SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man received a letter cashing in on a stranger’s life insurance policy. The Investigations Division of the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office received a copy of the letter.

The Federal Trade Commission posted the following information on the scam:

“The letter looks like it’s from a law firm and offers an “easy way” to get money using someone else’s life insurance policy. “In the letter, the “lawyer” says they have a deceased client with an unclaimed life insurance policy worth millions. Because you “supposedly” have the same name last name and nationality as the deceased, the lawyer can add your name to the policy and split the money between you, their law firm, and a charity. All you have to do, they say, is keep this information secret and email them immediately.

“There is no lawyer. It’s a scammer. If you email them, they will ask for personal information, or money, or both. The life insurance policy does not exist.

• Don’t respond. Never share your information with someone who contacts you and says they need it. And never send anyone cash or pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

• Share this information with a friend. You probably throw away these kinds of letters. But you may know someone who could use a friendly reminder to help them spot the scam.

• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report makes a difference: by telling your story to the FTC and to others in your community, you help others avoid the scam. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731533471458.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man received a letter cashing in on a stranger’s life insurance policy. The Investigations Division of the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office received a copy of the letter.The Federal Trade Commission posted the following information on the scam:“The letter looks like it’s from a law firm and offers an “easy way” to get money using someone else’s life insurance policy. “In the letter, the “lawyer” says they have a deceased client with an unclaimed life insurance policy worth millions. Because you “supposedly” have the same name last name and nationality as the deceased, the lawyer can add your name to the policy and split the money between you, their law firm, and a charity. All you have to do, they say, is keep this information secret and email them immediately.“There is no lawyer. It’s a scammer. If you email them, they will ask for personal information, or money, or both. The life insurance policy does not exist.If you get one of these letters:• Don’t respond. Never share your information with someone who contacts you and says they need it. And never send anyone cash or pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.• Share this information with a friend. You probably throw away these kinds of letters. But you may know someone who could use a friendly reminder to help them spot the scam.• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report makes a difference: by telling your story to the FTC and to others in your community, you help others avoid the scam.

DA reports life insurance policy scam in Kansas

Editor's note: There was an issue with the raffle link. This has been corrected.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Feeding Hays program started as a small free meal program that provided about 10 meals once a week. It now feeds 250 to 300 people each Thursday night.

The program is wholly funded through monetary or in-kind donations.

With the significant increase in people fed, the program needs donations on a weekly basis, Ben Houchen, Feeding Hays director, said.

“We have a pretty regular stream of in-kind donations, but even with that, moving from the number of meals we were serving even a year ago at about 120 meals getting up to the point where we’re doing 250 to 300 meals means week to week we need donations every week to cover that. We don’t have a reserve of food or money to cover anything.”

The program cooks 125 pounds of spaghetti and 15 pounds of hamburger each night it serves meals.

“Because we want it to be a really solid, genuinely healthy, hearty meal, it does cost money,” Houchen said.

Feeding Hays provides a drive-through meal from 6:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday at the St. Michael's Episcopal Church.

Free-will donations are accepted but not required. Participants don't need to show proof of income or make a reservation to receive a meal.

The free-will donations go to pay off lunch debt at the Hays USD 489 school district. The program hopes to donate $5,000 this year.

The meal is usually spaghetti with meat sauce, carrots with ranch dressing, bread and a cookie. However, outside groups have offered meals, including hamburgers, chicken and noodles, and loaded baked potatoes.

"The demographics are not what a lot of people would expect," Houchen said. "We do have a lot of people who are on that poverty line or below, but there are also a lot of older folks who want to be able to contribute to the efforts that we're doing."

"We have a lot of single moms or working parents who have done all they want to be able to do for the week, so they get a good meal on Thursday," Houchen said. "We've also seen a large growth recently in veterans ...

"A couple of weeks ago, I talked to a vet who was there that said this is the first time in about a month that he's had a hot meal and the first time in well over a month he's just had someone to stop and talk to him."

Feeding Hays volunteers are trying to secure the program its own nonprofit status so it can apply for more grants.&nbsp;

Program volunteers would like to add one to two more nights of meals to the program within the next six months to a year.

The program is fundraising so it can provide more variety in the meals it offers.

The program is selling raffle tickets between now and Nov. 29. The winners will be selected on Nov. 30. Prizes include a staycation package from Avid Hotels, a Fort Hays State University sports fan package, and a HALO griddle. <a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/6802c783-1db9-48e8-af26-ac5234aff8bb?fbclid=IwY2xjawGkz5RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ87ELcJhn94HdgVfZx7AosN59pElAeKEnwV7eQRw_HkQSAgMN-04Yl9GQ_aem_7MjbXC7p5jEls6LYENT_aw">CLICK HERE</a> for more information on the raffle.

The program accepts donations of spaghetti, sauce and hamburger. See the image below. It also accepts cleaning items such as paper towels, Swiffer&nbsp;Wet Pads, Clorox Cleaning Wipes and Dawn Powerwash dish soap.

The church, 2900 Canal Blvd., has a drop box for these items.

“We do have some people who make cash donations, and we’re looking to expand that so we can ensure sustainability for the future, expand our menu and grow some of the things that we’re doing,” Houchen said.

Businesses or organizations can also adopt an entire evening of meals to provide food and volunteers.

“We’ve had a lot of really great involvement with the community,” Houchen said. “Moving from that 10 a night to that 250 a night has taken huge community involvement.”

Groups including Rotary, Optimists and Women Who Lead have supported the program. McIntyre Plumbing, Heating &amp; Air, T-Mobile and Aaron Heating Air are a few of the businesses that have been supporters.&nbsp;

Houchen said the program is looking for consistent volunteers who can train to lead meals.

He said volunteers can go to the program's Facebook page or St. Michael’s website and contact Houchen directly.

You can follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2047485065448690">Feeding Hays on Facebook</a> or find more information under the<a href="https://www.stmichaelshays.org/feeding-hays"> Feeding Hays tab on the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church website</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731450357639.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Donations needed for Feeding Hays as meal count surges" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=2e96n-173b474-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Editor's note: There was an issue with the raffle link. This has been corrected.By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Feeding Hays program started as a small free meal program that provided about 10 meals once a week. It now feeds 250 to 300 people each Thursday night.The program is wholly funded through monetary or in-kind donations.With the significant increase in people fed, the program needs donations on a weekly basis, Ben Houchen, Feeding Hays director, said.“We have a pretty regular stream of in-kind donations, but even with that, moving from the number of meals we were serving even a year ago at about 120 meals getting up to the point where we’re doing 250 to 300 meals means week to week we need donations every week to cover that. We don’t have a reserve of food or money to cover anything.”The program cooks 125 pounds of spaghetti and 15 pounds of hamburger each night it serves meals.“Because we want it to be a really solid, genuinely healthy, hearty meal, it does cost money,” Houchen said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731450424592.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Feeding Hays provides a drive-through meal from 6:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday at the St. Michael's Episcopal Church.Free-will donations are accepted but not required. Participants don't need to show proof of income or make a reservation to receive a meal.The free-will donations go to pay off lunch debt at the Hays USD 489 school district. The program hopes to donate $5,000 this year.The meal is usually spaghetti with meat sauce, carrots with ranch dressing, bread and a cookie. However, outside groups have offered meals, including hamburgers, chicken and noodles, and loaded baked potatoes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731450456904.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"The demographics are not what a lot of people would expect," Houchen said. "We do have a lot of people who are on that poverty line or below, but there are also a lot of older folks who want to be able to contribute to the efforts that we're doing.""We have a lot of single moms or working parents who have done all they want to be able to do for the week, so they get a good meal on Thursday," Houchen said. "We've also seen a large growth recently in veterans ..."A couple of weeks ago, I talked to a vet who was there that said this is the first time in about a month that he's had a hot meal and the first time in well over a month he's just had someone to stop and talk to him."Feeding Hays volunteers are trying to secure the program its own nonprofit status so it can apply for more grants.&nbsp;Program volunteers would like to add one to two more nights of meals to the program within the next six months to a year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731450499088.jpeg" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>The program is fundraising so it can provide more variety in the meals it offers.The program is selling raffle tickets between now and Nov. 29. The winners will be selected on Nov. 30. Prizes include a staycation package from Avid Hotels, a Fort Hays State University sports fan package, and a HALO griddle. <a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/6802c783-1db9-48e8-af26-ac5234aff8bb?fbclid=IwY2xjawGkz5RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ87ELcJhn94HdgVfZx7AosN59pElAeKEnwV7eQRw_HkQSAgMN-04Yl9GQ_aem_7MjbXC7p5jEls6LYENT_aw">CLICK HERE</a> for more information on the raffle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731514474912.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The program accepts donations of spaghetti, sauce and hamburger. See the image below. It also accepts cleaning items such as paper towels, Swiffer&nbsp;Wet Pads, Clorox Cleaning Wipes and Dawn Powerwash dish soap.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731515497362.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731515518986.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The church, 2900 Canal Blvd., has a drop box for these items.“We do have some people who make cash donations, and we’re looking to expand that so we can ensure sustainability for the future, expand our menu and grow some of the things that we’re doing,” Houchen said.Businesses or organizations can also adopt an entire evening of meals to provide food and volunteers.“We’ve had a lot of really great involvement with the community,” Houchen said. “Moving from that 10 a night to that 250 a night has taken huge community involvement.”Groups including Rotary, Optimists and Women Who Lead have supported the program. McIntyre Plumbing, Heating &amp; Air, T-Mobile and Aaron Heating Air are a few of the businesses that have been supporters.&nbsp;Houchen said the program is looking for consistent volunteers who can train to lead meals.He said volunteers can go to the program's Facebook page or St. Michael’s website and contact Houchen directly.You can follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2047485065448690">Feeding Hays on Facebook</a> or find more information under the<a href="https://www.stmichaelshays.org/feeding-hays"> Feeding Hays tab on the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church website</a>.

🎙 UPDATE: Donations needed for Feeding Hays as meal count surges

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MATTHEW%20PERRONE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MATTHEW PERRONE &nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Those ever-present TV drug ads showing patients hiking, biking or enjoying a day at the beach could soon have a different look: New rules require drugmakers to be clearer and more direct when explaining their medications' risks and side effects.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration spent more than 15 years crafting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/175074/download">guidelines</a>, which are designed to do away with industry practices that downplay or distract viewers from risk information.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/175074/download">Click here to read </a>the guidelines

Many companies have already adopted the rules, which become binding Nov. 20. But while regulators were drafting them, a new trend emerged: thousands of pharma influencers pushing drugs online with little oversight. A new bill in Congress would compel the FDA to more aggressively police such promotions on social media platforms.

“Some people become very attached to social media influencers and ascribe to them credibility that, in some cases, they don’t deserve,” said Tony Cox, professor emeritus of marketing at Indiana University.

Still, TV remains the industry's primary advertising format, with over $4 billion spent in the past year, led by blockbuster drugs like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mounjaro-wegovy-ozempic-obesity-weight-loss-bd0e037cc5981513487260d40636752a">weight-loss treatment Wegovy</a>, according to ispot.tv, which tracks ads.

The new rules, which cover both TV and radio, instruct drugmakers to use simple, consumer-friendly language when describing their drugs, without medical jargon, distracting visuals or audio effects. A 2007 law directed the FDA to ensure that drug risk information appears “in a clear, conspicuous and neutral manner.”

FDA has always required that ads give a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-143d1bd257e147cdbbebfa0a97f40519">balanced picture</a>&nbsp;of both benefits and risks, a requirement that gave rise to those long, rapid-fire lists of side effects parodied on shows like “&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VByZc4Hn7pI">Saturday Night Live</a>.”

But in the early 2000s, researchers began showing how companies could manipulate images and audio to de-emphasize safety information. In one example, a Duke University professor found that ads for the allergy drug Nasonex, which featured a buzzing bee voiced by Antonio Banderas, distracted viewers from listening to side effect information, making it harder to remember.

Such overt tactics have largely disappeared from drug ads.

“In general, I would say the ads have gotten more complete and transparent,” says Ruth Day, director of the medical cognition lab at Duke University and author of the Nasonex study.

The new rules are “significant steps forward,” Day said, but certain requirements could also open the door to new ways of downplaying risks.

One requirement instructs companies to show on-screen text about side effects while the audio information plays. A 2011 FDA study found that combining text with audio increased recall and understanding.

But the agency leaves it to companies to decide whether to display a few keywords or a full transcript.

“You often cannot put all that on the screen and expect people to read and understand it,” Day said. “If you wanted to hide or decrease the likelihood of people remembering risk information, that could be the way to do it.”

Viewers tend to tune out long lists of warnings and other information. But experts who work with drug companies don’t expect those lists to disappear. While the guidelines describe how the information should be presented, companies still decide the content.

“If you’re a company and you’re worried about possible FDA enforcement or product liability and other litigation, all your incentives are to say more, not less,” said Torrey Cope, a food and drug lawyer who advises companies.

Experts also say the new rules will have little effect on the overall tone and appearance of ads.

“The most salient element of these ads are the visuals, and they are uniformly positive,” said Cox. “Even if the risk message is about, for instance, sudden heart failure, they’re still showing someone diving into a swimming pool.”

The new rules come as Donald Trump's advisers begin floating plans for the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-trump-vaccines-779495533a80ba142086a9621d75a59c">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, an anti-vaccine activist who has advised the president-elect, wants to eliminate TV drug ads. He and other industry critics point out that the U.S. and New Zealand are the only countries where prescription drugs can be promoted on TV.

Even so, many companies are looking beyond TV and expanding into social media. They often partner with patient influencers who post about managing their conditions, new treatments or navigating the health system.

“They’re teaching people to live a good life with their disease, but then some of them are also paid to advertise and persuade,” said Erin Willis, who studies advertising and media at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Advertising executives say companies like the format because it’s cheaper than TV and consumers generally feel influencers are more trustworthy than companies.

FDA’s requirement for truthful, balanced risk and benefit information applies to drugmakers, leaving a loophole for both influencers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hims-ro-lemonaid-subscription-health-care-6bbd960335fd8a7cc71563858e1a441a">telehealth companies</a>&nbsp;like Hims, Ro and Teledoc, who may not have a direct financial connection to makers of the drugs they’re promoting.

The issue has attracted attention from members of Congress.

“The power of social media and the deluge of misleading promotions has meant too many young people are receiving medical advice from influencers instead of their health care professional,” Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Mike Braun of Indiana wrote the FDA in a February letter.

A recently introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.durbin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Durbin-Braun_Deceptive%20Social%20Media%20Rx%20Promotion.pdf">bill from the senators</a>&nbsp;would bring influencers and telehealth companies clearly under FDA’s jurisdiction, requiring them to disclose risk and side effect information. The bill also would require drugmakers to publicly disclose payments to influencers.

“It’s asking the FDA to take a more serious stance with this kind of marketing,” said Willis. "They know it’s happening, but they could be doing more and their regulations haven’t been updated since 2014."

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731609279169.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MATTHEW%20PERRONE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MATTHEW PERRONE &nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Those ever-present TV drug ads showing patients hiking, biking or enjoying a day at the beach could soon have a different look: New rules require drugmakers to be clearer and more direct when explaining their medications' risks and side effects.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration spent more than 15 years crafting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/175074/download">guidelines</a>, which are designed to do away with industry practices that downplay or distract viewers from risk information.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/175074/download">Click here to read </a>the guidelinesMany companies have already adopted the rules, which become binding Nov. 20. But while regulators were drafting them, a new trend emerged: thousands of pharma influencers pushing drugs online with little oversight. A new bill in Congress would compel the FDA to more aggressively police such promotions on social media platforms.“Some people become very attached to social media influencers and ascribe to them credibility that, in some cases, they don’t deserve,” said Tony Cox, professor emeritus of marketing at Indiana University.Still, TV remains the industry's primary advertising format, with over $4 billion spent in the past year, led by blockbuster drugs like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mounjaro-wegovy-ozempic-obesity-weight-loss-bd0e037cc5981513487260d40636752a">weight-loss treatment Wegovy</a>, according to ispot.tv, which tracks ads.<h2>Simpler language and no distractions</h2>The new rules, which cover both TV and radio, instruct drugmakers to use simple, consumer-friendly language when describing their drugs, without medical jargon, distracting visuals or audio effects. A 2007 law directed the FDA to ensure that drug risk information appears “in a clear, conspicuous and neutral manner.”FDA has always required that ads give a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-143d1bd257e147cdbbebfa0a97f40519">balanced picture</a>&nbsp;of both benefits and risks, a requirement that gave rise to those long, rapid-fire lists of side effects parodied on shows like “&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VByZc4Hn7pI">Saturday Night Live</a>.”But in the early 2000s, researchers began showing how companies could manipulate images and audio to de-emphasize safety information. In one example, a Duke University professor found that ads for the allergy drug Nasonex, which featured a buzzing bee voiced by Antonio Banderas, distracted viewers from listening to side effect information, making it harder to remember.Such overt tactics have largely disappeared from drug ads.“In general, I would say the ads have gotten more complete and transparent,” says Ruth Day, director of the medical cognition lab at Duke University and author of the Nasonex study.The new rules are “significant steps forward,” Day said, but certain requirements could also open the door to new ways of downplaying risks.<h2>Information overload?</h2>One requirement instructs companies to show on-screen text about side effects while the audio information plays. A 2011 FDA study found that combining text with audio increased recall and understanding.But the agency leaves it to companies to decide whether to display a few keywords or a full transcript.“You often cannot put all that on the screen and expect people to read and understand it,” Day said. “If you wanted to hide or decrease the likelihood of people remembering risk information, that could be the way to do it.”Viewers tend to tune out long lists of warnings and other information. But experts who work with drug companies don’t expect those lists to disappear. While the guidelines describe how the information should be presented, companies still decide the content.“If you’re a company and you’re worried about possible FDA enforcement or product liability and other litigation, all your incentives are to say more, not less,” said Torrey Cope, a food and drug lawyer who advises companies.Experts also say the new rules will have little effect on the overall tone and appearance of ads.“The most salient element of these ads are the visuals, and they are uniformly positive,” said Cox. “Even if the risk message is about, for instance, sudden heart failure, they’re still showing someone diving into a swimming pool.”<h2>Patient influencers</h2>The new rules come as Donald Trump's advisers begin floating plans for the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-trump-vaccines-779495533a80ba142086a9621d75a59c">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, an anti-vaccine activist who has advised the president-elect, wants to eliminate TV drug ads. He and other industry critics point out that the U.S. and New Zealand are the only countries where prescription drugs can be promoted on TV.Even so, many companies are looking beyond TV and expanding into social media. They often partner with patient influencers who post about managing their conditions, new treatments or navigating the health system.“They’re teaching people to live a good life with their disease, but then some of them are also paid to advertise and persuade,” said Erin Willis, who studies advertising and media at the University of Colorado Boulder.Advertising executives say companies like the format because it’s cheaper than TV and consumers generally feel influencers are more trustworthy than companies.FDA’s requirement for truthful, balanced risk and benefit information applies to drugmakers, leaving a loophole for both influencers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hims-ro-lemonaid-subscription-health-care-6bbd960335fd8a7cc71563858e1a441a">telehealth companies</a>&nbsp;like Hims, Ro and Teledoc, who may not have a direct financial connection to makers of the drugs they’re promoting.The issue has attracted attention from members of Congress.“The power of social media and the deluge of misleading promotions has meant too many young people are receiving medical advice from influencers instead of their health care professional,” Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Mike Braun of Indiana wrote the FDA in a February letter.A recently introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.durbin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Durbin-Braun_Deceptive%20Social%20Media%20Rx%20Promotion.pdf">bill from the senators</a>&nbsp;would bring influencers and telehealth companies clearly under FDA’s jurisdiction, requiring them to disclose risk and side effect information. The bill also would require drugmakers to publicly disclose payments to influencers.“It’s asking the FDA to take a more serious stance with this kind of marketing,” said Willis. "They know it’s happening, but they could be doing more and their regulations haven’t been updated since 2014."___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

New rules for TV drug ads: Simpler language and no distractions

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution supporting DP Management, Omaha, Nebraska, in its application for a moderate-income housing state grant to build a 136-unit apartment complex.

If awarded, the $650,000 grant from the&nbsp;Kansas Housing Resources Corporation will help finance the project on the southeast corner of Wheatland Avenue and East 22nd Street, which the developer is under contract to purchase.

The city has no financial responsibility for the grant application.&nbsp;

"This is just a letter of support. That's all the city would be doing," said&nbsp;Shaun Musil, commissioner.

Forty-eight of the one, two and three-bedroom units would be market-rate housing, while 88 units would be low-income housing. DP Management has partnered with Ellis County to submit a low-income housing tax credit application to the federal program.&nbsp;

The apartment complex would cost $9.8 million for phase one moderate-income units, and $22 million for phase two low-income units.

"We need the housing," Musil said. "You look around town, and you see so many businesses continue to struggle to get qualified staff. Hopefully, with all the apartments to be built in the next four or five years, it will help some of that."

Other new Hays housing developments are planned and include The Depot, 10th and Main; The Grove, north of Hays Medical Center on Canterbury Drive; and Tallgrass Phase 4, Wheatland Drive north of 22nd Street.

Commissioners also held a public hearing, with no public comments, for establishing and levying a 1.5% Community Improvement District (CID) tax at CERVS, 3701 Vine.

The development agreement for building a bigger CERVS convenience store and Phillips 66 fuel center was also approved.

Developer Russ Pfannenstiel, Hays, estimates the tax will generate about $895,000 over the maximum 22-year term of the CID.&nbsp;

The estimated project total cost is $4.7 million, with about $3.2 million as CID-eligible expenses.

The 1.5% sales tax would be imposed when operations begin at the new facility.&nbsp;

Commissioners also approved the design-build agreement for phase 1 services for the new Hays police station and municipal court facility at 1100 Fort in Astra Bank.

The $182,000 agreement is with PWC, Hays, in partnership with team members BKV and JGR, who have experience with the proposed project.

The architecture firm BKV&nbsp;completed the police department's space needs analysis, and the architectural firm JGR designed Astra Bank's 2018 remodel.

Police headquarters and municipal court will move from the Ellis County Law Enforcement Center, 105 W. 12th, to the renovated bank.

Astra Bank is <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/838fe958-24ab-4afe-a463-4daa732a1c4f">building a new facility </a>at 27th and Main.&nbsp;

During citizen comments, city employee Phillip Gage, a sergeant in the Hays police department, commented on Commissioner Reese Barrick's recent challenge to the local business community to pay their full-time employees at least $20 an hour.

RELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/17290ca2-a64d-4482-aecd-213534370fcd">Ellis County reports highest poverty in the region</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7e6275e6-d3b6-4d59-bb6c-f2505d0a65ca">LETTER: Response to City Commissioner Barrick's statement on business wages</a>

"I think if we have city commissioners challenging other business leaders, we also ought to be a business leader as well," Gage said.

He noted 16 city positions start at less than $20 an hour.

Barrick was late to the meeting and was unable to publicly address Gage's comment at that time.

Mayor Sandy Jacobs thanked Gage and said all citizens' comments are taken into consideration by the commissioners.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731099505711.png" alt="This housing complex built by DP Management in Norfolk, Nebraska, is similar to what is proposed for Hays. Photo courtesy DP Management&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>This housing complex built by DP Management in Norfolk, Nebraska, is similar to what is proposed for Hays. Photo courtesy DP Management&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostHays city commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution supporting DP Management, Omaha, Nebraska, in its application for a moderate-income housing state grant to build a 136-unit apartment complex.If awarded, the $650,000 grant from the&nbsp;Kansas Housing Resources Corporation will help finance the project on the southeast corner of Wheatland Avenue and East 22nd Street, which the developer is under contract to purchase.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731689366006.png" alt="Site of the proposed Victory Village housing complex in Hays at&nbsp;Wheatland Avenue and East 22nd Street, east of Bright Minds Academy. Image courtesy city of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Site of the proposed Victory Village housing complex in Hays at&nbsp;Wheatland Avenue and East 22nd Street, east of Bright Minds Academy. Image courtesy city of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>The city has no financial responsibility for the grant application.&nbsp;"This is just a letter of support. That's all the city would be doing," said&nbsp;Shaun Musil, commissioner.Forty-eight of the one, two and three-bedroom units would be market-rate housing, while 88 units would be low-income housing. DP Management has partnered with Ellis County to submit a low-income housing tax credit application to the federal program.&nbsp;The apartment complex would cost $9.8 million for phase one moderate-income units, and $22 million for phase two low-income units."We need the housing," Musil said. "You look around town, and you see so many businesses continue to struggle to get qualified staff. Hopefully, with all the apartments to be built in the next four or five years, it will help some of that."Other new Hays housing developments are planned and include The Depot, 10th and Main; The Grove, north of Hays Medical Center on Canterbury Drive; and Tallgrass Phase 4, Wheatland Drive north of 22nd Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731697773422.jpeg" alt="CERVS, 3701 Vine. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>CERVS, 3701 Vine. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728058506970.png" alt="CID district for CERVS , 3701 Vine. City of Hays courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>CID district for CERVS , 3701 Vine. City of Hays courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>Commissioners also held a public hearing, with no public comments, for establishing and levying a 1.5% Community Improvement District (CID) tax at CERVS, 3701 Vine.The development agreement for building a bigger CERVS convenience store and Phillips 66 fuel center was also approved.Developer Russ Pfannenstiel, Hays, estimates the tax will generate about $895,000 over the maximum 22-year term of the CID.&nbsp;The estimated project total cost is $4.7 million, with about $3.2 million as CID-eligible expenses.The 1.5% sales tax would be imposed when operations begin at the new facility.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713964499400.jpeg" alt="The existing Astra Bank, 1100 Fort, will be remodeled into a new Hays police station and municipal court facility. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>The existing Astra Bank, 1100 Fort, will be remodeled into a new Hays police station and municipal court facility. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>Commissioners also approved the design-build agreement for phase 1 services for the new Hays police station and municipal court facility at 1100 Fort in Astra Bank.The $182,000 agreement is with PWC, Hays, in partnership with team members BKV and JGR, who have experience with the proposed project.The architecture firm BKV&nbsp;completed the police department's space needs analysis, and the architectural firm JGR designed Astra Bank's 2018 remodel.Police headquarters and municipal court will move from the Ellis County Law Enforcement Center, 105 W. 12th, to the renovated bank.Astra Bank is <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/838fe958-24ab-4afe-a463-4daa732a1c4f">building a new facility </a>at 27th and Main.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731692838327.jpeg" alt="Phillip Gage. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Phillip Gage. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>During citizen comments, city employee Phillip Gage, a sergeant in the Hays police department, commented on Commissioner Reese Barrick's recent challenge to the local business community to pay their full-time employees at least $20 an hour.RELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/17290ca2-a64d-4482-aecd-213534370fcd">Ellis County reports highest poverty in the region</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7e6275e6-d3b6-4d59-bb6c-f2505d0a65ca">LETTER: Response to City Commissioner Barrick's statement on business wages</a>"I think if we have city commissioners challenging other business leaders, we also ought to be a business leader as well," Gage said.He noted 16 city positions start at less than $20 an hour.Barrick was late to the meeting and was unable to publicly address Gage's comment at that time.Mayor Sandy Jacobs thanked Gage and said all citizens' comments are taken into consideration by the commissioners.

🎙City of Hays supports state grant application for new 136-unit housing complex   

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post

HUTCHINSON - Hays High continued their postseason road trips with a trek to Hutchinson on Friday night. Hays won 28-0 for their first victory over the Salthawks in four tries.

The Indians held on downs on the first offensive series of the game for Hutchinson. The Salthawks attempted a run on 4th and 2 but was stuffed at their own 35 yard line.

Holden Lind took the first offensive play for Hays 30 yards to the four yard line. Carter Graham finished of the remaining yards on the next to plays. A Carson Moore extra point made the score 7-0 three minutes in to the game.

Hays forced a punt after three plays. The Indians drove into the red zone but lost the ball on downs. Following a short put by Hutchinson on three plays the Indians found pay dirt again. Two plays into the drive Graham found Jarek Purdy 34 yards down the field for a touchdown. Moore tacked on the extra point for a 14-0 advantage with :51 left in the first quarter.&nbsp;

Hutchinson possessed the football for the next 7:33 but came away empty. They got as far as the Hays 13 yard line but threw an incomplete pass&nbsp; on fourth down. Neither team could do anything with the football for the remainder of the first half for the halftime score of 14-0 in favor of the Indians.

Hays kept up the same pressure in the second half. The Indians opened the half with the football turned 11 plays into six points. Ian McGuire broke threw tacklers on the way to a 43 yard scoring run on third down. Moore's extra point made the score 21-0 with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

The Indian defense continued to control the game. Hutchinson had five second half drives. They punted once and failed to convert on fourth down four times. One of the failed conversions came just four plays after Hays turned the ball over for the first and only time.&nbsp;

The Salthawks took over at the Indian 37 but managed one yard. The Indians final score came from the Hutchinson 17 yard line after another four down stop by the defense. This time Holden Lind found the end zone. Carson Moore's extra point made up the final score of 28-0.

Hays held Hutchinson to 121 yards of total offense, 105 of those on the ground. The Salthawks were averaging 334 total yards, 289 rushing.

Three of Hays scoring plays started in Hutchinson territory leaving the Indians to a total of 267 yards. Ian McGuire ran for 111 yards and has a totaled 1,356 on the season.

Hays grabs their third shutout of the season for the first time since 1999.

The Indians are 7-4 on the year and will play a 12th game in a single season for the second time in program history. It is the fourth trip to the semi-finals for the Indians' program. They will play Eisenhower in Goddard next Friday.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays PostHUTCHINSON - Hays High continued their postseason road trips with a trek to Hutchinson on Friday night. Hays won 28-0 for their first victory over the Salthawks in four tries.The Indians held on downs on the first offensive series of the game for Hutchinson. The Salthawks attempted a run on 4th and 2 but was stuffed at their own 35 yard line.Holden Lind took the first offensive play for Hays 30 yards to the four yard line. Carter Graham finished of the remaining yards on the next to plays. A Carson Moore extra point made the score 7-0 three minutes in to the game.Hays forced a punt after three plays. The Indians drove into the red zone but lost the ball on downs. Following a short put by Hutchinson on three plays the Indians found pay dirt again. Two plays into the drive Graham found Jarek Purdy 34 yards down the field for a touchdown. Moore tacked on the extra point for a 14-0 advantage with :51 left in the first quarter.&nbsp;Hutchinson possessed the football for the next 7:33 but came away empty. They got as far as the Hays 13 yard line but threw an incomplete pass&nbsp; on fourth down. Neither team could do anything with the football for the remainder of the first half for the halftime score of 14-0 in favor of the Indians.Highlights<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1959525295&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/hays-high-fb-highlights-v-5" title="Hays High FB Highlights v Hutchinson Nov 15, 2024" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Hays High FB Highlights v Hutchinson Nov 15, 2024</a></div></div>Hays kept up the same pressure in the second half. The Indians opened the half with the football turned 11 plays into six points. Ian McGuire broke threw tacklers on the way to a 43 yard scoring run on third down. Moore's extra point made the score 21-0 with 7:51 left in the third quarter.The Indian defense continued to control the game. Hutchinson had five second half drives. They punted once and failed to convert on fourth down four times. One of the failed conversions came just four plays after Hays turned the ball over for the first and only time.&nbsp;The Salthawks took over at the Indian 37 but managed one yard. The Indians final score came from the Hutchinson 17 yard line after another four down stop by the defense. This time Holden Lind found the end zone. Carson Moore's extra point made up the final score of 28-0.Hays held Hutchinson to 121 yards of total offense, 105 of those on the ground. The Salthawks were averaging 334 total yards, 289 rushing.Three of Hays scoring plays started in Hutchinson territory leaving the Indians to a total of 267 yards. Ian McGuire ran for 111 yards and has a totaled 1,356 on the season.Hays grabs their third shutout of the season for the first time since 1999.The Indians are 7-4 on the year and will play a 12th game in a single season for the second time in program history. It is the fourth trip to the semi-finals for the Indians' program. They will play Eisenhower in Goddard next Friday.Hutchinson ends the year at 8-3.

🏈 Hays shuts out Hutchinson to advance to 5A semifinals

HAYS, Kan. – Katie DeGarmo recorded a double-double and was one of four Tigers in double figures as Fort Hays State won their home opener 77-52 over Adams State Friday evening at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers moved to 3-0 on the season, while Adams State dropped to 2-2 overall.

DeGarmo scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, Kate Dilsaver added 15 points, Olivia Hollembeck 12 and Telexa Weeter a career-high 11.

The Tigers used an 11-0 first quarter run to build a 22-10 lead after the first period. The Grizzlies cut the lead inside 10 four times in the second quarter, but the Tigers ended the half on a 6-0 run with four points from Dilsaver and a pair of free throws by Hollenbeck for a 40-26 lead.

The TIgers quickly pushed the lead to 18 in the third quarter on four straight free throws. Bailey Wilborn then hit three-straight 3-pointers, the final of which sparked a 12-0 run, which also included five-straight points from Hollenbeck, midway through the quarter. The Tigers led by&nbsp; 31 with 2:09 remaining in the third. They never let ASU closer than the final 25 point margin the rest of the way.

FHSU shot 50 percent from the field (25-of-50). They made seven of their first nine 3-point attempts and finished 7-of-13 from beyond the arc . They also made 20 of their 26 free throw attempts. FHSU dominated glass, outrebounding the Grizzlies by 24.

The Tigers held the Grizzlies to 37 percent overall from the field. ASU shot just 54.5 percent at the free-throw line. Kiiyani Anitielu was the only ASU player to reach double figures in scoring with 18, and she tied for a team-high four rebounds.

Fort Hays State will play MSU Denver at 5 p.m. Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Roadrunners lost to Nebraska-Kearney in the game Friday. The Lopers play Adams State at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731727660949.png" alt="Fort Hays State's Kate Dilsaver (4) attempts a shot just before halftime in an NCAA college basketball game against Adams State on Friday, November 15, 2024 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Kate Dilsaver (4) attempts a shot just before halftime in an NCAA college basketball game against Adams State on Friday, November 15, 2024 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays PostHAYS, Kan. – Katie DeGarmo recorded a double-double and was one of four Tigers in double figures as Fort Hays State won their home opener 77-52 over Adams State Friday evening at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers moved to 3-0 on the season, while Adams State dropped to 2-2 overall.DeGarmo scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, Kate Dilsaver added 15 points, Olivia Hollembeck 12 and Telexa Weeter a career-high 11.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1959495163&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/198b1393-3195-4797-97b4-7a0521c9929b" title="Talia Kahrs Postgame vs. Adams State (Nov. 15, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Talia Kahrs Postgame vs. Adams State (Nov. 15, 2024)</a></div></div>The Tigers used an 11-0 first quarter run to build a 22-10 lead after the first period. The Grizzlies cut the lead inside 10 four times in the second quarter, but the Tigers ended the half on a 6-0 run with four points from Dilsaver and a pair of free throws by Hollenbeck for a 40-26 lead.The TIgers quickly pushed the lead to 18 in the third quarter on four straight free throws. Bailey Wilborn then hit three-straight 3-pointers, the final of which sparked a 12-0 run, which also included five-straight points from Hollenbeck, midway through the quarter. The Tigers led by&nbsp; 31 with 2:09 remaining in the third. They never let ASU closer than the final 25 point margin the rest of the way.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1959494675&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-wbkb-postgame-katie-degarmo-interview-vs-adams-state-nov-15th-24" title="Katie DeGarmo Postgame vs. Adams State (Nov. 15, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Katie DeGarmo Postgame vs. Adams State (Nov. 15, 2024)</a></div></div>FHSU shot 50 percent from the field (25-of-50). They made seven of their first nine 3-point attempts and finished 7-of-13 from beyond the arc . They also made 20 of their 26 free throw attempts. FHSU dominated glass, outrebounding the Grizzlies by 24.The Tigers held the Grizzlies to 37 percent overall from the field. ASU shot just 54.5 percent at the free-throw line. Kiiyani Anitielu was the only ASU player to reach double figures in scoring with 18, and she tied for a team-high four rebounds.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1959494431&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fort-hays-state-wbkb-highlights-vs-adams-state-nov-15th-24" title="#23 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. Adams State (Nov. 15, 2024)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">#23 Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. Adams State (Nov. 15, 2024)</a></div></div>UP NEXTFort Hays State will play MSU Denver at 5 p.m. Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Roadrunners lost to Nebraska-Kearney in the game Friday. The Lopers play Adams State at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.&nbsp;

🏀  #23 FHSU women cruise past Adams State

This is in response to the recent letter of thanks posted by Dr. Jerod Grove on Nov. 14 upon leaving Hays Medical Center.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/72d9adfa-8b21-4d60-bd8c-049da4c03137">SEE RELATED STORY: LETTER: HaysMed surgeon announces departure</a>

After many trips back and forth to the ER, no doctor made any attempt to try to find out the cause of my medical problem. Dr. Jerod Grove put in the effort to find the cause of my pain and suffering.

While others just patched me up and sent me home several times, he persisted and literally saved my life! I have never met a surgeon who was so genuine and caring and down to earth. Just like a regular guy. 

I trusted him so much that I would not let any other surgeon touch my 91-year-old mother who recently went through two major surgeries. We thank God for you, Dr. Jerod Grove, and appreciate you being here for me and my family! You were a valuable member of our hospital and our community!

Hays has sadly lost an extremely talented, gracious surgeon and human being. It sounds to me like Hays Medical Center and its board need to step back and realign with the reason they are here – FOR US!

Of all the things that people put their whole-hearted trust into, it is the health care and well-being of ourselves, families and friends. How can you take that away HaysMed? How can you chase some of the best and brightest doctors from our town in exchange for your self-serving bureaucratic mentality!

It is no surprise that the great institution of KU Med wants no ties with you any longer. Think of the reason why everyone leaves here to get better care elsewhere.

The good people of Hays and surrounding communities deserve better! It sounds to me like the bureaucratic swamp needs to be drained!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This is in response to the recent letter of thanks posted by Dr. Jerod Grove on Nov. 14 upon leaving Hays Medical Center.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/72d9adfa-8b21-4d60-bd8c-049da4c03137">SEE RELATED STORY: LETTER: HaysMed surgeon announces departure</a>After many trips back and forth to the ER, no doctor made any attempt to try to find out the cause of my medical problem. Dr. Jerod Grove put in the effort to find the cause of my pain and suffering.While others just patched me up and sent me home several times, he persisted and literally saved my life! I have never met a surgeon who was so genuine and caring and down to earth. Just like a regular guy. I trusted him so much that I would not let any other surgeon touch my 91-year-old mother who recently went through two major surgeries. We thank God for you, Dr. Jerod Grove, and appreciate you being here for me and my family! You were a valuable member of our hospital and our community!Hays has sadly lost an extremely talented, gracious surgeon and human being. It sounds to me like Hays Medical Center and its board need to step back and realign with the reason they are here – FOR US!Of all the things that people put their whole-hearted trust into, it is the health care and well-being of ourselves, families and friends. How can you take that away HaysMed? How can you chase some of the best and brightest doctors from our town in exchange for your self-serving bureaucratic mentality!It is no surprise that the great institution of KU Med wants no ties with you any longer. Think of the reason why everyone leaves here to get better care elsewhere.The good people of Hays and surrounding communities deserve better! It sounds to me like the bureaucratic swamp needs to be drained!Jodie J. Wear-Leiker

LETTER: Praise for Dr. Grove; concern HaysMed 'chasing away' doctors

While much of western Kansas is no longer considered in drought, much of Ellis County is still classified as being in moderate drought, according to the Kansas Drought Monitor, released on Thursday.

As of Thursday, Hays had received 2.61 inches of rain in November. The average precipitation for the month is .84 inches.

Hays has received 22.76 inches of precipitation year to date compared to an average of 22.22 inches by the end of November.

The forecast for today and Saturday is for unseasonably warm weather with highs in the mid to upper 50s and breezy.

Chances for rain return on Sunday and Monday, with highs dropping into the 50s.&nbsp;

The National Weather Service forecasts the low on Tuesday night to drop to 28 degrees with a 20% chance of snow Tuesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731690138933.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWhile much of western Kansas is no longer considered in drought, much of Ellis County is still classified as being in moderate drought, according to the Kansas Drought Monitor, released on Thursday.As of Thursday, Hays had received 2.61 inches of rain in November. The average precipitation for the month is .84 inches.Hays has received 22.76 inches of precipitation year to date compared to an average of 22.22 inches by the end of November.The forecast for today and Saturday is for unseasonably warm weather with highs in the mid to upper 50s and breezy.Chances for rain return on Sunday and Monday, with highs dropping into the 50s.&nbsp;The National Weather Service forecasts the low on Tuesday night to drop to 28 degrees with a 20% chance of snow Tuesday night.

Drought persists in Ellis County, but more rain in the forecast

#23 Fort Hays State (2-0) vs. Adams State (2-1) Friday, November 15, 2024 • 5:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum

National Anthem:&nbsp;Lincoln Elementary Promotions:&nbsp;Canned Food Drive for Tiger Food Pantry - $5 ticket with a non-perishable food donation

vs. MSU Denver (0-2) Saturday, November 16, 2024 • 5 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum

National Anthem:&nbsp;FHSU Pep Band Promotions:&nbsp;Canned Food Drive for Tiger Food Pantry - $5 ticket with a&nbsp;non-perishable food donation

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

The 23rd-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will make its home debut this weekend with a pair of games against former RMAC rivals. The Tigers will first battle Adams State on Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m. before hosting MSU Denver on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m.

Nebraska-Kearney will also be playing the same two teams in the reverse order in neutral site contests, with those matchups slated to begin two hours before the listed FHSU game time.

Full Weekend Schedule Friday, November 15 3:30 p.m. - Nebraska-Kearney vs. MSU Denver 5:30 p.m. - Fort Hays State vs. Adams State

Saturday, November 16 3 p.m. - Nebraska-Kearney vs. Adams State 5 p.m. - Fort Hays State vs. MSU Denver

Single-game tickets are now available for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new//team.asp?sponsorid=17334">purchase online</a>. Only&nbsp;upper level general admission tickets are available, with pricing set at $12 for adults and $5 for youth K-12. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, with ticket booths opening one hour prior tipoff.

Live video will be available all weekend on&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">The MIAA Network</a>, brought to you by Tiger Media Network. Single game broadcasts can be purchased for $20, while fans can also purchase a monthly subscription for $30 or a year-long all-access pass for $140.

Radio coverage of the FHSU games will be available on KJLS 103.3 FM and&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">online here</a>, while live stats for all four games will also be posted&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary">online here</a>.

The Tigers are off to a 2-0 start after a pair of big wins in St. Joseph, Mo. at the 2024 Central Regional Crossover Challenge, defeating Augustana and MSU Moorhead by an average of 20 points. The Tigers lead the MIAA and rank 11th in DII in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 29.7 percent from the floor.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/8329">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;was named the first MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week, presented by Southern Bank, of the 2024-25 season after leading the Tigers with 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per game over the weekend. She opened the year with 29 points in the win over the Vikings, one off her career high.

Hollenbeck moved up to ninth on the FHSU all-time scoring list in the process, now with 1,450 career points. She is 14th on the career scoring list amongst active DII players, while her 174 blocks are sixth-most among current DII competitors.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner-degarmo/8334">Katie Wagner DeGarmo</a>&nbsp;is closing in on 1,000 career rebounds as she looks to become just the second player in team history with both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds (Kate Lehman). She enters the weekend with 974 career rebounds after grabbing nine boards across the first two games.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/brooke-loewe/8331">Brooke Loewe</a>&nbsp;dished out four assists in both wins last weekend, good for fifth in the league with 4.0 assists per game. The junior leads the MIAA with 3.5 steals per contest after poking away five steals in the win over MSU Moorhead.

After scoring a career-high 17 points in the final game of the 2023-24 season,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/8327">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;nearly surpassed that total in the 2024-25 season opener when she totaled 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting against Augustana. She is the lone Tiger to hit multiple 3-pointers in a game so far this season.

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/talexa-weeter/8335">Talexa Weeter</a>&nbsp;led the team with eight rebounds in the season opener against Augustana, the most rebounds in a game by a Tiger this season. She is also averaging 7.5 points per game after hitting one 3-pointer in each contest over the weekend.

The Tigers are 28-5 in home openers during the NCAA DII era (since 1991-92). The women are 568-140 at home since Gross Memorial Coliseum opened in 1973, good for a winning percentage better than 80 percent.

The Tigers have won 12 in a row against schools from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. FHSU's last loss to an RMAC team came at Nebraska-Kearney in November 2007 (54-70, 11/29/07). FHSU is 2-0 against RMAC schools under Kahrs.

The Tigers are 24-1 all-time against Adams State, including wins in all 13 games played in Hays. FHSU has won three in a row after the Grizzlies beat the Tigers for the first time in 2004.

Fort Hays State is 15-13 overall against MSU Denver, including a win in the most recent meeting last year in Denver (65-45, 11/20/23). The Tigers are 10-2 at home against the Roadrunners, including wins in seven-straight home matchups.

Adams State is 2-1 so far this season, picking up wins over Kutztown and Midwestern State while falling to Harding by six. The Grizzlies were an NCAA Tournament team last year, winning a program-record 25 games before falling to eventual national runner-up Texas Woman's in the regional semifinals. The Grizzlies are second in the RMAC in field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 36.9 percent from the floor so far this season. Taejhuan Hill is tied for third in DII with two double-doubles on the year. She leads the team with an average of 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.

MSU Denver is 0-2 to start the year, losing to Angelo State and No. 2 Texas Woman's. The Roadrunners rank 263rd out of 280 NCAA DII teams with a shooting percentage of 31.0 percent. Five players average at least five points per game, led by Mikylah Espinosa with 7.0 points per game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731639069358.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Athletics#23 Fort Hays State (2-0) vs. Adams State (2-1) Friday, November 15, 2024 • 5:30 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial ColiseumNational Anthem:&nbsp;Lincoln Elementary Promotions:&nbsp;Canned Food Drive for Tiger Food Pantry - $5 ticket with a non-perishable food donationvs. MSU Denver (0-2) Saturday, November 16, 2024 • 5 p.m. Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial ColiseumNational Anthem:&nbsp;FHSU Pep Band Promotions:&nbsp;Canned Food Drive for Tiger Food Pantry - $5 ticket with a&nbsp;non-perishable food donationRadio:&nbsp;KJLS (103.3)&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video:&nbsp;MIAA Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The 23rd-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will make its home debut this weekend with a pair of games against former RMAC rivals. The Tigers will first battle Adams State on Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m. before hosting MSU Denver on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m.Nebraska-Kearney will also be playing the same two teams in the reverse order in neutral site contests, with those matchups slated to begin two hours before the listed FHSU game time.Full Weekend Schedule Friday, November 15 3:30 p.m. - Nebraska-Kearney vs. MSU Denver 5:30 p.m. - Fort Hays State vs. Adams StateSaturday, November 16 3 p.m. - Nebraska-Kearney vs. Adams State 5 p.m. - Fort Hays State vs. MSU DenverSingle-game tickets are now available for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new//team.asp?sponsorid=17334">purchase online</a>. Only&nbsp;upper level general admission tickets are available, with pricing set at $12 for adults and $5 for youth K-12. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, with ticket booths opening one hour prior tipoff.Live video will be available all weekend on&nbsp;<a href="https://themiaanetwork.com/fhsutigers/">The MIAA Network</a>, brought to you by Tiger Media Network. Single game broadcasts can be purchased for $20, while fans can also purchase a monthly subscription for $30 or a year-long all-access pass for $140.Radio coverage of the FHSU games will be available on KJLS 103.3 FM and&nbsp;<a href="https://mix103fm.com/">online here</a>, while live stats for all four games will also be posted&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary">online here</a>.The Tigers are off to a 2-0 start after a pair of big wins in St. Joseph, Mo. at the 2024 Central Regional Crossover Challenge, defeating Augustana and MSU Moorhead by an average of 20 points. The Tigers lead the MIAA and rank 11th in DII in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 29.7 percent from the floor.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/8329">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;was named the first MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week, presented by Southern Bank, of the 2024-25 season after leading the Tigers with 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per game over the weekend. She opened the year with 29 points in the win over the Vikings, one off her career high.Hollenbeck moved up to ninth on the FHSU all-time scoring list in the process, now with 1,450 career points. She is 14th on the career scoring list amongst active DII players, while her 174 blocks are sixth-most among current DII competitors.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner-degarmo/8334">Katie Wagner DeGarmo</a>&nbsp;is closing in on 1,000 career rebounds as she looks to become just the second player in team history with both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds (Kate Lehman). She enters the weekend with 974 career rebounds after grabbing nine boards across the first two games.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/brooke-loewe/8331">Brooke Loewe</a>&nbsp;dished out four assists in both wins last weekend, good for fifth in the league with 4.0 assists per game. The junior leads the MIAA with 3.5 steals per contest after poking away five steals in the win over MSU Moorhead.After scoring a career-high 17 points in the final game of the 2023-24 season,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/8327">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;nearly surpassed that total in the 2024-25 season opener when she totaled 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting against Augustana. She is the lone Tiger to hit multiple 3-pointers in a game so far this season.Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/talexa-weeter/8335">Talexa Weeter</a>&nbsp;led the team with eight rebounds in the season opener against Augustana, the most rebounds in a game by a Tiger this season. She is also averaging 7.5 points per game after hitting one 3-pointer in each contest over the weekend.The Tigers are 28-5 in home openers during the NCAA DII era (since 1991-92). The women are 568-140 at home since Gross Memorial Coliseum opened in 1973, good for a winning percentage better than 80 percent.The Tigers have won 12 in a row against schools from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. FHSU's last loss to an RMAC team came at Nebraska-Kearney in November 2007 (54-70, 11/29/07). FHSU is 2-0 against RMAC schools under Kahrs.The Tigers are 24-1 all-time against Adams State, including wins in all 13 games played in Hays. FHSU has won three in a row after the Grizzlies beat the Tigers for the first time in 2004.Fort Hays State is 15-13 overall against MSU Denver, including a win in the most recent meeting last year in Denver (65-45, 11/20/23). The Tigers are 10-2 at home against the Roadrunners, including wins in seven-straight home matchups.Adams State is 2-1 so far this season, picking up wins over Kutztown and Midwestern State while falling to Harding by six. The Grizzlies were an NCAA Tournament team last year, winning a program-record 25 games before falling to eventual national runner-up Texas Woman's in the regional semifinals. The Grizzlies are second in the RMAC in field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 36.9 percent from the floor so far this season. Taejhuan Hill is tied for third in DII with two double-doubles on the year. She leads the team with an average of 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.MSU Denver is 0-2 to start the year, losing to Angelo State and No. 2 Texas Woman's. The Roadrunners rank 263rd out of 280 NCAA DII teams with a shooting percentage of 31.0 percent. Five players average at least five points per game, led by Mikylah Espinosa with 7.0 points per game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎧 LISTEN: No. 23 FHSU women makes home debut

Listen between 7 a.m. and midnight Monday through Thursday for the codeword of the day. Enter it on the Hays Post, and you'll have a chance to win prizes through Dec. 20.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731687514087.jpeg" alt="Ron Sherard of Hays receives his prize in the Reindeer Radio contest from KAYS programmer Jeff Leiker.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Ron Sherard of Hays receives his prize in the Reindeer Radio contest from KAYS programmer Jeff Leiker.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700251607468.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Listen between 7 a.m. and midnight Monday through Thursday for the codeword of the day. Enter it on the Hays Post, and you'll have a chance to win prizes through Dec. 20.

First Reindeer Radio winner announced; listen for more chances to win

President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is filling key posts in his second administration, and it's shaping up much differently than his first. He's prioritizing loyalists for top jobs.

Trump was bruised and hampered by internal squabbles during his initial term in office. Now he appears focused on remaking the federal government in his own image. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation battles even with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate.

Here's a look at whom he has selected so far.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-marco-rubio-secretary-of-state-25664371f80dcf3332838352165e4d48">named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;to be secretary of state, making the critic-turned-ally his choice for top diplomat.

Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement.

The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator once called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations.

Trump said Wednesday he will nominate Florida Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/matt-gaetz">Matt Gaetz</a>&nbsp;to serve as his attorney general, naming a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.

In selecting Gaetz, 42, Trump passed over some of the more established lawyers whose names had been mentioned as being contenders for the job.

“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and Restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.

Gaetz resigned from Congress Wednesday night. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating an allegation that Gaetz paid for sex with a 17-year-old, though that probe effectively ended when he resigned. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Tulsi Gabbard

Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-466dfdfe2f949ea20bc2f4ef13e21438">has been tapped by Trump</a>&nbsp;to be director of national intelligence, another example of Trump prizing loyalty over experience.

Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall, and she's been accused of echoing Russian propaganda.

“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement.

Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions.

Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox &amp; Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014. He developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.

Hegseth served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. He has two Bronze Stars. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-defense-secretary-pentagon-2d8030921ecef933778cf92afd40ec72">Hegseth lacks</a>&nbsp;senior military and national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.

Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year.

Noem is a well-known conservative used her two terms leading South Dakota to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic.

More recently, Noem faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting and killing her dog.

She is set to lead a department crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda as well as other missions. Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports.

Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term, leading the U.S. government’s spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-trump-speech-arizona-a2638f89ddcb5de03edbe4574ca17d45">then endorsed Trump</a>. He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign.

The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines</a>. For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism.

President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is filling key posts in his second administration, and it's shaping up much differently than his first. He's prioritizing loyalists for top jobs.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump announces North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will be him nominee for Secretary of the Interior. <a href="https://t.co/OxoZwXeTb0">pic.twitter.com/OxoZwXeTb0</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1857244871486013639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump was bruised and hampered by internal squabbles during his initial term in office. Now he appears focused on remaking the federal government in his own image. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation battles even with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate.Here's a look at whom he has selected so far.<h2>Cabinet nominees</h2><h2>SECRETARY OF STATE: Marco Rubio</h2>Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-marco-rubio-secretary-of-state-25664371f80dcf3332838352165e4d48">named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;to be secretary of state, making the critic-turned-ally his choice for top diplomat.Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement.The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator once called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations.<h2>ATTORNEY GENERAL: Matt Gaetz</h2>Trump said Wednesday he will nominate Florida Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/matt-gaetz">Matt Gaetz</a>&nbsp;to serve as his attorney general, naming a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.In selecting Gaetz, 42, Trump passed over some of the more established lawyers whose names had been mentioned as being contenders for the job.“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and Restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.Gaetz resigned from Congress Wednesday night. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating an allegation that Gaetz paid for sex with a 17-year-old, though that probe effectively ended when he resigned. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.<h2>DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Tulsi Gabbard</h2>Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-466dfdfe2f949ea20bc2f4ef13e21438">has been tapped by Trump</a>&nbsp;to be director of national intelligence, another example of Trump prizing loyalty over experience.Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall, and she's been accused of echoing Russian propaganda.“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement.Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions.<h2>DEFENSE SECRETARY: Pete Hegseth</h2>Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox &amp; Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014. He developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.Hegseth served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. He has two Bronze Stars. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-defense-secretary-pentagon-2d8030921ecef933778cf92afd40ec72">Hegseth lacks</a>&nbsp;senior military and national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year.<h2>HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Kristi Noem</h2>Noem is a well-known conservative used her two terms leading South Dakota to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic.More recently, Noem faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting and killing her dog.She is set to lead a department crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda as well as other missions. Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports.<h2>CIA DIRECTOR: John Ratcliffe</h2>Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term, leading the U.S. government’s spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic.“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”<h2>HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</h2>Kennedy ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-trump-speech-arizona-a2638f89ddcb5de03edbe4574ca17d45">then endorsed Trump</a>. He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign.The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines</a>. For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism.<h2>VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY: Doug Collins</h2>Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate.Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command."We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.<h2>INTERIOR SECRETARY: Doug Burgum</h2>The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race.Burgum was a serious contender to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vice-president-rubio-vance-burgum-scott-8b6a3a22eecdfff668a5002ddfd3af18">be Trump’s vice presidential choice</a>&nbsp;this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs.Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day.In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation.“There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said.<h2>ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR: Lee Zeldin</h2>Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LeeMZeldin/status/1856068555865026956">X</a>, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.”“We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration’s promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referred to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign that his administration would “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration.In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”<h2>White House staff</h2><h2>CHIEF OF STAFF: Susie Wiles</h2>Wiles, 67,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-susie-wiles-32df8958bedde5f3f2d55fd071979692">was a senior adviser</a>&nbsp;to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager.She has a background in Florida politics, helping Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor. Six years later, she was key to Trump’s defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary.Wiles’ hire was Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with him. Wiles is said to have earned Trump’s trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump’s three presidential campaigns.Wiles was able to help keep Trump on track as few others have, not by criticizing his impulses, but by winning his respect by demonstrating his success after taking her advice.<h2>NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Mike Waltz</h2>Waltz is a three-term Republican congressman from east-central Florida.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-security-adviser-mike-wlatz-0c81d044c9ffe18dfd745202e8351b9c">A former Army Green Beret</a>, he served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population.<h2>BORDER CZAR: Tom Homan</h2>Homan, 62,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-homan-ice-border-czar-7dea915b5ea43896390b8020d254f887">has been tasked</a>&nbsp;with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.He served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and he was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border once Trump won the election. Homan said at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to “run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border.<h2>DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR POLICY: Stephen Miller</h2>Miller, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stephen-miller-policy-immigration-9cc6ad3118779b23bff88022ca5e2260">immigration hardliner</a>, was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump’s priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump’s first administration.Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump’s policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation’s economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally.Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security.<h2>DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: Dan Scavino</h2>Scavino was an adviser to all three of the president-elect's campaigns, and the transition team referred to him as one of “Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides." He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president.He previously ran Trump’s social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.<h2>DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: James Blair</h2>Blair was political director for Trump’s 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president.Blair was key to Trump’s economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate’s “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago.<h2>DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: Taylor Budowich</h2>Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump’s 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president.Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his first presidency.<h2>WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: William McGinley</h2>McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign.In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.”<h2>Ambassadors and envoys</h2><h2>SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST: Steven Witkoff</h2>The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination.Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud."Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee.<h2>AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Mike Huckabee</h2>Huckabee is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-huckabee-ambassador-israel-ace1894ce731c36622d5f09982a0a9b2">staunch defender of Israel</a>&nbsp;and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.“He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.”Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland.Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Huckabee has rejected a Palestinian homeland in territory occupied by Israel, calling for a so-called “one-state solution.”<h2>AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Elise Stefanik</h2>Stefanik is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">representative from New York</a>&nbsp;and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment.Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership.Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile.If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine that began in 2022.___