By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A Hays man allegedly threatened his girlfriend with a knife during a domestic dispute while a child was present in the home.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said 38-year-old James Edward Foster of Hays was arrested for alleged aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, endangering a child and domestic battery.

Scheibler said the incident occured at 11:56 p.m. on July 24 in the 1900 block of MacArthur St., where officers responded to a report that Foster had allegedly pulled a knife on his girlfriend during an argument and made threatening gestures.

Scheibler said the woman and the child were not injured. Officers allegedly found additional weapons at the scene: a short-barreled AR-15 rifle and a handgun.

Foster was booked into the Ellis County Jail on July 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754655072728.png" alt="Foster photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Foster photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Hays man allegedly threatened his girlfriend with a knife during a domestic dispute while a child was present in the home.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said 38-year-old James Edward Foster of Hays was arrested for alleged aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, endangering a child and domestic battery.Scheibler said the incident occured at 11:56 p.m. on July 24 in the 1900 block of MacArthur St., where officers responded to a report that Foster had allegedly pulled a knife on his girlfriend during an argument and made threatening gestures.Scheibler said the woman and the child were not injured. Officers allegedly found additional weapons at the scene: a short-barreled AR-15 rifle and a handgun.Foster was booked into the Ellis County Jail on July 25.

Hays man arrested for allegedly threatening woman with knife

LONDON (AP) — In China, wait times for U.S. visa interviews are so long that some students have given up. Universities in Hong Kong are fielding transfer inquiries from foreign students in the U.S., and international applications for British undergraduate programs have surged.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been pressuring U.S. colleges to reduce their dependence on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-harvard-columbia-ivy-league-cb330dbf66d4b035e66ea160e4ede856">international enrollment</a>&nbsp;while adding new layers of scrutiny for foreign students as part of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-aclu-lawsuit-los-angeles-trump-3bbcb0634ed57ede1897c89f76676094">crackdown on immigration.</a>

The U.S. government has sought to deport foreign students for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-15014bcbb921f21a9f704d5acdcae7a8">participating in pro-Palestinian activism</a>. In the spring, it abruptly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-student-f1-visa-revoked-college-f12320b435b6bf9cf723f1e8eb8c67ae">revoked the legal status</a>&nbsp;of thousands of international students, including some whose only brush with law enforcement was a traffic ticket. After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-terminated-trump-sevis-9f85c3c58a4b74c354df0d7d993cf34c">reversing course</a>, the government paused new appointments for student visas while rolling out a process for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-visas-trump-social-media-6632a2c585245edcd6a63594345dd8c7">screening applicants’ social media accounts</a>.

The U.S. remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-china-international-student-college-f1-visa-3b1b7b8b248b6092458f3c323a62f8ec">the first choice</a>&nbsp;for many international students, but institutions elsewhere are recognizing opportunity in the upheaval, and applicants are considering destinations they might have otherwise overlooked. The impact on U.S. universities — and the nation’s economy — may be significant.

New international enrollment in the U.S. could drop by 30% to 40% this fall, according to an analysis of visa and enrollment data by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education.

That would deprive the U.S. economy of $7 billion in spending, according to the analysis. Many international students pay full price, so their absence would also hurt college budgets.

Britain stands to gain as the US takes ‘a massive hit’

As the second most popular destination for international students, Britain is positioned to benefit.

The country’s new Labour government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-small-boats-immigration-starmer-reform-cooper-d83661777617aae46a5cb6942f544e54">vowed to cut migration</a>, and officials have imposed time limits on post-study visas allowing graduates to stay and work. But admissions consultants say the United Kingdom is still seen as the most welcoming of the traditional “big four” English-speaking destinations in higher education — the U.S., U.K.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-foreign-students-cap-housing-trudeau-7e718df6979915b112a1ff243f224ac7">Canada</a>&nbsp;and Australia.

After declining last year, the number of international applications for undergraduate study in the U.K. this fall grew by 2.2%, official figures show. A record number of applications came from China, up 10% compared with the previous year. Applications from the U.S. also reached nearly 8,000 students — an increase of 14% and a 20-year high.

Acceptances of international students for graduate programs in the U.K. grew an estimated 10% from last year, driven by demand for business and management courses in particular, according to data from UniQuest, which works with many British universities on admissions.

Data showing the extent of any impact will not be available until fall, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, a consultancy that works with colleges in the U.S., Canada and Europe. “But the American brand has taken a massive hit, and the U.K. is the one that is benefiting,” he said.

Demand from Chinese students has risen rapidly for universities places in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, said Will Kwong, managing director of AAS Education, a consultancy in Hong Kong. Many Western universities have offshore campuses there that are more affordable than going to the U.S. or U.K.

“Opting for study in Asia has been a trend since the easing of COVID-19,” Kwong said. “But obviously it’s been exacerbated by the change of administration in the U.S.”

Some Asian families have told him the U.S. is no longer their clear first choice because of political turbulence and visa difficulties, many are still waiting for U.S. visa interviews and will likely miss the start of the fall term, Kwong said.

Chinese college student Alisa, who is studying data science, plans to attend an exchange program this fall at the University of California, Berkeley. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in the U.S.

But she is also looking into other options “just so I could still go to school if the extreme scenario occurs,” said Alisa, who spoke on condition of partial anonymity out of fear of being targeted.

Hong Kong will welcome any students who are denied entry to the U.S., the city’s leader John Lee has said. Last year, the Chinese territory decided to allow international students to work part-time.

Hong Kong University said it has received over 500 inquiries from students in the U.S. and is processing around 200 applications for transfer. At another school, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, international undergraduate applications have surged by 40% from last year, said Alison Lloyd, associate provost on institutional data and research.

Upheaval could be a boon for countries with satellite campuses

Countries including the United Arab Emirates have invested heavily in attracting international students by partnering with universities elsewhere to host branch campuses. These arrangements could appeal to students who fear being denied access to the U.S.

Dubai, which has designs on becoming a global education hub, hosts dozens of international institutions’ satellite campuses. It saw international student numbers grow by a third in 2024-2025.

Lisa Johnson, principal of Dubai’s private American Academy for Girls, said her mostly Emirati student body is increasingly looking away from the U.S. for college.

“Every student wants and dreams to go to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-administration-federal-cuts-037c3f5b259a7577358c5979e701c7c7">Harvard</a>,” she said. “But as college options increase in the United Arab Emirates, more and more students are staying.”

Kazakhstan has similar ambitions, said Daniel Palm, who has helped U.S. universities set up campuses abroad. Illinois Tech and the University of Arizona are among colleges offering degree programs in the Central Asian country, drawing students mostly from China and Russia.

“All of a sudden U.S. colleges are asking how to provide diversity, provide access,” Palm said, “because you have students who want to come to the U.S. and can’t.”

LONDON (AP) — In China, wait times for U.S. visa interviews are so long that some students have given up. Universities in Hong Kong are fielding transfer inquiries from foreign students in the U.S., and international applications for British undergraduate programs have surged.President Donald Trump’s administration has been pressuring U.S. colleges to reduce their dependence on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-harvard-columbia-ivy-league-cb330dbf66d4b035e66ea160e4ede856">international enrollment</a>&nbsp;while adding new layers of scrutiny for foreign students as part of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-aclu-lawsuit-los-angeles-trump-3bbcb0634ed57ede1897c89f76676094">crackdown on immigration.</a>The U.S. government has sought to deport foreign students for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-15014bcbb921f21a9f704d5acdcae7a8">participating in pro-Palestinian activism</a>. In the spring, it abruptly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-student-f1-visa-revoked-college-f12320b435b6bf9cf723f1e8eb8c67ae">revoked the legal status</a>&nbsp;of thousands of international students, including some whose only brush with law enforcement was a traffic ticket. After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-terminated-trump-sevis-9f85c3c58a4b74c354df0d7d993cf34c">reversing course</a>, the government paused new appointments for student visas while rolling out a process for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-visas-trump-social-media-6632a2c585245edcd6a63594345dd8c7">screening applicants’ social media accounts</a>.The U.S. remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-china-international-student-college-f1-visa-3b1b7b8b248b6092458f3c323a62f8ec">the first choice</a>&nbsp;for many international students, but institutions elsewhere are recognizing opportunity in the upheaval, and applicants are considering destinations they might have otherwise overlooked. The impact on U.S. universities — and the nation’s economy — may be significant.New international enrollment in the U.S. could drop by 30% to 40% this fall, according to an analysis of visa and enrollment data by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education.That would deprive the U.S. economy of $7 billion in spending, according to the analysis. Many international students pay full price, so their absence would also hurt college budgets.<h2>Britain stands to gain as the US takes ‘a massive hit’</h2>As the second most popular destination for international students, Britain is positioned to benefit.The country’s new Labour government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-small-boats-immigration-starmer-reform-cooper-d83661777617aae46a5cb6942f544e54">vowed to cut migration</a>, and officials have imposed time limits on post-study visas allowing graduates to stay and work. But admissions consultants say the United Kingdom is still seen as the most welcoming of the traditional “big four” English-speaking destinations in higher education — the U.S., U.K.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-foreign-students-cap-housing-trudeau-7e718df6979915b112a1ff243f224ac7">Canada</a>&nbsp;and Australia.After declining last year, the number of international applications for undergraduate study in the U.K. this fall grew by 2.2%, official figures show. A record number of applications came from China, up 10% compared with the previous year. Applications from the U.S. also reached nearly 8,000 students — an increase of 14% and a 20-year high.Acceptances of international students for graduate programs in the U.K. grew an estimated 10% from last year, driven by demand for business and management courses in particular, according to data from UniQuest, which works with many British universities on admissions.Data showing the extent of any impact will not be available until fall, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, a consultancy that works with colleges in the U.S., Canada and Europe. “But the American brand has taken a massive hit, and the U.K. is the one that is benefiting,” he said.<h2>Staying in Asia is becoming more popular</h2>Demand from Chinese students has risen rapidly for universities places in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, said Will Kwong, managing director of AAS Education, a consultancy in Hong Kong. Many Western universities have offshore campuses there that are more affordable than going to the U.S. or U.K.“Opting for study in Asia has been a trend since the easing of COVID-19,” Kwong said. “But obviously it’s been exacerbated by the change of administration in the U.S.”Some Asian families have told him the U.S. is no longer their clear first choice because of political turbulence and visa difficulties, many are still waiting for U.S. visa interviews and will likely miss the start of the fall term, Kwong said.Chinese college student Alisa, who is studying data science, plans to attend an exchange program this fall at the University of California, Berkeley. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in the U.S.But she is also looking into other options “just so I could still go to school if the extreme scenario occurs,” said Alisa, who spoke on condition of partial anonymity out of fear of being targeted.Hong Kong will welcome any students who are denied entry to the U.S., the city’s leader John Lee has said. Last year, the Chinese territory decided to allow international students to work part-time.Hong Kong University said it has received over 500 inquiries from students in the U.S. and is processing around 200 applications for transfer. At another school, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, international undergraduate applications have surged by 40% from last year, said Alison Lloyd, associate provost on institutional data and research.<h2>Upheaval could be a boon for countries with satellite campuses</h2>Countries including the United Arab Emirates have invested heavily in attracting international students by partnering with universities elsewhere to host branch campuses. These arrangements could appeal to students who fear being denied access to the U.S.Dubai, which has designs on becoming a global education hub, hosts dozens of international institutions’ satellite campuses. It saw international student numbers grow by a third in 2024-2025.Lisa Johnson, principal of Dubai’s private American Academy for Girls, said her mostly Emirati student body is increasingly looking away from the U.S. for college.“Every student wants and dreams to go to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-administration-federal-cuts-037c3f5b259a7577358c5979e701c7c7">Harvard</a>,” she said. “But as college options increase in the United Arab Emirates, more and more students are staying.”Kazakhstan has similar ambitions, said Daniel Palm, who has helped U.S. universities set up campuses abroad. Illinois Tech and the University of Arizona are among colleges offering degree programs in the Central Asian country, drawing students mostly from China and Russia.“All of a sudden U.S. colleges are asking how to provide diversity, provide access,” Palm said, “because you have students who want to come to the U.S. and can’t.”___

College applications rise outside US as Trump cracks down on international students

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Soccer will open the 2025 season ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll for NCAA Division II. The Tigers are in the Preseason Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2022. The Tigers ended the 2024 season ranked No. 24 in the nation, while the program made its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Fort Hays State won the Great American Conference Tournament Championship in 2024, earning the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 10 seed in the national tournament, the Tigers knocked off No. 7 seed Davenport 1-0 in the opening round of the tournament in Super Region 3 and then fell in overtime to No. 2 seed McKendree 3-2. McKendree went on to play in the national semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Lynn University.

Fort Hays State finished the 2024 season with a 13-4-4 record overall. The Tigers return one All-American in midfielder Tadhg Walsh, who led NCAA Division II in assists going into to the NCAA Tournament last year with 15. That broke the single-season record for assists at FHSU, topping the old mark of 14 set by Derick Gonzalez in 2017. Walsh joins Elias Ovelar Semeniuk as returning all-region performers from last year. The pair is also among a group of four returners who earned all-conference honors last year, which includes Bastian Carlman and Jackson Elgas.

Walsh was the team leader in points last year, adding five goals to his 15 assists for 25 points in 2024. Ovelar Semeniuk was the team leader in goals with nine and added three assists, producing 21 points for the season. Carlman had 18 points with eight goals and two assists.

The Tigers have one nationally ranked opponent in their non-conference slate, a September 11 meeting in Hays with No. 3 preseason ranked CSU Pueblo, which joined McKendree as a national semifinalist last year. The Thunderwolves were the national runner-up the two seasons prior (2022, 2023).

In conference play, the Tigers will see preseason No. 20 ranked Rogers State twice, while Southern Nazarene is among the teams receiving votes in the poll.

Below is the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll for Men's Soccer in NCAA Division II.

Rank	School	Prev	W-L-T 1	Lynn University	1	20-0-2 2	University of Charleston	2	22-2-1 3	Colorado State University-Pueblo	3	17-4-3 4	McKendree University	4	16-1-7 5	Clayton State University	5	13-4-4 6	Fort Lewis College	6	14-4-6 7	Saginaw Valley State University	7	13-6-2 8	Felician University	8	17-4-2 9	Coker University	9	15-3-1 10	Midwestern State University	10	15-3-3 11	California State University-Los Angeles	11	12-3-6 12	Franklin Pierce University	13	12-3-5 13	University of West Florida	14	12-3-4 14	Tiffin University	15	14-6-1 15	Post University	16	13-5-4 16	University of Findlay	17	12-4-5 17	University of Colorado-Colorado Springs	18	14-3-4 18	Cal Poly Pomona	19	14-2-7 19	Southern New Hampshire University	20	14-2-3 20	Rogers State University	21	9-5-7 21	Auburn University Montgomery	22	11-3-6 22	Western Oregon University	23	14-5-1 23	Fort Hays State University	24	13-4-4 24	California State University-Dominguez Hills	25	10-5-6 25	Converse University	RV	9-1-9

 Receiving Votes: Bloomsburg University, Gannon University, Concord University, Lewis University, Mars Hill University, Maryville University of St. Louis, University of the District of Columbia, Southern Nazarene University, Davenport University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Westmont College, Flagler College, Francis Marion University

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754593313360.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics image" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics image</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Soccer will open the 2025 season ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll for NCAA Division II. The Tigers are in the Preseason Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2022. The Tigers ended the 2024 season ranked No. 24 in the nation, while the program made its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.Fort Hays State won the Great American Conference Tournament Championship in 2024, earning the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 10 seed in the national tournament, the Tigers knocked off No. 7 seed Davenport 1-0 in the opening round of the tournament in Super Region 3 and then fell in overtime to No. 2 seed McKendree 3-2. McKendree went on to play in the national semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Lynn University.Fort Hays State finished the 2024 season with a 13-4-4 record overall. The Tigers return one All-American in midfielder Tadhg Walsh, who led NCAA Division II in assists going into to the NCAA Tournament last year with 15. That broke the single-season record for assists at FHSU, topping the old mark of 14 set by Derick Gonzalez in 2017. Walsh joins Elias Ovelar Semeniuk as returning all-region performers from last year. The pair is also among a group of four returners who earned all-conference honors last year, which includes Bastian Carlman and Jackson Elgas.Walsh was the team leader in points last year, adding five goals to his 15 assists for 25 points in 2024. Ovelar Semeniuk was the team leader in goals with nine and added three assists, producing 21 points for the season. Carlman had 18 points with eight goals and two assists.The Tigers have one nationally ranked opponent in their non-conference slate, a September 11 meeting in Hays with No. 3 preseason ranked CSU Pueblo, which joined McKendree as a national semifinalist last year. The Thunderwolves were the national runner-up the two seasons prior (2022, 2023).In conference play, the Tigers will see preseason No. 20 ranked Rogers State twice, while Southern Nazarene is among the teams receiving votes in the poll.Below is the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll for Men's Soccer in NCAA Division II.Rank	School	Prev	W-L-T 1	Lynn University	1	20-0-2 2	University of Charleston	2	22-2-1 3	Colorado State University-Pueblo	3	17-4-3 4	McKendree University	4	16-1-7 5	Clayton State University	5	13-4-4 6	Fort Lewis College	6	14-4-6 7	Saginaw Valley State University	7	13-6-2 8	Felician University	8	17-4-2 9	Coker University	9	15-3-1 10	Midwestern State University	10	15-3-3 11	California State University-Los Angeles	11	12-3-6 12	Franklin Pierce University	13	12-3-5 13	University of West Florida	14	12-3-4 14	Tiffin University	15	14-6-1 15	Post University	16	13-5-4 16	University of Findlay	17	12-4-5 17	University of Colorado-Colorado Springs	18	14-3-4 18	Cal Poly Pomona	19	14-2-7 19	Southern New Hampshire University	20	14-2-3 20	Rogers State University	21	9-5-7 21	Auburn University Montgomery	22	11-3-6 22	Western Oregon University	23	14-5-1 23	Fort Hays State University	24	13-4-4 24	California State University-Dominguez Hills	25	10-5-6 25	Converse University	RV	9-1-9 Receiving Votes: Bloomsburg University, Gannon University, Concord University, Lewis University, Mars Hill University, Maryville University of St. Louis, University of the District of Columbia, Southern Nazarene University, Davenport University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Westmont College, Flagler College, Francis Marion University

⚽ FHSU men open 2025 season ranked No. 23

By: NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

America's largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand celebrated the opening of their new $21 million, 90,000 square foot warehouse in Salina on Tuesday.

Beck's Hybrids, a family-owned company originating from Atlanta, Indiana looks to bring their experienced years of research and agricultural techniques to heart of Kansas. 

On Tuesday, August 5th, Beck's held an open house at their brand new facility located on 2201 N. Ohio. People in attendance got to experience first-hand the mission and passion the family-owned company with over a century of rich history, brings to local farmers. 

During the open house, President Scott Beck spoke to a large crowd about what Beck's is all about.

"Our purpose is helping farmers succeed," said Scott. "This location in Salina is meant to have close proximity for farmers to able to access products and be able to come in and look at our practical farm research."

Extensive research and successful practices &amp; resources for farmers

Beck's Hybrids uses products that ranges from corn, soybeans, wheat, corn silage, alfalfa, milo/grain sorghum, cover crops/forages, great harvest organics and Beck's better bedding. Working with farmers across 23 states, Beck's teaches and shows farming practices that farmers can utilize to improve their daily operations.

Beck's is loaded with a research and testing team that helps farmers get access to the wide diversity of Beck's products. Farmers can obtain this useful information by attending their "Becknology Days," as they can learn about all the resources and testimonies of successful farming. Plus, each year Beck's publishes 300 plus, page book comprising of more than 100 different research projects the company is doing. Every winter, Beck's holds 'insight meetings' where they share with farmers the major highlights of the year.&nbsp;

Scott emphasized the importance of agriculture from a national security standpoint.

"When people have food to eat, there are less riots and more stability among all of our communities," he said. "Supporting the farmers that are bringing that level of stability to our nation, state and local communities is really important. As much as we can do to support our farmers and research to do things better, the better all of our lives will be."

Words from Senator Moran and Mayor Lenkiewicz

Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz each made an appearance at the open house. Both expressed words of praise and admiration for the work Beck's Hybrids does.

"I came today (Tuesday) to get better acquainted with Beck's and welcome them to Salina," Moran said. "What a great family with values that are very helpful and meaningful to people across Kansas."

Moran plans on acknowledging Beck's Hybrids in Washington and wants to support them along the coming years.

"It would be great if the values that Beck's has, were values that were dominant in the United States," he said. "For the country to be well and better, we need people that have great values. We try to make sure the values that are necessary for the well-being of the country are those that are found in the nation's Capital as well."

Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz commented on the economic prosperity&nbsp; Beck's would bring to Salina.

"We are elated to have them here in the community, they (Beck's) will bring more jobs and it's another big piece to puzzle for the economic development and expansion of our community," said Lenkiewicz.

With Beck's being apart of the Salina community, Lenkiewicz stated the importance in facilitating relationships and growth from the government to a family-owned business.

"I'm a big believer that if a business is in the confines of zoning in the various structure, that we will just stay out of the way and let them do their thing," he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754497173613.jpeg" alt="Beck's Hybrids, largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand in the US establishes warehouse in Salina, KS on 2201 N. Ohio" />
 <figcaption>Beck's Hybrids, largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand in the US establishes warehouse in Salina, KS on 2201 N. Ohio</figcaption>
 </figure>By: NICOLAS FIERRO Salina PostAmerica's largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand celebrated the opening of their new $21 million, 90,000 square foot warehouse in Salina on Tuesday.Beck's Hybrids, a family-owned company originating from Atlanta, Indiana looks to bring their experienced years of research and agricultural techniques to heart of Kansas. On Tuesday, August 5th, Beck's held an open house at their brand new facility located on 2201 N. Ohio. People in attendance got to experience first-hand the mission and passion the family-owned company with over a century of rich history, brings to local farmers. During the open house, President Scott Beck spoke to a large crowd about what Beck's is all about."Our purpose is helping farmers succeed," said Scott. "This location in Salina is meant to have close proximity for farmers to able to access products and be able to come in and look at our practical farm research."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754502011853.jpeg" alt="Scott Beck during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids open house on Tuesday, August 5th" />
 <figcaption>Scott Beck during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids open house on Tuesday, August 5th</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Extensive research and successful practices &amp; resources for farmers</h2>Beck's Hybrids uses products that ranges from corn, soybeans, wheat, corn silage, alfalfa, milo/grain sorghum, cover crops/forages, great harvest organics and Beck's better bedding. Working with farmers across 23 states, Beck's teaches and shows farming practices that farmers can utilize to improve their daily operations.Beck's is loaded with a research and testing team that helps farmers get access to the wide diversity of Beck's products. Farmers can obtain this useful information by attending their "Becknology Days," as they can learn about all the resources and testimonies of successful farming. Plus, each year Beck's publishes 300 plus, page book comprising of more than 100 different research projects the company is doing. Every winter, Beck's holds 'insight meetings' where they share with farmers the major highlights of the year.&nbsp;Scott emphasized the importance of agriculture from a national security standpoint."When people have food to eat, there are less riots and more stability among all of our communities," he said. "Supporting the farmers that are bringing that level of stability to our nation, state and local communities is really important. As much as we can do to support our farmers and research to do things better, the better all of our lives will be."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754503411034.jpeg" alt="Welcome to Kansas Becknology Days sign at the open house on Tuesday, August 5th in Salina." />
 <figcaption>Welcome to Kansas Becknology Days sign at the open house on Tuesday, August 5th in Salina.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Words from Senator Moran and Mayor Lenkiewicz</h2>Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz each made an appearance at the open house. Both expressed words of praise and admiration for the work Beck's Hybrids does."I came today (Tuesday) to get better acquainted with Beck's and welcome them to Salina," Moran said. "What a great family with values that are very helpful and meaningful to people across Kansas."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754505984607.jpeg" alt="Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz both speaking during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids on Tuesday, August 5th" />
 <figcaption>Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz both speaking during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids on Tuesday, August 5th</figcaption>
 </figure>Moran plans on acknowledging Beck's Hybrids in Washington and wants to support them along the coming years."It would be great if the values that Beck's has, were values that were dominant in the United States," he said. "For the country to be well and better, we need people that have great values. We try to make sure the values that are necessary for the well-being of the country are those that are found in the nation's Capital as well."Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz commented on the economic prosperity&nbsp; Beck's would bring to Salina."We are elated to have them here in the community, they (Beck's) will bring more jobs and it's another big piece to puzzle for the economic development and expansion of our community," said Lenkiewicz.With Beck's being apart of the Salina community, Lenkiewicz stated the importance in facilitating relationships and growth from the government to a family-owned business."I'm a big believer that if a business is in the confines of zoning in the various structure, that we will just stay out of the way and let them do their thing," he said.

Beck's Hybrids opens $23 million facility in central Kansas

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will honor High Plains Mental Health's funding request of about $378,600.

The Ellis County Commission reviewed the third draft of the 2026 budget. Commissioner Nathan Leiker suggested several adjustments to funding for outside agencies requesting assistance.

"I would like to fund [High Plains Mental Health] at the full level, but the additional $76,000 would be from all sales tax and not property tax," Leiker said.

High Plains Mental Health's request is a significant increase from last year’s $299,975, with the additional funds designated for its <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c63c3c89-fd3c-4923-8d01-509e92168ce0">Crisis Intervention Center</a>.

Leiker also said he wanted to reevaluate the county’s scholarship program, which was initially established to support county employees and local students.

"A lot of the students are not employee-related. There's some, but I think we're kind of missing our target, and maybe we need to hit the pause on the scholarship, reevaluate and utilize some of those funds," he said.

Leiker proposed reducing the scholarship program’s funding from $20,000 to $10,000 and reallocating that $10,000 to DSNWK, meeting its original $250,000 request.

Commissioner Michael Berges said the program supports retention efforts and should not be fully cut in 2026. Commissioner Neal Younger supported a reduction in scholarship funding until next year’s budget.

Grow Hays and Ellis County Historical Society

Younger proposed reducing Grow Hays’ funding from $165,000 to $160,000 and reallocating the $5,000 to the Ellis County Historical Society, increasing its total to $115,000.

The following are additional funding allocations and changes discussed for the 2026 budget:

• DSNWK KidLink to receive $120,000 • ACCESS Transportation to receive $50,000 • Hays Humane Society to receive $2,600 • Ellis County Conservation District to receive $72,646, an increase from $65,750 • United Way of Ellis County to receive $2,500 (reduced at a previous meeting) • Ameritown was removed from the 2026 budget

Darin Myers, county administrator, said AmeriTown could either seek funding through the county’s contingency fund or submit a request to the Ellis County Care Council.

ACCESS Transportation also requested $82,000 from the City of Hays to help offset the loss of state funding, but the city has yet to decide. The service offers public transportation primarily to low-income, elderly and disabled individuals.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1c896b49-4c58-4425-a998-474c7c4b6da4">SEE RELATED STORY: ACCESS Public Transportation faces 2026 budget shortfall&nbsp;</a>

Myers said the total outside agency funding in the budget amounts to $1,256,548, a $797 decrease from the previous draft.

The current draft has a 1.84 mill levy increase, from 35.99 mills to 37.83. mills.

The mill levy increase includes the commissioners' request to add 1 mill ($542,695), which will replace the expected revenue decrease of the Oil and Gas Depletion fund ($425,865) in future years.

The proposed budget also includes a $200,000 increase in interest revenue. That will help reduce the overall mill levy by one-third of a mill for 2026.

Berges suggested slightly lowering the increase to align with the amount previously transferred from the oil depletion fund, but the commission ultimately agreed to keep the full 1 mill increase.

Final changes can be made by Aug. 12, with the public hearing set for Sept. 9.

The commission continued its discussion on capital improvement projects, including the possibility of issuing a bond to fund more than $9.75 million in facility upgrades.

"This allows us to do some projects without using property taxes," Berges said.

Myers said that if the sales tax is not renewed in 2030, the county would have to increase property taxes by 7 to 8 mills to cover bond payments.

"What's nice about the sales taxes is that the majority... is paid by people traveling in and out of Ellis County, not necessarily Ellis County residents," he said.

The commission reviewed photos of the EMS and fire station facilities in the city of Ellis, which are experiencing water damage, mold risks and limited space. Repairs and upgrades are estimated to cost $2 million.

The following are other projects and estimates that the commission discussed:

•&nbsp;Sheriff’s Office and Communications Department Renovation, estimated budget of $3 million •&nbsp;Administrative Building 110 fan coil units, estimated at&nbsp;$1.25 million •&nbsp;Courthouse HVAC replacement, estimated at $3.5 million •&nbsp;Landfill Transfer Station Expansion •&nbsp;Storage Building at Public Works

Berges said the projects will need to be carefully prioritized in the years ahead and noted the courthouse HVAC system experienced issues over the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743602398322.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission will honor High Plains Mental Health's funding request of about $378,600.The Ellis County Commission reviewed the third draft of the 2026 budget. Commissioner Nathan Leiker suggested several adjustments to funding for outside agencies requesting assistance."I would like to fund [High Plains Mental Health] at the full level, but the additional $76,000 would be from all sales tax and not property tax," Leiker said.High Plains Mental Health's request is a significant increase from last year’s $299,975, with the additional funds designated for its <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c63c3c89-fd3c-4923-8d01-509e92168ce0">Crisis Intervention Center</a>.<h2>DSNWK and the county scholarship program</h2>Leiker also said he wanted to reevaluate the county’s scholarship program, which was initially established to support county employees and local students."A lot of the students are not employee-related. There's some, but I think we're kind of missing our target, and maybe we need to hit the pause on the scholarship, reevaluate and utilize some of those funds," he said.Leiker proposed reducing the scholarship program’s funding from $20,000 to $10,000 and reallocating that $10,000 to DSNWK, meeting its original $250,000 request.Commissioner Michael Berges said the program supports retention efforts and should not be fully cut in 2026. Commissioner Neal Younger supported a reduction in scholarship funding until next year’s budget.<h2>Grow Hays and Ellis County Historical Society</h2>Younger proposed reducing Grow Hays’ funding from $165,000 to $160,000 and reallocating the $5,000 to the Ellis County Historical Society, increasing its total to $115,000.The following are additional funding allocations and changes discussed for the 2026 budget:• DSNWK KidLink to receive $120,000 • ACCESS Transportation to receive $50,000 • Hays Humane Society to receive $2,600 • Ellis County Conservation District to receive $72,646, an increase from $65,750 • United Way of Ellis County to receive $2,500 (reduced at a previous meeting) • Ameritown was removed from the 2026 budgetDarin Myers, county administrator, said AmeriTown could either seek funding through the county’s contingency fund or submit a request to the Ellis County Care Council.ACCESS Transportation also requested $82,000 from the City of Hays to help offset the loss of state funding, but the city has yet to decide. The service offers public transportation primarily to low-income, elderly and disabled individuals.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1c896b49-4c58-4425-a998-474c7c4b6da4">SEE RELATED STORY: ACCESS Public Transportation faces 2026 budget shortfall&nbsp;</a>Myers said the total outside agency funding in the budget amounts to $1,256,548, a $797 decrease from the previous draft.<h2>Mill levy increase proposal</h2>The current draft has a 1.84 mill levy increase, from 35.99 mills to 37.83. mills.The mill levy increase includes the commissioners' request to add 1 mill ($542,695), which will replace the expected revenue decrease of the Oil and Gas Depletion fund ($425,865) in future years.The proposed budget also includes a $200,000 increase in interest revenue. That will help reduce the overall mill levy by one-third of a mill for 2026.Berges suggested slightly lowering the increase to align with the amount previously transferred from the oil depletion fund, but the commission ultimately agreed to keep the full 1 mill increase.Final changes can be made by Aug. 12, with the public hearing set for Sept. 9.<h2>Capital improvement projects and bonding</h2>The commission continued its discussion on capital improvement projects, including the possibility of issuing a bond to fund more than $9.75 million in facility upgrades."This allows us to do some projects without using property taxes," Berges said.Myers said that if the sales tax is not renewed in 2030, the county would have to increase property taxes by 7 to 8 mills to cover bond payments."What's nice about the sales taxes is that the majority... is paid by people traveling in and out of Ellis County, not necessarily Ellis County residents," he said.The commission reviewed photos of the EMS and fire station facilities in the city of Ellis, which are experiencing water damage, mold risks and limited space. Repairs and upgrades are estimated to cost $2 million.The following are other projects and estimates that the commission discussed:•&nbsp;Sheriff’s Office and Communications Department Renovation, estimated budget of $3 million •&nbsp;Administrative Building 110 fan coil units, estimated at&nbsp;$1.25 million •&nbsp;Courthouse HVAC replacement, estimated at $3.5 million •&nbsp;Landfill Transfer Station Expansion •&nbsp;Storage Building at Public WorksBerges said the projects will need to be carefully prioritized in the years ahead and noted the courthouse HVAC system experienced issues over the weekend.

Ellis County Commission readjusts 2026 funding; discuss 1 mill tax hike

Following a recent water main break at the intersection of Sixth and Main, the City of Hays has finalized a repair plan and will begin work on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Repairs to the damaged infrastructure and the roadway are expected to take up to two weeks.

During the repair period, the intersection of Sixth and Main will be closed.

Main Street will be closed near the intersection, and the 100 block of West Sixth Street will also be inaccessible to through traffic.

Traffic signs will be placed to alert motorists of the closures and direct them to alternate routes.

"We appreciate the community's patience as we work to repair the damage," said Director of Water Resources Jeff Crispin. "Our crews will be working diligently to restore the infrastructure and the roadway as quickly and safely as possible."

The project will address the damage to both the underground infrastructure and the street surface caused by the break.

The City of Hays reminds all residents and visitors to exercise caution when traveling near the construction zone and to follow all posted detour signs. For updates follow the City of Hays on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Nextdoor, TikTok and LinkedIn, or visit HaysUSA.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysFollowing a recent water main break at the intersection of Sixth and Main, the City of Hays has finalized a repair plan and will begin work on Thursday, Aug. 7.Repairs to the damaged infrastructure and the roadway are expected to take up to two weeks.During the repair period, the intersection of Sixth and Main will be closed.Main Street will be closed near the intersection, and the 100 block of West Sixth Street will also be inaccessible to through traffic.Traffic signs will be placed to alert motorists of the closures and direct them to alternate routes."We appreciate the community's patience as we work to repair the damage," said Director of Water Resources Jeff Crispin. "Our crews will be working diligently to restore the infrastructure and the roadway as quickly and safely as possible."The project will address the damage to both the underground infrastructure and the street surface caused by the break.The City of Hays reminds all residents and visitors to exercise caution when traveling near the construction zone and to follow all posted detour signs. For updates follow the City of Hays on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Nextdoor, TikTok and LinkedIn, or visit HaysUSA.com.

Repairs to Hays' Main St. following water main leak begin today

More than 6,100 rubber ducks peddled their way to the finish line for a $10,000 prize at the tenth-annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County Duck Derby.

The main events on Wednesday at the Hays Aquatic Park also included a Duck Dash for kids with prizes for the top 20 and a cardboard boat regatta for businesses.

The winners of the grand prize and nine other prizes were announced Wednesday and were published today on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AyVaDr62q/">Big Brothers Big Sisters Facebook page</a>:

First - Brett Zollinger&nbsp;- $10,000 grand prize Second - Kerry Wasinger - one night stay-cation in a spa cabin Third - Kalin LaBarge - Apple iPad Fourth - Curt &amp; Jeanna Wellbrock - two round-trip airline tickets Fifth - Gary Short - iRobot Roomba Sixth - Bryan Phillips - Napoleon Travel Q Grill and $200 gift card from Bigg E Meats Seventh - Mike Koerner - two GA Fort Hays State University all-sport tickets for 2025 to 2026 season Eighth - Kathy Rupp - Ray-Ban sunglasses and Shoeless Joe vintage baseball glove Ninth prize - Darrell Seibel - $300 gift card from Walmart 10th prize - JoAnne Berens - Breathe Coffee House gift basket Last place duck - Christa Language - duck bluetooth shower speaker

Zollinger said half of the $10,000 award will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County.

High Plains Baptist Church&nbsp;received the Spirit Award and the 2025 Forward Always Cardboard Regatta - Race for a Cause Champion Award, taking first place.

The Hays Water Resource Department received the Best in Show award and the Big Brothers Big Sisters match team received the Titanic Award.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County has made 160 matches so far this year with individuals or families who provide support and mentorship. 34 children are on a waiting list for their match.

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasbigs.org/">website</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/EllisCoBigs">Facebook page</a>.

The Local Food Truck was at the race, donating 10% of sales. All proceeds from the Duck Derby will go towards&nbsp;Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754538661398.jpeg" alt="Ducks going down a slide into the lazy river Wednesday at the Hays Aquatic Park during the Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Derby. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Ducks going down a slide into the lazy river Wednesday at the Hays Aquatic Park during the Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Derby. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostMore than 6,100 rubber ducks peddled their way to the finish line for a $10,000 prize at the tenth-annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County Duck Derby.The main events on Wednesday at the Hays Aquatic Park also included a Duck Dash for kids with prizes for the top 20 and a cardboard boat regatta for businesses.The winners of the grand prize and nine other prizes were announced Wednesday and were published today on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AyVaDr62q/">Big Brothers Big Sisters Facebook page</a>:First - Brett Zollinger&nbsp;- $10,000 grand prize Second - Kerry Wasinger - one night stay-cation in a spa cabin Third - Kalin LaBarge - Apple iPad Fourth - Curt &amp; Jeanna Wellbrock - two round-trip airline tickets Fifth - Gary Short - iRobot Roomba Sixth - Bryan Phillips - Napoleon Travel Q Grill and $200 gift card from Bigg E Meats Seventh - Mike Koerner - two GA Fort Hays State University all-sport tickets for 2025 to 2026 season Eighth - Kathy Rupp - Ray-Ban sunglasses and Shoeless Joe vintage baseball glove Ninth prize - Darrell Seibel - $300 gift card from Walmart 10th prize - JoAnne Berens - Breathe Coffee House gift basket Last place duck - Christa Language - duck bluetooth shower speakerZollinger said half of the $10,000 award will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754538750747.jpeg" alt="Photos by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photos by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
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 </figure>High Plains Baptist Church&nbsp;received the Spirit Award and the 2025 Forward Always Cardboard Regatta - Race for a Cause Champion Award, taking first place.The Hays Water Resource Department received the Best in Show award and the Big Brothers Big Sisters match team received the Titanic Award.<figure>
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 </figure>Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County has made 160 matches so far this year with individuals or families who provide support and mentorship. 34 children are on a waiting list for their match.For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasbigs.org/">website</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/EllisCoBigs">Facebook page</a>.The Local Food Truck was at the race, donating 10% of sales. All proceeds from the Duck Derby will go towards&nbsp;Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters.

📷 UPDATED: Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Derby awards $10,000 grand prize

Herzogfest weekend is August 8 and 9 in Victoria. On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Brenton Hoffman, committee president and vice-president Jennifer Bernes about the German-themed event.&nbsp;

<figure>
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 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Celebrate Herzogfest in Victoria this weekend" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=wihw5-19277f6-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Herzogfest weekend is August 8 and 9 in Victoria. On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Brenton Hoffman, committee president and vice-president Jennifer Bernes about the German-themed event.&nbsp;

🎙Celebrate Herzogfest in Victoria this weekend

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump could meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as next week as he seeks to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, a White House official said Wednesday.

The official cautioned that a meeting has not been scheduled yet and no location has been determined. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans.

The White House said Trump was also open to a meeting with both Putin and Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kellogg-zelenskyy-437f4c8fa4531059007dd3ab00c23458">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>.

A meeting between Putin and Trump would be their first since Trump returned to office this year. It would be a significant milestone in the 3-year-old war, though there’s no promise such a meeting would lead to the end of the fighting since Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on their demands.

News of a potential meeting with Putin, which was first reported by The New York Times, came hours after Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow. Trump had posted earlier on Truth Social that Witkoff “had a highly productive meeting” with Putin in which “great progress was made.”

It was not immediately clear if Putin or Zelenskyy had agreed to any meetings with Trump.

Zelenskyy has been willing to meet face-to-face with Putin to end the conflict, but Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea.

Trump has met with Zelenskyy several times this year, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">contentious February meeting</a>&nbsp;in Washington. Though he has not yet met with Putin this year, Trump met with him five times during his first term.

Trump said earlier Wednesday that he updated America’s allies in Europe and that they will work toward an end to the Russia-Ukraine war “in the days and weeks to come.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky.” Her statement did not address the potential timing of any meeting.

Witkoff met with Putin days before the White House’s deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-russia-ukraine-war-b265ec364349a7e2065982064748e69a">severe economic penalties</a>&nbsp;that could also hit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-oil-china-turkey-f377653aebf6d5a34a09a7466d85fd56">countries buying its oil</a>.

The meeting between Putin and Witkoff lasted about three hours, the Kremlin said.

Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin and Witkoff had a “useful and constructive conversation” that focused on the Ukrainian crisis and, in a nod toward improving relations between Washington and Moscow, “prospects for possible development of strategic cooperation" between the United States and Russia.

Earlier on Wednesday, the same White House official said the U.S. was still expected to impose secondary sanctions against Russia on Friday, after a 10-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-trump-putin-deadline-ultimatum-0e4cfb5969be5d02217be90f7521ce48">deadline that Trump imposed is to expire</a>. The White House has not yet released details about the sanctions.

Washington has threatened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-russia-ukraine-war-b265ec364349a7e2065982064748e69a">“severe tariffs” and other economic penalties</a>&nbsp;if the killing doesn’t stop.

Trump also has threatened to slap tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, which could increase import taxes dramatically on China and India He said Tuesday he hadn't publicly committed to any particular tariff rate, and indicated that his decision could depend on an outcome of the meeting with Putin.

Trump has expressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-fb61625d2dee8b1917bb3522e73c2166">increasing frustration with Putin</a>&nbsp;over Russia’s escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, intended to erode morale and public appetite for the war. The intensified attacks have occurred even as Trump has urged the Russian leader in recent months to relent.

Zelenskyy said Wednesday evening that he and Trump spoke on the phone after Witkoff met with Putin. He said “European leaders also participated in the conversation,” and “we discussed what was said in Moscow.”

“It seems that Russia is now more inclined to agree to a ceasefire," Zelenskyy said, adding that the pressure on Moscow "is working," without elaborating.

Zelenskyy stressed it was important to make sure Russia does not "deceive us or the United States” when it comes to “the details” of a potential agreement. Kyiv proposes that Ukraine and its allies soon “talk to determine our position, our common position, and our common view.”

Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces hit a recreational center in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, killing two people and injuring 12, including two children, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said Wednesday.

Russian forces launched at least four strikes on the area and initially attacked with powerful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-bombs-airfields-scorched-earth-58380b8625df7ed52a3b5472326559b8">glide bombs</a>.

“There is zero military sense in this strike. Only cruelty to intimidate,” Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.

Russia also struck the Ukrainian power grid and facilities for heating and cooking gas, Zelenskyy said, as Ukraine makes preparations for winter.

Western analysts and Ukrainian officials say Putin is stalling for time and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian forces push to capture more Ukraine land. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-offensives-ceasefire-c03921de21027d13117cb668c9a1a959">Russian offensive that started in the spring</a>&nbsp;and is expected to continue through the fall is advancing faster than last year's push but is making only slow and costly gains and has been unable to take any major cities.

The situation on the front line is critical for Ukrainian forces but defenses are not about to collapse, analysts say.

Stepping up diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin risks stoking international tensions amid worsening Russia-U.S. relations.

Putin has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-peace-talks-istanbul-7cafd1b233b30de0c9683aaa2b042212">given no hint that he might be ready</a>&nbsp;to make concessions. Instead, the Russian leader and senior Kremlin officials have talked up the country’s military strength.

Putin announced last week that Russia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-belarus-putin-lukashenko-oreshnik-missile-ukraine-f8d30cb15b6b1022f2e63263480df3b2">new hypersonic missile</a>, which he says cannot be intercepted by current NATO air defense systems, has entered service.

Russia announced Tuesday that it no longer regards itself as bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-missile-intermediate-nuclear-putin-moratorium-5697b228999cf78b21784dba989c28c4">intermediate range missiles</a>, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, meantime, warned that the Ukraine war could bring Russia and the U.S. into armed conflict. Trump responded to that by ordering the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nuclear-submarines-repositioned-medvedev-f8e9b870fa107f6b6209e7a22f8ada43">repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines</a>.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday welcomed Witkoff's visit. “We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful," he said.

Trump initially gave Moscow a 50-day deadline, but later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-trump-putin-deadline-ultimatum-0e4cfb5969be5d02217be90f7521ce48">moved up his ultimatum</a>&nbsp;as the Kremlin continued to bomb Ukrainian cities.

However, Trump himself doubted their effectiveness, saying Sunday that Russia has proven to be “pretty good at avoiding sanctions.”

“They’re wily characters,” he said of the Russians.

The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a limited impact.

Ukraine maintains the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscow’s war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754482846710.png" alt="Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, right, shake hands during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, right, shake hands during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump could meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as next week as he seeks to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, a White House official said Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the possibility of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine: &quot;We had some very good talks with President Putin today and there&#39;s a very good chance that we could be ending the round — the end of that road. There&#39;s a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/37yFw7buKu">pic.twitter.com/37yFw7buKu</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1953209514305487086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The official cautioned that a meeting has not been scheduled yet and no location has been determined. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans.The White House said Trump was also open to a meeting with both Putin and Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kellogg-zelenskyy-437f4c8fa4531059007dd3ab00c23458">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>.A meeting between Putin and Trump would be their first since Trump returned to office this year. It would be a significant milestone in the 3-year-old war, though there’s no promise such a meeting would lead to the end of the fighting since Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on their demands.News of a potential meeting with Putin, which was first reported by The New York Times, came hours after Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow. Trump had posted earlier on Truth Social that Witkoff “had a highly productive meeting” with Putin in which “great progress was made.”It was not immediately clear if Putin or Zelenskyy had agreed to any meetings with Trump.Zelenskyy has been willing to meet face-to-face with Putin to end the conflict, but Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea.Trump has met with Zelenskyy several times this year, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">contentious February meeting</a>&nbsp;in Washington. Though he has not yet met with Putin this year, Trump met with him five times during his first term.Trump said earlier Wednesday that he updated America’s allies in Europe and that they will work toward an end to the Russia-Ukraine war “in the days and weeks to come.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky.” Her statement did not address the potential timing of any meeting.Witkoff met with Putin days before the White House’s deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-russia-ukraine-war-b265ec364349a7e2065982064748e69a">severe economic penalties</a>&nbsp;that could also hit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-oil-china-turkey-f377653aebf6d5a34a09a7466d85fd56">countries buying its oil</a>.The meeting between Putin and Witkoff lasted about three hours, the Kremlin said.Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin and Witkoff had a “useful and constructive conversation” that focused on the Ukrainian crisis and, in a nod toward improving relations between Washington and Moscow, “prospects for possible development of strategic cooperation" between the United States and Russia.<h2>The threat of US sanctions</h2>Earlier on Wednesday, the same White House official said the U.S. was still expected to impose secondary sanctions against Russia on Friday, after a 10-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-trump-putin-deadline-ultimatum-0e4cfb5969be5d02217be90f7521ce48">deadline that Trump imposed is to expire</a>. The White House has not yet released details about the sanctions.Washington has threatened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-russia-ukraine-war-b265ec364349a7e2065982064748e69a">“severe tariffs” and other economic penalties</a>&nbsp;if the killing doesn’t stop.Trump also has threatened to slap tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, which could increase import taxes dramatically on China and India He said Tuesday he hadn't publicly committed to any particular tariff rate, and indicated that his decision could depend on an outcome of the meeting with Putin.Trump has expressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-fb61625d2dee8b1917bb3522e73c2166">increasing frustration with Putin</a>&nbsp;over Russia’s escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, intended to erode morale and public appetite for the war. The intensified attacks have occurred even as Trump has urged the Russian leader in recent months to relent.Zelenskyy said Wednesday evening that he and Trump spoke on the phone after Witkoff met with Putin. He said “European leaders also participated in the conversation,” and “we discussed what was said in Moscow.”“It seems that Russia is now more inclined to agree to a ceasefire," Zelenskyy said, adding that the pressure on Moscow "is working," without elaborating.Zelenskyy stressed it was important to make sure Russia does not "deceive us or the United States” when it comes to “the details” of a potential agreement. Kyiv proposes that Ukraine and its allies soon “talk to determine our position, our common position, and our common view.”<h2>The fighting grinds on</h2>Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces hit a recreational center in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, killing two people and injuring 12, including two children, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said Wednesday.Russian forces launched at least four strikes on the area and initially attacked with powerful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-bombs-airfields-scorched-earth-58380b8625df7ed52a3b5472326559b8">glide bombs</a>.“There is zero military sense in this strike. Only cruelty to intimidate,” Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.Russia also struck the Ukrainian power grid and facilities for heating and cooking gas, Zelenskyy said, as Ukraine makes preparations for winter.Western analysts and Ukrainian officials say Putin is stalling for time and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian forces push to capture more Ukraine land. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-offensives-ceasefire-c03921de21027d13117cb668c9a1a959">Russian offensive that started in the spring</a>&nbsp;and is expected to continue through the fall is advancing faster than last year's push but is making only slow and costly gains and has been unable to take any major cities.The situation on the front line is critical for Ukrainian forces but defenses are not about to collapse, analysts say.<h2>Risks of more pressure</h2>Stepping up diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin risks stoking international tensions amid worsening Russia-U.S. relations.Putin has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-peace-talks-istanbul-7cafd1b233b30de0c9683aaa2b042212">given no hint that he might be ready</a>&nbsp;to make concessions. Instead, the Russian leader and senior Kremlin officials have talked up the country’s military strength.Putin announced last week that Russia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-belarus-putin-lukashenko-oreshnik-missile-ukraine-f8d30cb15b6b1022f2e63263480df3b2">new hypersonic missile</a>, which he says cannot be intercepted by current NATO air defense systems, has entered service.Russia announced Tuesday that it no longer regards itself as bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-missile-intermediate-nuclear-putin-moratorium-5697b228999cf78b21784dba989c28c4">intermediate range missiles</a>, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race.Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, meantime, warned that the Ukraine war could bring Russia and the U.S. into armed conflict. Trump responded to that by ordering the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nuclear-submarines-repositioned-medvedev-f8e9b870fa107f6b6209e7a22f8ada43">repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines</a>.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday welcomed Witkoff's visit. “We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful," he said.Trump initially gave Moscow a 50-day deadline, but later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-trump-putin-deadline-ultimatum-0e4cfb5969be5d02217be90f7521ce48">moved up his ultimatum</a>&nbsp;as the Kremlin continued to bomb Ukrainian cities.However, Trump himself doubted their effectiveness, saying Sunday that Russia has proven to be “pretty good at avoiding sanctions.”“They’re wily characters,” he said of the Russians.The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a limited impact.Ukraine maintains the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscow’s war machine and wants Western allies to ramp them up.___

White House: Trump could meet in person with Putin as soon as next week

By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post Sports

HAYS, Kan. — The Fort Hays State University football program
has a long tradition of producing standout linebackers. The latest in that
lineage is John Johnson.

Despite missing three games due to injury last season, the
Dodge City native was third on the team in tackles with 63 and was named Second
Team All-MIAA. The season prior, Johnson led the Tigers with 89 tackles, which
was third-most in the MIAA, earning him First Team All-MIAA honors and a D2CCA
All-Super Region 3 Second Team selection.

Johnson believes the experienced defensive line can help
carry the load while the secondary gains more game experience.

"We're aggressive. We all have the same goal, you know,
get to the ball," Johnson said. "We've been working this summer,
we've been executing right, we have a chance to go pretty far."

Johnson's career has been hampered by injuries. After
playing in all 11 games as a freshman, he was limited to just two games his
sophomore year. Following a full 11-game season as a junior in 2023, he missed
three games last season.

Now healthy, Johnson's primary goal is to stay on the field.

"Just staying healthy, that's the biggest goal. I'm an
old guy, you know what I mean. Staying healthy is a big thing," Johnson
said. "The trainers here are awesome, they know what they're doing. I'm
blessed to be able to say I'm healthy."

During the offseason, Johnson focused on improving one
specific area of his game.

"My open-field tackling," he said. "That's
the biggest emphasis I had over the summer. Get that one-on-one in space."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754510701380.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State linebacker John Johnson runs a play during the Tigers first practice of preseason camp on Monday, August 4, 2025. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State linebacker John Johnson runs a play during the Tigers first practice of preseason camp on Monday, August 4, 2025. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post SportsHAYS, Kan. — The Fort Hays State University football program
has a long tradition of producing standout linebackers. The latest in that
lineage is John Johnson.Despite missing three games due to injury last season, the
Dodge City native was third on the team in tackles with 63 and was named Second
Team All-MIAA. The season prior, Johnson led the Tigers with 89 tackles, which
was third-most in the MIAA, earning him First Team All-MIAA honors and a D2CCA
All-Super Region 3 Second Team selection.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2149019967&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-fb-camp-johnson" title="FHSU FB Camp - Johnson" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU FB Camp - Johnson</a></div></div>Johnson believes the experienced defensive line can help
carry the load while the secondary gains more game experience."We're aggressive. We all have the same goal, you know,
get to the ball," Johnson said. "We've been working this summer,
we've been executing right, we have a chance to go pretty far."Johnson's career has been hampered by injuries. After
playing in all 11 games as a freshman, he was limited to just two games his
sophomore year. Following a full 11-game season as a junior in 2023, he missed
three games last season.Now healthy, Johnson's primary goal is to stay on the field."Just staying healthy, that's the biggest goal. I'm an
old guy, you know what I mean. Staying healthy is a big thing," Johnson
said. "The trainers here are awesome, they know what they're doing. I'm
blessed to be able to say I'm healthy."During the offseason, Johnson focused on improving one
specific area of his game."My open-field tackling," he said. "That's
the biggest emphasis I had over the summer. Get that one-on-one in space."

🎧🏈 Johnson overcomes injuries, eyes strong senior season

FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) — An Army sergeant opened fire at Fort Stewart on Wednesday, shooting five soldiers and prompting a brief lockdown at one the country’s largest Army bases, officials said.

Few details were immediately available about what led to the gunfire, but the suspect is an Army sergeant, according to a U.S. official. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The injured soldiers are stable and recovering, said Brig Gen. John Lubas. The Army won’t release names pending notification of family members and they won’t speculate on motive, Lt. Col. Angel Tomko said at a news conference.

Officials identified the shooter as logistics Sgt. Quornelius Radford. A telephone number listed for Radford in public records rang unanswered on Wednesday.

The shooter opened fire at his workplace, officials said. Soldiers in the area who witnessed the shooting “immediately and without hesitation” tackled the shooter, Lubas said.

This latest act of violence on a U.S. military installation — sites that are supposed to be among the most secure in the country — again raised concerns about safety and security within the armed forces’ own walls.

The Army said it's investigating the shooting. There were still many unanswered questions, including the condition of the soldiers, the scope of their injuries, the name of the shooter as well as any possible motive.

The injured were treated and then moved to Winn Army Community Hospital, base officials said in a Facebook post, adding there's no threat to the community.

Some of the wounded were also taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, said spokesperson Bryna Gordon. The hospital is the top-level trauma center for coastal Georgia. Gordon said she didn’t know how many people were being taken to the hospital or what their conditions are.

Law enforcement was sent to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team complex shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday. The shooter was arrested at 11:35 a.m., officials said.

The lockdown lasted about an hour. After it was lifted, cars began to move through the normal security checkpoint at the fort’s main gate.

The Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team was created in 2016 when the service added more than 200 vehicles to an infantry unit of roughly 4,200 soldiers. Also known as the “Spartan Brigade,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.army.mil/article/259944/us_armys_most_modern_brigade_hosts_the_great_engagement">the Army has called the unit</a>&nbsp;its “most modern land fighting force.”

Located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Savannah, Fort Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River. It’s home to thousands of soldiers assigned to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and family members.

White House and Defense Department officials said President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth had been briefed on the shooting.

The FBI was at the fort to help investigate, said Deputy Director Dan Bongino.

Among the deadliest acts of violence on U.S. military bases was a 2009 attack.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-2872311eb6694d219f7fa5aeb0c233fc">A U.S. Army psychiatrist killed 13 people</a>&nbsp;in a shooting that left more than 30 wounded at Fort Hood, a military installation in Texas.

<a href="https://apnews.com/046ace2b312e41c4beb9fb2cf9fd0728">In 2013</a>, a defense contract worker and former Navy reservist killed 12 people at Washington Navy Yard. He was then killed in a gun battle with police.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b090b70067c84749abc9a3e26205bc49">In 2014</a>, a soldier opened fire on his fellow service members at Fort Hood, killing three people and wounding more than a dozen others before the gunman killed himself.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-shootings-terrorism-us-news-ap-top-news-3206b3f41ae2ccf4b1c6ad0ba9b3185e">In 2019</a>, an aviation student opened fire in a classroom at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, killing three people and injuring another dozen people including two sheriff’s deputies. Just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2dec5ee8ce885061fe25c699a43eb71b">days earlier, a U.S. Navy sailor shot</a>&nbsp;two people to death before killing himself at Pearl Harbor, the Naval station in Hawaii.

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Five soldiers were shot on Wednesday at the Army’s Fort Stewart in Georgia before a shooter was arrested.

Parts of Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia were locked down after a shooter was reported on the sprawling Army post, a spokesperson said. The army said the shooter has been arrested and there’s no threat to the community.

A post on Fort Stewart’s Facebook page told all personnel in the locked down area to “stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors.”

The shooter was in the area of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, the fort said online.

The fort’s three elementary schools were also on lockdown, Community Superintendent Brian Perry told WTOC-TV. The schools have nearly 1,400 students, according to the Department of Defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754497102931.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) — An Army sergeant opened fire at Fort Stewart on Wednesday, shooting five soldiers and prompting a brief lockdown at one the country’s largest Army bases, officials said.Few details were immediately available about what led to the gunfire, but the suspect is an Army sergeant, according to a U.S. official. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The injured soldiers are stable and recovering, said Brig Gen. John Lubas. The Army won’t release names pending notification of family members and they won’t speculate on motive, Lt. Col. Angel Tomko said at a news conference.Officials identified the shooter as logistics Sgt. Quornelius Radford. A telephone number listed for Radford in public records rang unanswered on Wednesday.The shooter opened fire at his workplace, officials said. Soldiers in the area who witnessed the shooting “immediately and without hesitation” tackled the shooter, Lubas said.This latest act of violence on a U.S. military installation — sites that are supposed to be among the most secure in the country — again raised concerns about safety and security within the armed forces’ own walls.The Army said it's investigating the shooting. There were still many unanswered questions, including the condition of the soldiers, the scope of their injuries, the name of the shooter as well as any possible motive.The injured were treated and then moved to Winn Army Community Hospital, base officials said in a Facebook post, adding there's no threat to the community.Some of the wounded were also taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, said spokesperson Bryna Gordon. The hospital is the top-level trauma center for coastal Georgia. Gordon said she didn’t know how many people were being taken to the hospital or what their conditions are.Law enforcement was sent to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team complex shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday. The shooter was arrested at 11:35 a.m., officials said.The lockdown lasted about an hour. After it was lifted, cars began to move through the normal security checkpoint at the fort’s main gate.The Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team was created in 2016 when the service added more than 200 vehicles to an infantry unit of roughly 4,200 soldiers. Also known as the “Spartan Brigade,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.army.mil/article/259944/us_armys_most_modern_brigade_hosts_the_great_engagement">the Army has called the unit</a>&nbsp;its “most modern land fighting force.”Located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Savannah, Fort Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River. It’s home to thousands of soldiers assigned to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and family members.White House and Defense Department officials said President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth had been briefed on the shooting.The FBI was at the fort to help investigate, said Deputy Director Dan Bongino.Among the deadliest acts of violence on U.S. military bases was a 2009 attack.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-2872311eb6694d219f7fa5aeb0c233fc">A U.S. Army psychiatrist killed 13 people</a>&nbsp;in a shooting that left more than 30 wounded at Fort Hood, a military installation in Texas.<a href="https://apnews.com/046ace2b312e41c4beb9fb2cf9fd0728">In 2013</a>, a defense contract worker and former Navy reservist killed 12 people at Washington Navy Yard. He was then killed in a gun battle with police.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b090b70067c84749abc9a3e26205bc49">In 2014</a>, a soldier opened fire on his fellow service members at Fort Hood, killing three people and wounding more than a dozen others before the gunman killed himself.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-shootings-terrorism-us-news-ap-top-news-3206b3f41ae2ccf4b1c6ad0ba9b3185e">In 2019</a>, an aviation student opened fire in a classroom at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, killing three people and injuring another dozen people including two sheriff’s deputies. Just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2dec5ee8ce885061fe25c699a43eb71b">days earlier, a U.S. Navy sailor shot</a>&nbsp;two people to death before killing himself at Pearl Harbor, the Naval station in Hawaii.-----------SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Five soldiers were shot on Wednesday at the Army’s Fort Stewart in Georgia before a shooter was arrested.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The President has been briefed on the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The White House is monitoring the situation.&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1953135134665802048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our federal law enforcement agents in Georgia are coordinating to provide support as the situation at Fort Stewart develops. I am praying for all the victims and for our troops at the base.&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1953137964168405387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Parts of Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia were locked down after a shooter was reported on the sprawling Army post, a spokesperson said. The army said the shooter has been arrested and there’s no threat to the community.A post on Fort Stewart’s Facebook page told all personnel in the locked down area to “stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors.”Located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Savannah, Fort Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River. It’s home to thousands of soldiers assigned to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and family members.The shooter was in the area of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, the fort said online.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFortStewartHunterArmyAirfield%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0696cnEND7m9ujYRCsx5nonjp4fmurusZBqGcSzKdntmdhoWDX67gD57gysUrbLCLl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="679" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The fort’s three elementary schools were also on lockdown, Community Superintendent Brian Perry told WTOC-TV. The schools have nearly 1,400 students, according to the Department of Defense.Three schools just outside the base took steps similar to a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution,” the Liberty County School System said online.Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is in contact with responding law enforcement, he said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, whose district includes Fort Stewart, said in an online post that he's monitoring the developments.-----------FORT STEWART, Georgia– Five Soldiers were shot Wednesday in an active shooter incident in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, according to a media release from the base. All Soldiers were treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment. There was no active threat to the community. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFortStewartHunterArmyAirfield%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0696cnEND7m9ujYRCsx5nonjp4fmurusZBqGcSzKdntmdhoWDX67gD57gysUrbLCLl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="679" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting in the 2nd ABCT complex at 10:56 a.m. The shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.The installation was locked down at 11:04 a.m. and Fort Stewart lifted the lockdown of the main cantonment area at 12:10 p.m. 2nd ABCT complex is still locked down. Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to treat the wounded Soldiers at 11:09 a.m.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.