By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Brant's Meat Market, locally owned for more than 100 years, has brought home yet another award.

The market's Plainville location was recently awarded a Northwest Award of Merit for Retail from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Brant's has a long history of Czechoslovakian specialities like ring bologna and sausages, but when husband-and-wife duo Adam and Ashley Comeau took over the business in 2018, they added some of their own recipes.

James and Marie Brant acquired the Harrison &amp; Sons Meat Shop on Lucas in 1922. James Brant ran the business as a full-service butchery shop.

James and Marie's sons, Frank and George, ran the shop, with George's son Douglas purchasing the business with his wife in 1988.

Doug Brant was the fourth generation to run the meat market. His daughter, Stephanie, worked alongside her father starting in 2014. Doug finally retired after 30 years and the market was closed.

However, Adam and Ashley Comeau of Plainville bought and reopened the shop in 2018 and, in 2020, expanded the business to a second location in Plainville.

Adam and Ashley were not butchers or chefs. They have learned on the job, with Adam taking lessons on the old Czech recipes from Doug and experimenting with more of his own.

The business focuses on smoked and cured products such as beef sticks, jerky, bologna and brats. However, they also offer fresh-cut steaks and Kansas-sourced companion products, such as mustard, rubs, barbecue sauce, honey and cheese.

You can even pick up a recipe to try with those products and cut of the market's fresh meat.

The market is known for its ring bologna. It is one of the original recipes that James Brant brought from&nbsp;Czechoslovakia. His son, George, developed a pepper sausage that contains beef and pork and is a little spicier.

"Generations have purchased it and come with their grandparents," Adam said.&nbsp;

The Lucas store has been in the community so long that people travel there from across the region to purchase its products. The store also ships as far away as the Pacific Northwest, where families clamor for the Czech favorites they grew up with.

"Some of the products we produce are very unique, Jaternice, which is a&nbsp;Czechoslovakian sausage, which is really not produced by very many people. But everyone's grandparents made it, and they're used to eating it," Adam said.

Raw burger, a German speciality, is also popular this time of year.

Lucas lost its grocery store, and the meat market there became a key source of fresh meat for the community. Both stores also offer fresh ground beef from beef muscle, not trimmings.

The meat market does not slaughter its own meat. The Comeaus buy boxed beef from local sources throughout Kansas. Adam said they source from local ranchers when they can.&nbsp;

Both stories have accumulated a pile of other awards for their products, including:

• American Association of Meat Processors, Reserve Grand Champion 2025 for their original beef sticks • Kansas Association of Meat Processors awards for their whole-muscle beef jerky, fresh sausage, bratwurst, restructured beef jerky and smoked ham • Central Region Award of Merit for Retail from the Kansas Department of Commerce for the Lucas store

Adam and Ashley both have full-time jobs in addition to the meat market. Ashley is an attorney and Adam is a paramedic.

"Both sets of our parents owned their own businesses," Ashley said. "We grew up the children of entrepreneurs. It got a lot of attention when the business closed, and we thought, 'Why not us?'"

Adam said the couple's most significant challenge is time. Both husband and wife work in the stores. Adam's mother, Shirley, helps at the Plainville market, and&nbsp;Calvin, 7, their son, usually walks to the store after school.

Finding staffing for the back end of the store has been difficult, Ashley said.

As with many retailers, business has been slower this holiday season, but Ashley said demand remains high at both stores.

You can learn more about the markets online at <a href="https://www.brantsmarket.com/">brantsmarket.com</a> and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrantsMarket">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766434650970.jpeg" alt="Adam and Ashley Comeau and their daughter, Hollis, 2, and Calvin, 7, at Brant's Meat Market in Plainville. The market offers award-winning meat products made from Kansas-sourced beef. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Adam and Ashley Comeau and their daughter, Hollis, 2, and Calvin, 7, at Brant's Meat Market in Plainville. The market offers award-winning meat products made from Kansas-sourced beef. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostBrant's Meat Market, locally owned for more than 100 years, has brought home yet another award.The market's Plainville location was recently awarded a Northwest Award of Merit for Retail from the Kansas Department of Commerce.Brant's has a long history of Czechoslovakian specialities like ring bologna and sausages, but when husband-and-wife duo Adam and Ashley Comeau took over the business in 2018, they added some of their own recipes.James and Marie Brant acquired the Harrison &amp; Sons Meat Shop on Lucas in 1922. James Brant ran the business as a full-service butchery shop.James and Marie's sons, Frank and George, ran the shop, with George's son Douglas purchasing the business with his wife in 1988.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766436762011.jpeg" alt="Shirley Comeau, co-owner Adam Comeau's mother, helps a customer at the Plainville store. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Shirley Comeau, co-owner Adam Comeau's mother, helps a customer at the Plainville store. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Doug Brant was the fourth generation to run the meat market. His daughter, Stephanie, worked alongside her father starting in 2014. Doug finally retired after 30 years and the market was closed.However, Adam and Ashley Comeau of Plainville bought and reopened the shop in 2018 and, in 2020, expanded the business to a second location in Plainville.Adam and Ashley were not butchers or chefs. They have learned on the job, with Adam taking lessons on the old Czech recipes from Doug and experimenting with more of his own.The business focuses on smoked and cured products such as beef sticks, jerky, bologna and brats. However, they also offer fresh-cut steaks and Kansas-sourced companion products, such as mustard, rubs, barbecue sauce, honey and cheese.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766436973137.jpeg" alt="In addition to beef sticks and jerky, the markets offer fresh steaks, ground beef and Kansas-sourced cheeses. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>In addition to beef sticks and jerky, the markets offer fresh steaks, ground beef and Kansas-sourced cheeses. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>You can even pick up a recipe to try with those products and cut of the market's fresh meat.The market is known for its ring bologna. It is one of the original recipes that James Brant brought from&nbsp;Czechoslovakia. His son, George, developed a pepper sausage that contains beef and pork and is a little spicier."Generations have purchased it and come with their grandparents," Adam said.&nbsp;The Lucas store has been in the community so long that people travel there from across the region to purchase its products. The store also ships as far away as the Pacific Northwest, where families clamor for the Czech favorites they grew up with."Some of the products we produce are very unique, Jaternice, which is a&nbsp;Czechoslovakian sausage, which is really not produced by very many people. But everyone's grandparents made it, and they're used to eating it," Adam said.Raw burger, a German speciality, is also popular this time of year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766437280263.jpeg" alt="The two Brant's Meat Market locations have won many awards for their products, including an&nbsp;American Association of Meat Processors Reserve Grand Champion Award for their original beef sticks this year. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The two Brant's Meat Market locations have won many awards for their products, including an&nbsp;American Association of Meat Processors Reserve Grand Champion Award for their original beef sticks this year. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Lucas lost its grocery store, and the meat market there became a key source of fresh meat for the community. Both stores also offer fresh ground beef from beef muscle, not trimmings.The meat market does not slaughter its own meat. The Comeaus buy boxed beef from local sources throughout Kansas. Adam said they source from local ranchers when they can.&nbsp;Both stories have accumulated a pile of other awards for their products, including:• American Association of Meat Processors, Reserve Grand Champion 2025 for their original beef sticks • Kansas Association of Meat Processors awards for their whole-muscle beef jerky, fresh sausage, bratwurst, restructured beef jerky and smoked ham • Central Region Award of Merit for Retail from the Kansas Department of Commerce for the Lucas storeAdam and Ashley both have full-time jobs in addition to the meat market. Ashley is an attorney and Adam is a paramedic."Both sets of our parents owned their own businesses," Ashley said. "We grew up the children of entrepreneurs. It got a lot of attention when the business closed, and we thought, 'Why not us?'"Adam said the couple's most significant challenge is time. Both husband and wife work in the stores. Adam's mother, Shirley, helps at the Plainville market, and&nbsp;Calvin, 7, their son, usually walks to the store after school.Finding staffing for the back end of the store has been difficult, Ashley said.As with many retailers, business has been slower this holiday season, but Ashley said demand remains high at both stores.You can learn more about the markets online at <a href="https://www.brantsmarket.com/">brantsmarket.com</a> and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrantsMarket">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

Brant's Meat Market preserves legacy while innovating its way to awards

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man allegedly living illegally in Kansas is now going to prison for a deadly fight that left a man dead.

Earlier this month, Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 23-year-old Armando Y. Martinez-Rodriguez to 34 months in prison and 24-months of post release supervision in the death of&nbsp; left 30-year-old Marco Gonzales-Arias, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Just after midnight October 12, 2024, police responded to the Emery Gardens apartment complex in the the 4200 block of S. Hydraulic in Wichita, according to a media release.

First responders found&nbsp; Gonzales-Arias suffering from a gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital and he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Martinez suffered stab wound and fled the scene. Police located him, took him to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuried and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he was listed as a hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Martinez is also required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729268421103.png" alt="Martinez-Rodriguez Photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Martinez-Rodriguez Photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man allegedly living illegally in Kansas is now going to prison for a deadly fight that left a man dead.Earlier this month, Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 23-year-old Armando Y. Martinez-Rodriguez to 34 months in prison and 24-months of post release supervision in the death of&nbsp; left 30-year-old Marco Gonzales-Arias, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;Just after midnight October 12, 2024, police responded to the Emery Gardens apartment complex in the the 4200 block of S. Hydraulic in Wichita, according to a media release.First responders found&nbsp; Gonzales-Arias suffering from a gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital and he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Martinez suffered stab wound and fled the scene. Police located him, took him to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuried and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he was listed as a hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Martinez is also required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

Kan. man stabbed in deadly gunfight is going to prison

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks with the new executive assistant at the Hays Arts Council, Kiernan McCarty, along with Chandler Reich, executive director, and Brittney Squire, board president.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766144764979.jpeg" alt="Kiernan McCarty. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kiernan McCarty. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Meet the new executive assistant of the Hays Arts Council" 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=9jvn9-19f4ece-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>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks with the new executive assistant at the Hays Arts Council, Kiernan McCarty, along with Chandler Reich, executive director, and Brittney Squire, board president.

🎙 Post Podcast: Meet the new executive assistant of the Hays Arts Council 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/anne-dinnocenzio">ANNE D’INNOCENZIO</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — The shopping rush leading up to Christmas is over and in its place, like every year, another has begun as millions of people hunt for post-holiday deals and get in line to return gifts that didn’t fit, or didn’t hit quite right.

Holiday spending using cash or cards through Sunday has topped last year’s haul, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/holiday-sales-visa-inflation-tariffs-e227c2ab26445616931a71cf610bd15b">data released this week</a>&nbsp;by Visa’s Consulting &amp; Analytics division and Mastercard SpendingPulse.

But growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">unease over the U.S. economy</a>&nbsp;and higher prices in part due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-liberation-day-d3458da225c1fdfade97ed494b23e868">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;have altered the behavior of some Americans. More are hitting thrift stores or other discounters in place of malls, according to data from Placer.ai. The firm tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage.

And they’re sticking more closely to shopping lists and doing more research before buying. That may explain why returns so far are down compared with last year, according to data from Adobe Analytics.

A weaker holiday season for traditional gift giving

Americans are still spending on gifts, yet increasingly that shopping is taking place at thrift and discount stores, according to data from Placer.ai.

That’s likely forcing traditional retailers such as department stores to fight harder for customers, Placer.ai said.

Clothing and electronics that traditionally dominate holiday sales did have a surge but struggled to grow, according to Placer.ai. Both goods are dominated by imports and thus, vulnerable to tariffs.

For example, traffic doubled in department stores during the week before Christmas, from Dec. 15 through Sunday, compared with the average shopping week this year. But traffic in the week before Christmas this year fell 13.2% compared with 2024.

Traffic surged 61% at traditional sellers of only clothing in the week before the holiday compared with the rest of the year. But again, compared with the runup to Christmas last year, sales slid 9%.

Some of that lost traffic may have migrated to the so-called off-price stores— chains like TJ Maxx. That sector had a sharp seasonal traffic bump of 85.1% and a gain of 1.2% in the week before the holiday.

But it was thrift stores that were red hot, with traffic jumping nearly 11% in the week before Christmas compared with last year.

“Whether hunting for a designer deal or uncovering a one-of-a-kind vintage piece, consumers increasingly favored discovery-driven experiences over the standardized assortments of traditional retail,” Shira Petrack, head of content at Placer.ai, said in a blog post Friday.

In the past it may have seemed gauche to gift your mother a gently used sweater or a pair of pants from a local thrift store, but seemingly not so amid all of the economic uncertainty and rising prices, according to Placer.ai.

Through the second half of 2025, thrift stores have seen at least a 10% increases in traffic compared with last year. That suggests that environmental concerns as well as economic issues are luring more Americans to second-hand stores, Placer.ai said. Visits to thrift stores generally do not take off during the holidays, yet in the most recent Black Friday weekend, sales jumped 5.5%, Placer.ai. reported.

In November, as customer traffic in traditional apparel stores fell more than 3%, traffic in thrift stores soared 12.7%, according to Placer.ai.

The thrift migration has altered the demographics of second-hand stores. The average household income of thrift customers hit $75,000 during October and November of this year, a slight uptick from $74,900 last year, $74,600 in 2023 well above the average income of 74,100 in 2022, based on demographic data from STI:PopStats combined with Placer.ai data.

U.S. sales at thrift chain Savers Value Village’s rose 10.5% in the three months ended Sept. 27 and the momentum continued through October, store executives said in late October.

“High household income cohort continues to become a larger portion of our consumer mix,” CEO Mark Walsh told analysts. “It’s trade down for sure, and our younger cohort also continues to grow in numbers. ”

For the first six weeks of the holiday season, return rates have dipped from the same period a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics.

That suggests that shoppers are doing more research before adding something to their shopping list, and they’re being more disciplined in sticking to the lists they create, according to Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights.

“I think it’s very indicative of consumers and how conscientiously they’ve purchased,” Pandya said. “Many of them are being very specific with how they spend their budget.”

From Nov. 1 to Dec. 12, returns fell 2.5% compared with last year, Adobe reported. In the seven days following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cyber-monday-deals-discounts-4acd3e4b065f62a1c08cd04905b11f87">Cyber Week</a>&nbsp;— the five shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, returns fell 0.1%.

From the Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, online sales rose 6% to $187.3 billion, on track to surpass its outlook for the season, Adobe reported.

Between Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, returns are expected to rise by 25% to 35% compared with returns between Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, Adobe said, and it expects returns to remain elevated through the first two weeks of January, up 8% to 15%.

This is the first year that Adobe has tracked returns.

Still, the last week of December sees the greatest concentration of returns: one out of every eight returns in the 2024 holiday season took place between Dec. 26 and Dec 31, a trend expected to persist this year, Adobe said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766832564432.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/anne-dinnocenzio">ANNE D’INNOCENZIO</a>NEW YORK (AP) — The shopping rush leading up to Christmas is over and in its place, like every year, another has begun as millions of people hunt for post-holiday deals and get in line to return gifts that didn’t fit, or didn’t hit quite right.Holiday spending using cash or cards through Sunday has topped last year’s haul, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/holiday-sales-visa-inflation-tariffs-e227c2ab26445616931a71cf610bd15b">data released this week</a>&nbsp;by Visa’s Consulting &amp; Analytics division and Mastercard SpendingPulse.But growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">unease over the U.S. economy</a>&nbsp;and higher prices in part due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-liberation-day-d3458da225c1fdfade97ed494b23e868">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;have altered the behavior of some Americans. More are hitting thrift stores or other discounters in place of malls, according to data from Placer.ai. The firm tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage.And they’re sticking more closely to shopping lists and doing more research before buying. That may explain why returns so far are down compared with last year, according to data from Adobe Analytics.<h2>A weaker holiday season for traditional gift giving</h2>Americans are still spending on gifts, yet increasingly that shopping is taking place at thrift and discount stores, according to data from Placer.ai.That’s likely forcing traditional retailers such as department stores to fight harder for customers, Placer.ai said.Clothing and electronics that traditionally dominate holiday sales did have a surge but struggled to grow, according to Placer.ai. Both goods are dominated by imports and thus, vulnerable to tariffs.For example, traffic doubled in department stores during the week before Christmas, from Dec. 15 through Sunday, compared with the average shopping week this year. But traffic in the week before Christmas this year fell 13.2% compared with 2024.Traffic surged 61% at traditional sellers of only clothing in the week before the holiday compared with the rest of the year. But again, compared with the runup to Christmas last year, sales slid 9%.Some of that lost traffic may have migrated to the so-called off-price stores— chains like TJ Maxx. That sector had a sharp seasonal traffic bump of 85.1% and a gain of 1.2% in the week before the holiday.But it was thrift stores that were red hot, with traffic jumping nearly 11% in the week before Christmas compared with last year.“Whether hunting for a designer deal or uncovering a one-of-a-kind vintage piece, consumers increasingly favored discovery-driven experiences over the standardized assortments of traditional retail,” Shira Petrack, head of content at Placer.ai, said in a blog post Friday.<h2>Thrift stores broaden their appeal</h2>In the past it may have seemed gauche to gift your mother a gently used sweater or a pair of pants from a local thrift store, but seemingly not so amid all of the economic uncertainty and rising prices, according to Placer.ai.Through the second half of 2025, thrift stores have seen at least a 10% increases in traffic compared with last year. That suggests that environmental concerns as well as economic issues are luring more Americans to second-hand stores, Placer.ai said. Visits to thrift stores generally do not take off during the holidays, yet in the most recent Black Friday weekend, sales jumped 5.5%, Placer.ai. reported.In November, as customer traffic in traditional apparel stores fell more than 3%, traffic in thrift stores soared 12.7%, according to Placer.ai.The thrift migration has altered the demographics of second-hand stores. The average household income of thrift customers hit $75,000 during October and November of this year, a slight uptick from $74,900 last year, $74,600 in 2023 well above the average income of 74,100 in 2022, based on demographic data from STI:PopStats combined with Placer.ai data.U.S. sales at thrift chain Savers Value Village’s rose 10.5% in the three months ended Sept. 27 and the momentum continued through October, store executives said in late October.“High household income cohort continues to become a larger portion of our consumer mix,” CEO Mark Walsh told analysts. “It’s trade down for sure, and our younger cohort also continues to grow in numbers. ”<h2>Fewer returns, so far</h2>For the first six weeks of the holiday season, return rates have dipped from the same period a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics.That suggests that shoppers are doing more research before adding something to their shopping list, and they’re being more disciplined in sticking to the lists they create, according to Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights.“I think it’s very indicative of consumers and how conscientiously they’ve purchased,” Pandya said. “Many of them are being very specific with how they spend their budget.”From Nov. 1 to Dec. 12, returns fell 2.5% compared with last year, Adobe reported. In the seven days following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cyber-monday-deals-discounts-4acd3e4b065f62a1c08cd04905b11f87">Cyber Week</a>&nbsp;— the five shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, returns fell 0.1%.From the Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, online sales rose 6% to $187.3 billion, on track to surpass its outlook for the season, Adobe reported.Between Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, returns are expected to rise by 25% to 35% compared with returns between Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, Adobe said, and it expects returns to remain elevated through the first two weeks of January, up 8% to 15%.This is the first year that Adobe has tracked returns.Still, the last week of December sees the greatest concentration of returns: one out of every eight returns in the 2024 holiday season took place between Dec. 26 and Dec 31, a trend expected to persist this year, Adobe said.

More thrifting, fewer returns, the early trends that defined shopping this holiday

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Karen Thomason didn’t just care for children. She helped build confidence that stayed with them long after they left her classroom.

Thomason of Hays Area Children’s Center began as a stay-at-home mom raising three children before going on to care for multiple generations.

"I have had children of children. I had their parents as children, and years later, they brought their own children back," Thomason said.

Thomason is set to retire Jan. 9, marking 37 years as a child care provider. She said she began her career under an organization that later merged with another to form what is now the children’s center.

Thomason had prior experience through involvement in school activities, a parent-teacher association and church-based work with children.&nbsp;Her skills were recognized when an employer noticed her during an interview break.

"I wanted to go back to work, and they had some interviews. There were children out on the playground," she said. "I went over there and helped the kids with sharing and taking turns. I guess the lady who was hiring saw me and said, 'I think you'll be great.'"

Thomason's classroom is licensed to care for up to 15 children ages 2 and a half through kindergarten. In her classroom, children focus on motor skills, positive guidance, outdoor play, work on having family-style meals and occasionally have dance parties.

Thomason said she has built close relationships with students’ parents and has been invited to birthday parties and later to graduation celebrations at the end of their K–12 education.

"I want them to take confidence with them and to believe in themselves," she said. "I know they're only little, but I feel like if we're building that inside of them, they'll be ready to learn something new."

Thomason celebrated her retirement with a party at the center, sharing memories to close out her career. She said the months leading up to her announcement, including when she wrote her retirement letter, were very emotional.

"What I'm gonna miss the most in my classroom is the children. You try to provide the best environment and come up with new ideas and lesson plans. You work a lot of nights... just their little smiling faces and their loving faces," she said.

Thomason said she will also miss her coworkers, but plans to stay connected to the center through fundraisers, event participation or possibly an advisory role.

Thomason enjoys fishing, hunting and gardening, and looks forward to spending more time on those hobbies in retirement. She also plans to travel more and attend more of her four grandchildren’s activities, such as sports and school events.

"This was my passion, and I was fortunate to be able to do what I wanted to do," she said.

Thomason was named December’s Child Care Champion after receiving multiple nominations from parents and coworkers. The Hays Area Children’s Center has served the Hays community for 60 years, providing care for infants through school-age children.

You can learn more about the program on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hacc.info/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;and follow it on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HaysAreaChildrensCenter/">Facebook</a>.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0f64ddb1-ba92-40fa-a22f-94a557aaf629">Nominate a provider for the Child Care Champion Award here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766080277117.jpeg" alt="Karen Thomason of Hays Area Children's Center with her students. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Karen Thomason of Hays Area Children's Center with her students. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostKaren Thomason didn’t just care for children. She helped build confidence that stayed with them long after they left her classroom.Thomason of Hays Area Children’s Center began as a stay-at-home mom raising three children before going on to care for multiple generations."I have had children of children. I had their parents as children, and years later, they brought their own children back," Thomason said.Thomason is set to retire Jan. 9, marking 37 years as a child care provider. She said she began her career under an organization that later merged with another to form what is now the children’s center.Thomason had prior experience through involvement in school activities, a parent-teacher association and church-based work with children.&nbsp;Her skills were recognized when an employer noticed her during an interview break."I wanted to go back to work, and they had some interviews. There were children out on the playground," she said. "I went over there and helped the kids with sharing and taking turns. I guess the lady who was hiring saw me and said, 'I think you'll be great.'"Thomason's classroom is licensed to care for up to 15 children ages 2 and a half through kindergarten. In her classroom, children focus on motor skills, positive guidance, outdoor play, work on having family-style meals and occasionally have dance parties.Thomason said she has built close relationships with students’ parents and has been invited to birthday parties and later to graduation celebrations at the end of their K–12 education."I want them to take confidence with them and to believe in themselves," she said. "I know they're only little, but I feel like if we're building that inside of them, they'll be ready to learn something new."Thomason celebrated her retirement with a party at the center, sharing memories to close out her career. She said the months leading up to her announcement, including when she wrote her retirement letter, were very emotional."What I'm gonna miss the most in my classroom is the children. You try to provide the best environment and come up with new ideas and lesson plans. You work a lot of nights... just their little smiling faces and their loving faces," she said.Thomason said she will also miss her coworkers, but plans to stay connected to the center through fundraisers, event participation or possibly an advisory role.Thomason enjoys fishing, hunting and gardening, and looks forward to spending more time on those hobbies in retirement. She also plans to travel more and attend more of her four grandchildren’s activities, such as sports and school events."This was my passion, and I was fortunate to be able to do what I wanted to do," she said.Thomason was named December’s Child Care Champion after receiving multiple nominations from parents and coworkers. The Hays Area Children’s Center has served the Hays community for 60 years, providing care for infants through school-age children.You can learn more about the program on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hacc.info/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;and follow it on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HaysAreaChildrensCenter/">Facebook</a>.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0f64ddb1-ba92-40fa-a22f-94a557aaf629">Nominate a provider for the Child Care Champion Award here.</a>

Child Care Champion to retire after almost four decades

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-islamic-state-nigeria-43478823f0562cafc527fad1448a0542">The United States airstrikes</a>&nbsp;that targeted Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria’s on Thursday marked a major escalation in an offensive that Nigeria’s overstretched military has struggled with for years.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the “powerful and deadly” strikes in Sokoto state were carried out against Islamic State militants “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-christian-muslim-killings-kidnapping-trump-af57834a1ce47488397bf07931b5cf51">Residents and security analysts have said</a>&nbsp;Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north.

Nigeria, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-killings-bandits-insecurity-tinubu-13ca838d972feb44e2c2006524a3e259">battling multiple armed groups</a>, said the U.S. strikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between the two countries.

The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes’ impact. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a post on X about the airstrikes, said: “More to come...”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-abduction-gunmen-kaduna-2b5537957ce605ca06576d99a0756901">The armed groups</a>&nbsp;in Africa’s most populous country include at least two affiliated with the Islamic State — an offshoot of the Boko Haram extremist group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, and the lesser-known Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) known locally as Lakurawa and prominent in the northwest.

Although officials did not say exactly which group was targeted, security analysts said the target, if indeed against Islamic State militants, was likely members of Lakurawa, which became more lethal in border states like Sokoto and Kebbi in the last year, often targeting remote communities and security forces.

The Nigerian military has said in the past that the group has roots in neighboring Niger and that it became more active in Nigeria’s border communities following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/niger-coups-bazoum-sahel-military-democracy-d1614b14baff6571b7d3766c2cbd8ba1">2023 military coup</a>. That coup resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mali-niger-burkina-faso-ecowas-west-africa-5a5dc2180e39223c91b1820067db4011">fractured relations</a>&nbsp;between Nigeria and Niger, and affected their multinational military operations along the porous border.

Militants invited to provide security now torment villages

Multiple analysts have said Lakurawa has been active in northwest Nigeria since around 2017 when it was invited by traditional authorities in Sokoto to protect their communities from bandit groups.

The militants, however, “overstayed their welcome, clashing with some of the community leaders ... and enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia law that alienated much of the rural population,” according to James Barnett, an Africa researcher with the Washington-based Hudson Institute.

“Communities now openly say that Lakurawa are more oppressive and dangerous than the bandits they claim to protect them from,” according to Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher with Good Governance Africa.

Lakurawa controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi states, and has become known for killings, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery, Samuel said.

But some of the attacks blamed on Lakurawa are by the Islamic State Sahel Province, which has expanded from Niger’s Dosso region to northwestern Nigeria, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project.

“ISSP has maintained a low profile, operating covertly to infiltrate and entrench itself along the Niger-Nigeria border, and is now also expanding its operations toward the Beninese border,” the project said in a recent report.

Nigeria’s insecurity is deep-rooted in social issues

The security woes are more of a governance problem than a military one.

Motives for attacks differ but the gangs are often driven by the near absence of a state and security presence in conflict hot spots, making recruitment easy. Those hot spots, data show, have some of the country’s highest levels of poverty, hunger and lack of jobs.

Nigeria’s Minister of Defense Christopher Musa once said in his past capacity as the defense chief that military action is only 30% of what is needed to fix the country’s security crisis, while the remaining 70% depends on good governance.

“The absence of the state in remote communities is making it easy for non-state actors to come in and present themselves to the people as the best alternative government,” said Samuel.

US strikes seen as crucial support for Nigeria’s military

Thursday’s U.S. strikes were seen as crucial help for Nigeria’s security forces, which are often overstretched and outgunned as they fight multiple security crises across different regions.

In states like Sokoto, the military often carries out airstrikes targeting militant hideouts and Nigeria has embarked on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-abductions-emergency-tinubu-2c03f38192703fa7c78bcf2168db9eaf">mass recruitment of security forces</a>.

But analysts say military operations targeting the gangs are not usually sustained and the militants easily move on motorcycles to new locations through vast forests that connect several states in the north.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-islamic-state-nigeria-43478823f0562cafc527fad1448a0542">The United States airstrikes</a>&nbsp;that targeted Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria’s on Thursday marked a major escalation in an offensive that Nigeria’s overstretched military has struggled with for years.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and… <a href="https://t.co/ct7rUW128t">pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t</a>&mdash; Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the “powerful and deadly” strikes in Sokoto state were carried out against Islamic State militants “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-christian-muslim-killings-kidnapping-trump-af57834a1ce47488397bf07931b5cf51">Residents and security analysts have said</a>&nbsp;Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north.Nigeria, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-killings-bandits-insecurity-tinubu-13ca838d972feb44e2c2006524a3e259">battling multiple armed groups</a>, said the U.S. strikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between the two countries.The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes’ impact. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a post on X about the airstrikes, said: “More to come...”<h2>The militants targeted by US airstrikes</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-abduction-gunmen-kaduna-2b5537957ce605ca06576d99a0756901">The armed groups</a>&nbsp;in Africa’s most populous country include at least two affiliated with the Islamic State — an offshoot of the Boko Haram extremist group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, and the lesser-known Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) known locally as Lakurawa and prominent in the northwest.Although officials did not say exactly which group was targeted, security analysts said the target, if indeed against Islamic State militants, was likely members of Lakurawa, which became more lethal in border states like Sokoto and Kebbi in the last year, often targeting remote communities and security forces.The Nigerian military has said in the past that the group has roots in neighboring Niger and that it became more active in Nigeria’s border communities following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/niger-coups-bazoum-sahel-military-democracy-d1614b14baff6571b7d3766c2cbd8ba1">2023 military coup</a>. That coup resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mali-niger-burkina-faso-ecowas-west-africa-5a5dc2180e39223c91b1820067db4011">fractured relations</a>&nbsp;between Nigeria and Niger, and affected their multinational military operations along the porous border.<h2>Militants invited to provide security now torment villages</h2>Multiple analysts have said Lakurawa has been active in northwest Nigeria since around 2017 when it was invited by traditional authorities in Sokoto to protect their communities from bandit groups.The militants, however, “overstayed their welcome, clashing with some of the community leaders ... and enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia law that alienated much of the rural population,” according to James Barnett, an Africa researcher with the Washington-based Hudson Institute.“Communities now openly say that Lakurawa are more oppressive and dangerous than the bandits they claim to protect them from,” according to Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher with Good Governance Africa.Lakurawa controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi states, and has become known for killings, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery, Samuel said.But some of the attacks blamed on Lakurawa are by the Islamic State Sahel Province, which has expanded from Niger’s Dosso region to northwestern Nigeria, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project.“ISSP has maintained a low profile, operating covertly to infiltrate and entrench itself along the Niger-Nigeria border, and is now also expanding its operations toward the Beninese border,” the project said in a recent report.<h2>Nigeria’s insecurity is deep-rooted in social issues</h2>The security woes are more of a governance problem than a military one.Motives for attacks differ but the gangs are often driven by the near absence of a state and security presence in conflict hot spots, making recruitment easy. Those hot spots, data show, have some of the country’s highest levels of poverty, hunger and lack of jobs.Nigeria’s Minister of Defense Christopher Musa once said in his past capacity as the defense chief that military action is only 30% of what is needed to fix the country’s security crisis, while the remaining 70% depends on good governance.“The absence of the state in remote communities is making it easy for non-state actors to come in and present themselves to the people as the best alternative government,” said Samuel.<h2>US strikes seen as crucial support for Nigeria’s military</h2>Thursday’s U.S. strikes were seen as crucial help for Nigeria’s security forces, which are often overstretched and outgunned as they fight multiple security crises across different regions.In states like Sokoto, the military often carries out airstrikes targeting militant hideouts and Nigeria has embarked on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-abductions-emergency-tinubu-2c03f38192703fa7c78bcf2168db9eaf">mass recruitment of security forces</a>.But analysts say military operations targeting the gangs are not usually sustained and the militants easily move on motorcycles to new locations through vast forests that connect several states in the north.

Who are the militants targeted by US airstrikes in Nigeria

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners unanimously approved six items for two development projects during their meeting on Tuesday.

Jesse Rohr, public works director, presented recommended bid awards related to the new Tallgrass 4th Addition housing development in east Hays, a joint venture between Heart of America Development Corporation and the city.&nbsp;

The low bidder for street, storm sewer, water and sanitary sewer improvements was Hess Services, Hays, at slightly more than $4 million.&nbsp;

Shaun Musil, commissioner, expressed concern about some poor work on a&nbsp;previous city project by Hess Services, even though he said he knew it was an "outstanding company."&nbsp;

Rohr and Toby Dougherty, city manager, said they had discussions with Hess about the work done when it was just starting in the construction business and now felt comfortable about improved quality moving forward.

Rohr also recommended a construction inspection agreement with Sloan Engineering and Inspection, Hays, for $196,000. 

Platting and zoning of the proposed 101-lot development were completed early this year. The project is planned to be built in one phase, beginning in March.

A rezoning request from agriculture to commercial general district, and annexation of the city-owned 90 acres on both sides of Interstate 70, Exit 161, were presented by Rohr. The south side acreage is the site of the city's tree farm, which Rohr said would be relocated as development gets underway.

A $3.9 million contract for the installation of water, sewer and street infrastructure has already been approved with Smoky Hill, Salina.&nbsp;

Funding for construction services will be paid from&nbsp;general&nbsp;obligation bonds.&nbsp;A&nbsp;portion&nbsp;of the project will be funded with a $2 million state grant&nbsp;acquired&nbsp;by Grow Hays.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;initial&nbsp;new infrastructure would serve about 11 lots, ranging in size from 2 to&nbsp;8 acres, for commercial and residential development.

In one vote, commissioners also approved an update to the city's boundary map to include the annexation of two properties, Berexco and Covenant Estates 1st Addition, reappointed Hali Bielser, Hays resident, to the CARE Council, and approved a lease and option-to-purchase to Agiliti for its upcoming expansion.

Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, gave a short review of the economic incentives available to the city and their local impact.

"These are tools that are used to produce a desired outcome, typically an economic outcome," Williams said. 

"Almost all the incentives that are offered are conditional, meaning that the recipient has to achieve some outcome or they're not going to get them."&nbsp;

Williams used tax increment financing (TIF) as an example. 

"It allows them to recapture some of the property tax that they, in fact, create. If they don't create it, they don't get the benefit," he said.

Most economic development incentives capture only the dollars that they have created.

"Before that TIF or RHID (reinvestment housing incentive district) goes into place, that piece of property is generating basically zero in terms of property tax revenue," he said.

"If the developer goes out there and creates the asset that is then taxed at a higher rate with the incentives that are put in place, they are able to capture a portion of that to try and recover some of their investment in the infrastructure and things they put into a project," Williams said.

Williams said he would call the tools investments, rather than incentives.&nbsp;

"When a dollar is spent, it ripples through the community and generates other dollars. ... Typically, in new construction, it's about 60%. ...

This was the final meeting for outgoing commissioner Reese Barrick, who reviewed the city's major accomplishments during his time in office. He also thanked the department heads, administrators and other commissioners for their work.&nbsp;

David Vilaysing was <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f1932b8-516a-420d-841e-df378c20a8f2">elected to a two-year term in November</a> and will be sworn in as a new commissioner in January.

A 15-minute executive session was called at the end of the regular meeting to discuss matters pertaining to the acquisition of real property.

No action was taken following the executive session.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766590471105.jpeg" alt="Hays City Commission at their final regular meeting of 2025. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays City Commission at their final regular meeting of 2025. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostHays city commissioners unanimously approved six items for two development projects during their meeting on Tuesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766587192886.png" alt="Tallgrass 4th Addition. Image courtesy City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Tallgrass 4th Addition. Image courtesy City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>Tallgrass 4th AdditionJesse Rohr, public works director, presented recommended bid awards related to the new Tallgrass 4th Addition housing development in east Hays, a joint venture between Heart of America Development Corporation and the city.&nbsp;The low bidder for street, storm sewer, water and sanitary sewer improvements was Hess Services, Hays, at slightly more than $4 million.&nbsp;Shaun Musil, commissioner, expressed concern about some poor work on a&nbsp;previous city project by Hess Services, even though he said he knew it was an "outstanding company."&nbsp;Rohr and Toby Dougherty, city manager, said they had discussions with Hess about the work done when it was just starting in the construction business and now felt comfortable about improved quality moving forward.Rohr also recommended a construction inspection agreement with Sloan Engineering and Inspection, Hays, for $196,000. Platting and zoning of the proposed 101-lot development were completed early this year. The project is planned to be built in one phase, beginning in March.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766587565554.png" alt="I-70, Exit 161. Image courtesy City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>I-70, Exit 161. Image courtesy City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>I-70, Exit 161&nbsp;A rezoning request from agriculture to commercial general district, and annexation of the city-owned 90 acres on both sides of Interstate 70, Exit 161, were presented by Rohr. The south side acreage is the site of the city's tree farm, which Rohr said would be relocated as development gets underway.A $3.9 million contract for the installation of water, sewer and street infrastructure has already been approved with Smoky Hill, Salina.&nbsp;Funding for construction services will be paid from&nbsp;general&nbsp;obligation bonds.&nbsp;A&nbsp;portion&nbsp;of the project will be funded with a $2 million state grant&nbsp;acquired&nbsp;by Grow Hays.&nbsp;The&nbsp;initial&nbsp;new infrastructure would serve about 11 lots, ranging in size from 2 to&nbsp;8 acres, for commercial and residential development.In one vote, commissioners also approved an update to the city's boundary map to include the annexation of two properties, Berexco and Covenant Estates 1st Addition, reappointed Hali Bielser, Hays resident, to the CARE Council, and approved a lease and option-to-purchase to Agiliti for its upcoming expansion.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766589595112.jpeg" alt="Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Economic incentives presentationDoug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, gave a short review of the economic incentives available to the city and their local impact."These are tools that are used to produce a desired outcome, typically an economic outcome," Williams said. "Almost all the incentives that are offered are conditional, meaning that the recipient has to achieve some outcome or they're not going to get them."&nbsp;Williams used tax increment financing (TIF) as an example. "It allows them to recapture some of the property tax that they, in fact, create. If they don't create it, they don't get the benefit," he said.Most economic development incentives capture only the dollars that they have created."Before that TIF or RHID (reinvestment housing incentive district) goes into place, that piece of property is generating basically zero in terms of property tax revenue," he said."If the developer goes out there and creates the asset that is then taxed at a higher rate with the incentives that are put in place, they are able to capture a portion of that to try and recover some of their investment in the infrastructure and things they put into a project," Williams said.Williams said he would call the tools investments, rather than incentives.&nbsp;"When a dollar is spent, it ripples through the community and generates other dollars. ... Typically, in new construction, it's about 60%. ...<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766590128198.jpeg" alt="Reese Barrick, outgoing Hays city commissioner. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Reese Barrick, outgoing Hays city commissioner. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>This was the final meeting for outgoing commissioner Reese Barrick, who reviewed the city's major accomplishments during his time in office. He also thanked the department heads, administrators and other commissioners for their work.&nbsp; David Vilaysing was <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f1932b8-516a-420d-841e-df378c20a8f2">elected to a two-year term in November</a> and will be sworn in as a new commissioner in January.A 15-minute executive session was called at the end of the regular meeting to discuss matters pertaining to the acquisition of real property.No action was taken following the executive session.

Hays City Commission approves next steps for housing, business developments

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’d launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after he spent weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.

The president’s post did not include information about how the strike was carried out and what effects it had and the White House did not immediately provide further details.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” the president posted on his social media site.

Last month, Trump said he’d ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution. The State Department then announced in recent weeks that it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-christian-muslim-killings-kidnapping-trump-af57834a1ce47488397bf07931b5cf51">mass killings and violence against Christians</a>&nbsp;in the West African country.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-nigeria-sanctions-trump-religious-freedom-83c1df230dbcdc30178baab083fffd94">U.S. recently designated Nigera</a>&nbsp;a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump wrote in his Christmas night post. He said that U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”

The president added: “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’d launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after he spent weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.The president’s post did not include information about how the strike was carried out and what effects it had and the White House did not immediately provide further details.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and… <a href="https://t.co/ct7rUW128t">pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t</a>&mdash; Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support &amp; cooperation. Merry Christmas! <a href="https://t.co/k5Q3Qd4ClE">https://t.co/k5Q3Qd4ClE</a>&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/2004332431542022289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” the president posted on his social media site.Last month, Trump said he’d ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution. The State Department then announced in recent weeks that it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-christian-muslim-killings-kidnapping-trump-af57834a1ce47488397bf07931b5cf51">mass killings and violence against Christians</a>&nbsp;in the West African country.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-nigeria-sanctions-trump-religious-freedom-83c1df230dbcdc30178baab083fffd94">U.S. recently designated Nigera</a>&nbsp;a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump wrote in his Christmas night post. He said that U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”The president added: “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”

US launches strike against Islamic State militants in Nigeria

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after suddenly discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents, further delaying compliance with last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here to see</a>&nbsp;the files and do a search

The Christmas Eve announcement came hours after a dozen U.S. senators called on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine its failure to meet the deadline. The group, 11 Democrats and a Republican, told Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume in a letter that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.

The Justice Department said in a social media post that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that could be related to the Epstein case — a stunning 11th hour development after department officials suggested months ago that they had undertaken a comprehensive review that accounted for the vast universe of Epstein-related materials.

In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” had been delivered to her after she ordered the Justice Department to “deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office” — a directive she said she made after learning from an unidentified source that the FBI in New York was “in possession of thousands of pages of documents.”

In July, the FBI and Justice Department indicated in an unsigned memo that they had undertaken an “exhaustive review” and had determined that no additional evidence should be released — an extraordinary about face from the Trump administration, which for months had pledged maximum transparency. The memo did not raise the possibility that additional evidence existed that officials were unaware of or had not reviewed.

Wednesday’s post did not say when the Justice Department was informed of the newly uncovered files.

In a letter last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Manhattan federal prosecutors already had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, though many were copies of material already turned over by the FBI.

The Justice Department said its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and remove victims names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">open its files</a>&nbsp;on Epstein and Maxwell.

“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

The announcement came amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-epstein-files-trump-nassar-justice-department-101ba03107c32ba88869bc37e1d01849">increasing scrutiny on the Justice Department’s staggered release</a>&nbsp;of Epstein-related records, including from Epstein victims and members of Congress.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, one of the chief authors of the law mandating the document release, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.” Another architect of the law, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he and Massie will “continue to keep the pressure on” and noted that the Justice Department was releasing more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.

“A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after DOJ’s announcement. “The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding -- and WHY?”

The White House on Wednesday defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein records.

“President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team — like Deputy Attorney General Blanche — who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

After releasing an initial wave of records on Friday, the Justice Department posted more batches to its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.

Records that have been released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context. Records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.

Other records made public in recent days include a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.” They contain other references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

The senators’ call Wednesday for an inspector general audit comes days after Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in leading the call for an inspector general audit. Others signing the letter were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota., Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”

Sisak reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766094706592.png" alt="Image from the Epstein files released by the Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Image from the Epstein files released by the Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after suddenly discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents, further delaying compliance with last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here to see</a>&nbsp;the files and do a search<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The DOJ has received these documents from SDNY and the FBI to review…&mdash; U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept/status/2003901580341334257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Christmas Eve announcement came hours after a dozen U.S. senators called on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine its failure to meet the deadline. The group, 11 Democrats and a Republican, told Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume in a letter that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.The Justice Department said in a social media post that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that could be related to the Epstein case — a stunning 11th hour development after department officials suggested months ago that they had undertaken a comprehensive review that accounted for the vast universe of Epstein-related materials.In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” had been delivered to her after she ordered the Justice Department to “deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office” — a directive she said she made after learning from an unidentified source that the FBI in New York was “in possession of thousands of pages of documents.”In July, the FBI and Justice Department indicated in an unsigned memo that they had undertaken an “exhaustive review” and had determined that no additional evidence should be released — an extraordinary about face from the Trump administration, which for months had pledged maximum transparency. The memo did not raise the possibility that additional evidence existed that officials were unaware of or had not reviewed.Wednesday’s post did not say when the Justice Department was informed of the newly uncovered files.In a letter last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Manhattan federal prosecutors already had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, though many were copies of material already turned over by the FBI.The Justice Department said its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and remove victims names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">open its files</a>&nbsp;on Epstein and Maxwell.“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”The announcement came amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-epstein-files-trump-nassar-justice-department-101ba03107c32ba88869bc37e1d01849">increasing scrutiny on the Justice Department’s staggered release</a>&nbsp;of Epstein-related records, including from Epstein victims and members of Congress.Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, one of the chief authors of the law mandating the document release, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.” Another architect of the law, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he and Massie will “continue to keep the pressure on” and noted that the Justice Department was releasing more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.“A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after DOJ’s announcement. “The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding -- and WHY?”The White House on Wednesday defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein records.“President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team — like Deputy Attorney General Blanche — who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.After releasing an initial wave of records on Friday, the Justice Department posted more batches to its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.Records that have been released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context. Records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.Other records made public in recent days include a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.” They contain other references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”The senators’ call Wednesday for an inspector general audit comes days after Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in leading the call for an inspector general audit. Others signing the letter were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota., Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”___Sisak reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Why the DOJ says it needs a 'few more weeks' to finish release of Epstein files 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-hanna">JOHN HANNA</a> Associated Press

The University of Oklahoma has fired an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-oklahoma-gender-bible-essay-demonic-0fd51985c123737cd372ba609b730541">a failing grade</a>&nbsp;on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”

The university said in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UofOklahoma/status/2003209457195741653" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;posted Monday on X that its investigation found the graduate teaching assistant had been “arbitrary” in giving 20-year-old junior Samantha Fulnecky zero points on the assignment. The university declined to comment beyond its statement, which said the instructor had been removed from teaching.

Through her attorney, the instructor, Mel Curth, denied Tuesday that she had “engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student’s work.” The attorney, Brittany Stewart, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that Curth is “considering all of her legal remedies.”

Conservative groups, commentators and others quickly made Fulnecky’s failing grade an online cause, highlighting her argument that she’d been punished for expressing conservative Christian views. Her case became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over academic freedom on college campuses as President Donald Trump pushes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives</a>, and restrict how campuses discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-compact-higher-education-trump-b883cf9c23eaed7ee1ba9819430d33d8">race, gender and sexuality.</a>

Fulnecky appealed her grade on the assignment, which was worth 3% of the final grade in the class, and the university said the assignment would not count. It also placed Curth on leave, and Oklahoma’s conservative Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, declared the situation “deeply concerning.

“The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty’s rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students’ right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer’s impermissible evaluative standards,” the university’s statement said. “We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-education-379c55d6a9487381d48d8450a639bd13">A law approved this year</a>&nbsp;by Oklahoma’s Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by Stitt prohibits state universities from using public funds to finance DEI programs or positions or mandating DEI training. However, the law says it does not apply to scholarly research or “the academic freedom of any individual faculty member.”

Home telephone listings for Fulnecky in the Springfield, Missouri, area had been disconnected, and her mother — an attorney, podcaster and radio host — did not immediately respond Tuesday to a Facebook message seeking comment about the university’s action.

Fulnecky’s failing grade came in an assignment for a psychology class on lifespan development. Curth directed students to write a 650-word response to an academic study that examined whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.

Fulnecky wrote that she was frustrated by the premise of the assignment because she does not believe that there are more than two genders based on her understanding of the Bible, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qxnVi_yaJ-Fb9u1-A1Vy2vQT3Aiw8Nix/preview" target="_blank">a copy of her essay</a>&nbsp;provided&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2025/11/25/ou-oklahoma-samantha-fulnecky-read-essay-gender-bible/87463858007/" target="_blank">to The Oklahoman</a>.

“Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth,” she wrote, adding that it would lead society “farther from God’s original plan for humans.”

In feedback obtained by the newspaper, Curth said the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”

“Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs,” Curth wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766531024175.png" alt="File photo courtesy University of Oklahoma" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy University of Oklahoma</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-hanna">JOHN HANNA</a> Associated PressThe University of Oklahoma has fired an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-oklahoma-gender-bible-essay-demonic-0fd51985c123737cd372ba609b730541">a failing grade</a>&nbsp;on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from the University of Oklahoma: <a href="https://t.co/FzcjByOjpp">pic.twitter.com/FzcjByOjpp</a>&mdash; University of Oklahoma (@UofOklahoma) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofOklahoma/status/2003209457195741653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The university said in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UofOklahoma/status/2003209457195741653" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;posted Monday on X that its investigation found the graduate teaching assistant had been “arbitrary” in giving 20-year-old junior Samantha Fulnecky zero points on the assignment. The university declined to comment beyond its statement, which said the instructor had been removed from teaching.Through her attorney, the instructor, Mel Curth, denied Tuesday that she had “engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student’s work.” The attorney, Brittany Stewart, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that Curth is “considering all of her legal remedies.”Conservative groups, commentators and others quickly made Fulnecky’s failing grade an online cause, highlighting her argument that she’d been punished for expressing conservative Christian views. Her case became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over academic freedom on college campuses as President Donald Trump pushes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives</a>, and restrict how campuses discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-compact-higher-education-trump-b883cf9c23eaed7ee1ba9819430d33d8">race, gender and sexuality.</a>Fulnecky appealed her grade on the assignment, which was worth 3% of the final grade in the class, and the university said the assignment would not count. It also placed Curth on leave, and Oklahoma’s conservative Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, declared the situation “deeply concerning.“The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty’s rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students’ right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer’s impermissible evaluative standards,” the university’s statement said. “We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-education-379c55d6a9487381d48d8450a639bd13">A law approved this year</a>&nbsp;by Oklahoma’s Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by Stitt prohibits state universities from using public funds to finance DEI programs or positions or mandating DEI training. However, the law says it does not apply to scholarly research or “the academic freedom of any individual faculty member.”Home telephone listings for Fulnecky in the Springfield, Missouri, area had been disconnected, and her mother — an attorney, podcaster and radio host — did not immediately respond Tuesday to a Facebook message seeking comment about the university’s action.Fulnecky’s failing grade came in an assignment for a psychology class on lifespan development. Curth directed students to write a 650-word response to an academic study that examined whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.Fulnecky wrote that she was frustrated by the premise of the assignment because she does not believe that there are more than two genders based on her understanding of the Bible, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qxnVi_yaJ-Fb9u1-A1Vy2vQT3Aiw8Nix/preview" target="_blank">a copy of her essay</a>&nbsp;provided&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2025/11/25/ou-oklahoma-samantha-fulnecky-read-essay-gender-bible/87463858007/" target="_blank">to The Oklahoman</a>.“Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth,” she wrote, adding that it would lead society “farther from God’s original plan for humans.”In feedback obtained by the newspaper, Curth said the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”“Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs,” Curth wrote.

OU instructor fired after giving failing grade to a Bible-based essay on gender

Ellis County is in a defense fog advisory until 10 a.m. today.

Fog is forecast to be a hazard again tomorrow, then it will be mostly sunny with a high of 63.&nbsp;

Other counties affected include Rush, Pawnee, Stafford, Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, Comanche and Barber.

The warm temperatures will continue on Friday, with a forecast high for Hays of 70, and on Saturday, with a high of 65.

A cold front is forecast to move in Saturday night with a high of 38 and partly sunny skies on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766589263238.png" alt="National Weather Service, Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>National Weather Service, Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostEllis County is in a defense fog advisory until 10 a.m. today.Fog is forecast to be a hazard again tomorrow, then it will be mostly sunny with a high of 63.&nbsp;Other counties affected include Rush, Pawnee, Stafford, Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, Comanche and Barber.The warm temperatures will continue on Friday, with a forecast high for Hays of 70, and on Saturday, with a high of 65.A cold front is forecast to move in Saturday night with a high of 38 and partly sunny skies on Sunday.

Fog set to burn off today, more Thursday morning

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage driven by John Franklin&nbsp;Harris, 68, St. George, was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The car struck a pedestrian identified as Thalonda Marie&nbsp;Lashley, 45, Junction City,&nbsp;who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley CountyThe Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage driven by John Franklin&nbsp;Harris, 68, St. George, was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The car struck a pedestrian identified as Thalonda Marie&nbsp;Lashley, 45, Junction City,&nbsp;who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.Lashley was transported to&nbsp;Via Christi-Manhattan where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Harris was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.---------------RILEY COUNTY —The Kansas HIghway Patrol is investigating a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.The Patrol reported a vehicle was northbound on Tuttle Creek Boulevard crossing the intersection of Bluemont Street. The vehicle struck a pedestrian who was wearing dark clothing and walking north in the driving lane of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.The Patrol released no additional details early Wednesday. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.