By BECKY KISER Hays Post

More development in Hays will be discussed by city commissioners during their Thursday work session.

Two resolutions are being sought for the new location of Vernie's Trux-N-Equip on six acres northwest of the&nbsp;intersection of 48th Street and General Hays Road. It's the site of the former Hays Livestock sales barn.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The developer plans to seek the establishment of a community improvement district and the issuance of industrial revenue bonds for the $2.2 million project.&nbsp;No property tax&nbsp;abatement is requested.

The city also has a request for a $300,000 community development block grant for Chestnut Suites to redevelop&nbsp;1108 North Main in downtown Hays&nbsp;into a new&nbsp;luxury short-term rental Airbnb location.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also on the <a href="https://ks-hays.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05162024-1481">May 16 agenda</a> is consideration of a contract renewal for the city attorney.

The work session begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714949794159.png" alt="Planned new location of&nbsp;&nbsp;Vernie's Trux-N-Equip. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Planned new location of&nbsp;&nbsp;Vernie's Trux-N-Equip. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostMore development in Hays will be discussed by city commissioners during their Thursday work session.Two resolutions are being sought for the new location of Vernie's Trux-N-Equip on six acres northwest of the&nbsp;intersection of 48th Street and General Hays Road. It's the site of the former Hays Livestock sales barn.&nbsp;&nbsp;The developer plans to seek the establishment of a community improvement district and the issuance of industrial revenue bonds for the $2.2 million project.&nbsp;No property tax&nbsp;abatement is requested.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715809139254.png" alt="1108 N. Main, downtown Hays. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>1108 N. Main, downtown Hays. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The city also has a request for a $300,000 community development block grant for Chestnut Suites to redevelop&nbsp;1108 North Main in downtown Hays&nbsp;into a new&nbsp;luxury short-term rental Airbnb location.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also on the <a href="https://ks-hays.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05162024-1481">May 16 agenda</a> is consideration of a contract renewal for the city attorney.The work session begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

Development incentives requested for projects in downtown, north Hays 

Hays High junior Riley Dreher has committed to play softball at Hutchinson Community College. Dreher making the announcement through social media Thursday morning.

Dreher&nbsp; hit .452 for the Indians this spring which was second best on the team. She led HHS in hits (38), doubles (9), triples (8), home runs (33) and RBIs (3). She also walked 10 times while striking out only twice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715863320179.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostHays High junior Riley Dreher has committed to play softball at Hutchinson Community College. Dreher making the announcement through social media Thursday morning.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">So excited to have the opportunity to continue my education and play collegiate softball! I have committed to <a href="https://twitter.com/HutchSoftball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HutchSoftball</a> . Thank you so much to every one who has gotten me to where I am today. Looking forward to joining the Hutch family!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rolldrags?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rolldrags</a>🥎❤️🐲✝️✝️✝️ <a href="https://t.co/lA7kyzwPXQ">pic.twitter.com/lA7kyzwPXQ</a>&mdash; Riley Dreher (@Riley_20_25) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley_20_25/status/1791060729245696443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Dreher&nbsp; hit .452 for the Indians this spring which was second best on the team. She led HHS in hits (38), doubles (9), triples (8), home runs (33) and RBIs (3). She also walked 10 times while striking out only twice.

🥎 HHS' Dreher commits to Hutchinson CC

Jamie Salter is breathing a little easier these days. "It's good news," she said.

The Hays Regional Airport director confirmed last week that the Federal Aviation Administration has renewed for three years the Essential Air Service contract with SkyWest, operated by United Express.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We've had their notice to terminate [the service] out there since March 2022.&nbsp; So we are very, very happy to continue that partnership with them," Salter said.

"They were the low bid as well, so that's always nice," she said.&nbsp;

"There was a time when we weren't sure of the future for SkyWest in Hays or the [Essential Air Service] program. In April 2020, we flew 29 passengers. ... There was so much turmoil in the travel industry," Salter said.

She considers SkyWest the frontrunner among the airlines participating in the Essential Air Service program.

"Even weathering the storm of the pandemic, they hung in there the best they could. They didn't want to leave any community they could manage," Salter said.&nbsp;

SkyWest is contractually obligated to fly 12 flights a week at Hays. They fly 14 flights, "so we've got the same schedule every day of the week."

 SkyWest has been in Hays for 10 years.&nbsp;

Salter said the flight schedule has improved and is no longer tagged with Salina.

The early morning flight to Denver returned on April 2, leaving at about 6:30 a.m., with an evening flight arrival time in Hays at&nbsp; 11:06 p.m.

This summer, the daily flight to Chicago will be replaced with a second flight to Denver, departing at about 10:50 a.m.

The Essential Air Service was established to guarantee that small communities served by certificated air carriers before airline deregulation would have a minimal level of scheduled air service.  The U.S. Department of Transportation subsidizes commuter and certified air carriers for about 175 communities.

The return of the early morning flight in Hays has been popular among business and pleasure travelers.

"In April, our boardings were just under 1,100 passengers, a 23% increase over last year. It was the best April we've had since pre-pandemic. In 2019, we flew just over 1,200 passengers in April," Salter said.&nbsp;

Early bookings for May and June are also up.

Hays' airport is classified as a primary non-hub airport.

If more than 10,000 boardings are flown in a year, Hays is eligible to receive a $1 million entitlement from the FAA. The money is typically used for safety, security, and passenger enhancement projects.&nbsp;

Boardings at the Hays Regional Airport are running about 20% higher than they were last year at this time.

Salter is confident enplanements will exceed the 10,000 threshold for 2024.

"Each month has been better than the previous year," she said.

She attributes the expansion of passenger numbers to increased marketing and advertising for the airport, the use of a seasoned airline consultant and the routine flight connections that are back in place for travelers since the COVID pandemic ended.

Salter expects bigger passenger numbers this summer.

"May is normally a big month as are the summer months," she said.

"Utilization [of the air service] is a key factor in maintaining and keeping a great schedule like this."

Flights from Hays to Denver may be booked online at <a href="https://flyhays.com/">flyhays.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715783526078.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Hays Regional Airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Hays Regional Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostJamie Salter is breathing a little easier these days. "It's good news," she said.The Hays Regional Airport director confirmed last week that the Federal Aviation Administration has renewed for three years the Essential Air Service contract with SkyWest, operated by United Express.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We've had their notice to terminate [the service] out there since March 2022.&nbsp; So we are very, very happy to continue that partnership with them," Salter said."They were the low bid as well, so that's always nice," she said.&nbsp;"There was a time when we weren't sure of the future for SkyWest in Hays or the [Essential Air Service] program. In April 2020, we flew 29 passengers. ... There was so much turmoil in the travel industry," Salter said.She considers SkyWest the frontrunner among the airlines participating in the Essential Air Service program."Even weathering the storm of the pandemic, they hung in there the best they could. They didn't want to leave any community they could manage," Salter said.&nbsp;SkyWest is contractually obligated to fly 12 flights a week at Hays. They fly 14 flights, "so we've got the same schedule every day of the week." SkyWest has been in Hays for 10 years.&nbsp;Salter said the flight schedule has improved and is no longer tagged with Salina.The early morning flight to Denver returned on April 2, leaving at about 6:30 a.m., with an evening flight arrival time in Hays at&nbsp; 11:06 p.m.This summer, the daily flight to Chicago will be replaced with a second flight to Denver, departing at about 10:50 a.m.The Essential Air Service was established to guarantee that small communities served by certificated air carriers before airline deregulation would have a minimal level of scheduled air service. The U.S. Department of Transportation subsidizes commuter and certified air carriers for about 175 communities.The return of the early morning flight in Hays has been popular among business and pleasure travelers."In April, our boardings were just under 1,100 passengers, a 23% increase over last year. It was the best April we've had since pre-pandemic. In 2019, we flew just over 1,200 passengers in April," Salter said.&nbsp;Early bookings for May and June are also up.Hays' airport is classified as a primary non-hub airport.If more than 10,000 boardings are flown in a year, Hays is eligible to receive a $1 million entitlement from the FAA. The money is typically used for safety, security, and passenger enhancement projects.&nbsp;Boardings at the Hays Regional Airport are running about 20% higher than they were last year at this time.Salter is confident enplanements will exceed the 10,000 threshold for 2024."Each month has been better than the previous year," she said.She attributes the expansion of passenger numbers to increased marketing and advertising for the airport, the use of a seasoned airline consultant and the routine flight connections that are back in place for travelers since the COVID pandemic ended.Salter expects bigger passenger numbers this summer."May is normally a big month as are the summer months," she said."Utilization [of the air service] is a key factor in maintaining and keeping a great schedule like this."Flights from Hays to Denver may be booked online at <a href="https://flyhays.com/">flyhays.com</a>.

FAA approves 3-year contract for SkyWest at Hays Regional Airport

Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named the student civic leaders from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico, who will make up the 2024-2025 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. 

Grace McCord, a Fort Hays State University political science major, was named a cohort member.

“I am honored to have been selected as a Newman Civic Fellow, and I can’t wait to step into a community of like-minded students who are also passionate about making their communities better places to live,” McCord said. “The Newman Fellowship offers a platform to translate passion into action, empowering me to be an agent of change in my community and beyond, for which I am incredibly grateful.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. 

The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides these students with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate effectively across disciplines and create large-scale positive change.

McCord was nominated for this honor by FHSU President Tisa Mason. In her nomination letter, Mason said, “Grace McCord is a dedicated and accomplished student leader who embodies the tenacious Tiger spirit. Our campus is both proud of and grateful for her impactful contributions to our campus community and beyond.”

McCord’s involvement in campus leadership includes service as a senator in the FHSU Student Government Association, the Panhellenic Council, and several community service and faith-based organizations. She is the recipient of myriad honors and scholarships, including the Dane G. Hansen Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship.

The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over three days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities.

“We are honored to recognize such an outstanding group of community-committed students,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “One of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowships is the richness of students’ perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds—and how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political, and environmental issues impacting our world. These students will be the catalysts for change on many levels, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship is generously supported by The Allstate Foundation. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0VbNPUtN8RRW5-2F0LFdXTxmf5KsLxzBEXI5txX29F0-2Ff2lIWtHSxKRSwLS7vrW160LMkKgOc1PgJzWUy7A9pZUIqd1JUEBxLI-2BSVGqmCm7YpFKeo-_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOyGfw9-2F-2Fl1KhvtyTyWvTzGIJ1ZQGWKJN4Zmyp6EGKglL3InDmxO61YNtKdiSLeRli-2F8kV029ewQgqk4qhQb3-2FnAFFKCtUV3IOq7duKC-2FdmGxNaQucfb5fKbwSn1NhqLPAqjmWCH-2BuiW2naQijRq4e697h6HP8-2B5S8BwU61HGqLR9OvaXUohN88zRu-2B-2BFDNgi3eUPyd1tFFlQmMZKMux5ef3ZQlypewA1jX07pI13JtTRXJu8AZdCD-2FjAPQEvxg2Gk" target="_blank">compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship</a>.

You can read more about each of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort at&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0VbNPUtN8RRW5-2F0LFdXTxmf5KsLxzBEXI5txX29F0-2Ff2lIWtHSxKRSwLS7vrW160LMkKgOc1PgJzWUy7A9pZUIp7HhnBxiHJbHj9ra-2BPl2c47fXTj9gAMQolsAig9IqINw-3D-3DR20D_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOyGfw9-2F-2Fl1KhvtyTyWvTzGIJ1ZQGWKJN4Zmyp6EGKglL3InDmxO61YNtKdiSLeRli-2F8kV029ewQgqk4qhQb3-2FnKv0mqMnVol-2Fn2RI6qX6QCIK9nezP7cuYc3wkOnDSrWM-2FKNKikpjnoFRLcJaYY1silAbLEJ7U9UrAVp3006BsdXpEfqxUO-2FzroFZYHLuo9ZtF-2FgGC0HNjB8AAkHnwhHWn6guzUbhezBrGNR6rlbbYMOmgb9FlXwIeAOU-2BcBZ-2FrPd" target="_blank">compact.org/current-programs/newman-civic-fellowship/newman-civic-fellows</a>.

Campus Compact&nbsp;is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. Campus Compact supports institutions in fulfilling their public purposes by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. 

As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, we provide professional development to administrators and faculty to enable them to engage effectively, facilitate national partnerships connecting campuses with key issues in their local communities, build pilot programs to test and refine promising models in engaged teaching and scholarship, celebrate and cultivate student civic leadership, and convene higher education institutions and partners beyond higher education to share knowledge and develop collective capacity. 

Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.7LNxDHQVpzCjONIZ4OYIqk1TgeZA-2BgEAltlcLweOH8PJdNt99pdCRztlorMgPBJubghn_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOyGfw9-2F-2Fl1KhvtyTyWvTzGIJ1ZQGWKJN4Zmyp6EGKglL3InDmxO61YNtKdiSLeRli-2F8kV029ewQgqk4qhQb3-2FnLLzDpTEXYqyXdHYcobQk5N45FvDO6yvGnNMH3wBPmY1rhRNnserEv8XoPuvqOJHg9bVCwN9IJN49iQhLxLk-2FRRfdwJbp2D-2Fj-2FMNRzK4WWEbf8g3b9XBpAslqePiEBP3MCF9IFRg8rS1SxbolRiz3deVOTlKRDSR0fvNiqGv10kX" target="_blank">www.compact.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715606531966.png" alt="Grace McCord. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Grace McCord. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By FHSU University CommunicationsCampus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named the student civic leaders from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico, who will make up the 2024-2025 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Grace McCord, a Fort Hays State University political science major, was named a cohort member.“I am honored to have been selected as a Newman Civic Fellow, and I can’t wait to step into a community of like-minded students who are also passionate about making their communities better places to live,” McCord said. “The Newman Fellowship offers a platform to translate passion into action, empowering me to be an agent of change in my community and beyond, for which I am incredibly grateful.”The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides these students with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate effectively across disciplines and create large-scale positive change.McCord was nominated for this honor by FHSU President Tisa Mason. In her nomination letter, Mason said, “Grace McCord is a dedicated and accomplished student leader who embodies the tenacious Tiger spirit. Our campus is both proud of and grateful for her impactful contributions to our campus community and beyond.”McCord’s involvement in campus leadership includes service as a senator in the FHSU Student Government Association, the Panhellenic Council, and several community service and faith-based organizations. She is the recipient of myriad honors and scholarships, including the Dane G. Hansen Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship.The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over three days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities.“We are honored to recognize such an outstanding group of community-committed students,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “One of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowships is the richness of students’ perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds—and how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political, and environmental issues impacting our world. These students will be the catalysts for change on many levels, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.”The Newman Civic Fellowship is generously supported by The Allstate Foundation. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0VbNPUtN8RRW5-2F0LFdXTxmf5KsLxzBEXI5txX29F0-2Ff2lIWtHSxKRSwLS7vrW160LMkKgOc1PgJzWUy7A9pZUIqd1JUEBxLI-2BSVGqmCm7YpFKeo-_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOyGfw9-2F-2Fl1KhvtyTyWvTzGIJ1ZQGWKJN4Zmyp6EGKglL3InDmxO61YNtKdiSLeRli-2F8kV029ewQgqk4qhQb3-2FnAFFKCtUV3IOq7duKC-2FdmGxNaQucfb5fKbwSn1NhqLPAqjmWCH-2BuiW2naQijRq4e697h6HP8-2B5S8BwU61HGqLR9OvaXUohN88zRu-2B-2BFDNgi3eUPyd1tFFlQmMZKMux5ef3ZQlypewA1jX07pI13JtTRXJu8AZdCD-2FjAPQEvxg2Gk" target="_blank">compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship</a>. You can read more about each of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort at&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0VbNPUtN8RRW5-2F0LFdXTxmf5KsLxzBEXI5txX29F0-2Ff2lIWtHSxKRSwLS7vrW160LMkKgOc1PgJzWUy7A9pZUIp7HhnBxiHJbHj9ra-2BPl2c47fXTj9gAMQolsAig9IqINw-3D-3DR20D_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOyGfw9-2F-2Fl1KhvtyTyWvTzGIJ1ZQGWKJN4Zmyp6EGKglL3InDmxO61YNtKdiSLeRli-2F8kV029ewQgqk4qhQb3-2FnKv0mqMnVol-2Fn2RI6qX6QCIK9nezP7cuYc3wkOnDSrWM-2FKNKikpjnoFRLcJaYY1silAbLEJ7U9UrAVp3006BsdXpEfqxUO-2FzroFZYHLuo9ZtF-2FgGC0HNjB8AAkHnwhHWn6guzUbhezBrGNR6rlbbYMOmgb9FlXwIeAOU-2BcBZ-2FrPd" target="_blank">compact.org/current-programs/newman-civic-fellowship/newman-civic-fellows</a>.Campus Compact&nbsp;is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. Campus Compact supports institutions in fulfilling their public purposes by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, we provide professional development to administrators and faculty to enable them to engage effectively, facilitate national partnerships connecting campuses with key issues in their local communities, build pilot programs to test and refine promising models in engaged teaching and scholarship, celebrate and cultivate student civic leadership, and convene higher education institutions and partners beyond higher education to share knowledge and develop collective capacity. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.7LNxDHQVpzCjONIZ4OYIqk1TgeZA-2BgEAltlcLweOH8PJdNt99pdCRztlorMgPBJubghn_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOyGfw9-2F-2Fl1KhvtyTyWvTzGIJ1ZQGWKJN4Zmyp6EGKglL3InDmxO61YNtKdiSLeRli-2F8kV029ewQgqk4qhQb3-2FnLLzDpTEXYqyXdHYcobQk5N45FvDO6yvGnNMH3wBPmY1rhRNnserEv8XoPuvqOJHg9bVCwN9IJN49iQhLxLk-2FRRfdwJbp2D-2Fj-2FMNRzK4WWEbf8g3b9XBpAslqePiEBP3MCF9IFRg8rS1SxbolRiz3deVOTlKRDSR0fvNiqGv10kX" target="_blank">www.compact.org</a>.

FHSU junior named Newman Civic Fellow

Hays Arts Council and Fort Hays Art Department organize and celebrate Art Walks and Galas every year. Attendees expect to view quality art, enjoy live music, and nibble hors d’ oeuvres. Once a year in tiny Grainfield, soon-to-be retired art instructor Ronna Schulz and her students offer Wheatland School District families, patrons, and guests a similar extravaganza.

Ronna’s sister invited me to Ronna’s final Art Preview this year. Over decades, my friend Cindy shared intriguing details, notably that her sister’s students receive multiple regional and national awards every year. Despite knowing the competitive drive Ronna passes on to her students, I had no idea the treat I’d experience.

Keep in mind Wheatland is a 1 A District, constituting several communities and miles of surrounding countryside. Avoid blinking as you drive past so you see the brick secondary facility on Grainfield’s south side of I-70. Its classrooms, athletic fields, and courts serve rural kids. Art teacher Ronna’s credentials include ranch wife, mother of four, now grandmother, one time scout leader, K -12 art teacher, and more. Her lengthy resumé equals or exceeds that of other vibrant souls who make this tiny community thrive.

Growing up as a small-town teacher’s kid, Ronna’s family encouraged participation, education, and creativity on a stringent budget. Each sibling learned to make do and celebrate events with style, leading to epic holidays and weddings. She’s shared those lessons with students to celebrate each years’ accomplishments at the Art Preview.

Walking into the facility, nostrils twitch as luscious scents waft from the kitchen. Bouquets, some acknowledging Ronna’s retirement and others as décor, welcome guests. Two festively-dressed students take tickets, hand out out guest-choice ballots, and offer attendees opportunities to participate in a fundraiser to support the art department.

Down the hall, the gym is not a gym. Young men greet guests with sparkling cider-filled tulip glasses. Along the nearby east wall, display panels and tables showcase secondary art. Nearby, a multi-tiered chocolate fountain surrounded with pretzels, tiny rice-crispy squares, strawberries, and more dipping treats awaits those willing to stand in line. Nearby, suited students normally attired in jeans and boots or tennies offer attendees fresh-brewed coffee.

A table set with black dinnerware framing smiling photos remembers students, one her son, who passed away during Ronna’s tenure as art teacher. Beloved faces and names below photos trigger frantic searches for tissues.

Art students following Emily Post’s Etiquette guidelines elegantly set hundreds of places on tables arranged through the room’s center. South of the tables, artful décor highlights a podium and reveals the music teacher who plays piano all evening.

Elementary school art fills displays and tables near the west wall. Viewers see skill transitions from beginner to accomplished artist as they examine art produced by kindergarteners to 12th graders.

To support their artists, local families and businesses donated silent auction items including gift certificates, art, food items, and more. Contenders good-naturedly battled to stay on top of their bids. Despite Ronna’s retirement, the art department will go on.

Students, following upscale restaurant protocols, served dinner. One server ground fresh parmesan over salads. Brownie sundaes followed roast beef, potatoes, green beans, rolls, and salads. No one left hungry. Student-servers conscientiously poured water and tea over guests’ right shoulders. Obviously, they learned more than art as they put this evening together for families and community.

Following entertainment provided by forensic team members, Ronna honored her students and identified those who won regional and national awards. Several have work hanging in Congressional Offices in Washington D.C. and Kansas.

As she transitions into the next season of her life, Ronna obviously expects Wheatland School Art programs to continue. Heading home into a pastel Kansas sky painted by a master artist fittingly ended this unexpected surprise.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715365440308.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINHays Arts Council and Fort Hays Art Department organize and celebrate Art Walks and Galas every year. Attendees expect to view quality art, enjoy live music, and nibble hors d’ oeuvres. Once a year in tiny Grainfield, soon-to-be retired art instructor Ronna Schulz and her students offer Wheatland School District families, patrons, and guests a similar extravaganza.Ronna’s sister invited me to Ronna’s final Art Preview this year. Over decades, my friend Cindy shared intriguing details, notably that her sister’s students receive multiple regional and national awards every year. Despite knowing the competitive drive Ronna passes on to her students, I had no idea the treat I’d experience.Keep in mind Wheatland is a 1 A District, constituting several communities and miles of surrounding countryside. Avoid blinking as you drive past so you see the brick secondary facility on Grainfield’s south side of I-70. Its classrooms, athletic fields, and courts serve rural kids. Art teacher Ronna’s credentials include ranch wife, mother of four, now grandmother, one time scout leader, K -12 art teacher, and more. Her lengthy resumé equals or exceeds that of other vibrant souls who make this tiny community thrive.Growing up as a small-town teacher’s kid, Ronna’s family encouraged participation, education, and creativity on a stringent budget. Each sibling learned to make do and celebrate events with style, leading to epic holidays and weddings. She’s shared those lessons with students to celebrate each years’ accomplishments at the Art Preview.Walking into the facility, nostrils twitch as luscious scents waft from the kitchen. Bouquets, some acknowledging Ronna’s retirement and others as décor, welcome guests. Two festively-dressed students take tickets, hand out out guest-choice ballots, and offer attendees opportunities to participate in a fundraiser to support the art department.Down the hall, the gym is not a gym. Young men greet guests with sparkling cider-filled tulip glasses. Along the nearby east wall, display panels and tables showcase secondary art. Nearby, a multi-tiered chocolate fountain surrounded with pretzels, tiny rice-crispy squares, strawberries, and more dipping treats awaits those willing to stand in line. Nearby, suited students normally attired in jeans and boots or tennies offer attendees fresh-brewed coffee.A table set with black dinnerware framing smiling photos remembers students, one her son, who passed away during Ronna’s tenure as art teacher. Beloved faces and names below photos trigger frantic searches for tissues.Art students following Emily Post’s Etiquette guidelines elegantly set hundreds of places on tables arranged through the room’s center. South of the tables, artful décor highlights a podium and reveals the music teacher who plays piano all evening.Elementary school art fills displays and tables near the west wall. Viewers see skill transitions from beginner to accomplished artist as they examine art produced by kindergarteners to 12th graders.To support their artists, local families and businesses donated silent auction items including gift certificates, art, food items, and more. Contenders good-naturedly battled to stay on top of their bids. Despite Ronna’s retirement, the art department will go on.Students, following upscale restaurant protocols, served dinner. One server ground fresh parmesan over salads. Brownie sundaes followed roast beef, potatoes, green beans, rolls, and salads. No one left hungry. Student-servers conscientiously poured water and tea over guests’ right shoulders. Obviously, they learned more than art as they put this evening together for families and community.Following entertainment provided by forensic team members, Ronna honored her students and identified those who won regional and national awards. Several have work hanging in Congressional Offices in Washington D.C. and Kansas.As she transitions into the next season of her life, Ronna obviously expects Wheatland School Art programs to continue. Heading home into a pastel Kansas sky painted by a master artist fittingly ended this unexpected surprise.

MADORIN: Passing on a Legacy

HARVEY COUNTY — A Kansas teen is going to prison for sex crimes. On May 13, District Judge Jason Lane sentenced Le’Rhon A. Hamilton, 19, Newton, to just over 22-years in prison, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.

In January, Hamilton pled guilty to Rape, Attempted Criminal Sodomy and Aggravated Residential Burglary

The convictions in this case are based upon the following facts:

On July 21, 2023, the victim, a 66-year-old woman suffering from dementia, reported an unknown individual came into her house in the late evening hours and assaulted her. She was transported to the hospital where her injuries were treated and evidence was collected.

On August 6, 2023, in the early morning hours an unknown individual was recorded breaking into her home but she was not there and the suspect left without taking any items. The victim identified the male in the video as the one who attacked her.

On August 9, 2023, Le’Rhon Hamilton was observed by Newton Police and detained. The officer observed that his age, build, and general characteristics matched that of the individual in the video from August 6, 2023. 

Additionally, he had damage to his glasses that matched damage observed in the video and officers were able to match his tattoos to ones observed in the video.

Hamilton’s DNA was obtained sent to the KBI lab for comparison. KBI results indicate that Hamilton’s DNA was consistent with the seminal fluid evidence collected from the victim.

In addition to serving his prison sentence, he was ordered to serve lifetime post release and register for life as a sex offender.

Lifetime post release requires the Kansas Department of Corrections to monitor him the rest of his life.&nbsp; Hamilton is subject to conditions on release. If he violates those conditions, he could be sent back to prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715813743355.png" alt="Hamilton-photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Hamilton-photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY — A Kansas teen is going to prison for sex crimes. On May 13, District Judge Jason Lane sentenced Le’Rhon A. Hamilton, 19, Newton, to just over 22-years in prison, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.In January, Hamilton pled guilty to Rape, Attempted Criminal Sodomy and Aggravated Residential BurglaryThe convictions in this case are based upon the following facts:On July 21, 2023, the victim, a 66-year-old woman suffering from dementia, reported an unknown individual came into her house in the late evening hours and assaulted her. She was transported to the hospital where her injuries were treated and evidence was collected.On August 6, 2023, in the early morning hours an unknown individual was recorded breaking into her home but she was not there and the suspect left without taking any items. The victim identified the male in the video as the one who attacked her.On August 9, 2023, Le’Rhon Hamilton was observed by Newton Police and detained. The officer observed that his age, build, and general characteristics matched that of the individual in the video from August 6, 2023. Additionally, he had damage to his glasses that matched damage observed in the video and officers were able to match his tattoos to ones observed in the video.Hamilton’s DNA was obtained sent to the KBI lab for comparison. KBI results indicate that Hamilton’s DNA was consistent with the seminal fluid evidence collected from the victim.In addition to serving his prison sentence, he was ordered to serve lifetime post release and register for life as a sex offender.Lifetime post release requires the Kansas Department of Corrections to monitor him the rest of his life.&nbsp; Hamilton is subject to conditions on release. If he violates those conditions, he could be sent back to prison.

Video helps convict Kansas rape, burglary suspect

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-cohen-hush-money-stormy-daniels-735aadfd1ce015e05ba955c203a96f1b">started grilling prosecutors' star witness</a>&nbsp;in his hush money trial Tuesday, portraying former attorney Michael Cohen as a media-obsessed liar who's determined to see the former president behind bars.

<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-13-2024/00045.html">Click here to read Day 1 </a>transcript of Michael Cohen's testimony

Cohen endured intense questioning by defense attorney Todd Blanche after providing pivotal testimony tying the presumptive Republican presidential nominee directly to the hush money scheme at the heart of the case.

Trump's former fixer will return to the witness stand Thursday for more cross-examination before prosecutors rest their case alleging a scheme to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-opening-stormy-daniels-6beee9b99114898ee0dd60185d43bac5">illegally influence the 2016 election</a>&nbsp;by silencing women who alleged sexual encounters with him. Trump denies that he had sex with the women and denies wrongdoing in the case.

Here are some key takeaways from Tuesday's proceedings:

Prosecutors confronted Cohen's history of falsehoods head-on in an attempt to get ahead of an issue Trump lawyers are seizing on to attack the now-disbarred lawyer's credibility. Prosecutors also sought to paint Cohen as a devoted Trump loyalist, whose crimes were committed on the former president’s behalf.

Under questioning from prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Cohen admitted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d08fc20ad50f432886351beaff7bfc7e">he lied to Congress</a>&nbsp;during an investigation into potential ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-politics-north-america-28301de8eaa94cc796c5279fc28c1fdb">Cohen pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, admitting that he lied, among other things, about the number of times he spoke with Trump about a real estate project in Moscow.

Hoffinger also asked Cohen about concerns that he may have lied on the witness stand at the former president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-civil-fraud-trial-feb0593a5bbd3837edc0db195554eda1">civil fraud trial last year</a>. In that trial, Cohen insisted he didn't commit tax evasion, and said he had lied to the judge who accepted his guilty plea on the charge in 2018.

Cohen told Hoffinger he did not dispute the facts of his guilty plea, but that he didn’t think he should’ve been charged with a crime “as a first-time offender who always paid his taxes on the due date.”

Cohen also told jurors he lied repeatedly for Trump, including after Cohen paid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-gag-order-d853768fff5fafbdee55623579889140">porn actor Stormy Daniels</a>&nbsp;$130,000 to keep her from going public right before the 2016 election with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump.

Asked by Hoffinger why he would do so, Cohen said: “Out of loyalty and in order to protect him.”

Cohen described to jurors how his life and relationship with Trump were upended after the FBI raided his office, apartment and hotel room in 2018. That would lead to Cohen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-general-news-ed1aead5539b4fc6b7e42cdd6cb8fd3d">pleading guilty to federal charges</a>&nbsp;and implicating Trump in the hush money scheme. Trump was never charged with any crime related to that federal investigation.

Asked by the prosecutor how he felt at the time, Cohen said: “How to describe your life being turned upside-down? Concerned. Despondent. Angry."

Initially, Cohen said he felt comforted because Trump, who was in the White House at the time, assured him not to worry. Trump’s lawyers were also continuing to pay his legal fees and he remained part of a joint-defense agreement with Trump and his lawyers, he testified.

But his family eventually convinced him to turn on Trump, Cohen said.

“My family, my wife, my daughter, my son, all said to me: ‘Why are you holding onto this loyalty? What are you doing? We’re supposed to be your first loyalty,’” Cohen told jurors.

After Cohen’s guilty plea, Trump bashed him on Twitter, writing: “If anyone is looking for a good lawyer I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!”

Trump's team opened their cross-examination by pressing Cohen about critical comments and vulgar social media posts he's made about the former president since the trial began. The defense's questions Tuesday didn't address the facts at the heart of the case but were designed to portray Cohen as a Trump-fixated loyalist who, spurned by his ex-boss, is now on a mission to get fame and revenge.

“Is it fair to say you’re motivated by fame?” Blanche, Trump's lawyer, asked Cohen.

“No sir, I don’t think that’s fair to say,” Cohen replied. Later he added — in response to a question about whether he was motivated by publicity — that he is "motivated by many things.”

Blanche asked Cohen to listen through headphones to an October 2020 podcast episode in which the former lawyer said Trump needs to wear handcuffs and that “people will not be satisfied until this man is sitting inside a cell.”

Cohen told Blanche he didn’t recall saying that, but added: "I wouldn’t put it past me.”

Blanche also pressed Cohen on whether he wants to see Trump convicted in the case. Cohen initially hedged, saying: “I would like to see accountability. It’s not for me. It’s for the jury and this court.”

But asked again, Cohen responded: “Sure.”

While jurors were hearing testimony from Cohen, Trump suffered another legal blow when an appeals court upheld&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-gag-order-fae616037d3606cc60abbffb0e91f7ee">a gag order</a>&nbsp;that limits what he can say about the case.

Trump had challenged the gag order, which bars the former president from commenting publicly about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the case, including the judge’s family and prosecutors other than District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The appeals court ruled that Judge Juan M. Merchan “properly determined” that Trump’s public statements “posed a significant threat to the integrity of the testimony of witnesses and potential witnesses.”

Trump challenged restrictions on his ability to comment about Matthew Colangelo, a former Justice Department official who is a part of the prosecution team, and Merchan’s daughter, the head of a political consulting firm that has worked for Trump’s rival Joe Biden and other Democratic candidates.

Trump’s lawyers argued the gag order is an unconstitutional curb on the presumptive Republican nominee’s free speech rights while he’s campaigning for president and fighting criminal charges. The judge has fined Trump for repeatedly violating the gag order and&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/$1,000%20on%20Monday%20and,%20in%20his%20sternest%20warning%20yet,%20told%20the%20former%20president%20that%20future%20gag%20order%20violations%20could%20send%20him%20to%20jail.">has warned the former president</a>&nbsp;that future violations could send him to jail.

Limited by what he can say publicly about the case, Trump has been joined at the courthouse by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-daniels-trial-rick-scott-3ae0d6eddb94d2ca1155b0266dc9d35c">a growing entourage</a>&nbsp;of Republican supporters who echo his complaints about the prosecution. U.S. House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;was the latest to do so Tuesday, attacking the legal system as “corrupt” and the case against Trump a “sham.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-speaker-mike-johnson-court-09aef3de395fa77843f2600f40da6ac3">It was a striking moment</a>, underscoring Trump's political power even as he stands trial on criminal charges.

In remarks to reporters outside the courthouse, Johnson slammed Cohen as a man who has “trouble with the truth” and is “clearly on a mission for personal revenge.” Painting Trump as the victim of a politically motivated legal system, Johnson said the case is “not about justice."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715808528947.png" alt="An item of evidence for the defense and released from the New York Court" />
 <figcaption>An item of evidence for the defense and released from the New York Court</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-cohen-hush-money-stormy-daniels-735aadfd1ce015e05ba955c203a96f1b">started grilling prosecutors' star witness</a>&nbsp;in his hush money trial Tuesday, portraying former attorney Michael Cohen as a media-obsessed liar who's determined to see the former president behind bars.<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-13-2024/00045.html">Click here to read Day 1 </a>transcript of Michael Cohen's testimonyCohen endured intense questioning by defense attorney Todd Blanche after providing pivotal testimony tying the presumptive Republican presidential nominee directly to the hush money scheme at the heart of the case.Trump's former fixer will return to the witness stand Thursday for more cross-examination before prosecutors rest their case alleging a scheme to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-opening-stormy-daniels-6beee9b99114898ee0dd60185d43bac5">illegally influence the 2016 election</a>&nbsp;by silencing women who alleged sexual encounters with him. Trump denies that he had sex with the women and denies wrongdoing in the case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715809011875.png" alt="An item of evidence for the defense and released from the New York Court" />
 <figcaption>An item of evidence for the defense and released from the New York Court</figcaption>
 </figure>Here are some key takeaways from Tuesday's proceedings:ALL OF COHEN'S LIESProsecutors confronted Cohen's history of falsehoods head-on in an attempt to get ahead of an issue Trump lawyers are seizing on to attack the now-disbarred lawyer's credibility. Prosecutors also sought to paint Cohen as a devoted Trump loyalist, whose crimes were committed on the former president’s behalf.Under questioning from prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Cohen admitted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d08fc20ad50f432886351beaff7bfc7e">he lied to Congress</a>&nbsp;during an investigation into potential ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-politics-north-america-28301de8eaa94cc796c5279fc28c1fdb">Cohen pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, admitting that he lied, among other things, about the number of times he spoke with Trump about a real estate project in Moscow.Hoffinger also asked Cohen about concerns that he may have lied on the witness stand at the former president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-civil-fraud-trial-feb0593a5bbd3837edc0db195554eda1">civil fraud trial last year</a>. In that trial, Cohen insisted he didn't commit tax evasion, and said he had lied to the judge who accepted his guilty plea on the charge in 2018.Cohen told Hoffinger he did not dispute the facts of his guilty plea, but that he didn’t think he should’ve been charged with a crime “as a first-time offender who always paid his taxes on the due date.”Cohen also told jurors he lied repeatedly for Trump, including after Cohen paid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-gag-order-d853768fff5fafbdee55623579889140">porn actor Stormy Daniels</a>&nbsp;$130,000 to keep her from going public right before the 2016 election with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump.Asked by Hoffinger why he would do so, Cohen said: “Out of loyalty and in order to protect him.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715808638156.png" alt="An item of evidence for the defense and released from the New York Court" />
 <figcaption>An item of evidence for the defense and released from the New York Court</figcaption>
 </figure>NO LONGER LOYALCohen described to jurors how his life and relationship with Trump were upended after the FBI raided his office, apartment and hotel room in 2018. That would lead to Cohen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-general-news-ed1aead5539b4fc6b7e42cdd6cb8fd3d">pleading guilty to federal charges</a>&nbsp;and implicating Trump in the hush money scheme. Trump was never charged with any crime related to that federal investigation.Asked by the prosecutor how he felt at the time, Cohen said: “How to describe your life being turned upside-down? Concerned. Despondent. Angry."Initially, Cohen said he felt comforted because Trump, who was in the White House at the time, assured him not to worry. Trump’s lawyers were also continuing to pay his legal fees and he remained part of a joint-defense agreement with Trump and his lawyers, he testified.But his family eventually convinced him to turn on Trump, Cohen said.“My family, my wife, my daughter, my son, all said to me: ‘Why are you holding onto this loyalty? What are you doing? We’re supposed to be your first loyalty,’” Cohen told jurors.After Cohen’s guilty plea, Trump bashed him on Twitter, writing: “If anyone is looking for a good lawyer I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!”DEFENSE'S TURN TO GRILLTrump's team opened their cross-examination by pressing Cohen about critical comments and vulgar social media posts he's made about the former president since the trial began. The defense's questions Tuesday didn't address the facts at the heart of the case but were designed to portray Cohen as a Trump-fixated loyalist who, spurned by his ex-boss, is now on a mission to get fame and revenge.“Is it fair to say you’re motivated by fame?” Blanche, Trump's lawyer, asked Cohen.“No sir, I don’t think that’s fair to say,” Cohen replied. Later he added — in response to a question about whether he was motivated by publicity — that he is "motivated by many things.”Blanche asked Cohen to listen through headphones to an October 2020 podcast episode in which the former lawyer said Trump needs to wear handcuffs and that “people will not be satisfied until this man is sitting inside a cell.”Cohen told Blanche he didn’t recall saying that, but added: "I wouldn’t put it past me.”Blanche also pressed Cohen on whether he wants to see Trump convicted in the case. Cohen initially hedged, saying: “I would like to see accountability. It’s not for me. It’s for the jury and this court.”But asked again, Cohen responded: “Sure.”GAG ORDER UPHELDWhile jurors were hearing testimony from Cohen, Trump suffered another legal blow when an appeals court upheld&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-gag-order-fae616037d3606cc60abbffb0e91f7ee">a gag order</a>&nbsp;that limits what he can say about the case.Trump had challenged the gag order, which bars the former president from commenting publicly about jurors, witnesses and others connected to the case, including the judge’s family and prosecutors other than District Attorney Alvin Bragg.The appeals court ruled that Judge Juan M. Merchan “properly determined” that Trump’s public statements “posed a significant threat to the integrity of the testimony of witnesses and potential witnesses.”Trump challenged restrictions on his ability to comment about Matthew Colangelo, a former Justice Department official who is a part of the prosecution team, and Merchan’s daughter, the head of a political consulting firm that has worked for Trump’s rival Joe Biden and other Democratic candidates.Trump’s lawyers argued the gag order is an unconstitutional curb on the presumptive Republican nominee’s free speech rights while he’s campaigning for president and fighting criminal charges. The judge has fined Trump for repeatedly violating the gag order and&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/$1,000%20on%20Monday%20and,%20in%20his%20sternest%20warning%20yet,%20told%20the%20former%20president%20that%20future%20gag%20order%20violations%20could%20send%20him%20to%20jail.">has warned the former president</a>&nbsp;that future violations could send him to jail.TRUMP'S SUPPORTERSLimited by what he can say publicly about the case, Trump has been joined at the courthouse by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-daniels-trial-rick-scott-3ae0d6eddb94d2ca1155b0266dc9d35c">a growing entourage</a>&nbsp;of Republican supporters who echo his complaints about the prosecution. U.S. House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;was the latest to do so Tuesday, attacking the legal system as “corrupt” and the case against Trump a “sham.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-speaker-mike-johnson-court-09aef3de395fa77843f2600f40da6ac3">It was a striking moment</a>, underscoring Trump's political power even as he stands trial on criminal charges.In remarks to reporters outside the courthouse, Johnson slammed Cohen as a man who has “trouble with the truth” and is “clearly on a mission for personal revenge.” Painting Trump as the victim of a politically motivated legal system, Johnson said the case is “not about justice."___

Read the transcript: Michael Cohen's testimony in Trump trial

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post

WICHITA - Hays High allowed runs in just two innings but that was enough for Goddard-Eisenhower to beat the Indians 5-2 Wednesday afternoon in the first round of regional play at the Two Rivers Youth Complex.

Riley Dreher drove in Aubree Thomas for the game's first run in the top of the first inning. Thomas opened the game with a single. It was the Indians' only hit of the game.

Eisenhower struck for two runs in the bottom of the second and three more in the bottom of the third for a 5-1 lead. An error in the bottom of the second allowed the Tigers to take the lead at 2-1. They led off the third with a single followed by a triple for a 3-1 advantage. A run scoring single upped the lead to 4-1 and the fifth run scored on a passed ball.

Dreher scored the second and final run for Hays in the top of the sixth. Two errors by Eisenhower helped the Indians cross the plate.&nbsp;

Thomas allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and not walks over six innings and suffered the loss.

It was the second time Eisenhower beat Hays this season. The Tigers got the best of the Indians 3-2 earlier in the year.

Hays drops their final five games and ends their 2024 campaign at 15-12.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays PostWICHITA - Hays High allowed runs in just two innings but that was enough for Goddard-Eisenhower to beat the Indians 5-2 Wednesday afternoon in the first round of regional play at the Two Rivers Youth Complex.Riley Dreher drove in Aubree Thomas for the game's first run in the top of the first inning. Thomas opened the game with a single. It was the Indians' only hit of the game.<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/1822785972&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/hhs-sb-highlights-v-godard-eisenhower-may-15th-2024" title="HHS SB Highlights V. Goddard -Eisenhower May 15th, 2024" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">HHS SB Highlights V. Goddard -Eisenhower May 15th, 2024</a></div></div>Eisenhower struck for two runs in the bottom of the second and three more in the bottom of the third for a 5-1 lead. An error in the bottom of the second allowed the Tigers to take the lead at 2-1. They led off the third with a single followed by a triple for a 3-1 advantage. A run scoring single upped the lead to 4-1 and the fifth run scored on a passed ball.Dreher scored the second and final run for Hays in the top of the sixth. Two errors by Eisenhower helped the Indians cross the plate.&nbsp;Thomas allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and not walks over six innings and suffered the loss.<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/1822786242&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/hhs-sb-coach-interview-v-goddard-eisenhower-may-15th-2024" title="HHS SB Coach Interview V. Goddard - Eisenhower May 15th, 2024" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">HHS SB Coach Interview V. Goddard - Eisenhower May 15th, 2024</a></div></div>It was the second time Eisenhower beat Hays this season. The Tigers got the best of the Indians 3-2 earlier in the year.Hays drops their final five games and ends their 2024 campaign at 15-12.

🥎 Hays High's season ends in regional opener

Beginning on Thursday, at 8 a.m., the intersection of 11th and Ash in Hays will be closed to through traffic for water line replacements.

 Any residents affected by this project will be notified by the contractor for any interruption of services. 

These repairs are expected to take about a week.

 Please avoid the area if possible. Traffic control devices will be placed to direct the traveling public.

The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the contractor, J Corp, at 785-650-3995 or the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699907469122.jpeg" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning on Thursday, at 8 a.m., the intersection of 11th and Ash in Hays will be closed to through traffic for water line replacements. Any residents affected by this project will be notified by the contractor for any interruption of services. These repairs are expected to take about a week. Please avoid the area if possible. Traffic control devices will be placed to direct the traveling public.The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the contractor, J Corp, at 785-650-3995 or the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350.

Water line replacements at 11th & Ash to close Hays intersection

Another small amount of rain fell in Hays overnight Tuesday.

The official measurement at the K-State Agricultural Research Center was 0.21 inches, bringing the monthly total to 0.93 inches as of May 15.

Hays is still considerably below average in moisture received so far this year.

During May, Hays has an average of 3.34 inches of rain. To date, 0.93 inches has fallen.&nbsp;

The 154-year cumulative moisture average for Hays at the end of May is 7.92 inches.

So far in 2014, Hays has received 4.70 inches.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682693871209.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAnother small amount of rain fell in Hays overnight Tuesday.The official measurement at the K-State Agricultural Research Center was 0.21 inches, bringing the monthly total to 0.93 inches as of May 15.Hays is still considerably below average in moisture received so far this year.During May, Hays has an average of 3.34 inches of rain. To date, 0.93 inches has fallen.&nbsp;The 154-year cumulative moisture average for Hays at the end of May is 7.92 inches.So far in 2014, Hays has received 4.70 inches.&nbsp;

Nearly 1/4" of rain received Tuesday night in Hays; still more than 3" below normal 

WASHINGTON (AP) —Eight TikTok content creators sued the U.S. government on Tuesday, issuing another challenge to the new federal law that would ban the popular social media platform nationwide if its China-based parent company doesn’t sell its stakes within a year.

Attorneys for the creators argue in the lawsuit that the law violates users’ First Amendment rights to free speech, echoing arguments made by TikTok in a separate lawsuit filed by the company last week. The legal challenge could end up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-lawsuit-biden-386e6d81e2eef61a756bcdea96cd0aef">before the Supreme Court</a>.

The complaint filed Tuesday comes from a diverse set of content creators, including a Texas-based rancher who has previously appeared in a TikTok commercial, a creator in Arizona who uses TikTok to show his daily life and spread awareness about LGBTQ issues, as well as a business owner who sells skincare products on TikTok Shop, the e-commerce arm of the platform.

The lawsuit says the creators “rely on TikTok to express themselves, learn, advocate for causes, share opinions, create communities, and even make a living.”

“They have found their voices, amassed significant audiences, made new friends, and encountered new and different ways of thinking — all because of TikTok’s novel way of hosting, curating, and disseminating speech,” it added, arguing the new law would deprive them and the rest of the country “of this distinctive means of expression and communication.”

A spokesperson for TikTok said the company was covering the legal costs for the lawsuit, which was filed in a Washington appeals court. It is being led by the same law firm that represented creators who challenged Montana’s statewide ban on the platform last year. In November, a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/montana-tiktok-ban-25c561396e85fee8926309daf4ad4b4f">blocked that law</a>&nbsp;from going into effect.

The Department of Justice said that the legislation that could ban TikTok "addresses critical national security concerns in a manner that is consistent with the First Amendment and other constitutional limitations. We look forward to defending the legislation in court.”

The federal law comes at a time of intense strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China on a host of issues and as the two butt heads over sensitive geopolitical topics like China’s support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. U.S. lawmakers and administration officials have aired concerns about how well TikTok can protect users’ data from Chinese authorities and have argued its algorithm could be used to spread pro-China propaganda, which TikTok disputes.

Under the law, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance would be required to sell the platform to an approved buyer within nine months. If a sale is in progress, the company will get a three-month extension to complete the deal.

However, TikTok and ByteDance said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-3b4c1fa44c89d4568d26f1c7caf303ec">their lawsuit last week</a>&nbsp;that they would still have no choice but to shut down by Jan. 19 because continuing to operate in the U.S. wouldn’t be commercially, technologically or legally possible.

They assert it would be impossible for ByteDance to divest its U.S. TikTok platform as a separate entity from the rest of TikTok, which has 1 billion users worldwide — most of them outside of the United States. A U.S.-only TikTok would operate as an island detached from the rest of the world, the lawsuit argues. It also says the Chinese government — which would need to approve such a sale — has “made clear” it would not permit a sale of the recommendation algorithm that populates users’ feeds and has been the “key to the success of TikTok in the United States.”

In an interview, Brian Firebaugh, the Hubbard, Texas-based rancher who is part of the creator lawsuit, said he started his TikTok account in 2020 to help establish his brand and market the cattle-related products that he sells online. That decision allowed him to quit his full-time job and live off the income he was making from TikTok, where he currently has more than 430,000 followers.

Firebaugh, 44, said TikTok has also helped him build an online community with other ranchers and gave him the opportunity to participate in a Netflix reality show where his winnings allowed him and his wife to afford the adoption process for their son. Losing TikTok, he said, would disrupt everything.

“One hundred percent of our customers come from TikTok,” Firebaugh said. “For that to go away, you’re now stealing money out of my family’s mouths.”

Chloe Joy Sexton, a 29-year-old content creator who lives in Memphis, Tennessee, and runs a cookie business called Chloe’s Giant Cookies, said she started experimenting with TikTok four years ago after losing her prior job. Sexton said she had been posting content on other social media platforms, but only TikTok created a viral trajectory for her baking. Today, she has more than 2 million followers on the app, where she has also shared more intimate details about her life, such as losing her mother to brain cancer and subsequently adopting her little sister.

“There has been no evidence whatsoever that my information is in danger or anybody else’s,” said Sexton, who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “Nobody has provided that — not the government, not anybody else. And to base this purchase, this tug of war that changes my life off of a hypothetical is so hurtful to me personally, because my government at that point is not protecting me.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708714541315.png" alt="Image from Joe Biden's TikTok account" />
 <figcaption>Image from Joe Biden's TikTok account</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Eight TikTok content creators sued the U.S. government on Tuesday, issuing another challenge to the new federal law that would ban the popular social media platform nationwide if its China-based parent company doesn’t sell its stakes within a year.Attorneys for the creators argue in the lawsuit that the law violates users’ First Amendment rights to free speech, echoing arguments made by TikTok in a separate lawsuit filed by the company last week. The legal challenge could end up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-lawsuit-biden-386e6d81e2eef61a756bcdea96cd0aef">before the Supreme Court</a>.The complaint filed Tuesday comes from a diverse set of content creators, including a Texas-based rancher who has previously appeared in a TikTok commercial, a creator in Arizona who uses TikTok to show his daily life and spread awareness about LGBTQ issues, as well as a business owner who sells skincare products on TikTok Shop, the e-commerce arm of the platform.The lawsuit says the creators “rely on TikTok to express themselves, learn, advocate for causes, share opinions, create communities, and even make a living.”“They have found their voices, amassed significant audiences, made new friends, and encountered new and different ways of thinking — all because of TikTok’s novel way of hosting, curating, and disseminating speech,” it added, arguing the new law would deprive them and the rest of the country “of this distinctive means of expression and communication.”A spokesperson for TikTok said the company was covering the legal costs for the lawsuit, which was filed in a Washington appeals court. It is being led by the same law firm that represented creators who challenged Montana’s statewide ban on the platform last year. In November, a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/montana-tiktok-ban-25c561396e85fee8926309daf4ad4b4f">blocked that law</a>&nbsp;from going into effect.The Department of Justice said that the legislation that could ban TikTok "addresses critical national security concerns in a manner that is consistent with the First Amendment and other constitutional limitations. We look forward to defending the legislation in court.”The federal law comes at a time of intense strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China on a host of issues and as the two butt heads over sensitive geopolitical topics like China’s support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. U.S. lawmakers and administration officials have aired concerns about how well TikTok can protect users’ data from Chinese authorities and have argued its algorithm could be used to spread pro-China propaganda, which TikTok disputes.Under the law, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance would be required to sell the platform to an approved buyer within nine months. If a sale is in progress, the company will get a three-month extension to complete the deal.However, TikTok and ByteDance said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-3b4c1fa44c89d4568d26f1c7caf303ec">their lawsuit last week</a>&nbsp;that they would still have no choice but to shut down by Jan. 19 because continuing to operate in the U.S. wouldn’t be commercially, technologically or legally possible.They assert it would be impossible for ByteDance to divest its U.S. TikTok platform as a separate entity from the rest of TikTok, which has 1 billion users worldwide — most of them outside of the United States. A U.S.-only TikTok would operate as an island detached from the rest of the world, the lawsuit argues. It also says the Chinese government — which would need to approve such a sale — has “made clear” it would not permit a sale of the recommendation algorithm that populates users’ feeds and has been the “key to the success of TikTok in the United States.”In an interview, Brian Firebaugh, the Hubbard, Texas-based rancher who is part of the creator lawsuit, said he started his TikTok account in 2020 to help establish his brand and market the cattle-related products that he sells online. That decision allowed him to quit his full-time job and live off the income he was making from TikTok, where he currently has more than 430,000 followers.Firebaugh, 44, said TikTok has also helped him build an online community with other ranchers and gave him the opportunity to participate in a Netflix reality show where his winnings allowed him and his wife to afford the adoption process for their son. Losing TikTok, he said, would disrupt everything.“One hundred percent of our customers come from TikTok,” Firebaugh said. “For that to go away, you’re now stealing money out of my family’s mouths.”Chloe Joy Sexton, a 29-year-old content creator who lives in Memphis, Tennessee, and runs a cookie business called Chloe’s Giant Cookies, said she started experimenting with TikTok four years ago after losing her prior job. Sexton said she had been posting content on other social media platforms, but only TikTok created a viral trajectory for her baking. Today, she has more than 2 million followers on the app, where she has also shared more intimate details about her life, such as losing her mother to brain cancer and subsequently adopting her little sister.“There has been no evidence whatsoever that my information is in danger or anybody else’s,” said Sexton, who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “Nobody has provided that — not the government, not anybody else. And to base this purchase, this tug of war that changes my life off of a hypothetical is so hurtful to me personally, because my government at that point is not protecting me.”

TikTok ban: Content creators sue US to prevent ban

Dennis Ray Hansen was born in Smith Center, Kansas on December 1, 1946, to Maurice and Betty (Hughes) Hansen. He passed from this earth on May 11th, 2024, at the age of 77. Dennis had been diagnosed with ALS in October of 2023 and had struggles with this but kept on doing most of the things he enjoyed.

He attended Smith Center grade school and high school graduating in 1964 with cherished memories of his classmates and school days.

He married Kathy (Ayres) Hansen, a Smith Center native on August 12th, 1972, at the Congregational Church. The day of the wedding was so hot the candle melted over. They have lived their entire married life in Smith Center and celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2022. Their son Seth Nichols was born on June 21st, 1976, and was Dennis’s pride and joy.

Dennis had different jobs during his youth and after. He worked for Harry Lattin at the Home Oil Company on Main Street. He worked for the State of KS Highway Department a couple years prior to joining the Army in 1965 and was posted in the Dominican Republic and West Point in New York state before being discharged in 1967. He drove a truck for Mini Max Provisions. He went to work for Maynard Frank at the John Deere dealership as a mechanic and when Maynard sold, Dennis worked for Milton Outerkirk at the new dealership (Smith County Implement) as a parts man and sales representative. When Milton passed, Dennis bought Milton’s half of the dealership and later purchased the other half. He was the owner of Phillips County Implement later until he sold both dealerships in 2000. He stayed busy with various part time jobs including driving for Peterson Industries, delivering for the local drug stores, and driving the bus for City Transportation.

He was a lifetime member of the Kingsbury-Chase VFW #1141, Smith Center, where he has been commander for several years, American Legion Post #220, Smith Center, Rotary before it disbanded, Center Township Clerk and enjoyed being a part of Fairview Cemetery work through the board. He served on the City Council Board, Old Settler’s Day Committee, and Center Cruzers. He became a member of the Employer’s in Support of the National Guard team (ESGR) and helped active Guard members get back their jobs, if necessary, when they returned from duty. He was a member of Kansas STARBASE Program from 2004 through 2010 and was Vice-President for four years. Helping any way he could the Military and Veteran’s was extremely important to him. It gave him immense pride to be a part of the VFW Color Guard for Veteran’s services and to lead parades or wherever a Color Guard was needed.

In 2023, Dennis and Kathy were honored to be selected as King and Queen for Old Settler’s Day.

Dennis was able to go on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. with his brother Rodney and loved the trip and the time they had together.

Dennis loved sports and his love for the Redmen increased two-fold when Seth became a part of the Junior High and Senior High Redmen teams. He helped with Redcaps and very seldom missed a football game, wrestling or track meet. He attended anything Seth was involved with and helped with Post Prom. He tracked Coconino High School in Arizona where nephew Yancy Ayres was an active athlete.

Dennis’s 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite was the car he had enjoyed the most as when he purchased it, he said, Plymouth’s were what his dad drove most. Spending time at weekend car shows and in July the Salina Lead Sled was a yearly event with Seth, classmates and friends.

He was a faithful member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and had work on many church programs and events.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Betty Hansen and Maurice Hansen, his in-laws that he loved like parents, Burl and Margaret Ayres, sis siblings, Don, Cathy Howton, Jerry Hughes, Mary Maryce, David and Karl, brother-in-law, Tom Ayres and other sister and brothers-in-law.

Dennis is survived by wife, Kathy, son Seth, brothers, Wayne (Jane), Rodney (Mary); sisters-in-law, Karen (Ayres) Keatley, Joann Hansen Storer and brother-in-law, Bruce Marye.

Dennis was willing to help in any situation and had many dear and special friends. He was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Dennis Ray Hansen was born in Smith Center, Kansas on December 1, 1946, to Maurice and Betty (Hughes) Hansen. He passed from this earth on May 11th, 2024, at the age of 77. Dennis had been diagnosed with ALS in October of 2023 and had struggles with this but kept on doing most of the things he enjoyed.He attended Smith Center grade school and high school graduating in 1964 with cherished memories of his classmates and school days.He married Kathy (Ayres) Hansen, a Smith Center native on August 12th, 1972, at the Congregational Church. The day of the wedding was so hot the candle melted over. They have lived their entire married life in Smith Center and celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2022. Their son Seth Nichols was born on June 21st, 1976, and was Dennis’s pride and joy.Dennis had different jobs during his youth and after. He worked for Harry Lattin at the Home Oil Company on Main Street. He worked for the State of KS Highway Department a couple years prior to joining the Army in 1965 and was posted in the Dominican Republic and West Point in New York state before being discharged in 1967. He drove a truck for Mini Max Provisions. He went to work for Maynard Frank at the John Deere dealership as a mechanic and when Maynard sold, Dennis worked for Milton Outerkirk at the new dealership (Smith County Implement) as a parts man and sales representative. When Milton passed, Dennis bought Milton’s half of the dealership and later purchased the other half. He was the owner of Phillips County Implement later until he sold both dealerships in 2000. He stayed busy with various part time jobs including driving for Peterson Industries, delivering for the local drug stores, and driving the bus for City Transportation.He was a lifetime member of the Kingsbury-Chase VFW #1141, Smith Center, where he has been commander for several years, American Legion Post #220, Smith Center, Rotary before it disbanded, Center Township Clerk and enjoyed being a part of Fairview Cemetery work through the board. He served on the City Council Board, Old Settler’s Day Committee, and Center Cruzers. He became a member of the Employer’s in Support of the National Guard team (ESGR) and helped active Guard members get back their jobs, if necessary, when they returned from duty. He was a member of Kansas STARBASE Program from 2004 through 2010 and was Vice-President for four years. Helping any way he could the Military and Veteran’s was extremely important to him. It gave him immense pride to be a part of the VFW Color Guard for Veteran’s services and to lead parades or wherever a Color Guard was needed.In 2023, Dennis and Kathy were honored to be selected as King and Queen for Old Settler’s Day.Dennis was able to go on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. with his brother Rodney and loved the trip and the time they had together.Dennis loved sports and his love for the Redmen increased two-fold when Seth became a part of the Junior High and Senior High Redmen teams. He helped with Redcaps and very seldom missed a football game, wrestling or track meet. He attended anything Seth was involved with and helped with Post Prom. He tracked Coconino High School in Arizona where nephew Yancy Ayres was an active athlete.Dennis’s 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite was the car he had enjoyed the most as when he purchased it, he said, Plymouth’s were what his dad drove most. Spending time at weekend car shows and in July the Salina Lead Sled was a yearly event with Seth, classmates and friends.He was a faithful member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and had work on many church programs and events.Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Betty Hansen and Maurice Hansen, his in-laws that he loved like parents, Burl and Margaret Ayres, sis siblings, Don, Cathy Howton, Jerry Hughes, Mary Maryce, David and Karl, brother-in-law, Tom Ayres and other sister and brothers-in-law.Dennis is survived by wife, Kathy, son Seth, brothers, Wayne (Jane), Rodney (Mary); sisters-in-law, Karen (Ayres) Keatley, Joann Hansen Storer and brother-in-law, Bruce Marye.Dennis was willing to help in any situation and had many dear and special friends. He was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Dennis Ray Hansen

Joyce Amanda Yount Wolking was born October 1, 1934 in a house right outside Scott City. She was the fifth child of seven born to Roy and Minnie Yount. In 1952, Joyce had twins Rodney LaMon and Ronda Leann. She attended cosmetology school in Dodge City and worked at her Mother’s shop, Princess Beauty Shop. She then attended Emporia University and received her teaching degree. The highest paying jobs for teachers at that time were in Las Vegas, NV and Fairbanks, AK. Joyce and the kids packed up for Las Vegas. Rodney and Ronda spent their “formative“ years there, while Joyce taught school. She taught there appropriately 17 years. Eventually, they all made it back to Garden City where Joyce taught 1st grade in Deerfield and Second grade at Alta Brown.

Joyce’s family was everything to her. She was their number one fan, and kept track of every one through Facebook. She was usually the first person to comment on a post. Visits to her home always involved ice cream or cinnamon rolls. Another activity Joyce enjoyed was competing against her sister, Arlene, in Jeopardy. She stayed current on current events and would give anyone a run for the money in a debate.

Joyce is survived by her son Rodney and his wife Robin of Holcomb. Her son in law Ron Conway of Holcomb. Seven grandchildren Adam/Amber Wolking, John/Brandy Conway, Alex/Emily Wolking, Jeff/Rachelle Conway, Ashlea/Jason Cogan, Megan/Brandon Bailes, Melissa Conway, and sixteen great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her daughter Ronda Conway, her parents, Roy and Minnie Yount, and siblings: Lorena Smith, Roy Ann Green, Don Yount, John (Dubber) Yount, Sarah Nichols.

Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Bible Christian Church in Garden City with Rev. Ron Niday officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Friends may call from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. The family suggests memorials given to Russell Child Development Center in care Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N 7th Street, Garden City KS. Condolences may be given at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Joyce Amanda Yount Wolking was born October 1, 1934 in a house right outside Scott City. She was the fifth child of seven born to Roy and Minnie Yount. In 1952, Joyce had twins Rodney LaMon and Ronda Leann. She attended cosmetology school in Dodge City and worked at her Mother’s shop, Princess Beauty Shop. She then attended Emporia University and received her teaching degree. The highest paying jobs for teachers at that time were in Las Vegas, NV and Fairbanks, AK. Joyce and the kids packed up for Las Vegas. Rodney and Ronda spent their “formative“ years there, while Joyce taught school. She taught there appropriately 17 years. Eventually, they all made it back to Garden City where Joyce taught 1st grade in Deerfield and Second grade at Alta Brown.Joyce’s family was everything to her. She was their number one fan, and kept track of every one through Facebook. She was usually the first person to comment on a post. Visits to her home always involved ice cream or cinnamon rolls. Another activity Joyce enjoyed was competing against her sister, Arlene, in Jeopardy. She stayed current on current events and would give anyone a run for the money in a debate.Joyce is survived by her son Rodney and his wife Robin of Holcomb. Her son in law Ron Conway of Holcomb. Seven grandchildren Adam/Amber Wolking, John/Brandy Conway, Alex/Emily Wolking, Jeff/Rachelle Conway, Ashlea/Jason Cogan, Megan/Brandon Bailes, Melissa Conway, and sixteen great grandchildren.She is preceded in death by her daughter Ronda Conway, her parents, Roy and Minnie Yount, and siblings: Lorena Smith, Roy Ann Green, Don Yount, John (Dubber) Yount, Sarah Nichols.Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Bible Christian Church in Garden City with Rev. Ron Niday officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Friends may call from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. The family suggests memorials given to Russell Child Development Center in care Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N 7th Street, Garden City KS. Condolences may be given at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Joyce Amanda Yount Wolking

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday agreed to hold two campaign debates in June and September — the first on June 27 hosted by CNN — but their camps appeared far apart on key details like the ground rules for the presidential face-offs.

The quick agreement on the timetable to meet followed the Democrat's announcement that he will not participate in fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/political-debates">presidential debates</a>&nbsp;sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades. Biden's campaign instead proposed that media outlets directly organize the debates with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/presumptive-nominee-biden-trump-6b2a3beb31896894ded9e96aa30cfcec">the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees</a>, with the first to be held in late June and the second in September before early voting begins. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site, said he was “Ready and Willing to Debate” Biden at the proposed times.

Hours later, Biden said he accepted an invitation from CNN to a debate on June 27, adding, “Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, anytime, any place.” Trump told Fox News Digital he accepted the invitation: “I’ll be there,” he told the outlet.

Still, the two sides appeared to be hold significant differences on key questions of how to organize the debates, including agreeing on media partners, moderators, location and rules — some of the very questions that prompted the formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1987. Biden's proposal would exclude third-party candidates, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-097ac973a32ddf2e8e4edecd6a8f3153">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>

Trump’s team did not immediately weigh in on the details of the Biden proposal, but Trump expressed his desire for a large live audience.

“I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds - That’s only because he doesn’t get them,” Trump said. “Just tell me when, I’ll be there.”

Trump has been pushing for more debates and earlier debates, arguing voters should be able to see the two men face off well before early voting begins in September. He has repeatedly said he will debate Biden “anytime, anywhere, any place,”&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/hGDMG0MM6F4?feature=shared">even proposing the two men face off</a>&nbsp;outside the Manhattan courthouse where he is currently on criminal trial in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-stormy-daniels-michael-cohen-hush-money-f96dd7289cf952145cdd6737b29add3d">a hush money case</a>. He also has been taunting Biden with an empty lectern at some of his rallies.

Biden’s campaign has long held a grudge against the nonpartisan commission for failing to evenly apply its rules during the 2020 Biden-Trump matchups — most notably when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-donald-trump-joe-biden-health-campaigns-0f7315791a3ead1919842c894bedb68f">didn’t enforce its COVID-19 testing rules on Trump</a>&nbsp;and his entourage — and Biden’s team has held talks with television networks and some Republicans about ways to circumvent the commission’s grip on presidential debates.

Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon on Wednesday sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates to say that Biden’s campaign objected to the fall dates selected by the commission, which come after some Americans begin to vote, repeating a complaint also voiced by the Trump campaign. She also voiced frustrations over the rule violations and the commission's insistence on holding the debates before a live audience.

“The debates should be conducted for the benefit of the American voters, watching on television and at home — not as entertainment for an in-person audience with raucous or disruptive partisans and donors," she said. ”As was the case with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/today-in-history-covid-health-middle-east-ts-eliot-90ea2a57ca484c41565b1c1a257fc1d9">the original televised debates in 1960</a>, a television studio with just the candidates and moderators is a better, more cost-efficient way to proceed: focused solely on the interests of voters."

There was little love lost for the commission as well from Trump, who objected to technical issues at his first debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and was upset after a debate with Biden was canceled in 2020 after the Republican came down with COVID-19. The Republican National Committee had already promised not to work with commission on the 2024 contests.

The commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

The Trump campaign issued a statement on May 1 that objected to the scheduled debates by the commission, saying that the schedule “begins AFTER early voting” and that “this is unacceptable” because voters deserve to hear from the candidates before ballots are cast.

Under the debate commission's rules, Kennedy or other third-party candidates could qualify if they secured ballot access sufficient to claim 270 Electoral Votes and polled at 15% or higher in a selection of national polls.

O’Malley Dillon said the debates "should be one-on-one, allowing voters to compare the only two candidates with any statistical chance of prevailing in the Electoral College – and not squandering debate time on candidates with no prospect of becoming President.”

The Biden campaign also proposed that the Biden-Trump debates this year be hosted by “any broadcast organization that hosted a Republican Primary debate in 2016 in which Donald Trump participated, and a Democratic primary debate in 2020 in which President Biden participated — so neither campaign can assert that the sponsoring organization is obviously unacceptable: if both candidates have previously debated on their airwaves, then neither could object to such venue."

Those criteria would eliminate Fox News, which did not host a Democratic primary debate in 2020, and potentially NBC News, which did not host a GOP one in 2016 — though its corporate affiliates CNBC and Telmundo were co-hosts of one debate each that year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday agreed to hold two campaign debates in June and September — the first on June 27 hosted by CNN — but their camps appeared far apart on key details like the ground rules for the presidential face-offs.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. <a href="https://t.co/AkPmvs2q4u">pic.twitter.com/AkPmvs2q4u</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1790713878248038478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The quick agreement on the timetable to meet followed the Democrat's announcement that he will not participate in fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/political-debates">presidential debates</a>&nbsp;sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades. Biden's campaign instead proposed that media outlets directly organize the debates with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/presumptive-nominee-biden-trump-6b2a3beb31896894ded9e96aa30cfcec">the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees</a>, with the first to be held in late June and the second in September before early voting begins. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site, said he was “Ready and Willing to Debate” Biden at the proposed times.<figure>
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 </figure>Hours later, Biden said he accepted an invitation from CNN to a debate on June 27, adding, “Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, anytime, any place.” Trump told Fox News Digital he accepted the invitation: “I’ll be there,” he told the outlet.Still, the two sides appeared to be hold significant differences on key questions of how to organize the debates, including agreeing on media partners, moderators, location and rules — some of the very questions that prompted the formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1987. Biden's proposal would exclude third-party candidates, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-097ac973a32ddf2e8e4edecd6a8f3153">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>Trump’s team did not immediately weigh in on the details of the Biden proposal, but Trump expressed his desire for a large live audience.“I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds - That’s only because he doesn’t get them,” Trump said. “Just tell me when, I’ll be there.”Trump has been pushing for more debates and earlier debates, arguing voters should be able to see the two men face off well before early voting begins in September. He has repeatedly said he will debate Biden “anytime, anywhere, any place,”&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/hGDMG0MM6F4?feature=shared">even proposing the two men face off</a>&nbsp;outside the Manhattan courthouse where he is currently on criminal trial in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-stormy-daniels-michael-cohen-hush-money-f96dd7289cf952145cdd6737b29add3d">a hush money case</a>. He also has been taunting Biden with an empty lectern at some of his rallies.Biden’s campaign has long held a grudge against the nonpartisan commission for failing to evenly apply its rules during the 2020 Biden-Trump matchups — most notably when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-donald-trump-joe-biden-health-campaigns-0f7315791a3ead1919842c894bedb68f">didn’t enforce its COVID-19 testing rules on Trump</a>&nbsp;and his entourage — and Biden’s team has held talks with television networks and some Republicans about ways to circumvent the commission’s grip on presidential debates.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">JUST ANNOUNCED: CNN will host a 2024 Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, GA. The debate will air live on 6/27 at 9pET on <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a>, CNN Max and without a cable login on <a href="https://t.co/dOLGQHu7eC">https://t.co/dOLGQHu7eC</a>. More: <a href="https://t.co/rjbaLohxLs">https://t.co/rjbaLohxLs</a> <a href="https://t.co/g3PCztJInt">pic.twitter.com/g3PCztJInt</a>&mdash; CNN Communications (@CNNPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNPR/status/1790757195455324413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon on Wednesday sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates to say that Biden’s campaign objected to the fall dates selected by the commission, which come after some Americans begin to vote, repeating a complaint also voiced by the Trump campaign. She also voiced frustrations over the rule violations and the commission's insistence on holding the debates before a live audience.“The debates should be conducted for the benefit of the American voters, watching on television and at home — not as entertainment for an in-person audience with raucous or disruptive partisans and donors," she said. ”As was the case with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/today-in-history-covid-health-middle-east-ts-eliot-90ea2a57ca484c41565b1c1a257fc1d9">the original televised debates in 1960</a>, a television studio with just the candidates and moderators is a better, more cost-efficient way to proceed: focused solely on the interests of voters."There was little love lost for the commission as well from Trump, who objected to technical issues at his first debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and was upset after a debate with Biden was canceled in 2020 after the Republican came down with COVID-19. The Republican National Committee had already promised not to work with commission on the 2024 contests.The commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.The Trump campaign issued a statement on May 1 that objected to the scheduled debates by the commission, saying that the schedule “begins AFTER early voting” and that “this is unacceptable” because voters deserve to hear from the candidates before ballots are cast.Under the debate commission's rules, Kennedy or other third-party candidates could qualify if they secured ballot access sufficient to claim 270 Electoral Votes and polled at 15% or higher in a selection of national polls.O’Malley Dillon said the debates "should be one-on-one, allowing voters to compare the only two candidates with any statistical chance of prevailing in the Electoral College – and not squandering debate time on candidates with no prospect of becoming President.”The Biden campaign also proposed that the Biden-Trump debates this year be hosted by “any broadcast organization that hosted a Republican Primary debate in 2016 in which Donald Trump participated, and a Democratic primary debate in 2020 in which President Biden participated — so neither campaign can assert that the sponsoring organization is obviously unacceptable: if both candidates have previously debated on their airwaves, then neither could object to such venue."Those criteria would eliminate Fox News, which did not host a Democratic primary debate in 2020, and potentially NBC News, which did not host a GOP one in 2016 — though its corporate affiliates CNBC and Telmundo were co-hosts of one debate each that year.In teeing up the debates, both Biden and Trump traded barbs on social media — each claiming victory the last time they faced-off in 2020.“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate,' Biden said in a post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. "Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal.”Trump, for his part, said Biden was the “WORST debater I have ever faced - He can’t put two sentences together!”The Democrat suggested that the two candidates could pick some dates, taking a dig at Trump’s ongoing New York hush money trial by noting that the Republican is “free on Wednesdays,” the usual day off in the trial.The president first indicated he would be willing to debate Trump during an interview with the radio host Howard Stern last month, telling him that “I am, somewhere. I don’t know when. But I’m happy to debate him.”------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he will not participate in fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/political-debates">presidential debates</a>&nbsp;sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades and instead proposed two debates with former President Donald Trump to be held earlier in the year.Biden's campaign proposed that the first debate between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/presumptive-nominee-biden-trump-6b2a3beb31896894ded9e96aa30cfcec">the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees</a>&nbsp;be held in late June and the second in September before early voting begins. Trump responded to the letter in an interview with Fox News digital, calling the proposed dates “fully acceptable to me” and joked about providing his own transportation.Biden, in a post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, sought to needle his rival, saying, “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal.”The Democrat suggested that the two candidates could pick some dates, taking a dig at Trump’s ongoing New York hush money trial by noting that the Republican is “free on Wednesdays,” the usual day off in the trial.Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon on Wednesday sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates to say that Biden would not participate in its announced debates, choosing instead to participate in debates hosted by news organizations. The Biden campaign objected to the fall dates selected by the commission — which come after some Americans begin to vote — repeating a complaint also raised by the Trump campaign.Biden's campaign has long-held a grudge against the nonpartisan commission for failing to evenly apply its rules during the 2020 Biden-Trump matchups — most notably when it didn't enforce its COVID-19 testing rules on Trump and his entourage — and Biden's team has held talks with television networks and some Republicans about ways to circumvent the commission's grip on presidential debates.The president first indicated he would be willing to debate Trump during an interview with the radio host Howard Stern last month, telling him that “I am, somewhere. I don’t know when. But I’m happy to debate him.”Biden indicated again last week that he was preparing to debate, telling reporters as he was leaving a White House event: “Set it up.”Trump has repeatedly dared Biden to debate him, keeping a second podium open at rallies and claiming that his rival would not be up for the task.Trump, too, has taken issue with the debate commission, but he and his team have maintained that they don’t care who hosts the debates as long as they happen.The Trump campaign issued a statement on May 1 that objected to the scheduled debates by the Commission on Presidential Debates, saying that the schedule “begins AFTER early voting” and that “this is unacceptable” because voters deserve to hear from the candidates before ballots are cast.Trump said at a Pennsylvania rally before his hush money trial began that the debates were needed.