space for Stephanopoulos’ name. Debra OConnell, the president of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, also e-signed the agreement.ABC News must transfer the $15 million for Trump's library to an escrow account that's being managed by Brito’s law firm within 10 days, according to the agreement. The network must also pay Brito’s legal fees within 10 days.While sizeable, ABC's contribution to Trump's presidential library will likely cover just a fraction of the cost. Former President Barack Obama's library in Chicago, for example, was estimated to cost $830 million as of 2021.Trump sued ABC and Stephanopoulos in federal court in Miami days after the network aired the segment, in which the longtime “Good Morning America” anchor and “This Week” host repeatedly misstated the verdicts in Carroll’s two civil lawsuits against Trump.During a live “This Week” interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Stephanopoulos wrongly claimed that Trump had been “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim of that rape.”Neither verdict involved a finding of rape as defined under New York law.In the first of the lawsuits to go to trial, Trump was found liable last year of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. A jury ordered him to pay her $5 million.In January, at a second trial in federal court in Manhattan, Trump was found liable on additional defamation claims and ordered to pay Carroll $83.3 million.Trump is appealing both verdicts.Carroll, a former advice columnist, went public in a 2019 memoir with her allegation that Trump raped her in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury Manhattan department store across the street from Trump Tower, after they crossed paths at an entrance.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-donald-trump-new-york-lawsuits-fcc5f482a1eb99609376078422665bc8">denied her claim</a>, saying he didn't know Carroll and never ran into her at the store.After Trump lashed out, calling Carroll a “nut job” who invented “a fraudulent and false story” to sell her memoir, she sued him for unspecified monetary damages and sought a retraction of what she said were Trump’s defamatory denials.Testifying in April 2023, Carroll told jurors: “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back."After she'd agreed to help Trump shop for a gift for a woman, Carroll testified that he pushed her against a dressing room wall, stamped his mouth onto hers, yanked down her tights and shoved his hand and then his penis inside her while she struggled against him.She said she finally kneed him off her and fled.In upholding the $5 million judgment in the first trial, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote that the unanimous verdict was almost entirely in favor of Carroll, except that the jury concluded she had failed to prove that Trump raped her “within the narrow, technical meaning of a particular section of the New York Penal Law.”Kaplan, who presided over both of Carroll's lawsuits against Trump, said the definition of rape in the state code was “far narrower” than how rape is defined in common modern parlance, in some dictionaries, in some federal and state criminal statutes and elsewhere.Under New York law, a rape finding requires vaginal penetration by a penis. Forcible penetration without consent of the vagina or other bodily orifices by fingers or anything else is labeled “sexual abuse.”The judge said the verdict did not mean that Carroll “failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape.’ Indeed ... the jury found that Mr. Trump in fact did exactly that.”___Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

Read the apology: ABC News to pay Trump $15 million in defamation suit 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A recent Kansas Association of School Boards study recognized Hays USD 489 as a high-performing district.

Mark Tallman, researcher, gave a presentation last week to the Hays school board on his findings.

The research identified school districts in the state that were outperforming their expected scores on state tests. Some challenges the research considered were the number of students facing poverty and special education students in districts.

Tallman focused on three aspects of the state board of education accreditation standards, including state assessment scores, graduation rate and post-secondary success.

Post-secondary success, as defined by the state board, means the number of students in post-secondary education who have achieved a degree or certificate two years after graduation. It does not count students who enter the workforce directly or join the military.

&nbsp;Ninety percent of jobs are expected to require a high school diploma. Seventy to 75% of jobs are expected to require more than a high school diploma, Tallman said.

On average, salary tends to increase with education. The average salary of a non-high school graduate is $32,838, and the average salary of a person with a bachelor's degree is $58,583.

Education level has an inverse relationship to poverty level. Twenty-four percent of workers without a high school education are in poverty, compared to 4.1% with bachelor's degrees.

States with higher per capita education levels have higher per capita incomes. Kansas currently ranks somewhere in the middle.

Tallman suggested if Kansas could increase its four-year college completion rate from 35 to 39% statewide, incomes would increase by&nbsp;$23.2 billion per year, which would mean about a 4.4% increase in personal income.

He suggested that would result in an increase in income tax revenue for the state.

"At that rate, Kansas schools would receive over $1 billion in additional funding or over $2,100 per unweighted pupil," Tallman said.

"It's easy to say who's best on all of those, but there's a complication," Tallman said. "We know there are significant differences based on factors the school can't control."

Tallman also looked at the percentage of students who received free or reduced-cost lunch and had disabilities.

He also compared districts with similar enrollments. Hays fell into a tier with schools with enrollments of between 1,600 and 10,000 students and was compared with 49 other public schools. Hays has an enrollment of about 3,100 students.

Tallman said the more higher need, low-income, disabled students you have, the worse your results tend to be. He said getting higher results is more difficult if you have more challenging students, but any district can show improvement over time.

&nbsp;Tallman said 11 of the 50 school districts in Hays' tier performed better than expected.

When performance was adjusted for poverty and disability weighting, the Hays district ranked third in its enrollment tier.

&nbsp;Tallman spoke to district leaders to determine what the district staff was doing to achieve success. Despite the districts' differences, he found many similarities. Hays was doing all of the things he highlighted in his report, Tallman said.

"It is not necessary that these districts are doing different things, but they are doing them with a higher degree of commitment," Tallman said.

The successful districts stressed the use of data and accepted the validity of that data.

They did not say their only goal was to raise test scores but said increasing scores was among their goals, Tallman said. The districts dedicated staff and time to analyzing that data and used that information to make decisions.

"If you don't put your work into independent context ... if you aren't looking at how you compare to other districts, how you compare over time, how you compare to state standards, then you don't really know how you're doing based just on yourself," Tallman said.

"If a student is not getting this math concept at this level, then we do something about this student," Tallman said.

The recognized districts also said they were doing more to help students address mental health and personal challenges. Tallman called this "High Love and High Expectations."

He said lowering expectations of at-risk students does not help them.&nbsp;

"Not easier routes, but more routes to success," he said.

Engaging students and their parents was a high priority to the districts that were recognized as high performers. That included career pathways, individual plans of study, clubs and activities, a larger voice for students, engagement with parents and the community, and emphasis on early childhood education.

"If all that we do is stand out there and demand that they learn," Tallman said, "that doesn't work."

Tallman said successful districts credit their local school board for being supportive but balanced oversight with letting educators do their jobs.

Teachers in these districts also said they supported their administrators and felt valued. He said there was a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork.

Because of high morale, these districts tended to be less affected by teacher shortages because they were able to retain teachers, Tallman said.

&nbsp;"I think your district has a lot to be proud of. I think your community has a lot to be proud of," Tallman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608234493687.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA recent Kansas Association of School Boards study recognized Hays USD 489 as a high-performing district.Mark Tallman, researcher, gave a presentation last week to the Hays school board on his findings.The research identified school districts in the state that were outperforming their expected scores on state tests. Some challenges the research considered were the number of students facing poverty and special education students in districts.Tallman focused on three aspects of the state board of education accreditation standards, including state assessment scores, graduation rate and post-secondary success.Post-secondary success, as defined by the state board, means the number of students in post-secondary education who have achieved a degree or certificate two years after graduation. It does not count students who enter the workforce directly or join the military.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734107622937.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Ninety percent of jobs are expected to require a high school diploma. Seventy to 75% of jobs are expected to require more than a high school diploma, Tallman said.On average, salary tends to increase with education. The average salary of a non-high school graduate is $32,838, and the average salary of a person with a bachelor's degree is $58,583.Education level has an inverse relationship to poverty level. Twenty-four percent of workers without a high school education are in poverty, compared to 4.1% with bachelor's degrees.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734107683867.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>States with higher per capita education levels have higher per capita incomes. Kansas currently ranks somewhere in the middle.Tallman suggested if Kansas could increase its four-year college completion rate from 35 to 39% statewide, incomes would increase by&nbsp;$23.2 billion per year, which would mean about a 4.4% increase in personal income.He suggested that would result in an increase in income tax revenue for the state."At that rate, Kansas schools would receive over $1 billion in additional funding or over $2,100 per unweighted pupil," Tallman said."It's easy to say who's best on all of those, but there's a complication," Tallman said. "We know there are significant differences based on factors the school can't control."Tallman also looked at the percentage of students who received free or reduced-cost lunch and had disabilities.He also compared districts with similar enrollments. Hays fell into a tier with schools with enrollments of between 1,600 and 10,000 students and was compared with 49 other public schools. Hays has an enrollment of about 3,100 students.Tallman said the more higher need, low-income, disabled students you have, the worse your results tend to be. He said getting higher results is more difficult if you have more challenging students, but any district can show improvement over time.&nbsp;Tallman said 11 of the 50 school districts in Hays' tier performed better than expected.When performance was adjusted for poverty and disability weighting, the Hays district ranked third in its enrollment tier.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734041476589.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Tallman spoke to district leaders to determine what the district staff was doing to achieve success. Despite the districts' differences, he found many similarities. Hays was doing all of the things he highlighted in his report, Tallman said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734041617024.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"It is not necessary that these districts are doing different things, but they are doing them with a higher degree of commitment," Tallman said.The successful districts stressed the use of data and accepted the validity of that data.They did not say their only goal was to raise test scores but said increasing scores was among their goals, Tallman said. The districts dedicated staff and time to analyzing that data and used that information to make decisions."If you don't put your work into independent context ... if you aren't looking at how you compare to other districts, how you compare over time, how you compare to state standards, then you don't really know how you're doing based just on yourself," Tallman said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734042362557.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"If a student is not getting this math concept at this level, then we do something about this student," Tallman said.The recognized districts also said they were doing more to help students address mental health and personal challenges. Tallman called this "High Love and High Expectations."He said lowering expectations of at-risk students does not help them.&nbsp;"Not easier routes, but more routes to success," he said.Engaging students and their parents was a high priority to the districts that were recognized as high performers. That included career pathways, individual plans of study, clubs and activities, a larger voice for students, engagement with parents and the community, and emphasis on early childhood education."If all that we do is stand out there and demand that they learn," Tallman said, "that doesn't work."Tallman said successful districts credit their local school board for being supportive but balanced oversight with letting educators do their jobs.Teachers in these districts also said they supported their administrators and felt valued. He said there was a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork.Because of high morale, these districts tended to be less affected by teacher shortages because they were able to retain teachers, Tallman said.&nbsp;"I think your district has a lot to be proud of. I think your community has a lot to be proud of," Tallman said.

Hays USD 489 recognized as high performing district in state

By ANDREW RAYO FTC Consumer Education Specialist

During the holidays, adding a dog, cat, or other adorable animal to the family is top of mind for many, and scammers know it. While there are lots of fur babies waiting for their forever home, scammers try to take advantage of the situation by posting fake ads for pets — all designed to take your money and leave you in the doghouse. Here’s what to know.

Scammers are posting ads (particularly for puppies), pretending these precious pooches are for sale. You might see these ads online or on streetcorners — sometimes advertising purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands — pushing you to act fast before they’ve gone to other homes. The scammer hopes the irresistibly cute puppy picture they posted will be enough to draw you in, and they’ll insist you pay for it up front. But if you pay, not only will you never see that puppy (who might not even exist), but you might also never see that money again.

If you’re thinking of getting a furry friend for yourself or a loved one:

If you spot one of these scams, tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734386207352.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ANDREW RAYO FTC Consumer Education SpecialistDuring the holidays, adding a dog, cat, or other adorable animal to the family is top of mind for many, and scammers know it. While there are lots of fur babies waiting for their forever home, scammers try to take advantage of the situation by posting fake ads for pets — all designed to take your money and leave you in the doghouse. Here’s what to know.Scammers are posting ads (particularly for puppies), pretending these precious pooches are for sale. You might see these ads online or on streetcorners — sometimes advertising purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands — pushing you to act fast before they’ve gone to other homes. The scammer hopes the irresistibly cute puppy picture they posted will be enough to draw you in, and they’ll insist you pay for it up front. But if you pay, not only will you never see that puppy (who might not even exist), but you might also never see that money again.If you’re thinking of getting a furry friend for yourself or a loved one:<ul>
 <li>Do some research.&nbsp;Search online for the name of the seller or business and words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See what others are saying.</li><li>Watch how you’re asked to pay.&nbsp;Only scammers say you must pay with&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams">gift cards</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/mobile-payment-apps-how-avoid-scam-when-you-use-one">payment app</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-cryptocurrency-and-scams">cryptocurrency</a>, or a&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-you-wire-money">wire transfer service</a>&nbsp;like Western Union or MoneyGram since it’s hard to get your money back. Find out&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed#Paid">what to do if you sent money to a scammer</a>.</li><li>Consider a local rescue or animal shelter.&nbsp;Animals of all breeds and ages are waiting to be adopted. An online search will point you to them, where you’ll be able to adopt for a small fee.</li>
 </ul>If you spot one of these scams, tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

Getting a pet? Avoid scams

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)— The U.S. embassy in Damascus advised Americans to leave Syria, saying the security situation there continues to be volatile and unpredictable with armed conflict and “terrorism throughout the country."

The embassy, which has been closed since 2012, posted a statement on X, warning U.S. citizens who were unable to leave the country to prepare “contingency plans for emergency situations.” It didn't give further details.

The statement also said that the U.S. government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens and those who need “emergency assistance to depart should contact the U.S. Embassy in the country they plan to enter.”

Sleeper cells of the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for deadly attacks over the past months in different parts of Syria. Despite their defeat in March 2019, the extremists still pose a threat in the war-torn country.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)— The U.S. embassy in Damascus advised Americans to leave Syria, saying the security situation there continues to be volatile and unpredictable with armed conflict and “terrorism throughout the country."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Event: The security situation in Syria continues to be volatile and unpredictable with armed conflict and terrorism throughout the country. U.S. citizens should depart Syria if possible. U.S. citizens who are unable to depart should prepare contingency plans for emergency… <a href="https://t.co/egDW27dmKm">pic.twitter.com/egDW27dmKm</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Syria (@USEmbassySyria) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassySyria/status/1868544196803784980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The embassy, which has been closed since 2012, posted a statement on X, warning U.S. citizens who were unable to leave the country to prepare “contingency plans for emergency situations.” It didn't give further details.The statement also said that the U.S. government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens and those who need “emergency assistance to depart should contact the U.S. Embassy in the country they plan to enter.”Sleeper cells of the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for deadly attacks over the past months in different parts of Syria. Despite their defeat in March 2019, the extremists still pose a threat in the war-torn country.

US embassy advises Americans to leave Syria

CHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward.

Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-rules-regulations-safety-airports-flights-978a47224fdeb42e66a89393d81b1eb4">the saga of the drones</a>&nbsp;reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights.

This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-8bfe84cf2678400181292b75f9193395">Lawmakers are demanding</a>&nbsp;(but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-82f3d8bc816350dbfc0953e5de6063e6">wrote to President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X.

More drone sightings have been reported in New York City, and Mayor Eric Adams says the city is investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials. And then President-elect Donald Trump posted that he believes the government knows more than it’s saying. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on his social media site.

But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies, none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else.

Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on.

In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group.

The Facebook page,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/552059654373970" target="_blank">New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it</a>, has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there.

One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.)

Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said.

“I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said.

She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-1bf2b36e8617d46da711dae602708be2">the drones aren’t a risk to public safety.</a>&nbsp;Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”

“How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.”

Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots.

Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at.

Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories.

“It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.”

Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy.

That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects.

For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions.

“My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said.

“Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734228753383.png" alt="Image from New Jersey Senator Andy Kim" />
 <figcaption>Image from New Jersey Senator Andy Kim</figcaption>
 </figure>CHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward.Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-rules-regulations-safety-airports-flights-978a47224fdeb42e66a89393d81b1eb4">the saga of the drones</a>&nbsp;reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights.This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-8bfe84cf2678400181292b75f9193395">Lawmakers are demanding</a>&nbsp;(but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-82f3d8bc816350dbfc0953e5de6063e6">wrote to President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X.More drone sightings have been reported in New York City, and Mayor Eric Adams says the city is investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials. And then President-elect Donald Trump posted that he believes the government knows more than it’s saying. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on his social media site.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734187379689.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies, none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734002450175.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night I went out with local police to spot drone flying over New Jersey, here’s what I saw. We drove to Round Valley Reservoir and the officer pointed to lights moving low over the tree line. Sometimes they were solid white light, others flashed of red and green.THREAD <a href="https://t.co/ly7kUUDWDn">pic.twitter.com/ly7kUUDWDn</a>&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1867582643346571730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group.The Facebook page,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/552059654373970" target="_blank">New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it</a>, has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there.One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.)Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said.“I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said.She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-1bf2b36e8617d46da711dae602708be2">the drones aren’t a risk to public safety.</a>&nbsp;Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”“How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.”Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots.Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at.Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories.“It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.”Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy.That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects.For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions.“My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said.“Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added.

Drones or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious sightings

By RANDY GONZALES Special to Hays Post&nbsp;

For some, “Blue Christmas” is more than an Elvis Presley No. 1 hit from 60 years ago.&nbsp;

Also sometimes known as The Longest Night, Blue Christmas is a church service for those not having a Holly Jolly Christmas. It is a time to remember loved ones who are no longer with them and for those experiencing the holiday blues.

“I think it’s important because the one thing we all experience is death and loss,” said Brenda Rodger, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hays. “In that experience, it is good to have a safe place.”&nbsp;

This year’s service host is Trinity Lutheran, 2703 Fort, and is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. For more information about the service, call 785-625-2044.

Rodger and Ben Houchen, pastor for St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, will lead the service, with each providing scripture readings. During the service, those in attendance are invited to light a candle for lost loved ones.&nbsp;

St. Michael’s is at 2900 Canal Blvd., Hays, while St. Andrew’s is a rural church about 13 miles northwest of Hays at 2422 Hyacinth Ave.

“Blue Christmas is such an important part of our Christmas season,” Houchen said. “For so many people, this isn’t just a time of joy. It’s also a time of loss and mourning.”&nbsp;

“Loved ones gone, relationships broken, even just the turn to more darkness in a day makes this all a harder time for so many people,” he added. “Having a space to come together and acknowledge that pain, to give that over and share it with a caring community, that’s what this service is about.”&nbsp;

Shay Craig, the former pastor at St. Michael’s who now is pastor at Christ Episcopal Cathedral in Salina, brought Blue Christmas with her when she came to Hays in 2020. She said the Blue Christmas service, which dates back to around 1990, is common in the church, and she wanted to bring it to the Hays area.&nbsp;

“It was well received,” Craig said. “Everywhere I’ve done it, it’s been well received.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The First Presbyterian Church in Hays played host last year to a similar service, The Longest Night, sponsored by the Center for Life Experience. The First United Methodist Church also held a Longest Night service last year and has done so for about the last dozen years, but it did not work out to have one this year.&nbsp;

Center for Life Experience, which closed its office in October and will cease operations at the end of the year, had held its service since at least 2012 but will not have a service this year.&nbsp;

“Very often, the journey through grief and loss feels like the longest night,” said Ann Leiker, former center executive director and a member of the Presbyterian Church. “There’s hope because after the darkest night comes the light.”&nbsp;

“Hope comes through out of that darkness,” Leiker added. “Blue Christmas is one way churches do that.”&nbsp;

Rev. Christine Wagner, transitional minister for the First Presbyterian Church, believes Blue Christmas fits perfectly with the meaning of Christmas.&nbsp;

“If one really gets into the Advent season, we’re asked to always be dwelling with the paradox of Christmas,” Wagner said. “Blue Christmas is not antithetical to the spirit of Christmas.”&nbsp;

“Where does the light appear? It appears in the darkness,” she added. “Where does joy appear? It appears in the midst of sorrow. Where does peace appear? It comes in the midst of chaos. There’s always a juxtaposition of what isn’t right with the world with the possibility always there of the wonder of God’s presence.”&nbsp;

Pat Hill, a Trinity Lutheran parishioner, appreciates having the Blue Christmas service every year.&nbsp;

“I’ve had a lot of deaths in my family,” Hill said. “It’s just a wonderful service.”&nbsp;

Hill knows what part of the service she cherishes most.&nbsp;

“Lighting the candle at the end of the service,” Hill said. “It kind of ties it all together. I really like that.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734219943114.jpeg" alt="A church service in Hays on Wednesday is planned to help provide some light in the darkness for those attending the Blue Christmas service at Trinity Lutheran Church. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien" />
 <figcaption>A church service in Hays on Wednesday is planned to help provide some light in the darkness for those attending the Blue Christmas service at Trinity Lutheran Church. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731093059976.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RANDY GONZALES Special to Hays Post&nbsp;For some, “Blue Christmas” is more than an Elvis Presley No. 1 hit from 60 years ago.&nbsp;Also sometimes known as The Longest Night, Blue Christmas is a church service for those not having a Holly Jolly Christmas. It is a time to remember loved ones who are no longer with them and for those experiencing the holiday blues.“I think it’s important because the one thing we all experience is death and loss,” said Brenda Rodger, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hays. “In that experience, it is good to have a safe place.”&nbsp;This year’s service host is Trinity Lutheran, 2703 Fort, and is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. For more information about the service, call 785-625-2044.Rodger and Ben Houchen, pastor for St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, will lead the service, with each providing scripture readings. During the service, those in attendance are invited to light a candle for lost loved ones.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734220001546.jpeg" alt="Those attending this year’s Blue Christmas services will be greeted by the nativity scene outside Trinity Lutheran Church. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Those attending this year’s Blue Christmas services will be greeted by the nativity scene outside Trinity Lutheran Church. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Michael’s is at 2900 Canal Blvd., Hays, while St. Andrew’s is a rural church about 13 miles northwest of Hays at 2422 Hyacinth Ave.“Blue Christmas is such an important part of our Christmas season,” Houchen said. “For so many people, this isn’t just a time of joy. It’s also a time of loss and mourning.”&nbsp;“Loved ones gone, relationships broken, even just the turn to more darkness in a day makes this all a harder time for so many people,” he added. “Having a space to come together and acknowledge that pain, to give that over and share it with a caring community, that’s what this service is about.”&nbsp;Shay Craig, the former pastor at St. Michael’s who now is pastor at Christ Episcopal Cathedral in Salina, brought Blue Christmas with her when she came to Hays in 2020. She said the Blue Christmas service, which dates back to around 1990, is common in the church, and she wanted to bring it to the Hays area.&nbsp;“It was well received,” Craig said. “Everywhere I’ve done it, it’s been well received.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734220059796.jpeg" alt="Attendees gathered at the Blue Christmas service two years ago at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Hays. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Attendees gathered at the Blue Christmas service two years ago at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Hays. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The First Presbyterian Church in Hays played host last year to a similar service, The Longest Night, sponsored by the Center for Life Experience. The First United Methodist Church also held a Longest Night service last year and has done so for about the last dozen years, but it did not work out to have one this year.&nbsp;Center for Life Experience, which closed its office in October and will cease operations at the end of the year, had held its service since at least 2012 but will not have a service this year.&nbsp;“Very often, the journey through grief and loss feels like the longest night,” said Ann Leiker, former center executive director and a member of the Presbyterian Church. “There’s hope because after the darkest night comes the light.”&nbsp;“Hope comes through out of that darkness,” Leiker added. “Blue Christmas is one way churches do that.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734220111712.jpeg" alt="Lit candles, shown here at last year’s Blue Christmas service at Trinity Lutheran Church, play an important part in the service, with those gathered lighting small candles in remembrance of lost loved ones. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Lit candles, shown here at last year’s Blue Christmas service at Trinity Lutheran Church, play an important part in the service, with those gathered lighting small candles in remembrance of lost loved ones. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Rev. Christine Wagner, transitional minister for the First Presbyterian Church, believes Blue Christmas fits perfectly with the meaning of Christmas.&nbsp;“If one really gets into the Advent season, we’re asked to always be dwelling with the paradox of Christmas,” Wagner said. “Blue Christmas is not antithetical to the spirit of Christmas.”&nbsp;“Where does the light appear? It appears in the darkness,” she added. “Where does joy appear? It appears in the midst of sorrow. Where does peace appear? It comes in the midst of chaos. There’s always a juxtaposition of what isn’t right with the world with the possibility always there of the wonder of God’s presence.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734220181130.jpeg" alt="St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, rural Hays, is one of the three churches hosting this year’s Blue Christmas services. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, rural Hays, is one of the three churches hosting this year’s Blue Christmas services. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Pat Hill, a Trinity Lutheran parishioner, appreciates having the Blue Christmas service every year.&nbsp;“I’ve had a lot of deaths in my family,” Hill said. “It’s just a wonderful service.”&nbsp;Hill knows what part of the service she cherishes most.&nbsp;“Lighting the candle at the end of the service,” Hill said. “It kind of ties it all together. I really like that.”&nbsp;

NWester: Hays churches spread light to others with Blue Christmas services

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The proposed <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/70507513-a0c4-489b-86c5-f7edf0fdf753">latest housing development at 25th and Wheatland</a> in east Hays will undergo a public hearing Monday afternoon.

Developer Heart of America is asking for a rezoning from agriculture&nbsp; and residential general district to residential multi-family district to provide for denser development.

The difference is the side yard setback of 4 ft. instead of 7 ft., allowing for smaller lots, the structures to be closer together and options for&nbsp;duplexes or townhomes.&nbsp;

The Hays Area Planning Commission will also consider a final plat for the Tallgrass 4th Addition.&nbsp;

The complete Dec. 12 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12162024-1516">here</a>.

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732302380275.png" alt="Tallgrass 2nd Addition Phase 4 plat map. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Tallgrass 2nd Addition Phase 4 plat map. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe proposed <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/70507513-a0c4-489b-86c5-f7edf0fdf753">latest housing development at 25th and Wheatland</a> in east Hays will undergo a public hearing Monday afternoon.Developer Heart of America is asking for a rezoning from agriculture&nbsp; and residential general district to residential multi-family district to provide for denser development.The difference is the side yard setback of 4 ft. instead of 7 ft., allowing for smaller lots, the structures to be closer together and options for&nbsp;duplexes or townhomes.&nbsp;The Hays Area Planning Commission will also consider a final plat for the Tallgrass 4th Addition.&nbsp;The complete Dec. 12 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12162024-1516">here</a>.The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

Public hearing Monday for Tallgrass 4th Addition rezoning in Hays

By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post

LIBERTY, Mo. – Fort Hays State rallied from a 15-point deficit late in the first half and beat William Jewell College 63-59 Saturday at the Mabee Center in a battle of NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.

Kaleb Hammeke was fouled on a driving layup with 7:31 to play to give the Tigers (5-3) their biggest lead at 61-55. FHSU wouldn't score again until Hammeke's layup with 5.7 seconds left. The Tigers held the Cardinals (4-6)&nbsp; to just four points over the final 10 minutes of the game and&nbsp; The Tigers held the Cardinals to just 2-of-9 shooting and four turnovers in the final 10 minutes.

William Jewell's Jordan Jermain scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the first half. He hit his first four 3-point shots and made seven of his first eight field-goal attempts overall. The Cardinals shot a 62.5-percent from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-10 effort from beyond the 3-point line to build a 41-29 halftime lead.

Fort Hays State opened the second half on a 10-2 run to pull within four in the first three minutes. After William Jewell pushed the lead back to eight, Shaun Riley scored eight points of a&nbsp;13-4 Tiger run in which they took their first lead since early in the first half on a Dan Makuna layup.&nbsp;

FHSU outscored William Jewell 34-18 in the second half and outscored the Cardinals to just 34.8 percent shooting in the second frame, including just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. FHSU was shooting 62 percent from the field in the second half but hit just one of their final eight shots.

Hammeke scored FHSU's&nbsp; final seven points and led five Tigers in double-figures with 11 points. Riley, Kyle Grill, R.J, Crawford and Traejon Davis&nbsp;all scored 10 points each. All nine Tigers that played scored. The Tigers out-rebounded Cardinals by seven led by Riley's nine boards. Hammeke dished out a team-high four assists.

Joining Jermain in double figures for the Cardinals were Luke Jordan with 11 and Bryce Mitchell with 10.

Fort Hays State will take just a day off and return to action Monday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum when it takes on Bethel College at 7 p.m. FHSU will be at home for its next three games, all within the span of seven days before the holiday break.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734235947361.png" alt="Fort Hays State guard Kaleb Hammeke drives to the basket in in NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 in Manhattan, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State guard Kaleb Hammeke drives to the basket in in NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 in Manhattan, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays PostLIBERTY, Mo. – Fort Hays State rallied from a 15-point deficit late in the first half and beat William Jewell College 63-59 Saturday at the Mabee Center in a battle of NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.<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/1984762307&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/fhsu-mbkb-mark-johnson-postgame-interview-vs-william-jewell-dec-14th-24-01" title="Mark Johnson Postgame at William Jewell College (December 14, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Mark Johnson Postgame at William Jewell College (December 14, 2024)</a></div></div>Kaleb Hammeke was fouled on a driving layup with 7:31 to play to give the Tigers (5-3) their biggest lead at 61-55. FHSU wouldn't score again until Hammeke's layup with 5.7 seconds left. The Tigers held the Cardinals (4-6)&nbsp; to just four points over the final 10 minutes of the game and&nbsp; The Tigers held the Cardinals to just 2-of-9 shooting and four turnovers in the final 10 minutes.William Jewell's Jordan Jermain scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the first half. He hit his first four 3-point shots and made seven of his first eight field-goal attempts overall. The Cardinals shot a 62.5-percent from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-10 effort from beyond the 3-point line to build a 41-29 halftime lead.<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/1984761847&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/fhsu-mbkb-kaleb-hammeke-postgame-interview-vs-william-jewell-dec-14th-24" title="Kaleb Hammeke Postgame at William Jewell College (December 14t, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Kaleb Hammeke Postgame at William Jewell College (December 14t, 2024)</a></div></div>Fort Hays State opened the second half on a 10-2 run to pull within four in the first three minutes. After William Jewell pushed the lead back to eight, Shaun Riley scored eight points of a&nbsp;13-4 Tiger run in which they took their first lead since early in the first half on a Dan Makuna layup.&nbsp;FHSU outscored William Jewell 34-18 in the second half and outscored the Cardinals to just 34.8 percent shooting in the second frame, including just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. FHSU was shooting 62 percent from the field in the second half but hit just one of their final eight shots.<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/1984760555&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/fhsu-mbkb-highlights-vs" title="Fort Hays State MBB Highlights at William Jewell College (December 14t, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State MBB Highlights at William Jewell College (December 14t, 2024)</a></div></div>Hammeke scored FHSU's&nbsp; final seven points and led five Tigers in double-figures with 11 points. Riley, Kyle Grill, R.J, Crawford and Traejon Davis&nbsp;all scored 10 points each. All nine Tigers that played scored. The Tigers out-rebounded Cardinals by seven led by Riley's nine boards. Hammeke dished out a team-high four assists.Joining Jermain in double figures for the Cardinals were Luke Jordan with 11 and Bryce Mitchell with 10.UP NEXTFort Hays State will take just a day off and return to action Monday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum when it takes on Bethel College at 7 p.m. FHSU will be at home for its next three games, all within the span of seven days before the holiday break.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tigers rally from 15-down to beat William Jewell

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;huddled with allies and a Republican cause célèbre at Saturday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-navy-preview-bryson-daily-fdf749eac409eac5293288ccd044c2fc">Army-Navy football game,</a>&nbsp;taking in one of the most storied rivalries in college sports while spotlighting his emerging national security team.

Trump was joined by Vice President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth</a>, potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">backup defense secretary option</a>&nbsp;Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others to watch Navy beat Army 31-13 in the 125th matchup between the service academies.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Daniel Penny</a>, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide this past week in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider in New York, also was a guest in the president's suite. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to “ruin" Penny's life by charging the Marine veteran in the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-neely-daniel-penny-subway-chokehold-funeral-1bc99d85bc399c4e22a07039876a24d4">Jordan Neely</a>&nbsp;in 2023.

Trump arrived at Northwest Stadium just before kickoff and was greeted warmly by the crowd, which erupted in cheers when the president-elect, Vance and Elon Musk, who Trump has appointed to help lead a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-president-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-2f0f76bb6440231f2504b77cb117d988">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, appeared on the scoreboard video screen.

The president, who was seated with his entourage in a stadium suite, mouthed “thank you” and the crowd erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!”

Trump, who attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and during his first term, has been making an increasing number of public appearances before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his family and Vance on Thursday as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stock-exchange-time-nyse-bell-ringing-91a59ff0f4ce77c0c6f87e55a38c6c75">rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized as Time magazine's person of the year.

Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a team to help lead his next administration.

He and his aides have become bullish about Hegseth's chances of winning Senate confirmation. The Army combat veteran and former Fox News host's chances of becoming defense secretary had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">appeared in peril</a>&nbsp;amid allegations of excessive drinking,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-sexual-assault-13540626e4b0b1399a0ecab5a592f515">sexual assault</a>&nbsp;and his views on women in combat.

DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">possible replacement candidates</a>&nbsp;Trump has considered if Hegseth's bid fizzles.

But Saturday's game offered Trump a chance to display his commitment to Hegseth's nomination. The embattled nominee even stood with Trump and Vance for the playing of the national anthem.

The mood appeared celebratory for Trump and his team on Saturday.

Hegseth along with fellow Army veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump's incoming national security adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to serve as director of national intelligence, posted a short video on X shortly before the game to make their allegiances clear.

“We love our Navy, except today” said Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel who did multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa.

Trump also spent time during the game with Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose future could be on shaky ground in the new Trump administration.

Biden last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cq-brown-jr-air-force-1e348527cc3c95f66eb3cd6ebaa0e6f0">tapped Brown</a>&nbsp;for a four-year term as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, but military leaders serve at the pleasure of the president.

Brown, a combat pilot and just the second Black officer to serve as chairman, spoke out after the police killing of George Floyd, a touchstone moment in the Black Lives Matter movement, about the bias he faced in his own life and career.

But Trump has expressed disdain for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-higher-education-597b65d8f06062cff60b2e185281870a">equity and diversity programs</a>. And his defense secretary pick Hegseth has decried a “woke” agenda that he argues is undermining U.S. military strength. Hegseth, days before he was announced as Trump's Pentagon nominee, called for firing Brown and generals that have promoted diversity policies in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL.

Trump also made time for Republican lawmakers that he'll need to get his agenda through Congress.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the lawmakers that chatted up Trump at the game. He brought with him a contingent of other GOP lawmakers, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Pennsylvania Sen.-elect David McCormick, that vied for face time with the incoming president weeks before Republicans take control of the White House and both branches of Congress.

Johnson, who could be seen talking with the president-elect before kickoff, had said he would discuss with Trump plans for a legislative package that could move through Congress next year with a simple majority in the face of expected Democratic opposition.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Vance brought Penny,</a>&nbsp;a fellow Marine veteran, as his guest. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Neely's death after a judge had dismissed a more serious manslaughter charge last week because the jury deadlocked on that count.

The case was a flashpoint in the long-standing debates over racial justice and as well as failures by New York City to address homelessness and mental illness, both of which Neely had struggled with.

“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance said in a post on X on Friday. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”

Madhani reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734224270414.jpeg" alt="Photo by Dan Scavino, Jr.&nbsp;Incoming Assistant to POTUS and Deputy Chief of Staff" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Dan Scavino, Jr.&nbsp;Incoming Assistant to POTUS and Deputy Chief of Staff</figcaption>
 </figure>LANDOVER, Md. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;huddled with allies and a Republican cause célèbre at Saturday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-navy-preview-bryson-daily-fdf749eac409eac5293288ccd044c2fc">Army-Navy football game,</a>&nbsp;taking in one of the most storied rivalries in college sports while spotlighting his emerging national security team.Trump was joined by Vice President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth</a>, potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">backup defense secretary option</a>&nbsp;Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others to watch Navy beat Army 31-13 in the 125th matchup between the service academies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump and VP-elect JD Vance at Army-Navy game. <a href="https://t.co/7wMh4VVCTg">pic.twitter.com/7wMh4VVCTg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868061574046666795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Daniel Penny</a>, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide this past week in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider in New York, also was a guest in the president's suite. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to “ruin" Penny's life by charging the Marine veteran in the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-neely-daniel-penny-subway-chokehold-funeral-1bc99d85bc399c4e22a07039876a24d4">Jordan Neely</a>&nbsp;in 2023.Trump arrived at Northwest Stadium just before kickoff and was greeted warmly by the crowd, which erupted in cheers when the president-elect, Vance and Elon Musk, who Trump has appointed to help lead a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-president-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-2f0f76bb6440231f2504b77cb117d988">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, appeared on the scoreboard video screen.The president, who was seated with his entourage in a stadium suite, mouthed “thank you” and the crowd erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!”Trump, who attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and during his first term, has been making an increasing number of public appearances before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his family and Vance on Thursday as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stock-exchange-time-nyse-bell-ringing-91a59ff0f4ce77c0c6f87e55a38c6c75">rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized as Time magazine's person of the year.Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a team to help lead his next administration.He and his aides have become bullish about Hegseth's chances of winning Senate confirmation. The Army combat veteran and former Fox News host's chances of becoming defense secretary had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">appeared in peril</a>&nbsp;amid allegations of excessive drinking,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-sexual-assault-13540626e4b0b1399a0ecab5a592f515">sexual assault</a>&nbsp;and his views on women in combat.DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">possible replacement candidates</a>&nbsp;Trump has considered if Hegseth's bid fizzles.But Saturday's game offered Trump a chance to display his commitment to Hegseth's nomination. The embattled nominee even stood with Trump and Vance for the playing of the national anthem.The mood appeared celebratory for Trump and his team on Saturday.Hegseth along with fellow Army veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump's incoming national security adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to serve as director of national intelligence, posted a short video on X shortly before the game to make their allegiances clear.“We love our Navy, except today” said Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel who did multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa.“Go Army!" Gabbard added.Trump also spent time during the game with Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose future could be on shaky ground in the new Trump administration.Biden last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cq-brown-jr-air-force-1e348527cc3c95f66eb3cd6ebaa0e6f0">tapped Brown</a>&nbsp;for a four-year term as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, but military leaders serve at the pleasure of the president.Brown, a combat pilot and just the second Black officer to serve as chairman, spoke out after the police killing of George Floyd, a touchstone moment in the Black Lives Matter movement, about the bias he faced in his own life and career.But Trump has expressed disdain for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-higher-education-597b65d8f06062cff60b2e185281870a">equity and diversity programs</a>. And his defense secretary pick Hegseth has decried a “woke” agenda that he argues is undermining U.S. military strength. Hegseth, days before he was announced as Trump's Pentagon nominee, called for firing Brown and generals that have promoted diversity policies in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL.Trump also made time for Republican lawmakers that he'll need to get his agenda through Congress.House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the lawmakers that chatted up Trump at the game. He brought with him a contingent of other GOP lawmakers, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Pennsylvania Sen.-elect David McCormick, that vied for face time with the incoming president weeks before Republicans take control of the White House and both branches of Congress.Johnson, who could be seen talking with the president-elect before kickoff, had said he would discuss with Trump plans for a legislative package that could move through Congress next year with a simple majority in the face of expected Democratic opposition.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Vance brought Penny,</a>&nbsp;a fellow Marine veteran, as his guest. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Neely's death after a judge had dismissed a more serious manslaughter charge last week because the jury deadlocked on that count.The case was a flashpoint in the long-standing debates over racial justice and as well as failures by New York City to address homelessness and mental illness, both of which Neely had struggled with.“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance said in a post on X on Friday. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”___Madhani reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

🎥Trump gets warm welcome at Army-Navy game alongside key allies and Daniel Penny

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;had hip replacement surgery Saturday at a U.S. military hospital in Germany after falling while at an event in Luxembourg with other members of Congress.

Pelosi, 84, “is well on the mend,” said Ian Krager, a spokesman for the California Democrat, in a statement.

Pelosi thanked the staff at&nbsp;<a href="https://landstuhl.tricare.mil/">Landstuhl Regional Medical Center</a>&nbsp;and the hospital in Luxembourg, where she was also treated, for “their excellent care and kindness.”

She was in Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-wwii-battle-of-bulge-6b4d87e4f7b79614e4f8ccb343c81c47">80th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the Battle of the Bulge in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-war-ii">World War II</a>.

Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event and fractured her hip, according to people familiar with her injury who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Among those on the trip was Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-mccaul">Michael McCaul</a>, R-Texas, who posted on social media Friday that he was “praying for a speedy recovery,” for Pelosi. The two lawmakers were captured holding hands in a group photo that day at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg.

Pelosi was first elected in 1987. She served as speaker twice,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-house-future-plans-updates-3839ff31c605efa0ec1ee4ff004b72d2">stepped down</a>&nbsp;from her leadership post two years ago but remained in Congress and was reelected to represent her San Francisco district in November.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;had hip replacement surgery Saturday at a U.S. military hospital in Germany after falling while at an event in Luxembourg with other members of Congress.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nasa</a> Bill Nelson and Members of Congress to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg and Belgium. The sacrifices of brave <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWII</a> soldiers echo from the past, reminding us that each generation must continue the fight for freedom and… <a href="https://t.co/ae50RVceWL">pic.twitter.com/ae50RVceWL</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Luxembourg (@USEmbLuxembourg) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbLuxembourg/status/1867570544675090828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pelosi, 84, “is well on the mend,” said Ian Krager, a spokesman for the California Democrat, in a statement.Pelosi thanked the staff at&nbsp;<a href="https://landstuhl.tricare.mil/">Landstuhl Regional Medical Center</a>&nbsp;and the hospital in Luxembourg, where she was also treated, for “their excellent care and kindness.”She was in Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-wwii-battle-of-bulge-6b4d87e4f7b79614e4f8ccb343c81c47">80th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the Battle of the Bulge in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-war-ii">World War II</a>.Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event and fractured her hip, according to people familiar with her injury who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.Among those on the trip was Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-mccaul">Michael McCaul</a>, R-Texas, who posted on social media Friday that he was “praying for a speedy recovery,” for Pelosi. The two lawmakers were captured holding hands in a group photo that day at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg.Pelosi was first elected in 1987. She served as speaker twice,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-house-future-plans-updates-3839ff31c605efa0ec1ee4ff004b72d2">stepped down</a>&nbsp;from her leadership post two years ago but remained in Congress and was reelected to represent her San Francisco district in November.___

Pelosi has hip surgery at US military hospital in Germany after fall

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time.

In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office.

“The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote.

Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942.

Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-congress-749d458d09882c6e6479559bc0327bde">Sunshine Protection Act</a>, had proposed making daylight saving time permanent.

The measure was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/582/all-info#:~:text=%2F01%2F2023)-,Sunshine%20Protection%20Act%20of%202023,standard%20time%20for%20those%20areas." target="_blank">sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>, whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department.

“Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure.

Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/time-change-fall-back-spring-forward-sleep-251e55ce23d25a490783a996915dbc22">Some health groups</a>, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.

<a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/statistics.html" target="_blank">Most countries</a>&nbsp;do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences.

Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1867686000711155989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office.“The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote.Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942.Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-congress-749d458d09882c6e6479559bc0327bde">Sunshine Protection Act</a>, had proposed making daylight saving time permanent.The measure was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/582/all-info#:~:text=%2F01%2F2023)-,Sunshine%20Protection%20Act%20of%202023,standard%20time%20for%20those%20areas." target="_blank">sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>, whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department.“Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure.Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/time-change-fall-back-spring-forward-sleep-251e55ce23d25a490783a996915dbc22">Some health groups</a>, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.<a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/statistics.html" target="_blank">Most countries</a>&nbsp;do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences.Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.

Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time

The Hays City Commission approved infrastructure engineering services for city-owned property just northeast of Exit 161 on Interstate 70 on Thursday.

The city purchased the 93 acres, known as the Braun property, in 2019 for continued growth and development opportunities. Hays aims for a 1% population increase each year.

Kaw Valley Engineering, Salina, received the low bid of&nbsp;$118,750 for the design of infrastructure improvements.&nbsp;

Tom Howie, Hays project manager, agreed with Hays Vice-Mayor Mason Ruder that bringing infrastructure under I-70 to the new property is "very proactive and shows our intent. It'll never be more cost-effective than now."

A 2023 feasibility study by RDG Planning and Design, Omaha, includes residential mixed housing, commercial business, offices, restaurants, hotels, walking trails, open space and public art.

"When I moved here in the early '90s, there was nothing north of I-70. Look at what we have now," Shaun Musil, commissioner,&nbsp;said.

"It's going to take time, but it's going to happen. ... I'm very proud of what we're doing with this."

Hays has already been&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fc8ac5a9-8e28-48ec-a7ab-6c3eeab9f02d">awarded $4 million in state funding for retail development</a>&nbsp;as part of the proposed project.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In other agenda items, T&amp;T Builders, Hays, was awarded a low bid of $231,616 for connecting multi-use paths in northeast Hays.

Jeff Boyle, parks director, said in 2021, Hays funded a new multi-use path from the Hays Recreation Commission to HaysMed. The city is currently working with the state of Kansas on a new path from 41st and Hall to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. The Grove housing development north of HaysMed, will include a multi-use path.&nbsp;The east connector path will link all these path segments.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734108175110.png" alt="The 93-acre Braun property was purchased by the city of Hays in 2019 for future development. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>The 93-acre Braun property was purchased by the city of Hays in 2019 for future development. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><div></div>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe Hays City Commission approved infrastructure engineering services for city-owned property just northeast of Exit 161 on Interstate 70 on Thursday.The city purchased the 93 acres, known as the Braun property, in 2019 for continued growth and development opportunities. Hays aims for a 1% population increase each year.Kaw Valley Engineering, Salina, received the low bid of&nbsp;$118,750 for the design of infrastructure improvements.&nbsp;Tom Howie, Hays project manager, agreed with Hays Vice-Mayor Mason Ruder that bringing infrastructure under I-70 to the new property is "very proactive and shows our intent. It'll never be more cost-effective than now."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733500723566.png" alt="Braun property development concept by RDG Planning and Design. Courtesy RDG" />
 <figcaption>Braun property development concept by RDG Planning and Design. Courtesy RDG</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wUs7Ta5plN4" title="musil ruder on exit 161" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>A 2023 feasibility study by RDG Planning and Design, Omaha, includes residential mixed housing, commercial business, offices, restaurants, hotels, walking trails, open space and public art."When I moved here in the early '90s, there was nothing north of I-70. Look at what we have now," Shaun Musil, commissioner,&nbsp;said."It's going to take time, but it's going to happen. ... I'm very proud of what we're doing with this."Hays has already been&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fc8ac5a9-8e28-48ec-a7ab-6c3eeab9f02d">awarded $4 million in state funding for retail development</a>&nbsp;as part of the proposed project.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734109447835.png" alt="Multi-use paths to be built connecting the northeast side of Hays. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Multi-use paths to be built connecting the northeast side of Hays. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734109563933.png" alt="Multi-use paths in Hays, including the yet-to-be-developed connectors in the northeast area. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Multi-use paths in Hays, including the yet-to-be-developed connectors in the northeast area. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Walking path extension</h2>In other agenda items, T&amp;T Builders, Hays, was awarded a low bid of $231,616 for connecting multi-use paths in northeast Hays.Jeff Boyle, parks director, said in 2021, Hays funded a new multi-use path from the Hays Recreation Commission to HaysMed. The city is currently working with the state of Kansas on a new path from 41st and Hall to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. The Grove housing development north of HaysMed, will include a multi-use path.&nbsp;The east connector path will link all these path segments.&nbsp;Once all the new paths are constructed, there will be about five miles of multi-use paths connecting the entire northeast side of town, Boyle said.Boyle also presented a review of the 2024 financial reports and attendance for Hays Aquatic Park, Wilson Pool and the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.Hays Recreation Commission board members and city commissioners agreed last week to split this year's $50,895 operating loss for the pools under a long-standing agreement. Hays will reimburse the rec center $25,447.The sports complex operated at a profit of&nbsp;$39,883.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733503964195.png" alt="Hays Water Reclamation and Reuse Facility, 755 General Custer Road. City of Hays&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Hays Water Reclamation and Reuse Facility, 755 General Custer Road. City of Hays&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Water plant demo</h2>Jeff Crispin, water resources director, discussed demolishing two obsolete structures at the water reclamation and reuse facility, 755 General Custer Road.&nbsp;Three clarifiers were abandoned when the facility upgrade was completed in 2019 to meet the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's new permit requirements.&nbsp;One clarifier will be kept, although its metal components will be removed. It will be used if highly contaminated wastewater needs to be temporarily separated.A single bid of $191,550 was submitted by M&amp;D, Hays, and is below the budget of $200,000.Crispin said the newly opened area would be planted with grass.Commissioners also approved the consent agenda, which included: • 2025 cereal malt beverage annual licenses • Adoption of the 2024 employee pay plan • Mayoral appointments of Cindy Elliot and Amy Schaffer to the CARE Council • Waiver resolution for generally accepted accounting principles. The city now uses the Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide.&nbsp; &nbsp;