By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-santana">REBECCA SANTANA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-tucker">ERIC TUCKER</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/james-comey">Former FBI Director James Comey</a>&nbsp;was being interviewed by the Secret Service on Friday about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-trump-threat-shells-deleted-post-39b37b1d36c0463d3dad41a3d1339d4e">social media post</a>&nbsp;that Republicans insisted was a call for violence against President Donald Trump, according to a law enforcement official.

The interview is part of an ongoing Trump administration investigation and is expected to help investigators assess the purpose and intent of the post and whether Comey intended to communicate a threat to the president, which he flatly denied. Any decision on whether charges should be filed would be up to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said Friday, though there’s a high bar in proving that comments or posts amount to direct threats of violence.

The official who confirmed the interview, which is standard for the Secret Service while investigating comments perceived as potentially threatening, was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

At issue is an Instagram post from Thursday in which Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”

Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/86" target="_blank">86 is slang</a>&nbsp;meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”

Numerous Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asserted that Comey was advocating the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was also supporting the investigation.

Asked about it Friday during a Fox News interview, Trump said: “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear.”

He deflected a question on what he thought should happen, saying the decision would be up to Bondi.

The post was deleted Thursday after it was made, with Comey subsequently writing: “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.

Trump and Comey have had a fraught dynamic dating back nearly a decade.

Comey was the FBI director when Trump took office in 2017, having been appointed four years earlier by then-President Barack Obama and serving before that as a senior Justice Department official in President George W. Bush’s administration.

But the relationship was strained from the start, including after Comey resisted a request by Trump at a private dinner to pledge his personal loyalty to the president -- an overture that so unnerved the FBI director that he documented it in a contemporaneous memorandum.

<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-4ff1ecb621884a728b25e62661257ef0">Trump fired Comey in May 2017</a>&nbsp;amid an FBI investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s presidential campaign. That inquiry, later taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller, would ultimately find that while Russia interfered in the 2016 election and the Trump team welcomed the help, there was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal collaboration.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747360229157.png" alt="From Comey's now deleted Instagram" />
                        <figcaption>From Comey's now deleted Instagram</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-santana">REBECCA SANTANA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-tucker">ERIC TUCKER</a></p><p>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/james-comey">Former FBI Director James Comey</a>&nbsp;was being interviewed by the Secret Service on Friday about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-trump-threat-shells-deleted-post-39b37b1d36c0463d3dad41a3d1339d4e">social media post</a>&nbsp;that Republicans insisted was a call for violence against President Donald Trump, according to a law enforcement official.</p><p>The interview is part of an ongoing Trump administration investigation and is expected to help investigators assess the purpose and intent of the post and whether Comey intended to communicate a threat to the president, which he flatly denied. Any decision on whether charges should be filed would be up to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said Friday, though there’s a high bar in proving that comments or posts amount to direct threats of violence.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.</p>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1923151715777356062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The official who confirmed the interview, which is standard for the Secret Service while investigating comments perceived as potentially threatening, was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.</p><p>At issue is an Instagram post from Thursday in which Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”</p><p>Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/86" target="_blank">86 is slang</a>&nbsp;meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”</p><p>Numerous Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asserted that Comey was advocating the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was also supporting the investigation.</p><p>Asked about it Friday during a Fox News interview, Trump said: “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear.”</p><p>He deflected a question on what he thought should happen, saying the decision would be up to Bondi.</p><p>The post was deleted Thursday after it was made, with Comey subsequently writing: “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.</p><p>Trump and Comey have had a fraught dynamic dating back nearly a decade.</p><p>Comey was the FBI director when Trump took office in 2017, having been appointed four years earlier by then-President Barack Obama and serving before that as a senior Justice Department official in President George W. Bush’s administration.</p><p>But the relationship was strained from the start, including after Comey resisted a request by Trump at a private dinner to pledge his personal loyalty to the president -- an overture that so unnerved the FBI director that he documented it in a contemporaneous memorandum.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-4ff1ecb621884a728b25e62661257ef0">Trump fired Comey in May 2017</a>&nbsp;amid an FBI investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s presidential campaign. That inquiry, later taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller, would ultimately find that while Russia interfered in the 2016 election and the Trump team welcomed the help, there was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal collaboration.</p>

Ex-FBI Director meets with Secret Service over '8647' post

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump used the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-b782fe922d09afced2e1074b65016e80">first major foreign trip</a>&nbsp;of his second term to outline a vision for restoring global stability that is grounded in pragmatism and self-interest rather than values, holding out U.S. ties to wealthy Gulf countries as a model for America’s longtime foes.

His four-day swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which ends Friday, put a spotlight on Trump’s transactional approach to foreign affairs as he was feted by autocratic rulers with a trio of lavish state visits where there was heavy emphasis on economic and security partnerships.

His trip played out against the backdrop of stubborn global conflicts, including Gaza and Ukraine, that showed the limits of his influence. But Trump insisted he was turning the page on American “interventionalism” in the region as he moved to recognize the new government in Syria for the first time and prodded Iran to engage on nuclear talks before it’s too late.

Trump marveled at Gulf state opulence but held his tongue on human rights

Presidential trips to the Middle East usually feature at least some public calls for authoritarian governments to improve their human rights efforts. Not this one, as Trump celebrated his business deals with Gulf royals and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-white-house-wealth-mideast-c1e47bb068337293c360c53f7e542e59">admired their wealth</a>.

Trump toured the marble and gilded palaces of Gulf rulers and deemed them “perfecto” and “very hard to buy.” He praised the “gleaming marvels” of the skyline in Saudi Arabia. And he groused about the “much less impressive” Air Force One.

In Trump’s remarks at a VIP business conference in Riyadh, he went out of his way to distance himself from the actions of past administrations, the days when he said American officials would fly in “in beautiful planes, giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs.”

Rights advocates took that as a pledge of nonintervention, swearing off some of the pressure past U.S. presidents have brought to bear on partners to varying degrees to ease up on detentions, suppression of critics and other issues.

“It’s absolute support for absolute monarchy,” said Saudi exile Abdullah Alaoudh. His father, a Saudi cleric with a wide following there, is imprisoned in the kingdom.

Some rights advocates said Trump officials gave them private assurances the administration was working on behalf of detained Americans and rights advocates. Tommy Pigott, a deputy spokesman at the State Department, declined to say whether Trump raised those or other rights issues in discussions with Gulf royals.

While Trump was in the Mideast, Vladimir Putin opted to skip direct peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite the U.S. president's strong calls for them to meet face to face.

Trump has been pushing Putin and Zelenskyy to move with greater haste to end Russia's grinding war in Ukraine.

But after it became clear Putin wouldn’t be attending talks in Turkey this week and would instead be sending underlings to Istanbul, an annoyed Trump insisted he knew all along that it was highly likely Putin would be a no-show.

“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump said. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."

As he wrapped up his visit on Friday, Trump said the face-to-face would happen "as soon as we can set it up.”

Trump was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Friday, but tried to keep people guessing until the end. He teased late Thursday that he would be heading to a “destination unknown” — “probably" Washington, he added. His opaque language stoked speculation that he might make a drop-by to Turkey.

But on Friday morning, he told reporters he needed to get back to Washington. His daughter Tiffany had her first child while the president has been away.

“I would actually leave here and go,” Trump said. “I do want to see my beautiful grandson.”

On Syria sanctions, Trump takes a leap of faith

Just two months ago, the Trump administration wasn’t sold on Syria’s interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime al-Qaida-affiliated insurgent. They worried the Syrian president didn’t have the legitimacy to govern the country’s ethnically diverse population.

Clashes broke out in early March, killing hundreds and targeting many more members of the Alawite religious minority to which the ousted Syrian leader Basher Assad belongs.

The moment gave the Trump White House pause about easing sanctions on Syria. But Trump signaled Monday that he was having a change of heart and was moving toward lifting the Syria sanctions. A day later, he announced the move during an address to Gulf leaders.

Trump then took it another step by agreeing to meet al-Sharaa.

Trump said he was impressed with al-Sharaa, who not that long ago had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. The president called him a “young, attractive guy” with a "very strong past.”

Trump said it was recommendations from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that nudged him to take a chance on al-Sharra.

“President Erdogan called me and said: ‘Is there any way you could do that? Because if you don’t do that, they don’t have a chance,’” Trump said. “So, I did it.”

Throughout the trip, Trump felt more than comfortable dishing out exaggeration and hyperbole.

“This has been an amazing trip.” Trump told reporters Thursday as Air Force One was about to land in Qatar. “We’ve raised trillions of dollars of investment for our country.” A little later he put the figure at $4 trillion.

That figure is about two times the combined gross domestic products of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, meaning that any announced investments would likely accrue over several years — if at all — in ways that might not show up in overall U.S. economic growth numbers.

Boeing confirmed that Qatar’s $96 billion purchase of its 787 and 777X jets was the largest order for 787s and wide body jets in the company’s history. Trump enthused it was “the biggest order in the history of, I think, aviation, certainly of that size” of jets.

Trump also went overboard in running down the economic record of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, at one point declaring, “The days of economic misery under the last administration are rapidly giving way to the greatest economy in the history of the world.”

The U.S. economy grew at 2.8% last year. It declined at an annualized rate of 0.3% during the first three months of this year.

While Trump's trip initially was conceived as a visit to reward countries that invest in the United States, Trump at one point hoped it also would herald significant steps to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Positive news on both fronts proved elusive.

Trump barely mentioned either conflict on his trip – and when he did, it was generally in the context of his assertion that they wouldn’t have occurred had he won reelection in 2020.

As Israel stepped up an offensive in Gaza — a prelude to a promised full takeover of the territory if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages in its captivity — Trump was again musing about the creation of a “freedom zone” in its territory. It's a notion rejected by Palestinians and the broader Arab world because Trump's plan would relocate civilians from Gaza to allow for rebuilding.

Israel conducted significant airstrikes all week in Gaza as Trump was in the region and the fighting on the ground appeared to escalate Friday morning even before Trump left the UAE.

Meanwhile, Trump said “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza, a rare acknowledgement of the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Speaking to reporters at a business forum in Abu Dhabi on the final day of his trip to the Middle East, Trump said, “We’re looking at Gaza.”

“And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”

Ethics issues follow along as Trump travels the Mideast

Trump was already facing questions about conflicts of interest for traveling to the Middle East to shape U.S. policy at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-interests-family-middle-east-cryptocurrency-cbb7d2354304ce0308800819944cf3f8">his family’s business interests in the region have boomed</a>. He attempted to quiet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">worries about national security</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emoluments-clause-trump-jet-qatar-56f995acb57eb741b0214aba5e7e8220">constitutional questions</a>&nbsp;by insisting he’s smart to accept a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar and use it as Air Force One.

“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114503203859060399">posted on his social media site</a>&nbsp;during his Middle East swing.

The president also dodged questions about a state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi using a Trump family-aligned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-world-liberty-truth-social-etf-f11c47a99ea618aa06df4dd47b150800">stablecoin</a>&nbsp;for a $2 billion investment in the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

“I don’t know anything about it,” he said.

Beyond that, the Trump family has piled up deals to license its brand for real estate projects, and to build Trump towers and golf courses, around the Middle East. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says it’s “frankly ridiculous” to wonder if those profits might influence Trump’s governing decisions.

Madhani reported from Dubai. Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Will Weissert and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.

<p>BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump used the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-b782fe922d09afced2e1074b65016e80">first major foreign trip</a>&nbsp;of his second term to outline a vision for restoring global stability that is grounded in pragmatism and self-interest rather than values, holding out U.S. ties to wealthy Gulf countries as a model for America’s longtime foes.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai just lit up in the American 🇺🇸 flag on the occasion of President Trump’s visit tonight to the UAE. <a href="https://t.co/DqFgM3AVV7">pic.twitter.com/DqFgM3AVV7</a></p>&mdash; حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) <a href="https://twitter.com/HSajwanization/status/1923074780514677064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="rtl">Pres. Trump receives the “Order of Sheikh Zayed&quot; from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE الحساب الرسمي لصاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان رئيس دولة الإمارات <a href="https://t.co/6JjKacd0RS">pic.twitter.com/6JjKacd0RS</a></p>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1923064396680478760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump leaves a message of unity to the people of the UAE after signing the guest book at the Abrahamic Family House. 🇺🇸🇦🇪<br><br>“Great unity, great faith, incredible people, with a tremendous leader who is a friend of mine.” <a href="https://t.co/lcg5UF9P2s">pic.twitter.com/lcg5UF9P2s</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1923327926453391744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s 1am, can’t believe we have President Donald J. Trump sleeping in our county tonight. 🇦🇪<br><br>47 🇺🇸 is here tonight <a href="https://t.co/3AWJnTuqhA">pic.twitter.com/3AWJnTuqhA</a></p>&mdash; حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) <a href="https://twitter.com/HSajwanization/status/1923122198467723741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The welcome ceremony in UAE continues! 🇺🇸🇦🇪 <a href="https://t.co/sXqS1IboMN">pic.twitter.com/sXqS1IboMN</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1922995639455044017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="et" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> enters Lusail Palace in Doha <a href="https://t.co/2vTplRuKWl">pic.twitter.com/2vTplRuKWl</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922707603861233712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39;s motorcade is escorted into Lusail Palace for the Qatari State Dinner 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/bh8Hq0Ug3O">pic.twitter.com/bh8Hq0Ug3O</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922702397605818755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> is greeted by the Emir of Qatar 🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/G6iH4IM5ll">pic.twitter.com/G6iH4IM5ll</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1922615197832806481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A view from above as F-15QA Multirole Strike Fighters of the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) escort Air Force One into Qatar🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/nzpk2L8Cds">pic.twitter.com/nzpk2L8Cds</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1922640677671747983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/NYEH8e1Vhk">pic.twitter.com/NYEH8e1Vhk</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1923306778009199040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> arrives at the Amiri Diwan in Doha 🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/CZt28tCBid">pic.twitter.com/CZt28tCBid</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922621220089983248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/B50cJQRcpL">pic.twitter.com/B50cJQRcpL</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1923344460638736746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Qatari F-15’s providing honorary escort for Air Force One! 🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/nUsif3HWrh">pic.twitter.com/nUsif3HWrh</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1922607930374844426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>His four-day swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which ends Friday, put a spotlight on Trump’s transactional approach to foreign affairs as he was feted by autocratic rulers with a trio of lavish state visits where there was heavy emphasis on economic and security partnerships.</p><p>His trip played out against the backdrop of stubborn global conflicts, including Gaza and Ukraine, that showed the limits of his influence. But Trump insisted he was turning the page on American “interventionalism” in the region as he moved to recognize the new government in Syria for the first time and prodded Iran to engage on nuclear talks before it’s too late.</p><p>Some takeaways from Trump’s travels:</p><h2>Trump marveled at Gulf state opulence but held his tongue on human rights</h2><p>Presidential trips to the Middle East usually feature at least some public calls for authoritarian governments to improve their human rights efforts. Not this one, as Trump celebrated his business deals with Gulf royals and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-white-house-wealth-mideast-c1e47bb068337293c360c53f7e542e59">admired their wealth</a>.</p><p>Trump toured the marble and gilded palaces of Gulf rulers and deemed them “perfecto” and “very hard to buy.” He praised the “gleaming marvels” of the skyline in Saudi Arabia. And he groused about the “much less impressive” Air Force One.</p><p>In Trump’s remarks at a VIP business conference in Riyadh, he went out of his way to distance himself from the actions of past administrations, the days when he said American officials would fly in “in beautiful planes, giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs.”</p><p>Rights advocates took that as a pledge of nonintervention, swearing off some of the pressure past U.S. presidents have brought to bear on partners to varying degrees to ease up on detentions, suppression of critics and other issues.</p><p>“It’s absolute support for absolute monarchy,” said Saudi exile Abdullah Alaoudh. His father, a Saudi cleric with a wide following there, is imprisoned in the kingdom.</p><p>Some rights advocates said Trump officials gave them private assurances the administration was working on behalf of detained Americans and rights advocates. Tommy Pigott, a deputy spokesman at the State Department, declined to say whether Trump raised those or other rights issues in discussions with Gulf royals.</p><h2>Thwarted by Putin</h2><p>While Trump was in the Mideast, Vladimir Putin opted to skip direct peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite the U.S. president's strong calls for them to meet face to face.</p><p>Trump has been pushing Putin and Zelenskyy to move with greater haste to end Russia's grinding war in Ukraine.</p><p>But after it became clear Putin wouldn’t be attending talks in Turkey this week and would instead be sending underlings to Istanbul, an annoyed Trump insisted he knew all along that it was highly likely Putin would be a no-show.</p><p>“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump said. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."</p><p>As he wrapped up his visit on Friday, Trump said the face-to-face would happen "as soon as we can set it up.”</p><p>Trump was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Friday, but tried to keep people guessing until the end. He teased late Thursday that he would be heading to a “destination unknown” — “probably" Washington, he added. His opaque language stoked speculation that he might make a drop-by to Turkey.</p><p>But on Friday morning, he told reporters he needed to get back to Washington. His daughter Tiffany had her first child while the president has been away.</p><p>“I would actually leave here and go,” Trump said. “I do want to see my beautiful grandson.”</p><h2>On Syria sanctions, Trump takes a leap of faith</h2><p>Just two months ago, the Trump administration wasn’t sold on Syria’s interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime al-Qaida-affiliated insurgent. They worried the Syrian president didn’t have the legitimacy to govern the country’s ethnically diverse population.</p><p>Clashes broke out in early March, killing hundreds and targeting many more members of the Alawite religious minority to which the ousted Syrian leader Basher Assad belongs.</p><p>The moment gave the Trump White House pause about easing sanctions on Syria. But Trump signaled Monday that he was having a change of heart and was moving toward lifting the Syria sanctions. A day later, he announced the move during an address to Gulf leaders.</p><p>Trump then took it another step by agreeing to meet al-Sharaa.</p><p>Trump said he was impressed with al-Sharaa, who not that long ago had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. The president called him a “young, attractive guy” with a "very strong past.”</p><p>Trump said it was recommendations from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that nudged him to take a chance on al-Sharra.</p><p>“President Erdogan called me and said: ‘Is there any way you could do that? Because if you don’t do that, they don’t have a chance,’” Trump said. “So, I did it.”</p><h2>Trump's fuzzy math on display</h2><p>Throughout the trip, Trump felt more than comfortable dishing out exaggeration and hyperbole.</p><p>“This has been an amazing trip.” Trump told reporters Thursday as Air Force One was about to land in Qatar. “We’ve raised trillions of dollars of investment for our country.” A little later he put the figure at $4 trillion.</p><p>That figure is about two times the combined gross domestic products of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, meaning that any announced investments would likely accrue over several years — if at all — in ways that might not show up in overall U.S. economic growth numbers.</p><p>Boeing confirmed that Qatar’s $96 billion purchase of its 787 and 777X jets was the largest order for 787s and wide body jets in the company’s history. Trump enthused it was “the biggest order in the history of, I think, aviation, certainly of that size” of jets.</p><p>Trump also went overboard in running down the economic record of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, at one point declaring, “The days of economic misery under the last administration are rapidly giving way to the greatest economy in the history of the world.”</p><p>The U.S. economy grew at 2.8% last year. It declined at an annualized rate of 0.3% during the first three months of this year.</p><h2>Intractable conflicts remain just that</h2><p>While Trump's trip initially was conceived as a visit to reward countries that invest in the United States, Trump at one point hoped it also would herald significant steps to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Positive news on both fronts proved elusive.</p><p>Trump barely mentioned either conflict on his trip – and when he did, it was generally in the context of his assertion that they wouldn’t have occurred had he won reelection in 2020.</p><p>As Israel stepped up an offensive in Gaza — a prelude to a promised full takeover of the territory if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages in its captivity — Trump was again musing about the creation of a “freedom zone” in its territory. It's a notion rejected by Palestinians and the broader Arab world because Trump's plan would relocate civilians from Gaza to allow for rebuilding.</p><p>Israel conducted significant airstrikes all week in Gaza as Trump was in the region and the fighting on the ground appeared to escalate Friday morning even before Trump left the UAE.</p><p>Meanwhile, Trump said “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza, a rare acknowledgement of the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Speaking to reporters at a business forum in Abu Dhabi on the final day of his trip to the Middle East, Trump said, “We’re looking at Gaza.”</p><p>“And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”</p><h2>Ethics issues follow along as Trump travels the Mideast</h2><p>Trump was already facing questions about conflicts of interest for traveling to the Middle East to shape U.S. policy at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-interests-family-middle-east-cryptocurrency-cbb7d2354304ce0308800819944cf3f8">his family’s business interests in the region have boomed</a>. He attempted to quiet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">worries about national security</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emoluments-clause-trump-jet-qatar-56f995acb57eb741b0214aba5e7e8220">constitutional questions</a>&nbsp;by insisting he’s smart to accept a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar and use it as Air Force One.</p><p>“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114503203859060399">posted on his social media site</a>&nbsp;during his Middle East swing.</p><p>The president also dodged questions about a state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi using a Trump family-aligned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-world-liberty-truth-social-etf-f11c47a99ea618aa06df4dd47b150800">stablecoin</a>&nbsp;for a $2 billion investment in the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.</p><p>“I don’t know anything about it,” he said.</p><p>Beyond that, the Trump family has piled up deals to license its brand for real estate projects, and to build Trump towers and golf courses, around the Middle East. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says it’s “frankly ridiculous” to wonder if those profits might influence Trump’s governing decisions.</p><p>___</p><p>Madhani reported from Dubai. Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Will Weissert and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.</p>

🎥 Opulence, business deals: Takeaways from Trump's Mideast tour

<i>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about Vine Street development on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.</i>

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Grow Hays - Vine Street Development" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=fyfyd-18ae83c-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p><i>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about Vine Street development on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.</i></p>

🎙 Post Podcast: Grow Hays update on Vine St. development

<b>By TONY GUERRERO</b><br><i>Hays Post</i>

The Fort Tavern and Patio Bar in Hays is preparing for a summer rebrand as it gets set to close its doors.

The Fort, 109 W. Seventh St., announced on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theforttavern">social media</a> that it will close May 19 after more than four years in business, but gift cards will be accepted until then.

Tara Thorne and Bob Shuvert are set to take over the bar and rebrand it as Lokal. The country-themed dance bar is expected to open in mid to late June with a local band performance.

"The people of Hays have wanted a country dancing bar again. We're bringing that back," Thorne said.

The venue will shift away from family-oriented attractions and focus on adult-centered entertainment, including country music nights, live bands and Mexican nights featuring mariachi performances.

Thorne emphasized bringing country dancing back to Hays by playing different decades of country music to create a fun, safe environment for adults and college students.

"We're in cowboy country," she said. "Cowboys like to come out, dance and dress up."

Thorne and Shuvert aim to maintain the building’s current look while changing the atmosphere. They plan to add cornhole, chipping tournaments, a dart tournament, outdoor concerts and line dancing lessons for over the weekend.

The location features a spacious patio and amphitheater. Lokal's Facebook page will launch on&nbsp;May 21 to provide updates and announce upcoming events.

The planned hours of operation for Lokal are

7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursdays, which will be 18 and older<br>2 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays<br>11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays

Thorne is originally from Colorado but has lived in Hays for 14 years.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747165795018.jpeg" alt="The Fort Tavern and Patio Bar in Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
                        <figcaption>The Fort Tavern and Patio Bar in Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By TONY GUERRERO</b><br><i>Hays Post</i></p><p>The Fort Tavern and Patio Bar in Hays is preparing for a summer rebrand as it gets set to close its doors.</p><p>The Fort, 109 W. Seventh St., announced on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theforttavern">social media</a> that it will close May 19 after more than four years in business, but gift cards will be accepted until then.</p><p>Tara Thorne and Bob Shuvert are set to take over the bar and rebrand it as Lokal. The country-themed dance bar is expected to open in mid to late June with a local band performance.</p><p>"The people of Hays have wanted a country dancing bar again. We're bringing that back," Thorne said.</p><p>The venue will shift away from family-oriented attractions and focus on adult-centered entertainment, including country music nights, live bands and Mexican nights featuring mariachi performances.</p><p>Thorne emphasized bringing country dancing back to Hays by playing different decades of country music to create a fun, safe environment for adults and college students.</p><p>"We're in cowboy country," she said. "Cowboys like to come out, dance and dress up."</p><p>Thorne and Shuvert aim to maintain the building’s current look while changing the atmosphere. They plan to add cornhole, chipping tournaments, a dart tournament, outdoor concerts and line dancing lessons for over the weekend.</p><p>The location features a spacious patio and amphitheater. Lokal's Facebook page will launch on&nbsp;May 21 to provide updates and announce upcoming events.</p><p>The planned hours of operation for Lokal are</p><p>7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursdays, which will be 18 and older<br>2 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays<br>11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays</p><p>Thorne is originally from Colorado but has lived in Hays for 14 years.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747165880017.jpeg" alt="The side of&nbsp;The Fort Tavern and Patio Bar in Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
                        <figcaption>The side of&nbsp;The Fort Tavern and Patio Bar in Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
                    </figure>

The Fort bar in Hays to become new country dance bar 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-border-trump-44925ad8670cd4ad57427513915bb140">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans suggest is a call for violence against President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”

Numerous Trump administration officials, including Noem, said Comey was advocating for the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem wrote.

Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”

The post has since been deleted. Comey subsequently wrote, “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.

“It never occurred to me,” Comey added, “but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

Comey's original post sparked outrage among conservatives on social media, with Donald Trump Jr. accusing Comey of calling for his father’s killing.

Current FBI Director Kash Patel said he was aware of the post and was conferring with the Secret Service and its director.

James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, noted that the post came at a delicate time given that Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-5-14-2025">traveling in the Middle East</a>.

“This is a Clarion Call from Jim Comey to terrorists &amp; hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East,” Blair wrote on X.

Comey, who was FBI director from 2013 to 2017, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-united-states-government-094da2d5fb1e45bda42e55c1577f815c">fired by Trump</a>&nbsp;during the president's first term amid the bureau’s probe into allegations of ties between Russian officials and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Comey wrote about his career in the best-selling memoir “A Higher Loyalty.”

He is now a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-crime-new-york-donald-trump-d86c246a39d44b15d1238f105c19a06e">crime fiction writer</a>&nbsp;and is promoting his latest book, “FDR Drive,” which is being released on Tuesday.

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-border-trump-44925ad8670cd4ad57427513915bb140">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans suggest is a call for violence against President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> Trump. <br><br>DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.</p>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1923141313005785365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.</p>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1923151715777356062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747360229157.png" alt="Image from Comey's Instagram page" />
                        <figcaption>Image from Comey's Instagram page</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”</p><p>Numerous Trump administration officials, including Noem, said Comey was advocating for the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem wrote.</p><p>Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”</p><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJsN4GAPoxY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJsN4GAPoxY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by James Comey (@comey)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>The post has since been deleted. Comey subsequently wrote, “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.</p><p>“It never occurred to me,” Comey added, “but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”</p><p>Comey's original post sparked outrage among conservatives on social media, with Donald Trump Jr. accusing Comey of calling for his father’s killing.</p><p>Current FBI Director Kash Patel said he was aware of the post and was conferring with the Secret Service and its director.</p><p>James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, noted that the post came at a delicate time given that Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-5-14-2025">traveling in the Middle East</a>.</p><p>“This is a Clarion Call from Jim Comey to terrorists &amp; hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East,” Blair wrote on X.</p><p>Comey, who was FBI director from 2013 to 2017, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-united-states-government-094da2d5fb1e45bda42e55c1577f815c">fired by Trump</a>&nbsp;during the president's first term amid the bureau’s probe into allegations of ties between Russian officials and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Comey wrote about his career in the best-selling memoir “A Higher Loyalty.”</p><p>He is now a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-crime-new-york-donald-trump-d86c246a39d44b15d1238f105c19a06e">crime fiction writer</a>&nbsp;and is promoting his latest book, “FDR Drive,” which is being released on Tuesday.</p>

Former FBI Director accused of post seen as potential threat to Trump's life

COLBY — Colby Community College spring 2025 graduate Jaylei Sloan and alumna Gabrielle Hammer were recently awarded distinguished scholarships from Fort Hays State University to further their careers in science and education.

The Noyce project through FHSU is a collaboration with Colby and other regional Kansas community colleges with the intention of attracting teachers from STEM majors and placing them in high-needs communities. The colleges also developed STEM clubs to engage students in activities that increase their interest in teaching careers.&nbsp;

Sloan, who graduates in May with a degree in biology, was selected for the Noyce CREST (Creating Retention and Engagement for STEM Teachers) scholarship at FHSU and receives a renewable award of $15,000. The competitive program supports future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators who have at least junior standing and are pursuing a bachelor's degree. As part of the Noyce initiative, Sloan has also been invited to represent Fort Hays State University in Washington, D.C., later this year.

While at Colby, she has served as a microbiology teaching assistant, tutor, and lab assistant in the biology department. She credits CCC faculty and family for their support.

Biology Instructor and STEM Division Chair Dr. Jeffrey Sekavec is the Noyce CREST site director at Colby.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Sekavec for being such an incredible mentor and offering me a multitude of opportunities throughout my time at CCC,” said Sloan. “I’d also like to give recognition to my family. I couldn’t have done this without my loved ones by my side, along with the added bonus of the friends I have made along the way. CCC’s Dr. Joan Johnson once said, ‘Accept, Adapt, and Persevere.’ Every day since then, I have lived by those words.”

"Above all else, Glory be to God! With the Lord at my side, I am accomplishing all that is meant for me. I am proud to be a part of Colby Community College and optimistic for my next chapter to begin with the Noyce program at FHSU!"

Sloan is the granddaughter of Leanna and Tom Sloan and the daughter of Matt Sloan.

A 2021 CCC graduate, Hammer received the Noyce Post Baccalaureate STEM Teacher Licensure Scholarship from Fort Hays State University. The competitive program provides a $24,788 stipend to individuals with a bachelor’s degree in science or mathematics who are pursuing a teaching career. Recipients complete a specialized post-baccalaureate curriculum delivered primarily online, with required field experiences and student teaching in a rural school district. 

Hammer currently teaches high school science in Sharon Springs, where she also attended school growing up in nearby Wallace.

After earning associate of science and applied science degrees from Colby, Hammer completed a bachelor’s degree in general biology from FHSU in 2023. She previously worked as a physical therapist assistant in long-term care and home health facilities.

“I have always been a western Kansas girl at heart,” said Hammer. “Looking back, I am so grateful for the friendships made, the connections, and the hard lessons learned at CCC. Some of the best people in the world were always willing to lend a hand and help in whatever way they could.”

Hammer was also an active member of the STEM Club at Colby, citing fond memories of scientific activities and engaging presentations from guest speakers.

"It has truly been a privilege to be associated with such great members of the Noyce programs," said Sekavec. "Ms. Sloan and Ms. Hammer are shining stars of the future of STEM education in western Kansas."

"We are quite fortunate to be part of such an incredible partnership with FHSU in bringing such opportunities to members of the STEM/STEM education community."

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581529246979.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>&nbsp;Colby Community College</i></p><p>COLBY — Colby Community College spring 2025 graduate Jaylei Sloan and alumna Gabrielle Hammer were recently awarded distinguished scholarships from Fort Hays State University to further their careers in science and education.</p><p>The Noyce project through FHSU is a collaboration with Colby and other regional Kansas community colleges with the intention of attracting teachers from STEM majors and placing them in high-needs communities. The colleges also developed STEM clubs to engage students in activities that increase their interest in teaching careers.&nbsp;</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746781726768.png" alt="Jaylei Sloan. Courtesy photo" />
                        <figcaption>Jaylei Sloan. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Sloan, who graduates in May with a degree in biology, was selected for the Noyce CREST (Creating Retention and Engagement for STEM Teachers) scholarship at FHSU and receives a renewable award of $15,000. The competitive program supports future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators who have at least junior standing and are pursuing a bachelor's degree. As part of the Noyce initiative, Sloan has also been invited to represent Fort Hays State University in Washington, D.C., later this year.</p><p>While at Colby, she has served as a microbiology teaching assistant, tutor, and lab assistant in the biology department. She credits CCC faculty and family for their support.</p><p>Biology Instructor and STEM Division Chair Dr. Jeffrey Sekavec is the Noyce CREST site director at Colby.</p><p>“I’d like to thank Dr. Sekavec for being such an incredible mentor and offering me a multitude of opportunities throughout my time at CCC,” said Sloan. “I’d also like to give recognition to my family. I couldn’t have done this without my loved ones by my side, along with the added bonus of the friends I have made along the way. CCC’s Dr. Joan Johnson once said, ‘Accept, Adapt, and Persevere.’ Every day since then, I have lived by those words.”</p><p>"Above all else, Glory be to God! With the Lord at my side, I am accomplishing all that is meant for me. I am proud to be a part of Colby Community College and optimistic for my next chapter to begin with the Noyce program at FHSU!"</p><p>Sloan is the granddaughter of Leanna and Tom Sloan and the daughter of Matt Sloan.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746781948207.png" alt="Gabrielle Hammer. Courtesy photo" />
                        <figcaption>Gabrielle Hammer. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>A 2021 CCC graduate, Hammer received the Noyce Post Baccalaureate STEM Teacher Licensure Scholarship from Fort Hays State University. The competitive program provides a $24,788 stipend to individuals with a bachelor’s degree in science or mathematics who are pursuing a teaching career. Recipients complete a specialized post-baccalaureate curriculum delivered primarily online, with required field experiences and student teaching in a rural school district. </p><p>Hammer currently teaches high school science in Sharon Springs, where she also attended school growing up in nearby Wallace.</p><p>After earning associate of science and applied science degrees from Colby, Hammer completed a bachelor’s degree in general biology from FHSU in 2023. She previously worked as a physical therapist assistant in long-term care and home health facilities.</p><p>“I have always been a western Kansas girl at heart,” said Hammer. “Looking back, I am so grateful for the friendships made, the connections, and the hard lessons learned at CCC. Some of the best people in the world were always willing to lend a hand and help in whatever way they could.”</p><p>Hammer was also an active member of the STEM Club at Colby, citing fond memories of scientific activities and engaging presentations from guest speakers.</p><p>"It has truly been a privilege to be associated with such great members of the Noyce programs," said Sekavec. "Ms. Sloan and Ms. Hammer are shining stars of the future of STEM education in western Kansas."</p><p>"We are quite fortunate to be part of such an incredible partnership with FHSU in bringing such opportunities to members of the STEM/STEM education community."</p>

Colby students earn prestigious scholarships to FHSU

DODGE
CITY - Hays High boys track and field team continued their Western Athletic
Conference dominance Thursday. The Indians won their fifth-straight league
title, edging Garden City by a point and a half at Memorial Stadium. The Hays girls
won their first title since 2005 after finishing seven points ahead of second
place Garden City.

Kip Keeley was named the WAC Coach of the Year for both the boys and girls.

<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/688096-wac-track-and-field-championship-2025/teams/21788">HHS Results</a>

The
girls won five events. Katie Linenberger the high jump (5-6), Lynsi Kanas the
long jump (17-5.75), Rylen Harrington the javelin (124-11), Zoe Winter the shot
put (38-10) and Aralen Maupin the 400 (1:00.28).

The
girls finished second in six events. Caira Augustine the high jump (5-0), Kenlee
Vehige the pole vault (9-9), Kamryn McCall the long jump (16-2.50) and 200
where she set a new school record (25.65). Lyndi Zimmerman finished second in
the 100 (12.25) and was a part of the 4x100 relay along with Moriah Hellam,
Lynsi Kanak and Kamryn McCall that also finished second (50.05).

Brooke
Bieker placed third in the triple jump (34-10.50) as did McCall in the 100
(12.41) and Zimmerman in the 200 (25.81).

The
boys won four events. Kamani Jones the high jump (6-0), Gus Corsair the discus
(145-3), Dalton Mayers the javelin (183-9) and Bryce Steffan the 300 hurdles
(40.66).

Jones
finished second in the triple jump (43-10.75) as did Wyatt Kirkpatrick in the
javelin (164-11), Jaxson Chartier the shot put (51-2.75) and Steffan in the 110
hurdles (15.58).

Third
place finishers include Jones in the long jump (20-2.50) and 200 (22.43),
Parker McGuire the discus (140.3), Caleb Englert the shot put (49-5.25), Brogan
Albers the 110 hurdles (15.68), Taevian Maupin-Dabney the 400 (51.50). Maupin-Dabney
was also a part of the third place 4x400 relay along with Steffan, Chase Zadina
and Albers (3:32.37).

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747403587811.png" alt="The Hays High boys and girls track and field teams both won the 2025 Western Athletic Conference meet on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Dodge City, Kan. (HHS courtesy photo)" />
                        <figcaption>The Hays High boys and girls track and field teams both won the 2025 Western Athletic Conference meet on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Dodge City, Kan. (HHS courtesy photo)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>Hays Post Sports</i><i></i></p><p>DODGE
CITY - Hays High boys track and field team continued their Western Athletic
Conference dominance Thursday. The Indians won their fifth-straight league
title, edging Garden City by a point and a half at Memorial Stadium. The Hays girls
won their first title since 2005 after finishing seven points ahead of second
place Garden City.</p><p>Kip Keeley was named the WAC Coach of the Year for both the boys and girls.</p><p><a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/688096-wac-track-and-field-championship-2025/teams/21788">HHS Results</a></p><p>The
girls won five events. Katie Linenberger the high jump (5-6), Lynsi Kanas the
long jump (17-5.75), Rylen Harrington the javelin (124-11), Zoe Winter the shot
put (38-10) and Aralen Maupin the 400 (1:00.28).</p><p>The
girls finished second in six events. Caira Augustine the high jump (5-0), Kenlee
Vehige the pole vault (9-9), Kamryn McCall the long jump (16-2.50) and 200
where she set a new school record (25.65). Lyndi Zimmerman finished second in
the 100 (12.25) and was a part of the 4x100 relay along with Moriah Hellam,
Lynsi Kanak and Kamryn McCall that also finished second (50.05).</p><p>Brooke
Bieker placed third in the triple jump (34-10.50) as did McCall in the 100
(12.41) and Zimmerman in the 200 (25.81).</p><p>The
boys won four events. Kamani Jones the high jump (6-0), Gus Corsair the discus
(145-3), Dalton Mayers the javelin (183-9) and Bryce Steffan the 300 hurdles
(40.66).</p><p>Jones
finished second in the triple jump (43-10.75) as did Wyatt Kirkpatrick in the
javelin (164-11), Jaxson Chartier the shot put (51-2.75) and Steffan in the 110
hurdles (15.58).</p><p>Third
place finishers include Jones in the long jump (20-2.50) and 200 (22.43),
Parker McGuire the discus (140.3), Caleb Englert the shot put (49-5.25), Brogan
Albers the 110 hurdles (15.68), Taevian Maupin-Dabney the 400 (51.50). Maupin-Dabney
was also a part of the third place 4x400 relay along with Steffan, Chase Zadina
and Albers (3:32.37).</p>

👟 HHS boys and girls win WAC meet

LIBERAL
– The Hays High baseball team had already wrapped up their fourth straight Western
Athletic Conference title earlier in the season, Thursday they closed out the WAC
portion of their schedule with a 20-1 rout of Liberal in three innings at the National
Beef Sports Complex.

Hays
(14-8, 11-1 WAC) scored 14 runs in the second inning and six in the third to finish off the three-game series sweep of Liberal (8-17, 4-8 WAC). The Indians out-hit the Redskins 12-3
and took advantage of eight walks.

Jalen
Smith and Carter Graham both hit grand slams. Graham went 4-for-4 and drove in six
runs.

Trenton
Welch allowed one hit with two strikeouts and three walks over two innings and
picked up the win. Kal Lonsdale pitched the final inning.

Hays
will wrap up the regular season at home on Friday with a doubleheader against
Junction City. Game one begins at 4:00 p.m. at Leo-Harper Field.

<p><i>Hays Post Sports</i><i></i></p><p>LIBERAL
– The Hays High baseball team had already wrapped up their fourth straight Western
Athletic Conference title earlier in the season, Thursday they closed out the WAC
portion of their schedule with a 20-1 rout of Liberal in three innings at the National
Beef Sports Complex.</p><p>Hays
(14-8, 11-1 WAC) scored 14 runs in the second inning and six in the third to finish off the three-game series sweep of Liberal (8-17, 4-8 WAC). The Indians out-hit the Redskins 12-3
and took advantage of eight walks.</p><p>Jalen
Smith and Carter Graham both hit grand slams. Graham went 4-for-4 and drove in six
runs.</p><p>Trenton
Welch allowed one hit with two strikeouts and three walks over two innings and
picked up the win. Kal Lonsdale pitched the final inning.</p><p>UP
NEXT</p><p>Hays
will wrap up the regular season at home on Friday with a doubleheader against
Junction City. Game one begins at 4:00 p.m. at Leo-Harper Field.</p>

⚾ Indians wrap up WAC play with blowout win

HAYS
– The Hays High softball team wrapped up their regular season with a sweep of
Manhattan. The Indians cruised to an 11-0 win in game one then held on for a
6-4 victory in the second game.

The
Indians finished the regular season 16-10. They will find out on Saturday who,
when and where they play in next week’s regional.

<b>Game 1: Hays 11, Manhattan 0 (5 innings)
</b>Avery Solida had two
hits including a three-run homer to lead the Hays Indians to the game one win.

HHS
scored four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. They added a
run in the third then six in the fifth to end the game early.

Brynlee
Rupp got the Indians on the board with an RBI triple then scored on a passed
ball in the first. Solida drove in her first run of the day with a single. Lanie
Becker stole home to push the lead to 4-0.

Becker
hit an inside the park home run in the third to put HHS up 5-0.

Rupp
opened the decisive fifth with a single then scored on Riley Dreher’s double. Following
a walk, Solida hit a three-run blast to center to put Hays up 9-0. Alyse Zimmerman
ended the game with a two-run single to center.

Jaylee
Summers scattered three hits with three walks and three strikeouts and picked
up the complete game victory.

<b>Game 2: Hays 6, Manhattan 4</b>
Hays built a 6-0 lead after five then held on for the win.

Alyse
Zimmerman, Brynlee Rupp and Riley Dreher all singled to open the bottom of the
first. Dreher’s base hit scored two to give the Indians the early lead. Dreher
later score on an error to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.

Each
team would get only one baserunner over the next three innings. 

Hays
broke through for three more runs in the fifth. With two outs, Lanie Becker
singled which scored Zimmerman who opened the frame with a double. Following an
Avery Solida single, Brynlee Brous single to push the lead to 5-0. K Jones singled
home courtesy runner Jaylee Summers for the Indians final run.

Manhattan
scored four in the top of the sixth. The first run came on a passed ball. The
Indians threw a runner out at home on a bunt but Josi Alesana hit a bases
loaded double with two outs to make it 6-4. 

<p><i>Hays Post Sports</i><i></i></p><p>HAYS
– The Hays High softball team wrapped up their regular season with a sweep of
Manhattan. The Indians cruised to an 11-0 win in game one then held on for a
6-4 victory in the second game.</p><p>The
Indians finished the regular season 16-10. They will find out on Saturday who,
when and where they play in next week’s regional.</p><p><b>Game 1: Hays 11, Manhattan 0 (5 innings)
</b>Avery Solida had two
hits including a three-run homer to lead the Hays Indians to the game one win.</p><p>HHS
scored four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. They added a
run in the third then six in the fifth to end the game early.</p><p>Brynlee
Rupp got the Indians on the board with an RBI triple then scored on a passed
ball in the first. Solida drove in her first run of the day with a single. Lanie
Becker stole home to push the lead to 4-0.</p><p>Becker
hit an inside the park home run in the third to put HHS up 5-0.</p><p>Rupp
opened the decisive fifth with a single then scored on Riley Dreher’s double. Following
a walk, Solida hit a three-run blast to center to put Hays up 9-0. Alyse Zimmerman
ended the game with a two-run single to center.</p><p>Jaylee
Summers scattered three hits with three walks and three strikeouts and picked
up the complete game victory.</p><p><b>Game 2: Hays 6, Manhattan 4</b>
Hays built a 6-0 lead after five then held on for the win.</p><p>Alyse
Zimmerman, Brynlee Rupp and Riley Dreher all singled to open the bottom of the
first. Dreher’s base hit scored two to give the Indians the early lead. Dreher
later score on an error to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.</p><p>Each
team would get only one baserunner over the next three innings. </p><p>Hays
broke through for three more runs in the fifth. With two outs, Lanie Becker
singled which scored Zimmerman who opened the frame with a double. Following an
Avery Solida single, Brynlee Brous single to push the lead to 5-0. K Jones singled
home courtesy runner Jaylee Summers for the Indians final run.</p><p>Manhattan
scored four in the top of the sixth. The first run came on a passed ball. The
Indians threw a runner out at home on a bunt but Josi Alesana hit a bases
loaded double with two outs to make it 6-4. </p>

🥎 HHS wraps up regular season with sweep of Manhattan

HILL CITY – The Hoxie girls and Smith Center boys won the Mid-Continent League track and field meet hosted by Hill City High School Thursday. The Indians scored 111 points, 10.5 ahead of second place Ellis. Norton finished third (71). The Redmen boys scored 110 points, six better than Norton. Phillipsburg placed third (67.5).

<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/679983-mcl-track-2025-2025/teams">2025 MCL Track and Field Results</a>

The TMP-Marian girls finished sixth and the boys 11th. Piper Simpson won the girls pole vault, setting a new school record at 10-6. Paige Schlyer finished second in the discus (122-3). Jackson Gillespie led the TMP boys with a second-place finish in the 100 (11.23) and third in the 200 (23.12).

Ellis’ Evelyn Merriman won the 100 (12.31), 200 (25.82) and 400 (1:02.95). Natalie North won the discus (141-5) and shot put (40-8.75). Avery Boydston won the 800 (2:27.37) and finished second in the 1600 (5:20.15). Isabella Eck brought home gold in the high jump (5-4). The Railers 4x100 relay team placed third.

The Railer boys were paced by Aron Bencze won the discus (166-3) and finished second in the shot put (48-3).

Plainville’s Eric Mackey won the high jump (5-10), Davyn Willeford finished second in the long jump (42-4) and Tucker Rudman placed third in the shot put (48-2). Brilynn Trumpp led the Cardinal girls with a second place finish in the 800 (2:29.52) and was third in the 3200 (12:27.38). Alayah Lair finished third in the 100 hurdles (17.09). Caydance Carter placed third in the shot put (38-8).

<p><i>Hays Post Sports</i></p><p>HILL CITY – The Hoxie girls and Smith Center boys won the Mid-Continent League track and field meet hosted by Hill City High School Thursday. The Indians scored 111 points, 10.5 ahead of second place Ellis. Norton finished third (71). The Redmen boys scored 110 points, six better than Norton. Phillipsburg placed third (67.5).</p><p><a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/679983-mcl-track-2025-2025/teams">2025 MCL Track and Field Results</a></p><p>The TMP-Marian girls finished sixth and the boys 11th. Piper Simpson won the girls pole vault, setting a new school record at 10-6. Paige Schlyer finished second in the discus (122-3). Jackson Gillespie led the TMP boys with a second-place finish in the 100 (11.23) and third in the 200 (23.12).</p><p>Ellis’ Evelyn Merriman won the 100 (12.31), 200 (25.82) and 400 (1:02.95). Natalie North won the discus (141-5) and shot put (40-8.75). Avery Boydston won the 800 (2:27.37) and finished second in the 1600 (5:20.15). Isabella Eck brought home gold in the high jump (5-4). The Railers 4x100 relay team placed third.</p><p>The Railer boys were paced by Aron Bencze won the discus (166-3) and finished second in the shot put (48-3).</p><p>Plainville’s Eric Mackey won the high jump (5-10), Davyn Willeford finished second in the long jump (42-4) and Tucker Rudman placed third in the shot put (48-2). Brilynn Trumpp led the Cardinal girls with a second place finish in the 800 (2:29.52) and was third in the 3200 (12:27.38). Alayah Lair finished third in the 100 hurdles (17.09). Caydance Carter placed third in the shot put (38-8).</p>

👟 Hoxie girls, Smith Center boys win MCL meet

HAYS
– Oakley won the Mid-Continent League boys golf tournament Thursday at the Fort
Hays Municipal Golf Course. The Plainsmen shot a 344 and edged Plainville by
three shots. Hoxie finished third, four off the pace. TMP-Marian finished sixth
with a 376, Trego was ninth (394) and Ellis 10th (411).

Hill
City’s AJ Deges shot a 6-over-par 77 and won the individual title. Easton Fink
of Oakley and Eli Jones of Norton tied for second after rounds of 79. Plainville’s
Noah Brewster shot an 82 and tied for fifth. Teammate Easton Ditter tied for
seventh with an 84.

Heuer
Brungardt led TMP-Marian with a 92 and tied for 20th along with Jaren Frickey of
Ellis.

<b>Team Results<br>Place - Team - Score</b><br>1 - Oakley -&nbsp;344<br>2 - Plainville - 347<br>3 - Hoxie - 348<br>4 - Hill City - 359<br>5 - Phillipsburg - 366<br>6 - TMP-Marian - 376<br>7 - Norton -&nbsp;380<br>8 - Russell - 392<br>9 - Trego -&nbsp;394<br>10 - Ellis - 411<br>11 - Smith Center - 414

<b>Top-20 Individual Results<br>Place - Name - School - Total</b><br>1 - AJ Deges - Hill City - 77<br>T2 - Easton Fink - Oakley - 79<br>T2 - Eli Jones - Norton - 79<br>4 - Jake Mooney - Russell - 81<br>5 - Noah Brewster - Plainville - 82<br>T5 - Avery Jacobs - Phillipsburg - 82<br>T7 - Easton Ditter - Plainville - 84<br>T7 - Noah Dowell - Hoxie - 84<br>T7 - Manuel Mancia - Oakley - 84<br>10 - Sam Watkins - Hoxie - 85<br>11 - Mason Laurin - Phillipsburg - 86<br>T12 - Brodie Tremblay - Hoxie - 88<br>T12 - Case Haynes - Hill City - 88<br>14 - Cole Kirchoff - Smith Center - 89<br>T15 - Jayden Morris - Plainville - 90<br>T15 - Cauy Bosserman - Oakley - 90<br>T17 - Carter Selensky - Oakley - 91<br>T17 - Max Foote	Hoxie - 91<br>T17 - Owen Brewster - Plainville - 91&nbsp;<br>T20 - Jaren Frickey - Ellis - 92<br>T20 - Josiah Lopez - Trego - 92<br>T20 - Heuer Brungardt - TMP-Marian - 92

<p><i>Hays Post Sports</i></p><p>HAYS
– Oakley won the Mid-Continent League boys golf tournament Thursday at the Fort
Hays Municipal Golf Course. The Plainsmen shot a 344 and edged Plainville by
three shots. Hoxie finished third, four off the pace. TMP-Marian finished sixth
with a 376, Trego was ninth (394) and Ellis 10th (411).</p><p>Hill
City’s AJ Deges shot a 6-over-par 77 and won the individual title. Easton Fink
of Oakley and Eli Jones of Norton tied for second after rounds of 79. Plainville’s
Noah Brewster shot an 82 and tied for fifth. Teammate Easton Ditter tied for
seventh with an 84.</p><p>Heuer
Brungardt led TMP-Marian with a 92 and tied for 20th along with Jaren Frickey of
Ellis.</p><p><b>Team Results<br>Place - Team - Score</b><br>1 - Oakley -&nbsp;344<br>2 - Plainville - 347<br>3 - Hoxie - 348<br>4 - Hill City - 359<br>5 - Phillipsburg - 366<br>6 - TMP-Marian - 376<br>7 - Norton -&nbsp;380<br>8 - Russell - 392<br>9 - Trego -&nbsp;394<br>10 - Ellis - 411<br>11 - Smith Center - 414</p><p><b>Top-20 Individual Results<br>Place - Name - School - Total</b><br>1 - AJ Deges - Hill City - 77<br>T2 - Easton Fink - Oakley - 79<br>T2 - Eli Jones - Norton - 79<br>4 - Jake Mooney - Russell - 81<br>5 - Noah Brewster - Plainville - 82<br>T5 - Avery Jacobs - Phillipsburg - 82<br>T7 - Easton Ditter - Plainville - 84<br>T7 - Noah Dowell - Hoxie - 84<br>T7 - Manuel Mancia - Oakley - 84<br>10 - Sam Watkins - Hoxie - 85<br>11 - Mason Laurin - Phillipsburg - 86<br>T12 - Brodie Tremblay - Hoxie - 88<br>T12 - Case Haynes - Hill City - 88<br>14 - Cole Kirchoff - Smith Center - 89<br>T15 - Jayden Morris - Plainville - 90<br>T15 - Cauy Bosserman - Oakley - 90<br>T17 - Carter Selensky - Oakley - 91<br>T17 - Max Foote	Hoxie - 91<br>T17 - Owen Brewster - Plainville - 91&nbsp;<br>T20 - Jaren Frickey - Ellis - 92<br>T20 - Josiah Lopez - Trego - 92<br>T20 - Heuer Brungardt - TMP-Marian - 92</p>

⛳ Oakley boys win MCL Tournament

HAYS
– The Hays High girls swim team finished runner-up at the WAC meet held at Fort
Hays State’s Tiger Aquatic Center Thursday.

Senior
Izabel Schmidt broke her seventh school record with a first-place finish in the
100 yard breaststroke (1:11.13). Schmidt was also a part of the winning 200
free relay along with Jaylen Hughes, Brekyn Wahlmeier and Lucy Tippy. Hughes
finished first in the 100 backstroke.

Schmidt
was voted the WAC Swimmer of the Year and Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the
Year.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747401242874.jpeg" alt="Hays High senior Izabel Schmidt was named the WAC Swimmer of the Year and head coach&nbsp;Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the Year (HHS courtesy photo)" />
                        <figcaption>Hays High senior Izabel Schmidt was named the WAC Swimmer of the Year and head coach&nbsp;Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the Year (HHS courtesy photo)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>Hays Post Sports</i><i></i></p><p>HAYS
– The Hays High girls swim team finished runner-up at the WAC meet held at Fort
Hays State’s Tiger Aquatic Center Thursday.</p><p>Senior
Izabel Schmidt broke her seventh school record with a first-place finish in the
100 yard breaststroke (1:11.13). Schmidt was also a part of the winning 200
free relay along with Jaylen Hughes, Brekyn Wahlmeier and Lucy Tippy. Hughes
finished first in the 100 backstroke.</p><p>Schmidt
was voted the WAC Swimmer of the Year and Tyler Stein the WAC Coach of the
Year.</p>

🏊‍♀️ HHS girls runner-up at WAC, Schmidt Swimmer of the Year

By MEHMET GUZEL, HANNA ARHIROVA and SUZAN FRASER Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia and Ukraine were set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, both countries said Thursday, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.

During his Middle East trip, President Trump told reporters he and Putin need to get together to get the Ukraine war solved.

The president insists he’s not disappointed with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not showing up for peace talks in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled from Doha, Qatar, to Abu Dhabi, United Emirates, on Thursday. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying.”

Zelenskyy said he is sending a team headed by his defense minister from the Turkish capital Ankara to Istanbul to meet a Russian delegation, even though Moscow's side doesn't include "anyone who actually makes decisions."

The Ukrainian side would be headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and its aim is "to attempt at least the first steps toward de-escalation, the first steps toward ending the war — namely, a ceasefire," he said.

Few had expected Putin to show up in Turkey, and his absence punctured any hope of significant progress toward ending the 3-year-old war amid peace efforts in recent months by the Trump administration and Western European leaders. It also raised the prospect of intensified international sanctions on Russia that have been threatened by the West.

Zelenskyy, who flew Thursday to Ankara after challenging Putin to sit down with him, accused Moscow of not making a serious effort to end the war by sending a low-level negotiating team that he described as "a theater prop."

His proposal to Putin came amid a flurry of maneuvering last weekend as each side sought a diplomatic advantage.

Zelenskyy said he decided to send the delegation to Istanbul to demonstrate to U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine wants to end the fighting.

The war has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides and more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the U.N. Russian forces are preparing a fresh military offensive, Ukrainian government and Western military analysts say.

At least five civilians were killed and 29 wounded in the past day, according to authorities in five eastern regions of Ukraine where Russia is trying to advance.

The head of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, said in Istanbul that the representatives were ready to meet Ukrainian officials.

"The task of these direct negotiations with Ukraine is to establish long-term peace sooner or later by eliminating the root causes of this conflict," he said in a brief statement.

It was not clear when they would meet. The Russian state news agency Tass reported that the talks will go ahead Friday, citing an unidentified source.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would confer Friday in Istanbul with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Ukrainian delegation, adding that the Russian delegation would be meeting with other members of the U.S. team and that he hoped all sides could get together.

"We don't have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow. And frankly, at this point, I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin," Rubio told reporters in Antalya, Turkey, where he was attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier welcomed Zelenskyy to the presidential palace in Ankara for their own talks. Zelenskyy heads Friday to Albania for a gathering of European officials.

The diplomatic maneuvering began Saturday when European leaders met Zelenskyy in Kyiv and urged the Kremlin to agree to a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward peace. Putin responded early Sunday by proposing direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Then came Zelenskyy's challenge to Putin for face-to-face talks.

After days of silence, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov finally said Thursday that Putin had no plans to travel to Istanbul in the next few days.

Trump said he was not surprised that Putin was a no-show. He had pressed for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet but brushed off the Kremlin leader's decision not to attend.

"I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there," Trump told reporters in Doha, Qatar, on the third day of his visit to the Middle East.

Trump said a meeting between him and Putin was crucial to breaking the deadlock.

"I don't believe anything's going to happen whether you like it or not, until (Putin) and I get together," he said on Air Force One while traveling from Doha to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. "But we're going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."

Peskov said Putin has no plans to meet with Trump in the coming days.

Medinsky, Putin's aide, is leading the Russian team that also includes three other senior officials, the Kremlin said. Putin also appointed four lower-level officials as "experts" for the talks in Istanbul.

Also absent from the talks were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, both of whom represented Russia at talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia in March.

The top-level Ukrainian delegation included Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, a Ukrainian official said. Zelenskyy will sit at the negotiating table only with Putin, said presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.

Putin met Wednesday with senior government officials and members of the delegation in preparation for the talks, Peskov said. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov and National Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu attended.

The Kremlin billed the Istanbul talks as a "restart" of peace negotiations held there in 2022 that quickly collapsed. Moscow accused Ukraine and the West of wanting to continue fighting, while Kyiv said Russia's demands amounted to an ultimatum, not something both sides could agree on. That delegation also was also headed by Medinsky.

Putin's proposal came after more than three months of diplomacy kick-started by Trump, who promised during his campaign to end the war swiftly — although it's been hard to pull off. The Trump administration in recent weeks indicated it might walk away from the effort if there was no tangible progress soon.

Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, met with Rubio and Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday night in Antalya.

Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine's support for Trump's mediation efforts and thanked the U.S. for its continued involvement, urging Moscow to "reciprocate Ukraine's constructive steps" toward peace. "So far, it has not," Sybiha said.

On Thursday morning, Sybiha also met with other European foreign ministers, including his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, who in a post on X reiterated the call for a ceasefire and the threat of "massive sanctions" if Russia doesn't comply.

"We're in a very difficult spot right now, and we hope that we can find the steps forward that provide for the end of this war in a negotiated way and the prevention of any war in the future," Rubio said Thursday.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747337212246.png" alt="Image from CSPAN video" />
                        <figcaption>Image from CSPAN video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By MEHMET GUZEL, HANNA ARHIROVA and SUZAN FRASER Associated Press</p><p>ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia and Ukraine were set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, both countries said Thursday, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.</p><p>During his Middle East trip, President Trump told reporters he and Putin need to get together to get the Ukraine war solved.</p><p>The president insists he’s not disappointed with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not showing up for peace talks in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump: &quot;Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/iKg3SJQmaf">pic.twitter.com/iKg3SJQmaf</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1923043128061104498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled from Doha, Qatar, to Abu Dhabi, United Emirates, on Thursday. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying.”</p><p>Zelenskyy said he is sending a team headed by his defense minister from the Turkish capital Ankara to Istanbul to meet a Russian delegation, even though Moscow's side doesn't include "anyone who actually makes decisions."</p><p>The Ukrainian side would be headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and its aim is "to attempt at least the first steps toward de-escalation, the first steps toward ending the war — namely, a ceasefire," he said.</p><p>Few had expected Putin to show up in Turkey, and his absence punctured any hope of significant progress toward ending the 3-year-old war amid peace efforts in recent months by the Trump administration and Western European leaders. It also raised the prospect of intensified international sanctions on Russia that have been threatened by the West.</p><p>Zelenskyy, who flew Thursday to Ankara after challenging Putin to sit down with him, accused Moscow of not making a serious effort to end the war by sending a low-level negotiating team that he described as "a theater prop."</p><p>His proposal to Putin came amid a flurry of maneuvering last weekend as each side sought a diplomatic advantage.</p><p>Zelenskyy said he decided to send the delegation to Istanbul to demonstrate to U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine wants to end the fighting.</p><p>The war has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides and more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the U.N. Russian forces are preparing a fresh military offensive, Ukrainian government and Western military analysts say.</p><p>At least five civilians were killed and 29 wounded in the past day, according to authorities in five eastern regions of Ukraine where Russia is trying to advance.</p><p>The head of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, said in Istanbul that the representatives were ready to meet Ukrainian officials.</p><p>"The task of these direct negotiations with Ukraine is to establish long-term peace sooner or later by eliminating the root causes of this conflict," he said in a brief statement.</p><p>It was not clear when they would meet. The Russian state news agency Tass reported that the talks will go ahead Friday, citing an unidentified source.</p><p>U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would confer Friday in Istanbul with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Ukrainian delegation, adding that the Russian delegation would be meeting with other members of the U.S. team and that he hoped all sides could get together.</p><p>"We don't have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow. And frankly, at this point, I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin," Rubio told reporters in Antalya, Turkey, where he was attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting.</p><p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier welcomed Zelenskyy to the presidential palace in Ankara for their own talks. Zelenskyy heads Friday to Albania for a gathering of European officials.</p><p>Weekend maneuvers</p><p>The diplomatic maneuvering began Saturday when European leaders met Zelenskyy in Kyiv and urged the Kremlin to agree to a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward peace. Putin responded early Sunday by proposing direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Then came Zelenskyy's challenge to Putin for face-to-face talks.</p><p>After days of silence, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov finally said Thursday that Putin had no plans to travel to Istanbul in the next few days.</p><p>Trump said he was not surprised that Putin was a no-show. He had pressed for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet but brushed off the Kremlin leader's decision not to attend.</p><p>"I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there," Trump told reporters in Doha, Qatar, on the third day of his visit to the Middle East.</p><p>Trump said a meeting between him and Putin was crucial to breaking the deadlock.</p><p>"I don't believe anything's going to happen whether you like it or not, until (Putin) and I get together," he said on Air Force One while traveling from Doha to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. "But we're going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."</p><p>Peskov said Putin has no plans to meet with Trump in the coming days.</p><p>Medinsky, Putin's aide, is leading the Russian team that also includes three other senior officials, the Kremlin said. Putin also appointed four lower-level officials as "experts" for the talks in Istanbul.</p><p>Also absent from the talks were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, both of whom represented Russia at talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia in March.</p><p>The top-level Ukrainian delegation included Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, a Ukrainian official said. Zelenskyy will sit at the negotiating table only with Putin, said presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.</p><p>Putin met Wednesday with senior government officials and members of the delegation in preparation for the talks, Peskov said. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov and National Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu attended.</p><p>Russia calls the talks a 'restart'</p><p>The Kremlin billed the Istanbul talks as a "restart" of peace negotiations held there in 2022 that quickly collapsed. Moscow accused Ukraine and the West of wanting to continue fighting, while Kyiv said Russia's demands amounted to an ultimatum, not something both sides could agree on. That delegation also was also headed by Medinsky.</p><p>Putin's proposal came after more than three months of diplomacy kick-started by Trump, who promised during his campaign to end the war swiftly — although it's been hard to pull off. The Trump administration in recent weeks indicated it might walk away from the effort if there was no tangible progress soon.</p><p>Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, met with Rubio and Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday night in Antalya.</p><p>Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine's support for Trump's mediation efforts and thanked the U.S. for its continued involvement, urging Moscow to "reciprocate Ukraine's constructive steps" toward peace. "So far, it has not," Sybiha said.</p><p>On Thursday morning, Sybiha also met with other European foreign ministers, including his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, who in a post on X reiterated the call for a ceasefire and the threat of "massive sanctions" if Russia doesn't comply.</p><p>"We're in a very difficult spot right now, and we hope that we can find the steps forward that provide for the end of this war in a negotiated way and the prevention of any war in the future," Rubio said Thursday.</p><p>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of "standing in the way of peace."</p><p>"There was only one country that started this conflict — that was Russia. That was Putin. There's only one country now standing in the way of peace — that is Russia, that is Putin," he said in a visit to Tirana, Albania.</p><p>Barrot echoed that sentiment: "In front of Ukrainians, there is an empty chair, one that should have been occupied by Vladimir Putin," he said. "Vladimir Putin is dragging his feet and in all evidence does not want to enter into these peace discussions."</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels; Illia Novikov and Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Ukraine; Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia; Aamer Madhani in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Matthew Lee in Antalya, Turkey, contributed to this report.</p><p>___</p><p>Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine</p>