By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post Sports

WICHTIA - Hays used a five-run fifth inning to erase a four-run deficit and defeat Shawnee Heights 7-6 in the 5A State quarterfinals Thursday at Eck Stadium.

The Thunderbirds struck early, scoring in four of the first five innings. Two runs in the bottom of the first inning gave them the early lead. The Indians ended the inning with by throwing a runner out at home on an attempted double steal.

Hays took back one of those runs in the top of the third. Kal Lonsdale was hit by a pitch to open the inning. A Carter Graham sacrifice fly to right field scored Lonsdale for a 2-1 game. Heights added two more runs to their side of the scoreboard. Like in the first inning it was a two-out hit that provided the runs for the Thunderbirds resulting in a 4-1 lead.

Heights went up 5-1 with a single run in the fourth which followed the Indians' third error of the game.

Hays finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Landon Hardman led off the inning with a single and stolen base. Johnny Cano reached on a walk with one out. He and Hardman both advanced on a pair of passed balls. Hardman scored on the second to make the score 5-2.

Jalen Smith reached on error, which Cano scored on, and Graham legged out an infield single to load the bases. Ian McGuire provided the big blow of the inning. A two-out double to that rolled to the left field wall scored three runs for a 6-5 Hays lead.

The Thunderbirds again scored with two outs. This time a triple followed by a passed ball tied the game at six after five innings.

Jalen Smith has been no stranger to big hits late in games. He drove in the game winning run of the regional semi-final two games ago. Thursday afternoon he provided the go ahead hit that scored Lonsdale who led off the inning with a single and stolen base.&nbsp;

Graham and the Hays defense did the rest over the final two innings. Heights led of the bottom of the sixth with a single. That runner was erased with the team's 22nd double play of the season. Three fly ball outs in the seventh inning pushed Hays to the second day of the state tournament.

Graham (5-2) threw all seven innings for the victory. He allowed six runs, two of which were earned, on six hits. He struck out two and walked four on 101 pitches.

Hays (19-8) has won three straight elimination games by one run. Shawnee Heights (21-8) has a four game winning streak snapped.&nbsp;

The Indians advance to play St. Thomas Aquinas Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. The game can be heard on 96.9 KFIX. It will also be streamed on Hays Post.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post SportsWICHTIA - Hays used a five-run fifth inning to erase a four-run deficit and defeat Shawnee Heights 7-6 in the 5A State quarterfinals Thursday at Eck Stadium.The Thunderbirds struck early, scoring in four of the first five innings. Two runs in the bottom of the first inning gave them the early lead. The Indians ended the inning with by throwing a runner out at home on an attempted double steal.Hays took back one of those runs in the top of the third. Kal Lonsdale was hit by a pitch to open the inning. A Carter Graham sacrifice fly to right field scored Lonsdale for a 2-1 game. Heights added two more runs to their side of the scoreboard. Like in the first inning it was a two-out hit that provided the runs for the Thunderbirds resulting in a 4-1 lead.Heights went up 5-1 with a single run in the fourth which followed the Indians' third error of the game.Hays finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Landon Hardman led off the inning with a single and stolen base. Johnny Cano reached on a walk with one out. He and Hardman both advanced on a pair of passed balls. Hardman scored on the second to make the score 5-2.Jalen Smith reached on error, which Cano scored on, and Graham legged out an infield single to load the bases. Ian McGuire provided the big blow of the inning. A two-out double to that rolled to the left field wall scored three runs for a 6-5 Hays lead.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2104479147&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/5-29-25-hhs-bsb-highlights-v" title="5-29-25 HHS BSB Highlights v. Shawnee Heights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">5-29-25 HHS BSB Highlights v. Shawnee Heights</a></div></div>The Thunderbirds again scored with two outs. This time a triple followed by a passed ball tied the game at six after five innings.Jalen Smith has been no stranger to big hits late in games. He drove in the game winning run of the regional semi-final two games ago. Thursday afternoon he provided the go ahead hit that scored Lonsdale who led off the inning with a single and stolen base.&nbsp;Graham and the Hays defense did the rest over the final two innings. Heights led of the bottom of the sixth with a single. That runner was erased with the team's 22nd double play of the season. Three fly ball outs in the seventh inning pushed Hays to the second day of the state tournament.Graham (5-2) threw all seven innings for the victory. He allowed six runs, two of which were earned, on six hits. He struck out two and walked four on 101 pitches.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2104476690&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/5-29-25-hhs-bsb-coach" title="5-29-25 HHS BSB Coach Interview v. Shawnee Heights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">5-29-25 HHS BSB Coach Interview v. Shawnee Heights</a></div></div>Hays (19-8) has won three straight elimination games by one run. Shawnee Heights (21-8) has a four game winning streak snapped.&nbsp;The Indians advance to play St. Thomas Aquinas Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. The game can be heard on 96.9 KFIX. It will also be streamed on Hays Post.

⚾ Hays High advances to second day of 5A State

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Ness County couple who were convicted of mistreatment of a former Air Force nurse who served in Vietnam were sentenced to probation on Wednesday.

L<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/032dc57b-89f7-4905-ba23-e72dd8543a9a">ynn and Opal Schmidt of Ransom were arrested in July&nbsp;each on a charge of mistreatment of a dependent adult, and they entered pleas in Ness County District Court on March 20.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/441aea96-981d-4ed7-a86b-d273b232e533">The victim's friend, Renata Craft, wrote letters</a> and contacted veterans organizations to attend the couple's sentencing hearing, and supporters of the victim packed the court to capacity on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Ness County Attorney issued the following statement on the sentencing on Wednesday.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Ness County couple who were convicted of mistreatment of a former Air Force nurse who served in Vietnam were sentenced to probation on Wednesday.L<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/032dc57b-89f7-4905-ba23-e72dd8543a9a">ynn and Opal Schmidt of Ransom were arrested in July&nbsp;each on a charge of mistreatment of a dependent adult, and they entered pleas in Ness County District Court on March 20.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/441aea96-981d-4ed7-a86b-d273b232e533">The victim's friend, Renata Craft, wrote letters</a> and contacted veterans organizations to attend the couple's sentencing hearing, and supporters of the victim packed the court to capacity on Wednesday.&nbsp;The Ness County Attorney issued the following statement on the sentencing on Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748532327901.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748532342884.jpeg" alt="502428662_603951409376634_2908549778884683159_n.jpg" />
 <figcaption>502428662_603951409376634_2908549778884683159_n.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>

Ness County couple charged in mistreatment of elder veteran sentenced to probation

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Hays hit a high of 61 Wednesday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

Hays received .37 inches of rain as of 9 a.m. today. Hays has received 3.18 inches in the month of May. The low for Wednesday was 51.

On average, Hays receives 3.33 inches of rain in May and 7.92 inches of moisture year to date by the end of May.&nbsp;

The forecast for today is mostly sunny, with a high of 69 and a low of 46. Winds are expected to be around 8 mph.

Sunny skies will continue into the weekend, with a high of 80 on Friday and a high of 87 on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719872287576.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostHays hit a high of 61 Wednesday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.Hays received .37 inches of rain as of 9 a.m. today. Hays has received 3.18 inches in the month of May. The low for Wednesday was 51.On average, Hays receives 3.33 inches of rain in May and 7.92 inches of moisture year to date by the end of May.&nbsp;The forecast for today is mostly sunny, with a high of 69 and a low of 46. Winds are expected to be around 8 mph.Sunny skies will continue into the weekend, with a high of 80 on Friday and a high of 87 on Saturday.

Hays receives more rain; sunshine expected Friday

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;is leaving his government role as a top adviser to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;after spearheading efforts to reduce and overhaul the federal bureaucracy.

His departure, announced Wednesday evening, marks the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs, the evisceration of government agencies and reams of litigation. Despite the upheaval, the billionaire entrepreneur struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington, and he accomplished far less than he hoped.

He dramatically reduced his target for cutting spending — from $2 trillion to $1 trillion to $150 billion — and increasingly expressed frustration about resistance to his goals. Sometimes he clashed with other top members of Trump's administration, who chafed at the newcomer's efforts to reshape their departments, and he faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-doge-tesla-d1206a96983b30b9cef7b18eaa8c48a7">fierce political blowback</a>&nbsp;for his efforts.

Musk's role working for Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-tesla-government-cuts-c47211544c5382a6207779ee95c6060b">always intended to be temporary</a>, and he had recently signaled that he would be shifting his attention back to running his businesses, such as the electric automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX.

But administration officials were often vague about when Musk would step back from his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, and he abruptly revealed that he was leaving in a post on X, his social media website.

“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” he wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

A White House official, who requested anonymity to talk about the change, confirmed Musk's departure.

Musk announced his decision one day after CBS released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLbx2PJ4pqE">part of an interview</a>&nbsp;in which he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda by saying he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">“big beautiful bill.”</a>

The legislation includes a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement. Musk described it as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.

“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”

Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, defended his agenda by talking about the delicate politics involved with negotiating the legislation.

“I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said.

Trump also suggested that more changes could be made.

“We’re going to see what happens,” he said. “It’s got a way to go.”

Republicans recently pushed the measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">through the House</a>&nbsp;and are debating it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-medicaid-congress-senate-trump-bill-2825f8fa0e96a00cf72a6de6a5a88a25">in the Senate</a>.

Musk's concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers. “I sympathize with Elon being discouraged,” said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson.

Speaking at a Milwaukee Press Club event on Wednesday, Johnson added that he was “pretty confident” there was enough opposition “to slow this process down until the president, our leadership, gets serious” about reducing spending. He said there was no amount of pressure Trump could put on him to change his position.

Speaker Mike Johnson has asked senators to make as few changes to the legislation as possible, saying that House Republicans reached a “very delicate balance” that could be upended with major changes. The narrowly divided House will have to vote again on final passage once the Senate alters the bill.

On Wednesday, Johnson thanked Musk for his work and promised to pursue more spending cuts in the future, saying “the House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings.”

The White House is sending some proposed rescissions, a mechanism used to cancel previously authorized spending, to Capitol Hill to solidify some of DOGE’s cuts. A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget said the package will include $1.1 billion from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and $8.3 billion in foreign assistance.

Musk occasionally seemed chastened by his experience working in government.

“The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” he told The Washington Post. “I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”

He also recently said that he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-campaign-donations-ff47d9b4cf02b2e63633edf37823c8ff">reduce his political spending</a>, because “I think I’ve done enough.”

Musk had previously been energized by the opportunity to reshape Washington. After putting at least $250 million behind Trump's candidacy, he wore campaign hats in the White House, held his own campaign rallies, and talked about excessive spending as an existential crisis. He often tended to be effusive in his praise of Trump.

“The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy,” Musk said in February. “Frankly, I love him.”

Trump repaid the favor, describing Musk as “a truly great American.” When Tesla faced declining sales, he turned the White House driveway into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-9a43c57a0591a4c7ed8d3f1b2c7ef8d9">a makeshift showroom</a>&nbsp;to illustrate his support.

It's unclear what, if any, impact that Musk's comments about the bill would have on the legislative debate, especially given his departure from the administration. During the transition period, when his influence was on the rise,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-budget-debt-ceiling-shutdown-musk-johnson-e0258d31a9018c7af09afc11a8634707">he helped whip up opposition</a>&nbsp;to a spending measure as the country stood on the brink of a federal government shutdown.

His latest criticism could embolden Republicans who want bigger spending cuts. Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee reposted a Fox News story about Musk's interview while also adding his own take on the measure, saying there was “still time to fix it.”

“The Senate version will be more aggressive,” Lee said. “It can, it must, and it will be. Or it won’t pass.”

Only two Republicans — Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky — voted against the bill when the House took up the measure last week.

Davidson took note of Musk’s comments on social media.

“Hopefully, the Senate will succeed with the Big Beautiful Bill where the House missed the moment,” he wrote. “Don’t hope someone else will cut deficits someday, know it has been done this Congress.”

The Congressional Budget Office, in a preliminary estimate, said the tax provisions would increase federal deficits by $3.8 trillion over the decade, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">changes to Medicaid</a>, food stamps and other services would reduce spending by slightly more than $1 trillion over the same period.

House Republican leaders say increased economic growth would allow the bill to be deficit-neutral or deficit-reducing, but outside watchdogs are skeptical. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill would add $3 trillion to the debt, including interest, over the next decade.

___ Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Milwaukee, and Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741607065509.png" alt="File photo Elon Musk image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>File photo Elon Musk image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;is leaving his government role as a top adviser to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;after spearheading efforts to reduce and overhaul the federal bureaucracy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1927877957852266518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>His departure, announced Wednesday evening, marks the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs, the evisceration of government agencies and reams of litigation. Despite the upheaval, the billionaire entrepreneur struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington, and he accomplished far less than he hoped.He dramatically reduced his target for cutting spending — from $2 trillion to $1 trillion to $150 billion — and increasingly expressed frustration about resistance to his goals. Sometimes he clashed with other top members of Trump's administration, who chafed at the newcomer's efforts to reshape their departments, and he faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-doge-tesla-d1206a96983b30b9cef7b18eaa8c48a7">fierce political blowback</a>&nbsp;for his efforts.Musk's role working for Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-tesla-government-cuts-c47211544c5382a6207779ee95c6060b">always intended to be temporary</a>, and he had recently signaled that he would be shifting his attention back to running his businesses, such as the electric automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX.But administration officials were often vague about when Musk would step back from his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, and he abruptly revealed that he was leaving in a post on X, his social media website.“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” he wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”A White House official, who requested anonymity to talk about the change, confirmed Musk's departure.Musk announced his decision one day after CBS released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLbx2PJ4pqE">part of an interview</a>&nbsp;in which he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda by saying he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">“big beautiful bill.”</a>The legislation includes a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement. Musk described it as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, defended his agenda by talking about the delicate politics involved with negotiating the legislation.“I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said.Trump also suggested that more changes could be made.“We’re going to see what happens,” he said. “It’s got a way to go.”Republicans recently pushed the measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">through the House</a>&nbsp;and are debating it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-medicaid-congress-senate-trump-bill-2825f8fa0e96a00cf72a6de6a5a88a25">in the Senate</a>.Musk's concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers. “I sympathize with Elon being discouraged,” said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson.Speaking at a Milwaukee Press Club event on Wednesday, Johnson added that he was “pretty confident” there was enough opposition “to slow this process down until the president, our leadership, gets serious” about reducing spending. He said there was no amount of pressure Trump could put on him to change his position.Speaker Mike Johnson has asked senators to make as few changes to the legislation as possible, saying that House Republicans reached a “very delicate balance” that could be upended with major changes. The narrowly divided House will have to vote again on final passage once the Senate alters the bill.On Wednesday, Johnson thanked Musk for his work and promised to pursue more spending cuts in the future, saying “the House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings.”The White House is sending some proposed rescissions, a mechanism used to cancel previously authorized spending, to Capitol Hill to solidify some of DOGE’s cuts. A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget said the package will include $1.1 billion from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and $8.3 billion in foreign assistance.Musk occasionally seemed chastened by his experience working in government.“The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” he told The Washington Post. “I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”He also recently said that he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-campaign-donations-ff47d9b4cf02b2e63633edf37823c8ff">reduce his political spending</a>, because “I think I’ve done enough.”Musk had previously been energized by the opportunity to reshape Washington. After putting at least $250 million behind Trump's candidacy, he wore campaign hats in the White House, held his own campaign rallies, and talked about excessive spending as an existential crisis. He often tended to be effusive in his praise of Trump.“The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy,” Musk said in February. “Frankly, I love him.”Trump repaid the favor, describing Musk as “a truly great American.” When Tesla faced declining sales, he turned the White House driveway into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-9a43c57a0591a4c7ed8d3f1b2c7ef8d9">a makeshift showroom</a>&nbsp;to illustrate his support.It's unclear what, if any, impact that Musk's comments about the bill would have on the legislative debate, especially given his departure from the administration. During the transition period, when his influence was on the rise,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-budget-debt-ceiling-shutdown-musk-johnson-e0258d31a9018c7af09afc11a8634707">he helped whip up opposition</a>&nbsp;to a spending measure as the country stood on the brink of a federal government shutdown.His latest criticism could embolden Republicans who want bigger spending cuts. Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee reposted a Fox News story about Musk's interview while also adding his own take on the measure, saying there was “still time to fix it.”“The Senate version will be more aggressive,” Lee said. “It can, it must, and it will be. Or it won’t pass.”Only two Republicans — Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky — voted against the bill when the House took up the measure last week.Davidson took note of Musk’s comments on social media.“Hopefully, the Senate will succeed with the Big Beautiful Bill where the House missed the moment,” he wrote. “Don’t hope someone else will cut deficits someday, know it has been done this Congress.”The Congressional Budget Office, in a preliminary estimate, said the tax provisions would increase federal deficits by $3.8 trillion over the decade, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">changes to Medicaid</a>, food stamps and other services would reduce spending by slightly more than $1 trillion over the same period.House Republican leaders say increased economic growth would allow the bill to be deficit-neutral or deficit-reducing, but outside watchdogs are skeptical. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill would add $3 trillion to the debt, including interest, over the next decade.___ Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Milwaukee, and Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

Elon Musk is leaving Trump admin. after leading effort to slash federal government

McPHERSON
- TMP-Marian’s Heuer Brungardt closed with a 7-over-par 77 at 2A State
Golf Tournament at Turkey Creek in McPherson Wednesday. He finished with a 2-day total of
156 and placed ninth. Chase Drennon closed with an 80 and tied for 18th.

Hoxie’s
Noah Dowell wins the 2A title by 2 shots over Easton Fink of Oakley. After
firing a 4-under 68 in his first round Tuesday, Dowell shot a 2-over 72 in the final
round. Fink was the only golfer to shoot par Wednesday and had rounds of 72 and
70.

Sacred
Heart won their 10-th straight team title. They had a team total of 300 in the
final round and made up a 10-stroke gap with Syracuse on day one and won the
title by 17 strokes. Hoxie finished third and Hill City was sixth.

AJ
Deges and Case Haynes led the Ringnecks with 26th place finishes. Deges shot an
85 and Haynes an 83 in Wednesday’s final round.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748517848836.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsMcPHERSON
- TMP-Marian’s Heuer Brungardt closed with a 7-over-par 77 at 2A State
Golf Tournament at Turkey Creek in McPherson Wednesday. He finished with a 2-day total of
156 and placed ninth. Chase Drennon closed with an 80 and tied for 18th.Hoxie’s
Noah Dowell wins the 2A title by 2 shots over Easton Fink of Oakley. After
firing a 4-under 68 in his first round Tuesday, Dowell shot a 2-over 72 in the final
round. Fink was the only golfer to shoot par Wednesday and had rounds of 72 and
70.Sacred
Heart won their 10-th straight team title. They had a team total of 300 in the
final round and made up a 10-stroke gap with Syracuse on day one and won the
title by 17 strokes. Hoxie finished third and Hill City was sixth.AJ
Deges and Case Haynes led the Ringnecks with 26th place finishes. Deges shot an
85 and Haynes an 83 in Wednesday’s final round.

⛳ TMP's Brungardt places in top 10 at 2A state

EMPORIA
– Hays High’s Trey Oakley shot a 9-over-par 80 in his final round of the 5A State
Golf Tournament Wednesday at the Emporia Golf Course. He finished with a 2-day
total of 154 and tied for 37th place.

Oakley
shot a 37 on the front nine but finished with a 43 on the back.

Andover
Central’s Colt Farrow shot a 7-under-par 64 on Wednesday and finished 11-under
to win the 5A title.

Hays Post SportsEMPORIA
– Hays High’s Trey Oakley shot a 9-over-par 80 in his final round of the 5A State
Golf Tournament Wednesday at the Emporia Golf Course. He finished with a 2-day
total of 154 and tied for 37th place.Oakley
shot a 37 on the front nine but finished with a 43 on the back.Andover
Central’s Colt Farrow shot a 7-under-par 64 on Wednesday and finished 11-under
to win the 5A title.

⛳ Oakley finishes in top-40 at 5A state

The Hays Police Department executed a search warrant Thursday at a child care in Hays after reports of&nbsp;alleged child endangerment and potential drug use, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.

He said the search was part of an ongoing investigation.

Scheibler said police officers and officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment executed the warrant in the 2500 block of Donald Drive following reports made earlier in the week.

Scheibler said an officer sustained minor injuries from a dog bite during the search. No arrests have been made.

On Friday, the police department requested KDHE issue an emergency suspension to close the facility during the ongoing investigation,&nbsp;Scheibler said.

No names of potential suspects have been released.

Scheibler said all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Hays Police Department executed a search warrant Thursday at a child care in Hays after reports of&nbsp;alleged child endangerment and potential drug use, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.He said the search was part of an ongoing investigation.Scheibler said police officers and officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment executed the warrant in the 2500 block of Donald Drive following reports made earlier in the week.Scheibler said an officer sustained minor injuries from a dog bite during the search. No arrests have been made.On Friday, the police department requested KDHE issue an emergency suspension to close the facility during the ongoing investigation,&nbsp;Scheibler said.No names of potential suspects have been released.Scheibler said all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;

Hays child care searched after report of suspected drug use on premises

Bayer is reportedly considering dropping signature product as litigation costs mount and company fails in effort to obtain legal shelter from lawmakers

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

German chemical giant Bayer received no relief from runaway litigation costs associated with Roundup herbicide Tuesday when the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $611 million judgment that its product causes cancer.

The decision, in a case&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=WD87059&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0001_WAP" target="_blank">involving three plaintiffs</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22AC-CC00043&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#header" target="_blank">sued in Cole County</a>, is one of the reasons the company, which acquired Roundup as a product when it merged with Monsanto, in 2018, is considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.producer.com/news/bayer-says-it-could-halt-roundup-weedkiller-sales-over-legal-risks/" target="_blank">dropping the product entirely</a>. The company faces 67,000 lawsuits claiming the main ingredient, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with many of those cases awaiting trial in St. Louis County, where the company has its Bayer Crop Science headquarters.

The company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/18/missouri-house-debate-shows-gop-split-over-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">failed to win passage</a>&nbsp;of a bill intended to shield it from litigation in Missouri. The bill narrowly passed the House but lobbying missteps, including a campaign targeting some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/political-attacks-stiffen-opposition-to-missouri-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">most conservative members</a>&nbsp;of the state Senate, doomed it. The company did win passage of similar legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/04/14/bill-protecting-pesticide-availability-prevails-in-north-dakota-senate/" target="_blank">in North Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXrKePs5Wk" target="_blank">in Georgia</a>.

In November 2023, a Cole County jury awarded $1.6 billion to three plaintiffs who claimed their cancer was caused by glyphosate exposure while using Roundup. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green reduced the $500 million punitive damages awarded to each plaintiff, instead reducing each award by varying amounts.

Green did not change the amounts awarded for actual damages, which ranged from $5.6 million to $38 million and totaled $61.1 million.

With post-judgment interest, the total Bayer owes is now in excess of $700 million.

“We’re certainly pleased with the court of appeals decision that vindicates the jury’s verdict and the trial court’s judgment,” said attorney Matthew Clement of Jefferson City, who represented the plaintiffs in the case. “We’re happy that nothing happened in the legislature, this year at least, that will affect future cases and and will continue to litigate our cases like we had been.”

In a statement issued through Bayer spokesman Brian Leake, the company said it would continue to appeal the case.

“We continue to believe that the trial court committed significant errors by allowing inadmissible and prejudicial testimony into the courtroom which poisoned the jury against the company,” the statement read.

Bayer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take its appeal of a 2024 Missouri case awarding $1.25 million in damages to John Durnell of St. Louis. The Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February and on April 1 the Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.

The U.S. Supreme Court has given parties until June 9 to file arguments on whether it should accept the case.

“The overwhelming weight of science as well as the assessments of the EPA and leading health regulators and scientists worldwide that support the safety and non-carcinogenicity of Roundup and we will continue to defend our products in court,” the company stated.

Bayer has paid out at least $10 billion for jury awards and settlements and earlier this year said it had an additional $6 billion set aside. That fund will be depleted quickly if decisions like the one upheld Tuesday are allowed to stand and the company suffers more losses like a&nbsp; $2.1 billion judgment handed down in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/georgia-jury-orders-monsanto-parent-to-pay-nearly-2-1-billion-in-roundup-weedkiller-lawsuit#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A,to%20attorneys%20representing%20the%20plaintiff." target="_blank">by a jury in Georgia</a>.&nbsp;

According to a report from Reuters, Roundup produced $2.8 billion in revenue for Bayer in 2024.

The bill protecting glyphosate from litigation passed the Georgia legislature a few weeks after the $2.1 billion award.

Gov. Mike Kehoe, at a news conference after lawmakers adjourned earlier this month, blamed defeat of the Missouri legislation on trial attorneys who have made “tens of millions of dollars” off the lawsuits.

“If, for some reason, that particular product is not produced anymore in the United States, farmers are still going to need that type of product, that type of weed control, and so that, glyphosate I think is what it’s called, will be produced somewhere,” Kehoe said. “And if it is, it won’t be produced in this country, and farmers will not have the same protections and liability recourse back on the companies who make it, if it’s made in China or somewhere overseas.”

Bayer is also being sued by shareholders in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/05/investors-awarded-class-action-status-in-new-bayer-lawsuit/" target="_blank">class action lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over its decision to spend $68 billion to acquire Monsanto in 2018. The lawsuit alleges Bayer misled investors over the risks of the acquisition and failed to properly perform due diligence before buying Monsanto,

When Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018, its stock price was about $30 a share. On Tuesday afternoon, the company’s shares were selling for $7 apiece.

In the appeal of the Cole County decision, Bayer argued that Green made numerous errors in the trial and in rulings on post-trial motions. The company’s lawyers’ main points challenged the admissibility of testimony about a case over EPA evaluations of glyphosate; surprise findings from an expert; the use made of medical billing records; and whether the punitive damages were unconstitutionally duplicative.

At the heart of most glyphosate cases, and the target of legislation, is the label and whether it includes a proper notice that glyphosate may cause cancer.

“The misconduct complained about in the complaints in the three California cases Monsanto relies on, and in (one plaintiff’s) petition, includes allegations that despite scientific evidence that Roundup was carcinogenic, Monsanto continued to sell Roundup, and that Monsanto failed to warn of the dangerous effects of using Roundup,” Judge Cynthia Martin wrote in the Western District opinion delivered Tuesday.

In a discussion of whether the punitive damage award should have been reduced more, Martin wrote that “Monsanto’s degree of reprehensibility was high.”

Martin noted that the evidence shows that while the EPA has registered Roundup “for sale since 1974, Monsanto has been aware since 1985 that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has the potential to cause cancer.”

Each of the plaintiffs suffered damages because Monsanto sold a product that was “unreasonably dangerous when used as reasonably anticipated” without altering the labeling to provide a warning.

“Monsanto’s awareness,” Martin wrote, “of studies demonstrating the possibility of a causal relationship between glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and cancer, particularly NHL, and then its decision to double down on its defense of Roundup in lieu of changing the product’s formulation or adding a warning label regarding the risk posed by Roundup demonstrates, at best, Monsanto’s indifference to or reckless disregard of the health of its customers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593022262288.png" alt="Post File photo" />
 <figcaption>Post File photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Bayer is reportedly considering dropping signature product as litigation costs mount and company fails in effort to obtain legal shelter from lawmakers</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>German chemical giant Bayer received no relief from runaway litigation costs associated with Roundup herbicide Tuesday when the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $611 million judgment that its product causes cancer.The decision, in a case&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=WD87059&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0001_WAP" target="_blank">involving three plaintiffs</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22AC-CC00043&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#header" target="_blank">sued in Cole County</a>, is one of the reasons the company, which acquired Roundup as a product when it merged with Monsanto, in 2018, is considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.producer.com/news/bayer-says-it-could-halt-roundup-weedkiller-sales-over-legal-risks/" target="_blank">dropping the product entirely</a>. The company faces 67,000 lawsuits claiming the main ingredient, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with many of those cases awaiting trial in St. Louis County, where the company has its Bayer Crop Science headquarters.The company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/18/missouri-house-debate-shows-gop-split-over-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">failed to win passage</a>&nbsp;of a bill intended to shield it from litigation in Missouri. The bill narrowly passed the House but lobbying missteps, including a campaign targeting some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/political-attacks-stiffen-opposition-to-missouri-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">most conservative members</a>&nbsp;of the state Senate, doomed it. The company did win passage of similar legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/04/14/bill-protecting-pesticide-availability-prevails-in-north-dakota-senate/" target="_blank">in North Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXrKePs5Wk" target="_blank">in Georgia</a>.In November 2023, a Cole County jury awarded $1.6 billion to three plaintiffs who claimed their cancer was caused by glyphosate exposure while using Roundup. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green reduced the $500 million punitive damages awarded to each plaintiff, instead reducing each award by varying amounts.Green did not change the amounts awarded for actual damages, which ranged from $5.6 million to $38 million and totaled $61.1 million.With post-judgment interest, the total Bayer owes is now in excess of $700 million.“We’re certainly pleased with the court of appeals decision that vindicates the jury’s verdict and the trial court’s judgment,” said attorney Matthew Clement of Jefferson City, who represented the plaintiffs in the case. “We’re happy that nothing happened in the legislature, this year at least, that will affect future cases and and will continue to litigate our cases like we had been.”In a statement issued through Bayer spokesman Brian Leake, the company said it would continue to appeal the case.“We continue to believe that the trial court committed significant errors by allowing inadmissible and prejudicial testimony into the courtroom which poisoned the jury against the company,” the statement read.Bayer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take its appeal of a 2024 Missouri case awarding $1.25 million in damages to John Durnell of St. Louis. The Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February and on April 1 the Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.The U.S. Supreme Court has given parties until June 9 to file arguments on whether it should accept the case.“The overwhelming weight of science as well as the assessments of the EPA and leading health regulators and scientists worldwide that support the safety and non-carcinogenicity of Roundup and we will continue to defend our products in court,” the company stated.Bayer has paid out at least $10 billion for jury awards and settlements and earlier this year said it had an additional $6 billion set aside. That fund will be depleted quickly if decisions like the one upheld Tuesday are allowed to stand and the company suffers more losses like a&nbsp; $2.1 billion judgment handed down in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/georgia-jury-orders-monsanto-parent-to-pay-nearly-2-1-billion-in-roundup-weedkiller-lawsuit#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A,to%20attorneys%20representing%20the%20plaintiff." target="_blank">by a jury in Georgia</a>.&nbsp;According to a report from Reuters, Roundup produced $2.8 billion in revenue for Bayer in 2024.The bill protecting glyphosate from litigation passed the Georgia legislature a few weeks after the $2.1 billion award.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748460279946.png" alt=" State Sen. Brad Hudson of Cape Fair speaks at a news conference Feb. 25 about flyers sent to his constituents attacking his opposition to a bill limiting lawsuits against Bayer over its herbicide Roundup. Joining Hudson, from left, are Sens. Nick Schroer of Defiance, Ben Brown of Washington, Joe Nicola of Independence, Mike Moon of Ash Grove, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, Jill Carter of Joplin and David Gregory of Chesterfield (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Brad Hudson of Cape Fair speaks at a news conference Feb. 25 about flyers sent to his constituents attacking his opposition to a bill limiting lawsuits against Bayer over its herbicide Roundup. Joining Hudson, from left, are Sens. Nick Schroer of Defiance, Ben Brown of Washington, Joe Nicola of Independence, Mike Moon of Ash Grove, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, Jill Carter of Joplin and David Gregory of Chesterfield (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Mike Kehoe, at a news conference after lawmakers adjourned earlier this month, blamed defeat of the Missouri legislation on trial attorneys who have made “tens of millions of dollars” off the lawsuits.“If, for some reason, that particular product is not produced anymore in the United States, farmers are still going to need that type of product, that type of weed control, and so that, glyphosate I think is what it’s called, will be produced somewhere,” Kehoe said. “And if it is, it won’t be produced in this country, and farmers will not have the same protections and liability recourse back on the companies who make it, if it’s made in China or somewhere overseas.”Bayer is also being sued by shareholders in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/05/investors-awarded-class-action-status-in-new-bayer-lawsuit/" target="_blank">class action lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over its decision to spend $68 billion to acquire Monsanto in 2018. The lawsuit alleges Bayer misled investors over the risks of the acquisition and failed to properly perform due diligence before buying Monsanto,When Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018, its stock price was about $30 a share. On Tuesday afternoon, the company’s shares were selling for $7 apiece.In the appeal of the Cole County decision, Bayer argued that Green made numerous errors in the trial and in rulings on post-trial motions. The company’s lawyers’ main points challenged the admissibility of testimony about a case over EPA evaluations of glyphosate; surprise findings from an expert; the use made of medical billing records; and whether the punitive damages were unconstitutionally duplicative.At the heart of most glyphosate cases, and the target of legislation, is the label and whether it includes a proper notice that glyphosate may cause cancer.“The misconduct complained about in the complaints in the three California cases Monsanto relies on, and in (one plaintiff’s) petition, includes allegations that despite scientific evidence that Roundup was carcinogenic, Monsanto continued to sell Roundup, and that Monsanto failed to warn of the dangerous effects of using Roundup,” Judge Cynthia Martin wrote in the Western District opinion delivered Tuesday.In a discussion of whether the punitive damage award should have been reduced more, Martin wrote that “Monsanto’s degree of reprehensibility was high.”Martin noted that the evidence shows that while the EPA has registered Roundup “for sale since 1974, Monsanto has been aware since 1985 that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has the potential to cause cancer.”Each of the plaintiffs suffered damages because Monsanto sold a product that was “unreasonably dangerous when used as reasonably anticipated” without altering the labeling to provide a warning.“Monsanto’s awareness,” Martin wrote, “of studies demonstrating the possibility of a causal relationship between glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and cancer, particularly NHL, and then its decision to double down on its defense of Roundup in lieu of changing the product’s formulation or adding a warning label regarding the risk posed by Roundup demonstrates, at best, Monsanto’s indifference to or reckless disregard of the health of its customers.”

Appeals court upholds $611M judgment in Roundup liability case

Greensboro, N.C. - The American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings have named Fort Hays State starting pitcher Ty Riley a first team All-Central Region performer, announced Wednesday (May 28) by the coaches association.

It is the third All-Region honor for the Tiger senior this season, joining his first team honor from the D2CCA and his second team recognition from the NCBWA. Riley was also named an honorable mention All-American earlier Wednesday by the D2CCA.

The Friday night starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.

The Bentonville, Ark. native ranked 10th in Division II in hits allowed per nine innings (6.22), while his 11.17 strikeouts per nine innings ranked 22nd in the country and his nine wins were second-most in the MIAA.

Riley struck out 16 batters in a game against Colorado-Colorado Springs, second-most in a game by a DII pitcher this season. He racked up seven quality starts and tossed an MIAA-best four complete games, including one nine-inning shutout.

He is the first Tiger to earn All-Region status from the ABCA since 2014 (Clayton Garland).

Riley was one of seven MIAA athletes listed on the first team and one of 13 overall to be named All-Region.

NCAA Div. II Central All-Region First Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas Monticello - AR 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State - KS 2B - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana University - SD 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn - KS IF - Ike Mezzenga - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK OF - Alex Rodgers - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary - ND DH - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN UT - Chase Keeton - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK P - Ty Riley - Sr. - Fort Hays State - KS P - Maddox Long - 5th - Harding - AR P - Nathan Culley - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN P - Kolby Dougan - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State - AR

NCAA Div. II Central All-Region Second Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Jeremy Schork - Sr. - Henderson State - AR 1B - Tyler Sardelli - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR 2B - Luke Farrar - Sr. - Henderson State - AR} 3B - Logan Lacey - Jr. - Harding - AR SS - Cole Dawson - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR IF - Aidan Byrne - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Trevor Winterstein - Sr. - Augustana University - SD OF - Vance Tobol - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO OF - Zach Stroh - Sr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Drew Townsend - Sr. - Missouri Southern - MO DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO UT - Josh Dykhoff - Jr. - Minnesota Crookston - MN P - Dax Sharp - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK P - Will Kates - Jr. - Northwestern Oklahoma State - OK P - Maddox Thornton - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS P - Jeremy Adorno - Sr. - Southern Arkansas - AR RP - JD McReynolds - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO

Region Position Player of the Year: Caden Robertson, Central Oklahoma Region Pitcher of the Year: Maddox Long, Harding

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748450651642.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsGreensboro, N.C. - The American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings have named Fort Hays State starting pitcher Ty Riley a first team All-Central Region performer, announced Wednesday (May 28) by the coaches association.It is the third All-Region honor for the Tiger senior this season, joining his first team honor from the D2CCA and his second team recognition from the NCBWA. Riley was also named an honorable mention All-American earlier Wednesday by the D2CCA.The Friday night starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.The Bentonville, Ark. native ranked 10th in Division II in hits allowed per nine innings (6.22), while his 11.17 strikeouts per nine innings ranked 22nd in the country and his nine wins were second-most in the MIAA.Riley struck out 16 batters in a game against Colorado-Colorado Springs, second-most in a game by a DII pitcher this season. He racked up seven quality starts and tossed an MIAA-best four complete games, including one nine-inning shutout.He is the first Tiger to earn All-Region status from the ABCA since 2014 (Clayton Garland).Riley was one of seven MIAA athletes listed on the first team and one of 13 overall to be named All-Region.NCAA Div. II Central All-Region First Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas Monticello - AR 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State - KS 2B - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana University - SD 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn - KS IF - Ike Mezzenga - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK OF - Alex Rodgers - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary - ND DH - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN UT - Chase Keeton - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK P - Ty Riley - Sr. - Fort Hays State - KS P - Maddox Long - 5th - Harding - AR P - Nathan Culley - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN P - Kolby Dougan - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State - ARNCAA Div. II Central All-Region Second Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Jeremy Schork - Sr. - Henderson State - AR 1B - Tyler Sardelli - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR 2B - Luke Farrar - Sr. - Henderson State - AR} 3B - Logan Lacey - Jr. - Harding - AR SS - Cole Dawson - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR IF - Aidan Byrne - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Trevor Winterstein - Sr. - Augustana University - SD OF - Vance Tobol - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO OF - Zach Stroh - Sr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Drew Townsend - Sr. - Missouri Southern - MO DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO UT - Josh Dykhoff - Jr. - Minnesota Crookston - MN P - Dax Sharp - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK P - Will Kates - Jr. - Northwestern Oklahoma State - OK P - Maddox Thornton - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS P - Jeremy Adorno - Sr. - Southern Arkansas - AR RP - JD McReynolds - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO Region Position Player of the Year: Caden Robertson, Central Oklahoma Region Pitcher of the Year: Maddox Long, Harding

⚾ Coaches name Riley first team All-Region

MARSHALL, Minn. - Fort Hays State baseball pitcher Ty Riley was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) honorable mention All-America list, announced Wednesday (May 28).

The first team All-Central Region starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.

Riley is the first Tiger to earn All-America status since 2015 (Kevin Czarnecki) and is the first starting pitcher to earn the honor since 2006 (Bobby Lewton).

He was one of seven MIAA players listed on the All-America list this season.

The CCA All-America and All-Region baseball teams, which are selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC) from schools playing Division II baseball, were first established in 2007. This is the ninth year in which the program is solely sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

2025 CCA NCAA DIVISION II BASEBALL PITCHER &amp; PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ron Lenz Pitcher of the Year: Ian Korn, Seton Hill University (Pa.) Ron Lenz Player of the Year: Brevin McCool, Lubbock Christian University (Texas)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM C - Adam Paniagua - Sr. - Regis (Colo.) 1B - Christian Castaneda - Sr. - CSU Pueblo 2B - Andrew Graham - Jr. - MSU Denver 3B - Brevin McCool - Sr. - Lubbock Christian (Texas) SS - Javon Hernandez - Sr. - Jefferson (Pa.) OF - Noah Blythe - Sr. - Hawaii Pacific OF - Cameron Cartwright - Jr. - Colorado Mesa OF - Mackenzie Wainwright - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) DH - Jake Entrekin - Sr. - Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) UT (non-pitcher) - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana (S.D.) UT (pitcher) - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State SP - Ryan Humphreys - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.) SP - Ian Korn - Jr. - Seton Hill (Pa.) SP - Maddox Long - Sr. - Harding (Ark.) SP - Dawson Montesa - So. - Adelphi (N.Y.) RP - Hayden Simmerson - So. - Catawba (N.C.)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM C - Cole Stanford - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) 2B - Mikey Kocen - Sr. - Lewis (Ill.) 3B - Cole Fowler - Sr. - Lynn (Fla.) SS - Drew Schmidt - So. - University of Texas-Tyler OF - Jacob Guerrero - Sr. - Angelo State (Texas) OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma OF - Paul Schoenfeld - Sr. - Colorado Mesa DH - Sal Carricato - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) UT (non-pitcher) - Thomas Matuszewski - Fr. - Jefferson (Pa.) UT (pitcher) - Cole Calnon - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho)| SP - C.J. Williams - Sr. - Tampa (Fla.) SP - Kolton Casson - Fr. - Carson-Newman (Tenn.) SP - Ernesto Lugo-Canchola - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) SP - Kolby Dougan - Sr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) RP - Zach Yates - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas-Monticello 1B - Charlie Bussey III - So. - Francis Marion (S.C.) 2B - McGwire Turner - So. - Montevallo (Ala.) 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn (Kan.) OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State| OF - Andrews Opata - Jr. - North Georgia OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary (N.D.) DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri UT (non-pitcher) - Kory Schmidt - Sr. - West Texas A&amp;M UT (pitcher) - Billy Morris - Jr. - D'Youville (N.Y.) SP - Matty Brown - Fr. - North Greenville (S.C.) SP - Nathan Culley - Sr. - Minnesota State SP - Jayden Dentler - Sr. - Grand Valley State (Mich.) SP - Dalton Neuschwander - Sr. - West Florida RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State (Ark.)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA HONORABLE MENTION}Ivan Dahlberg (C, Illinois Springfield); Jacob Houtz (1B, Mansfield); Luke Farrar (2B, Henderson State); Jackson Crider (3B, Drury); J.D. Urso (SS, Tampa); Bryce LaRocca (OF, Mississippi College); KW Quilici (OF, Cal State Monterey Bay); Grant Sherrod (OF, Lander); Chase Pendley (DH, Angelo State); Bryce McFeely (Utility Non-Pitcher, Westmont); Gage Gillott (Utility Pitcher, Slippery Rock); Keegan Batka (SP, Davenport); Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion (SP, Francis Marion); Ryan Markwardt (SP, Lubbock Christian); Ty Riley (SP, Fort Hays State); Nick Niebur (RP, UT Tyler)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748450242314.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsMARSHALL, Minn. - Fort Hays State baseball pitcher Ty Riley was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) honorable mention All-America list, announced Wednesday (May 28).The first team All-Central Region starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.The Bentonville, Ark. native ranked 10th in Division II in hits allowed per nine innings (6.22), while his 11.17 strikeouts per nine innings ranked 22nd in the country and his nine wins were second-most in the MIAA.Riley struck out 16 batters in a game against Colorado-Colorado Springs, second-most in a game by a DII pitcher this season. He racked up seven quality starts and tossed an MIAA-best four complete games, including one nine-inning shutout.Riley is the first Tiger to earn All-America status since 2015 (Kevin Czarnecki) and is the first starting pitcher to earn the honor since 2006 (Bobby Lewton).He was one of seven MIAA players listed on the All-America list this season.The CCA All-America and All-Region baseball teams, which are selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC) from schools playing Division II baseball, were first established in 2007. This is the ninth year in which the program is solely sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.2025 CCA NCAA DIVISION II BASEBALL PITCHER &amp; PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ron Lenz Pitcher of the Year: Ian Korn, Seton Hill University (Pa.) Ron Lenz Player of the Year: Brevin McCool, Lubbock Christian University (Texas)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM C - Adam Paniagua - Sr. - Regis (Colo.) 1B - Christian Castaneda - Sr. - CSU Pueblo 2B - Andrew Graham - Jr. - MSU Denver 3B - Brevin McCool - Sr. - Lubbock Christian (Texas) SS - Javon Hernandez - Sr. - Jefferson (Pa.) OF - Noah Blythe - Sr. - Hawaii Pacific OF - Cameron Cartwright - Jr. - Colorado Mesa OF - Mackenzie Wainwright - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) DH - Jake Entrekin - Sr. - Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) UT (non-pitcher) - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana (S.D.) UT (pitcher) - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State SP - Ryan Humphreys - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.) SP - Ian Korn - Jr. - Seton Hill (Pa.) SP - Maddox Long - Sr. - Harding (Ark.) SP - Dawson Montesa - So. - Adelphi (N.Y.) RP - Hayden Simmerson - So. - Catawba (N.C.)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM C - Cole Stanford - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) 2B - Mikey Kocen - Sr. - Lewis (Ill.) 3B - Cole Fowler - Sr. - Lynn (Fla.) SS - Drew Schmidt - So. - University of Texas-Tyler OF - Jacob Guerrero - Sr. - Angelo State (Texas) OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma OF - Paul Schoenfeld - Sr. - Colorado Mesa DH - Sal Carricato - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) UT (non-pitcher) - Thomas Matuszewski - Fr. - Jefferson (Pa.) UT (pitcher) - Cole Calnon - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho)| SP - C.J. Williams - Sr. - Tampa (Fla.) SP - Kolton Casson - Fr. - Carson-Newman (Tenn.) SP - Ernesto Lugo-Canchola - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) SP - Kolby Dougan - Sr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) RP - Zach Yates - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas-Monticello 1B - Charlie Bussey III - So. - Francis Marion (S.C.) 2B - McGwire Turner - So. - Montevallo (Ala.) 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn (Kan.) OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State| OF - Andrews Opata - Jr. - North Georgia OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary (N.D.) DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri UT (non-pitcher) - Kory Schmidt - Sr. - West Texas A&amp;M UT (pitcher) - Billy Morris - Jr. - D'Youville (N.Y.) SP - Matty Brown - Fr. - North Greenville (S.C.) SP - Nathan Culley - Sr. - Minnesota State SP - Jayden Dentler - Sr. - Grand Valley State (Mich.) SP - Dalton Neuschwander - Sr. - West Florida RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State (Ark.)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA HONORABLE MENTION}Ivan Dahlberg (C, Illinois Springfield); Jacob Houtz (1B, Mansfield); Luke Farrar (2B, Henderson State); Jackson Crider (3B, Drury); J.D. Urso (SS, Tampa); Bryce LaRocca (OF, Mississippi College); KW Quilici (OF, Cal State Monterey Bay); Grant Sherrod (OF, Lander); Chase Pendley (DH, Angelo State); Bryce McFeely (Utility Non-Pitcher, Westmont); Gage Gillott (Utility Pitcher, Slippery Rock); Keegan Batka (SP, Davenport); Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion (SP, Francis Marion); Ryan Markwardt (SP, Lubbock Christian); Ty Riley (SP, Fort Hays State); Nick Niebur (RP, UT Tyler)

⚾ FHSU's Riley named honorable mention All-America

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

TOPEKA — President Donald Trump appointed former Kansas Republican Rep. Patrick Penn, who resigned from his House seat earlier this month, as the deputy undersecretary for the department’s food, nutrition and consumer services.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, appointed by Trump in February, announced Penn’s new position&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/27/secretary-rollins-announces-new-slate-presidential-appointments-usda-food-and-nutrition-service-farm" target="_blank">Tuesday</a>, along with a slate of other state-level leadership designations.

“President Trump is putting Farmers First, and so is the incredible team we are building at the Department of Agriculture,” Rollins said in a press release. “Our latest additions to the USDA family are personally invested in ensuring farmers and rural America prosper.”

Penn resigned from the Wichita-area House seat he held since 2021 on&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-republican-state-rep-patrick-penn-of-wichita-plans-to-quit-house/">May 14</a>, submitting letters to Republican party and state officials. A special precinct election to select a representative to fill the vacant 85th district seat is set for Wednesday. Penn’s term was set to expire January 2027.

Penn is a former Army signal officer who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was first elected to the Kansas Legislature in 2020, where he was dedicated to pushing Second Amendment legislation, including repeated attempts to pass a firearm education program bill.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers 16 food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps, and emergency food assistance.

Penn voted during the 2025 legislative session in favor of prohibiting SNAP beneficiaries from purchasing candy and soft drinks with their food assistance dollars. Also during the 2025 legislative session, Penn was involved in a handful of disruptive moments. In March, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/11/kansas-democrats-liken-bill-to-expand-inspector-generals-authority-to-ag-power-grab/">questioned a Democratic lawmaker’s motives</a>&nbsp;during debate on the House floor. In February, while on the House floor, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/13/kansas-republicans-allude-to-shooting-former-democratic-representative-in-exchange-on-house-floor/">alluded to a hypothetical act of violence</a>&nbsp;against a former Hutchinson Democratic representative.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748436728464.jpeg" alt=" Former Kansas Rep. Patrick Penn, seen here during a March 5, 2024, debate in the House, was appointed to a position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture shortly after vacating his House seat. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Former Kansas Rep. Patrick Penn, seen here during a March 5, 2024, debate in the House, was appointed to a position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture shortly after vacating his House seat. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — President Donald Trump appointed former Kansas Republican Rep. Patrick Penn, who resigned from his House seat earlier this month, as the deputy undersecretary for the department’s food, nutrition and consumer services.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, appointed by Trump in February, announced Penn’s new position&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/27/secretary-rollins-announces-new-slate-presidential-appointments-usda-food-and-nutrition-service-farm" target="_blank">Tuesday</a>, along with a slate of other state-level leadership designations.“President Trump is putting Farmers First, and so is the incredible team we are building at the Department of Agriculture,” Rollins said in a press release. “Our latest additions to the USDA family are personally invested in ensuring farmers and rural America prosper.”Penn resigned from the Wichita-area House seat he held since 2021 on&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-republican-state-rep-patrick-penn-of-wichita-plans-to-quit-house/">May 14</a>, submitting letters to Republican party and state officials. A special precinct election to select a representative to fill the vacant 85th district seat is set for Wednesday. Penn’s term was set to expire January 2027.Penn is a former Army signal officer who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was first elected to the Kansas Legislature in 2020, where he was dedicated to pushing Second Amendment legislation, including repeated attempts to pass a firearm education program bill.The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers 16 food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps, and emergency food assistance.Penn voted during the 2025 legislative session in favor of prohibiting SNAP beneficiaries from purchasing candy and soft drinks with their food assistance dollars. Also during the 2025 legislative session, Penn was involved in a handful of disruptive moments. In March, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/11/kansas-democrats-liken-bill-to-expand-inspector-generals-authority-to-ag-power-grab/">questioned a Democratic lawmaker’s motives</a>&nbsp;during debate on the House floor. In February, while on the House floor, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/13/kansas-republicans-allude-to-shooting-former-democratic-representative-in-exchange-on-house-floor/">alluded to a hypothetical act of violence</a>&nbsp;against a former Hutchinson Democratic representative.

Trump appoints former Kansas legislator to USDA post

After back-to-back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">explosions</a>, SpaceX launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-launch-accident-e69d04467e2def65d2bc6b0e9645d715">mega rocket Starship</a>&nbsp;again on Tuesday evening, but fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart.

The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket blasted off on its ninth demo from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas. Residents voted this month to organize as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-starbase-texas-city-7863bf3bac65e9718eef19b27978933b">an official city</a>.

CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s SpaceX hoped to release a series of mock satellites following liftoff, but that got nixed because the door failed to open all the way. Then the spacecraft began spinning as it skimmed space toward an uncontrolled landing in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly,” or burst apart. “Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” the company said in an online statement.

Musk noted in a post on X it was a “big improvement” from the two previous demos, which ended in flaming debris over the Atlantic. Despite the latest setback, he promised a faster launch pace moving forward, with a Starship soaring every three to four weeks for the next three flights.

It was the first time one of Musk's Starships —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-astronauts-artemis-01ac3c0ec59bfc8b2612c987a72d91f3">intended for moon</a>&nbsp;and Mars travel — flew with a recycled booster. There were no plans to catch the booster with giant chopsticks back at the launch pad, with the company instead pushing it to its limits. Contact with the booster was lost at one point, and it slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in pieces as the spacecraft continued toward the Indian Ocean.

Then the spacecraft went out of control, apparently due to fuel leaks.

“Not looking great with a lot of our on-orbit objectives for today,” said SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot. The company had been looking to test the spacecraft’s heat shield during a controlled reentry.

Communication ceased before the spacecraft came down, and SpaceX ended its webcast soon afterward.

The previous two Starships never made it past the Caribbean. The demos earlier this year ended just minutes after liftoff, raining wreckage into the ocean. No injuries or serious damage were reported, although airline travel was disrupted. The Federal Aviation Administration last week cleared Starship for another flight, expanding the hazard area and pushing the liftoff outside peak air travel times.

Besides taking corrective action and making upgrades, SpaceX modified the latest spacecraft’s thermal tiles and installed special catch fittings. This one was meant to sink in the Indian Ocean, but the company wanted to test the add-ons for capturing future versions back at the pad, just like the boosters.

NASA needs SpaceX to make major strides over the next year with Starship — the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built — in order to land astronauts back on the moon. Next year’s moonshot with four astronauts will fly around the moon, but will not land. That will happen in 2027 at the earliest and require a Starship to get two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back off again.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

After back-to-back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">explosions</a>, SpaceX launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-launch-accident-e69d04467e2def65d2bc6b0e9645d715">mega rocket Starship</a>&nbsp;again on Tuesday evening, but fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Liftoff of Starship! <a href="https://t.co/aXAwLkRbuK">pic.twitter.com/aXAwLkRbuK</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1927509601001341037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket blasted off on its ninth demo from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas. Residents voted this month to organize as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-starbase-texas-city-7863bf3bac65e9718eef19b27978933b">an official city</a>.CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s SpaceX hoped to release a series of mock satellites following liftoff, but that got nixed because the door failed to open all the way. Then the spacecraft began spinning as it skimmed space toward an uncontrolled landing in the Indian Ocean.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As if the flight test was not exciting enough, Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s…&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1927523399552631088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly,” or burst apart. “Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” the company said in an online statement.Musk noted in a post on X it was a “big improvement” from the two previous demos, which ended in flaming debris over the Atlantic. Despite the latest setback, he promised a faster launch pace moving forward, with a Starship soaring every three to four weeks for the next three flights.It was the first time one of Musk's Starships —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-astronauts-artemis-01ac3c0ec59bfc8b2612c987a72d91f3">intended for moon</a>&nbsp;and Mars travel — flew with a recycled booster. There were no plans to catch the booster with giant chopsticks back at the launch pad, with the company instead pushing it to its limits. Contact with the booster was lost at one point, and it slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in pieces as the spacecraft continued toward the Indian Ocean.Then the spacecraft went out of control, apparently due to fuel leaks.“Not looking great with a lot of our on-orbit objectives for today,” said SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot. The company had been looking to test the spacecraft’s heat shield during a controlled reentry.Communication ceased before the spacecraft came down, and SpaceX ended its webcast soon afterward.The previous two Starships never made it past the Caribbean. The demos earlier this year ended just minutes after liftoff, raining wreckage into the ocean. No injuries or serious damage were reported, although airline travel was disrupted. The Federal Aviation Administration last week cleared Starship for another flight, expanding the hazard area and pushing the liftoff outside peak air travel times.Besides taking corrective action and making upgrades, SpaceX modified the latest spacecraft’s thermal tiles and installed special catch fittings. This one was meant to sink in the Indian Ocean, but the company wanted to test the add-ons for capturing future versions back at the pad, just like the boosters.NASA needs SpaceX to make major strides over the next year with Starship — the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built — in order to land astronauts back on the moon. Next year’s moonshot with four astronauts will fly around the moon, but will not land. That will happen in 2027 at the earliest and require a Starship to get two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back off again.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

🎥SpaceX Starship rocket breaks up again after last 2 attempts ended in explosions

SPARTENBURG,
S.C. – An fun moment Tuesday night as the Texas Rangers High-A
affiliate Hub City Spartanburgers hosted the Chicago White Sox High-A affiliate
Winston-Salem Dash.

The
game featured a couple of Hays’ natives. Dylan Dreiling for the Spartanburgers and Carson Jacobs for the Dash.

Dreiling is a Hays High grad who starred at Tennessee. Jacobs is a TMP-Marian alum.

Jacobs struck out Dreiling in their only minor league encounter and pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts for his second win of the season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748433311164.png" alt="Former TMP-Marian standout Carson Jacobs faces former Hays High standout Dylan Dreiling in a minor league baseball game Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Spartanburg, S.C. (Courtesy Hub City Spartanburgers)" />
 <figcaption>Former TMP-Marian standout Carson Jacobs faces former Hays High standout Dylan Dreiling in a minor league baseball game Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Spartanburg, S.C. (Courtesy Hub City Spartanburgers)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsSPARTENBURG,
S.C. – An fun moment Tuesday night as the Texas Rangers High-A
affiliate Hub City Spartanburgers hosted the Chicago White Sox High-A affiliate
Winston-Salem Dash.The
game featured a couple of Hays’ natives. Dylan Dreiling for the Spartanburgers and Carson Jacobs for the Dash.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=258&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPITHaysKS%2Fvideos%2F1908160173328119%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="258" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Dreiling is a Hays High grad who starred at Tennessee. Jacobs is a TMP-Marian alum.Jacobs struck out Dreiling in their only minor league encounter and pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts for his second win of the season.

⚾ "Hays, Kansas on Hays, Kansas"

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

WILSON—After 37 years of being a quirky stop on Interstate 70 where you can find popcorn, wine, Kansas books, T-shirts or handpainted limestone, Kansas Originals is facing closure.

Kansas Originals owns its building, but not the land on which it sits. The land was owned by Service Oil Company, but has been purchased by a new owner. The new owner has decided to develop the location as a truck stop and is insisting that the Kansas Originals building be demolished or moved.

Although the store could be relocated, Marge Lawson, co-founder of the nonprofit that created Kansas Originals, said the store is doomed without easy access to I-70.

"Through tumultuous months, with serveral owners, and waiting for two years through a maze of what might be and assurances from local agencies that we are safe, we received legal notice that we must move out and move or tear our building down by Nov. 30 of this year," Kansas Originals said in a letter to the Hays Post.

The letter continued, "It is heartbreaking and unimaginable because we didn't just buy this place and business, we built it with years of total dedication—no 40-hour weeks but 50 and 60 hours, late nights and weekends. We served our artists, craftsmen, travelers and the general public by staying open 362 days a year."

Kansas Originals is not your average souvenir shop off the interstate. It's not kich.

The Post Rock Opportunities Foundation, which is the nonprofit that supports Kansas Originals, shared the history behind the trading post on the Plains.

Thirty-seven years ago, a dedicated group of people from five counties banded together and formed the Post Rock Opportunities Foundation. 

"Led by a pastor who wouldn't give up, and movers and shakers from throughout the area working countless hours, Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery became a reality," the letter said. "Our mission is to provide marketplaces for the work of Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers, especially those who are 62 or over, low-income, disabled, minorities or women in business."

The Presbyterian Church provided a $50,000 grant from its One Great House of Sharing to construct the building. Other donors and volunteers followed the church's lead.

Kansas Originals opened on July 27, 1991, during the Wilson Czech Festival.

By 1993, the building was full. The foundation used a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and a loan from the Northcentral Regional Planning Commission to double the size of the building.

According to the foundation, more than 1,000 corporations, businesses, and individuals have supported the nonprofit through grants, sponsorships and monetary donations.

"Our artists and craftsmen donate to the cause by giving artwork for fundraisers," the letter said.

The Smoky Hill Foundation, Merrill Foundation, Kansas Arts Commission and Dane G. Hansen Foundation are among the Kansas Originals' supporters.

"It was because of the selfless acts of so many who put us before their interests that we were able to succeed. Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery and the Post Rock Opportunties Foundation were never created to make any one person or group of people wealthy, it was created to sustain a group of people that would not have had the opportunity for success that Kansas Originals provided," the letter said.

Kansas Originals has been a point of curiosity for people from around the world. A map at the store is packed with push pins marking the homes of visitors from all 50 states and more than 50 countries.

Volunteers says visitors love to take photos with the "The Wizard of Oz" characters and Rusty Rojo, the Orginals' 7-foot chicken.

"The foundation has showcased the work of over 1,960 artists, craftsmen, food producers and authors. It has been our pride and our joy and our honor to serve the talented Kansans and to enable them to have their art, crafts and food products spread across the United States from our spot on the prairie," the letter said.

Some of the Hays area products that have been featured in the store include Popt Popcorn from Hays, Pat's Beef Jerky from Liebenthal, and Patsy's D's Barbecue Sauce from Russell.

One of the most dedicated artists and devoted representatives has been a part of the foundation since it was organized. She served on the board of directors and still brings in paintings and photo albums to sell. She will be 99 in August.

"A comment by the son of one of our many elderly craftspeople, who stopped by the other day to pick up her remaining items after she passed away, tugged at my heart when he told us, 'You gave her a purpose in life. She had a place to come, and she loved coming here,'" the letter said.

The foundation also wanted to honor the memory of Pastor Tom Henstock, who worked tirelessly to keep the dream of Kansas Originals alive and made a significant financial donation upon his passing.

"We were so excited that we were going to be able to make improvements to our building, but instead our future has become uncertain and bleak," the letter said.

The Kansas Originals volunteers fear the sale of the property on which their building sits means the end of the store.

"Without a miracle or intervention from people who care, our dedicated staff will lose their employment," the letter said. "The attractions and businesses in Wilson and Lucas and throughout the region that we so vigorously promote to our millions of travelers will no longer receive that support, and many of our Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers will no longer have a place to sell their work.

"The Tourist Information Center and Kansas Wine Room will be gone. All the history, creating income for the elderly, low-income, disabled and women in business, is scheduled to come to a crashing end."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372872819.jpeg" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWILSON—After 37 years of being a quirky stop on Interstate 70 where you can find popcorn, wine, Kansas books, T-shirts or handpainted limestone, Kansas Originals is facing closure.Kansas Originals owns its building, but not the land on which it sits. The land was owned by Service Oil Company, but has been purchased by a new owner. The new owner has decided to develop the location as a truck stop and is insisting that the Kansas Originals building be demolished or moved.Although the store could be relocated, Marge Lawson, co-founder of the nonprofit that created Kansas Originals, said the store is doomed without easy access to I-70."Through tumultuous months, with serveral owners, and waiting for two years through a maze of what might be and assurances from local agencies that we are safe, we received legal notice that we must move out and move or tear our building down by Nov. 30 of this year," Kansas Originals said in a letter to the Hays Post.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372916376.jpeg" alt="Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>The letter continued, "It is heartbreaking and unimaginable because we didn't just buy this place and business, we built it with years of total dedication—no 40-hour weeks but 50 and 60 hours, late nights and weekends. We served our artists, craftsmen, travelers and the general public by staying open 362 days a year."Kansas Originals is not your average souvenir shop off the interstate. It's not kich.The Post Rock Opportunities Foundation, which is the nonprofit that supports Kansas Originals, shared the history behind the trading post on the Plains.Thirty-seven years ago, a dedicated group of people from five counties banded together and formed the Post Rock Opportunities Foundation. "Led by a pastor who wouldn't give up, and movers and shakers from throughout the area working countless hours, Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery became a reality," the letter said. "Our mission is to provide marketplaces for the work of Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers, especially those who are 62 or over, low-income, disabled, minorities or women in business."The Presbyterian Church provided a $50,000 grant from its One Great House of Sharing to construct the building. Other donors and volunteers followed the church's lead.Kansas Originals opened on July 27, 1991, during the Wilson Czech Festival.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372963942.jpeg" alt="Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By 1993, the building was full. The foundation used a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and a loan from the Northcentral Regional Planning Commission to double the size of the building.According to the foundation, more than 1,000 corporations, businesses, and individuals have supported the nonprofit through grants, sponsorships and monetary donations."Our artists and craftsmen donate to the cause by giving artwork for fundraisers," the letter said.The Smoky Hill Foundation, Merrill Foundation, Kansas Arts Commission and Dane G. Hansen Foundation are among the Kansas Originals' supporters."It was because of the selfless acts of so many who put us before their interests that we were able to succeed. Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery and the Post Rock Opportunties Foundation were never created to make any one person or group of people wealthy, it was created to sustain a group of people that would not have had the opportunity for success that Kansas Originals provided," the letter said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748373004933.jpeg" alt="Dozens of titles on Kansas and the Great Plains or by Kansas authors at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Dozens of titles on Kansas and the Great Plains or by Kansas authors at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Originals has been a point of curiosity for people from around the world. A map at the store is packed with push pins marking the homes of visitors from all 50 states and more than 50 countries.Volunteers says visitors love to take photos with the "The Wizard of Oz" characters and Rusty Rojo, the Orginals' 7-foot chicken."The foundation has showcased the work of over 1,960 artists, craftsmen, food producers and authors. It has been our pride and our joy and our honor to serve the talented Kansans and to enable them to have their art, crafts and food products spread across the United States from our spot on the prairie," the letter said.Some of the Hays area products that have been featured in the store include Popt Popcorn from Hays, Pat's Beef Jerky from Liebenthal, and Patsy's D's Barbecue Sauce from Russell.One of the most dedicated artists and devoted representatives has been a part of the foundation since it was organized. She served on the board of directors and still brings in paintings and photo albums to sell. She will be 99 in August.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748373079913.jpeg" alt="University of Kansas and Kansas State University merchandise at Kansas Originals. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>University of Kansas and Kansas State University merchandise at Kansas Originals. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"A comment by the son of one of our many elderly craftspeople, who stopped by the other day to pick up her remaining items after she passed away, tugged at my heart when he told us, 'You gave her a purpose in life. She had a place to come, and she loved coming here,'" the letter said.The foundation also wanted to honor the memory of Pastor Tom Henstock, who worked tirelessly to keep the dream of Kansas Originals alive and made a significant financial donation upon his passing."We were so excited that we were going to be able to make improvements to our building, but instead our future has become uncertain and bleak," the letter said.The Kansas Originals volunteers fear the sale of the property on which their building sits means the end of the store."Without a miracle or intervention from people who care, our dedicated staff will lose their employment," the letter said. "The attractions and businesses in Wilson and Lucas and throughout the region that we so vigorously promote to our millions of travelers will no longer receive that support, and many of our Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers will no longer have a place to sell their work."The Tourist Information Center and Kansas Wine Room will be gone. All the history, creating income for the elderly, low-income, disabled and women in business, is scheduled to come to a crashing end."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372812386.png" alt="The Kansas Originals building and sign that faces Interstate 70. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Originals building and sign that faces Interstate 70. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"We don't want our story to end. We welcome any suggestions, ideas or solutions anyone might have to keep the Post Rock Opportunites and Kansas Originals alive and thriving," the Kansas Originals volunteers and staff said in their letter.For more information or to send suggestions, email info@kansasoriginals.com or call 785-658-2602.You can also find more on the <a href="https://www.kansasoriginals.com/">Kansas Originals website</a> and follow the store on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansasoriginals">Facebook</a>.Kansas Originals is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and is&nbsp;at 233 Highway 232, Wilson, KS, 67490.Look for the big red and blue Kansas Originals sign.