Victoria standout defensive lineman Kyle Huser has committed to play football at Fort Hays State. Huser announcing his decision Tuesday via social media.

Huser has helped Victoria advance to back-to-back 8-Man Division II state title games and three-straight sub-state games. He was named 8-Man Defensive Player of the Year and 8-Man/6-Man Lineman of the Year by Sports in Kansas.  

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768392021498.jpeg" alt="Kyle Huser (Courtesy Kansas Pregame)" />
 <figcaption>Kyle Huser (Courtesy Kansas Pregame)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsVictoria standout defensive lineman Kyle Huser has committed to play football at Fort Hays State. Huser announcing his decision Tuesday via social media.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/CoachOberle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachOberle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachPhilParis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachPhilParis</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMartinOL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachMartinOL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBoldin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBoldin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sharp_spelite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sharp_spelite</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachjimvert?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachjimvert</a> <a href="https://t.co/l015A1A2Vt">pic.twitter.com/l015A1A2Vt</a>&mdash; Kyle Huser (@HuserKyle) <a href="https://twitter.com/HuserKyle/status/2011217643416789334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Huser has helped Victoria advance to back-to-back 8-Man Division II state title games and three-straight sub-state games. He was named 8-Man Defensive Player of the Year and 8-Man/6-Man Lineman of the Year by Sports in Kansas.

🏈 Victoria's Huser commits to Fort Hays State

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to authorities Tuesday and vowed to fight charges of child sex abuse stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing in New Mexico.

His apprehension comes after authorities in Albuquerque&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-83c82a8c5dbfabd4880f3c8af02fb523">issued a warrant for his arrest</a>&nbsp;on Friday on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque.

Busfield, who is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-celebrity-9ba7c27a8ae04a3993864eea8508f2f3">married to actor Melissa Gilbert</a>, is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which won him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.

“Tim voluntarily appeared before New Mexico authorities after traveling across the country to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations,” said Stanton Stein, an attorney for Busfield. “He is innocent and is determined to clear his name.”

Busfield was booked by Albuquerque police on the charges, said Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the city police department. A first appearance in court was scheduled for Wednesday.

NBC shelved an episode of “Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit” that featured Busfield and was set to air Thursday, a network spokesperson confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press. Busfield was guest-starring as the judge on the long-running show, which focuses on sex crimes.

The criminal complaint filed by an investigator with the police department says the boy reported that he was 7 years old when Busfield touched him three or four times on private areas over his clothing. Busfield allegedly touched him five or six times on another occasion when he was 8, the complaint said.

Busfield denied the allegations when interviewed by authorities last fall as part of an investigation, according to the complaint.

The complaint also says the child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him.

The boy's twin brother told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he didn't say anything because he didn't want to get in trouble.

When he was interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation, Busfield suggested that the boys' mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series — an argument echoed Tuesday by Busfield's attorney. Busfield also previously said he likely would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful environment.

Lawyer says Warner Bros. investigation unable to corroborate complaint

On Tuesday, Stein invoked the results of a private investigation by Warner Bros. to assert that the allegations are false. The investigator hired by Warner Bros. could not immediately be contacted by phone or email.

Authorities say the Warner Bros. investigation was unable to corroborate details of an anonymous complaint to a union workplace hotline after its private investigator “was not able to talk with anyone who would support evidence that Timothy Busfield engaged in this behavior.”

A video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He said he arrived in the city after driving 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers).

“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.

Marshals Service involved in search for Busfield

The search for Busfield involved the U.S. Marshals Service and extended to New York before Busfield appeared in the video and arrived at a metropolitan detention center, Gallegos said.

“We had the U.S. Marshals' office looking in New York in particular, and other cities,” Gallegos said.

The mother of the twins — who are identified only by their initials in court records — reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said.

Busfield’s wife, Gilbert, indicated through a publicist that she won’t speak publicly at the request of attorneys for Busfield while the legal process unfolds.

“Her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family,” publicist Ame Van Iden said in a statement. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”

The investigation began in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The boys' parents had gone there at the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.

“The Cleaning Lady” aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros., which according to the complaint conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.

Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen in New York contributed to this report. Lee contributed from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768347111074.png" alt="Busfield photo&nbsp;Albuquerque Metro Detention Facility" />
 <figcaption>Busfield photo&nbsp;Albuquerque Metro Detention Facility</figcaption>
 </figure>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to authorities Tuesday and vowed to fight charges of child sex abuse stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing in New Mexico.His apprehension comes after authorities in Albuquerque&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-83c82a8c5dbfabd4880f3c8af02fb523">issued a warrant for his arrest</a>&nbsp;on Friday on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque.Busfield, who is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-celebrity-9ba7c27a8ae04a3993864eea8508f2f3">married to actor Melissa Gilbert</a>, is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which won him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.“Tim voluntarily appeared before New Mexico authorities after traveling across the country to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations,” said Stanton Stein, an attorney for Busfield. “He is innocent and is determined to clear his name.”Busfield was booked by Albuquerque police on the charges, said Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the city police department. A first appearance in court was scheduled for Wednesday.NBC shelved an episode of “Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit” that featured Busfield and was set to air Thursday, a network spokesperson confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press. Busfield was guest-starring as the judge on the long-running show, which focuses on sex crimes.The criminal complaint filed by an investigator with the police department says the boy reported that he was 7 years old when Busfield touched him three or four times on private areas over his clothing. Busfield allegedly touched him five or six times on another occasion when he was 8, the complaint said.<h2>Busfield has denied the allegations</h2>Busfield denied the allegations when interviewed by authorities last fall as part of an investigation, according to the complaint.The complaint also says the child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him.The boy's twin brother told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he didn't say anything because he didn't want to get in trouble.When he was interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation, Busfield suggested that the boys' mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series — an argument echoed Tuesday by Busfield's attorney. Busfield also previously said he likely would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful environment.<h2>Lawyer says Warner Bros. investigation unable to corroborate complaint</h2>On Tuesday, Stein invoked the results of a private investigation by Warner Bros. to assert that the allegations are false. The investigator hired by Warner Bros. could not immediately be contacted by phone or email.Authorities say the Warner Bros. investigation was unable to corroborate details of an anonymous complaint to a union workplace hotline after its private investigator “was not able to talk with anyone who would support evidence that Timothy Busfield engaged in this behavior.”A video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He said he arrived in the city after driving 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers).“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.<h2>Marshals Service involved in search for Busfield</h2>The search for Busfield involved the U.S. Marshals Service and extended to New York before Busfield appeared in the video and arrived at a metropolitan detention center, Gallegos said.“We had the U.S. Marshals' office looking in New York in particular, and other cities,” Gallegos said.The mother of the twins — who are identified only by their initials in court records — reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said.Busfield’s wife, Gilbert, indicated through a publicist that she won’t speak publicly at the request of attorneys for Busfield while the legal process unfolds.“Her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family,” publicist Ame Van Iden said in a statement. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”The investigation began in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The boys' parents had gone there at the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.According to the complaint, one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.“The Cleaning Lady” aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros., which according to the complaint conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.___Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen in New York contributed to this report. Lee contributed from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

'West Wing' actor turns himself in to face child sex abuse allegations

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission approved a resolution increasing step salaries for elected officials for 2026 during its Tuesday meeting.

The adjustments follow a countywide pay study and a 2024 compensation policy, ensuring elected officials’ salaries remain competitive with market rates.

"This resolution is asking that all elected officials in the county move to that next step on the pay scale, just like all the other employees have moved at the start of this pay period," Darin Myers, county administrator, said.

The salaries of the county elected officials for 2026 are as follows:

County commissioner (Michael Berges, district one) - $20,746, up from $19,453 in 2025. County commissioner (Neal Younger, district two) - $21,584, up from $20,241 in 2025. County commissioner (Nathan Leiker, district three) - $20,746, up from $19,453 in 2025 County attorney&nbsp; - $171,184, up from $163,717 in 2025. County clerk - $86,840 plus an election stipend of $10,000, up from $83,055 in 2025, with the election stipend remaining unchanged. County treasurer - $81,828, up from $78,271 in 2025. Register of deeds - $94,536, up from $92,228 in 2025. County sheriff - $115,607, up from $110,573 in 2025.

Younger receives a higher salary because he is the longest-serving commissioner, Myers said. The county attorney received the highest salary increase at $7,467.

Consulting services for the Tallgrass Development solar project

The commission heard from Oleg Alba, managing partner of AcreStrong, about potentially providing consulting services for the proposed $275 million Tallgrass Development solar project in southwest Ellis County.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/192f7103-1ca0-4e59-9e45-901190d51f50">SEE RELATED STORY: Solar developer answers Ellis County Commission questions</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/43b108f6-bc5c-46de-969e-92813c1887e5">SEE RELATED STORY: Planning commission sends solar project to Ellis County Commission</a>

Alba said his firm helps counties navigate and negotiate complex agreements associated with large-scale projects. Commissioner Nathan Leiker asked about his background and experience.

"I've experience both from the finance perspective and from the field," Alba said. "I know what the field realities look like because one is understanding what these projects look like on a spreadsheet, but the other reality is what these projects look like for your constituents."

Myers said Alba could assist the county with negotiations and agreements related to the proposed project. A potential consulting agreement with AcreStrong will be placed on next week’s agenda.

"The three of us as commissioners recognize that we're not experts in doing this and we're looking for expert help to guide us on the best decision for our constituents," Leiker said.

Before the solar project can move forward, the commission needs to negotiate a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement. Although these are very different projects, the PILOT for Buckeye Wind Farm was hundreds of thousands of dollars.&nbsp;

Commissioner Neal Younger was appointed chairman of the commission for 2026, with Commissioner Leiker appointed as vice chairman.

Younger was also appointed to the Northwest Kansas Community Corrections and Juvenile Services board, Leiker to the High Plains Mental Health board, and Michael Berges to the Ellis County Library board and the WorkForceONE chief elected official board.

The commission heard an update on the county's Rural Opportunity Zone status. Although the county was designated as one in 2021, changes in state law have made it no longer eligible for the program.

The commission approved a resolution to waive generally accepted accounting principles. This will not affect the county's ability to issue bonds in 2026.

The commission approved a resolution to update and formally establish a county policy for moving buildings, structures and other oversized loads on county roads.

The commission renewed the appointment of Ellis County EMS Director Danita Schroeder to the Region One EMS Council.

Bobbi Dreiling, county clerk, received approval and signage of the 2026 departmental inventory report.

Commissioners approved updated job descriptions for the public works department and the solid waste division.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission approved a resolution increasing step salaries for elected officials for 2026 during its Tuesday meeting.The adjustments follow a countywide pay study and a 2024 compensation policy, ensuring elected officials’ salaries remain competitive with market rates."This resolution is asking that all elected officials in the county move to that next step on the pay scale, just like all the other employees have moved at the start of this pay period," Darin Myers, county administrator, said.The salaries of the county elected officials for 2026 are as follows:County commissioner (Michael Berges, district one) - $20,746, up from $19,453 in 2025. County commissioner (Neal Younger, district two) - $21,584, up from $20,241 in 2025. County commissioner (Nathan Leiker, district three) - $20,746, up from $19,453 in 2025 County attorney&nbsp; - $171,184, up from $163,717 in 2025. County clerk - $86,840 plus an election stipend of $10,000, up from $83,055 in 2025, with the election stipend remaining unchanged. County treasurer - $81,828, up from $78,271 in 2025. Register of deeds - $94,536, up from $92,228 in 2025. County sheriff - $115,607, up from $110,573 in 2025.Younger receives a higher salary because he is the longest-serving commissioner, Myers said. The county attorney received the highest salary increase at $7,467.Consulting services for the Tallgrass Development solar projectThe commission heard from Oleg Alba, managing partner of AcreStrong, about potentially providing consulting services for the proposed $275 million Tallgrass Development solar project in southwest Ellis County.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/192f7103-1ca0-4e59-9e45-901190d51f50">SEE RELATED STORY: Solar developer answers Ellis County Commission questions</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/43b108f6-bc5c-46de-969e-92813c1887e5">SEE RELATED STORY: Planning commission sends solar project to Ellis County Commission</a>Alba said his firm helps counties navigate and negotiate complex agreements associated with large-scale projects. Commissioner Nathan Leiker asked about his background and experience."I've experience both from the finance perspective and from the field," Alba said. "I know what the field realities look like because one is understanding what these projects look like on a spreadsheet, but the other reality is what these projects look like for your constituents."Myers said Alba could assist the county with negotiations and agreements related to the proposed project. A potential consulting agreement with AcreStrong will be placed on next week’s agenda."The three of us as commissioners recognize that we're not experts in doing this and we're looking for expert help to guide us on the best decision for our constituents," Leiker said.Before the solar project can move forward, the commission needs to negotiate a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement. Although these are very different projects, the PILOT for Buckeye Wind Farm was hundreds of thousands of dollars.&nbsp;2026 reorganizationCommissioner Neal Younger was appointed chairman of the commission for 2026, with Commissioner Leiker appointed as vice chairman.Younger was also appointed to the Northwest Kansas Community Corrections and Juvenile Services board, Leiker to the High Plains Mental Health board, and Michael Berges to the Ellis County Library board and the WorkForceONE chief elected official board.Other businessThe commission heard an update on the county's Rural Opportunity Zone status. Although the county was designated as one in 2021, changes in state law have made it no longer eligible for the program.The commission approved a resolution to waive generally accepted accounting principles. This will not affect the county's ability to issue bonds in 2026.The commission approved a resolution to update and formally establish a county policy for moving buildings, structures and other oversized loads on county roads.The commission renewed the appointment of Ellis County EMS Director Danita Schroeder to the Region One EMS Council.Bobbi Dreiling, county clerk, received approval and signage of the 2026 departmental inventory report.Commissioners approved updated job descriptions for the public works department and the solid waste division.

Ellis County Commission adjusts salaries for 2026 elected officials

Both the Hays High boys and girls are ranked again this week in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings.

The Hays girls (9-1) moved up two spots to No. 3 while the boys (7-3) remain eighth.

The Victoria (6-1) dropped one spot to fourth in Class 1A Division 2.&nbsp;

The Quinter girls dropped a spot to No. 9 in 1A Division 1. The Wheatland-Grinnell girls are ranked 10th this week in 1A Division 2.

The Hoxie girls (9-0) are sixth in Class 2A and are the only Mid-Continent League team ranked.

6A Girls 1. SM South (1) 2. Wichita Heights (3) 3. Derby (6) 4. Blue Valley North (2) 5. Wichita East (4) 6. Olathe North (5) 7. Olathe South (7) 8. Manhattan (8) 9. Washburn Rural (10) 10. Blue Valley (NR)

5A Girls 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (1) 2. Andover (2) 3. Hays (5) 4. Maize South (4) 5. Kansas City Piper (3) 6. St. James (10) 7. Kapaun (6) 8. Salina South (8) 9. Bishop Carroll (7) 10. Topeka Seaman (9)

4A Girls 1. Wellington (1) 2. Ottawa (5) 3. Wamego (2) 4. Bishop Miege (3) 5. Independence (6) 6. Fort Scott (4) 7. Topeka Hayden (7) 8. Eudora (8) 9. Rock Creek (NR) 10. Mulvane (NR)

3A Girls 1. Silver Lake (1) 2. Halstead (2) 3. Osage City (3) 4. Holcomb (4) 5. Burlington (5) 6. Cheney (6) 7. Girard (7) 8. Riley County (8) 9. Beloit (9) 10. Haven (10)

2A Girls &nbsp;1. Ellinwood (4) 2. Pittsburg - St. Mary's Colgan (2) 3. Moundridge (1) 4. Eureka (5) 5. Remington (10) 6. Hoxie (NR) 7. Hillsboro (3) 8. Inman (7) 9. Sacred Heart (NR) 10. Valley Heights (6)

1A Division 1 Girls 1. Little River (1) 2. Wabaunsee (2) 3. Centralia (3) 4. Hodgeman County (4) 5. Rock Hills (5) 6. Spearville (7) 7. South Gray (9) 8. Olpe (10) 9. Quinter (8) 10. Clifton-Clyde (NR)

1A Division 2 Girls 1. Hanover (1) 2. Bucklin (2) 3. Linn (3) 4. Marais des Cynges (4) 5. Central Christian (6) 6. Dighton (10) 7. Lebo (7) 8. Ashland (8) 9. Cheylin (5) 10. Wheatland-Grinnell (NR)

6A Boys 1. SM South (1) 2. Olathe North (2) 3. Mill Valley (3) 4. Wichita Heights (4) 5. BV Northwest (7) 6. Blue Valley (6) 7. Maize (5) 8. Manhattan (9) 9. SM North (NR) 10. BV North (10)

5A Boys 1. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (1) 2. Topeka West (2) 3. Topeka Seaman (5) 4. Emporia (3) 5. Bonner Springs (6) 6. St. James Academy (4) 7. Kansas City Piper (10) 8. Hays (8) 9. Maize South (NR) 10. Andover (7)

4A Boys 1. Rock Creek (1) 2. Atchison (2) 3. Bishop Miege (3) 4. Pratt (4) 5. Andale (5) 6. Concordia (6) 7. Baldwin (7) 8. Hugoton (NR) 9. Chanute (8) 10. Augusta (9)

3A Boys 1. Wichita–Collegiate (1) 2. Hesston (2) 3. Holcomb (3) 4. Burlington (4) 5. Wichita Trinity (5) 6. Beloit (7) 7. Silver Lake (6) 8. Hiawatha (10) 9. Colby (NR) 10. Chaparral (10)

2A Boys 1. Sterling (1) 2. Ell-Saline (3) 3. Sacred Heart (4) 4. Classical School (5) 5. Moundridge (2) 6. St. Mary's (6) 7. Berean Academy (7) 8. Pittsburg-St. Mary's Colgan (8) 9. Rossville (9) 10. Cair Paravel (NR)

1A Division 1 Boys 1. Olpe (1) 2. South Central (2) 3. Little River (3) 4. Seabury Academy (4) 5. Wabaunsee (5) 6. Central Plains (6) 7. St. John’s/Tipton (7) 8. Greeley County (9) 9. Burden-Central (NR) 10. Canton-Galva (NR)

1A Division 2 Boys 1. Hanover (1) 2. Axtell (2) 3. Thunder Ridge (5) 4. Victoria (3) 5. Hartford (4) 6. Wallace County (6) 7. Tescott (10) 8. Ingalls (NR) 9. Deerfield (7) 10. Linn (9)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589370660905.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsBoth the Hays High boys and girls are ranked again this week in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings.The Hays girls (9-1) moved up two spots to No. 3 while the boys (7-3) remain eighth.The Victoria (6-1) dropped one spot to fourth in Class 1A Division 2.&nbsp;The Quinter girls dropped a spot to No. 9 in 1A Division 1. The Wheatland-Grinnell girls are ranked 10th this week in 1A Division 2.The Hoxie girls (9-0) are sixth in Class 2A and are the only Mid-Continent League team ranked.6A Girls 1. SM South (1) 2. Wichita Heights (3) 3. Derby (6) 4. Blue Valley North (2) 5. Wichita East (4) 6. Olathe North (5) 7. Olathe South (7) 8. Manhattan (8) 9. Washburn Rural (10) 10. Blue Valley (NR)5A Girls 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (1) 2. Andover (2) 3. Hays (5) 4. Maize South (4) 5. Kansas City Piper (3) 6. St. James (10) 7. Kapaun (6) 8. Salina South (8) 9. Bishop Carroll (7) 10. Topeka Seaman (9)4A Girls 1. Wellington (1) 2. Ottawa (5) 3. Wamego (2) 4. Bishop Miege (3) 5. Independence (6) 6. Fort Scott (4) 7. Topeka Hayden (7) 8. Eudora (8) 9. Rock Creek (NR) 10. Mulvane (NR)3A Girls 1. Silver Lake (1) 2. Halstead (2) 3. Osage City (3) 4. Holcomb (4) 5. Burlington (5) 6. Cheney (6) 7. Girard (7) 8. Riley County (8) 9. Beloit (9) 10. Haven (10)2A Girls &nbsp;1. Ellinwood (4) 2. Pittsburg - St. Mary's Colgan (2) 3. Moundridge (1) 4. Eureka (5) 5. Remington (10) 6. Hoxie (NR) 7. Hillsboro (3) 8. Inman (7) 9. Sacred Heart (NR) 10. Valley Heights (6)1A Division 1 Girls 1. Little River (1) 2. Wabaunsee (2) 3. Centralia (3) 4. Hodgeman County (4) 5. Rock Hills (5) 6. Spearville (7) 7. South Gray (9) 8. Olpe (10) 9. Quinter (8) 10. Clifton-Clyde (NR)1A Division 2 Girls 1. Hanover (1) 2. Bucklin (2) 3. Linn (3) 4. Marais des Cynges (4) 5. Central Christian (6) 6. Dighton (10) 7. Lebo (7) 8. Ashland (8) 9. Cheylin (5) 10. Wheatland-Grinnell (NR)6A Boys 1. SM South (1) 2. Olathe North (2) 3. Mill Valley (3) 4. Wichita Heights (4) 5. BV Northwest (7) 6. Blue Valley (6) 7. Maize (5) 8. Manhattan (9) 9. SM North (NR) 10. BV North (10)5A Boys 1. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (1) 2. Topeka West (2) 3. Topeka Seaman (5) 4. Emporia (3) 5. Bonner Springs (6) 6. St. James Academy (4) 7. Kansas City Piper (10) 8. Hays (8) 9. Maize South (NR) 10. Andover (7)4A Boys 1. Rock Creek (1) 2. Atchison (2) 3. Bishop Miege (3) 4. Pratt (4) 5. Andale (5) 6. Concordia (6) 7. Baldwin (7) 8. Hugoton (NR) 9. Chanute (8) 10. Augusta (9)3A Boys 1. Wichita–Collegiate (1) 2. Hesston (2) 3. Holcomb (3) 4. Burlington (4) 5. Wichita Trinity (5) 6. Beloit (7) 7. Silver Lake (6) 8. Hiawatha (10) 9. Colby (NR) 10. Chaparral (10)2A Boys 1. Sterling (1) 2. Ell-Saline (3) 3. Sacred Heart (4) 4. Classical School (5) 5. Moundridge (2) 6. St. Mary's (6) 7. Berean Academy (7) 8. Pittsburg-St. Mary's Colgan (8) 9. Rossville (9) 10. Cair Paravel (NR)1A Division 1 Boys 1. Olpe (1) 2. South Central (2) 3. Little River (3) 4. Seabury Academy (4) 5. Wabaunsee (5) 6. Central Plains (6) 7. St. John’s/Tipton (7) 8. Greeley County (9) 9. Burden-Central (NR) 10. Canton-Galva (NR)1A Division 2 Boys 1. Hanover (1) 2. Axtell (2) 3. Thunder Ridge (5) 4. Victoria (3) 5. Hartford (4) 6. Wallace County (6) 7. Tescott (10) 8. Ingalls (NR) 9. Deerfield (7) 10. Linn (9)

🏀 Hays girls up to No. 3, boys remain 8th in latest KBCA rankings

Gene D. Betts, 83, of Russell,
Kansas, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Wheatland Nursing Center in
Russell.

Gene was born April 20, 1942, in
Dorrance, Kansas, the first of two sons born to Marvin G. and Georgenna I.
(Miller) Betts. He grew up in Dorrance and later Russell, where he formed the
roots and relationships that shaped his life. He graduated from Russell High
School with the Class of 1960 and went on to attend Fort Hays State University.&nbsp; In his early years, Gene worked at Campbell’s
Greenhouse—an experience that sparked his lifelong love of gardening—and at
Evans Radiator Service. After Playdium Bowl was built in 1953, Gene began
working there as a young pinsetter, building the foundation for the love of
bowling that would follow him throughout his life. He later began what would
become a dedicated 34-year career with USD 407 as a custodian from 1967 to
2001. During this time, Gene also fulfilled a dream by owning Playdium Bowl
from 1991 to 2003, a place where he shared his love of bowling with countless
friends and families. Even long after his retirement from USD 407, he was
fondly known throughout the community as “Mr. Betts,” a testament to the impact
he had on generations of students. To his closest friends, he was known as
Geno.

After retiring from USD 407, Gene
continued to stay active and involved in his community by working at R&amp;M
Heating and Klema’s. He also spent time at Brunswick Zone in Westminster,
Colorado, working as a janitor and pin chaser from 2006 to 2010.&nbsp; On April 21, 1963, Gene married the love of
his life, Ruth Ann Brown. Their marriage was one built on loyalty, laughter,
and quiet devotion. Together they built a simple, honest life in Russell,
raising their daughter, Vickie, whom Gene cherished deeply. Ruth preceded him
in death on January 25, 2024, and the two are now reunited in eternal peace.

Gene was a longtime custodian at
Simpson Elementary School, where children and staff appreciated his
helpfulness, humor, and gentle spirit. He was a member of the 1st
Congregational Church of Russell, Russell Masonic Lodge #177, Russell Elks
Lodge, and the V.F.W. Post #6240. His hobbies reflected who he was—steady,
patient, and joyful. He enjoyed gardening, dancing, bowling, and spending time
with Vickie and his grandchildren, cherishing every moment with the family he
adored. Gene’s passion for the sport extended beyond bowling itself—he owned
Gene’s Pro Shop, where he enjoyed helping others find the right equipment and
improve their game. He took great pride in his bowling accomplishments,
including rolling a state high series of 748 on September 25, 1968, his first
800 series on January 12, 1982, and his first 300 game on January 27, 1982.
Gene also looked forward to his weekly “Safety Meetings” with the manager and
head mechanic from Brunswick—moments filled with friendship, laughter, and a
beer or two.

Gene lived a life defined by
kindness, hard work, and quiet generosity. He found joy in simple
things—freshly turned soil in the garden, a well-thrown bowling ball, a shared
laugh with friends, and precious time with family. His legacy lives on in the
people he loved, the community he served, and the countless small acts of care
that brightened the lives of others. Those who knew Gene will remember his
gentle heart, steady presence, and the warmth he brought into every room. He
leaves behind a legacy of love that will be felt for generations.&nbsp;

Gene’s surviving family include
his daughter, Vickie Hill and husband Tom of Russell, Kansas; grandchildren
Tabitha (Phillip), Tiffany (James), Thomas, and Trevor (Sarah); and eight
great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him immense joy and pride.

Gene was preceded in death by his
father, Marvin; his brother, Gerald; his mother, Georgenna; and his beloved
wife, Ruth.

A Memorial Service will be held
at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 16, 2026, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary.
Visitation will be held Thursday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the mortuary, with
the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A memorial has
been established with Wheatland Nursing Center. Contributions and condolences
may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these
arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768320090255.jpeg" alt="Gene D. Betts" />
 <figcaption>Gene D. Betts</figcaption>
 </figure>Gene D. Betts, 83, of Russell,
Kansas, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Wheatland Nursing Center in
Russell.Gene was born April 20, 1942, in
Dorrance, Kansas, the first of two sons born to Marvin G. and Georgenna I.
(Miller) Betts. He grew up in Dorrance and later Russell, where he formed the
roots and relationships that shaped his life. He graduated from Russell High
School with the Class of 1960 and went on to attend Fort Hays State University.&nbsp; In his early years, Gene worked at Campbell’s
Greenhouse—an experience that sparked his lifelong love of gardening—and at
Evans Radiator Service. After Playdium Bowl was built in 1953, Gene began
working there as a young pinsetter, building the foundation for the love of
bowling that would follow him throughout his life. He later began what would
become a dedicated 34-year career with USD 407 as a custodian from 1967 to
2001. During this time, Gene also fulfilled a dream by owning Playdium Bowl
from 1991 to 2003, a place where he shared his love of bowling with countless
friends and families. Even long after his retirement from USD 407, he was
fondly known throughout the community as “Mr. Betts,” a testament to the impact
he had on generations of students. To his closest friends, he was known as
Geno.After retiring from USD 407, Gene
continued to stay active and involved in his community by working at R&amp;M
Heating and Klema’s. He also spent time at Brunswick Zone in Westminster,
Colorado, working as a janitor and pin chaser from 2006 to 2010.&nbsp; On April 21, 1963, Gene married the love of
his life, Ruth Ann Brown. Their marriage was one built on loyalty, laughter,
and quiet devotion. Together they built a simple, honest life in Russell,
raising their daughter, Vickie, whom Gene cherished deeply. Ruth preceded him
in death on January 25, 2024, and the two are now reunited in eternal peace.Gene was a longtime custodian at
Simpson Elementary School, where children and staff appreciated his
helpfulness, humor, and gentle spirit. He was a member of the 1st
Congregational Church of Russell, Russell Masonic Lodge #177, Russell Elks
Lodge, and the V.F.W. Post #6240. His hobbies reflected who he was—steady,
patient, and joyful. He enjoyed gardening, dancing, bowling, and spending time
with Vickie and his grandchildren, cherishing every moment with the family he
adored. Gene’s passion for the sport extended beyond bowling itself—he owned
Gene’s Pro Shop, where he enjoyed helping others find the right equipment and
improve their game. He took great pride in his bowling accomplishments,
including rolling a state high series of 748 on September 25, 1968, his first
800 series on January 12, 1982, and his first 300 game on January 27, 1982.
Gene also looked forward to his weekly “Safety Meetings” with the manager and
head mechanic from Brunswick—moments filled with friendship, laughter, and a
beer or two.Gene lived a life defined by
kindness, hard work, and quiet generosity. He found joy in simple
things—freshly turned soil in the garden, a well-thrown bowling ball, a shared
laugh with friends, and precious time with family. His legacy lives on in the
people he loved, the community he served, and the countless small acts of care
that brightened the lives of others. Those who knew Gene will remember his
gentle heart, steady presence, and the warmth he brought into every room. He
leaves behind a legacy of love that will be felt for generations.&nbsp;Gene’s surviving family include
his daughter, Vickie Hill and husband Tom of Russell, Kansas; grandchildren
Tabitha (Phillip), Tiffany (James), Thomas, and Trevor (Sarah); and eight
great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him immense joy and pride.Gene was preceded in death by his
father, Marvin; his brother, Gerald; his mother, Georgenna; and his beloved
wife, Ruth.A Memorial Service will be held
at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 16, 2026, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary.
Visitation will be held Thursday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the mortuary, with
the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A memorial has
been established with Wheatland Nursing Center. Contributions and condolences
may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these
arrangements.

Gene D. Betts

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-kennedy">MARK KENNEDY</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/scott-adams">Scott Adams,</a>&nbsp;whose popular comic strip “Dilbert” captured the frustration of beleaguered, white-collar cubicle workers and satirized the ridiculousness of modern office culture until he was abruptly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/animation-and-comics-business-e2266a2356d4159b7f43fdc095be9fcb">dropped from syndication in 2023</a>&nbsp;for racist remarks, has died. He was 68.

His first ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced the death Tuesday on a livestream posted on Adams’ social media accounts. “He’s not with us right anymore,” she said. Adams revealed in 2025 that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dilbert-scott-adams-biden-prostate-cancer-8f3edf0a108f55344138ceb4b27e02b9">had prostate cancer</a>&nbsp;that had spread to his bones. Miles had said he was in hospice care in his Northern California home on Monday.

“I had an amazing life,” the statement said in part. “I gave it everything I had.”

At its height, “Dilbert,” with its mouthless, bespectacled hero in a white short-sleeved shirt and a perpetually curled red tie, appeared in 2,000 newspapers worldwide in at least 70 countries and 25 languages.

Adams was the 1997 recipient of the National Cartoonist Society’s Reuben Award, considered one of the most prestigious awards for cartoonists. That same year, “Dilbert” became the first fictional character to make Time magazine’s list of the most influential Americans.

“We are rooting for him because he is our mouthpiece for the lessons we have accumulated — but are too afraid to express — in our effort to avoid cubicular homicide,” the magazine said.

“Dilbert” strips were routinely photocopied, pinned up, emailed and posted online, a popularity that would spawn bestselling books, merchandise, commercials for Office Depot and an animated TV series, with Daniel Stern voicing Dilbert.

It all collapsed quickly in 2023 when Adams, who was white, repeatedly referred to Black people as members of a “hate group” and said he would no longer “help Black Americans.” He later said he was being hyperbolic, yet continued to defend his stance.

Almost immediately, newspapers dropped “Dilbert” and his distributor, Andrews McMeel Universal, severed ties with the cartoonist. The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro, Massachusetts, decided to keep the “Dilbert” space blank for a while “as a reminder of the racism that pervades our society.” A planned book was scrapped.

“He’s not being canceled. He’s experiencing the consequences of expressing his views,” Bill Holbrook, the creator of the strip “On the Fastrack,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dilbert-scott-adams-cartoonists-respond-109cb1a6dea03e931e2e6e3814bc743a">told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;at the time. “I am in full support with him saying anything he wants to, but then he has to own the consequences of saying them.”

Adams relaunched the same daily comic strip under the name Dilbert Reborn via the video platform Rumble, popular with conservatives and far-right groups. He also hosted a podcast, “Real Coffee,” where talked about various political and social issues.

After Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on ABC was suspended in September in the wake of the host’s comments on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Adams stood for free speech.

“Would I like some revenge?” Adams said. “Yes. Yes, I would enjoy that. But that doesn’t mean I get it. That doesn’t mean I should pursue it. Doesn’t mean the world’s a better place if it happens.”

Adams, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, was working a corporate job at the Pacific Bell telephone company in the 1980s, sharing his cartoons to amuse co-workers. He drew Dilbert as a computer programmer and engineer for a high-tech company and mailed a batch to cartoon syndicators.

“The take on office life was new and on target and insightful,” Sarah Gillespie, who helped discover “Dilbert” in the 1980s at United Media, told The Washington Post. “I looked first for humor and only secondarily for art, which with ‘Dilbert’ was a good thing, as the art is universally acknowledged to be… not great.”

The first “Dilbert” comic strip officially appeared April 16, 1989, long before such workplace comedies as “Office Space” and “The Office.” It portrayed corporate culture&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severance-finale-season-2-ben-stiller-adam-scott-51f1c1e8665ef8915d9b3bb5c7370bd8">as a “Severance”-like,</a>&nbsp;Kafkaesque world of heavy bureaucracy and pointless benchmarks, where employee effort and skill were underappreciated.

The strip would introduce the “Dilbert Principle”: The most ineffective workers will be systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage — management.

“Throughout history, there have always been times when it’s very clear that the managers have all the power and the workers have none,” Adams told Time. “Through ‘Dilbert,’ I would think the balance of power has slightly changed.”

Other strip characters included Dilbert’s pointy-haired boss; Asok, a young, naive intern; Wally, a middle-aged slacker; and Alice, a worker so frustrated that she was prone to frequent outbursts of rage. Then there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-museums-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-lifestyle-22fc64a793f93191dd09f5c0531e607e">Dilbert’s pet, Dogbert,</a>&nbsp;a megalomaniac.

“There’s a certain amount of anger you need to draw ‘Dilbert’ comics,” Adams told the Contra Costa Times in 2009.

In 1993, Adams became the first syndicated cartoonist to include his email address in his strip. That triggered a dialogue between the artist and his fans, giving Adams a fountain of ideas for the strip.

“Dilbert” was also known for generating aphorisms, like “All rumors are true — especially if your boss denies them” and “OK, let’s get this preliminary pre-meeting going.”

“If you can come to peace with the fact that you’re surrounded by idiots, you’ll realize that resistance is futile, your tension will dissipate, and you can sit back and have a good laugh at the expense of others,” Adams wrote in his 1996 book “The Dilbert Principle.”

In one real-life case, an Iowa worker was fired from the Catfish Bend Casino in 2007 for posting a “Dilbert” comic strip on the office bulletin board. In the strip, Adams wrote: “Why does it seem as if most of the decisions in my workplace are made by drunken lemurs?” A judge later sided with the worker; Adams helped find him a new job.

While Adams’ career&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-business-d1d88fe02461930d9c2ad70e1f55b136">fall seemed swift, careful readers of “Dilbert”</a>&nbsp;saw a gradual darkening of the strip’s tone and its creator’s descent into misogyny, anti-immigration and racism.

He attracted attention for controversial comments, including saying in 2011 that women are treated differently by society for the same reason as children and the mentally disabled — “it’s just easier this way for everyone.” In a blog post from 2006, he questioned the death toll of the Holocaust.

In June 2020, Adams tweeted that when the “Dilbert” TV show ended in 2000 after just two seasons, it was “the third job I lost for being white.” But, at the time, he blamed it on lower viewership and time slot changes.

Adams’ beliefs began bleeding into his strips. In one in 2022, a boss says that traditional performance reviews would be replaced by a “wokeness” score. When an employee complains that could be subjective, the boss said, “That’ll cost you two points off your wokeness score, bigot.”

Adams put a brave face on his fall from grace, tweeting in 2023: “Only the dying leftist Fake News industry canceled me (for out-of-context news of course). Social media and banking unaffected. Personal life improved. Never been more popular in my life. Zero pushback in person. Black and White conservatives solidly supporting me.”

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump remembered Adams as a “Great Influencer.”

“He was a fantastic guy, who liked and respected me when it wasn’t fashionable to do so. He bravely fought a long battle against a terrible disease,” the president posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768322319966.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-kennedy">MARK KENNEDY</a><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/scott-adams">Scott Adams,</a>&nbsp;whose popular comic strip “Dilbert” captured the frustration of beleaguered, white-collar cubicle workers and satirized the ridiculousness of modern office culture until he was abruptly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/animation-and-comics-business-e2266a2356d4159b7f43fdc095be9fcb">dropped from syndication in 2023</a>&nbsp;for racist remarks, has died. He was 68.His first ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced the death Tuesday on a livestream posted on Adams’ social media accounts. “He’s not with us right anymore,” she said. Adams revealed in 2025 that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dilbert-scott-adams-biden-prostate-cancer-8f3edf0a108f55344138ceb4b27e02b9">had prostate cancer</a>&nbsp;that had spread to his bones. Miles had said he was in hospice care in his Northern California home on Monday.“I had an amazing life,” the statement said in part. “I gave it everything I had.”At its height, “Dilbert,” with its mouthless, bespectacled hero in a white short-sleeved shirt and a perpetually curled red tie, appeared in 2,000 newspapers worldwide in at least 70 countries and 25 languages.Adams was the 1997 recipient of the National Cartoonist Society’s Reuben Award, considered one of the most prestigious awards for cartoonists. That same year, “Dilbert” became the first fictional character to make Time magazine’s list of the most influential Americans.“We are rooting for him because he is our mouthpiece for the lessons we have accumulated — but are too afraid to express — in our effort to avoid cubicular homicide,” the magazine said.“Dilbert” strips were routinely photocopied, pinned up, emailed and posted online, a popularity that would spawn bestselling books, merchandise, commercials for Office Depot and an animated TV series, with Daniel Stern voicing Dilbert.<h2>The collapse of ‘Dilbert’ empire</h2>It all collapsed quickly in 2023 when Adams, who was white, repeatedly referred to Black people as members of a “hate group” and said he would no longer “help Black Americans.” He later said he was being hyperbolic, yet continued to defend his stance.Almost immediately, newspapers dropped “Dilbert” and his distributor, Andrews McMeel Universal, severed ties with the cartoonist. The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro, Massachusetts, decided to keep the “Dilbert” space blank for a while “as a reminder of the racism that pervades our society.” A planned book was scrapped.“He’s not being canceled. He’s experiencing the consequences of expressing his views,” Bill Holbrook, the creator of the strip “On the Fastrack,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dilbert-scott-adams-cartoonists-respond-109cb1a6dea03e931e2e6e3814bc743a">told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;at the time. “I am in full support with him saying anything he wants to, but then he has to own the consequences of saying them.”Adams relaunched the same daily comic strip under the name Dilbert Reborn via the video platform Rumble, popular with conservatives and far-right groups. He also hosted a podcast, “Real Coffee,” where talked about various political and social issues.After Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on ABC was suspended in September in the wake of the host’s comments on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Adams stood for free speech.“Would I like some revenge?” Adams said. “Yes. Yes, I would enjoy that. But that doesn’t mean I get it. That doesn’t mean I should pursue it. Doesn’t mean the world’s a better place if it happens.”<h2>How ‘Dilbert’ got its start</h2>Adams, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, was working a corporate job at the Pacific Bell telephone company in the 1980s, sharing his cartoons to amuse co-workers. He drew Dilbert as a computer programmer and engineer for a high-tech company and mailed a batch to cartoon syndicators.“The take on office life was new and on target and insightful,” Sarah Gillespie, who helped discover “Dilbert” in the 1980s at United Media, told The Washington Post. “I looked first for humor and only secondarily for art, which with ‘Dilbert’ was a good thing, as the art is universally acknowledged to be… not great.”The first “Dilbert” comic strip officially appeared April 16, 1989, long before such workplace comedies as “Office Space” and “The Office.” It portrayed corporate culture&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severance-finale-season-2-ben-stiller-adam-scott-51f1c1e8665ef8915d9b3bb5c7370bd8">as a “Severance”-like,</a>&nbsp;Kafkaesque world of heavy bureaucracy and pointless benchmarks, where employee effort and skill were underappreciated.The strip would introduce the “Dilbert Principle”: The most ineffective workers will be systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage — management.“Throughout history, there have always been times when it’s very clear that the managers have all the power and the workers have none,” Adams told Time. “Through ‘Dilbert,’ I would think the balance of power has slightly changed.”Other strip characters included Dilbert’s pointy-haired boss; Asok, a young, naive intern; Wally, a middle-aged slacker; and Alice, a worker so frustrated that she was prone to frequent outbursts of rage. Then there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-museums-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-lifestyle-22fc64a793f93191dd09f5c0531e607e">Dilbert’s pet, Dogbert,</a>&nbsp;a megalomaniac.“There’s a certain amount of anger you need to draw ‘Dilbert’ comics,” Adams told the Contra Costa Times in 2009.In 1993, Adams became the first syndicated cartoonist to include his email address in his strip. That triggered a dialogue between the artist and his fans, giving Adams a fountain of ideas for the strip.“Dilbert” was also known for generating aphorisms, like “All rumors are true — especially if your boss denies them” and “OK, let’s get this preliminary pre-meeting going.”“If you can come to peace with the fact that you’re surrounded by idiots, you’ll realize that resistance is futile, your tension will dissipate, and you can sit back and have a good laugh at the expense of others,” Adams wrote in his 1996 book “The Dilbert Principle.”In one real-life case, an Iowa worker was fired from the Catfish Bend Casino in 2007 for posting a “Dilbert” comic strip on the office bulletin board. In the strip, Adams wrote: “Why does it seem as if most of the decisions in my workplace are made by drunken lemurs?” A judge later sided with the worker; Adams helped find him a new job.<h2>A gradual darkening</h2>While Adams’ career&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-business-d1d88fe02461930d9c2ad70e1f55b136">fall seemed swift, careful readers of “Dilbert”</a>&nbsp;saw a gradual darkening of the strip’s tone and its creator’s descent into misogyny, anti-immigration and racism.He attracted attention for controversial comments, including saying in 2011 that women are treated differently by society for the same reason as children and the mentally disabled — “it’s just easier this way for everyone.” In a blog post from 2006, he questioned the death toll of the Holocaust.In June 2020, Adams tweeted that when the “Dilbert” TV show ended in 2000 after just two seasons, it was “the third job I lost for being white.” But, at the time, he blamed it on lower viewership and time slot changes.Adams’ beliefs began bleeding into his strips. In one in 2022, a boss says that traditional performance reviews would be replaced by a “wokeness” score. When an employee complains that could be subjective, the boss said, “That’ll cost you two points off your wokeness score, bigot.”Adams put a brave face on his fall from grace, tweeting in 2023: “Only the dying leftist Fake News industry canceled me (for out-of-context news of course). Social media and banking unaffected. Personal life improved. Never been more popular in my life. Zero pushback in person. Black and White conservatives solidly supporting me.”On Tuesday, President Donald Trump remembered Adams as a “Great Influencer.”“He was a fantastic guy, who liked and respected me when it wasn’t fashionable to do so. He bravely fought a long battle against a terrible disease,” the president posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

Scott Adams, whose comic strip 'Dilbert' ridiculed white-collar office life, dies at 68

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Blending fresh sushi and homemade Asian dishes, Saiko Asian Express is quickly carving out a place in Hays with affordable flavors.

Ceaser Vargas has lived in Hays for 20 years, but is originally from Mexico, bringing decades of restaurant experience in international foods as he comes from a family of restaurant owners.

"I've worked in American, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican restaurants," Vargas said.

Saiko opened Dec. 19 and has continued to see strong community support. Vargas said his restaurant stands out from other Asian eateries in the area because of its affordability and quality.

"We have the best prices," he said. "We cook with love and passion."

Its sushi menu features the Saiko roll, dragon roll, spicy tuna, spicy crab roll and sushi on a stick. Other Asian dishes include sweet and sour chicken, teriyaki chicken and beef, broccoli shrimp and rock shrimp.

Its most popular limited-time item is the Korean corn dog, available in spicy, regular and potato varieties. The dish comes with a flour-battered corn dog filled with cheese and sausage, deep-fried and finished with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

"Nobody else has Korean corn dogs in Hays," Vargas said.

The building is undergoing interior remodeling to create an Asian-inspired, family-friendly atmosphere. Before opening Saiko, Vargas supplied sushi to nearby grocery stores in Russell and Hoisington.

In Mexico, Vargas has family members who operate sushi restaurants, while his parents own a taco shop that serves more than 500 customers each day.

"This is a product of what I've learned over 20 years working in restaurants," Vargas said.

Saiko is open from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with plans to expand to full-day service once employees are trained and ready to serve Hays.

Vargas said the restaurant plans to introduce daily promotions soon.

The restaurant's website is under construction, but delivery and takeout orders are available through DoorDash. You can follow Saiko Asian Express on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585274278342">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767973066157.jpeg" alt="Ceaser Vargas, owner of Saiko Asian Express in Hays, next to his new restaurant. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Ceaser Vargas, owner of Saiko Asian Express in Hays, next to his new restaurant. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostBlending fresh sushi and homemade Asian dishes, Saiko Asian Express is quickly carving out a place in Hays with affordable flavors.Ceaser Vargas has lived in Hays for 20 years, but is originally from Mexico, bringing decades of restaurant experience in international foods as he comes from a family of restaurant owners."I've worked in American, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican restaurants," Vargas said.Saiko opened Dec. 19 and has continued to see strong community support. Vargas said his restaurant stands out from other Asian eateries in the area because of its affordability and quality."We have the best prices," he said. "We cook with love and passion."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767973168654.jpeg" alt="Chicken and shrimp dishes from Saiko Asian Express in Hays. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Chicken and shrimp dishes from Saiko Asian Express in Hays. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Its sushi menu features the Saiko roll, dragon roll, spicy tuna, spicy crab roll and sushi on a stick. Other Asian dishes include sweet and sour chicken, teriyaki chicken and beef, broccoli shrimp and rock shrimp.Its most popular limited-time item is the Korean corn dog, available in spicy, regular and potato varieties. The dish comes with a flour-battered corn dog filled with cheese and sausage, deep-fried and finished with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar."Nobody else has Korean corn dogs in Hays," Vargas said.The building is undergoing interior remodeling to create an Asian-inspired, family-friendly atmosphere. Before opening Saiko, Vargas supplied sushi to nearby grocery stores in Russell and Hoisington.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767973244274.jpeg" alt="Seating inside of Saiko Asian Express in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Seating inside of Saiko Asian Express in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767973279934.jpeg" alt="Seating and interior decorations soon to be hung up at Saiko Asian Express in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Seating and interior decorations soon to be hung up at Saiko Asian Express in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>In Mexico, Vargas has family members who operate sushi restaurants, while his parents own a taco shop that serves more than 500 customers each day."This is a product of what I've learned over 20 years working in restaurants," Vargas said.Saiko is open from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with plans to expand to full-day service once employees are trained and ready to serve Hays.Vargas said the restaurant plans to introduce daily promotions soon.The restaurant's website is under construction, but delivery and takeout orders are available through DoorDash. You can follow Saiko Asian Express on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585274278342">Facebook</a>.

New Saiko Asian Express serves up fresh sushi in Hays

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated Press

A new video shows more of what happened before a federal immigration officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-shooting-immigration-842b1d92cb93f2326171f139686e8b0f">shot and killed</a>&nbsp;a woman during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, adding&nbsp;<a href="https://us-immigration-enforcement-minnesota/" target="_blank">context</a>&nbsp;to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-ice-shooting-protest-cad39aa94829e1e11468e3e345af2826">shooting</a>&nbsp;that has sparked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/ice-federal-officers-shooting-updates-1-9-2026">national debate</a>&nbsp;on whether the officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-crackdown-woman-shot-1aeabfaf747eff0162c15216bf41c9e7">acted in self-defense or recklessly</a>.

<a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2010367128524730533" target="_blank">The video</a>, which is 3 1/2 minutes long and was filmed by a bystander, was posted Sunday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on X. It shows federal officers and vehicles on a snowy street as a car horn blares on and off, with the sounds of whistles adding to the cacophony.

The camera swings to the left, showing a red SUV sitting perpendicular and blocking part of the road, the woman inside,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>, pressing the horn repeatedly. After over a minute, Good pulled the SUV back slightly, unblocking part of the road and appears to wave at cars to pass. Two vehicles drive past her down the street.

Good’s wife is seen outside the red SUV, but the video doesn’t clearly show where she was in the proceeding minutes. Then, after a blare from sirens, a dark truck with a small flashing light pulls to a stop a few feet from Good’s SUV. Two officers exit the truck and walk toward Good’s car just before the video goes dark.

Bystander videos released last week, shot from multiple angles, show what happened next.

A video filmed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">the officer who fired at Good</a>&nbsp;shows one officer ask Good to get out of the car and another tries to open her door. The officer who is filming circles around to the front of the vehicle.

Good reverses briefly, which places the officer who is filming in front of the driver’s side of the vehicle. Good then turns the steering wheel toward the passenger side as an officer says again, “get out of the car.” Almost simultaneously, her wife, standing on the passenger side and trying to open the door, shouts, “drive, baby, drive!”

The SUV pulls forward, the video veers up toward the sky and gunshots are heard.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-ice-shooting-protest-cad39aa94829e1e11468e3e345af2826">Other footage</a>&nbsp;of the shooting shows the officer who fired holstering his gun, then a few seconds of silence before Good’s SUV crashes into a parked car.

A woman who appears to be Good’s wife runs toward the crash, as the officer who fired walks in the same direction. Bystanders begin screaming.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated PressA new video shows more of what happened before a federal immigration officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-shooting-immigration-842b1d92cb93f2326171f139686e8b0f">shot and killed</a>&nbsp;a woman during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, adding&nbsp;<a href="https://us-immigration-enforcement-minnesota/" target="_blank">context</a>&nbsp;to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-ice-shooting-protest-cad39aa94829e1e11468e3e345af2826">shooting</a>&nbsp;that has sparked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/ice-federal-officers-shooting-updates-1-9-2026">national debate</a>&nbsp;on whether the officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-crackdown-woman-shot-1aeabfaf747eff0162c15216bf41c9e7">acted in self-defense or recklessly</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Let’s check the tape. For more than 3 minutes the anti-ICE agitator impeded a law enforcement operation with her vehicle. <a href="https://t.co/o2Lb0SQIvS">https://t.co/o2Lb0SQIvS</a> <a href="https://t.co/CQ2nxP6UHE">pic.twitter.com/CQ2nxP6UHE</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2010367128524730533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2010367128524730533" target="_blank">The video</a>, which is 3 1/2 minutes long and was filmed by a bystander, was posted Sunday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on X. It shows federal officers and vehicles on a snowy street as a car horn blares on and off, with the sounds of whistles adding to the cacophony.The camera swings to the left, showing a red SUV sitting perpendicular and blocking part of the road, the woman inside,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>, pressing the horn repeatedly. After over a minute, Good pulled the SUV back slightly, unblocking part of the road and appears to wave at cars to pass. Two vehicles drive past her down the street.Good’s wife is seen outside the red SUV, but the video doesn’t clearly show where she was in the proceeding minutes. Then, after a blare from sirens, a dark truck with a small flashing light pulls to a stop a few feet from Good’s SUV. Two officers exit the truck and walk toward Good’s car just before the video goes dark.Bystander videos released last week, shot from multiple angles, show what happened next.A video filmed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">the officer who fired at Good</a>&nbsp;shows one officer ask Good to get out of the car and another tries to open her door. The officer who is filming circles around to the front of the vehicle.Good reverses briefly, which places the officer who is filming in front of the driver’s side of the vehicle. Good then turns the steering wheel toward the passenger side as an officer says again, “get out of the car.” Almost simultaneously, her wife, standing on the passenger side and trying to open the door, shouts, “drive, baby, drive!”The SUV pulls forward, the video veers up toward the sky and gunshots are heard.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-ice-shooting-protest-cad39aa94829e1e11468e3e345af2826">Other footage</a>&nbsp;of the shooting shows the officer who fired holstering his gun, then a few seconds of silence before Good’s SUV crashes into a parked car.A woman who appears to be Good’s wife runs toward the crash, as the officer who fired walks in the same direction. Bystanders begin screaming.

New video shows the minutes before ICE officer fatally shoots woman in Minneapolis

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post Sports

HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs returned to Mid-Continent League
play Monday night with a doubleheader sweep of the Hill City Ringnecks at Al
Billinger Fieldhouse.

GIRLS: TMP 58, Hill City 18 The TMP-Marian girls held Hill City to just four field goals,
and they outscored the Ringnecks 29-4 in the third quarter on their way to a
58-18 victory.

The Monarchs (5-3, 2-0 MCL) jumped out to an early 12-4
lead, with Raegan Allen scoring six of her team-high 12 points in the first
quarter. 

Hannah Rose, Ava Flynn and Brynn Rebel each added three
pointers, giving TMP a 15-9 lead through the first quarter,

Hill City (2-7, 1-3 MCL) managed just two points in the
second quarter as TMP extended their lead to 26-11 heading into the halftime
break.

The Monarchs connected on five third-quarter three-pointers
as they outscored the Ringnecks 29-4 as they built a 52-15 lead through three
quarters.

With the continuous clock in the final period the Monarchs
earned a 58-18 victory.

Twelve Monarchs scored in the game and Raegan Allen scored a
team-high 12 points. Brynn Rebel added a career-high 11 points. 

BOYS: TMP 55, Hill City 26 The TMP-Marian boys opened Monday’s game on a 16-4 run and
used a 17-0 run to end the first half and begin the second on their way to a
55-26 victory over the Ringnecks.

Ty Schmeidler opened the game with three straight three
pointers putting the Monarchs up 9-0. They added two more three pointers in the
first quarter for a 19-6 lead.

TMP grew the lead to 18 in the second quarter, at 24-6.&nbsp; During that run, Jacob Seib, Ian Nehls and Schmeidler
combined to score 17 straight points and build a 41-29 lead.

The Monarchs extended their lead to 44-14 on Schmeidler’s
fourth three of the game, midway through the third period.

TMP led 46-18 through three quarters of action and finished
with the 55-26 victory.

Ty Schmeidler led all scorers with 20 points.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post SportsHAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs returned to Mid-Continent League
play Monday night with a doubleheader sweep of the Hill City Ringnecks at Al
Billinger Fieldhouse.GIRLS: TMP 58, Hill City 18 The TMP-Marian girls held Hill City to just four field goals,
and they outscored the Ringnecks 29-4 in the third quarter on their way to a
58-18 victory.<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/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2246528729&color=%2337669a&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/tmp-wbkb-coach-int-v-hill-city" title="TMP WBKB Coach Int v Hill City Jan 12, 2026" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP WBKB Coach Int v Hill City Jan 12, 2026</a></div></div>The Monarchs (5-3, 2-0 MCL) jumped out to an early 12-4
lead, with Raegan Allen scoring six of her team-high 12 points in the first
quarter. Hannah Rose, Ava Flynn and Brynn Rebel each added three
pointers, giving TMP a 15-9 lead through the first quarter,Hill City (2-7, 1-3 MCL) managed just two points in the
second quarter as TMP extended their lead to 26-11 heading into the halftime
break.The Monarchs connected on five third-quarter three-pointers
as they outscored the Ringnecks 29-4 as they built a 52-15 lead through three
quarters.With the continuous clock in the final period the Monarchs
earned a 58-18 victory.<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/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2246529029&color=%2337669a&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/tmp-wbkb-highlights-v-hill-1" title="TMP WBKB Highlights v Hill City Jan 12, 2026" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP WBKB Highlights v Hill City Jan 12, 2026</a></div></div>Twelve Monarchs scored in the game and Raegan Allen scored a
team-high 12 points. Brynn Rebel added a career-high 11 points. BOYS: TMP 55, Hill City 26 The TMP-Marian boys opened Monday’s game on a 16-4 run and
used a 17-0 run to end the first half and begin the second on their way to a
55-26 victory over the Ringnecks.<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/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2246530247&color=%2337669a&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/tmp-mbkb-post-v-hill-city-jan" title="TMP MBKB Post v Hill City Jan 12, 2026" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP MBKB Post v Hill City Jan 12, 2026</a></div></div>Ty Schmeidler opened the game with three straight three
pointers putting the Monarchs up 9-0. They added two more three pointers in the
first quarter for a 19-6 lead.TMP grew the lead to 18 in the second quarter, at 24-6.&nbsp; During that run, Jacob Seib, Ian Nehls and Schmeidler
combined to score 17 straight points and build a 41-29 lead.The Monarchs extended their lead to 44-14 on Schmeidler’s
fourth three of the game, midway through the third period.TMP led 46-18 through three quarters of action and finished
with the 55-26 victory.<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/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2246529137&color=%2337669a&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/tmp-mbkb-highlights-v-hill" title="TMP MBKB Highlights v Hill City Jan 12, 2026" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">TMP MBKB Highlights v Hill City Jan 12, 2026</a></div></div>Ty Schmeidler led all scorers with 20 points.&nbsp;TMP will host Hoxie on
Tuesday.

🏀 Monarchs cruise to a pair of wins over Hill City

The Ellis County Commission will hear an update on the county's Rural Opportunity Zone status during its 8:30 a.m. meeting on Tuesday.

Although the county was designated as one in 2021, changes in state law mean it is no longer eligible for the program starting this year.

Designation under the program can help reduce the cost of living and provide financial incentives to new residents, including student loan repayment assistance and a five-year state income tax waiver.

The county must continue making payments to previously approved student loan program participants as long as they remain eligible.

Generally accepted accounting principles

The commission will be asked to approve a resolution requesting a waiver from generally accepted accounting principles.

If the county does not waive the standards, it would need to hire staff to manage the additional workload. Approving the waiver would not affect the county’s ability to issue bonds in 2026.

Commissioners will be asked to approve a resolution adjusting salaries for elected officials for 2026.

The commission will be asked to approve a resolution to update and formally establish a county policy for moving buildings, structures and other oversized loads on county roads.

The commission will be asked to renew the appointment of Ellis County EMS Director Danita Schroeder to the Region One EMS Council.

Bobbi Dreiling, county clerk, will request approval and signage of the 2026 departmental inventory report.

Commissioners will be asked to approve updated job descriptions for the public works department and the solid waste division.

You can view the full agenda <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-721">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission will hear an update on the county's Rural Opportunity Zone status during its 8:30 a.m. meeting on Tuesday.Although the county was designated as one in 2021, changes in state law mean it is no longer eligible for the program starting this year.Designation under the program can help reduce the cost of living and provide financial incentives to new residents, including student loan repayment assistance and a five-year state income tax waiver.The county must continue making payments to previously approved student loan program participants as long as they remain eligible.Generally accepted accounting principlesThe commission will be asked to approve a resolution requesting a waiver from generally accepted accounting principles.If the county does not waive the standards, it would need to hire staff to manage the additional workload. Approving the waiver would not affect the county’s ability to issue bonds in 2026.2026 salary adjustmentsCommissioners will be asked to approve a resolution adjusting salaries for elected officials for 2026.The adjustments follow a countywide pay study and a 2024 compensation policy, ensuring elected officials’ salaries remain competitive with market rates.Other businessThe commission will be asked to approve a resolution to update and formally establish a county policy for moving buildings, structures and other oversized loads on county roads.The commission will be asked to renew the appointment of Ellis County EMS Director Danita Schroeder to the Region One EMS Council.Bobbi Dreiling, county clerk, will request approval and signage of the 2026 departmental inventory report.Commissioners will be asked to approve updated job descriptions for the public works department and the solid waste division.You can view the full agenda <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-721">here</a>.

Ellis County no longer be eligible for Rural Opportunity Zone

By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/brianmartucci/">Brian Martucci</a>- <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

Federal immigration authorities intensified a weekslong operation in the Twin Cities over the weekend following the Wednesday killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.

Residents pushed back, led by a growing network of rapid responders hounding U.S. ICE and Border Patrol vehicles and agents across the metro area.

Thousands&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/10/thousands-march-in-minneapolis-to-protest-ice-after-shooting/">marched peacefully</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis Saturday to remember Good and protest the Trump administration’s expanding immigration crackdown. Many marchers stopped to pay their respects as the procession moved from Powderhorn Park past the intersection where the fatal shooting occurred.

Saturday’s protest, the largest since Good’s killing, was more subdued than a Friday evening gathering outside downtown Minneapolis hotels where ICE agents were said to be staying.

Protesters blew whistles, banged drums and shouted taunts outside the hotels for hours before some tried to force their way into the Canopy by Hilton at 700 Third Street South, causing about $6,000 in damage, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-ice-protest-friday-night-arrests-damage-no-injuries/601561757" target="_blank">Star Tribune&nbsp;reported</a>. City and state police ordered protesters to disperse around midnight and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h6jSaT1Qy3k?si=1vXpli_jiJ9nNRQL" target="_blank">arrested about 30 people</a>&nbsp;without incident, officials said Saturday.

Near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a smaller group braved chilly winds to maintain a near-permanent presence outside an ICE operations hub and detention center.

U.S. Reps.&nbsp; Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison said they were denied entry to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building shortly after arriving for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/us-reps-ilhan-omar-angie-craig-say-they-were-turned-away-from-ice-facility-mn/89-c71bf6c9-f7a0-459f-aee5-c62ea6858d56" target="_blank">what they called an oversight visit</a>&nbsp;on Saturday morning.

Later in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/10/minnesota-democrats-ice-00721211" target="_blank">Politico reported</a>&nbsp;that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — who oversees ICE and said this weekend she’d ordered hundreds more agents to join at least 2,000 already in the Twin Cities — signed an order on Thursday requiring a week’s notice for Congressional visits to immigrant detention centers.

Multiple people released from Whipple told independent journalists that they’d been&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gbrockell.bsky.social/post/3mc6zl5qsns2k" target="_blank">verbally or physically abused</a>&nbsp;in or en route to detention there. Two said agents used demeaning language to describe Good and suggested she’d deserved her fate.

The&nbsp;Reformer&nbsp;has not independently verified the Whipple detainees’ claims. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/comments/1qa3pmm/boxed_in_by_ice/" target="_blank">separate video</a>&nbsp;posted on Sunday by a Minneapolis Reddit user, an ICE agent tells a driver to “[g]o home to your children…have you not learned from what just happened?”

Sunday saw more reports of federal law enforcement activity in St. Paul. One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/saintpaul/comments/1qaaww4/greg_bovino_has_officially_kicked_off_door_to/" target="_blank">bystander video</a>&nbsp;purported to show agents going “door to door” on Thomas Avenue near Victoria Street, possibly making good on Vice President JD Vance’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/08/jd-vance-promises-aggressive-immigration-enforcement/88086884007/" target="_blank">promise earlier this week</a>&nbsp;of house-by-house immigration operations. Armed personnel&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattprivratsky.bsky.social/post/3mc6cp7f4pc2g" target="_blank">questioned shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a nearby Target. And a crowd heckled agents as they appeared to pull a man out of his car at a gas station on Snelling Avenue.

A multi-agency operation that at times felt like an outright occupation had many Twin Cities residents — not just hardened activists — calling for ICE to withdraw and deeper reform of federal immigration policy.

On Sunday, outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/democratic-minnesota-senator-ice-has-a-role-in-our-country-11342339" target="_blank">told CNN</a>&nbsp;that she was listening, but stopped short of promising to lead the “abolish ICE” movement in Washington.

“It is hard for me to imagine how I could vote to support a budget bill for the Department of Homeland Security, given how the Department of Homeland Security is functioning right now in my community,” she said. “I want to see work done that would bring some serious reforms to ICE.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768243967494.png" alt=" Thousands of people march Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 from Powderhorn Park to the site where an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, protesting the killing and also the drastic surge in ICE agents deployed to the state in recent weeks. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)" />
 <figcaption> Thousands of people march Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 from Powderhorn Park to the site where an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, protesting the killing and also the drastic surge in ICE agents deployed to the state in recent weeks. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/brianmartucci/">Brian Martucci</a>- <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>Federal immigration authorities intensified a weekslong operation in the Twin Cities over the weekend following the Wednesday killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.Residents pushed back, led by a growing network of rapid responders hounding U.S. ICE and Border Patrol vehicles and agents across the metro area.Thousands&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/10/thousands-march-in-minneapolis-to-protest-ice-after-shooting/">marched peacefully</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis Saturday to remember Good and protest the Trump administration’s expanding immigration crackdown. Many marchers stopped to pay their respects as the procession moved from Powderhorn Park past the intersection where the fatal shooting occurred.Saturday’s protest, the largest since Good’s killing, was more subdued than a Friday evening gathering outside downtown Minneapolis hotels where ICE agents were said to be staying.Protesters blew whistles, banged drums and shouted taunts outside the hotels for hours before some tried to force their way into the Canopy by Hilton at 700 Third Street South, causing about $6,000 in damage, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-ice-protest-friday-night-arrests-damage-no-injuries/601561757" target="_blank">Star Tribune&nbsp;reported</a>. City and state police ordered protesters to disperse around midnight and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h6jSaT1Qy3k?si=1vXpli_jiJ9nNRQL" target="_blank">arrested about 30 people</a>&nbsp;without incident, officials said Saturday.Near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a smaller group braved chilly winds to maintain a near-permanent presence outside an ICE operations hub and detention center.U.S. Reps.&nbsp; Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison said they were denied entry to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building shortly after arriving for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/us-reps-ilhan-omar-angie-craig-say-they-were-turned-away-from-ice-facility-mn/89-c71bf6c9-f7a0-459f-aee5-c62ea6858d56" target="_blank">what they called an oversight visit</a>&nbsp;on Saturday morning.Later in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/10/minnesota-democrats-ice-00721211" target="_blank">Politico reported</a>&nbsp;that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — who oversees ICE and said this weekend she’d ordered hundreds more agents to join at least 2,000 already in the Twin Cities — signed an order on Thursday requiring a week’s notice for Congressional visits to immigrant detention centers.Multiple people released from Whipple told independent journalists that they’d been&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gbrockell.bsky.social/post/3mc6zl5qsns2k" target="_blank">verbally or physically abused</a>&nbsp;in or en route to detention there. Two said agents used demeaning language to describe Good and suggested she’d deserved her fate.The&nbsp;Reformer&nbsp;has not independently verified the Whipple detainees’ claims. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/comments/1qa3pmm/boxed_in_by_ice/" target="_blank">separate video</a>&nbsp;posted on Sunday by a Minneapolis Reddit user, an ICE agent tells a driver to “[g]o home to your children…have you not learned from what just happened?”Sunday saw more reports of federal law enforcement activity in St. Paul. One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/saintpaul/comments/1qaaww4/greg_bovino_has_officially_kicked_off_door_to/" target="_blank">bystander video</a>&nbsp;purported to show agents going “door to door” on Thomas Avenue near Victoria Street, possibly making good on Vice President JD Vance’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/08/jd-vance-promises-aggressive-immigration-enforcement/88086884007/" target="_blank">promise earlier this week</a>&nbsp;of house-by-house immigration operations. Armed personnel&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattprivratsky.bsky.social/post/3mc6cp7f4pc2g" target="_blank">questioned shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a nearby Target. And a crowd heckled agents as they appeared to pull a man out of his car at a gas station on Snelling Avenue.A multi-agency operation that at times felt like an outright occupation had many Twin Cities residents — not just hardened activists — calling for ICE to withdraw and deeper reform of federal immigration policy.On Sunday, outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/democratic-minnesota-senator-ice-has-a-role-in-our-country-11342339" target="_blank">told CNN</a>&nbsp;that she was listening, but stopped short of promising to lead the “abolish ICE” movement in Washington.“It is hard for me to imagine how I could vote to support a budget bill for the Department of Homeland Security, given how the Department of Homeland Security is functioning right now in my community,” she said. “I want to see work done that would bring some serious reforms to ICE.”