RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a former Riley County Jail corrections officer.

Just after 9:30a.m. Friday, KBI agents arrested 24-year-old Ashley Britt, 24, Manhattan at 2025 Little Kitten Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; Britt was arrested on a warrant for eight counts of trafficking contraband in a correctional institution.

In October of 2025, the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) requested the KBI investigate after Britt reportedly provided contraband to an inmate. When RCPD learned of the allegations Britt was placed on administrative leave, but then resigned.

During the investigation, agents discovered Britt had been providing contraband to inmates on several occasions. Following the arrest, Britt was booked into the Geary County Jail. All suspects are presumed innocent unless, or until, proven guilty in a court of law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775852749485.png" alt="Britt photo Geary County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Britt photo Geary County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a former Riley County Jail corrections officer.Just after 9:30a.m. Friday, KBI agents arrested 24-year-old Ashley Britt, 24, Manhattan at 2025 Little Kitten Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; Britt was arrested on a warrant for eight counts of trafficking contraband in a correctional institution.In October of 2025, the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) requested the KBI investigate after Britt reportedly provided contraband to an inmate. When RCPD learned of the allegations Britt was placed on administrative leave, but then resigned.During the investigation, agents discovered Britt had been providing contraband to inmates on several occasions. Following the arrest, Britt was booked into the Geary County Jail. All suspects are presumed innocent unless, or until, proven guilty in a court of law.

Former Kan. jail deputy accused of trafficking contraband into jail

Ermeline J. “Erma” Dinges, 87, Hays, died Wednesday, April
8, 2026 at Via Christi Village.

She was born April 17, 1938 on the family farm in Hays, the
daughter of Leo A. and Angela (Klaus) Leiker.&nbsp;
Erma primarily worked at Travenol, but the job that brought her the
greatest pleasure was driving the special needs bus for USD 489.&nbsp; On January 24, 1957 she was united in marriage
to Norman Gross in Hays, and to this union were born two children, Brian and
Sharon.&nbsp; Erma and Norman celebrated 12
years of marriage before he preceded her in death on June 4, 1969.&nbsp; On May 26, 1972, she was united in marriage
to Jim Dinges at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, and they celebrated
49 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on October 9, 2021.&nbsp; Her memberships included St. Nicholas of Myra
Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella Circle #254.&nbsp; 

Erma was an avid bowler, competing in state tournaments, and
was skilled at woodworking, leatherworking, upholstery, and sewing.&nbsp; Her family continues to use and treasure the
Pollyanna game boards she made for them.&nbsp;
Erma made delicious baked goods, especially rolls, had an extensive
movie collection, and entertained many while playing the harmonica.&nbsp; She and Jim delighted in welcoming friends
and family to their pool where aquacise and swimming lessons were offered, and
they cherished weekends at the lake filled with fishing and time with family.

Survivors include her daughter Sharon Gross of Gardner, one
stepson Mark Dinges and wife Tina of Kansas City, MO, five stepdaughters Helen
Werth and husband Vince of Munjor, Belinda Braun and husband Andy of Victoria,
Judy Dinges of Lawrence, Sherry Stettinger and husband John of Great Bend, and
Stephanie Heil-Grover and husband Mark of Portland, CT, two brothers Reinhold
“Ronnie” Leiker and wife Diana of Hays and Art Leiker and wife Marilyn of Hays,
14 step grandchildren, numerous step great grandchildren, two step great-great
grandchildren, and her very good friend Jessica Rhoden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands
Norman Gross and Jim Dinges, her son Brian Gross, her stepson Harry Dinges,
four brothers Herbert, Erwin “Erv”, Kenneth, and LaVern Leiker, her sister
Norine Leiker, and a step grandson Dan Braun.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday,
April 14, 2026 at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church with Fr. Damian Richards
officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St.
Francis Cemetery in Munjor.&nbsp; Visitation
will be from 9:00 am until service time on Tuesday at the church.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to HaysMed Hospice or
to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi.&nbsp;
Funeral services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home
and condolences and memories of Erma may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775827162915.jpeg" alt="Ermeline J. 'Erma' Dinges" />
 <figcaption>Ermeline J. 'Erma' Dinges</figcaption>
 </figure>Ermeline J. “Erma” Dinges, 87, Hays, died Wednesday, April
8, 2026 at Via Christi Village.She was born April 17, 1938 on the family farm in Hays, the
daughter of Leo A. and Angela (Klaus) Leiker.&nbsp;
Erma primarily worked at Travenol, but the job that brought her the
greatest pleasure was driving the special needs bus for USD 489.&nbsp; On January 24, 1957 she was united in marriage
to Norman Gross in Hays, and to this union were born two children, Brian and
Sharon.&nbsp; Erma and Norman celebrated 12
years of marriage before he preceded her in death on June 4, 1969.&nbsp; On May 26, 1972, she was united in marriage
to Jim Dinges at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, and they celebrated
49 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on October 9, 2021.&nbsp; Her memberships included St. Nicholas of Myra
Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella Circle #254.&nbsp; Erma was an avid bowler, competing in state tournaments, and
was skilled at woodworking, leatherworking, upholstery, and sewing.&nbsp; Her family continues to use and treasure the
Pollyanna game boards she made for them.&nbsp;
Erma made delicious baked goods, especially rolls, had an extensive
movie collection, and entertained many while playing the harmonica.&nbsp; She and Jim delighted in welcoming friends
and family to their pool where aquacise and swimming lessons were offered, and
they cherished weekends at the lake filled with fishing and time with family.Survivors include her daughter Sharon Gross of Gardner, one
stepson Mark Dinges and wife Tina of Kansas City, MO, five stepdaughters Helen
Werth and husband Vince of Munjor, Belinda Braun and husband Andy of Victoria,
Judy Dinges of Lawrence, Sherry Stettinger and husband John of Great Bend, and
Stephanie Heil-Grover and husband Mark of Portland, CT, two brothers Reinhold
“Ronnie” Leiker and wife Diana of Hays and Art Leiker and wife Marilyn of Hays,
14 step grandchildren, numerous step great grandchildren, two step great-great
grandchildren, and her very good friend Jessica Rhoden.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands
Norman Gross and Jim Dinges, her son Brian Gross, her stepson Harry Dinges,
four brothers Herbert, Erwin “Erv”, Kenneth, and LaVern Leiker, her sister
Norine Leiker, and a step grandson Dan Braun.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday,
April 14, 2026 at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church with Fr. Damian Richards
officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in St.
Francis Cemetery in Munjor.&nbsp; Visitation
will be from 9:00 am until service time on Tuesday at the church.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to HaysMed Hospice or
to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi.&nbsp;
Funeral services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home
and condolences and memories of Erma may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com

Ermeline J. 'Erma' Dinges, 87

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to a woman who pleaded guilty to selling actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/matthew-perry">Matthew Perry</a>&nbsp;the ketamine that killed him in 2023.

“You’re going to have to show some epic resilience,” Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-ketamine-queen-jasveen-sangha-1dc202d407d3d5163abc87fa63c35423">Jasveen Sangha</a>, echoing the defendant's words earlier in the hearing about her self-improvement.

Citing the unique role Sangha admitted to playing in Perry’s death and her broader drug-dealing business, the judge gave the 42-year-old a sentence that will almost certainly be more than all four of her co-defendants combined.

The hearing Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom was in many ways the pinnacle of the 2 1/2-year investigation and prosecution that followed the overdose death of the 54-year-old actor, whose role as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-dead-drowning-friends-f2963e83691d2bd2a8626d85a69c73cb">Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends”</a>&nbsp;in the 1990s and 2000s made him one of the biggest television stars of the era.

Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather and correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline,” told the judge that he and Perry’s mother, Suzanne, feel a “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow.”

“There was a spark to that man I have never seen anywhere else,” Morrison said. “He should have had another act. Two more acts.”

Just before she was sentenced,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-ketamine-queen-jasveen-sangha-plea-86fc25a95831068fd83f0448a973a300">Sangha</a>&nbsp;told the judge she wears her shame “like a jacket.”

“These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions,” Sangha said, which “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends.”

Prosecutors secured the exact sentence they asked for after casting Sangha as a “Ketamine Queen” who had an elaborate drug operation catering to high-end clients to give herself a jet-setting lifestyle.

Sangha’s attorneys argued the time she has spent in jail since her August 2024 indictment should be sufficient, pointing to her good behavior behind bars and lack of prior arrests.

Perry was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. The medical examiner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketamine-matthew-perry-death-charges-drug-1f6bc37573a44408146e42260b689de4">ruled that ketamine,</a>&nbsp;typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death — and drowning was a secondary cause.

Mark Geragos, Sangha’s attorney, said “pernicious” addiction was truly responsible for Perry’s death, not his client.

“There was nobody who was going to stop Mr. Perry from doing what he was going to do,” Geragos said.

In September, Sangha became the last of five co-defendants to plead guilty, admitting to one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

Geragos denounced the prosecution's use of the moniker “Ketamine Queen,” blaming it on E. Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney when the case was filed.

"That was not her name, that was his very clever name to draw media attention this case," Geragos said.

Perry had been using the drug through his regular doctor as a legal off-label treatment for depression. But he sought more than the doctor would give him. That at first led him to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-ketamine-sentence-plasencia-friends-698adf35023c42e73313f6603e6ac009">Dr. Salvador Plasencia</a>, who admitted to illegally selling Perry ketamine and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. And, days before his death, it led Perry to Sangha, and a $6,000 cash buy that included the lethal dose.

Another doctor, who admitted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-death-ketamine-doctor-sentencing-31a0d227960c970f995e7fe873843cfe">providing Plasencia the ketamine</a>&nbsp;he sold to Perry, was sentenced to eight months of home detention. Perry’s assistant and his friend, who admitted acting as the actor’s middlemen, are awaiting sentencing.

The judge said she was trying to carefully calibrate the sentences for the five defendants. She expressed concern about the balance during the hearing, asking lawyers why Sangha deserved so much more time than Plasencia or Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who obtained and injected the drugs at Perry's request and injected them into him.

Geragos seized on this and said the disparity was outrageous.

“The person who supplies the ammunition, they're more culpable than the person who pulls the trigger?” he asked.

But before sentencing, Garnett said the size of Sangha's drug business, the years she spent dealing and her long list of clients clearly made her more culpable. And she said she believed Sangha's lack of a criminal history was underrepresented.

The judge also cited Sangha's continued dealing after learning through a text message from his sister that one of her customers, 33-year-old Cody McLaury, had died in 2019.

The sister, Kimberly McLaury, spoke in court.

“Had you stopped selling ketamine when I texted you, we wouldn't be here today,” she said.

Perry’s stepmother Debbie Perry told Sangha she had caused pain for “hundreds, maybe thousands” of people.

The judge commended Sangha for the “countless” letters of support she got from family and friends touting her decency and loving nature. Many of them were there in court, sitting on the opposite side from Perry's family.

“There's no joy in this process,” Garnett told the victim's family members. “Maybe at the end of the day you will feel a sense of justice.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698541233773.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to a woman who pleaded guilty to selling actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/matthew-perry">Matthew Perry</a>&nbsp;the ketamine that killed him in 2023.“You’re going to have to show some epic resilience,” Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-ketamine-queen-jasveen-sangha-1dc202d407d3d5163abc87fa63c35423">Jasveen Sangha</a>, echoing the defendant's words earlier in the hearing about her self-improvement.Citing the unique role Sangha admitted to playing in Perry’s death and her broader drug-dealing business, the judge gave the 42-year-old a sentence that will almost certainly be more than all four of her co-defendants combined.The hearing Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom was in many ways the pinnacle of the 2 1/2-year investigation and prosecution that followed the overdose death of the 54-year-old actor, whose role as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-dead-drowning-friends-f2963e83691d2bd2a8626d85a69c73cb">Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends”</a>&nbsp;in the 1990s and 2000s made him one of the biggest television stars of the era.Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather and correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline,” told the judge that he and Perry’s mother, Suzanne, feel a “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow.”“There was a spark to that man I have never seen anywhere else,” Morrison said. “He should have had another act. Two more acts.”Just before she was sentenced,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-ketamine-queen-jasveen-sangha-plea-86fc25a95831068fd83f0448a973a300">Sangha</a>&nbsp;told the judge she wears her shame “like a jacket.”“These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions,” Sangha said, which “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends.”Prosecutors secured the exact sentence they asked for after casting Sangha as a “Ketamine Queen” who had an elaborate drug operation catering to high-end clients to give herself a jet-setting lifestyle.Sangha’s attorneys argued the time she has spent in jail since her August 2024 indictment should be sufficient, pointing to her good behavior behind bars and lack of prior arrests.Perry was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. The medical examiner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketamine-matthew-perry-death-charges-drug-1f6bc37573a44408146e42260b689de4">ruled that ketamine,</a>&nbsp;typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death — and drowning was a secondary cause.Mark Geragos, Sangha’s attorney, said “pernicious” addiction was truly responsible for Perry’s death, not his client.“There was nobody who was going to stop Mr. Perry from doing what he was going to do,” Geragos said.In September, Sangha became the last of five co-defendants to plead guilty, admitting to one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.Geragos denounced the prosecution's use of the moniker “Ketamine Queen,” blaming it on E. Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney when the case was filed."That was not her name, that was his very clever name to draw media attention this case," Geragos said.Perry had been using the drug through his regular doctor as a legal off-label treatment for depression. But he sought more than the doctor would give him. That at first led him to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-ketamine-sentence-plasencia-friends-698adf35023c42e73313f6603e6ac009">Dr. Salvador Plasencia</a>, who admitted to illegally selling Perry ketamine and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. And, days before his death, it led Perry to Sangha, and a $6,000 cash buy that included the lethal dose.Another doctor, who admitted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-death-ketamine-doctor-sentencing-31a0d227960c970f995e7fe873843cfe">providing Plasencia the ketamine</a>&nbsp;he sold to Perry, was sentenced to eight months of home detention. Perry’s assistant and his friend, who admitted acting as the actor’s middlemen, are awaiting sentencing.The judge said she was trying to carefully calibrate the sentences for the five defendants. She expressed concern about the balance during the hearing, asking lawyers why Sangha deserved so much more time than Plasencia or Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who obtained and injected the drugs at Perry's request and injected them into him.Geragos seized on this and said the disparity was outrageous.“The person who supplies the ammunition, they're more culpable than the person who pulls the trigger?” he asked.But before sentencing, Garnett said the size of Sangha's drug business, the years she spent dealing and her long list of clients clearly made her more culpable. And she said she believed Sangha's lack of a criminal history was underrepresented.The judge also cited Sangha's continued dealing after learning through a text message from his sister that one of her customers, 33-year-old Cody McLaury, had died in 2019.The sister, Kimberly McLaury, spoke in court.“Had you stopped selling ketamine when I texted you, we wouldn't be here today,” she said.Perry’s stepmother Debbie Perry told Sangha she had caused pain for “hundreds, maybe thousands” of people.The judge commended Sangha for the “countless” letters of support she got from family and friends touting her decency and loving nature. Many of them were there in court, sitting on the opposite side from Perry's family.“There's no joy in this process,” Garnett told the victim's family members. “Maybe at the end of the day you will feel a sense of justice.”

Doctor going to prison for selling Matthew Perry the drugs that killed him

DOUGLAS COUNTY — With deep sadness, the Lawrence Kansas Police Department announces the off-duty death of Officer Zachary Garcia-Kerns.

Officer Garcia-Kerns honorably served the Lawrence community since October of 2021, first at the KU Police Department, then with Lawrence Kansas Police Department since November of 2023.&nbsp; Officer Garcia-Kerns died on April 3, 2026. He was 28 years old.

As a final act of service, Officer Garcia-Kerns' gift of life donation will save the lives of as many as 75 others.

We are focused on supporting Officer Garcia-Kerns' family and everyone in the department right now.&nbsp; The family is requesting no other details be released.&nbsp; The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is working the death investigation, where no foul play is suspected.&nbsp;

Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who love him.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775666442791.png" alt="Zachary Garcia-Kerns" />
 <figcaption>Zachary Garcia-Kerns</figcaption>
 </figure>Lawrence Police DepartmentDOUGLAS COUNTY — With deep sadness, the Lawrence Kansas Police Department announces the off-duty death of Officer Zachary Garcia-Kerns.Officer Garcia-Kerns honorably served the Lawrence community since October of 2021, first at the KU Police Department, then with Lawrence Kansas Police Department since November of 2023.&nbsp; Officer Garcia-Kerns died on April 3, 2026. He was 28 years old.As a final act of service, Officer Garcia-Kerns' gift of life donation will save the lives of as many as 75 others.We are focused on supporting Officer Garcia-Kerns' family and everyone in the department right now.&nbsp; The family is requesting no other details be released.&nbsp; The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is working the death investigation, where no foul play is suspected.&nbsp;Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who love him.&nbsp;

Kan. community reports the off-duty death of police officer

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;– American record-holders and collegiate All-Americans, a World Series champion, Negro Leagues legends, NFL players and coaches as well as college and high school champions and a world-renown portrait artist highlight the largest class ever to be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame as announced today by the organization.

“The practice has been to honor 10-12 people each year, but we have a considerable backlog of outstanding nominees,” KSHOF chair Jeff Bollig said. “The hall of fame board of directors, which oversees the selection of honorees annually, thought it was important to rightfully recognize outstanding representatives of the Sunflower State who may have missed out when the selections were dormant for 10 years.”

As a result, the 32 individuals, including 12 posthumous honorees, have been selected to enter the KSHOF in 2026. The 32 selections will be honored at one of three events this summer:

Ticket information for the events can be found at the end of this release.

The baseball legends join three other Negro Major Leaguers (Bingo DeMoss, George Sweatt and Heavy Johnson) to be honored July 18 in Kansas City, Kan.:&nbsp;

Those being inducted in Wichita, Saturday, July 25 include:

The Kansas City induction ceremony, Sunday, August 16 will recognize:

The KSHOF will also induct five individuals posthumously:

This year’s class brings the total number of Inductees to 379, with the first class in 1961 including such legends as Dr. James Naismith, Mike Ahearn, Glenn Cunningham, Walter Johnson and Jess Willard. The Hall was created by the Kansas State legislature in 1961 during the state’s Centennial Celebration. For more information, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kshof.org/">www.KSHOF.org</a>.

Ticket information for the three events follow:

Those wishing to be a sponsor for the event, contact KSHOF Executive Director Richard Konzem at 785-331-6607 or <a target="_blank" href="mailto:richard@kshof.org">richard@kshof.</a>org.

For more information on the Kansas Baseball Legends, contact Phil Dixon, National Advisory Board member for the Negro League Baseball Museum at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:philsdixon@aol.com">philsdixon@aol.com</a>

The mission of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is to honor those that contributed to the history of sports in Kansas and to educate and inspire the public regarding the value of athletics and Kansas athletic history by providing the requisite leadership and resources.

Former Tiger among 2026 Kansas Sport Hall of Fame inductees

LAWRENCE — Preliminary measurements by the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) show an overall increase in 2025 groundwater levels across Kansas High Plains aquifer regions, due in part to periods of above-average rainfall. In south-central Kansas, water levels increased an average of nearly 2.5 feet — the highest since 2019.&nbsp;

“Western Kansas saw some great rainfall events in many spots last year. This helped reduce groundwater demands, and changes in the water levels across much of the High Plains aquifer improved over&nbsp;<a href="https://kgs.ku.edu/news/article/groundwater-levels-fall-across-western-south-central-kansas" target="_blank">what we saw last year</a>,” said Brownie Wilson, KGS water data manager.

“In south-central Kansas, the water table rose significantly in Great Bend Prairie and Equus Beds portions of the aquifer. The beneficial and timely rains over the growing season combined with the sandy soils and the aquifer’s proximity to the land surface really helped to recharge the system.”&nbsp;

The KGS and the Division of Water Resources (DWR) of the Kansas Department of Agriculture measure water levels in about 1,400 wells every year to monitor the health of the High Plains aquifer, which is the primary water source for agriculture, industry and domestic use in western and south-central Kansas. Most of the monitored wells are within the boundaries of the state’s five groundwater management districts (GMDs). Locally elected boards organize these districts to share water-use information and provide management strategies.&nbsp;

The 2025 measurements showed an average water level increase of about 0.2 feet across the Kansas High Plains aquifer region, breaking five straight years of declines. Annual groundwater level declines across the region averaged 0.57 feet from 1996 to 2025.&nbsp;

Periods of precipitation in 2025 contributed to the change. Heavy rainfall occurred in May and June, when areas of southwest and south-central Kansas received as much as 12 inches of rain — more than twice the normal amount. July and August saw slightly above-average precipitation levels in southern Kansas. North-central Kansas received the year’s last bouts of notable precipitation in October and November.&nbsp;

Wilson said that plentiful rainfall contributed to improved water levels across the Ogallala portion of the aquifer through increases or lower-than-usual declines.

 “In west-central Kansas and GMD 1, the water table rose slightly from 2024. Northwest and southwest Kansas both saw groundwater declines across most of their regions, but they were markedly lower than last year and the long-term (30-year) averages,” he said.&nbsp;

The High Plains aquifer is a network of water-bearing rock that extends into eight states. In Kansas, the aquifer has three components: the Ogallala aquifer, the Great Bend Prairie aquifer and the Equus Beds. Of these, the Ogallala underlies most of western Kansas and consists mainly of the Ogallala formation, a geologic unit that formed from sediment eroded off the uplifting Rocky Mountains.&nbsp;

Across the extent of the High Plains aquifer in Kansas, the 2025 provisional groundwater measurements demonstrate an improvement upon historical trends in the GMDs. &nbsp;

Western Kansas GMD 1:&nbsp;This district crosses parts of Wallace, Greeley, Wichita, Scott and Lane counties and monitors the western Ogallala region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. GMD 1 is home to most of the wells drilled into the Ogallala aquifer. GMD 1 has seen an average annual groundwater decline of 0.53 feet for the past 30 years. But 2025 was one of a handful of years when GMD 1 observed a net increase in water levels, with a gain of 0.18 feet.&nbsp;

Equus Beds GMD 2:&nbsp;This district covers portions of Reno, McPherson, Harvey and Sedgwick counties, serving as a significant source of water for Wichita, Hutchinson and surrounding towns. Although most years GMD 2 exhibits a net decrease in water level — as is the case with all Kansas GMDs — it has shown annual increases of a foot or more 10 times over the last 30 years. Above-average rainfall in July and August helped GMD 2 see a groundwater increase of 2.48 feet in 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Southwest Kansas GMD 3:&nbsp;This district spans all or parts of Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray, Ford, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Morton, Stevens, Seward and Meade counties and monitors the southern Ogallala region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. Historically, it has shown the greatest decreases in groundwater level of any GMD, with an average annual decline of 1.66 feet from 1996 to 2025. In 2025, the district saw a decrease of 0.62 feet.&nbsp;

Northwest Kansas GMD 4:&nbsp;This district includes all or parts of Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Wallace, Logan and Gove counties and monitors the northern Ogallala region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. From 1996 to 2025, the average annual groundwater decline was 0.49 feet. The district saw a loss of 0.21 feet in 2025.&nbsp;

Big Bend GMD 5:&nbsp;This district includes Pratt and Stafford counties and parts of Pawnee, Barton, Rice, Edwards, Reno and Kiowa counties. It monitors the Big Bend region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. From 1996 to 2025, the district’s average annual decline has been 0.14 feet; however, in 2025, GMD 5 saw a gain of 1.5 feet.&nbsp;

Groundwater measurements are taken primarily in January, when water levels are least likely to fluctuate due to seasonal irrigation. The measurement results, available on the KGS&nbsp;<a href="https://geohydro.kgs.ku.edu/geohydro/wizard/" target="_blank">Water Well Levels</a>&nbsp;web page, are provisional and subject to revision based on additional analysis. &nbsp;

The KGS is a nonregulatory research and service division of KU. KGS researchers study and provide information about the state’s geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, critical materials and earthquakes.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775223809657.jpeg" alt="Rick Miller of the Kansas Geological Survey measures water levels in a well south of Oakley in Logan County. Photo by Kansas Geological Survey" />
 <figcaption>Rick Miller of the Kansas Geological Survey measures water levels in a well south of Oakley in Logan County. Photo by Kansas Geological Survey</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Geological Survey&nbsp;LAWRENCE — Preliminary measurements by the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) show an overall increase in 2025 groundwater levels across Kansas High Plains aquifer regions, due in part to periods of above-average rainfall. In south-central Kansas, water levels increased an average of nearly 2.5 feet — the highest since 2019.&nbsp;“Western Kansas saw some great rainfall events in many spots last year. This helped reduce groundwater demands, and changes in the water levels across much of the High Plains aquifer improved over&nbsp;<a href="https://kgs.ku.edu/news/article/groundwater-levels-fall-across-western-south-central-kansas" target="_blank">what we saw last year</a>,” said Brownie Wilson, KGS water data manager. “In south-central Kansas, the water table rose significantly in Great Bend Prairie and Equus Beds portions of the aquifer. The beneficial and timely rains over the growing season combined with the sandy soils and the aquifer’s proximity to the land surface really helped to recharge the system.”&nbsp;The KGS and the Division of Water Resources (DWR) of the Kansas Department of Agriculture measure water levels in about 1,400 wells every year to monitor the health of the High Plains aquifer, which is the primary water source for agriculture, industry and domestic use in western and south-central Kansas. Most of the monitored wells are within the boundaries of the state’s five groundwater management districts (GMDs). Locally elected boards organize these districts to share water-use information and provide management strategies.&nbsp;The 2025 measurements showed an average water level increase of about 0.2 feet across the Kansas High Plains aquifer region, breaking five straight years of declines. Annual groundwater level declines across the region averaged 0.57 feet from 1996 to 2025.&nbsp;Periods of precipitation in 2025 contributed to the change. Heavy rainfall occurred in May and June, when areas of southwest and south-central Kansas received as much as 12 inches of rain — more than twice the normal amount. July and August saw slightly above-average precipitation levels in southern Kansas. North-central Kansas received the year’s last bouts of notable precipitation in October and November.&nbsp;Wilson said that plentiful rainfall contributed to improved water levels across the Ogallala portion of the aquifer through increases or lower-than-usual declines. “In west-central Kansas and GMD 1, the water table rose slightly from 2024. Northwest and southwest Kansas both saw groundwater declines across most of their regions, but they were markedly lower than last year and the long-term (30-year) averages,” he said.&nbsp;The High Plains aquifer is a network of water-bearing rock that extends into eight states. In Kansas, the aquifer has three components: the Ogallala aquifer, the Great Bend Prairie aquifer and the Equus Beds. Of these, the Ogallala underlies most of western Kansas and consists mainly of the Ogallala formation, a geologic unit that formed from sediment eroded off the uplifting Rocky Mountains.&nbsp;Across the extent of the High Plains aquifer in Kansas, the 2025 provisional groundwater measurements demonstrate an improvement upon historical trends in the GMDs. &nbsp;Western Kansas GMD 1:&nbsp;This district crosses parts of Wallace, Greeley, Wichita, Scott and Lane counties and monitors the western Ogallala region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. GMD 1 is home to most of the wells drilled into the Ogallala aquifer. GMD 1 has seen an average annual groundwater decline of 0.53 feet for the past 30 years. But 2025 was one of a handful of years when GMD 1 observed a net increase in water levels, with a gain of 0.18 feet.&nbsp;Equus Beds GMD 2:&nbsp;This district covers portions of Reno, McPherson, Harvey and Sedgwick counties, serving as a significant source of water for Wichita, Hutchinson and surrounding towns. Although most years GMD 2 exhibits a net decrease in water level — as is the case with all Kansas GMDs — it has shown annual increases of a foot or more 10 times over the last 30 years. Above-average rainfall in July and August helped GMD 2 see a groundwater increase of 2.48 feet in 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;Southwest Kansas GMD 3:&nbsp;This district spans all or parts of Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray, Ford, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Morton, Stevens, Seward and Meade counties and monitors the southern Ogallala region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. Historically, it has shown the greatest decreases in groundwater level of any GMD, with an average annual decline of 1.66 feet from 1996 to 2025. In 2025, the district saw a decrease of 0.62 feet.&nbsp;Northwest Kansas GMD 4:&nbsp;This district includes all or parts of Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Wallace, Logan and Gove counties and monitors the northern Ogallala region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. From 1996 to 2025, the average annual groundwater decline was 0.49 feet. The district saw a loss of 0.21 feet in 2025.&nbsp;Big Bend GMD 5:&nbsp;This district includes Pratt and Stafford counties and parts of Pawnee, Barton, Rice, Edwards, Reno and Kiowa counties. It monitors the Big Bend region of the Kansas High Plains aquifer. From 1996 to 2025, the district’s average annual decline has been 0.14 feet; however, in 2025, GMD 5 saw a gain of 1.5 feet.&nbsp;Groundwater measurements are taken primarily in January, when water levels are least likely to fluctuate due to seasonal irrigation. The measurement results, available on the KGS&nbsp;<a href="https://geohydro.kgs.ku.edu/geohydro/wizard/" target="_blank">Water Well Levels</a>&nbsp;web page, are provisional and subject to revision based on additional analysis. &nbsp;The KGS is a nonregulatory research and service division of KU. KGS researchers study and provide information about the state’s geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, critical materials and earthquakes.&nbsp;

Groundwater levels in Kansas High Plains aquifer see first overall increase since 2019; NWKS declines    

Karen Marie Mintzmyer, 74, Victoria, died Saturday, April 4,
2026 at her home.

She was born May 24, 1951 in Holdrege, Nebraska, the
daughter of Clarence and Katie (Rohnke) Schluntz.&nbsp; Karen graduated from Wilcox High School and
attended the Grand Island School of Business.&nbsp;
On July 22, 1972 she was united in marriage to Lloyd E. Mintzmyer in
Huntley, and they celebrated 40 years of marriage before he preceded her in
death on October 14, 2012.

While her girls were young, she stayed at home with them and
had an in-home business called Karen’s Kakes.&nbsp;
Later, she worked as a Walmart cashier for over 15 years.&nbsp; She was a woman of tremendous faith, and a
member of High Plains Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and played
piano and organ.&nbsp; She enjoyed cross
stitch, watching figure skating, and bowling.

Survivors include two daughters Jody Mintzmyer and Katie
Mintzmyer, both of Victoria, a brother Tom Schluntz of Huntley, NE, a
sister-in-law Arlene Mintzmyer of Holdrege, NE, three nephews Chris Schluntz
and wife Melissa of Huntley, NE, Allen Schluntz of Orleans, NE, and Eric
Schluntz, and two nieces Anna Liljehorn and husband Mike of Elm Creek, NE and
Nina Mizner and husband Aaron of Bonaire, GA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lloyd,
her daughter Tracy Mintzmyer, and her brother Dan Schluntz.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 10,
2026 at High Plains Baptist Church with Pastor Russell Kirkpatrick
officiating.&nbsp; Burial will be at 1:00 pm
on Friday in Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on
Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 1:30 pm until service
time on Friday at the church.&nbsp; Memorials
are suggested to High Plains Baptist Church and condolences and memories of
Karen may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775515706452.png" alt="Karen Marie Mintzmyer" />
 <figcaption>Karen Marie Mintzmyer</figcaption>
 </figure>Karen Marie Mintzmyer, 74, Victoria, died Saturday, April 4,
2026 at her home.She was born May 24, 1951 in Holdrege, Nebraska, the
daughter of Clarence and Katie (Rohnke) Schluntz.&nbsp; Karen graduated from Wilcox High School and
attended the Grand Island School of Business.&nbsp;
On July 22, 1972 she was united in marriage to Lloyd E. Mintzmyer in
Huntley, and they celebrated 40 years of marriage before he preceded her in
death on October 14, 2012.While her girls were young, she stayed at home with them and
had an in-home business called Karen’s Kakes.&nbsp;
Later, she worked as a Walmart cashier for over 15 years.&nbsp; She was a woman of tremendous faith, and a
member of High Plains Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and played
piano and organ.&nbsp; She enjoyed cross
stitch, watching figure skating, and bowling.Survivors include two daughters Jody Mintzmyer and Katie
Mintzmyer, both of Victoria, a brother Tom Schluntz of Huntley, NE, a
sister-in-law Arlene Mintzmyer of Holdrege, NE, three nephews Chris Schluntz
and wife Melissa of Huntley, NE, Allen Schluntz of Orleans, NE, and Eric
Schluntz, and two nieces Anna Liljehorn and husband Mike of Elm Creek, NE and
Nina Mizner and husband Aaron of Bonaire, GA.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lloyd,
her daughter Tracy Mintzmyer, and her brother Dan Schluntz.Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 10,
2026 at High Plains Baptist Church with Pastor Russell Kirkpatrick
officiating.&nbsp; Burial will be at 1:00 pm
on Friday in Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on
Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 1:30 pm until service
time on Friday at the church.&nbsp; Memorials
are suggested to High Plains Baptist Church and condolences and memories of
Karen may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com

Karen Marie Mintzmyer, 74

Ronald
LeRoy Herrman, 68, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at
his home in Russell.

Ron
was born October 11, 1957, in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp;
He was one of five children born to Vernon and Dorothy (Huber)
Herrman.&nbsp; He grew up in Hays, and
graduated from Hays High School in 1975.

Ron
was united in marriage to Cheryl Humpfrey on November 28, 1992, at his
grandmother’s home in Ellis, Kansas.&nbsp;
They made their home in Russell.

Ron
was the Assistant Superintendent and later the Superintendent of the Russell
City Golf Course.&nbsp; He was the owner and
operator of Southwind Lawn Care and sold cars for World of Wheels in Hays.&nbsp; He was known as “Mr. Fix-it”.&nbsp; He was always helping family and friends with
repairs and small jobs.&nbsp; He enjoyed
restoring his 1973 Camaro, golfing, fishing and watching his favorite sporting
teams; Denver Broncos, Kansas City Royals and Kansas University Basketball.

Ron
is survived by his wife of 33 years, Cheryl of the home; sons, Lyle Herrman
(Nicole) of Hays, Kansas and Jamie Gilmore (Beth) of Russell, Kansas; brothers,
John Herrman of St. Louis, Missouri, David Herrman (Diana) of Hays, Kansas and
Marc Herrman of Hays, Kansas; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Ron
was preceded in death by his parents and sister Kathy Shukman.

A
private family service will take place at a later date.&nbsp; The family has requested cremation.&nbsp; Condolences may be sent to
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775494660437.jpeg" alt="Ronald LeRoy Herrman" />
 <figcaption>Ronald LeRoy Herrman</figcaption>
 </figure>Ronald
LeRoy Herrman, 68, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at
his home in Russell.Ron
was born October 11, 1957, in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp;
He was one of five children born to Vernon and Dorothy (Huber)
Herrman.&nbsp; He grew up in Hays, and
graduated from Hays High School in 1975.Ron
was united in marriage to Cheryl Humpfrey on November 28, 1992, at his
grandmother’s home in Ellis, Kansas.&nbsp;
They made their home in Russell.Ron
was the Assistant Superintendent and later the Superintendent of the Russell
City Golf Course.&nbsp; He was the owner and
operator of Southwind Lawn Care and sold cars for World of Wheels in Hays.&nbsp; He was known as “Mr. Fix-it”.&nbsp; He was always helping family and friends with
repairs and small jobs.&nbsp; He enjoyed
restoring his 1973 Camaro, golfing, fishing and watching his favorite sporting
teams; Denver Broncos, Kansas City Royals and Kansas University Basketball.Ron
is survived by his wife of 33 years, Cheryl of the home; sons, Lyle Herrman
(Nicole) of Hays, Kansas and Jamie Gilmore (Beth) of Russell, Kansas; brothers,
John Herrman of St. Louis, Missouri, David Herrman (Diana) of Hays, Kansas and
Marc Herrman of Hays, Kansas; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.Ron
was preceded in death by his parents and sister Kathy Shukman.A
private family service will take place at a later date.&nbsp; The family has requested cremation.&nbsp; Condolences may be sent to
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Ronald LeRoy Herrman, 68

Verlinda
Sue Strachan, 69, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, April 3, 2026, at the
Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Verlinda
was born October 2, 1956 in Hoisington, Kansas.&nbsp;
She was one of four children born to John W. III and Dorothy C. (Bond)
Strachan.&nbsp; She grew up in Russell and
graduated from Russell High School in the Class of 74.&nbsp; Later she attended Hutchinson Junior College
where she obtained an Assoicates Degree in Medical Records.&nbsp; While attending Hutchinson, she was on the Presidential
Honor Roll.

Verlinda
worked as a CNA and CMA at Victoria, Kansas; the Golden Living Center in
Wilson, Kansas; Vintage Place in Russell; as well as, Wheatland Nursing Center
in Russell, when she retired.&nbsp; She also
sold AVON on the side.&nbsp; She enjoyed
sewing, crocheting, doing crossword puzzles, playing BINGO, making Christmas
cookies, collecting Precious Moments, Hallmark, and Beannie Babies, shopping
for clothes and taking care of her dogs.

Verlinda
is survived by her brothers, Kenny Strachan of Russell, Kansas and Jimmy
Strachan of Bunker Hill, Kansas; niece, Lori Ann Reidel of Russell, Kansas;
nephews, Robert Strachan of Hays, Kansas, James Strachan of Russell, Kansas and
Steven Strachan of Russell, Kansas.

Verlinda
was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John (Jay) Strachan; maternal
grandparents, James &amp; Anna (Letsch) Bond; and paternal grandparents, Mr.
&amp; Mrs. John W. Strachan II.

Celebration
of Verlinda’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary.&nbsp;
Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, April 7, 2026,
at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends
from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.&nbsp; A Memorial has
been established with Main Street Manor.&nbsp;
Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler
Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775481499626.jpeg" alt="Verlinda Sue Strachan" />
 <figcaption>Verlinda Sue Strachan</figcaption>
 </figure>Verlinda
Sue Strachan, 69, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, April 3, 2026, at the
Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.Verlinda
was born October 2, 1956 in Hoisington, Kansas.&nbsp;
She was one of four children born to John W. III and Dorothy C. (Bond)
Strachan.&nbsp; She grew up in Russell and
graduated from Russell High School in the Class of 74.&nbsp; Later she attended Hutchinson Junior College
where she obtained an Assoicates Degree in Medical Records.&nbsp; While attending Hutchinson, she was on the Presidential
Honor Roll.Verlinda
worked as a CNA and CMA at Victoria, Kansas; the Golden Living Center in
Wilson, Kansas; Vintage Place in Russell; as well as, Wheatland Nursing Center
in Russell, when she retired.&nbsp; She also
sold AVON on the side.&nbsp; She enjoyed
sewing, crocheting, doing crossword puzzles, playing BINGO, making Christmas
cookies, collecting Precious Moments, Hallmark, and Beannie Babies, shopping
for clothes and taking care of her dogs.Verlinda
is survived by her brothers, Kenny Strachan of Russell, Kansas and Jimmy
Strachan of Bunker Hill, Kansas; niece, Lori Ann Reidel of Russell, Kansas;
nephews, Robert Strachan of Hays, Kansas, James Strachan of Russell, Kansas and
Steven Strachan of Russell, Kansas.Verlinda
was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John (Jay) Strachan; maternal
grandparents, James &amp; Anna (Letsch) Bond; and paternal grandparents, Mr.
&amp; Mrs. John W. Strachan II.Celebration
of Verlinda’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary.&nbsp;
Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, April 7, 2026,
at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends
from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.&nbsp; A Memorial has
been established with Main Street Manor.&nbsp;
Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler
Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Verlinda Sue Strachan, 69

Eileen Clare (Deen) Maxwell, 88, Hays, joined the heavenly choir
of angels on Good Friday 2026, April 3. Eileen passed away at Brookdale
Assisted Living.

Eileen was born on
October 4, 1937, in Hays, KS, the third of four children, to Alvin and Tillie
(Drees) Deen. She attended Hays Catholic Schools and graduated from Girls
Catholic High in 1955. As was often expected at the time, students from GCH
transitioned directly into the St. Anthony School of Nursing, and Eileen did
this as well. However, after observing one too many surgeries, she decided this
was not to be part of her career path. She went to work at the Ellis County
Court House in the Administrative Service Center, where she met her future
husband, Undersheriff Robert L. Maxwell. She and Bob were married on December
27, 1958. He preceded her in death on July 25, 2011.

Eileen was the
consummate 1960’s housewife and mother. She encouraged and supported her three
children in their academic and extracurricular activities and was always there
for them no matter what. She loved taking care of her new home on Northridge,
the very northern edge of Hays at that time. Northridge would be 30th Street if
it were numbered. During the growing seasons, Eileen spent hours in her
beautiful flower gardens, not stopping until the tiniest of weeds was pulled
and bagged. She loved and adored her many pets over the years, her “troublesome
little friends,” as Bob called them. She enjoyed hosting parties, whether for
Bob’s English Department fellow staff members, his Barbershop Quartet and their
wives, or Ray Wicher and the St. Joseph’s Choir, where she was a member for
decades.

Music was indeed a
huge part of Eileen’s life since childhood. She grew up listening to old opera
recordings on Sunday afternoons with her grandpa and her beloved aunts. She
studied voice in high school and in February ‘54 was chosen to be part of the
newly formed Liturgical Choir at St. Joseph’s, under the direction of Professor
Wicher, and was also a member of the National Catholic Music Educators
Association All-State Catholic Chorus in November of the same year. After her
marriage, her musical interest and involvement continued to blossom. She sang
duets with her husband for various liturgical and community celebrations, was
part of the FHSU Community Choir, and sang lead in The B Flats, a women’s
barbershop quartet, all of which gave her a lifetime of wonderful memories.

She was a die-hard
sports fan, whether watching her KC Chiefs, K-State football, KU basketball,
any and all March Madness games, and especially her Fort Hays Tigers. Eileen
loved to recall the back-to-back NAIA National Basketball Championships won in
the ‘83-’85 seasons. In fact, to hear her tell it, one would think she was on
the sideline coaching the coaching staff!

In the late ‘70’s,
Eileen was asked by a faculty wife friend to help with enrollment by pulling
class cards in the Black and Gold Room. This very part-time seasonal work
eventually led to a permanent position in the Registrar’s Office, and she lived
for that job for many years. She loved the work, the students, and most
especially her co-workers. Some of these ladies and gentlemen became life-long
best friends.

Eileen is survived
by her children, Michael Deen, Enterprise, AL, Robert Lynn, II, and his husband
Jason Legleiter, Westfield, MA, and Jacqueline Eileen, Hays, KS. Also surviving
her are her grandsons Michael Griffin and Robert Graem and their mother Shelly
Hunt Maxwell, as well as her sister Anita Deen, sister-in-law Berniece Deen,
brother-in-law Lee Maxwell, seven nephews, and five nieces.

In addition to her
husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard Deen,
her sister, Patricia Coulter, two nieces, and two nephews.

Services will be
private and under the direction of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock's
Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial
contributions in Eileen’s name may be mailed to: FHSU Foundation, One Tiger
Place, PO Box 1060, Hays, KS, 67601. Please designate “Registrar’s Office” as
the recipient.

To request a Mass
intention please contact St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or Immaculate Heart of
Mary Church, Hays.

Finally, the
family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale and Hays Medical Center’s
Hospice Care Team for their loving, kind, compassionate care. You are truly
angels among us.

Please share
memories on Eileen's tribute page at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775481418261.png" alt="Eileen Clare (Deen) Maxwell" />
 <figcaption>Eileen Clare (Deen) Maxwell</figcaption>
 </figure>Eileen Clare (Deen) Maxwell, 88, Hays, joined the heavenly choir
of angels on Good Friday 2026, April 3. Eileen passed away at Brookdale
Assisted Living.Eileen was born on
October 4, 1937, in Hays, KS, the third of four children, to Alvin and Tillie
(Drees) Deen. She attended Hays Catholic Schools and graduated from Girls
Catholic High in 1955. As was often expected at the time, students from GCH
transitioned directly into the St. Anthony School of Nursing, and Eileen did
this as well. However, after observing one too many surgeries, she decided this
was not to be part of her career path. She went to work at the Ellis County
Court House in the Administrative Service Center, where she met her future
husband, Undersheriff Robert L. Maxwell. She and Bob were married on December
27, 1958. He preceded her in death on July 25, 2011.Eileen was the
consummate 1960’s housewife and mother. She encouraged and supported her three
children in their academic and extracurricular activities and was always there
for them no matter what. She loved taking care of her new home on Northridge,
the very northern edge of Hays at that time. Northridge would be 30th Street if
it were numbered. During the growing seasons, Eileen spent hours in her
beautiful flower gardens, not stopping until the tiniest of weeds was pulled
and bagged. She loved and adored her many pets over the years, her “troublesome
little friends,” as Bob called them. She enjoyed hosting parties, whether for
Bob’s English Department fellow staff members, his Barbershop Quartet and their
wives, or Ray Wicher and the St. Joseph’s Choir, where she was a member for
decades.Music was indeed a
huge part of Eileen’s life since childhood. She grew up listening to old opera
recordings on Sunday afternoons with her grandpa and her beloved aunts. She
studied voice in high school and in February ‘54 was chosen to be part of the
newly formed Liturgical Choir at St. Joseph’s, under the direction of Professor
Wicher, and was also a member of the National Catholic Music Educators
Association All-State Catholic Chorus in November of the same year. After her
marriage, her musical interest and involvement continued to blossom. She sang
duets with her husband for various liturgical and community celebrations, was
part of the FHSU Community Choir, and sang lead in The B Flats, a women’s
barbershop quartet, all of which gave her a lifetime of wonderful memories.She was a die-hard
sports fan, whether watching her KC Chiefs, K-State football, KU basketball,
any and all March Madness games, and especially her Fort Hays Tigers. Eileen
loved to recall the back-to-back NAIA National Basketball Championships won in
the ‘83-’85 seasons. In fact, to hear her tell it, one would think she was on
the sideline coaching the coaching staff!In the late ‘70’s,
Eileen was asked by a faculty wife friend to help with enrollment by pulling
class cards in the Black and Gold Room. This very part-time seasonal work
eventually led to a permanent position in the Registrar’s Office, and she lived
for that job for many years. She loved the work, the students, and most
especially her co-workers. Some of these ladies and gentlemen became life-long
best friends.Eileen is survived
by her children, Michael Deen, Enterprise, AL, Robert Lynn, II, and his husband
Jason Legleiter, Westfield, MA, and Jacqueline Eileen, Hays, KS. Also surviving
her are her grandsons Michael Griffin and Robert Graem and their mother Shelly
Hunt Maxwell, as well as her sister Anita Deen, sister-in-law Berniece Deen,
brother-in-law Lee Maxwell, seven nephews, and five nieces.In addition to her
husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard Deen,
her sister, Patricia Coulter, two nieces, and two nephews.Services will be
private and under the direction of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock's
Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.Memorial
contributions in Eileen’s name may be mailed to: FHSU Foundation, One Tiger
Place, PO Box 1060, Hays, KS, 67601. Please designate “Registrar’s Office” as
the recipient.To request a Mass
intention please contact St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or Immaculate Heart of
Mary Church, Hays.Finally, the
family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale and Hays Medical Center’s
Hospice Care Team for their loving, kind, compassionate care. You are truly
angels among us.Please share
memories on Eileen's tribute page at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

Eileen Clare (Deen) Maxwell

By JULLIA DEBES U.S. Wheat

A U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board team of five wheat farmers, including Kansas producer Chris Tanner, Norton, traveled to South Korea and Taiwan in March to better understand how U.S. wheat performs in key export markets. 

Representing multiple state and national wheat organizations, the group received market briefings in Portland, Oregon, before heading overseas, reinforcing how dependent U.S. wheat is on strong, consistent demand from international buyers.

South Korea is a premium, quality-driven customer, importing a significant share of its food supply while increasing wheat consumption through a growing bakery and noodle market. With the United States holding about 47% of Korea’s milling wheat market and 1.85 million metric tons purchased as of March 2026, that demand is backed by strict quality standards, rigorous inspection systems and a willingness to pay for consistent performance from U.S. wheat.

Building Baking Legacies in South Korea

Beyond instant noodles, the Korean bakery sector is also thriving. In between official visits, the team explored a premium food hall underneath the Hyundai building and the more economical E-mart, providing a perspective on the different trends, pop-up shops and stores using U.S. wheat to make bakery products from instant noodles to fancy desserts to fast food pop-ups like Five Guys.&nbsp;

The origins of many of these products can be traced to the Korea Baking School (KBS), founded in May 1972 as a confectionery school. U.S. Wheat has supported the KBS since October 1972, including sponsoring the printing of the school’s first training manual.&nbsp;

Since that time, U.S. Wheat has continued, along with its state wheat commission members, to provide support through participation in courses, donations of equipment like Hobart mixers and an oven suited for natural fermentation baking (sourdough) and donating wheat flour. Today, the KBS has 300 graduates per year, and its courses vary from three months to one year to weekend courses.

At the KBS, the team met students currently enrolled in courses, including a year-long baking course and a group of aspiring American bakers (including a Harvard student) working to open a Korean-style bakery in Los Angeles.&nbsp;

“Going through the KBS and seeing the long legacy that U.S. What has had there, I was proud to see the equipment and the donations that our checkoff dollars have made possible to help people learn how to use our products and have the tools to do so successfully,” said Tanner, who also serves as the treasurer of the National Association of Wheat Growers and the president of the Kansas Wheat Growers. 

“As a producer in the field, I enjoyed seeing how the products that we raise are desired and wanted and how they perform. Putting seeds in the ground in Kansas to a meal on a plate halfway around the world, seeing the whole process inside and out was rewarding," Tanner said.&nbsp;

USW Board Team Reflects on South Korean Commitment to U.S. Wheat

As the first half of their mission drew to a close, the team reflected on the logistics, technical and personal relationships required to keep wheat moving from their home elevators to noodle plants and bakeries in Seoul. For these farmers, the trip was more than educational; it was a reminder of the global demand for the quality wheat they strive to grow each year.&nbsp;

“Our customers across the globe are very important to us, and we definitely want to keep that relationship open,” North Dakota farmer Glendon Slaubaugh said. “I learned all the hard work that goes into the trade we do. It’s really eye-opening how much work it really takes to keep trade going. I knew it took a lot, but it always blows me away how much work it actually takes.”&nbsp;

The journey continues for the 2026 USW North Asia Board Team as they head across the East China Sea to Taiwan. Stay tuned to&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001QI5xbfQtRMcr0d0eEE8QktJAlLDa5YdGBl5coJxVCpvqRrskvv204AWpSLXq5PsYxoFdhfZiOprFpwqzZ1RIe72L6cjdNX_XOp0dnnjnkW7WBjbrQAeOQ4rCWafunf5KrynItDXmzauC9KcMzNiUQnq8-VlFiEotttHzsKBEPN8=&amp;c=V5lwEbJMz9046Kw3Q4LSQDxhtSvYViKefQxU1gW_Ewz8AI4jU3wMKQ==&amp;ch=obGv0ytNLsF4KFnOmTJnGq1MduVT5GknENhacNJfmaQIp5WTQY4tEg==" target="_blank">USW's Wheat Letter</a>&nbsp;for details on the second half of their mission.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1774628381096.png" alt="Chris Tanner. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Chris Tanner. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JULLIA DEBES U.S. WheatA U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board team of five wheat farmers, including Kansas producer Chris Tanner, Norton, traveled to South Korea and Taiwan in March to better understand how U.S. wheat performs in key export markets. Representing multiple state and national wheat organizations, the group received market briefings in Portland, Oregon, before heading overseas, reinforcing how dependent U.S. wheat is on strong, consistent demand from international buyers.South Korea is a premium, quality-driven customer, importing a significant share of its food supply while increasing wheat consumption through a growing bakery and noodle market. With the United States holding about 47% of Korea’s milling wheat market and 1.85 million metric tons purchased as of March 2026, that demand is backed by strict quality standards, rigorous inspection systems and a willingness to pay for consistent performance from U.S. wheat.Building Baking Legacies in South KoreaBeyond instant noodles, the Korean bakery sector is also thriving. In between official visits, the team explored a premium food hall underneath the Hyundai building and the more economical E-mart, providing a perspective on the different trends, pop-up shops and stores using U.S. wheat to make bakery products from instant noodles to fancy desserts to fast food pop-ups like Five Guys.&nbsp;The origins of many of these products can be traced to the Korea Baking School (KBS), founded in May 1972 as a confectionery school. U.S. Wheat has supported the KBS since October 1972, including sponsoring the printing of the school’s first training manual.&nbsp;Since that time, U.S. Wheat has continued, along with its state wheat commission members, to provide support through participation in courses, donations of equipment like Hobart mixers and an oven suited for natural fermentation baking (sourdough) and donating wheat flour. Today, the KBS has 300 graduates per year, and its courses vary from three months to one year to weekend courses.At the KBS, the team met students currently enrolled in courses, including a year-long baking course and a group of aspiring American bakers (including a Harvard student) working to open a Korean-style bakery in Los Angeles.&nbsp;“Going through the KBS and seeing the long legacy that U.S. What has had there, I was proud to see the equipment and the donations that our checkoff dollars have made possible to help people learn how to use our products and have the tools to do so successfully,” said Tanner, who also serves as the treasurer of the National Association of Wheat Growers and the president of the Kansas Wheat Growers. “As a producer in the field, I enjoyed seeing how the products that we raise are desired and wanted and how they perform. Putting seeds in the ground in Kansas to a meal on a plate halfway around the world, seeing the whole process inside and out was rewarding," Tanner said.&nbsp;USW Board Team Reflects on South Korean Commitment to U.S. WheatAs the first half of their mission drew to a close, the team reflected on the logistics, technical and personal relationships required to keep wheat moving from their home elevators to noodle plants and bakeries in Seoul. For these farmers, the trip was more than educational; it was a reminder of the global demand for the quality wheat they strive to grow each year.&nbsp;“Our customers across the globe are very important to us, and we definitely want to keep that relationship open,” North Dakota farmer Glendon Slaubaugh said. “I learned all the hard work that goes into the trade we do. It’s really eye-opening how much work it really takes to keep trade going. I knew it took a lot, but it always blows me away how much work it actually takes.”&nbsp;The journey continues for the 2026 USW North Asia Board Team as they head across the East China Sea to Taiwan. Stay tuned to&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001QI5xbfQtRMcr0d0eEE8QktJAlLDa5YdGBl5coJxVCpvqRrskvv204AWpSLXq5PsYxoFdhfZiOprFpwqzZ1RIe72L6cjdNX_XOp0dnnjnkW7WBjbrQAeOQ4rCWafunf5KrynItDXmzauC9KcMzNiUQnq8-VlFiEotttHzsKBEPN8=&amp;c=V5lwEbJMz9046Kw3Q4LSQDxhtSvYViKefQxU1gW_Ewz8AI4jU3wMKQ==&amp;ch=obGv0ytNLsF4KFnOmTJnGq1MduVT5GknENhacNJfmaQIp5WTQY4tEg==" target="_blank">USW's Wheat Letter</a>&nbsp;for details on the second half of their mission.&nbsp;

Norton farmer travels to export markets with U.S. Wheat Associates board

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ousted the Army’s top uniformed officer and two other generals, the Pentagon said Thursday without giving a reason for the departures while the United States is waging a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-2-2026-c41dbdb8148d02ce6561ea6bd4aa0da1">war against Iran</a>.

Gen. Randy George “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman. George has held the post of Army chief of staff, which typically runs for four years, since August 2023 under the Biden administration.

The ouster, reported earlier by CBS News, is just the latest of more than a dozen firings of top generals and admirals by Hegseth since he took office last year. Like many of those other firings, Pentagon officials are not offering a reason for George’s departure, which comes nearly five weeks into U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-address-iran-war-takeaways-3a232cc5ae76436433bc62118a32b415">no clear timeline</a>&nbsp;from President Donald Trump on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-address-to-nation-patience-940c2cd13a8c45f9d6d35a4750b7b499">when the war may end</a>.

Hegseth also has ousted Army Gen. David Hodne and Army Maj. Gen. William Green, according to a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive leadership changes. A reason for their departures also was not given.

General who rose rapidly under Hegseth will fill in

Gen. Christopher LaNeve will be stepping in as acting Army chief of staff, the Pentagon official said. LaNeve was serving as Hegseth’s top military aide when Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-army-vice-chief-of-staff-pentagon-07cc8040bd90e4e7a0ccb6be7a476e32">suddenly nominated him</a>&nbsp;to be the Army’s vice chief of staff last October. It is a meteoric rise for an officer who was only a two-star general two years ago.

He would take over for George, who is a graduate of West Point Military Academy and an infantry officer who served in the first Gulf War as well as Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s top military aide from 2021 to 2022 during the Biden administration before taking on top leadership roles in the Army.

George made it through the initial round of firings under the Trump administration in February 2025, when Hegseth removed top military leaders, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top uniformed officer, and Gen. Jim Slife, the No. 2 leader at the Air Force. Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-brown-joint-chiefs-of-staff-firing-fa428cc1508a583b3bf5e7a5a58f6acf">fired Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr.</a>&nbsp;as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Since then, more than a dozen other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-dia-iran-intelligence-trump-kruse-5cb1fb89b8f12c3b517f139f6d840b48">top military generals</a>&nbsp;and admirals have either retired early or been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-hegseth-firing-chairman-lawyers-6bead3346b1210e45e77648e6cbc3599">removed from their posts</a>.

Among those departures was George’s deputy, Gen. James Mingus, who was vice chief of staff of the Army for less than two years. LaNeve was nominated to that post after earlier being plucked from commanding the Eighth Army in South Korea after less than a year in the job to be Hegseth’s top military aide.

A spokesman for George could not be reached for comment.

Of the other generals who were fired, Hodne had been head of the Army Transformation and Training Command, a unit that was only stood up in December as part of George’s effort to modernize the Army and amid Hegseth’s push to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-generals-admirals-cuts-b751b428db23e5da682eed5cfd3c44be">reduce the number of general officers</a>&nbsp;in the military.

Green had been the Army’s chief of chaplains. Hegseth announced two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-pentagon-christian-worship-service-30db48b6ceb8af5e6172fb3ba2eafaa0">major reforms to the military’s chaplain corps</a>&nbsp;a little over a week ago.

In a video message last week, Hegseth said he wanted chaplains to focus more on God and less on therapeutic “self-help and self-care.” In recent years, the military has become increasingly dependent on chaplains to help address the growing numbers of troops in mental health distress. Hegseth also said chaplains would no longer wear their rank on their uniform but instead would be identified by religious insignia.

The leadership shakeup comes as Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne division are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-troops-deployment-aircraft-carrier-7c015aa5156525fcc95c42897de52e0f">heading to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;along with thousands of Marines and other assets. The Trump administration has avoided questions about whether or not the U.S. military will deploy ground troops against Iran.

In a prime-time address Wednesday about the war, Trump offered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-address-iran-war-takeaways-3a232cc5ae76436433bc62118a32b415">no end date for the conflict</a>&nbsp;and few details on his strategy going forward but did forecast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-address-to-nation-patience-940c2cd13a8c45f9d6d35a4750b7b499">more military action</a>.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transcript-address-iran-war-b5970011fe934dde84d95d650bda56a9">Trump said</a>&nbsp;of Iran, before adding that “we’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.”

Hegseth echoed that sentiment after the speech, with a post on social media that simply read, “Back to the Stone Age.”

Iran’s mission to the United Nations said on X that Trump’s comment “reflects ignorance, not strength,” noting that Iran’s civilization spans over 7,000 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773158525304.png" alt="File photo Secretary of War Pete Hegseth-image from DOW video" />
 <figcaption>File photo Secretary of War Pete Hegseth-image from DOW video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ousted the Army’s top uniformed officer and two other generals, the Pentagon said Thursday without giving a reason for the departures while the United States is waging a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-2-2026-c41dbdb8148d02ce6561ea6bd4aa0da1">war against Iran</a>.Gen. Randy George “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman. George has held the post of Army chief of staff, which typically runs for four years, since August 2023 under the Biden administration.The ouster, reported earlier by CBS News, is just the latest of more than a dozen firings of top generals and admirals by Hegseth since he took office last year. Like many of those other firings, Pentagon officials are not offering a reason for George’s departure, which comes nearly five weeks into U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-address-iran-war-takeaways-3a232cc5ae76436433bc62118a32b415">no clear timeline</a>&nbsp;from President Donald Trump on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-address-to-nation-patience-940c2cd13a8c45f9d6d35a4750b7b499">when the war may end</a>.Hegseth also has ousted Army Gen. David Hodne and Army Maj. Gen. William Green, according to a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive leadership changes. A reason for their departures also was not given.<h2>General who rose rapidly under Hegseth will fill in</h2>Gen. Christopher LaNeve will be stepping in as acting Army chief of staff, the Pentagon official said. LaNeve was serving as Hegseth’s top military aide when Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-army-vice-chief-of-staff-pentagon-07cc8040bd90e4e7a0ccb6be7a476e32">suddenly nominated him</a>&nbsp;to be the Army’s vice chief of staff last October. It is a meteoric rise for an officer who was only a two-star general two years ago.He would take over for George, who is a graduate of West Point Military Academy and an infantry officer who served in the first Gulf War as well as Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s top military aide from 2021 to 2022 during the Biden administration before taking on top leadership roles in the Army.George made it through the initial round of firings under the Trump administration in February 2025, when Hegseth removed top military leaders, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top uniformed officer, and Gen. Jim Slife, the No. 2 leader at the Air Force. Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-brown-joint-chiefs-of-staff-firing-fa428cc1508a583b3bf5e7a5a58f6acf">fired Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr.</a>&nbsp;as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Since then, more than a dozen other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-dia-iran-intelligence-trump-kruse-5cb1fb89b8f12c3b517f139f6d840b48">top military generals</a>&nbsp;and admirals have either retired early or been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-hegseth-firing-chairman-lawyers-6bead3346b1210e45e77648e6cbc3599">removed from their posts</a>.Among those departures was George’s deputy, Gen. James Mingus, who was vice chief of staff of the Army for less than two years. LaNeve was nominated to that post after earlier being plucked from commanding the Eighth Army in South Korea after less than a year in the job to be Hegseth’s top military aide.A spokesman for George could not be reached for comment.<h2>Two other Army generals are fired</h2>Of the other generals who were fired, Hodne had been head of the Army Transformation and Training Command, a unit that was only stood up in December as part of George’s effort to modernize the Army and amid Hegseth’s push to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-generals-admirals-cuts-b751b428db23e5da682eed5cfd3c44be">reduce the number of general officers</a>&nbsp;in the military.Green had been the Army’s chief of chaplains. Hegseth announced two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-pentagon-christian-worship-service-30db48b6ceb8af5e6172fb3ba2eafaa0">major reforms to the military’s chaplain corps</a>&nbsp;a little over a week ago.In a video message last week, Hegseth said he wanted chaplains to focus more on God and less on therapeutic “self-help and self-care.” In recent years, the military has become increasingly dependent on chaplains to help address the growing numbers of troops in mental health distress. Hegseth also said chaplains would no longer wear their rank on their uniform but instead would be identified by religious insignia.<h2>The changes come as Iran war grinds on</h2>The leadership shakeup comes as Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne division are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-troops-deployment-aircraft-carrier-7c015aa5156525fcc95c42897de52e0f">heading to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;along with thousands of Marines and other assets. The Trump administration has avoided questions about whether or not the U.S. military will deploy ground troops against Iran.In a prime-time address Wednesday about the war, Trump offered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-address-iran-war-takeaways-3a232cc5ae76436433bc62118a32b415">no end date for the conflict</a>&nbsp;and few details on his strategy going forward but did forecast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-address-to-nation-patience-940c2cd13a8c45f9d6d35a4750b7b499">more military action</a>.“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transcript-address-iran-war-b5970011fe934dde84d95d650bda56a9">Trump said</a>&nbsp;of Iran, before adding that “we’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.”Hegseth echoed that sentiment after the speech, with a post on social media that simply read, “Back to the Stone Age.”Iran’s mission to the United Nations said on X that Trump’s comment “reflects ignorance, not strength,” noting that Iran’s civilization spans over 7,000 years.___

Pentagon at war during Iran war: Army chief asked to step down

Meredith Caprice Trexler Drees passed away on March 28, 2026, at her home near Hill City, Kansas, surrounded by her family. She was born May 19, 1984, in Garden City, Kansas, to Brad and Kim Trexler and grew up on their farm and ranch near Hill City, Kansas.

Meredith accomplished and experienced so much in her too short life that a simple listing of each achievement and venture would be impressively long. More importantly, it would fail to emphasize the most important fact about her – her sincere, infectious love for everything true, good, and beautiful. People everywhere felt drawn to her by her magnetic personality, full of warmth, generosity, kindness, open-mindedness, and a genuine interest in other people and their stories. A devoted Christian, she let her light of moral and spiritual faithfulness shine in this needy and broken present time. Although her influence will long outlive her, her loss leaves ours a poorer world.

Meredith had an idyllic childhood on the Trexler farm and ranch. Her deep love for her life there on the farm and for her family – her grandparents Allen and Carol Trexler and her sister Brittney as well as her parents – was near the center of her soul throughout her life. Her parents equipped her with insights, skills, and especially a strong sense of confidence in herself and her abilities. This self-confidence bred the courage with which Meredith welcomed new experiences, and which was so prominent even at life’s end. Even as a child she was a talented artist, and her special feel for art and beauty was a lens framing everything else in her life. She loved animals in general but had special relationships with her dogs, Lily, Stella and Sage. She also had an affinity for horses, riding alone from the age of four and spending most childhood days on horseback. She attended and participated in many horse shows with her family, was a state fair champion, and twice earned a part in the American Quarter Horse Show in Fort Worth, Texas. In those years she was active in FFA and became a gifted public speaker like her father before her, a skill that would serve her well in her eventual career as a teacher and scholar.

After graduating from Hill City High School in 2002, she earned an A.A. Degree in Criminal Justice from Colby Community College, where she was a presidential scholar as well as the recipient of an art scholarship. She then attended Fort Hays State University. Meredith initially intended to major in Political Science as a preliminary to getting a law degree, but she soon discovered and switched to Philosophy after taking a stimulating class from Dr. Douglas Drabkin. As a Philosophy major, she began also to study with Dr. Stephen Tramel, who became a lifelong friend and mentor. In this period, she grew rapidly as a writer and independent thinker through exposure to philosophical issues and the writings of great philosophers, especially Plato. She also encountered the philosophical writings of C.S. Lewis. The link between the experience of beauty and moral development, emphasized by both Plato and Lewis, struck a deep chord in Meredith, and exploring and further developing this link became her lifelong project, the thread uniting all her later academic and professional life.

After graduating from Fort Hays State University with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in French, she studied abroad in France with a friend, Zach Jurgensen. This experience was to blossom in her future in two ways. It ignited a love of travel with its wonderful opportunities to experience the world’s wealth of art, architecture, foods, and history. Since that time, she has travelled often and extensively, especially to Europe, and spent time living and studying with a few others at the Kilns, C.S. Lewis’ home at Oxford, England. The other bloom was even more significant. Zach would later introduce her to her eventual husband. After her year abroad, Meredith began graduate studies at the University of Kansas, where she earned her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy. It was in 2007, during her studies at the University of Kansas, that Zach introduced Meredith to his friend, Jeff Drees. After some academically and professionally busy years in which they came to know and love each other deeply, Meredith and Jeff married on October 9, 2015, in Salina, Kansas. Meredith and Jeff have had a wonderful life together, each loving and entering into what mattered most to the other. Jeff was not only supportive of Meredith’s professional life, but he also welcomed becoming part of the life and work of the Trexler family farm and ranch. Jeff has become so fully a member of the Trexler family that, when Meredith’s father Brad died, he felt that he had lost another father.

After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Kansas in 2013, Meredith began her professional career as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. Her impact was immediate and lasting. She brought enthusiasm and new energy to the university, transforming a small, marginal program into one that was vibrant and increasingly popular. As a teacher, she created new classes, interdisciplinary projects, a travel abroad program, and a campus-wide Socratic Café. Her impact on her students was immense, and her work and influence will live on through their lives and careers. Meredith was also active as a professional scholar. She was chosen to be a Research Fellow at Notre Dame’s Center for Philosophy of Religion. She made invited presentations to professional conferences at Rutgers University in New Jersey, in Dublin, Ireland, and in Athens, Greece. She has published several professional articles, including a collaborative article on Kant with the highly regarded Italian Kant scholar Paolo Diego Bubbio, contributed to various collections of essays, authored the book Aesthetic Experience and Moral Vision in Plato, Kant, and Murdoch, co-edited with Anne J. Mamary a collection of philosophical readings inspired by the work of Anthony Preus in the book Politeia: New Readings in the History of Philosophy, and was nearly done with another book, this time on Kant’s philosophy of religion, when she died. She will be sorely missed not only by her family, friends, and students, but by professionals in philosophy worldwide, among whom she had earned a respected name for herself.

Surviving family members include her husband, Jeff Drees (Hill City); mother, Kim Trexler (Hill City); mother-in-law, Jean (Larry) Buyse (Salina); grandfather, Allen Trexler (Hill City); sister, Brittney (Jerad) Johnson (Colby); sister-in-law, Bethany Hodges (Salina); aunts, Lynn (Ty) Bruton (Norton), Stacey Bradley (Amarillo, TX), Shelley McLeod (Ulysses), Jolene Wentz (St. Louis, MO); uncle Kirby (Sue) Bradley (Manhattan); many cousins; nieces, Blakeli Johnson, Marli Johnson and Laiklyn Hodges; nephews Briggs Johnson, Myles Johnson and Axtyn Hodges.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bradley Trexler; father-in-law, Bob Drees; grandmothers Carol Trexler and Patricia Borthwick and grandfather Don Bradley.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 AM, April 2, 2026, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hill City, Kansas.

Memorials to Meredith Trexler-Drees Memorial Fund in care of Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy, Hill City, Kansas 67642.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/4/1775076776655.jpeg" alt="Meredith Caprice Trexler Drees" />
 <figcaption>Meredith Caprice Trexler Drees</figcaption>
 </figure>Meredith Caprice Trexler Drees passed away on March 28, 2026, at her home near Hill City, Kansas, surrounded by her family. She was born May 19, 1984, in Garden City, Kansas, to Brad and Kim Trexler and grew up on their farm and ranch near Hill City, Kansas.Meredith accomplished and experienced so much in her too short life that a simple listing of each achievement and venture would be impressively long. More importantly, it would fail to emphasize the most important fact about her – her sincere, infectious love for everything true, good, and beautiful. People everywhere felt drawn to her by her magnetic personality, full of warmth, generosity, kindness, open-mindedness, and a genuine interest in other people and their stories. A devoted Christian, she let her light of moral and spiritual faithfulness shine in this needy and broken present time. Although her influence will long outlive her, her loss leaves ours a poorer world.Meredith had an idyllic childhood on the Trexler farm and ranch. Her deep love for her life there on the farm and for her family – her grandparents Allen and Carol Trexler and her sister Brittney as well as her parents – was near the center of her soul throughout her life. Her parents equipped her with insights, skills, and especially a strong sense of confidence in herself and her abilities. This self-confidence bred the courage with which Meredith welcomed new experiences, and which was so prominent even at life’s end. Even as a child she was a talented artist, and her special feel for art and beauty was a lens framing everything else in her life. She loved animals in general but had special relationships with her dogs, Lily, Stella and Sage. She also had an affinity for horses, riding alone from the age of four and spending most childhood days on horseback. She attended and participated in many horse shows with her family, was a state fair champion, and twice earned a part in the American Quarter Horse Show in Fort Worth, Texas. In those years she was active in FFA and became a gifted public speaker like her father before her, a skill that would serve her well in her eventual career as a teacher and scholar.After graduating from Hill City High School in 2002, she earned an A.A. Degree in Criminal Justice from Colby Community College, where she was a presidential scholar as well as the recipient of an art scholarship. She then attended Fort Hays State University. Meredith initially intended to major in Political Science as a preliminary to getting a law degree, but she soon discovered and switched to Philosophy after taking a stimulating class from Dr. Douglas Drabkin. As a Philosophy major, she began also to study with Dr. Stephen Tramel, who became a lifelong friend and mentor. In this period, she grew rapidly as a writer and independent thinker through exposure to philosophical issues and the writings of great philosophers, especially Plato. She also encountered the philosophical writings of C.S. Lewis. The link between the experience of beauty and moral development, emphasized by both Plato and Lewis, struck a deep chord in Meredith, and exploring and further developing this link became her lifelong project, the thread uniting all her later academic and professional life.After graduating from Fort Hays State University with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in French, she studied abroad in France with a friend, Zach Jurgensen. This experience was to blossom in her future in two ways. It ignited a love of travel with its wonderful opportunities to experience the world’s wealth of art, architecture, foods, and history. Since that time, she has travelled often and extensively, especially to Europe, and spent time living and studying with a few others at the Kilns, C.S. Lewis’ home at Oxford, England. The other bloom was even more significant. Zach would later introduce her to her eventual husband. After her year abroad, Meredith began graduate studies at the University of Kansas, where she earned her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy. It was in 2007, during her studies at the University of Kansas, that Zach introduced Meredith to his friend, Jeff Drees. After some academically and professionally busy years in which they came to know and love each other deeply, Meredith and Jeff married on October 9, 2015, in Salina, Kansas. Meredith and Jeff have had a wonderful life together, each loving and entering into what mattered most to the other. Jeff was not only supportive of Meredith’s professional life, but he also welcomed becoming part of the life and work of the Trexler family farm and ranch. Jeff has become so fully a member of the Trexler family that, when Meredith’s father Brad died, he felt that he had lost another father.After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Kansas in 2013, Meredith began her professional career as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. Her impact was immediate and lasting. She brought enthusiasm and new energy to the university, transforming a small, marginal program into one that was vibrant and increasingly popular. As a teacher, she created new classes, interdisciplinary projects, a travel abroad program, and a campus-wide Socratic Café. Her impact on her students was immense, and her work and influence will live on through their lives and careers. Meredith was also active as a professional scholar. She was chosen to be a Research Fellow at Notre Dame’s Center for Philosophy of Religion. She made invited presentations to professional conferences at Rutgers University in New Jersey, in Dublin, Ireland, and in Athens, Greece. She has published several professional articles, including a collaborative article on Kant with the highly regarded Italian Kant scholar Paolo Diego Bubbio, contributed to various collections of essays, authored the book Aesthetic Experience and Moral Vision in Plato, Kant, and Murdoch, co-edited with Anne J. Mamary a collection of philosophical readings inspired by the work of Anthony Preus in the book Politeia: New Readings in the History of Philosophy, and was nearly done with another book, this time on Kant’s philosophy of religion, when she died. She will be sorely missed not only by her family, friends, and students, but by professionals in philosophy worldwide, among whom she had earned a respected name for herself.Surviving family members include her husband, Jeff Drees (Hill City); mother, Kim Trexler (Hill City); mother-in-law, Jean (Larry) Buyse (Salina); grandfather, Allen Trexler (Hill City); sister, Brittney (Jerad) Johnson (Colby); sister-in-law, Bethany Hodges (Salina); aunts, Lynn (Ty) Bruton (Norton), Stacey Bradley (Amarillo, TX), Shelley McLeod (Ulysses), Jolene Wentz (St. Louis, MO); uncle Kirby (Sue) Bradley (Manhattan); many cousins; nieces, Blakeli Johnson, Marli Johnson and Laiklyn Hodges; nephews Briggs Johnson, Myles Johnson and Axtyn Hodges.She was preceded in death by her father, Bradley Trexler; father-in-law, Bob Drees; grandmothers Carol Trexler and Patricia Borthwick and grandfather Don Bradley.Written by Dr. Stephen TramelA celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 AM, April 2, 2026, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hill City, Kansas.Memorials to Meredith Trexler-Drees Memorial Fund in care of Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy, Hill City, Kansas 67642.

Meredith Caprice Trexler Drees

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.60.0_3.pdf">ordered the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;to suspend construction of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-white-house-east-wing-66753cd005193ac190e3702bd7353c0b">$400 million ballroom</a>&nbsp;it demolished the East Wing of the White House to make space for, barring work from proceeding without congressional approval.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a preservationist group’s request for a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project. He concluded that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims because “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”

“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” wrote Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush.

The White House quickly filed a notice to appeal while Trump fumed at the ruling. “We built many things at the White House over the years. They don't get congressional approval," he told reporters in the Oval Office a short time later.

The ruling was the first major rebuke of Trump’s sweeping efforts to overhaul the White House. But it wasn’t immediately clear what it would mean for a sprawling project in which crews have long since torn down the East Wing, radically transforming the look and feel of the historic grounds.

The judge's decision came two days before the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency that signs off on construction on federal property in the Washington region, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-white-house-east-wing-12150cea351dc99858b3777e868fef34">expected to approve the addition</a>. Stephen Staudigl, a spokesperson for the commission, said the judge’s ruling does not affect the schedule for Thursday.

Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit prompting Leon's ruling, said, “We are pleased with Judge Leon’s ruling today to order a halt to any further ballroom construction until the Administration complies with the law and obtains express authorization to go forward."

”This is a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation,” Quillen said in a statement. The group had sued in hopes of obtaining an order pausing the ballroom project until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and receives congressional approval.

The judge acknowledged the complication of stopping work in progress

Leon suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that the case “raises novel and weighty issues, that halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.” He also recognized that the administration would appeal his decision.

The judge ruled that any construction work that's necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House is exempt from the scope of the injunction. Leon said he reviewed material that the government privately submitted to him before concluding that halting construction wouldn't jeopardize national security.

Trump noted that the ruling will allow work on underground bunkers and other security measures around the White House grounds to continue — even though those will be paid for by taxpayers, not the private donors and by Trump himself whom the president has promised will cover the cost of the ballroom.

The Republican president brought handwritten notes into the Oval Office that referenced that part of the ruling, saying, “It talks about we’re allowed to continue building.”

He then offered an exhaustive list of what's being done to enhance security while the ballroom is built.

“The roof is droneproof. We have secure air-handling systems. You know, bad things happen in the air if you have bad people,” the president said. “We have bio-defense all over. We have secure telecommunications and communications all over. We have bomb shelters that we’re building. We have a hospital and very major medical facilities that we’re building.”

He added, “Think of that for the safety of the president,” and said the ruling means “on that, we’re OK.”

Trump launched the project quickly, catching the public off-guard

The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer. By late October, Trump had demolished the East Wing for a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom he said would fit 999 people.

Trump proceeded with the project before seeking input from the National Capital Planning Commission and another oversight entity, the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump has stocked both commissions with allies. The trust sued in December.

On Feb. 26, Leon rejected the preservationist group’s initial bid to temporarily halt the ballroom’s construction. He said the privately funded group had based its challenge on a “ragtag group” of legal theories and would have a better chance of success if it amended the lawsuit, which it did.

The administration has said above-ground construction on the ballroom would begin in April.

“We are two weeks away,” plaintiffs’ attorney Thaddeus Heuer said during a March 17 hearing. “The imminence is now imminent.”

During the hearing, Leon sounded skeptical of what he referred to as the government’s “shifting theories and shifting dynamics” for its arguments in the case.

“I don’t think it’s a new theory,” Justice Department attorney Jacob Roth told the judge.

Leon expressed frustration at Roth’s attempts to equate the massive ballroom project with relatively modest construction work at the White House under previous administrations.

“This is an iconic symbol of this nation,” the judge said.

The administration argued that other presidents didn’t need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, large and small.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771522704150.png" alt="Ballroom Photo White House" />
 <figcaption>Ballroom Photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.60.0_3.pdf">ordered the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;to suspend construction of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-white-house-east-wing-66753cd005193ac190e3702bd7353c0b">$400 million ballroom</a>&nbsp;it demolished the East Wing of the White House to make space for, barring work from proceeding without congressional approval.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President FDR built an indoor swimming pool with private funds. President Obama built a basketball court with private funds. Yet a single judge can block President Trump from building a PRIVATELY FUNDED ballroom that would benefit generations to come. <a href="https://t.co/9IncMlqd8v">pic.twitter.com/9IncMlqd8v</a>&mdash; Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lancegooden/status/2039167600417034398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a preservationist group’s request for a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project. He concluded that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims because “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” wrote Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush.The White House quickly filed a notice to appeal while Trump fumed at the ruling. “We built many things at the White House over the years. They don't get congressional approval," he told reporters in the Oval Office a short time later.The ruling was the first major rebuke of Trump’s sweeping efforts to overhaul the White House. But it wasn’t immediately clear what it would mean for a sprawling project in which crews have long since torn down the East Wing, radically transforming the look and feel of the historic grounds.The judge's decision came two days before the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency that signs off on construction on federal property in the Washington region, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-white-house-east-wing-12150cea351dc99858b3777e868fef34">expected to approve the addition</a>. Stephen Staudigl, a spokesperson for the commission, said the judge’s ruling does not affect the schedule for Thursday.Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit prompting Leon's ruling, said, “We are pleased with Judge Leon’s ruling today to order a halt to any further ballroom construction until the Administration complies with the law and obtains express authorization to go forward."”This is a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation,” Quillen said in a statement. The group had sued in hopes of obtaining an order pausing the ballroom project until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and receives congressional approval.<h2>The judge acknowledged the complication of stopping work in progress</h2>Leon suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that the case “raises novel and weighty issues, that halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.” He also recognized that the administration would appeal his decision.The judge ruled that any construction work that's necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House is exempt from the scope of the injunction. Leon said he reviewed material that the government privately submitted to him before concluding that halting construction wouldn't jeopardize national security.Trump noted that the ruling will allow work on underground bunkers and other security measures around the White House grounds to continue — even though those will be paid for by taxpayers, not the private donors and by Trump himself whom the president has promised will cover the cost of the ballroom.The Republican president brought handwritten notes into the Oval Office that referenced that part of the ruling, saying, “It talks about we’re allowed to continue building.”He then offered an exhaustive list of what's being done to enhance security while the ballroom is built.“The roof is droneproof. We have secure air-handling systems. You know, bad things happen in the air if you have bad people,” the president said. “We have bio-defense all over. We have secure telecommunications and communications all over. We have bomb shelters that we’re building. We have a hospital and very major medical facilities that we’re building.”He added, “Think of that for the safety of the president,” and said the ruling means “on that, we’re OK.”<h2>Trump launched the project quickly, catching the public off-guard</h2>The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer. By late October, Trump had demolished the East Wing for a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom he said would fit 999 people.Trump proceeded with the project before seeking input from the National Capital Planning Commission and another oversight entity, the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump has stocked both commissions with allies. The trust sued in December.On Feb. 26, Leon rejected the preservationist group’s initial bid to temporarily halt the ballroom’s construction. He said the privately funded group had based its challenge on a “ragtag group” of legal theories and would have a better chance of success if it amended the lawsuit, which it did.The administration has said above-ground construction on the ballroom would begin in April.“We are two weeks away,” plaintiffs’ attorney Thaddeus Heuer said during a March 17 hearing. “The imminence is now imminent.”During the hearing, Leon sounded skeptical of what he referred to as the government’s “shifting theories and shifting dynamics” for its arguments in the case.“I don’t think it’s a new theory,” Justice Department attorney Jacob Roth told the judge.Leon expressed frustration at Roth’s attempts to equate the massive ballroom project with relatively modest construction work at the White House under previous administrations.“This is an iconic symbol of this nation,” the judge said.The administration argued that other presidents didn’t need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, large and small.“Many of those projects were highly controversial in their time yet have since become accepted — even beloved — parts of the White House,” government attorneys wrote.<h2>The project is another attempt by Trump to remake Washington</h2>Leon in his ruling rejected the administration's claim that Congress gave the president virtually unilateral authority to construct anything on federal land in Washington, regardless of the funding source.“This clearly is not how Congress and former Presidents have managed the White House for centuries, and this Court will not be the first to hold that Congress has ceded its powers in such a significant fashion!” the judge wrote.Since returning to the White House, Trump has frequently boasted about leaving a lasting mark on the building and the presidency.His extensive White House makeover efforts have already included building a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-rose-garden-club-e862eba55133195f0297c3595ba4122f">patio space alongside the Rose Garden</a>, erecting towering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-flagpoles-a0928efcdcb6d1362a0e1827e96d0344">flagpoles</a>&nbsp;on the North and South Lawns, renovating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gift-shop-kennedy-center-washington-crackdown-d0408cee60baa86ab6af5e3d7c60eaa5">bathroom</a>&nbsp;attached to the Lincoln Bedroom and the Palm Room, and adding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-b2d451ef26104755bd99a4ce77b18575">gold flourishes to the Oval Office</a>&nbsp;and the outside colonnade.The president also wants to build a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-arch-history-c4d271fde7bc90f1a1045ee7c21f4adb">ceremonial arch</a>&nbsp;near the Lincoln Memorial, overhaul several Washington-area&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-andrews-golf-course-renovation-jack-nicklaus-1e5e9bc2e791a094e91f6c4cedb79779">golf courses</a>&nbsp;and is leading a push to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-afd7c714c53d8942a4b76b2684a20755">revamp the Kennedy Center</a>&nbsp;that is forcing the nation’s capital’s premier center for the performing arts to close for two years this summer.___Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.