WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State Football continued to receive votes in the latest AFCA Top 25 Poll, released on Monday (Oct. 21). The Tigers are coming off a tough one-point loss at then No. 7 ranked Pittsburg State this past weekend.

Fort Hays State is one of four MIAA schools represented in the poll, but the only one of the four in the receiving votes list. Pittsburg State remains the highest ranked team in the MIAA at No. 6, followed by undefeated Central Oklahoma at No. 9 and Emporia State at No. 14.

The Tigers are set to host their final home game of the season on Saturday (Oct. 26) when they face Missouri Southern.

In the latest D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, Pittsburg State is ranked No. 3, Central Oklahoma is No. 6, and Emporia State is No. 15.

Below is the AFCA Top 25 Poll for October 21, 2024.

1	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (27)	7-0	747	2

Receiving Votes: Angelo St. (Tex.), 22; Findlay (Ohio), 22; California (Pa.), 21; Virginia Union, 20; Wayne St. (Neb.), 16; Wingate (N.C.), 10; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 8; Colorado Mesa, 7; Indiana (Pa.), 7; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Davenport (Mich.), 6; Frostburg St. (Md.), 6; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Emory &amp; Henry (Va.), 1; Western Oregon, 1.

FHSU AthleticsWACO, Texas – Fort Hays State Football continued to receive votes in the latest AFCA Top 25 Poll, released on Monday (Oct. 21). The Tigers are coming off a tough one-point loss at then No. 7 ranked Pittsburg State this past weekend.Fort Hays State is one of four MIAA schools represented in the poll, but the only one of the four in the receiving votes list. Pittsburg State remains the highest ranked team in the MIAA at No. 6, followed by undefeated Central Oklahoma at No. 9 and Emporia State at No. 14.The Tigers are set to host their final home game of the season on Saturday (Oct. 26) when they face Missouri Southern.In the latest D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, Pittsburg State is ranked No. 3, Central Oklahoma is No. 6, and Emporia State is No. 15.Below is the AFCA Top 25 Poll for October 21, 2024.Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.1	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (27)	7-0	747	22	Valdosta St. (Ga.) (3)	7-0	720	33	Ferris St. (Mich.)	6-1	657	44	Kutztown (Pa.)	7-0	634	55	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	7-0	627	96	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	6-1	590	77	Harding (Ark.)	6-1	579	18	Western Colorado	7-0	554	89	Central Oklahoma	7-0	513	1110	Colorado School of Mines	6-1	460	1211	Charleston (W.Va.)	7-0	439	1312	Colorado St.-Pueblo	7-1	419	1413	Minnesota St.	6-1	341	1514	Emporia St. (Kan.)	6-1	333	1615	Slippery Rock (Pa.)	6-1	300	616	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	6-1	290	1717	Carson-Newman (Tenn.)	7-0	287	1818	West Alabama	5-1	220	1019	Johnson C. Smith (N.C.)	7-0	200	2020	Central Washington	5-2	181	2121	Indianapolis (Ind.)	6-1	177	1922	Southern Arkansas	6-1	117	2423	West Florida	4-2	115	2324	Delta St. (Miss.)	5-2	58	NR25	Augustana (S.D.)	5-2	29	NRReceiving Votes: Angelo St. (Tex.), 22; Findlay (Ohio), 22; California (Pa.), 21; Virginia Union, 20; Wayne St. (Neb.), 16; Wingate (N.C.), 10; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 8; Colorado Mesa, 7; Indiana (Pa.), 7; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Davenport (Mich.), 6; Frostburg St. (Md.), 6; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Emory &amp; Henry (Va.), 1; Western Oregon, 1.

🏈FHSU Football Continues to Receive Votes in AFCA Poll

Brenda
Burgardt, 60, Hays, died Friday, October 18, 2024 at Wesley Medical Center in
Wichita.

She was born
September 10, 1964 in Hays, the daughter of Fredoline P. “Fritz” and Rosaline
“Rosie” (Hoff) Burgardt.&nbsp; In 1983, Brenda
graduated from High School and she worked at Hadley Hospital, Sykes, Hays
International and Wal-Mart.&nbsp; She was a
member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp; Brenda was an avid reader and crocheter and
used her craft skills to help others. She would crochet lap blankets and totes
for the local nursing homes. She enjoyed country music, baking and online
shopping. 

Survivors
include her brothers, Alfred Burgardt and wife Kathy of Hays and Larry Burgardt
of Moore, OK, her sister, Mary Leer and husband Mike of Manhattan, two nephews,
one niece and several great nephews and nieces. 

She was
preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law, Zoni Burgardt.

Mass of
Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at St.
Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church with Fr. Damian Richards officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 9:00 am until service
time and recitation of the rosary will be at 9:30 am, all at the church. &nbsp;Memorials are suggested to the Humane Society
of the High Plains.&nbsp; Services are in the
care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of
Brenda may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729549376241.jpeg" alt="Brenda Burgardt" />
 <figcaption>Brenda Burgardt</figcaption>
 </figure>Brenda
Burgardt, 60, Hays, died Friday, October 18, 2024 at Wesley Medical Center in
Wichita.She was born
September 10, 1964 in Hays, the daughter of Fredoline P. “Fritz” and Rosaline
“Rosie” (Hoff) Burgardt.&nbsp; In 1983, Brenda
graduated from High School and she worked at Hadley Hospital, Sykes, Hays
International and Wal-Mart.&nbsp; She was a
member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp; Brenda was an avid reader and crocheter and
used her craft skills to help others. She would crochet lap blankets and totes
for the local nursing homes. She enjoyed country music, baking and online
shopping. Survivors
include her brothers, Alfred Burgardt and wife Kathy of Hays and Larry Burgardt
of Moore, OK, her sister, Mary Leer and husband Mike of Manhattan, two nephews,
one niece and several great nephews and nieces. She was
preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law, Zoni Burgardt.Mass of
Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at St.
Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church with Fr. Damian Richards officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 9:00 am until service
time and recitation of the rosary will be at 9:30 am, all at the church. &nbsp;Memorials are suggested to the Humane Society
of the High Plains.&nbsp; Services are in the
care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of
Brenda may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com

Brenda Burgardt

Ada (Sally) Louise Strutt, of Hays, KS and formerly of
Stockton, KS, passed away with family at her side on October 18, 2024, at Hays
Medical Center, at the age of 83. She was born on August 29, 1941, in Charles
City, Iowa. She was raised mostly in Stockton by her parents Orville and Maxine
(Gilles) Kenworthy. Ada married Joseph “Joe” Strutt on May 20, 1959, in
Stockton. They made their home in Stockton and were blessed with two children:
Dale and Donna. Eventually, they moved to their small farm outside of Stockton
which they enjoyed and loved for years with friends and family.

Ada graduated from Stockton High School in 1959. She worked
for the Rooks County Treasurers Office and Register of Deeds for several years
as well as a clerk at Coast to Coast, J-Mart, and Dollar General. Outside of
her professional life, Ada found joy in bowling, swimming, and attending
workout classes, where she embraced fitness and fun with enthusiasm. She had a
passion for auctions, often returning home with unique treasures for keeps or
selling at flea markets. Ada was very caring and often went out of her way to
help or care for others.

Ada truly loved her family, particularly the grandchildren.
She attended many of their sports events and graduation ceremonies. She really
loved the holidays when the children and grandchildren would come and stay at
the farm where the house would be filled with love and joy. Ada enjoyed
preparing the meals, particularly Thanksgiving making sure that everyone had
their favorite dish.

Ada is survived by her children, Dale (Mary) Strutt of Mead,
CO and Donna (Jerry) Jones of Kearney, MO; brother, Gary Barry of Indianola,
IA; five grandchildren, Sarah Magee, Casey (Cierra) Jones, Jon (Karissa) Jones,
Kaitlyn Strutt, Colton (Jasmine) Strutt; and eight great-grandchildren, Conner,
Evie, Jadeyn, Kyleigh, Kollin, Charlotte, Rhett, and Harper, all who will
forever carry her spirit and love in their hearts. She will be deeply missed
but fondly remembered for her kindness, laughter, and joy she brought to every
gathering.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Orville and Maxine;
husband, Joe Strutt; brothers, Dale Barry, Cary Barry; and step-sister Marilee
DeBey.

A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, October 23,
2024, at 11AM at Ash Rock Cemetery in Woodston, KS. A family receiving time
will be held on Tuesday 6-7:30PM at the funeral home in Stockton.

Memorials are suggested to Stockton Library and may be sent
to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.plumeroverlease.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729476458379.jpeg" alt="Ada (Sally) Louise Strutt" />
 <figcaption>Ada (Sally) Louise Strutt</figcaption>
 </figure>Ada (Sally) Louise Strutt, of Hays, KS and formerly of
Stockton, KS, passed away with family at her side on October 18, 2024, at Hays
Medical Center, at the age of 83. She was born on August 29, 1941, in Charles
City, Iowa. She was raised mostly in Stockton by her parents Orville and Maxine
(Gilles) Kenworthy. Ada married Joseph “Joe” Strutt on May 20, 1959, in
Stockton. They made their home in Stockton and were blessed with two children:
Dale and Donna. Eventually, they moved to their small farm outside of Stockton
which they enjoyed and loved for years with friends and family.Ada graduated from Stockton High School in 1959. She worked
for the Rooks County Treasurers Office and Register of Deeds for several years
as well as a clerk at Coast to Coast, J-Mart, and Dollar General. Outside of
her professional life, Ada found joy in bowling, swimming, and attending
workout classes, where she embraced fitness and fun with enthusiasm. She had a
passion for auctions, often returning home with unique treasures for keeps or
selling at flea markets. Ada was very caring and often went out of her way to
help or care for others.Ada truly loved her family, particularly the grandchildren.
She attended many of their sports events and graduation ceremonies. She really
loved the holidays when the children and grandchildren would come and stay at
the farm where the house would be filled with love and joy. Ada enjoyed
preparing the meals, particularly Thanksgiving making sure that everyone had
their favorite dish.Ada is survived by her children, Dale (Mary) Strutt of Mead,
CO and Donna (Jerry) Jones of Kearney, MO; brother, Gary Barry of Indianola,
IA; five grandchildren, Sarah Magee, Casey (Cierra) Jones, Jon (Karissa) Jones,
Kaitlyn Strutt, Colton (Jasmine) Strutt; and eight great-grandchildren, Conner,
Evie, Jadeyn, Kyleigh, Kollin, Charlotte, Rhett, and Harper, all who will
forever carry her spirit and love in their hearts. She will be deeply missed
but fondly remembered for her kindness, laughter, and joy she brought to every
gathering.She is preceded in death by her parents, Orville and Maxine;
husband, Joe Strutt; brothers, Dale Barry, Cary Barry; and step-sister Marilee
DeBey.A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, October 23,
2024, at 11AM at Ash Rock Cemetery in Woodston, KS. A family receiving time
will be held on Tuesday 6-7:30PM at the funeral home in Stockton.Memorials are suggested to Stockton Library and may be sent
to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.plumeroverlease.com.

Ada (Sally) Louise Strutt

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;

Registered nurses at two HCA-owned Kansas City hospitals get “substantial” pay raises under new three-year contracts ratified in October.

National Nurses United, the union representing registered nurses at Research Medical Center in Kansas City and Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-two-hca-kansas-city-area-hospitals-ratify-new-contract" target="_blank">press release</a>&nbsp;that the pay bump will make it easier to recruit and keep nurses.

Heavy nurse turnover at the two for-profit hospitals was one of the nurse union’s top complaints when it began contract negotiations in March. The union said 150 nurses left jobs at Research in 2023, while 89 left Menorah. Sometimes, the union said, Research and Menorah weren’t scheduling enough nurses each shift for safe patient care.

Nurses, whose previous contract expired May 31, had&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/03/15/kansas-city-nurse-union-prepared-to-strike-if-they-have-to/" target="_blank">rallied</a>&nbsp;on Meyer Boulevard outside Research calling on HCA to “put patients over profit.”

HCA Healthcare, which owns 180 hospitals across the country and reported profits of more than $5 billion in 2023, called its staffing “safe and appropriate.”

The company said it is pleased the new Kansas City contracts have been ratified.

“As we indicated all along,” HCA spokeswoman Christine Hamele said in an emailed statement, “our goal was to reach an agreement that was fair for our colleagues and maintained the flexibility that allows us to operate in an ever-changing healthcare environment, and this contract meets those goals.”

The union said new contracts would improve patient care and working conditions. In addition to pay raises, the union said, the contracts include:

National Nurses United represents almost 1,000 nurses at Research and Menorah, part of the 10,000 nurses it represents around the country.

In 2024, union contracts expired with nurses at 17 HCA-owned facilities in six states. The union said that nurses at some of those hospitals had authorized strikes, but no walkouts happened. This month, the hospital company has come to agreement with nurses at four facilities, including the two in Kansas City.

A growing number of nurses, doctors and other health care workers have turned to unions in recent years. Asking hospitals to schedule more health care workers on every shift is often at the top of their list of demands.

The pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in U.S. health care, including scarce staffing and difficult working conditions at hospitals across the country. That drove more unionization.

In 2023, about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/" target="_blank">half</a>&nbsp;of the country’s 33 major work stoppages — defined as an event involving at least 1,000 workers and lasting for at least one shift — occurred in health care.

And nursing strikes are on the rise, according to Nurse Together, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nursetogether.com/nurse-strikes/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;that focuses on the profession. The group counted nine nurse strikes in 2020, 14 in 2021, 16 in 2022 and 30 last year. It said that 2024 is on track to have even more strikes.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/10/18/pay-raise-in-new-kc-nurse-union-contract-will-mean-better-care/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729537404811.png" alt=" Nurses at Research and Menorah medical centers just ratified a new three-year contract (Scott Canon/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Nurses at Research and Menorah medical centers just ratified a new three-year contract (Scott Canon/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;Registered nurses at two HCA-owned Kansas City hospitals get “substantial” pay raises under new three-year contracts ratified in October.National Nurses United, the union representing registered nurses at Research Medical Center in Kansas City and Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-two-hca-kansas-city-area-hospitals-ratify-new-contract" target="_blank">press release</a>&nbsp;that the pay bump will make it easier to recruit and keep nurses.Heavy nurse turnover at the two for-profit hospitals was one of the nurse union’s top complaints when it began contract negotiations in March. The union said 150 nurses left jobs at Research in 2023, while 89 left Menorah. Sometimes, the union said, Research and Menorah weren’t scheduling enough nurses each shift for safe patient care.Nurses, whose previous contract expired May 31, had&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/03/15/kansas-city-nurse-union-prepared-to-strike-if-they-have-to/" target="_blank">rallied</a>&nbsp;on Meyer Boulevard outside Research calling on HCA to “put patients over profit.”HCA Healthcare, which owns 180 hospitals across the country and reported profits of more than $5 billion in 2023, called its staffing “safe and appropriate.”The company said it is pleased the new Kansas City contracts have been ratified.“As we indicated all along,” HCA spokeswoman Christine Hamele said in an emailed statement, “our goal was to reach an agreement that was fair for our colleagues and maintained the flexibility that allows us to operate in an ever-changing healthcare environment, and this contract meets those goals.”The union said new contracts would improve patient care and working conditions. In addition to pay raises, the union said, the contracts include:<ul>
 <li>A new program to ensure that nurses can take meal and rest breaks during shifts.</li><li>Measures to ensure that nurses will be temporarily reassigned or “float” to units of the hospital similar to their specialty.</li><li>The right for staff to use preferred names and pronouns on name badges.</li>
 </ul>National Nurses United represents almost 1,000 nurses at Research and Menorah, part of the 10,000 nurses it represents around the country.In 2024, union contracts expired with nurses at 17 HCA-owned facilities in six states. The union said that nurses at some of those hospitals had authorized strikes, but no walkouts happened. This month, the hospital company has come to agreement with nurses at four facilities, including the two in Kansas City.A growing number of nurses, doctors and other health care workers have turned to unions in recent years. Asking hospitals to schedule more health care workers on every shift is often at the top of their list of demands.The pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in U.S. health care, including scarce staffing and difficult working conditions at hospitals across the country. That drove more unionization.In 2023, about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/" target="_blank">half</a>&nbsp;of the country’s 33 major work stoppages — defined as an event involving at least 1,000 workers and lasting for at least one shift — occurred in health care.And nursing strikes are on the rise, according to Nurse Together, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nursetogether.com/nurse-strikes/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;that focuses on the profession. The group counted nine nurse strikes in 2020, 14 in 2021, 16 in 2022 and 30 last year. It said that 2024 is on track to have even more strikes.This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/10/18/pay-raise-in-new-kc-nurse-union-contract-will-mean-better-care/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Kansas City nurses say their new contract will mean higher pay and better patient care

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media

Domestic operators set another weekly all-time crude-production record last week, topping 13.5 million barrels per day. Cumulative production so far this year reached an average of just under 13.2 million barrels, more than six percent higher than a year ago.

The Energy Information Administration reported a big drop in US crude inventories. As of October 11, stockpiles dropped to just over 420 million barrels, down 2.2 million barrels from a week ago and five percent below the five-year seasonal average.

The Energy Department took delivery &nbsp;on another million barrels of crude oil at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. SPR stockpiles now total nearly 384 million barrels, down from 618 million three years ago.&nbsp; Since April, the Energy Department has added nearly 20 million barrels, at prices twenty to twenty-five dollars cheaper than what we sold it for.

The US imports more crude then we export by more than a million barrels a day. But according to the latest weekly numbers from the government, petroleum product exports outpace imports by nearly five million daily barrels.&nbsp; That makes us a net petroleum exporter. According to EIA, US crude-oil imports averaged 5.5 million barrels a day, down from 6.2 million last week.&nbsp; The four-week average is down 3.4 percent from the same four-week period last year. Operators exported 4.1 million barrels of crude per day last week, up from &nbsp;3.8 million a week ago. The four week average is up nearly 100-thousand &nbsp;barrels a day from a year ago.

Rig Counts for natural gas in the US are down slightly, but the tally for oil rigs is slightly higher. Baker Hughes reports 585 rigs nationwide. The breakouts show an unusual increase in active vertical drilling rigs, offset by declines in both directional and horizontal rigs. The statewide total for Texas was down two while Oklahoma and Colorado were each up one rig.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is up two rigs in the eastern half of the state at 14 rigs, and up two in Western Kansas at 19. The tally is up 50 percent from last month but down about 13 percent from a year ago. Drilling was underway on two leases in Barton County and another in Ellis County.

Regulators in The Sunflower State approved 55 new drilling locations, the biggest weekly total since June of 2022. There are 45 new drilling permits in eastern Kansas, and ten west of Wichita, including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County.

Operators in Kansas completed 25 new wells last week, with 12 in Western Kansas and 13 east of Wichita. Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 1,069 completions so far this year, down more than 300 wells from a year ago.

Hurricane Milton prompted a brief scare in the energy sector, but gasoline prices in Florida have remained stable since landfall on October 9.&nbsp; A report from the EIA asserts that despite some areas with major disruptions, statewide pump prices have remained steady at $3.04 per gallon as the supply chain recovers. Florida is particularly vulnerable to price spikes brought on by weather events. The state does not have refineries or pipelines, relying instead on gasoline deliveries by ship. Several ports were closed briefly, but others remained open with restrictions. At Port Tampa Bay, where nearly half of Florida’s petroleum product supply is brought in, authorities report no significant damage to docks, but they did note some infrastructure damage, power outages, and road closures that might disrupt supply in the short term.

The U.S. broadened economic sanctions in hopes of forestalling or softening military ones.&nbsp; The Treasury Department announced a flurry of sanctions against terrorism broadly and some enablers in the industry specifically. They're targeting everything from the "ghost fleet" of oil tankers currently evading Iran sanctions to Syria's drug-trafficking activity. It appears the collective effort may have stopped Israel from attacking energy installations in Iran. But they have not yet responded to Iran's missile attack earlier this month.

The US used a Trump-era executive order to allow for sanctions against anyone linked to Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sector.&nbsp; They've designated ten companies and 17 vessels as “blocked property” over their involvement with the Islamic Republic. Such tankers have been detained in the past, their oil cargoes offloaded and sold. Up until now the tankers themselves have been released. The West has been less successful enforcing sanctions against Russia.

Big Oil has big plans for some big acreage. ExxonMobil hopes to increase output from its offshore holdings near Guyana by 18,000 barrels per day once it has completed risk assessments and received approval from local authorities. That's according to a top government official in the South American Country, where many big players are shuffling to drill in the latest international hot spot. The company currently produces more than 660-thousand barrels a day in the region.

The month of September and the first nine months of the year have posted declines in total rail traffic, but oil by rail is holding steady. Weekly oil by rail shipments are up slightly over a year ago, but down from a week ago. According to the Association of America Railroads, rail traffic hauling petroleum and petroleum products was up six-tenths of a percent in the week through October 12. AAR reports 10,639 tanker carloads hit the rails, down from 10,814 tankers a week earlier. For the first nine months of 2024, total U.S. carloads of all commodities were down 3.3% from the same period in 2023. This year's oil by rail tallies have noted slight increases over last year. The trade group says grain and chemicals saw year-to-date increases and some record highs, but says coal and crushed stone posted notable declines.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670507085360.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle MediaDomestic operators set another weekly all-time crude-production record last week, topping 13.5 million barrels per day. Cumulative production so far this year reached an average of just under 13.2 million barrels, more than six percent higher than a year ago.The Energy Information Administration reported a big drop in US crude inventories. As of October 11, stockpiles dropped to just over 420 million barrels, down 2.2 million barrels from a week ago and five percent below the five-year seasonal average.The Energy Department took delivery &nbsp;on another million barrels of crude oil at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. SPR stockpiles now total nearly 384 million barrels, down from 618 million three years ago.&nbsp; Since April, the Energy Department has added nearly 20 million barrels, at prices twenty to twenty-five dollars cheaper than what we sold it for.The US imports more crude then we export by more than a million barrels a day. But according to the latest weekly numbers from the government, petroleum product exports outpace imports by nearly five million daily barrels.&nbsp; That makes us a net petroleum exporter. According to EIA, US crude-oil imports averaged 5.5 million barrels a day, down from 6.2 million last week.&nbsp; The four-week average is down 3.4 percent from the same four-week period last year. Operators exported 4.1 million barrels of crude per day last week, up from &nbsp;3.8 million a week ago. The four week average is up nearly 100-thousand &nbsp;barrels a day from a year ago.Rig Counts for natural gas in the US are down slightly, but the tally for oil rigs is slightly higher. Baker Hughes reports 585 rigs nationwide. The breakouts show an unusual increase in active vertical drilling rigs, offset by declines in both directional and horizontal rigs. The statewide total for Texas was down two while Oklahoma and Colorado were each up one rig.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is up two rigs in the eastern half of the state at 14 rigs, and up two in Western Kansas at 19. The tally is up 50 percent from last month but down about 13 percent from a year ago. Drilling was underway on two leases in Barton County and another in Ellis County.Regulators in The Sunflower State approved 55 new drilling locations, the biggest weekly total since June of 2022. There are 45 new drilling permits in eastern Kansas, and ten west of Wichita, including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County.Operators in Kansas completed 25 new wells last week, with 12 in Western Kansas and 13 east of Wichita. Independent Oil and Gas Service reports 1,069 completions so far this year, down more than 300 wells from a year ago.Hurricane Milton prompted a brief scare in the energy sector, but gasoline prices in Florida have remained stable since landfall on October 9.&nbsp; A report from the EIA asserts that despite some areas with major disruptions, statewide pump prices have remained steady at $3.04 per gallon as the supply chain recovers. Florida is particularly vulnerable to price spikes brought on by weather events. The state does not have refineries or pipelines, relying instead on gasoline deliveries by ship. Several ports were closed briefly, but others remained open with restrictions. At Port Tampa Bay, where nearly half of Florida’s petroleum product supply is brought in, authorities report no significant damage to docks, but they did note some infrastructure damage, power outages, and road closures that might disrupt supply in the short term.The U.S. broadened economic sanctions in hopes of forestalling or softening military ones.&nbsp; The Treasury Department announced a flurry of sanctions against terrorism broadly and some enablers in the industry specifically. They're targeting everything from the "ghost fleet" of oil tankers currently evading Iran sanctions to Syria's drug-trafficking activity. It appears the collective effort may have stopped Israel from attacking energy installations in Iran. But they have not yet responded to Iran's missile attack earlier this month.The US used a Trump-era executive order to allow for sanctions against anyone linked to Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sector.&nbsp; They've designated ten companies and 17 vessels as “blocked property” over their involvement with the Islamic Republic. Such tankers have been detained in the past, their oil cargoes offloaded and sold. Up until now the tankers themselves have been released. The West has been less successful enforcing sanctions against Russia.Big Oil has big plans for some big acreage. ExxonMobil hopes to increase output from its offshore holdings near Guyana by 18,000 barrels per day once it has completed risk assessments and received approval from local authorities. That's according to a top government official in the South American Country, where many big players are shuffling to drill in the latest international hot spot. The company currently produces more than 660-thousand barrels a day in the region.The month of September and the first nine months of the year have posted declines in total rail traffic, but oil by rail is holding steady. Weekly oil by rail shipments are up slightly over a year ago, but down from a week ago. According to the Association of America Railroads, rail traffic hauling petroleum and petroleum products was up six-tenths of a percent in the week through October 12. AAR reports 10,639 tanker carloads hit the rails, down from 10,814 tankers a week earlier. For the first nine months of 2024, total U.S. carloads of all commodities were down 3.3% from the same period in 2023. This year's oil by rail tallies have noted slight increases over last year. The trade group says grain and chemicals saw year-to-date increases and some record highs, but says coal and crushed stone posted notable declines.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News from the Oil Patch: Another week, another all-time production record

Most Americans are in favor of some legislation regulating new technologies. Here’s how each candidate plans to handle Big Tech, AI, cryptocurrency and more if elected

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/paige-gross/">PAIGE GROSS</a>

Though technology policy isn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/issues-and-the-2024-election/" target="_blank">one of the main drivers&nbsp;</a>getting voters out to the polls in the upcoming presidential election, the speed in which technology develops will undoubtedly impact the way everyday Americans communicate, work and interact with the world in the next four years.

Concern about artificial intelligence’s role in the election plague the majority of both Republicans and Democrats a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/19/concern-over-the-impact-of-ai-on-2024-presidential-campaign/" target="_blank">Pew Research Center survey</a>&nbsp;found last month. Those polled are concerned that AI is being used to influence the election, and a poll earlier in the year shows that people are wary of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/04/29/americans-views-of-technology-companies-2/" target="_blank">the amount of power</a>&nbsp;social media and Big Tech companies have over their lives.

Several bills regulating new technologies have been introduced in congress, but no federal laws regulating artificial intelligence or data privacy have yet been passed. In October 2023, President Joe Biden signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/" target="_blank">executive order&nbsp;</a>calling for federal agencies to examine the impacts of AI, and report how they might address problems.

Though tech issues aren’t central to their platforms, candidates Kamala Harris and former Donald Trump have outlined some of how they see technology playing a role in Americans’ lives.

Harris’ policies tend to focus on inclusivity, data protection, net neutrality and expanding broadband access. One of the largest wins for the tech and science communities during the Biden-Harris administration is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4346" target="_blank">CHIPS and Science Act</a>, which in 2022, provided funding for research and development for environmental projects, clean energy and American manufacturing of semiconductors, which are the basis of most electronics.

Trump’s policies would likely roll back some protections for consumers put in place by the Biden administration, and programs like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/ev-acceleration-challenge/" target="_blank">electric vehicle challenge.</a>&nbsp;His&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47" target="_blank">platform</a>&nbsp;also places a lot of focus on what he considers “<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47/president-donald-j-trump-calls-for-probe-into-intelligence-communitys-role-in-online-censorship" target="_blank">illegal censorship</a>,” by Big Tech companies, especially X, formerly Twitter, which banned the candidate for “<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/01/08/954760928/twitter-bans-president-trump-citing-risk-of-further-incitement-of-violence" target="_blank">risk of further incitement of violence</a>,” after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

While Harris’ policies focus on finding a balance of innovation and overreach by Big Tech companies, Trump’s policies focus on a more free market approach.

On the topics of AI and cryptocurrency, though, Harris and Trump see somewhat similar approaches. At a&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kamala-harris-plans-boost-ai-160039789.html" target="_blank">fundraiser at Cipriani Wall Street&nbsp;</a>earlier this week, Harris talked about the importance of these evolving technologies in the current economy, while recognizing that they need oversight.

“We will partner together to invest in America’s competitiveness, to invest in America’s future,” Harris said. ”We will encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets while protecting our consumers and investors.”

It’s a change from the current administration, which is more focused on protections for consumers amid the evolving market, rather than industry growth. Trump has similarly taken a lighter stance on AI and crypto, saying that the industry requires some time to work itself out, and doesn’t support tough oversight at this moment.

On antitrust issues, Harris’ administration would likely continue pursuing enforcement against large platforms and Big Tech companies that came from Biden’s administration. He signed an executive order<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/" target="_blank">&nbsp;in 2021&nbsp;</a>against companies that use monopoly techniques and gather personal data, and his Justice Department filed lawsuits against Facebook’s parent Meta and Amazon.

Trump’s administration also carried out some antitrust suits against Google and Meta toward the end of his time in office. He’s long been vocal about his distrust and dislike for major social media platforms, claiming bias against him.

Most Americans are in favor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/10/18/how-americans-view-data-privacy/" target="_blank">more tech regulation&nbsp;</a>than there is now. But they’re likely not too concerned with the nitty gritty details that have kept bills sitting in Congress, said Ryan Waite, VP of Public Affairs at digital advocacy firm Think Big.

Waite has spent the last two decades working in and around political campaigns, and he said emerging technologies and AI are as influential to the future internet landscape as much as the introduction of the internet itself was to everyday life 30 years ago.

He likened pending or potential AI legislation to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/652" target="_blank">Telecommunications Act of 1996</a>, which promoted competition and reduced regulation in order to bring down costs for consumers as new technologies in broadcast and internet exploded.

“I think if you talked to the average American then, they wouldn’t have known what the internet was, perhaps they experienced it at some level, but probably didn’t care much about how it was legislated,” Waite said.

But the legislation revamped the communications and telecommunications frameworks for the industry and changed how we work and receive information, Waite said. In that same concept, AI and other emerging technologies are being adopted at such high rates that “We’re at an earthquake moment,” Waite said.

Both parties aim to strengthen the technology industry and America’s place in the world market, but they approach it differently, Waite said. Debates over legislation usually come down to trying to find appropriate, timely legislation that regulates these new technologies without stifling innovation and growth.

Harris’ campaign approach is viewed as “inclusive” on these issues, Waite said, with goals to provide broadband access everywhere, and a focus on getting access to these tools for small business and underserved communities.

“They’re very interested in this equality framework, of being able to say everyone should have access to these tools,” Waite said.

Trump tends to lean more toward allowing businesses to innovate and do what they do well with the belief that time will iron out problems in these technologies. These policies usually favor economic impact over safeguarding technologies.

Most Americans probably favor some middle ground legislation that allows for data and bias protections from quickly growing technologies while allowing American companies to become global leaders, he said

In the end, for most Americans, tech issues aren’t as partisan as the two-party system sets them up to be, Waite said.

“Voters might not always know the legislative details,” Waite said. “But they do care about having reliable broadband access, keeping their kids safe online and ensuring that innovation is advancing to keep pace with global competition.”

<h2>Most Americans are in favor of some legislation regulating new technologies. Here’s how each candidate plans to handle Big Tech, AI, cryptocurrency and more if elected</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/paige-gross/">PAIGE GROSS</a>Though technology policy isn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/issues-and-the-2024-election/" target="_blank">one of the main drivers&nbsp;</a>getting voters out to the polls in the upcoming presidential election, the speed in which technology develops will undoubtedly impact the way everyday Americans communicate, work and interact with the world in the next four years.Concern about artificial intelligence’s role in the election plague the majority of both Republicans and Democrats a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/19/concern-over-the-impact-of-ai-on-2024-presidential-campaign/" target="_blank">Pew Research Center survey</a>&nbsp;found last month. Those polled are concerned that AI is being used to influence the election, and a poll earlier in the year shows that people are wary of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/04/29/americans-views-of-technology-companies-2/" target="_blank">the amount of power</a>&nbsp;social media and Big Tech companies have over their lives.Several bills regulating new technologies have been introduced in congress, but no federal laws regulating artificial intelligence or data privacy have yet been passed. In October 2023, President Joe Biden signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/" target="_blank">executive order&nbsp;</a>calling for federal agencies to examine the impacts of AI, and report how they might address problems.Though tech issues aren’t central to their platforms, candidates Kamala Harris and former Donald Trump have outlined some of how they see technology playing a role in Americans’ lives.Harris’ policies tend to focus on inclusivity, data protection, net neutrality and expanding broadband access. One of the largest wins for the tech and science communities during the Biden-Harris administration is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4346" target="_blank">CHIPS and Science Act</a>, which in 2022, provided funding for research and development for environmental projects, clean energy and American manufacturing of semiconductors, which are the basis of most electronics.Trump’s policies would likely roll back some protections for consumers put in place by the Biden administration, and programs like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/ev-acceleration-challenge/" target="_blank">electric vehicle challenge.</a>&nbsp;His&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47" target="_blank">platform</a>&nbsp;also places a lot of focus on what he considers “<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/agenda47/president-donald-j-trump-calls-for-probe-into-intelligence-communitys-role-in-online-censorship" target="_blank">illegal censorship</a>,” by Big Tech companies, especially X, formerly Twitter, which banned the candidate for “<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/01/08/954760928/twitter-bans-president-trump-citing-risk-of-further-incitement-of-violence" target="_blank">risk of further incitement of violence</a>,” after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.While Harris’ policies focus on finding a balance of innovation and overreach by Big Tech companies, Trump’s policies focus on a more free market approach.On the topics of AI and cryptocurrency, though, Harris and Trump see somewhat similar approaches. At a&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kamala-harris-plans-boost-ai-160039789.html" target="_blank">fundraiser at Cipriani Wall Street&nbsp;</a>earlier this week, Harris talked about the importance of these evolving technologies in the current economy, while recognizing that they need oversight.“We will partner together to invest in America’s competitiveness, to invest in America’s future,” Harris said. ”We will encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets while protecting our consumers and investors.”It’s a change from the current administration, which is more focused on protections for consumers amid the evolving market, rather than industry growth. Trump has similarly taken a lighter stance on AI and crypto, saying that the industry requires some time to work itself out, and doesn’t support tough oversight at this moment.On antitrust issues, Harris’ administration would likely continue pursuing enforcement against large platforms and Big Tech companies that came from Biden’s administration. He signed an executive order<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/" target="_blank">&nbsp;in 2021&nbsp;</a>against companies that use monopoly techniques and gather personal data, and his Justice Department filed lawsuits against Facebook’s parent Meta and Amazon.Trump’s administration also carried out some antitrust suits against Google and Meta toward the end of his time in office. He’s long been vocal about his distrust and dislike for major social media platforms, claiming bias against him.Most Americans are in favor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/10/18/how-americans-view-data-privacy/" target="_blank">more tech regulation&nbsp;</a>than there is now. But they’re likely not too concerned with the nitty gritty details that have kept bills sitting in Congress, said Ryan Waite, VP of Public Affairs at digital advocacy firm Think Big.Waite has spent the last two decades working in and around political campaigns, and he said emerging technologies and AI are as influential to the future internet landscape as much as the introduction of the internet itself was to everyday life 30 years ago.He likened pending or potential AI legislation to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/652" target="_blank">Telecommunications Act of 1996</a>, which promoted competition and reduced regulation in order to bring down costs for consumers as new technologies in broadcast and internet exploded.“I think if you talked to the average American then, they wouldn’t have known what the internet was, perhaps they experienced it at some level, but probably didn’t care much about how it was legislated,” Waite said.But the legislation revamped the communications and telecommunications frameworks for the industry and changed how we work and receive information, Waite said. In that same concept, AI and other emerging technologies are being adopted at such high rates that “We’re at an earthquake moment,” Waite said.Both parties aim to strengthen the technology industry and America’s place in the world market, but they approach it differently, Waite said. Debates over legislation usually come down to trying to find appropriate, timely legislation that regulates these new technologies without stifling innovation and growth.Harris’ campaign approach is viewed as “inclusive” on these issues, Waite said, with goals to provide broadband access everywhere, and a focus on getting access to these tools for small business and underserved communities.“They’re very interested in this equality framework, of being able to say everyone should have access to these tools,” Waite said.Trump tends to lean more toward allowing businesses to innovate and do what they do well with the belief that time will iron out problems in these technologies. These policies usually favor economic impact over safeguarding technologies.Most Americans probably favor some middle ground legislation that allows for data and bias protections from quickly growing technologies while allowing American companies to become global leaders, he saidIn the end, for most Americans, tech issues aren’t as partisan as the two-party system sets them up to be, Waite said.“Voters might not always know the legislative details,” Waite said. “But they do care about having reliable broadband access, keeping their kids safe online and ensuring that innovation is advancing to keep pace with global competition.”

Where Harris, Trump Campaigns Stand on Tech Policy

Warren Eugene (Gene) Boomer, age 79 of Hideaway,
Texas, passed away on October 9, 2024.&nbsp; Gene was born March 30, 1945, in
Portis, Kansas, to Viola and Warren Boomer.

He spent his childhood on the farm outside of
Osborne, Kansas, and graduated from Osborne High School in 1963.&nbsp; Gene
attended Kansas State University and earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
in 1967. He was united in marriage to Connie Nichols in June 1966 and to this
union, two children were born, Scott Gene and Jodi Kaye. &nbsp; He was united
in marriage to Marsha May, in June 1997.

Gene practiced veterinary medicine in Bern and
Sabetha, Kansas for over 25 years.&nbsp; He eventually left private practice
and worked for Monsanto and Church &amp; Dwight traveling to dairy farms
worldwide, providing consultation on dairy cattle nutrition.&nbsp;&nbsp;He and
Marsha spent time in Gainesville, FL, Visalia, CA, and eventually settled in
Rockwall, TX in 2010. He retired in 2021.&nbsp; Gene loved to travel, bird
hunt, play golf, and spend time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his son, Scott Boomer,
parents, Viola and Warren Boomer, sister, Kathy Palmer, and brother, Richard
Boomer.

Gene is survived by his wife Marsha;
&nbsp;children &nbsp;Jodi Foerschler (Josh), Ann Boomer Minson (Doug),
&nbsp;Tara Williams, &nbsp;Kevin May; &nbsp;grandchildren Tyler Boomer, Kaden
Boomer, Ryan Foerschler, Olivia Foerschler, Mia Foerschler, Sophia Williams,
Brandon May, Garrett May; brothers Gary Boomer (Mary), Russ Boomer (Cathy), and
Kent Boomer (Robin).

A memorial service and celebration of Gene’s life
will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Ward Parkway
Presbyterian Church 7406 Ward Parkway Kansas City, Mo &nbsp;64114. A luncheon
will follow at Signature Funerals &nbsp;406 E. Bannister Rd.&nbsp; KCMO 64131.
&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to Lakepoint Church, 701 E Interstate 30,
Rockwall, Texas 75087 or Kansas State University Foundation, 1800 Kimball
Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502. Arr: <a href="http://www.signaturefunerals.com">www.signaturefunerals.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729112316908.jpeg" alt="Warren Eugene (Gene) Boomer" />
 <figcaption>Warren Eugene (Gene) Boomer</figcaption>
 </figure>Warren Eugene (Gene) Boomer, age 79 of Hideaway,
Texas, passed away on October 9, 2024.&nbsp; Gene was born March 30, 1945, in
Portis, Kansas, to Viola and Warren Boomer.He spent his childhood on the farm outside of
Osborne, Kansas, and graduated from Osborne High School in 1963.&nbsp; Gene
attended Kansas State University and earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
in 1967. He was united in marriage to Connie Nichols in June 1966 and to this
union, two children were born, Scott Gene and Jodi Kaye. &nbsp; He was united
in marriage to Marsha May, in June 1997.Gene practiced veterinary medicine in Bern and
Sabetha, Kansas for over 25 years.&nbsp; He eventually left private practice
and worked for Monsanto and Church &amp; Dwight traveling to dairy farms
worldwide, providing consultation on dairy cattle nutrition.&nbsp;&nbsp;He and
Marsha spent time in Gainesville, FL, Visalia, CA, and eventually settled in
Rockwall, TX in 2010. He retired in 2021.&nbsp; Gene loved to travel, bird
hunt, play golf, and spend time with his family.He was preceded in death by his son, Scott Boomer,
parents, Viola and Warren Boomer, sister, Kathy Palmer, and brother, Richard
Boomer.Gene is survived by his wife Marsha;
&nbsp;children &nbsp;Jodi Foerschler (Josh), Ann Boomer Minson (Doug),
&nbsp;Tara Williams, &nbsp;Kevin May; &nbsp;grandchildren Tyler Boomer, Kaden
Boomer, Ryan Foerschler, Olivia Foerschler, Mia Foerschler, Sophia Williams,
Brandon May, Garrett May; brothers Gary Boomer (Mary), Russ Boomer (Cathy), and
Kent Boomer (Robin).A memorial service and celebration of Gene’s life
will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Ward Parkway
Presbyterian Church 7406 Ward Parkway Kansas City, Mo &nbsp;64114. A luncheon
will follow at Signature Funerals &nbsp;406 E. Bannister Rd.&nbsp; KCMO 64131.
&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to Lakepoint Church, 701 E Interstate 30,
Rockwall, Texas 75087 or Kansas State University Foundation, 1800 Kimball
Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502. Arr: <a href="http://www.signaturefunerals.com">www.signaturefunerals.com</a>

Warren Eugene (Gene) Boomer

William D.
Zerr, 88, of Oakley, died Sunday, October 20, 2024. He was born July 24, 1936,
in rural Park, KS, to Christopher and Barbara Zerr. Willie attended country
school and graduated from Park High School. He then served in the United States
Army from 1955-1957. Willie was united in marriage to Louella Dinkel on January
8, 1958, and to this union six children were born. He was a life-long farmer
and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the
Oakley Country Club. 

Willie was
preceded in death by his parents; brothers Peter and Augustine; sons, Chris
(1985) and Scott (1967); son-in-law Doug Hills (2018) and granddaughter Chelsey
Scott (2001). 

He is survived
by his wife of 66 years, Louella; children, Junelle Hills, Denise (Rick)
Gillespie, Alan (Challis) Zerr, David (Suzy) Zerr and Brenda (Steve) Scott;
brothers, Vince and Alex Zerr; sisters, Betty Dreiling, Emma Albers, Frances
Mense and Florence Mense; 13 grandchildren, Hassan (Chelsey) Attia, Ahmed
Ismail, Mary (Alex) Urrego, Shane (Jason) Baalmann, Allee (Charlie) Janssen,
Mason (Shelby) Gillespie, Tuker (Tenille) Gillespie, Jerrad (Casey) Zerr, Kile
(Whitney) Zerr, Cassie (Dustin) Minium, Brandon (McKayla) Zerr, Kayla
(Mitchell) Ohlrogge and Shelby (CJ) Maddox and 23 great-grandchildren. 

Visitation is
5-7:00 p.m., with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at St. Joseph
Catholic Church, Oakley. Funeral Mass is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 23,
2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oakley, with burial in the church
cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph School, Logan County Senior
Living, or Logan County Hospital and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box
391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit <a href="http://baalmannmortuary.com">baalmannmortuary.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729520788219.jpeg" alt="William D. Zerr" />
 <figcaption>William D. Zerr</figcaption>
 </figure>William D.
Zerr, 88, of Oakley, died Sunday, October 20, 2024. He was born July 24, 1936,
in rural Park, KS, to Christopher and Barbara Zerr. Willie attended country
school and graduated from Park High School. He then served in the United States
Army from 1955-1957. Willie was united in marriage to Louella Dinkel on January
8, 1958, and to this union six children were born. He was a life-long farmer
and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the
Oakley Country Club. Willie was
preceded in death by his parents; brothers Peter and Augustine; sons, Chris
(1985) and Scott (1967); son-in-law Doug Hills (2018) and granddaughter Chelsey
Scott (2001). He is survived
by his wife of 66 years, Louella; children, Junelle Hills, Denise (Rick)
Gillespie, Alan (Challis) Zerr, David (Suzy) Zerr and Brenda (Steve) Scott;
brothers, Vince and Alex Zerr; sisters, Betty Dreiling, Emma Albers, Frances
Mense and Florence Mense; 13 grandchildren, Hassan (Chelsey) Attia, Ahmed
Ismail, Mary (Alex) Urrego, Shane (Jason) Baalmann, Allee (Charlie) Janssen,
Mason (Shelby) Gillespie, Tuker (Tenille) Gillespie, Jerrad (Casey) Zerr, Kile
(Whitney) Zerr, Cassie (Dustin) Minium, Brandon (McKayla) Zerr, Kayla
(Mitchell) Ohlrogge and Shelby (CJ) Maddox and 23 great-grandchildren. Visitation is
5-7:00 p.m., with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at St. Joseph
Catholic Church, Oakley. Funeral Mass is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 23,
2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oakley, with burial in the church
cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph School, Logan County Senior
Living, or Logan County Hospital and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box
391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit <a href="http://baalmannmortuary.com">baalmannmortuary.com</a>

William D. Zerr

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas felon involved in an incident that injured a police officer is back in court facing a number of new charges.

On October 17, Nicholas Shugart, 42 of Wichita, was charged with two counts of offender registration violation and two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp;

Shugart was already charged with battery against a law enforcement officer, two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of paraphernalia to distribute or manufacture, DUI, drive while license is suspended or cancelled, two counts of possession of a hallucinogenic with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.&nbsp; 

Just after 7a.m. August 24, police were dispatched to a welfare check in the area of 600 W. 30th Street South in Wichita regarding two individuals slumped over in a white Chevy Silverado, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

A Wichita Traffic Motor Officer arrived on the scene and contacted the driver, later identified as Shugart&nbsp; who then accelerated and drove away, striking and running over the officer’s lower leg.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Wichita Police were in pursuit of a Silverado driven by<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=285885">&nbsp;Shugart</a>&nbsp;westbound in the 2400 Block of 15th Street.

The Silverado ran the stop sign at North Meridan and struck a northbound 2000 Dodge Caravan driven by Alicia Reico, 51, Wichita, on the the right front quarter panel.

EMS transported the Wichita Traffic Motor officer and Reico to a local hospital. Both had non-life-threatening injuries. The officer was treated and released from the hospital.

Police arrested Shugart and a passenger in the pickup 27-year-old Odessa Silcott of Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bond for each of these two new charges against Shugart is $200,000, according to the district attorney's office.

A jury trial status hearing for Shugart is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692920657940.png" alt="Shugart-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Shugart-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas felon involved in an incident that injured a police officer is back in court facing a number of new charges.On October 17, Nicholas Shugart, 42 of Wichita, was charged with two counts of offender registration violation and two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp;Shugart was already charged with battery against a law enforcement officer, two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of paraphernalia to distribute or manufacture, DUI, drive while license is suspended or cancelled, two counts of possession of a hallucinogenic with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.&nbsp; Just after 7a.m. August 24, police were dispatched to a welfare check in the area of 600 W. 30th Street South in Wichita regarding two individuals slumped over in a white Chevy Silverado, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692900399480.png" alt="Police on the scene of the crash investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the crash investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>A Wichita Traffic Motor Officer arrived on the scene and contacted the driver, later identified as Shugart&nbsp; who then accelerated and drove away, striking and running over the officer’s lower leg.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Wichita Police were in pursuit of a Silverado driven by<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=285885">&nbsp;Shugart</a>&nbsp;westbound in the 2400 Block of 15th Street.The Silverado ran the stop sign at North Meridan and struck a northbound 2000 Dodge Caravan driven by Alicia Reico, 51, Wichita, on the the right front quarter panel.EMS transported the Wichita Traffic Motor officer and Reico to a local hospital. Both had non-life-threatening injuries. The officer was treated and released from the hospital.Police arrested Shugart and a passenger in the pickup 27-year-old Odessa Silcott of Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bond for each of these two new charges against Shugart is $200,000, according to the district attorney's office.A jury trial status hearing for Shugart is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Additional charges for Kan. felon who drove pickup over police officer's leg

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit Monday, hours after a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital and as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushes Western partners to keep providing military support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the war</a>.

Austin said on the X platform that his fourth visit shows “that the United States, alongside the international community, continues to stand by Ukraine.”

Ukraine is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-new-recruits-pokrovsk-ed2d06ad529e3b7e47ecd32f79911b83">having difficulty holding back</a>&nbsp;a ferocious Russian campaign along the eastern front that is gradually compelling Kyiv’s forces to give up a series of towns, villages and hamlets.

Zelenskyy is urging Western allies to support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-victory-plan-unveiled-zelenskyy-parliament-f3525550f6986f590777193a7385c0c5">his so-called ‘victory plan’</a>&nbsp;to end the almost three-year war, which is Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II and has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including many civilians.

His strategy includes a formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and permission to use Western long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia — steps that Kyiv’s allies have previously balked at supporting.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/victory-plan-ukraine-russia-war-zelenskyy-1a66e6b1655fcaa421526ad174e618bd">The Western response has been lukewarm</a>, and Austin was expected to discuss the plan with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy said in a Sunday evening video address that his plan had won the backing of France, Lithuania, Nordic countries and “many other allies” in the European Union which he didn’t name.

The key country, however, is the United States, which is Ukraine’s biggest military supplier.

Zelenskyy said he had received “very positive signals from the United States,” but he stopped short of saying he had secured Washington’s endorsement for the plan.

Analysts say the U.S. is unlikely to make a decision before the presidential election in two weeks' time.

The latest Russian strikes on Ukraine, targeting Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, rammed home the urgency for Kyiv officials of clinching guarantees of more support. Large amounts of ammunition are needed for the kind of attritional warfare the warring sides are engaged in.

A Russian missile attack on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia injured seven people in the city center and caused huge damage to civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten and more than 30 residential buildings, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said.

Machine gun fire and the noise of drones’ engines was also heard in Kyiv’s center throughout the night. Authorities reported minor damages to civilian infrastructure caused by falling drone debris in the three districts of the city.

Russia fired three missiles and more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight from Sunday to Monday, Ukraine's air force said.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit Monday, hours after a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital and as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushes Western partners to keep providing military support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the war</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m back in Ukraine for the fourth time as Secretary of Defense, demonstrating that the United States, alongside the international community, continues to stand by Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/0gCwAqqEpK">pic.twitter.com/0gCwAqqEpK</a>&mdash; Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1848243085865590789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Austin said on the X platform that his fourth visit shows “that the United States, alongside the international community, continues to stand by Ukraine.”Ukraine is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-new-recruits-pokrovsk-ed2d06ad529e3b7e47ecd32f79911b83">having difficulty holding back</a>&nbsp;a ferocious Russian campaign along the eastern front that is gradually compelling Kyiv’s forces to give up a series of towns, villages and hamlets.Zelenskyy is urging Western allies to support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-victory-plan-unveiled-zelenskyy-parliament-f3525550f6986f590777193a7385c0c5">his so-called ‘victory plan’</a>&nbsp;to end the almost three-year war, which is Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II and has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including many civilians.His strategy includes a formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and permission to use Western long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia — steps that Kyiv’s allies have previously balked at supporting.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/victory-plan-ukraine-russia-war-zelenskyy-1a66e6b1655fcaa421526ad174e618bd">The Western response has been lukewarm</a>, and Austin was expected to discuss the plan with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv.Zelenskyy said in a Sunday evening video address that his plan had won the backing of France, Lithuania, Nordic countries and “many other allies” in the European Union which he didn’t name.The key country, however, is the United States, which is Ukraine’s biggest military supplier.Zelenskyy said he had received “very positive signals from the United States,” but he stopped short of saying he had secured Washington’s endorsement for the plan.Analysts say the U.S. is unlikely to make a decision before the presidential election in two weeks' time.The latest Russian strikes on Ukraine, targeting Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, rammed home the urgency for Kyiv officials of clinching guarantees of more support. Large amounts of ammunition are needed for the kind of attritional warfare the warring sides are engaged in.A Russian missile attack on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia injured seven people in the city center and caused huge damage to civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten and more than 30 residential buildings, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said.Machine gun fire and the noise of drones’ engines was also heard in Kyiv’s center throughout the night. Authorities reported minor damages to civilian infrastructure caused by falling drone debris in the three districts of the city.Russia fired three missiles and more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight from Sunday to Monday, Ukraine's air force said.___

US defense chief makes unannounced trip to Ukraine

Monday, October 21
 KFIX: Chiefs Kingdom, 6pm

Wednesday, October 23
 KAYS: Tiger Talk, 12:15pm
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with Lance Leipold, 6:00pm

Friday, October 25
 KKQY: Victoria FB at Hodgeman County, 6:15pm *
 KFIX: Hays High FB vs. Liberal, 6:30pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian FB at Plainville, 6:30pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at Arkansas (exhibition), 7:30pm

Saturday, October 26
 KJLS: Fort Hays State FB vs. Missouri Southern State,
12:00pm
 KAYS: Kansas FB at Kansas State, TBD

Sunday, October 27
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Vegas Raiders,
2:00pm

Monday, October 21
 KFIX: Chiefs Kingdom, 6pmTuesday, October 22Wednesday, October 23
 KAYS: Tiger Talk, 12:15pm
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with Lance Leipold, 6:00pmThursday, October 24Friday, October 25
 KKQY: Victoria FB at Hodgeman County, 6:15pm *
 KFIX: Hays High FB vs. Liberal, 6:30pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian FB at Plainville, 6:30pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at Arkansas (exhibition), 7:30pmSaturday, October 26
 KJLS: Fort Hays State FB vs. Missouri Southern State,
12:00pm
 KAYS: Kansas FB at Kansas State, TBDSunday, October 27
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Vegas Raiders,
2:00pm

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

Fort Hays State tries for the upset against #7 Pittsburg State in the Gorillas Homecoming game on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan.

Fort Hays State tries for the upset against #7 Pittsburg State in the Gorillas Homecoming game on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-FB at #7 Pittsburg State (Oct. 19, 2024)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=p5jyd-171307c-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FB at #7 Pittsburg State (Oct. .19, 2024)

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as&nbsp;35-year-old Johnathan Rodgers, according to&nbsp;KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just before 7:30p.m. October 18, patrol officers were dispatched to the 3700 Block of Independence Avenue on the report of someone with a weapon, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Officers located Rodgers suffering from bodily trauma. Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

At the same time, officers were dispatched to the area of 6th and Monroe on an ambulance en route call.&nbsp; It was determined both of these calls were related. The original incident occurred at 6th and Monroe. This is being investigated as a homicide

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as&nbsp;35-year-old Johnathan Rodgers, according to&nbsp;KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just before 7:30p.m. October 18, patrol officers were dispatched to the 3700 Block of Independence Avenue on the report of someone with a weapon, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Officers located Rodgers suffering from bodily trauma. Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.At the same time, officers were dispatched to the area of 6th and Monroe on an ambulance en route call.&nbsp; It was determined both of these calls were related. The original incident occurred at 6th and Monroe. This is being investigated as a homicide

Police ID Kansas City man who died after violent assault

FEASTERVILLE-TREVOSE, Pa. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;manned the fry station at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania on Sunday before staging an impromptu news conference, answering questions through the drive-thru window.

As reporters and aides watched, an employee showed Trump how to dunk baskets of fries in oil, salt the fries and put them into boxes using a scoop. Trump, a well-known fan of fast food and a notorious germophobe, expressed amazement that he didn't have to touch the fries with his hands.

“It requires great expertise, actually, to do it right and to do it fast,” Trump said with a grin, putting away his suit jacket and wearing an apron over his shirt and tie.

The visit came as he's tried to counter Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' accounts on the campaign of working at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-doritos-collard-greens-root-beer-food-82956ec65fcf24e6c57712716845d2af">fast-food chain while in college</a>, an experience that Trump has claimed — without offering evidence — never happened.

A large crowd lined the street outside the restaurant in Feasterville-Trevose, which is part of Bucks County, a key swing voter area north of Philadelphia. The restaurant itself was closed to the public for Trump's visit. The former president later attended an evening town hall in Lancaster and the Pittsburgh Steelers home game against the New York Jets.

After serving bags of takeout to people in the drive-thru lane, Trump leaned out of the window, still wearing the apron, to take questions from the media staged outside. The former president, who has constantly promoted falsehoods about his 2020 election loss, said he would respect the results of next month's vote “if it's a fair election.”

He joked about getting one reporter ice cream and when another asked what message he had for Harris on her 60th birthday on Sunday, Trump said, “I would say, ‘Happy Birthday, Kamala,’” adding, “I think I’ll get her some flowers.”

Trump did not directly answer a question of whether he might support increased minimum wages after seeing McDonald’s employees in action but said, “These people work hard. They’re great.”

He added that “I just saw something … a process that’s beautiful.”

When aides finally urged him to wrap things up so he could hit the road to his next event, Trump offered, “Wasn’t that a strange place to do a news conference?”

Trump has long questioned Harris' story of working at McDonald's

Trump has fixated in recent weeks on the summer job Harris said she held in college, working the cash register and making fries at McDonald’s while in college. Trump says the vice president has “lied about working” there, but not offered evidence for claiming that.

Representatives for McDonald’s did not respond to a message about whether the company had employment records for one of its restaurants 40 years ago. But Harris spokesman Joseph Costello said the former president's McDonald's visit “showed exactly what we would see in a second Trump term: exploiting working people for his own personal gain.”

“Trump doesn’t understand what it’s like to work for a living, no matter how many staged photo ops he does, and his entire second term plan is to give himself, his wealthy buddies, and giant corporations another massive tax cut,” Costello said in a statement.

In an interview last month on MSNBC, the vice president pushed back on Trump’s claims, saying she did work at the fast-food chain four decades ago when she was in college.

“Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonald’s is because there are people who work at McDonald’s in our country who are trying to raise a family,” she said. “I worked there as a student.”

Harris also said: “I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility, then, is to meet those needs.”

Trump has long spread groundless claims about his opponents based on their personal history, particularly women and racial minorities.

Before he ran for president, Trump was a leading voice of the “birther” conspiracy that baselessly claimed President Barack Obama was from Africa, was not an American citizen and therefore was ineligible to be president. Trump used it to raise his own political profile, demanding to see Obama’s birth certificate and five years after Obama did so, Trump finally admitted that Obama was born in the United States.

During his first run for president, Trump repeated a tabloid’s claims that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s father, who was born in Cuba, had links to President John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. Cruz and Trump competed for the party’s 2016 nomination.

In January of this year, when Trump was facing Nikki Haley, his former U.N. ambassador, in the Republican primary, he shared on his social media network a post with false claims that Haley’s parents were not citizens when she was born, therefore making her ineligible to be president.

Haley is the South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants, making her automatically a native-born citizen and meeting the constitutional requirement to run for president.

And Trump has continued to promote baseless claims during this campaign. Trump said during his presidential debate with Harris that immigrants who had settled in Springfield, Ohio, were eating residents’ pets — a claim he suggested in an interview Saturday was still true even though he could provide no confirmation.

Trump's visit created a spectacle in Pennsylvania

“It is a fundamental value of my organization that we proudly open our doors to everyone who visits the Feasterville community,” the McDonald’s location’s owner, Derek Giacomantonio, said in a statement. “That’s why I accepted former President Trump’s request to observe the transformative working experience that 1 in 8 Americans have had: a job at McDonald’s.”

Police closed the busy streets around the McDonald’s during Trump's visit. Authorities cordoned off the restaurant as a crowd a couple blocks long gathered, sometimes 10- to 15-deep, across the street straining to catch a glimpse of Trump. Horns honked and music blared as Trump supporters waved flags, held signs and took pictures.

John Waters, of nearby Fairless Hills, had never been to a Trump rally and had hoped to see the former president so close to his house after missing other nearby rallies.

“When I drove up, all the cars, unbelievable, I was like, ‘He’s here’s, he’s coming, he’s definitely coming with this all traffic,’” Waters said.

Trump is especially partial to McDonald's Big Macs and Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. He’s talked often about how he trusts big chains more than smaller restaurants since they have big reputations to maintain, and the former president’s staff often pick up McDonald’s and serve it on his plane.

Jim Worthington, a Trump supporter and fundraiser who owns a nearby athletic complex and chaired Pennsylvania’s delegation to the Republican National Convention, said he arranged Trump’s visit to the locally owned McDonald’s franchise.

The campaign contacted him looking for a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania and Worthington started looking for one. He got in touch with Giacomantonio through a friend and talked the franchise owner through some initial nervousness.

Giacomantonio needed to know that McDonald’s corporate offices would be OK with it, first. Second, he was concerned that being seen as a Trump supporter would hurt his business or a spark boycott, Worthington said.

“He certainly had concerns, but I eased his mind, and talked to him about the benefits,” Worthington said.

Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.

FEASTERVILLE-TREVOSE, Pa. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;manned the fry station at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania on Sunday before staging an impromptu news conference, answering questions through the drive-thru window.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>’s first day of work at McDonald’s! 🍟🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/182LAiP8Uk">pic.twitter.com/182LAiP8Uk</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margommartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margommartin/status/1848069681254703348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As reporters and aides watched, an employee showed Trump how to dunk baskets of fries in oil, salt the fries and put them into boxes using a scoop. Trump, a well-known fan of fast food and a notorious germophobe, expressed amazement that he didn't have to touch the fries with his hands.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump Works at McDonald&#39;s in Bucks County, PA<a href="https://t.co/mjlTiciyDF">pic.twitter.com/mjlTiciyDF</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1848087746813775948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It requires great expertise, actually, to do it right and to do it fast,” Trump said with a grin, putting away his suit jacket and wearing an apron over his shirt and tie.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> working the Drive Thru at McDonald’s! 🍟🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/pBeyYmeYFU">pic.twitter.com/pBeyYmeYFU</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margommartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margommartin/status/1848071378966077905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The visit came as he's tried to counter Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' accounts on the campaign of working at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-doritos-collard-greens-root-beer-food-82956ec65fcf24e6c57712716845d2af">fast-food chain while in college</a>, an experience that Trump has claimed — without offering evidence — never happened.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Mr. President, please don’t let the United States become Brazil!” <a href="https://t.co/ZEgujQMS35">pic.twitter.com/ZEgujQMS35</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margommartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margommartin/status/1848073834475229510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A large crowd lined the street outside the restaurant in Feasterville-Trevose, which is part of Bucks County, a key swing voter area north of Philadelphia. The restaurant itself was closed to the public for Trump's visit. The former president later attended an evening town hall in Lancaster and the Pittsburgh Steelers home game against the New York Jets.After serving bags of takeout to people in the drive-thru lane, Trump leaned out of the window, still wearing the apron, to take questions from the media staged outside. The former president, who has constantly promoted falsehoods about his 2020 election loss, said he would respect the results of next month's vote “if it's a fair election.”He joked about getting one reporter ice cream and when another asked what message he had for Harris on her 60th birthday on Sunday, Trump said, “I would say, ‘Happy Birthday, Kamala,’” adding, “I think I’ll get her some flowers.”Trump did not directly answer a question of whether he might support increased minimum wages after seeing McDonald’s employees in action but said, “These people work hard. They’re great.”He added that “I just saw something … a process that’s beautiful.”When aides finally urged him to wrap things up so he could hit the road to his next event, Trump offered, “Wasn’t that a strange place to do a news conference?”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/YkLtEaC3OI">pic.twitter.com/YkLtEaC3OI</a>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1848215009689768308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Trump has long questioned Harris' story of working at McDonald's</h2>Trump has fixated in recent weeks on the summer job Harris said she held in college, working the cash register and making fries at McDonald’s while in college. Trump says the vice president has “lied about working” there, but not offered evidence for claiming that.Representatives for McDonald’s did not respond to a message about whether the company had employment records for one of its restaurants 40 years ago. But Harris spokesman Joseph Costello said the former president's McDonald's visit “showed exactly what we would see in a second Trump term: exploiting working people for his own personal gain.”“Trump doesn’t understand what it’s like to work for a living, no matter how many staged photo ops he does, and his entire second term plan is to give himself, his wealthy buddies, and giant corporations another massive tax cut,” Costello said in a statement.In an interview last month on MSNBC, the vice president pushed back on Trump’s claims, saying she did work at the fast-food chain four decades ago when she was in college.“Part of the reason I even talk about having worked at McDonald’s is because there are people who work at McDonald’s in our country who are trying to raise a family,” she said. “I worked there as a student.”Harris also said: “I think part of the difference between me and my opponent includes our perspective on the needs of the American people and what our responsibility, then, is to meet those needs.”Trump has long spread groundless claims about his opponents based on their personal history, particularly women and racial minorities.Before he ran for president, Trump was a leading voice of the “birther” conspiracy that baselessly claimed President Barack Obama was from Africa, was not an American citizen and therefore was ineligible to be president. Trump used it to raise his own political profile, demanding to see Obama’s birth certificate and five years after Obama did so, Trump finally admitted that Obama was born in the United States.During his first run for president, Trump repeated a tabloid’s claims that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s father, who was born in Cuba, had links to President John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. Cruz and Trump competed for the party’s 2016 nomination.In January of this year, when Trump was facing Nikki Haley, his former U.N. ambassador, in the Republican primary, he shared on his social media network a post with false claims that Haley’s parents were not citizens when she was born, therefore making her ineligible to be president.Haley is the South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants, making her automatically a native-born citizen and meeting the constitutional requirement to run for president.And Trump has continued to promote baseless claims during this campaign. Trump said during his presidential debate with Harris that immigrants who had settled in Springfield, Ohio, were eating residents’ pets — a claim he suggested in an interview Saturday was still true even though he could provide no confirmation.<h2>Trump's visit created a spectacle in Pennsylvania</h2>“It is a fundamental value of my organization that we proudly open our doors to everyone who visits the Feasterville community,” the McDonald’s location’s owner, Derek Giacomantonio, said in a statement. “That’s why I accepted former President Trump’s request to observe the transformative working experience that 1 in 8 Americans have had: a job at McDonald’s.”Police closed the busy streets around the McDonald’s during Trump's visit. Authorities cordoned off the restaurant as a crowd a couple blocks long gathered, sometimes 10- to 15-deep, across the street straining to catch a glimpse of Trump. Horns honked and music blared as Trump supporters waved flags, held signs and took pictures.John Waters, of nearby Fairless Hills, had never been to a Trump rally and had hoped to see the former president so close to his house after missing other nearby rallies.“When I drove up, all the cars, unbelievable, I was like, ‘He’s here’s, he’s coming, he’s definitely coming with this all traffic,’” Waters said.Trump is especially partial to McDonald's Big Macs and Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. He’s talked often about how he trusts big chains more than smaller restaurants since they have big reputations to maintain, and the former president’s staff often pick up McDonald’s and serve it on his plane.Jim Worthington, a Trump supporter and fundraiser who owns a nearby athletic complex and chaired Pennsylvania’s delegation to the Republican National Convention, said he arranged Trump’s visit to the locally owned McDonald’s franchise.The campaign contacted him looking for a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania and Worthington started looking for one. He got in touch with Giacomantonio through a friend and talked the franchise owner through some initial nervousness.Giacomantonio needed to know that McDonald’s corporate offices would be OK with it, first. Second, he was concerned that being seen as a Trump supporter would hurt his business or a spark boycott, Worthington said.“He certainly had concerns, but I eased his mind, and talked to him about the benefits,” Worthington said.___Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.

 🎥Trump works the fry station, drive-thru at McDonald's

In my snail mail box yesterday I found a flyer from KansasUnited.org. I googled them and learned they are affiliated with the ACLU. I applaud their efforts to provide information on candidates running for office. Kansas has a long list and considering the effort it takes to become an informed voter it was disappointing to see the list only addressed the Ellis County Clerk position, leaving the impression this was a political ad. That was disappointing from an organization dedicated to providing fair and unbiased voting information. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Each candidate was asked to respond to the following

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To put polling places in locations convenient for all eligible Ellis County citizens?

2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That Ellis County polling locations are accessible to and meet the needs of residents with disabilities and the elderly?

3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To extend the early voting period in Ellis County?

The candidate responded yes; the incumbent did not respond. Perhaps because these issues are already covered in her oath for office.

1. No address in the city of Hays is located more than 2 miles from the assigned polling location.

2. By law, polling locations must provide handicap assess.&nbsp; All Hays polling locations have adequate parking located near the entrance of the poll. All entrances have handicap ramps and personnel are available to assist the elderly.

3. Kansas law dictates early voting access.&nbsp; In Ellis County early voting begins October 16 with mail in ballot mailing. In person early voting is from October 28 – November 1, between the hours of 8am and 4pm. November 4th&nbsp;hours are 8am to 12 pm.&nbsp; Voting takes place at the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main Street.

I am not acquainted with Laura Allen and have no knowledge of her work history or experience in civil service.&nbsp; I have worked with Bobbie Dreiling as a poll judge for several local, state and national elections.&nbsp; She is a professional; knowledgeable, experienced, efficient, and dedicated to running an election that gives every registered Ellis County voter the opportunity to vote.&nbsp;

The time and effort in producing this flyer would have better served the people of Kansas with a list of candidates running for office and a link to information on their history and positions on important issues, ending with a GET OUT AND VOTE message. It is our right, it is our privilege, and it is our responsibility. Our democracy depends on it.

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 </figure>In my snail mail box yesterday I found a flyer from KansasUnited.org. I googled them and learned they are affiliated with the ACLU. I applaud their efforts to provide information on candidates running for office. Kansas has a long list and considering the effort it takes to become an informed voter it was disappointing to see the list only addressed the Ellis County Clerk position, leaving the impression this was a political ad. That was disappointing from an organization dedicated to providing fair and unbiased voting information. &nbsp;&nbsp;Each candidate was asked to respond to the followingDo you pledge1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To put polling places in locations convenient for all eligible Ellis County citizens?2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That Ellis County polling locations are accessible to and meet the needs of residents with disabilities and the elderly?3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To extend the early voting period in Ellis County?The candidate responded yes; the incumbent did not respond. Perhaps because these issues are already covered in her oath for office.1. No address in the city of Hays is located more than 2 miles from the assigned polling location.2. By law, polling locations must provide handicap assess.&nbsp; All Hays polling locations have adequate parking located near the entrance of the poll. All entrances have handicap ramps and personnel are available to assist the elderly.3. Kansas law dictates early voting access.&nbsp; In Ellis County early voting begins October 16 with mail in ballot mailing. In person early voting is from October 28 – November 1, between the hours of 8am and 4pm. November 4th&nbsp;hours are 8am to 12 pm.&nbsp; Voting takes place at the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main Street.I am not acquainted with Laura Allen and have no knowledge of her work history or experience in civil service.&nbsp; I have worked with Bobbie Dreiling as a poll judge for several local, state and national elections.&nbsp; She is a professional; knowledgeable, experienced, efficient, and dedicated to running an election that gives every registered Ellis County voter the opportunity to vote.&nbsp;The time and effort in producing this flyer would have better served the people of Kansas with a list of candidates running for office and a link to information on their history and positions on important issues, ending with a GET OUT AND VOTE message. It is our right, it is our privilege, and it is our responsibility. Our democracy depends on it.Cathy Van Doren

LETTER: KansasUnited flyer biased

STONECREST, Ga. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;told the congregation of a large Black church in suburban Atlanta on Sunday that people must show compassion and respect in their daily lives and do more than just “preach the values.”

The Democratic presidential nominee's visit to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest on her 60th birthday, marked by a song by the congregation, was part of a broad, nationwide campaign, known as “Souls to the Polls,” that encourages Black churchgoers to vote.

Pastor Jamal Bryant said the vice president was “an American hero, the voice of the future” and “our fearless leader.” He also used his sermon to welcome the idea of America electing a woman for the first time as president. "It takes a real man to support a real woman,” Bryant said.

“When Black women roll up their sleeves, then society has got to change,” the pastor said.

Harris told the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke, about a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers. The traveler was beaten and left bloodied, but helped by a stranger.

All faiths promote the idea of loving thy neighbor, Harris said, but far harder to achieve is truly loving a stranger as if that person were a neighbor.

STONECREST, Ga. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;told the congregation of a large Black church in suburban Atlanta on Sunday that people must show compassion and respect in their daily lives and do more than just “preach the values.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us to love thy neighbor as thyself. Let us remember this in our words, our actions, and our votes: <a href="https://t.co/VbrfuqVy9P">https://t.co/VbrfuqVy9P</a> <a href="https://t.co/fPaqog49k6">pic.twitter.com/fPaqog49k6</a>&mdash; Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1848073035699397055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Democratic presidential nominee's visit to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest on her 60th birthday, marked by a song by the congregation, was part of a broad, nationwide campaign, known as “Souls to the Polls,” that encourages Black churchgoers to vote.Pastor Jamal Bryant said the vice president was “an American hero, the voice of the future” and “our fearless leader.” He also used his sermon to welcome the idea of America electing a woman for the first time as president. "It takes a real man to support a real woman,” Bryant said.“When Black women roll up their sleeves, then society has got to change,” the pastor said.Harris told the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke, about a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers. The traveler was beaten and left bloodied, but helped by a stranger.All faiths promote the idea of loving thy neighbor, Harris said, but far harder to achieve is truly loving a stranger as if that person were a neighbor.“In this moment, across our nation, what we do see are some who try to deepen division among us, spread hate, sow fear and cause chaos,” Harris told the congregation. “The true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.”She was more somber than during her political rallies, stressing that real faith means defending humanity. She said the Samaritan parable reminds people that "it is not enough to preach the values of compassion and respect. We must live them.”Harris ended by saying, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” as attendees applauded her.Many in attendance wore pink to promote breast cancer awareness. Also on hand was Opal Lee, an activist in the movement to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday. Harris hugged her.The vice president also has a midday stop at Divine Faith Ministries International in Jonesboro with singer Stevie Wonder, before taping an interview with the Rev. Al Sharpton that will air later Sunday on MSNBC. The schedule reflects her campaign’s push to treat every voting group like a swing state voter, trying to appeal to them all in a tightly contested election with early voting in progress.Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, headed to church in Saginaw, Michigan, and his wife, Gwen, was going to a service in Las Vegas.The “Souls to the Polls” effort launched last week and is led by the National Advisory Board of Black Faith Leaders, which is sending representatives across battleground states as early voting begins in the Nov. 5 election.“My father used to say, a ‘voteless people is a powerless people’ and one of the most important steps we can take is that short step to the ballot box," Martin Luther King III said Friday. “When Black voters are organized and engaged, we have the power to shift the trajectory of this nation.”On Saturday, the vice president rallied supporters in Detroit with singer Lizzo before traveling to Atlanta to focus on abortion rights, highlighting the death of a Georgia mother amid the state's restrictive abortion laws that took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court, with three justices nominated by Donald Trump, overturned Roe v. Wade.And after her Sunday push,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-cheny-duke-university-liz-dick-55852b4dffc447413616a01b6a38c920">she will campaign with former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.,</a>&nbsp;in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-lizzo-usher-michigan-georgia-early-voting-bce7d9172df6a83cf40a35e00ddb1604">“Donald Trump still</a>&nbsp;refuses to take accountability, to take any accountability, for the pain and the suffering he has caused,” Harris said.Harris is a Baptist whose husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish. She has said she’s inspired by the work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and influenced by the religious traditions of her mother’s native India as well as the Black Church. Harris sang in the choir as a child at Twenty Third Avenue Church of God in Oakland.“Souls to the Polls” as an idea traces back to the Civil Rights Movement.&nbsp;<a href="https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/may/7">The Rev. George Lee</a>, a Black entrepreneur from Mississippi, was killed by white supremacists in 1955 after he helped nearly 100 Black residents register to vote in the town of Belzoni. The cemetery where Lee is buried has served as a polling place.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-race-and-ethnicity-new-york-voting-c8f6ec1b9eb46c6e49340747d781bb11">Black church congregations</a>&nbsp;across the country have undertaken get-out-the-vote campaigns for years. In part to counteract voter suppression tactics that date back to the Jim Crow era, early voting in the Black community is stressed from pulpits nearly as much as it is by candidates.In Georgia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-early-voting-election-ballots-trump-harris-32446269d76969f16a8215a95d0496b9">early voting began on Tuesday, and more than 310,000</a>&nbsp;people voted on that day, more than doubling the first-day total in 2020. A record 5 million people voted in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.___