Arlen
Robert Walters (89) of Las Vegas, NV, died&nbsp; March 19, 2025, at his home.
Born October 28, 1935, in Hays, KS, to Cyril and Catherine Billinger Walters.
He was a proud member of the St. Joseph Military Academy Class of 1953

Graveside
services will be Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph's Cemetery
in Hays.&nbsp; A reception will follow at Frontier Park Buffalo Pen Shelter
until 3:00 PM

Services
in care of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock's Chapel 2509 Vine Hays,
KS 67601.

Arlen was educated in the Catholic schools of Hays,
including St. Joseph Military Academy for high school. He was a proud member of
the Class of 1953, maintaining connections with his male classmates through the
years and including his female classmates from Girls Catholic High School. He
was instrumental in organizing class gatherings for homecomings through his
70th reunion in 2023. His efforts in promoting the school, now Thomas More
Prep/Marian High School, resulted in his receiving the Points of Light award
from the school.

Arlen graduated from Fort Hays State College (now
University) with a business degree. He served two years in the United States
Army at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He played baseball, center field, for the Hays
Larks for many years and was recognized in 2021 as the oldest surviving Larks
player. He was also drafted by the Kansas City Athletics and played one summer
for their Houston farm club. His baseball hero was Ted Williams.&nbsp;

Through high school and college Arlen worked at the Hays
Daily News in various capacities, including news reporting, sports reporting,
and photography. His favorite assignment was photographing the bison herd at
the Hays City Park under the direction of newspaper publisher, Mrs. Leota Motz,
who encouraged him to get up close for the shot. This assignment made for a
good story for the rest of his life.

After his military service, Arlen began working as a
salesman for Carpenter Paper Company in the northwest quadrant of Kansas. He
married Muriel Louise Campbell, literally the girl next door, in 1964. They
welcomed their son, Craig, in 1965. The family moved to Lawrence, KS, where he
continued to work for Carpenter which eventually became Nationwide Paper and
from which he retired after 40 years with the company.&nbsp;

The family’s proximity to the University of Kansas in
Lawrence was a priority as they were avid Jayhawk fans with season tickets to
football and basketball games. Their loyalty continued through the years even
as Arlen and Muriel followed their family to Las Vegas in 2004. They were
thrilled to be able to watch their granddaughters blossom through childhood and
into successful adults. Both granddaughters got married in 2024.

In his retirement years Arlen and Muriel experienced
adventures in U.S. and world travel. Their lifetime travels included all 50
states and 47 foreign countries. In addition, Arlen undertook the updates of
the Billinger family genealogy, a monumental endeavor resulting in displaying
information on new generations. He also kept his cousins up to date on events
in the family through emails for which they were grateful.

He is survived by his son, Craig and his wife, Deneen, of
Las Vegas; his beloved granddaughters and their husbands, Megan and Brian
Schmeer of Sandy, UT, and Abby and Leo Roese, of Denver, CO; his sister,
Kathleen Ochs, and her husband, Darrel, of Gypsum, CO; niece, Allison, her
husband, Dan Kent, and their son, Wyatt (who loved his great uncle) of Eagle,
CO; his sister-in-law, Diana Walters of Munds Park, AZ; his sister-in-law,
Patricia Campbell Byram, and her three sons, Steve Brock, David Brock, and Dan Byram
and his wife Amy, of Springfield, MO. He was especially close to his godson,
Dan Byram and his son, Alex, also Arlen’s godson; one aunt, and numerous
cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Muriel, his parents,
Cyril (Slim) and Catherine (Katie) Walters, his brother David; all but one of
his many aunts and uncles; several cousins; and many friends.

He was cremated and his cremains will be buried with
Muriel’s in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Hays, KS. The family suggests donations to
TMP/Marian High School, 1701 Hall Street, Hays, KS 67601.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743781012879.jpeg" alt="Arlen Robert Walters" />
 <figcaption>Arlen Robert Walters</figcaption>
 </figure>Arlen
Robert Walters (89) of Las Vegas, NV, died&nbsp; March 19, 2025, at his home.
Born October 28, 1935, in Hays, KS, to Cyril and Catherine Billinger Walters.
He was a proud member of the St. Joseph Military Academy Class of 1953Graveside
services will be Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph's Cemetery
in Hays.&nbsp; A reception will follow at Frontier Park Buffalo Pen Shelter
until 3:00 PMServices
in care of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock's Chapel 2509 Vine Hays,
KS 67601.Arlen was educated in the Catholic schools of Hays,
including St. Joseph Military Academy for high school. He was a proud member of
the Class of 1953, maintaining connections with his male classmates through the
years and including his female classmates from Girls Catholic High School. He
was instrumental in organizing class gatherings for homecomings through his
70th reunion in 2023. His efforts in promoting the school, now Thomas More
Prep/Marian High School, resulted in his receiving the Points of Light award
from the school.Arlen graduated from Fort Hays State College (now
University) with a business degree. He served two years in the United States
Army at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He played baseball, center field, for the Hays
Larks for many years and was recognized in 2021 as the oldest surviving Larks
player. He was also drafted by the Kansas City Athletics and played one summer
for their Houston farm club. His baseball hero was Ted Williams.&nbsp;Through high school and college Arlen worked at the Hays
Daily News in various capacities, including news reporting, sports reporting,
and photography. His favorite assignment was photographing the bison herd at
the Hays City Park under the direction of newspaper publisher, Mrs. Leota Motz,
who encouraged him to get up close for the shot. This assignment made for a
good story for the rest of his life.After his military service, Arlen began working as a
salesman for Carpenter Paper Company in the northwest quadrant of Kansas. He
married Muriel Louise Campbell, literally the girl next door, in 1964. They
welcomed their son, Craig, in 1965. The family moved to Lawrence, KS, where he
continued to work for Carpenter which eventually became Nationwide Paper and
from which he retired after 40 years with the company.&nbsp;The family’s proximity to the University of Kansas in
Lawrence was a priority as they were avid Jayhawk fans with season tickets to
football and basketball games. Their loyalty continued through the years even
as Arlen and Muriel followed their family to Las Vegas in 2004. They were
thrilled to be able to watch their granddaughters blossom through childhood and
into successful adults. Both granddaughters got married in 2024.In his retirement years Arlen and Muriel experienced
adventures in U.S. and world travel. Their lifetime travels included all 50
states and 47 foreign countries. In addition, Arlen undertook the updates of
the Billinger family genealogy, a monumental endeavor resulting in displaying
information on new generations. He also kept his cousins up to date on events
in the family through emails for which they were grateful.He is survived by his son, Craig and his wife, Deneen, of
Las Vegas; his beloved granddaughters and their husbands, Megan and Brian
Schmeer of Sandy, UT, and Abby and Leo Roese, of Denver, CO; his sister,
Kathleen Ochs, and her husband, Darrel, of Gypsum, CO; niece, Allison, her
husband, Dan Kent, and their son, Wyatt (who loved his great uncle) of Eagle,
CO; his sister-in-law, Diana Walters of Munds Park, AZ; his sister-in-law,
Patricia Campbell Byram, and her three sons, Steve Brock, David Brock, and Dan Byram
and his wife Amy, of Springfield, MO. He was especially close to his godson,
Dan Byram and his son, Alex, also Arlen’s godson; one aunt, and numerous
cousins.He was preceded in death by his wife, Muriel, his parents,
Cyril (Slim) and Catherine (Katie) Walters, his brother David; all but one of
his many aunts and uncles; several cousins; and many friends.He was cremated and his cremains will be buried with
Muriel’s in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Hays, KS. The family suggests donations to
TMP/Marian High School, 1701 Hall Street, Hays, KS 67601.

Arlen Robert Walters

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift's</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn't just releasing her 12th album in October — she also appeared Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time to discuss it at length.

Part of the rollout for Tuesday's announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center. Her episode, which ran just over two hours on audio streaming and an hour and 45 minutes via YouTube, was particularly revealing.

Here's everything you need to know about Swift's episode.

The big Taylor Swift takeaways arrived ... swiftly

1. Swift partially announced her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-new-album-life-of-showgirl-c4262686b5b68ee210f7571b8716ab51">new album “The Life of a Showgirl”</a>&nbsp;on the podcast, originally shared Tuesday in a preview clip. Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record. “This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she said.

2. In the full episode, Swift revealed she worked on the album in Europe while she was on the “Eras Tour" — flying between dates to record, truly embodying the album's title, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Then she read the track list. The entire album was completed in Sweden with producers Max Martin and Shellback.

3. Why orange? The color embodies “what was going on in my inner life during this tour,” she said, before referring to Martin as her “mentor.” “These guys, they're just geniuses,” she said of Martin and Shellback.

4. “Bangers,” is how she describes the album. She also said, “There aren't other ones coming,” referring to a surprising double album like in the case of 2024's “The Tortured Poets Department.” The release is 12 tracks — that's it. And it arrives Oct. 3. “I care about this record more than I can even overstate,” she said. “It's a lot more upbeat,” Travis Kelce said, describing it as a “180 from ‘Tortured Poets.’” Swift agreed, adding, "Life is more upbeat.”

5. The album's theme? “Everything that was going on behind the curtain," she said.

6. The album's goal? Infectious melodies and vivid lyrics, she explained.

7. The album's cover? Themed after “the end of my day,” she said. “My day ends with me in a bathtub."

8. She also shared personal information on “New Heights," arguably in a way she hasn't in years. For example: Her mom “got a new knee,” she said. And her dad had quintuple bypass surgery this summer. He had “five blockages in his heart” discovered through a stress test. “This was the summer of my parental upgrades,” she said.

9. She spent considerable time in Florida with Travis Kelce. She also said “our jobs are very similar,” it is “to entertain people for three hours in NFL stadiums.”

10. Jason Kelce asked his brother and Swift how they handle online chatter about their relationship. “We don’t, really. I don’t see a lot of things,” she said. “My name can be in the actual headline, and it’s none of my business.”

11. She shared her favorite segments from “New Heights,” her self-described “favorite podcast.” That is “new news.” She credited the podcast as getting her “a boyfriend," and discussed how the pair started dating via friendship bracelet exchange. “If this guy isn't crazy," she joked, he's the kind of guy she's “been writing songs about.”

12. Swift also discussed the “Eras Tour,” which Travis Kelce described as a catalyst for his interest in Swift. She mentioned exiting through an orange door at the last date of the tour, a “subliminal hint that I may be leaving the ‘Eras Tour’ era,” she said. It was an Easter egg for “The Life of a Showgirl.”

13. Swift is known for teasing her fans with Easter eggs. Her favorite use? Getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-honorary-doctorate-NYU-fd824b0123766d2a2738afeffc863b00">an honorary degree from NYU</a>&nbsp;in 2022 and littering her speech with references to her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-review-45cf7eca3326d784829b405deb48310f">then yet-to-be-announced “Midnights” album.</a>&nbsp;“Fans were like, ‘the whole speech was an easter egg!’” she said.

14. Swift listed her hobbies, which still include baking. Her current obsession? Making sourdough bread, specifically blueberry lemon, cinnamon swirl and Funfetti variations. She offered a few bread-related puns referencing her discography: “Are you bread-y for it?” “It’s a loaf story, baby just say yeast,” and “Loafing him was bread,” among them.

15. Swift discussed regaining control over her entire body of work. In May, it was announced that the popstar purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.

16. Swift said she loves all the rerecorded albums, but “<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">Red (Taylor's Version)</a>” is particularly special — for the fan-favorite “<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-f77fd05cd59ed180af3461c26c5b7e6d">All Too Well</a>” vault track, which spans ten minutes.

How to watch — or listen to — Taylor Swift on the ‘New Heights’ podcast

Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast premiered at 7 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday night. It is available to stream on YouTube.

Fans who prefer to listen to the show instead can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show.

The audio recording of the podcast is about 20 minutes longer in duration than YouTube and includes a rapid-fire question section, where the Kelce brothers and Swift discuss cats, pop tarts, Bad Bunny in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/happy-gilmore-2-adam-sandler-interview-5bf420950989b85b4b728a5e4dc9a07e">“Happy Gilmore 2,”</a>&nbsp;hiding in a cleaning cart at the “Eras Tour" and more.

Little was known about Swift's episode ahead of its airing.

On Tuesday and Wednesday morning, the podcast shared clips teasing the forthcoming episode.

“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast," Swift joked in one cut. “I think we all know that if there's one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it's more of me.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid was supportive, though, saying Wednesday that he was happy for the pair.

“Both of them like each other, and what a plus that is. They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he said. “The older you get, you want these guys to have somebody they can settle down with and that whole deal. And so I think it’s a neat deal for them – both of them.”

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn’t just releasing new music — she’s appearing Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time.

Part of the rollout for Tuesday’s announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center.

The show teased “a special episode with a VERY special guest” on social media Monday, sharing an orange background and a mysterious silhouette that many believed to be Swift. It turned out to be true, the show’s social media accounts confirmed later, at the same time Swift announced her 12th studio album.

Here’s everything you need to know about Swift’s episode.

Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast will premiere at 7 p.m. Eastern. It will be available to stream in full on YouTube.

Fans who would prefer to listen to the show, instead, can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show, among them.

Episodes can run up to two hours. It is unclear how long Swift’s episode will be or how long she will be present.

What we know about Taylor Swift’s episode

On Wednesday morning, the podcast shared a nearly two-minute video clip in which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-kelce">Jason Kelce</a>&nbsp;gave Swift an extended, enthusiastic introduction.

“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast. I think we all know that if there’s one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it’s more of me,” Swift joked.

In another clip shared Tuesday, Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record with a blurred cover.

“This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she shared.

Soon afterward, the “New Heights” podcast shared another clip featuring Swift to tease Wednesday’s episode. In it, Swift complimented the color of Travis Kelce’s sweatshirt, who responded, “It’s the color of your eyes, sweetie. It’s why we match so well.”

Swift retorted, “We’re about to do a (expletive) podcast.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755128235018.png" alt="Photo courtesy Union Station in Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Union Station in Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift's</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn't just releasing her 12th album in October — she also appeared Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time to discuss it at length.Part of the rollout for Tuesday's announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center. Her episode, which ran just over two hours on audio streaming and an hour and 45 minutes via YouTube, was particularly revealing.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Get a first look at the cover of Taylor’s new album The Life of a Showgirl Available for pre-order now at <a href="https://t.co/aYNn7lTXv8">https://t.co/aYNn7lTXv8</a> and releasing everywhere 10/3 NEW EPISODE OUT NOW … And, baby, that’s show business for you ❤️‍🔥 <a href="https://t.co/BULHWUkDC4">pic.twitter.com/BULHWUkDC4</a>&mdash; New Heights (@newheightshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/newheightshow/status/1955766325806272598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">And now for The Life of a Showgirl back cover and tracklist reveal ………… <a href="https://t.co/qYYZe62OfK">pic.twitter.com/qYYZe62OfK</a>&mdash; New Heights (@newheightshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/newheightshow/status/1955769598407795133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">And, baby, that’s show business for you. New album The Life of a Showgirl. Out October 3 ❤️‍🔥<a href="https://t.co/rIaG2Ezo7Z">https://t.co/rIaG2Ezo7Z</a> Album Producers: Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift 📸: Mert Alas &amp; Marcus Piggott <a href="https://t.co/QRzLbLpnUS">pic.twitter.com/QRzLbLpnUS</a>&mdash; Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1955766695483543743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">We&#39;re celebrating with our KC Swifties, and now through Sunday, we have a brand new TS12 photo op from our friends at AlphaLitKC and Events By Erika. The photo op is located in our Grand Hall and is free to visit from 6:30am to 11:30pm daily through Sunday. PLUS this Saturday,… <a href="https://t.co/pX49f61xWE">pic.twitter.com/pX49f61xWE</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1955469733433610298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here's everything you need to know about Swift's episode.<h2>The big Taylor Swift takeaways arrived ... swiftly</h2>1. Swift partially announced her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-new-album-life-of-showgirl-c4262686b5b68ee210f7571b8716ab51">new album “The Life of a Showgirl”</a>&nbsp;on the podcast, originally shared Tuesday in a preview clip. Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record. “This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she said.2. In the full episode, Swift revealed she worked on the album in Europe while she was on the “Eras Tour" — flying between dates to record, truly embodying the album's title, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Then she read the track list. The entire album was completed in Sweden with producers Max Martin and Shellback.3. Why orange? The color embodies “what was going on in my inner life during this tour,” she said, before referring to Martin as her “mentor.” “These guys, they're just geniuses,” she said of Martin and Shellback.4. “Bangers,” is how she describes the album. She also said, “There aren't other ones coming,” referring to a surprising double album like in the case of 2024's “The Tortured Poets Department.” The release is 12 tracks — that's it. And it arrives Oct. 3. “I care about this record more than I can even overstate,” she said. “It's a lot more upbeat,” Travis Kelce said, describing it as a “180 from ‘Tortured Poets.’” Swift agreed, adding, "Life is more upbeat.”5. The album's theme? “Everything that was going on behind the curtain," she said.6. The album's goal? Infectious melodies and vivid lyrics, she explained.7. The album's cover? Themed after “the end of my day,” she said. “My day ends with me in a bathtub."8. She also shared personal information on “New Heights," arguably in a way she hasn't in years. For example: Her mom “got a new knee,” she said. And her dad had quintuple bypass surgery this summer. He had “five blockages in his heart” discovered through a stress test. “This was the summer of my parental upgrades,” she said.9. She spent considerable time in Florida with Travis Kelce. She also said “our jobs are very similar,” it is “to entertain people for three hours in NFL stadiums.”10. Jason Kelce asked his brother and Swift how they handle online chatter about their relationship. “We don’t, really. I don’t see a lot of things,” she said. “My name can be in the actual headline, and it’s none of my business.”11. She shared her favorite segments from “New Heights,” her self-described “favorite podcast.” That is “new news.” She credited the podcast as getting her “a boyfriend," and discussed how the pair started dating via friendship bracelet exchange. “If this guy isn't crazy," she joked, he's the kind of guy she's “been writing songs about.”12. Swift also discussed the “Eras Tour,” which Travis Kelce described as a catalyst for his interest in Swift. She mentioned exiting through an orange door at the last date of the tour, a “subliminal hint that I may be leaving the ‘Eras Tour’ era,” she said. It was an Easter egg for “The Life of a Showgirl.”13. Swift is known for teasing her fans with Easter eggs. Her favorite use? Getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-honorary-doctorate-NYU-fd824b0123766d2a2738afeffc863b00">an honorary degree from NYU</a>&nbsp;in 2022 and littering her speech with references to her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-review-45cf7eca3326d784829b405deb48310f">then yet-to-be-announced “Midnights” album.</a>&nbsp;“Fans were like, ‘the whole speech was an easter egg!’” she said.14. Swift listed her hobbies, which still include baking. Her current obsession? Making sourdough bread, specifically blueberry lemon, cinnamon swirl and Funfetti variations. She offered a few bread-related puns referencing her discography: “Are you bread-y for it?” “It’s a loaf story, baby just say yeast,” and “Loafing him was bread,” among them.15. Swift discussed regaining control over her entire body of work. In May, it was announced that the popstar purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.16. Swift said she loves all the rerecorded albums, but “<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">Red (Taylor's Version)</a>” is particularly special — for the fan-favorite “<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-f77fd05cd59ed180af3461c26c5b7e6d">All Too Well</a>” vault track, which spans ten minutes.<h2>How to watch — or listen to — Taylor Swift on the ‘New Heights’ podcast</h2>Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast premiered at 7 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday night. It is available to stream on YouTube.Fans who prefer to listen to the show instead can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show.The audio recording of the podcast is about 20 minutes longer in duration than YouTube and includes a rapid-fire question section, where the Kelce brothers and Swift discuss cats, pop tarts, Bad Bunny in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/happy-gilmore-2-adam-sandler-interview-5bf420950989b85b4b728a5e4dc9a07e">“Happy Gilmore 2,”</a>&nbsp;hiding in a cleaning cart at the “Eras Tour" and more.<h2>The road to Taylor Swift's episode</h2>Little was known about Swift's episode ahead of its airing.On Tuesday and Wednesday morning, the podcast shared clips teasing the forthcoming episode.“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast," Swift joked in one cut. “I think we all know that if there's one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it's more of me.”Chiefs coach Andy Reid was supportive, though, saying Wednesday that he was happy for the pair.“Both of them like each other, and what a plus that is. They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he said. “The older you get, you want these guys to have somebody they can settle down with and that whole deal. And so I think it’s a neat deal for them – both of them.”-------------NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn’t just releasing new music — she’s appearing Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time.Part of the rollout for Tuesday’s announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center.The show teased “a special episode with a VERY special guest” on social media Monday, sharing an orange background and a mysterious silhouette that many believed to be Swift. It turned out to be true, the show’s social media accounts confirmed later, at the same time Swift announced her 12th studio album.Here’s everything you need to know about Swift’s episode.<h2>How to watch — or listen to — Taylor Swift on the ‘New Heights’ podcast</h2>Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast will premiere at 7 p.m. Eastern. It will be available to stream in full on YouTube.Fans who would prefer to listen to the show, instead, can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show, among them.Episodes can run up to two hours. It is unclear how long Swift’s episode will be or how long she will be present.<h2>What we know about Taylor Swift’s episode</h2>Not a whole lot.On Wednesday morning, the podcast shared a nearly two-minute video clip in which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-kelce">Jason Kelce</a>&nbsp;gave Swift an extended, enthusiastic introduction.“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast. I think we all know that if there’s one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it’s more of me,” Swift joked.Chiefs coach Andy Reid was supportive, though, saying Wednesday that he was happy for the pair.“Both of them like each other, and what a plus that is. They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he said. “The older you get, you want these guys to have somebody they can settle down with and that whole deal. And so I think it’s a neat deal for them – both of them.”In another clip shared Tuesday, Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record with a blurred cover.“This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she shared.Soon afterward, the “New Heights” podcast shared another clip featuring Swift to tease Wednesday’s episode. In it, Swift complimented the color of Travis Kelce’s sweatshirt, who responded, “It’s the color of your eyes, sweetie. It’s why we match so well.”Swift retorted, “We’re about to do a (expletive) podcast.”

Every major update from Taylor Swift's appearance on the Kelces' 'New Heights' podcast

This year’s 5th annual Hays Public Library Foundation Fundraiser will feature Kansas basketball great Jackie Stiles as guest speaker. The Wine &amp; Cheese event will be on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hays Public Library.

The fundraiser will begin with a wine and cheese social hour, followed by an impactful presentation from Stiles. From her hometown of Claflin, to a professional career in the WNBA, Stiles inspired millions as she rewrote the women’s basketball record books. Stiles held the NCAA women’s scoring record for 16 years and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Stiles continues to reach people of all ages through personal training, basketball camps, and public speaking.

The Hays Public Library Foundation was established in 2001 to serve as a source for funding emergent and unexpected needs and events associated with the library. Most recently the Foundation’s fundraising efforts covered the cost to remodel the Kansas Room, which was completed this spring.

Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased at the library or online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/shop/wine-and-cheese-event-ticket/">hayslibrary.org/event</a> beginning August 11. There are a limited number of tickets. Businesses interested in sponsoring the event or providing items for the silent auction or raffle are encouraged to contact Callie Kolacny at ckolacny@hayslibrary.org.

You can find out more about this and other library programs online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a> or by calling 785-625-9014.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754574764091.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Public LibraryThis year’s 5th annual Hays Public Library Foundation Fundraiser will feature Kansas basketball great Jackie Stiles as guest speaker. The Wine &amp; Cheese event will be on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hays Public Library.The fundraiser will begin with a wine and cheese social hour, followed by an impactful presentation from Stiles. From her hometown of Claflin, to a professional career in the WNBA, Stiles inspired millions as she rewrote the women’s basketball record books. Stiles held the NCAA women’s scoring record for 16 years and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Stiles continues to reach people of all ages through personal training, basketball camps, and public speaking.The Hays Public Library Foundation was established in 2001 to serve as a source for funding emergent and unexpected needs and events associated with the library. Most recently the Foundation’s fundraising efforts covered the cost to remodel the Kansas Room, which was completed this spring.Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased at the library or online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/shop/wine-and-cheese-event-ticket/">hayslibrary.org/event</a> beginning August 11. There are a limited number of tickets. Businesses interested in sponsoring the event or providing items for the silent auction or raffle are encouraged to contact Callie Kolacny at ckolacny@hayslibrary.org.You can find out more about this and other library programs online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a> or by calling 785-625-9014.

Kansas basketball great to speak at Hays Public Library Foundation fundraiser

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in the murder of a woman whose body was found in a Wichita park has admitted to killing 30-year-old Mariana Christian.

On Monday, 31-year-old Kyle Bearden entered a plea of guilty during an evidentiary hearing before Judge Jeffrey Goering, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The plea agreement calls for the parties to jointly recommend a prison sentence of life with parole eligibility after 25 years, to be followed by an additional 15 years of imprisonment if parole is granted.

Around 10:30 a.m. on July 21, a friend of Mariana Christian filed a missing person report. The friend said Ms. Christian had a history of mental health challenges and often relied on them for transportation to work. That morning, Christian was not at her home in the 1200 block of S. Paige when the friend arrived to pick her up.

At the residence, the friend encountered an unidentified man later identified as Kyle Bearden who said he didn’t know Ms. Christian’s whereabouts.

He claimed Mariana Christian had left the apartment on Friday, July 18, in a truck with an unknown man and woman and hadn’t returned. He also expressed concern for her safety. Although not listed on the lease, the man appeared to be living in the apartment.

Although Ms. Christian was last seen on Friday, July 18, she wasn’t reported missing until Monday, July 21. After multiple failed attempts to reach her and finding her absence unusual, the friend contacted police. Officers issued an attempt-to-locate alert, and investigators took over the case.

WPD investigators identified Bearden as a person of interest. They followed leads to locate Ms. Christian, discovering evidence of her death and where her remains were left in Cottonwood Park near Armor and Bayley in Wichita.

Wichita Police officers responded to the area and located human remains. Investigators believe Bearden shot Ms. Christian.

Crime scene investigators processed Ms. Christian’s apartment and found evidence of foul play.

On the morning of July 31, the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center positively identified the remains as those of Mariana Christian.

Kyle Bearden was arrested on July 30 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;His sentencing is scheduled for October 20.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753958410010.png" alt="Bearden photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Bearden photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in the murder of a woman whose body was found in a Wichita park has admitted to killing 30-year-old Mariana Christian.On Monday, 31-year-old Kyle Bearden entered a plea of guilty during an evidentiary hearing before Judge Jeffrey Goering, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.The plea agreement calls for the parties to jointly recommend a prison sentence of life with parole eligibility after 25 years, to be followed by an additional 15 years of imprisonment if parole is granted.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754062859608.png" alt="Police issued a missing person alert for Mariana Christian on July 27" />
 <figcaption>Police issued a missing person alert for Mariana Christian on July 27</figcaption>
 </figure>Around 10:30 a.m. on July 21, a friend of Mariana Christian filed a missing person report. The friend said Ms. Christian had a history of mental health challenges and often relied on them for transportation to work. That morning, Christian was not at her home in the 1200 block of S. Paige when the friend arrived to pick her up.At the residence, the friend encountered an unidentified man later identified as Kyle Bearden who said he didn’t know Ms. Christian’s whereabouts.He claimed Mariana Christian had left the apartment on Friday, July 18, in a truck with an unknown man and woman and hadn’t returned. He also expressed concern for her safety. Although not listed on the lease, the man appeared to be living in the apartment.Although Ms. Christian was last seen on Friday, July 18, she wasn’t reported missing until Monday, July 21. After multiple failed attempts to reach her and finding her absence unusual, the friend contacted police. Officers issued an attempt-to-locate alert, and investigators took over the case.WPD investigators identified Bearden as a person of interest. They followed leads to locate Ms. Christian, discovering evidence of her death and where her remains were left in Cottonwood Park near Armor and Bayley in Wichita.Wichita Police officers responded to the area and located human remains. Investigators believe Bearden shot Ms. Christian.Crime scene investigators processed Ms. Christian’s apartment and found evidence of foul play.On the morning of July 31, the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center positively identified the remains as those of Mariana Christian.Kyle Bearden was arrested on July 30 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;His sentencing is scheduled for October 20.

Man found at missing Kan. woman's home admits killing her

Franklin Dean Peirano, 91, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Monday morning, August 11, 2025, at the Russell Regional Hospital.

Frank was born February 17, 1934, in Wilson, Kansas.  He was one of nine children born to Augustine and Pearl (Gustus) Peirano.  He grew up in Wilson and graduated from Wilson High School in the class of 1952.

Frank was united in marriage to Melva Arlene Rassette on October 17, 1954.  This union was blessed with three children; Alan, Brenda and Curtis.  They made their home in Russell.  Melva and Frank were married over 67 years before she preceded him in death on March 24, 2022.

Frank worked for the City of Russell most of his adult life.  He started out helping build and later run the sewage plant, then took care of the Russell Golf Course, then was the director of the Water Department before becoming the Public Works Director.  He was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, where he served on the Church Cemetery Board, and was an usher and greeter for many years.  He enjoyed pheasant hunting, watching sport activities and later in life fishing.  He was instrumental in mounting of the VFW Flag holders at all the local cemeteries.

Frank is survived by his daughter, Brenda Coppola (Tom) of Bristol, Connecticut; sons, Alan Peirano (Pam) of Derby, Kansas and Curtis Peirano (Tracy Brown) of Las Vegas, Nevada; companion, Jean Parker of Russell, Kansas; six grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents; wife Melva; brothers, Gerald Peirano, Melvin Peirano, Jim Peirano and Vance Peirano; and sisters, Geneva, Mary, Eleanor and Sharon.

Celebration of Frank’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 15, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church.  A private burial of ashes will take place at a later time.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  A Memorial has been established with St. John Lutheran Church.  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/2025/8/1755031357286.jpeg" alt="Franklin Dean Peirano" />
 <figcaption>Franklin Dean Peirano</figcaption>
 </figure>Franklin Dean Peirano, 91, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Monday morning, August 11, 2025, at the Russell Regional Hospital.Frank was born February 17, 1934, in Wilson, Kansas. He was one of nine children born to Augustine and Pearl (Gustus) Peirano. He grew up in Wilson and graduated from Wilson High School in the class of 1952.Frank was united in marriage to Melva Arlene Rassette on October 17, 1954. This union was blessed with three children; Alan, Brenda and Curtis. They made their home in Russell. Melva and Frank were married over 67 years before she preceded him in death on March 24, 2022.Frank worked for the City of Russell most of his adult life. He started out helping build and later run the sewage plant, then took care of the Russell Golf Course, then was the director of the Water Department before becoming the Public Works Director. He was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, where he served on the Church Cemetery Board, and was an usher and greeter for many years. He enjoyed pheasant hunting, watching sport activities and later in life fishing. He was instrumental in mounting of the VFW Flag holders at all the local cemeteries.Frank is survived by his daughter, Brenda Coppola (Tom) of Bristol, Connecticut; sons, Alan Peirano (Pam) of Derby, Kansas and Curtis Peirano (Tracy Brown) of Las Vegas, Nevada; companion, Jean Parker of Russell, Kansas; six grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.Frank was preceded in death by his parents; wife Melva; brothers, Gerald Peirano, Melvin Peirano, Jim Peirano and Vance Peirano; and sisters, Geneva, Mary, Eleanor and Sharon.Celebration of Frank’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 15, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church. A private burial of ashes will take place at a later time. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established with St. John Lutheran Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Franklin Dean Peirano

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Former Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts was signed by the New England Patriots of the National Football League on Tuesday. Watts is the first FHSU player to be signed by an NFL team since 2019 when Doyin Jibowu signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. The Tigers still have one other active player in the NFL, Nathan Shepherd of the New Orleans Saints, who enters his eighth year in the NFL in 2025 after being drafted by the New York Jets in 2018.

Just a few weeks back, Watts signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and was a member of the team's practice squad for a week before being released. He was the second Tiger to be signed by a CFL team in 2025, joining wide receiver Jayden Horace. Watts now looks for a chance with the Patriots, who are one game into the preseason. Their next preseason contest is against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, August 16 in Minneapolis.

Watts played four years at Fort Hays State and wrapped his collegiate career with All-America honors as one of the top running backs in NCAA Division II in 2024. He was an All-America Second Team selection in 2024 by three separate organizations, including the D2CCA, Associated Press (AP), and Don Hansen Football Committee. He was also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection as an all-purpose back, finishing the year with 1,303 rushing yards and 449 receiving yards for 1,752 all-purpose yards. He scored 17 touchdowns for the season, including 13 rushing and four receiving.

By the end of the 2024 season, Watts ranked fourth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (160.8), fourth in total rushing yards, sixth in rushing yards per game (118.5), seventh in scoring (9.3 points per game), and eighth in total touchdowns. He became the first FHSU player in program history to rush for 200 or more yards in consecutive games, going for 201 against Missouri Southern on October 26 and then 250 against Emporia State on November 2.

Watts spent the first two years of his collegiate career as a defensive back with the Tigers, recording 14 tackles, before transitioning to the offensive side of the ball as a running back in 2023. In his two years as a running back, Watts produced a total of 1,979 rushing yards and 606 receiving yards with 23 total touchdowns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725067714453.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts breaks a 51-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of an NCAA football game vs. Angelo State on Friday, August 30, 2024. (Hays Post photo/Jeff Leiker)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts breaks a 51-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of an NCAA football game vs. Angelo State on Friday, August 30, 2024. (Hays Post photo/Jeff Leiker)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Former Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts was signed by the New England Patriots of the National Football League on Tuesday. Watts is the first FHSU player to be signed by an NFL team since 2019 when Doyin Jibowu signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. The Tigers still have one other active player in the NFL, Nathan Shepherd of the New Orleans Saints, who enters his eighth year in the NFL in 2025 after being drafted by the New York Jets in 2018.Just a few weeks back, Watts signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and was a member of the team's practice squad for a week before being released. He was the second Tiger to be signed by a CFL team in 2025, joining wide receiver Jayden Horace. Watts now looks for a chance with the Patriots, who are one game into the preseason. Their next preseason contest is against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, August 16 in Minneapolis.Watts played four years at Fort Hays State and wrapped his collegiate career with All-America honors as one of the top running backs in NCAA Division II in 2024. He was an All-America Second Team selection in 2024 by three separate organizations, including the D2CCA, Associated Press (AP), and Don Hansen Football Committee. He was also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection as an all-purpose back, finishing the year with 1,303 rushing yards and 449 receiving yards for 1,752 all-purpose yards. He scored 17 touchdowns for the season, including 13 rushing and four receiving.By the end of the 2024 season, Watts ranked fourth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (160.8), fourth in total rushing yards, sixth in rushing yards per game (118.5), seventh in scoring (9.3 points per game), and eighth in total touchdowns. He became the first FHSU player in program history to rush for 200 or more yards in consecutive games, going for 201 against Missouri Southern on October 26 and then 250 against Emporia State on November 2.Watts spent the first two years of his collegiate career as a defensive back with the Tigers, recording 14 tackles, before transitioning to the offensive side of the ball as a running back in 2023. In his two years as a running back, Watts produced a total of 1,979 rushing yards and 606 receiving yards with 23 total touchdowns.

🏈 Watts Signed by New England Patriots

NEW YORK (AP) — Look what you made her do —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;has announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

Swift announced the album on her website shortly after a countdown timer expired at 12:12 a.m. Tuesday. No release date was announced, but her site said vinyl editions of the album would ship before Oct. 13.

Fans have long theorized that Swift's 12th album would soon arrive. On Monday, Taylor Nation — an official branch of the pop superstar’s marketing team — posted a TikTok slide show of 12 images with the caption “Thinking about when she said 'See you next era…'” Swift is seen wearing orange in every image.

A special limited vinyl edition of the album will be released in “Portofino orange glitter," according to a pre-order page on her site. A special cassette edition is also available for pre-order.

Sensing a pattern, eagle-eyed fans noticed that 12 minutes earlier, the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kelce-chiefs-eagles-jason-travis-new-heights-92761f6968b12ee06603d66e7ce9c5b7">“New Heights” podcast</a>&nbsp;posted a tease for Wednesday. The show, hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift's boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;alongside his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, posted an orange image on social media with a mysterious silhouette, many believing to be Swift.

The podcast announced early early Tuesday that Swift would would appear on “New Heights” and a teaser video posted about her appearance showed her pulling the album from a briefcase. The actual album artwork, just as it is on her website, is blurred.

“The Life of a Showgirl” follows last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-review-b24d2275df5cf78ffa9069c61b9825ec">“The Tortured Poets Department,”</a>&nbsp;announced during the 2024 Grammys and released during her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">record-breaking tour</a>, which raked in over $2.2 billion across two years and five continents, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time.

The album is also her first release since Swift regained control over her entire body of work. In May, that pop star said she purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.

In recent years, Swift has been rerecording and releasing her first six albums in an attempt to regain control of her music. The project was instigated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scooter-braun-what-to-know-d5669e8b0fe641dd268c2e2cf88b0e24">Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun’s</a>&nbsp;purchase and sale of her early catalog and represents Swift’s effort to control her own songs and how they’re used. Previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">“Taylor’s Version” releases</a>&nbsp;have been more than conventional re-recordings, arriving with new “from the vault” music, Easter eggs and visuals that deepen understanding of her work.

So far, there have been four rerecorded albums, beginning with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-redoing-fearless-album-127eefa2a3ef3373e65507495f50145c">“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">“Red (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;in 2021. All four have been massive commercial and cultural successes, each one debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Swift’s last rerecording,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">“1989 (Taylor’s Version),”</a>&nbsp;arrived in October 2023, just four months after the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-a41998c4d1f08af9d89c6d314ed4c2bd">“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”</a>&nbsp;That was the same year Swift claimed the record for the woman with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-number-one-albums-speak-now-5dfb913b75ee6628d8804d5a02f9333f">most No. 1 albums in history.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733776996717.png" alt="Taylor Swift file photo (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift file photo (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Look what you made her do —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;has announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Posted at 12:12 on the 12th. ❤️‍🔥 Tay’s 12th album is called………… pre pre-order now at <a href="https://t.co/oGYV230otf">https://t.co/oGYV230otf</a> <a href="https://t.co/gUAIEEDZmm">pic.twitter.com/gUAIEEDZmm</a>&mdash; New Heights (@newheightshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/newheightshow/status/1955120055647343093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Swift announced the album on her website shortly after a countdown timer expired at 12:12 a.m. Tuesday. No release date was announced, but her site said vinyl editions of the album would ship before Oct. 13.Fans have long theorized that Swift's 12th album would soon arrive. On Monday, Taylor Nation — an official branch of the pop superstar’s marketing team — posted a TikTok slide show of 12 images with the caption “Thinking about when she said 'See you next era…'” Swift is seen wearing orange in every image.A special limited vinyl edition of the album will be released in “Portofino orange glitter," according to a pre-order page on her site. A special cassette edition is also available for pre-order.Sensing a pattern, eagle-eyed fans noticed that 12 minutes earlier, the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kelce-chiefs-eagles-jason-travis-new-heights-92761f6968b12ee06603d66e7ce9c5b7">“New Heights” podcast</a>&nbsp;posted a tease for Wednesday. The show, hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift's boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;alongside his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, posted an orange image on social media with a mysterious silhouette, many believing to be Swift.The podcast announced early early Tuesday that Swift would would appear on “New Heights” and a teaser video posted about her appearance showed her pulling the album from a briefcase. The actual album artwork, just as it is on her website, is blurred.“The Life of a Showgirl” follows last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-review-b24d2275df5cf78ffa9069c61b9825ec">“The Tortured Poets Department,”</a>&nbsp;announced during the 2024 Grammys and released during her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">record-breaking tour</a>, which raked in over $2.2 billion across two years and five continents, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time.The album is also her first release since Swift regained control over her entire body of work. In May, that pop star said she purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.In recent years, Swift has been rerecording and releasing her first six albums in an attempt to regain control of her music. The project was instigated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scooter-braun-what-to-know-d5669e8b0fe641dd268c2e2cf88b0e24">Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun’s</a>&nbsp;purchase and sale of her early catalog and represents Swift’s effort to control her own songs and how they’re used. Previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">“Taylor’s Version” releases</a>&nbsp;have been more than conventional re-recordings, arriving with new “from the vault” music, Easter eggs and visuals that deepen understanding of her work.So far, there have been four rerecorded albums, beginning with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-redoing-fearless-album-127eefa2a3ef3373e65507495f50145c">“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">“Red (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;in 2021. All four have been massive commercial and cultural successes, each one debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.Swift’s last rerecording,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">“1989 (Taylor’s Version),”</a>&nbsp;arrived in October 2023, just four months after the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-a41998c4d1f08af9d89c6d314ed4c2bd">“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”</a>&nbsp;That was the same year Swift claimed the record for the woman with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-number-one-albums-speak-now-5dfb913b75ee6628d8804d5a02f9333f">most No. 1 albums in history.</a>

Taylor Swift announces 12th studio album

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says he keeps a box of naloxone in his pickup truck.

It’s a lifesaving tool that can fit in the glovebox, and Kobach wants to make the product more accessible to Kansans.

Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is an overdose-reversal medication that can restore someone’s breathing within minutes and is known for its effectiveness in combating the opioid epidemic.

A state grant review board unanimously approved Friday a $177,000 grant for the Attorney General’s Office to transform unused news racks into naloxone distribution boxes.

“If you’re willing to keep it in your glovebox in your car, you should be doing that, because we need it distributed everywhere to potentially save lives,” Kobach said at a Friday meeting of the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board.

The idea was inspired by Emily’s Hope, an organization in South Dakota that says it was the first in the nation to repurpose news racks to increase access to naloxone and reduce the stigma around drug use. The program has been “extremely successful,” said&nbsp;Angela Kennecke, president and CEO of Emily’s Hope. Since April, the organization has established 25 open boxes in 11 cities, and it is working on 12 more. That has amounted to roughly 8,200 kits distributed.

“I thought we should be doing the same thing,” Kobach said.

He wants to place repurposed newspaper boxes on college and university campuses, of which there are about 40 in Kansas.

Kobach’s request focused on illegally made fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that caused more than half of overdose deaths in 2023 in Kansas, according to the most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/sudors-dashboard-fatal-overdose-data.html" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kansas recently surpassed 1,500 total deaths from fentanyl, he said. Of the 615 overdose deaths in Kansas in 2023, nearly 60% had at least one potential opportunity for intervention, the data said. In almost 45% of deaths, a bystander was present.

Pat George, the board chair, said the overdose crisis is happening now.

“Our primary mission, I’ve always felt, is saving lives and saving families, so this fits right in,” George said.

The addiction grant review board is charged with deciding where to allocate the millions of dollars that have poured into the state from settlements with pharmaceutical companies, which were sued for playing a part in the opioid epidemic. Kansas has received $90 million to date, said Shanna Zimmer, chief financial officer of the Sunflower Foundation, a nonprofit that administers the funds for the state. About $74 million remains in the bank.

The attorney general envisioned the grant paying for public service announcements, social media and video advertising, distribution boxes and 7,000 boxes of naloxone, each typically containing two doses. The majority of the grant, about $150,000, will be for advertising, Kobach said.

Education is a significant piece, he said, because of the pervasive nature of fentanyl. It appears in counterfeit pills, often mixed with other drugs.

A Douglas County-based social services organization, DCCCA, runs the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/program/kansas-naloxone-program/" target="_blank">Kansas Naloxone Program</a>. It has placed five vending machines across the state that distribute naloxone like bags of chips or candy bars. Three more are on the way, said Chrissy Mayer, chief community-based services officer for DCCCA.

Between October and June, the organization distributed about 40,000 kits of naloxone across Kansas, either through vending machines or by mail. That’s 80,000 doses.

“We know that overdoses continue to increase, and this is a really easy way to save someone’s life,” Mayer said.

The organization places boxes at locations in Hutchinson, Lawrence, Kansas City, Kansas, Salina and Wichita, based on data mapping overdose hotspots. New machines are expected soon in Garden City, Overland Park and Pittsburg.

People who want naloxone from one of DCCCA’s machines enter their zip code on a keypad, then the machine dispenses a kit, Mayer said. The machine in Wichita is typically restocked weekly. In Hutchinson, it’s restocked about every two weeks, and the rest are usually restocked once a month.

Mayer said “there are some interesting assumptions that people might make” regarding who uses the vending machines. Many who use the vending machines are from what might be classified as more affluent ZIP codes, she said.

“That just demonstrates opioid overdose affects everybody,” Mayer said.

She added: “Your ZIP code doesn’t really matter.”

DCCCA offers multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/program/self-paced-training/" target="_blank">training</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/request-a-training/" target="_blank">options</a>&nbsp;on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;for the proper administration of naloxone.

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office plans to have naloxone kits available at its table at the Kansas State Fair, which is scheduled for Sept. 5-14 in Hutchinson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754940903452.png" alt="DCCCA offers naloxone through a vending machine outside of a Lawrence Transit station near the University of Kansas campus. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>DCCCA offers naloxone through a vending machine outside of a Lawrence Transit station near the University of Kansas campus. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says he keeps a box of naloxone in his pickup truck.It’s a lifesaving tool that can fit in the glovebox, and Kobach wants to make the product more accessible to Kansans.Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is an overdose-reversal medication that can restore someone’s breathing within minutes and is known for its effectiveness in combating the opioid epidemic.A state grant review board unanimously approved Friday a $177,000 grant for the Attorney General’s Office to transform unused news racks into naloxone distribution boxes.“If you’re willing to keep it in your glovebox in your car, you should be doing that, because we need it distributed everywhere to potentially save lives,” Kobach said at a Friday meeting of the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board.The idea was inspired by Emily’s Hope, an organization in South Dakota that says it was the first in the nation to repurpose news racks to increase access to naloxone and reduce the stigma around drug use. The program has been “extremely successful,” said&nbsp;Angela Kennecke, president and CEO of Emily’s Hope. Since April, the organization has established 25 open boxes in 11 cities, and it is working on 12 more. That has amounted to roughly 8,200 kits distributed.“I thought we should be doing the same thing,” Kobach said.He wants to place repurposed newspaper boxes on college and university campuses, of which there are about 40 in Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754940843188.png" alt="DCCCA offers naloxone through a vending machine outside of a Lawrence Transit station near the University of Kansas campus. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>DCCCA offers naloxone through a vending machine outside of a Lawrence Transit station near the University of Kansas campus. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kobach’s request focused on illegally made fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that caused more than half of overdose deaths in 2023 in Kansas, according to the most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/sudors-dashboard-fatal-overdose-data.html" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kansas recently surpassed 1,500 total deaths from fentanyl, he said. Of the 615 overdose deaths in Kansas in 2023, nearly 60% had at least one potential opportunity for intervention, the data said. In almost 45% of deaths, a bystander was present.Pat George, the board chair, said the overdose crisis is happening now.“Our primary mission, I’ve always felt, is saving lives and saving families, so this fits right in,” George said.The addiction grant review board is charged with deciding where to allocate the millions of dollars that have poured into the state from settlements with pharmaceutical companies, which were sued for playing a part in the opioid epidemic. Kansas has received $90 million to date, said Shanna Zimmer, chief financial officer of the Sunflower Foundation, a nonprofit that administers the funds for the state. About $74 million remains in the bank.The attorney general envisioned the grant paying for public service announcements, social media and video advertising, distribution boxes and 7,000 boxes of naloxone, each typically containing two doses. The majority of the grant, about $150,000, will be for advertising, Kobach said.Education is a significant piece, he said, because of the pervasive nature of fentanyl. It appears in counterfeit pills, often mixed with other drugs.A Douglas County-based social services organization, DCCCA, runs the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/program/kansas-naloxone-program/" target="_blank">Kansas Naloxone Program</a>. It has placed five vending machines across the state that distribute naloxone like bags of chips or candy bars. Three more are on the way, said Chrissy Mayer, chief community-based services officer for DCCCA.Between October and June, the organization distributed about 40,000 kits of naloxone across Kansas, either through vending machines or by mail. That’s 80,000 doses.“We know that overdoses continue to increase, and this is a really easy way to save someone’s life,” Mayer said.The organization places boxes at locations in Hutchinson, Lawrence, Kansas City, Kansas, Salina and Wichita, based on data mapping overdose hotspots. New machines are expected soon in Garden City, Overland Park and Pittsburg.People who want naloxone from one of DCCCA’s machines enter their zip code on a keypad, then the machine dispenses a kit, Mayer said. The machine in Wichita is typically restocked weekly. In Hutchinson, it’s restocked about every two weeks, and the rest are usually restocked once a month.Mayer said “there are some interesting assumptions that people might make” regarding who uses the vending machines. Many who use the vending machines are from what might be classified as more affluent ZIP codes, she said.“That just demonstrates opioid overdose affects everybody,” Mayer said.She added: “Your ZIP code doesn’t really matter.”DCCCA offers multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/program/self-paced-training/" target="_blank">training</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/request-a-training/" target="_blank">options</a>&nbsp;on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dccca.org/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;for the proper administration of naloxone.The Kansas Attorney General’s Office plans to have naloxone kits available at its table at the Kansas State Fair, which is scheduled for Sept. 5-14 in Hutchinson.

From news rack to naloxone distribution box: Kansas AG wants to expand access to lifesaving kits

By ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer

For the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25.

The Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: They edged out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998.

Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference the preseason No. 1 team for a record fifth straight year. The Nittany Lions got 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points for their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open the 1997 season.

The Longhorns face a major test right away. Their Aug. 30 opener at defending champion and third-ranked Ohio State is a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, a 28-14 Buckeyes win in the Cotton Bowl.

The Buckeyes received 11 first-place votes from the panel of 65 media members who cover college football. No. 4 Clemson got four first-place votes and No. 5 Georgia got one.

Notre Dame, Oregon (which got the final first-place vote), Alabama, LSU and Miami round out the top 10.

The SEC leads all conferences with 10 teams in the preseason Top 25, most ever by a conference and one more than a year ago. The SEC has four teams in the top 10 for the second straight year.

The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, has two of the top three teams in the poll for the third straight year and six in the Top 25 for the third year in a row.

Four Big 12 teams are ranked, with defending conference champion Arizona State the highest at No. 11. The Atlantic Coast Conference has three, led by Clemson.

“Arch Mania” is at a fever pitch in Texas with Arch Manning now the undisputed starting quarterback.

The Longhorns have been on an upward trajectory since they were 5-7 in 2021, Steve Sarkisian’s first season. They have won 25 of their last 30 games and reached two straight CFP semifinals. Last year, they were ranked No. 1 four of five weeks from mid-September to mid-October, and they reached the SEC championship game in their first season in the conference.

“But this is a new year, new faces, new team, and obviously expectations are high for our program,” Sarkisian said at SEC media days. “I’m not naive to that. I don’t put my head in the sand, and expectations are very high. But I also say we’re the University of Texas, and the standard is the standard here, and that’s competing for championships year in and year out.”

Twelve Texas players were taken in the NFL draft, including three-first-round picks, but elite recruiting and additions from the transfer portal should alleviate concerns about losses on the offensive line and at receiver. The defense brings back plenty of talent.

Still, Texas received just 38.5% of the first-place votes (25 of 65), the smallest share for a No. 1 team in the preseason poll since Georgia got 33.9% (22 of 65) in 2008.

The Longhorns have ended a season No. 1 in the AP poll three times (1963, 1969, 2005) but until now had never started a season higher than No. 2 (1962, 1965, 1970, 2005, 2009).

The second-ranked Nittany Lions are not only six points from being No. 1, they are 75 points ahead of the Buckeyes in what might be considered a slight to the national champs.

Penn State will have Drew Allar back under center for what many consider a light schedule ahead of a late September visit from Oregon before a Nov. 1 showdown at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes, in the preseason top five for the ninth straight year and 12th of the last 13, will have a new look with only five starters back on offense and three on defense.

“This team has its own identity,” coach Ryan Day said. “It wants to have its own identity, but it also wants to be the first Ohio State team to win back-to-back national championships.”

The opener against Texas will give the Buckeyes a good measure of themselves. Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz will be the third new starting quarterback in three years. Whoever gets the job will throw to one of the nation’s top players in Jeremiah Smith.

Day will also have another chance to figure out archrival and preseason No. 14 Michigan, which has beaten the Buckeyes four straight years.

— Texas will try to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 since the AP preseason poll debuted in 1950. The last team to do it was Alabama in 2017.

— Notre Dame is in the preseason top 10 for the third time in four years. The Fighting Irish will have a new quarterback, CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey. The two played a combined eight snaps last season as Notre Dame went all the way to the CFP title game won by Ohio State.

— With Boise State at No. 25, all 12 teams in the 2024 College Football Playoff are ranked in the preseason. The Mountain West’s Broncos are the first team from a Group of Five conference to crack the preseason Top 25 since Tulane was No. 24 in 2023.

— No. 16 SMU, which returns quarterback Kevin Jennings from its CFP team, is in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in 40 years. The 1985 team was No. 3 and finished 6-5 and unranked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754945836362.jpeg" alt="FILE - Texas tight end Jordan Washington (84), coach Steve Sarkisian, defensive back Barryn Sorrell (88) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrate with their team after defeating Arkansas in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Texas tight end Jordan Washington (84), coach Steve Sarkisian, defensive back Barryn Sorrell (88) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrate with their team after defeating Arkansas in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ERIC OLSON AP College Football WriterFor the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25.The Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: They edged out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998.Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference the preseason No. 1 team for a record fifth straight year. The Nittany Lions got 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points for their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open the 1997 season.The Longhorns face a major test right away. Their Aug. 30 opener at defending champion and third-ranked Ohio State is a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, a 28-14 Buckeyes win in the Cotton Bowl.The Buckeyes received 11 first-place votes from the panel of 65 media members who cover college football. No. 4 Clemson got four first-place votes and No. 5 Georgia got one.Notre Dame, Oregon (which got the final first-place vote), Alabama, LSU and Miami round out the top 10.The SEC leads all conferences with 10 teams in the preseason Top 25, most ever by a conference and one more than a year ago. The SEC has four teams in the top 10 for the second straight year.The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, has two of the top three teams in the poll for the third straight year and six in the Top 25 for the third year in a row.<h2>Top-ranked Texas</h2>Four Big 12 teams are ranked, with defending conference champion Arizona State the highest at No. 11. The Atlantic Coast Conference has three, led by Clemson.“Arch Mania” is at a fever pitch in Texas with Arch Manning now the undisputed starting quarterback.The Longhorns have been on an upward trajectory since they were 5-7 in 2021, Steve Sarkisian’s first season. They have won 25 of their last 30 games and reached two straight CFP semifinals. Last year, they were ranked No. 1 four of five weeks from mid-September to mid-October, and they reached the SEC championship game in their first season in the conference.“But this is a new year, new faces, new team, and obviously expectations are high for our program,” Sarkisian said at SEC media days. “I’m not naive to that. I don’t put my head in the sand, and expectations are very high. But I also say we’re the University of Texas, and the standard is the standard here, and that’s competing for championships year in and year out.”Twelve Texas players were taken in the NFL draft, including three-first-round picks, but elite recruiting and additions from the transfer portal should alleviate concerns about losses on the offensive line and at receiver. The defense brings back plenty of talent.Still, Texas received just 38.5% of the first-place votes (25 of 65), the smallest share for a No. 1 team in the preseason poll since Georgia got 33.9% (22 of 65) in 2008.The Longhorns have ended a season No. 1 in the AP poll three times (1963, 1969, 2005) but until now had never started a season higher than No. 2 (1962, 1965, 1970, 2005, 2009).<h2>Big Ten lurking</h2>The second-ranked Nittany Lions are not only six points from being No. 1, they are 75 points ahead of the Buckeyes in what might be considered a slight to the national champs.Penn State will have Drew Allar back under center for what many consider a light schedule ahead of a late September visit from Oregon before a Nov. 1 showdown at Ohio State.The Buckeyes, in the preseason top five for the ninth straight year and 12th of the last 13, will have a new look with only five starters back on offense and three on defense.“This team has its own identity,” coach Ryan Day said. “It wants to have its own identity, but it also wants to be the first Ohio State team to win back-to-back national championships.”The opener against Texas will give the Buckeyes a good measure of themselves. Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz will be the third new starting quarterback in three years. Whoever gets the job will throw to one of the nation’s top players in Jeremiah Smith.Day will also have another chance to figure out archrival and preseason No. 14 Michigan, which has beaten the Buckeyes four straight years.<h2>Poll nuggets</h2>— Texas will try to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 since the AP preseason poll debuted in 1950. The last team to do it was Alabama in 2017.— Notre Dame is in the preseason top 10 for the third time in four years. The Fighting Irish will have a new quarterback, CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey. The two played a combined eight snaps last season as Notre Dame went all the way to the CFP title game won by Ohio State.— With Boise State at No. 25, all 12 teams in the 2024 College Football Playoff are ranked in the preseason. The Mountain West’s Broncos are the first team from a Group of Five conference to crack the preseason Top 25 since Tulane was No. 24 in 2023.— No. 16 SMU, which returns quarterback Kevin Jennings from its CFP team, is in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in 40 years. The 1985 team was No. 3 and finished 6-5 and unranked.

🏈 Texas is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25, K-State No. 17

TOPEKA —A federal judge in the District of Kansas sentenced defendant Kaaba Majeed, 51, to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for forced labor and forced labor conspiracy. The court sentenced co-defendants Yunus Rassoul, 39, to five years of probation; James Staton, 63, to five years in prison and one year of supervised release; Randolph Rodney Hadley, 50, to five years in prison and one year of supervised release; Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, 44, to four years in prison and one year of supervised release; and Dana Peach, 60, to four years in prison and one year of supervised release for forced labor conspiracy.

In September 2024, after a 26-day trial, a jury convicted all six defendants of forced labor conspiracy and convicted Majeed of five additional counts of forced labor. Two other co-defendants, Etenia Kinard, 49, and Jacelyn Greenwell, 46 who previously pleaded guilty to the forced labor conspiracy, are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 22.

“Labor trafficking of children is an egregious crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These sentences reflect our relentless pursuit of perpetrators and our determination to seek justice for survivors of human trafficking.”

“The defendants were entrusted to care for and nurture vulnerable children but instead chose to exploit and abuse them,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “Although these crimes were committed many years ago and the children are now adults, the sentences handed down today reflect how the passage of time did not diminish the Department of Justice’s resolve to hold these human traffickers accountable and seek justice for their victims.”

“The FBI works closely with numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, as well as non-governmental agencies and other nonprofits on the front lines to combat human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “This case highlights the value of those partnerships. The Kansas City FBI will continue to prioritize the safety of our community and thanks the Department of Labor and the New York State Department of Labor for their invaluable assistance.”

As established at trial, all six defendants were former high-ranking members of the United Nation of Islam (UNOI) who assisted UNOI’s late founder Royall Jenkins in managing UNOI operations. Defendant Peach was also one of Jenkins’s wives. Jenkins represented himself as Allah, contrary to principles of the Islamic faith, and demanded compliance with strict UNOI rules. UNOI operated multiple businesses including restaurants, bakeries, gas stations, a laboratory, and a clothing factory.

For over 12 years from October 2000 through November 2012, the defendants conspired to enforce rules that required UNOI members to perform unpaid labor, using beatings, threats, punishments, isolation, and coercion to compel the unpaid labor of over a dozen victims, including multiple minors, some as young as eight years old. The defendants required the victims to work up to 16 hours a day performing unpaid labor in UNOI-owned and operated businesses in Kansas City, Kansas; New York, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Cincinnati, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia, and elsewhere. The defendants also required the victims to perform unpaid childcare and domestic service in the defendants’ homes. The evidence showed that the defendants lived comfortably while housing the victims in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions along with restricting their food and water.

As proven at trial, the defendants used false promises of education, life skills training, and job training to induce parents to send their children to Kansas. After isolating the victims from their families and making them wholly dependent on UNOI, the defendants required the victims to attend UNOI’s unlicensed, unaccredited school and used strict rules, isolation, punishments, humiliation, threats, and coercion to compel the victims’ unpaid labor. This included restricting and monitoring the victims’ communications with others along with their whereabouts. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The FBI Kansas City Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Department of Labor and the New York State Department of Labor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander, Maryam Zhuravitsky, and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635365692259.png" alt="All six defendants were former high-ranking members of the United Nation of Islam (UNOI) who assisted UNOI’s late founder Royall Jenkins in managing UNOI operations. Royall Jenkins-image from the organization's Youtube page" />
 <figcaption>All six defendants were former high-ranking members of the United Nation of Islam (UNOI) who assisted UNOI’s late founder Royall Jenkins in managing UNOI operations. Royall Jenkins-image from the organization's Youtube page</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —A federal judge in the District of Kansas sentenced defendant Kaaba Majeed, 51, to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for forced labor and forced labor conspiracy. The court sentenced co-defendants Yunus Rassoul, 39, to five years of probation; James Staton, 63, to five years in prison and one year of supervised release; Randolph Rodney Hadley, 50, to five years in prison and one year of supervised release; Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, 44, to four years in prison and one year of supervised release; and Dana Peach, 60, to four years in prison and one year of supervised release for forced labor conspiracy.In September 2024, after a 26-day trial, a jury convicted all six defendants of forced labor conspiracy and convicted Majeed of five additional counts of forced labor. Two other co-defendants, Etenia Kinard, 49, and Jacelyn Greenwell, 46 who previously pleaded guilty to the forced labor conspiracy, are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 22.“Labor trafficking of children is an egregious crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These sentences reflect our relentless pursuit of perpetrators and our determination to seek justice for survivors of human trafficking.”“The defendants were entrusted to care for and nurture vulnerable children but instead chose to exploit and abuse them,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “Although these crimes were committed many years ago and the children are now adults, the sentences handed down today reflect how the passage of time did not diminish the Department of Justice’s resolve to hold these human traffickers accountable and seek justice for their victims.”“The FBI works closely with numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, as well as non-governmental agencies and other nonprofits on the front lines to combat human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “This case highlights the value of those partnerships. The Kansas City FBI will continue to prioritize the safety of our community and thanks the Department of Labor and the New York State Department of Labor for their invaluable assistance.”As established at trial, all six defendants were former high-ranking members of the United Nation of Islam (UNOI) who assisted UNOI’s late founder Royall Jenkins in managing UNOI operations. Defendant Peach was also one of Jenkins’s wives. Jenkins represented himself as Allah, contrary to principles of the Islamic faith, and demanded compliance with strict UNOI rules. UNOI operated multiple businesses including restaurants, bakeries, gas stations, a laboratory, and a clothing factory.For over 12 years from October 2000 through November 2012, the defendants conspired to enforce rules that required UNOI members to perform unpaid labor, using beatings, threats, punishments, isolation, and coercion to compel the unpaid labor of over a dozen victims, including multiple minors, some as young as eight years old. The defendants required the victims to work up to 16 hours a day performing unpaid labor in UNOI-owned and operated businesses in Kansas City, Kansas; New York, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Cincinnati, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia, and elsewhere. The defendants also required the victims to perform unpaid childcare and domestic service in the defendants’ homes. The evidence showed that the defendants lived comfortably while housing the victims in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions along with restricting their food and water.As proven at trial, the defendants used false promises of education, life skills training, and job training to induce parents to send their children to Kansas. After isolating the victims from their families and making them wholly dependent on UNOI, the defendants required the victims to attend UNOI’s unlicensed, unaccredited school and used strict rules, isolation, punishments, humiliation, threats, and coercion to compel the victims’ unpaid labor. This included restricting and monitoring the victims’ communications with others along with their whereabouts. &nbsp;&nbsp;The FBI Kansas City Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Department of Labor and the New York State Department of Labor.Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander, Maryam Zhuravitsky, and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case

Child abuse: Prison for members of religious group tied to Kansas

Kansas Department of Transportation

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin work on a series of improvement projects along portions of highways K-18 and U.S. 183 in Rooks and Ellis counties the week of Aug. 11.

The first project will involve milling and overlay on 12 miles of U.S. 183 starting at S Road north of Plainville and ending at the Ellis County line. 

Crews will then resurface approximately 13 miles of K-18 between Palco and Plainville. 

The final project will continue milling and overlay on 15 miles U.S. 183 in Ellis County beginning at the Rooks County line and ending near 55th&nbsp;Street in Hays.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane and directed by flaggers and a pilot car through the areas where crews are actively working. Motorists should plan for delays not exceeding 15 minutes during daylight hours.

KDOT expects the projects to be completed in late October, conditions permitting.

Bettis Construction and Asphalt, of Topeka, is the primary contractor for the projects with a combined contract cost of $7.2 million. 

For more information, contact KDOT Area Engineer Kevin Zimmer at 785-261-6132 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kevin.zimmer@ks.gov">kevin.zimmer@ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740607149605.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of TransportationThe Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin work on a series of improvement projects along portions of highways K-18 and U.S. 183 in Rooks and Ellis counties the week of Aug. 11.The first project will involve milling and overlay on 12 miles of U.S. 183 starting at S Road north of Plainville and ending at the Ellis County line. Crews will then resurface approximately 13 miles of K-18 between Palco and Plainville. The final project will continue milling and overlay on 15 miles U.S. 183 in Ellis County beginning at the Rooks County line and ending near 55th&nbsp;Street in Hays.Traffic will be reduced to one lane and directed by flaggers and a pilot car through the areas where crews are actively working. Motorists should plan for delays not exceeding 15 minutes during daylight hours.KDOT expects the projects to be completed in late October, conditions permitting.Bettis Construction and Asphalt, of Topeka, is the primary contractor for the projects with a combined contract cost of $7.2 million. For more information, contact KDOT Area Engineer Kevin Zimmer at 785-261-6132 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kevin.zimmer@ks.gov">kevin.zimmer@ks.gov</a>.

Highway construction projects set in Rooks, Ellis counties

WICHITA, KAN, – A Northwest Kansas businessman pleaded guilty to various charges related to defrauding clients of his accounting firm by falsely claiming money he had stolen was being used to pay business expenses.

According to court documents, Quintin Flanagin, 45, of Colby pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of false statements, and one count of money laundering.

Flanagin, a certified public accountant (CPA), used his status as a signatory on the accounts of his clients’ business, Diamond M. Farms, to make unauthorized transactions between December 2021 and August 2022. 

He wrote multiple checks and initiated wire transfers totaling approximately $409,710 to Middle Finger Ranch under the guise of being payments for farm operations. Middle&nbsp;Finger Ranch is a fictitious business name that Flanagin connected to his personal bank account. Flanagin actually used the illegally obtained funds to pay for the construction on his new home.

Flanagin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714043354777.png" alt="Flanagin from his booking in Sedgwick County in April 2024" />
 <figcaption>Flanagin from his booking in Sedgwick County in April 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN, – A Northwest Kansas businessman pleaded guilty to various charges related to defrauding clients of his accounting firm by falsely claiming money he had stolen was being used to pay business expenses.According to court documents, Quintin Flanagin, 45, of Colby pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of false statements, and one count of money laundering.Flanagin, a certified public accountant (CPA), used his status as a signatory on the accounts of his clients’ business, Diamond M. Farms, to make unauthorized transactions between December 2021 and August 2022. He wrote multiple checks and initiated wire transfers totaling approximately $409,710 to Middle Finger Ranch under the guise of being payments for farm operations. Middle&nbsp;Finger Ranch is a fictitious business name that Flanagin connected to his personal bank account. Flanagin actually used the illegally obtained funds to pay for the construction on his new home.Flanagin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

NW Kan. CPA, creator of ‘Middle Finger Ranch,’ admits to fraud scheme

HARVEY COUNTY—&nbsp;Matthew Ratzlaff, 38, of Burrton, entered guilty pleas Wednesday in Harvey County District Court to Kidnapping and 2 counts of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child involving sexual crimes against a child under the age of 10, according to&nbsp; Harvey County Attorney Heather L. Figger.

At the time of the offenses, Ratzlaff was on post-release supervision. His guilty pleas mark a significant step toward justice for the victim and community.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place before Judge Nancy Parrish on October 8. 

Ratzlaff faces a potential prison sentence of 283 to 315 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime post-release supervision. He will also be subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender.

“This case is a painful reminder of the seriousness of crimes against children,” said County Attorney Heather L. Figger. “We are committed to holding offenders accountable and pursuing justice for the most vulnerable members of our community.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754597878549.png" alt="Ratzlaff photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Ratzlaff photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—&nbsp;Matthew Ratzlaff, 38, of Burrton, entered guilty pleas Wednesday in Harvey County District Court to Kidnapping and 2 counts of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child involving sexual crimes against a child under the age of 10, according to&nbsp; Harvey County Attorney Heather L. Figger.At the time of the offenses, Ratzlaff was on post-release supervision. His guilty pleas mark a significant step toward justice for the victim and community.Sentencing is scheduled to take place before Judge Nancy Parrish on October 8. Ratzlaff faces a potential prison sentence of 283 to 315 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, followed by lifetime post-release supervision. He will also be subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender.“This case is a painful reminder of the seriousness of crimes against children,” said County Attorney Heather L. Figger. “We are committed to holding offenders accountable and pursuing justice for the most vulnerable members of our community.”