By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Hays hit a high of 81 Sunday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

By 9 a.m. on Saturday, Hays received 2.1 inches of rain.

Hays received no rain as of 9 a.m. today. Hays has received 3.06 inches in the month of September and 19.84 inches of precipitation year to date.&nbsp;

On average, Hays receives 2.24 inches of rain in September and 19.84 inches of moisture year to date by the end of the month. 

The forecast for today is mostly sunny, with a high of 88 and up to a 90% chance of storms and heavy rain, with a low of 61. Winds are expected to be around 9 mph.

More heavy rain is expected Tuesday, with a high of 70, and with more chance of storms at night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758565387898.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostHays hit a high of 81 Sunday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.By 9 a.m. on Saturday, Hays received 2.1 inches of rain.Hays received no rain as of 9 a.m. today. Hays has received 3.06 inches in the month of September and 19.84 inches of precipitation year to date.&nbsp;On average, Hays receives 2.24 inches of rain in September and 19.84 inches of moisture year to date by the end of the month. The forecast for today is mostly sunny, with a high of 88 and up to a 90% chance of storms and heavy rain, with a low of 61. Winds are expected to be around 9 mph.More heavy rain is expected Tuesday, with a high of 70, and with more chance of storms at night.

Hays receives weekend rain; more expected Tuesday

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas teen charged for her role in an acid attack on another teen was back in court Friday.&nbsp;

Tayronnia West, who was 18 at the time of the crime, pled guilty to Reckless Aggravated Battery, severity level 5, person felony, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She is scheduled for sentencing on November 5.

In June Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced West's accomplice Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In May, a jury found Hollins guilty of aggravated battery.

In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a fight.&nbsp;

Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for the suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested Hollins and accomplice&nbsp;Tayronnia Jontashia West. In March of 2025, police also arrested a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690818288.png" alt="West photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>West photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas teen charged for her role in an acid attack on another teen was back in court Friday.&nbsp;Tayronnia West, who was 18 at the time of the crime, pled guilty to Reckless Aggravated Battery, severity level 5, person felony, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She is scheduled for sentencing on November 5.In June Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced West's accomplice Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In May, a jury found Hollins guilty of aggravated battery.In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a fight.&nbsp;Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for the suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested Hollins and accomplice&nbsp;Tayronnia Jontashia West. In March of 2025, police also arrested a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case.

Kansas teen enters plea for acid attack on another girl

The National Weather Service in Dodge City reports&nbsp;Hays is under a flood watch that is in effect from 10 p.m. tonight to 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Isolated storms are expected to begin developing around 7 to 8 tonight, with coverage increasing by 9 to 10 p.m. Following these, a line of storms will move in from Colorado around 10 to 11 p.m. and push southeast into the early morning hours.

As the line progresses, the flooding risk will rise due to already saturated soils and standing water from recent storms. Southwest portions could see rainfall totals of up to 2 inches (with locally higher amounts) with this initial line, with additional showers behind it adding to overall amounts through the morning.

The report adds that with the ground already saturated, gust winds could more easily bring down trees and power lines, leading ot potential power outages.

Tuesday's high is expected to reach 70 with a low of 57 and a 70% chance of heavy rain and showers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758573330725.jpeg" alt="National Weather Service, Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>National Weather Service, Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe National Weather Service in Dodge City reports&nbsp;Hays is under a flood watch that is in effect from 10 p.m. tonight to 1 p.m. tomorrow.Isolated storms are expected to begin developing around 7 to 8 tonight, with coverage increasing by 9 to 10 p.m. Following these, a line of storms will move in from Colorado around 10 to 11 p.m. and push southeast into the early morning hours.As the line progresses, the flooding risk will rise due to already saturated soils and standing water from recent storms. Southwest portions could see rainfall totals of up to 2 inches (with locally higher amounts) with this initial line, with additional showers behind it adding to overall amounts through the morning.The report adds that with the ground already saturated, gust winds could more easily bring down trees and power lines, leading ot potential power outages.Tuesday's high is expected to reach 70 with a low of 57 and a 70% chance of heavy rain and showers.

Hays under flood watch tonight until Tuesday

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board will discuss a change order for the new high school and additional work at the new Hays Middle School at its meeting tonight at 6:30.

The board will consider a $88,347 change order for the high school, which includes multiple items.

It will also consider a contract with&nbsp;ACM Removal LLS for&nbsp;$69,480 for the removal of floor tile and abatement of non-friable asbestos-containing mastic in hallway areas of the new HMS building at 2300 13th St.

Work is underway at the former high school to convert it into a new middle school.

Students and staff are set to move into the renovated space in January.

The board will also hear a report on possible changes in transportation eligibility as the middle school relocates to 13th Street.

Superintendent Ron Wilson will give updates about the HMS and O'Loughlin Elementary School construction projects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608234493687.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board will discuss a change order for the new high school and additional work at the new Hays Middle School at its meeting tonight at 6:30.The board will consider a $88,347 change order for the high school, which includes multiple items.It will also consider a contract with&nbsp;ACM Removal LLS for&nbsp;$69,480 for the removal of floor tile and abatement of non-friable asbestos-containing mastic in hallway areas of the new HMS building at 2300 13th St.Work is underway at the former high school to convert it into a new middle school.Students and staff are set to move into the renovated space in January.The board will also hear a report on possible changes in transportation eligibility as the middle school relocates to 13th Street.Superintendent Ron Wilson will give updates about the HMS and O'Loughlin Elementary School construction projects.

Hays USD 489 board to consider change order for Hays High, asbestos removal for HMS

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about&nbsp; the Network Kansas ECommunity Loan program on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

Please submit your questions for Doug for future interviews to&nbsp;hayspost@eaglemedia.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Grow Hays" 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=79qib-196d9ab-pb&square=1&share=1&d… loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
Podbean Player
 </div>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Doug Williams of Grow Hays about&nbsp; the Network Kansas ECommunity Loan program on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.Please submit your questions for Doug for future interviews to&nbsp;hayspost@eaglemedia.com.

🎙 Post Podcast: Doug Williams of Grow Hays  on ECommunity loan program

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

An Ellis County dispatcher received her second Stork Award after helping a caller deliver a baby over the phone.

On April 5, dispatcher Rachel Barnes answered a 911 call reporting a woman in labor in rural Ellis County. Barnes quickly instructed the caller to gather towels before giving further directions.

"You don't typically get calls as a dispatcher that are positive. Having done it once before, getting that call and realizing that I'm going to do something that has a good outcome gets me really excited." Barnes said.

About one minute into the call, a baby was delivered before responders arrived. Barnes then instructed the caller on how to make sure the newborn was breathing and properly wrapped.

"It's always important to make sure you have something to keep that baby warm because they're so small, and they're not going to be able to regulate their heat," she said.

She instructed the caller to check whether the placenta had been delivered and to wait until the umbilical cord had changed color before tying it off. The call lasted about 16 minutes.

Barnes said the most challenging part of the phone call was waiting for responders. The family was about 15 miles away from HaysMed.

"With every call, it's really just the waiting, because there's only so much you can do as a voice on the end of the phone," she said.

Barnes said the call involved her, a grandfather and a grandmother who helped deliver their grandson’s baby girl.

For providing calm guidance and instructions, Ellis County Communications Director Jeff Ridgway presented Barnes with a certificate recognizing dispatchers who assist in successful pre-hospital childbirths.

"Dispatcher Barnes utilized her professionalism and personal experience to keep the caller and the mother calm," Ridgway said.&nbsp;

Barnes was also recognized with the Stork Award in 2023 for guiding another childbirth over a 911 call. She received it alongside a coworker for answering a similar call.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7ff46850-a578-446d-b364-7f99e5b2d3bb">SEE RELATED STORY: 911 dispatchers win Hays 'Stork Award' after newborns win race against responders</a>

"People don't get Stork Awards super often. There's only been three total since our center was established, and all of them have been within the last three years," she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758228105513.png" alt="911 Ellis County Dispatcher Rachel Barnes" />
 <figcaption>911 Ellis County Dispatcher Rachel Barnes</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758309484696.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostAn Ellis County dispatcher received her second Stork Award after helping a caller deliver a baby over the phone.On April 5, dispatcher Rachel Barnes answered a 911 call reporting a woman in labor in rural Ellis County. Barnes quickly instructed the caller to gather towels before giving further directions."You don't typically get calls as a dispatcher that are positive. Having done it once before, getting that call and realizing that I'm going to do something that has a good outcome gets me really excited." Barnes said.About one minute into the call, a baby was delivered before responders arrived. Barnes then instructed the caller on how to make sure the newborn was breathing and properly wrapped."It's always important to make sure you have something to keep that baby warm because they're so small, and they're not going to be able to regulate their heat," she said.She instructed the caller to check whether the placenta had been delivered and to wait until the umbilical cord had changed color before tying it off. The call lasted about 16 minutes.Barnes said the most challenging part of the phone call was waiting for responders. The family was about 15 miles away from HaysMed."With every call, it's really just the waiting, because there's only so much you can do as a voice on the end of the phone," she said.Barnes said the call involved her, a grandfather and a grandmother who helped deliver their grandson’s baby girl.For providing calm guidance and instructions, Ellis County Communications Director Jeff Ridgway presented Barnes with a certificate recognizing dispatchers who assist in successful pre-hospital childbirths."Dispatcher Barnes utilized her professionalism and personal experience to keep the caller and the mother calm," Ridgway said.&nbsp;Barnes was also recognized with the Stork Award in 2023 for guiding another childbirth over a 911 call. She received it alongside a coworker for answering a similar call.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7ff46850-a578-446d-b364-7f99e5b2d3bb">SEE RELATED STORY: 911 dispatchers win Hays 'Stork Award' after newborns win race against responders</a>"People don't get Stork Awards super often. There's only been three total since our center was established, and all of them have been within the last three years," she said.

NWester: Ellis County Dispatcher delivers baby over 911 call

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban government on Sunday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-afghanistan-bagram-air-base-taliban-china-ed379b4505d074ded5361483832a18d0">bid to retake Bagram Air Base</a>, four years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">America’s chaotic withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from Afghanistan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bagram-afghanistan-airfield-us-troops-f3614828364f567593251aaaa167e623">left the sprawling military facility</a>&nbsp;in the Taliban hands.

It is unclear what conversations the U.S. has had with Afghan officials about returning to the country. But Trump hinted that the Taliban, who have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-internet-shutdown-a2e6c5f836ab3ab9f770591fc89900c0">struggled with an economic crisis</a>, international legitimacy, internal rifts and rival militant groups since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-takeover-four-years-d021b123d4ff7dc847d2801253b7b785">their return to power</a>&nbsp;in 2021, could be open to allowing the U.S. military back.

The chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, rejected Trump’s assertions and urged the U.S. to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” Afghanistan had an economy-oriented foreign policy and sought constructive relations with all states on the basis of mutual and shared interests, Mujahid posted on X.

It had been consistently communicated to the U.S. in all bilateral negotiations that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity were of the utmost importance, he said.

“It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,’” he said. The U.S. needed to remain faithful to its commitments, he added.

Mujahid did not reply to questions from The Associated Press about conversations with the Trump administration regarding Bagram and why Trump believed the U.S. could retake it.

In August last year, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover at Bagram with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-three-years-anniversary-68f5bc4a3cdd9d07dcecd5d6d391df5c">a grand military display</a>&nbsp;of abandoned U.S. hardware, catching the eye of the White House. Trump has repeatedly criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for his “gross incompetence” during the withdrawal of U.S. forces after the country’s longest war.

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban government on Sunday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-afghanistan-bagram-air-base-taliban-china-ed379b4505d074ded5361483832a18d0">bid to retake Bagram Air Base</a>, four years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">America’s chaotic withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from Afghanistan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bagram-afghanistan-airfield-us-troops-f3614828364f567593251aaaa167e623">left the sprawling military facility</a>&nbsp;in the Taliban hands.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/IwSyuGrEy3">pic.twitter.com/IwSyuGrEy3</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969514564065583516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Bagram Air Base: &quot;We&#39;re talking now to Afghanistan. We want it back and we want it back soon. Right away — and if they don&#39;t do it, you&#39;re going to find out what I&#39;m going to do. <a href="https://t.co/lL6g7A2SLU">pic.twitter.com/lL6g7A2SLU</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969552386076090849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It is unclear what conversations the U.S. has had with Afghan officials about returning to the country. But Trump hinted that the Taliban, who have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-internet-shutdown-a2e6c5f836ab3ab9f770591fc89900c0">struggled with an economic crisis</a>, international legitimacy, internal rifts and rival militant groups since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-takeover-four-years-d021b123d4ff7dc847d2801253b7b785">their return to power</a>&nbsp;in 2021, could be open to allowing the U.S. military back.The chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, rejected Trump’s assertions and urged the U.S. to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” Afghanistan had an economy-oriented foreign policy and sought constructive relations with all states on the basis of mutual and shared interests, Mujahid posted on X.It had been consistently communicated to the U.S. in all bilateral negotiations that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity were of the utmost importance, he said.“It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,’” he said. The U.S. needed to remain faithful to its commitments, he added.Mujahid did not reply to questions from The Associated Press about conversations with the Trump administration regarding Bagram and why Trump believed the U.S. could retake it.In August last year, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover at Bagram with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-three-years-anniversary-68f5bc4a3cdd9d07dcecd5d6d391df5c">a grand military display</a>&nbsp;of abandoned U.S. hardware, catching the eye of the White House. Trump has repeatedly criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for his “gross incompetence” during the withdrawal of U.S. forces after the country’s longest war.

The Taliban reject Trump’s bid to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post Sports

PITTSBURG, Kan. - Pittsburg State used two fourth quarter rushing touchdowns from Luke Niggemann to power past Fort Hays State 31-16 in front of&nbsp;9,766 Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium. The Tigers&nbsp; held a 16-10 lead after three quarters before the 18th-ranked Gorillas (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) exploded for the 21 fourth quarter points.

The game swung on a 78-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Berry to Greyson Holbert which put Pitt State in front 17-16 with the extra point with 8:48 to play. The Tigers (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) had forced a third-straight 3-and-out before giving up the big play which turned the momentum to the Gorillas.

Caleb Heavner threw is second interception of the game on the next possession which set up the first of Niggemann's two touchdowns which put the game away. The last came after a FHSU fumble near mid field. Niggemann, who's a backup tight end, also scored on a short rushing touchdown in the second quarter which gave the Gorillas a 10-3 lead.

Fort Hays State took a 13-10 lead into halftime following a 37-yard David Arriaga field goal to end the first half. It came following a Michael Polley interception which he returned 46-yards to the Pitt State 24. The Tigers extended their lead with another Arriaga field goal from 29 yards in the third quarter.&nbsp;

The Tigers missed out on several potential touchdown opportunities early in the game. They took their first possession of the game down to the PSU 2-yardline, but had to settle for an Arriaga 25-yard field goal thanks in part to a holding penalty. Their second drive moved into the redzone, but an interception near the goal line kept them off the board.

The FHSU defense was solid throughout the first three quarters. After the Gorillas grabbed the 10-3 lead midway through the second, the Tigers mounted a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by a Joshua Clark 8-yard touchdown catch to even the score 10-10 with 2:59 to play in the first half. The Tigers overcame a holding penalty inside the 10 and were helped out by a Pitt State facemask prior to the touchdown pass.

The Tiger defense held the Gorillas to just 234 total yards through the first three quarters, but saw the Gorillas put together 155 yards in the fourth quarter. The Tigers still outgained the Gorillas overall in the game 396-389, but the pair of short fields for the Gorillas turned a one-point game into a 15-point final in the final five minutes.

Heavner finished 24-of-39 passing with 215 yards and a touchdown, and two interceptions. Jackson Berry was 10-of-22 for the Gorillas for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Donovan Hunt led the Tigers in rushing with 76 yards, followed by Heavner with 51. Cleo Chandler led PSU on the ground with 63 yards. Ryan Allen had a team-high 55 receiving yards for FHSU, while Greyson Holbert had 121 for PSU.

John Johnson led the FHSU defense with 11 tackles. Jalen Williams had the Tigers lone sack. 

Arriaga, who booted four field goals in the win over Nebraska-Kearney the week prior, kicked three more against the Gorillas connecting from 25, 27 and 29 yards.

Fort Hays State returns home to face Missouri Western State in their annual Homecoming game on Saturday, September 27 at 7 p.m.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758466461873.png" alt="Fort Hays State's Donovan Hunt (14) runs the ball against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, September 14, 2025 at Lewis Field in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Jordyn Bredenburg)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Donovan Hunt (14) runs the ball against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, September 14, 2025 at Lewis Field in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Jordyn Bredenburg)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post SportsPITTSBURG, Kan. - Pittsburg State used two fourth quarter rushing touchdowns from Luke Niggemann to power past Fort Hays State 31-16 in front of&nbsp;9,766 Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium. The Tigers&nbsp; held a 16-10 lead after three quarters before the 18th-ranked Gorillas (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) exploded for the 21 fourth quarter points.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2173999431&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/chris-brown-post-v-pitt-sept" title="Chris Brown Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Chris Brown Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)</a></div></div>The game swung on a 78-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Berry to Greyson Holbert which put Pitt State in front 17-16 with the extra point with 8:48 to play. The Tigers (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) had forced a third-straight 3-and-out before giving up the big play which turned the momentum to the Gorillas.Caleb Heavner threw is second interception of the game on the next possession which set up the first of Niggemann's two touchdowns which put the game away. The last came after a FHSU fumble near mid field. Niggemann, who's a backup tight end, also scored on a short rushing touchdown in the second quarter which gave the Gorillas a 10-3 lead.Fort Hays State took a 13-10 lead into halftime following a 37-yard David Arriaga field goal to end the first half. It came following a Michael Polley interception which he returned 46-yards to the Pitt State 24. The Tigers extended their lead with another Arriaga field goal from 29 yards in the third quarter.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2173999671&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/michael-polley-post-v-pitt" title="Michael Polley Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Michael Polley Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)</a></div></div>The Tigers missed out on several potential touchdown opportunities early in the game. They took their first possession of the game down to the PSU 2-yardline, but had to settle for an Arriaga 25-yard field goal thanks in part to a holding penalty. Their second drive moved into the redzone, but an interception near the goal line kept them off the board.The FHSU defense was solid throughout the first three quarters. After the Gorillas grabbed the 10-3 lead midway through the second, the Tigers mounted a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by a Joshua Clark 8-yard touchdown catch to even the score 10-10 with 2:59 to play in the first half. The Tigers overcame a holding penalty inside the 10 and were helped out by a Pitt State facemask prior to the touchdown pass.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2173999626&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/donavan-hunt-post-v-pitt-sept" title="Donavan Hunt Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Donavan Hunt Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)</a></div></div>The Tiger defense held the Gorillas to just 234 total yards through the first three quarters, but saw the Gorillas put together 155 yards in the fourth quarter. The Tigers still outgained the Gorillas overall in the game 396-389, but the pair of short fields for the Gorillas turned a one-point game into a 15-point final in the final five minutes.Heavner finished 24-of-39 passing with 215 yards and a touchdown, and two interceptions. Jackson Berry was 10-of-22 for the Gorillas for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Donovan Hunt led the Tigers in rushing with 76 yards, followed by Heavner with 51. Cleo Chandler led PSU on the ground with 63 yards. Ryan Allen had a team-high 55 receiving yards for FHSU, while Greyson Holbert had 121 for PSU.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2173999431&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/chris-brown-post-v-pitt-sept" title="Chris Brown Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Chris Brown Postgame at #18 Pittsburg State (September 20, 2025)</a></div></div>John Johnson led the FHSU defense with 11 tackles. Jalen Williams had the Tigers lone sack. Arriaga, who booted four field goals in the win over Nebraska-Kearney the week prior, kicked three more against the Gorillas connecting from 25, 27 and 29 yards.UP NEXTFort Hays State returns home to face Missouri Western State in their annual Homecoming game on Saturday, September 27 at 7 p.m.&nbsp;

🏈 Big fourth quarter lifts No. 18 Gorillas past Fort Hays State

SHAWNEE, Okla. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team wrapped up its non-conference schedule with two more wins Saturday in the MIAA/GAC Crossover, defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State in straight sets before taking down Oklahoma Baptist in a true road match in four sets. The Tigers improve to 11-1 after extending their winning streak to eight in a row, making this their best start to a season since a 12-0 start to the 2016 campaign.

Fort Hays State put on an impressive offensive performance in both matches, swinging at an efficient .357 clip in the win over the Rangers before posting an attack rate of .253 against the Bison. The Rangers dip to 1-10 following the loss, while the Bison are now 9-4 overall this season.

Fort Hays State 3, Northwestern Oklahoma State 0 The Tigers started the day by cruising past the Rangers in straight sets for the second time in two weeks, winning 25-11, 25-17, 25-18. Fort Hays State dominated on the stat sheet, holding a 51-33 edge in digs, a 7-1 advantage in service aces, a 45-23 lead in assists and a 53-28 cushion in kills.

NWOSU scored the first point of the match, but it was all Tigers after that in the opening set. Fort Hays State rattled off six in a row to take control before later going on a 5-0 run to push the lead to double digits. Peyton Bergschneider completed the victory with her fifth kill, doing so on all five of her attempts in the set.

The Tigers never trailed in the second set, scoring the first four points on four consecutive Ranger errors. NWOSU was able to pull back level at 11-11, but Fort Hays State responded by scoring the next six points to take the lead for good. Gracie Rains brought the set to an end with a kill off a pass from Abrey Galt. The senior had 12 assists in the frame, doing so on all but two of FHSU's kill in the second set.

Neither side led by more than two early in the third set before a Grace Schmedding kill gave the Tigers a 12-9 advantage. The Rangers scored three of the next four to level things at 13, but back-to-back kills from Rains gave the Tigers the lead for good. FHSU later scored five in a row to take complete control, including a pair of kills from Caiya Stucky Reyes. Carsyn Cormaney ultimately completed the sweep with her sixth kill of the match.

Reyes led the match with 15 kills, doing so with a .538 attack percentage after making only one error. Rains added nine kills, while Schmedding had four kills and a team-high 12 digs. Galt recorded a team-best 38 assists alongside three kills and one ace. Ivanny Blackwood led the Rangers with 10 kills.

Fort Hays State 3, Oklahoma Baptist 1 The Tigers completed the perfect 4-0 weekend with a four-set win over host Oklahoma Baptist in the second match of the day, 25-18, 17-25, 25-21, 25-18. Both teams racked up 58 kills in the contest, while FHSU committed five fewer errors, 21-16.

Fort Hays State scored eight in a row to take a quick 8-1 lead in the first set, including two kills each from Reyes and Rains. Ella Goodwin helped the Tigers push the lead to double figures with a kill before Reyes and Ashlyn Reeves teamed up for a block to give FHSU a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Tigers led by two during the early going of the second set, but the Bison scored three in a row to go in front, 10-9. FHSU responded to tie the score at 10 before OBU scored nine-straight to take a commanding 19-10 lead. Three kills from Bergschneider helped FHSU close within five, but the deficit was too much to overcome as the home team leveled the match at one set apiece.

An 8-2 run midway through the third set gave Fort Hays State control, turning a 7-6 deficit into a 14-9 lead. Rains fueled the run with four kills before adding two more down the stretch to help FHSU reach set point. Bergschneider put the nail in the coffin with a kill, giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage in the match.

After swinging at a .325 clip in the third set to regain the lead, Fort Hays State turned things up a notch with a .341 attack percentage to seal the win in the fourth set. The Tigers never trailed in the set after scoring the first five points. Oklahoma Baptist rallied to tie the score at eight, but FHSU responded with an 8-2 run to race back in front, 16-10. The visitors maintained the big lead from there, completing the win on Rains' team-best 16th kill of the match.

Bergschneider added 12 kills and 12 digs, while Reeves tallied 11 kills and three blocks (two solo). Kirsten Evans led the way with 21 digs, while Galt tossed up 32 assists alongside 13 digs and three kills. Allie Stricker paced OBU with 16 kills.

The Tigers will jump into conference play next week when they host Missouri Southern on Friday , September 26 at 6 p.m. and Central Missouri on Saturday, September 27, 1 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758466807248.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsSHAWNEE, Okla. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team wrapped up its non-conference schedule with two more wins Saturday in the MIAA/GAC Crossover, defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State in straight sets before taking down Oklahoma Baptist in a true road match in four sets. The Tigers improve to 11-1 after extending their winning streak to eight in a row, making this their best start to a season since a 12-0 start to the 2016 campaign.Fort Hays State put on an impressive offensive performance in both matches, swinging at an efficient .357 clip in the win over the Rangers before posting an attack rate of .253 against the Bison. The Rangers dip to 1-10 following the loss, while the Bison are now 9-4 overall this season.Fort Hays State 3, Northwestern Oklahoma State 0 The Tigers started the day by cruising past the Rangers in straight sets for the second time in two weeks, winning 25-11, 25-17, 25-18. Fort Hays State dominated on the stat sheet, holding a 51-33 edge in digs, a 7-1 advantage in service aces, a 45-23 lead in assists and a 53-28 cushion in kills.NWOSU scored the first point of the match, but it was all Tigers after that in the opening set. Fort Hays State rattled off six in a row to take control before later going on a 5-0 run to push the lead to double digits. Peyton Bergschneider completed the victory with her fifth kill, doing so on all five of her attempts in the set.The Tigers never trailed in the second set, scoring the first four points on four consecutive Ranger errors. NWOSU was able to pull back level at 11-11, but Fort Hays State responded by scoring the next six points to take the lead for good. Gracie Rains brought the set to an end with a kill off a pass from Abrey Galt. The senior had 12 assists in the frame, doing so on all but two of FHSU's kill in the second set.Neither side led by more than two early in the third set before a Grace Schmedding kill gave the Tigers a 12-9 advantage. The Rangers scored three of the next four to level things at 13, but back-to-back kills from Rains gave the Tigers the lead for good. FHSU later scored five in a row to take complete control, including a pair of kills from Caiya Stucky Reyes. Carsyn Cormaney ultimately completed the sweep with her sixth kill of the match.Reyes led the match with 15 kills, doing so with a .538 attack percentage after making only one error. Rains added nine kills, while Schmedding had four kills and a team-high 12 digs. Galt recorded a team-best 38 assists alongside three kills and one ace. Ivanny Blackwood led the Rangers with 10 kills.Fort Hays State 3, Oklahoma Baptist 1 The Tigers completed the perfect 4-0 weekend with a four-set win over host Oklahoma Baptist in the second match of the day, 25-18, 17-25, 25-21, 25-18. Both teams racked up 58 kills in the contest, while FHSU committed five fewer errors, 21-16.Fort Hays State scored eight in a row to take a quick 8-1 lead in the first set, including two kills each from Reyes and Rains. Ella Goodwin helped the Tigers push the lead to double figures with a kill before Reyes and Ashlyn Reeves teamed up for a block to give FHSU a 1-0 lead in the match.The Tigers led by two during the early going of the second set, but the Bison scored three in a row to go in front, 10-9. FHSU responded to tie the score at 10 before OBU scored nine-straight to take a commanding 19-10 lead. Three kills from Bergschneider helped FHSU close within five, but the deficit was too much to overcome as the home team leveled the match at one set apiece.An 8-2 run midway through the third set gave Fort Hays State control, turning a 7-6 deficit into a 14-9 lead. Rains fueled the run with four kills before adding two more down the stretch to help FHSU reach set point. Bergschneider put the nail in the coffin with a kill, giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage in the match.After swinging at a .325 clip in the third set to regain the lead, Fort Hays State turned things up a notch with a .341 attack percentage to seal the win in the fourth set. The Tigers never trailed in the set after scoring the first five points. Oklahoma Baptist rallied to tie the score at eight, but FHSU responded with an 8-2 run to race back in front, 16-10. The visitors maintained the big lead from there, completing the win on Rains' team-best 16th kill of the match.Bergschneider added 12 kills and 12 digs, while Reeves tallied 11 kills and three blocks (two solo). Kirsten Evans led the way with 21 digs, while Galt tossed up 32 assists alongside 13 digs and three kills. Allie Stricker paced OBU with 16 kills.UP NEXTThe Tigers will jump into conference play next week when they host Missouri Southern on Friday , September 26 at 6 p.m. and Central Missouri on Saturday, September 27, 1 p.m.

🏐 FHSU 11-1 after 4-0 weekend in Oklahoma

By GARRETT WELLBROCK Hays Post Sports

HOXIE — After watching a 20-point lead nearly evaporate, Hoxie steadied itself in the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 46-32 win over Ellis on homecoming night Friday, earning its first victory of the season.

The defending 8-Man Division I state champions, rebuilding with just two returning starters, improved to 1-2. Ellis, which celebrated its first winning season in nearly a decade last fall, dropped to 0-3.

Hoxie quarterback Chase Meyer opened the game with a 6-yard touchdown run, then later connected with Griffin Zerr on a 47-yard strike to help the Indians build a 20-0 lead. Meyer finished 5 of 5 passing for 128 yards and two scores while also rushing for 126 yards and two more touchdowns.

Ellis struggled early, turning it over on downs three straight times in the first quarter. Quarterback Trent Schartz eventually found a rhythm, completing 6 of 6 passes on a second-quarter drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown to Baylor Born. Schartz later added scoring tosses to Ben Byers and Aiden Aschenbrenner while rushing for another, accounting for four total touchdowns and 346 yards.

Momentum swung after halftime when Ellis’ Carson Schartz returned the kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 28-20. The Railroaders pulled within two points twice in the third quarter, the last on Schartz’s 8-yard strike to Aschenbrenner that made it 34-32.

But Hoxie’s defense delivered in the final quarter. Freshman defensive back Gage Epp picked off a pass in the red zone, Caden Beckman intercepted a tipped screen with under two minutes left, and senior leader Mat Bretz sealed the win with a one-handed interception on Ellis’ final drive. Bretz also ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Zerr finished with three catches for 120 yards and two scores for Hoxie, while sophomore back Noah Nickelson added 65 yards and a touchdown.

Ellis had three possessions in the fourth quarter to tie or take the lead, but two interceptions and a turnover on downs ended those chances.

Hoxie outscored Ellis 12-0 in the fourth to secure the win.

Next week, the Indians travel to Stockton while the Railroaders return home to face LaCrosse.

By GARRETT WELLBROCK Hays Post SportsHOXIE — After watching a 20-point lead nearly evaporate, Hoxie steadied itself in the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 46-32 win over Ellis on homecoming night Friday, earning its first victory of the season.The defending 8-Man Division I state champions, rebuilding with just two returning starters, improved to 1-2. Ellis, which celebrated its first winning season in nearly a decade last fall, dropped to 0-3.Hoxie quarterback Chase Meyer opened the game with a 6-yard touchdown run, then later connected with Griffin Zerr on a 47-yard strike to help the Indians build a 20-0 lead. Meyer finished 5 of 5 passing for 128 yards and two scores while also rushing for 126 yards and two more touchdowns.Ellis struggled early, turning it over on downs three straight times in the first quarter. Quarterback Trent Schartz eventually found a rhythm, completing 6 of 6 passes on a second-quarter drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown to Baylor Born. Schartz later added scoring tosses to Ben Byers and Aiden Aschenbrenner while rushing for another, accounting for four total touchdowns and 346 yards.Momentum swung after halftime when Ellis’ Carson Schartz returned the kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 28-20. The Railroaders pulled within two points twice in the third quarter, the last on Schartz’s 8-yard strike to Aschenbrenner that made it 34-32.But Hoxie’s defense delivered in the final quarter. Freshman defensive back Gage Epp picked off a pass in the red zone, Caden Beckman intercepted a tipped screen with under two minutes left, and senior leader Mat Bretz sealed the win with a one-handed interception on Ellis’ final drive. Bretz also ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns.Zerr finished with three catches for 120 yards and two scores for Hoxie, while sophomore back Noah Nickelson added 65 yards and a touchdown.Ellis had three possessions in the fourth quarter to tie or take the lead, but two interceptions and a turnover on downs ended those chances.Hoxie outscored Ellis 12-0 in the fourth to secure the win.Next week, the Indians travel to Stockton while the Railroaders return home to face LaCrosse.

🏈Hoxie pulls away late, tops Ellis for first win

Reporter Tony Guerrero speaks with Ellis County Health Director Melissa Miller about National Preparedness Month and the upcoming flu season on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.&nbsp;

<figure>
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 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Ellis County Heath Director discusses preparedness, flu season" 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=7ue6v-196aa1e-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>Reporter Tony Guerrero speaks with Ellis County Health Director Melissa Miller about National Preparedness Month and the upcoming flu season on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Ellis County Heath Director discusses preparedness, flu season

Thomas More Prep-Marian’s homecoming parade rolled through downtown Hays on Friday.

The parade featured the 2025 Point of Light honorees, this year’s Homecoming Court and alumni dating back to the class of 1975.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/82baa293-5c3d-4b4f-aea4-e5f720185b94">Thomas More Prep-Marian also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of its building on Friday.</a>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Om4nyAvlKWo?si=Kc8N44JLG14hEf-p" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Music courtesy of PixabayBy TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThomas More Prep-Marian’s homecoming parade rolled through downtown Hays on Friday.The parade featured the 2025 Point of Light honorees, this year’s Homecoming Court and alumni dating back to the class of 1975.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/82baa293-5c3d-4b4f-aea4-e5f720185b94">Thomas More Prep-Marian also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of its building on Friday.</a><figure>
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📷 2025 TMP-Marian Homecoming parade

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. military has carried out its third fatal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-strike-venezuela-drug-cartels-congress-4163da47013db5d188944f7d29e68b56">strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel</a>&nbsp;this month.

Trump in a social media posting said the strike killed three and was carried out against a vessel “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” He did not provide more precise details about the location of the strike.

The Pentagon deferred questions about the strike to the White House, which did not respond to a request for clarity about the origins of the vessel.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,” Trump said in the post.

Trump also posted a video of the latest strike that shows a vessel speeding through waters before it appears to be struck by a pair of missiles from overhead and sink in a fiery explosion.

“It was at this moment, the narcoterrorists knew they screwed up,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said on X in a posting with the video.

Trump on Monday announced the U.S. military had carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-drug-cartels-05c5b0de282178419d46a3e93fbd2521">a strike on a boat</a>&nbsp;allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. That strike also killed three on board.

That followed a Sept. 2&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">military strike</a>&nbsp;on what the Trump administration said was a drug-carrying speedboat that killed 11. Trump claimed the boat was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, which was listed by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.

The Trump administration has justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

But several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, as well as human rights groups have questioned the legality of Trump’s action. They view it as a potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes.

The Trump administration has yet to explain how the military assessed the boat’s cargo and determined the passengers’ alleged gang affiliation before the attacks on the vessels. National security officials told members of Congress that the first boat taken out was fired on multiple times after it had changed course and appeared headed back to shore.

The strikes follow a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean.

It marks a dramatic shift in how the U.S. is willing to combat drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

In Venezuela,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">some are speculating</a>&nbsp;whether the strikes are part of a plan to try to topple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">President Nicolás Maduro</a>, a notion that the Venezuelan leader has echoed.

Maduro claimed after the first strike that a U.S. video released by Trump was created with artificial intelligence and that a boat of that size cannot venture into the high seas.

But earlier this week Maduro lashed out at the U.S., accusing the Trump administration of using drug trafficking accusations as an excuse for a military operation whose intentions are “to intimidate and seek regime change” in the South American country.

AP writers Regina Garcia Cano in Güiria, Venezuela, and Konstatin Toropin contributed reporting.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. military has carried out its third fatal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-strike-venezuela-drug-cartels-congress-4163da47013db5d188944f7d29e68b56">strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel</a>&nbsp;this month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/HqmUByvzgD">pic.twitter.com/HqmUByvzgD</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969184320288878719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>🎥🎥</div>Trump in a social media posting said the strike killed three and was carried out against a vessel “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” He did not provide more precise details about the location of the strike.The Pentagon deferred questions about the strike to the White House, which did not respond to a request for clarity about the origins of the vessel.“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,” Trump said in the post.Trump also posted a video of the latest strike that shows a vessel speeding through waters before it appears to be struck by a pair of missiles from overhead and sink in a fiery explosion.“It was at this moment, the narcoterrorists knew they screwed up,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said on X in a posting with the video.Trump on Monday announced the U.S. military had carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-drug-cartels-05c5b0de282178419d46a3e93fbd2521">a strike on a boat</a>&nbsp;allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. That strike also killed three on board.That followed a Sept. 2&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-strike-rubio-trump-0f901b2a30ee20e314bcab1385ffb0c0">military strike</a>&nbsp;on what the Trump administration said was a drug-carrying speedboat that killed 11. Trump claimed the boat was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, which was listed by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.The Trump administration has justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.But several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, as well as human rights groups have questioned the legality of Trump’s action. They view it as a potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes.The Trump administration has yet to explain how the military assessed the boat’s cargo and determined the passengers’ alleged gang affiliation before the attacks on the vessels. National security officials told members of Congress that the first boat taken out was fired on multiple times after it had changed course and appeared headed back to shore.The strikes follow a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean.It marks a dramatic shift in how the U.S. is willing to combat drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.In Venezuela,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">some are speculating</a>&nbsp;whether the strikes are part of a plan to try to topple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">President Nicolás Maduro</a>, a notion that the Venezuelan leader has echoed.Maduro claimed after the first strike that a U.S. video released by Trump was created with artificial intelligence and that a boat of that size cannot venture into the high seas.But earlier this week Maduro lashed out at the U.S., accusing the Trump administration of using drug trafficking accusations as an excuse for a military operation whose intentions are “to intimidate and seek regime change” in the South American country.—AP writers Regina Garcia Cano in Güiria, Venezuela, and Konstatin Toropin contributed reporting.

🎥US carries out another fatal strike targeting alleged drug-smuggling boat

Thomas More Prep-Marian celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of its building on Friday.

The event was set to coincide with the fall homecoming on Friday night.

Travis Grizzell, advancement director for Hays Catholic Schools, greeted the group at a ribbon-cutting sponsored by the Chamber in Hays.

Placed shortly after the ending of World War I, the stone is inscribed with the words, "For God, for country" in Latin.

Although the cornerstone of the school was set in 1925, drought and the Great Depression intervened, and the school was not opened to students until 1931.

Grizzell said the cornerstone was one of the hidden secrets on the TMP campus.

Grizzell said that despite the wild Jazz Age of the time, a group of people in western Kansas decided to buckle down to ensure the continuation of Catholic education in this area.

"It's an amazing thing to pull up to this campus and see this building in Hays. Our campus is beautiful. The building is awe-inspiring," Grizzell said. "It's humbling, and you wonder how the group of people back then could have persisted through everything they had against them to create a building like this.

"Nothing is too big a task when you are honoring your Lord, and it is that dear to your heart," he said.

This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Hays Catholic Schools homecoming.

Grizzell echoed a statement from TMP Principal Chad Meitner, who said, "It's your job here at TMP-Marian and Hays Catholic Schools to help our young people get to heaven."

Curtis Hammeke, president of Hays Catholic Schools, also spoke to the group of students, staff, clergy, alumni and community members.

He said the word that came to his mind was gift. He said the school was a great gift to the Hays community.

"It's that important to our kids, our grandkids and our future generations," Hammeke said. "I'm proud of this vast history, and I'm very excited about the future. It is something we have to protect.

"There's nothing more important than staying focused on Christ, and this institution allows us to do that in a daily fashion. I can't think of a better gift we can give to our kids and grandkids."

Hammeke said the school's saying used to be, "Give us four years, and we will give you a lifetime."

He said it is more than that. It's eternity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758312999593.jpeg" alt="Ribbon cutting at the Thomas More Prep-Marian to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the placing of the cornerstone of the school. Photo courtesy of the Chamber in Hays" />
 <figcaption>Ribbon cutting at the Thomas More Prep-Marian to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the placing of the cornerstone of the school. Photo courtesy of the Chamber in Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThomas More Prep-Marian celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of its building on Friday.The event was set to coincide with the fall homecoming on Friday night.Travis Grizzell, advancement director for Hays Catholic Schools, greeted the group at a ribbon-cutting sponsored by the Chamber in Hays.Placed shortly after the ending of World War I, the stone is inscribed with the words, "For God, for country" in Latin.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758313747148.jpeg" alt="Sarah Wasinger, the president and CEO of the Chamber in Hays, with Travis Grizzell,&nbsp;advancement director for Hays Catholic Schools, at a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the laying of Thomas More Prep-Marian 's cornerstone.&nbsp;Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Wasinger, the president and CEO of the Chamber in Hays, with Travis Grizzell,&nbsp;advancement director for Hays Catholic Schools, at a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the laying of Thomas More Prep-Marian 's cornerstone.&nbsp;Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758313876131.jpeg" alt="The TMP-Marian cornerstone, which reads "For God, for country." Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The TMP-Marian cornerstone, which reads "For God, for country." Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although the cornerstone of the school was set in 1925, drought and the Great Depression intervened, and the school was not opened to students until 1931.Grizzell said the cornerstone was one of the hidden secrets on the TMP campus.Grizzell said that despite the wild Jazz Age of the time, a group of people in western Kansas decided to buckle down to ensure the continuation of Catholic education in this area."It's an amazing thing to pull up to this campus and see this building in Hays. Our campus is beautiful. The building is awe-inspiring," Grizzell said. "It's humbling, and you wonder how the group of people back then could have persisted through everything they had against them to create a building like this."Nothing is too big a task when you are honoring your Lord, and it is that dear to your heart," he said.This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Hays Catholic Schools homecoming.Grizzell echoed a statement from TMP Principal Chad Meitner, who said, "It's your job here at TMP-Marian and Hays Catholic Schools to help our young people get to heaven."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758314080177.jpeg" alt="Curtis Hammeke, president of Hays Catholic Schools, at a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the laying of Thomas More Prep-Marian's cornerstone. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Curtis Hammeke, president of Hays Catholic Schools, at a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the laying of Thomas More Prep-Marian's cornerstone. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Curtis Hammeke, president of Hays Catholic Schools, also spoke to the group of students, staff, clergy, alumni and community members.He said the word that came to his mind was gift. He said the school was a great gift to the Hays community.He apologized for getting emotional."It's that important to our kids, our grandkids and our future generations," Hammeke said. "I'm proud of this vast history, and I'm very excited about the future. It is something we have to protect.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758314220927.jpeg" alt="The entrance to Thomas More Prep-Marian.&nbsp;Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The entrance to Thomas More Prep-Marian.&nbsp;Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>"There's nothing more important than staying focused on Christ, and this institution allows us to do that in a daily fashion. I can't think of a better gift we can give to our kids and grandkids."Hammeke said the school's saying used to be, "Give us four years, and we will give you a lifetime."He said it is more than that. It's eternity.

TMP celebrates 100th anniversary of laying of cornerstone, Catholic schools homecoming

By Dustin Armbruster Hays Post Sports

Manhattan - Hays High and Manhattan squared off in a state-ranked showdown in week three of the season. Hays entered ranked #2 in 5A and Manhattan at the top of 6A. It was the closest game in the series, but Manhattan still took the win 10-8.

Neither team managed to put points onto the board in the first half. Manhattan marched inside the 20 yard line in the first quarter. Johnny Rigler knocked a the ball free of a scrambling quarterback to force a turnover on downs.&nbsp;

Hays (2-1) didn't get across mid-field until the second half. They traveled down to the 13 yard line but went backwards on two of their next three plays and also turned the ball over on downs. Manhattan (3-0) began a drive late in the second quarter that was halted when Caleb Thompson intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to Manhattan's 33 yard line.

A Holden Lind run put Hays at the 16 before Manhattan blocked a 37 yard field goal attempt to end the first half.

Manhattan struck first with an 86 yard punt return for a touchdown by Kansas football commit JJ Dunnigan with 9:12 left in the third quarter. The ensuing drive by Hays used 15 plays but ended with a turnover on downs. The drive reached the six yard line but lost 28 yards on the next four plays.

A field goal by Manhattan to start the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 10-0 with 11:48 left. Hays punted on their next series, but the defense got the ball back after forcing a punt after three plays.

Hays marched 13 plays and 73 yards to bring the Hays fans to their feet. Holden Lind scored for the fifth time on the season with a 32 yard run. Holder Johnny Rigler took a low, bobbled snap to the end zone for a two-point conversion and a 10-8 score with 4:15 remaining.

Hays got the football back one more time. They got to midfield before losing the ball on downs. One kneel down by Manhattan ended the game at 10-8.

The Hays defense held a Manhattan offense that averages 440 yards to 191. Hays returns home to play Garden City for homecoming.

By Dustin Armbruster Hays Post SportsManhattan - Hays High and Manhattan squared off in a state-ranked showdown in week three of the season. Hays entered ranked #2 in 5A and Manhattan at the top of 6A. It was the closest game in the series, but Manhattan still took the win 10-8.Neither team managed to put points onto the board in the first half. Manhattan marched inside the 20 yard line in the first quarter. Johnny Rigler knocked a the ball free of a scrambling quarterback to force a turnover on downs.&nbsp;Hays (2-1) didn't get across mid-field until the second half. They traveled down to the 13 yard line but went backwards on two of their next three plays and also turned the ball over on downs. Manhattan (3-0) began a drive late in the second quarter that was halted when Caleb Thompson intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to Manhattan's 33 yard line.A Holden Lind run put Hays at the 16 before Manhattan blocked a 37 yard field goal attempt to end the first half.Highlights<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2173629234&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/hhs-fb-highlights-v-manhattan" title="HHS FB Highlights v Manhattan Sept 19, 2025" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">HHS FB Highlights v Manhattan Sept 19, 2025</a></div></div>Manhattan struck first with an 86 yard punt return for a touchdown by Kansas football commit JJ Dunnigan with 9:12 left in the third quarter. The ensuing drive by Hays used 15 plays but ended with a turnover on downs. The drive reached the six yard line but lost 28 yards on the next four plays.A field goal by Manhattan to start the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 10-0 with 11:48 left. Hays punted on their next series, but the defense got the ball back after forcing a punt after three plays.Hays marched 13 plays and 73 yards to bring the Hays fans to their feet. Holden Lind scored for the fifth time on the season with a 32 yard run. Holder Johnny Rigler took a low, bobbled snap to the end zone for a two-point conversion and a 10-8 score with 4:15 remaining.Hays got the football back one more time. They got to midfield before losing the ball on downs. One kneel down by Manhattan ended the game at 10-8.Coach Tony Crough<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2173629177&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/hhs-fb-coach-interview-v" title="HHS FB Coach Interview v Manhattan Sept 19, 2025" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">HHS FB Coach Interview v Manhattan Sept 19, 2025</a></div></div>The Hays defense held a Manhattan offense that averages 440 yards to 191. Hays returns home to play Garden City for homecoming.

🏈 Hays' comeback falls short in Manhattan

EDMOND, Okla. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team improved to 9-1 with a pair of victories Friday (Sept. 19) at the MIAA/GAC Crossover, with the Tigers holding on to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma State in five sets before cruising to straight-set victory over East Central.

Fort Hays State dropped in 18 service aces on the day, including eight from libero Kirsten Evans. Ashlyn Reeves led the team with 20 kills and eight blocks across the two matches, while Ella Goodwin added 19 kills.

The SWOSU Bulldogs dip to 2-9 on the year with the loss, while the orange and black Tigers are now 2-11 overall.

Fort Hays State 3, Southwestern Oklahoma State 2 The Tigers edged out Southwestern Oklahoma in a tight five-set match to begin the day, winning 25-17, 28-26, 17-25, 19-25, 15-11.

The first set opened with a back-and-forth exchange, but Fort Hays State gained momentum with a critical 7-0 run, highlighted by a pair of combo blocks from Reeves and Caiya Stucky Reyes, bringing the score to 11-5 at the midpoint. Gracie Rains and Reeves were instrumental in extending the lead, with each securing pivotal kills to thwart the Bulldogs' efforts. The set concluded with Fort Hays State securing a confident 25-17 victory thanks to 15 kills compared to only one error, good for an eye-popping swing rate of .500.

The second set began with Fort Hays State and the Bulldogs again trading points before SWOSU slowly took control. The Bulldogs later scored five in a row to lead 22-17, but a 4-0 Tiger run including kills from Reeves and Goodwin and an Evans ace helped FHSU close within one. The Bulldogs then reached set point at 24-21 before the Tigers again scored four in a row to retake the lead, 25-24. SWOSU answered back with back-to-back points to again reach set point, but the Tigers made the final push with three in a row to take the set, 28-26, on a Carsyn Cormaney kill.

The teams traded the lead six times early in the third set before SWOSU closed the frame on a 14-5 run to extend the match, 25-17.

Two service aces from Peyton Bergschneider helped the Tigers take an early 3-0 lead in the fourth set before the Bulldogs rallied to take the lead at 10-9. FHSU kept things close until SWOSU broke open a 16-16 tie with a 9-3 run, taking the set 25-19 to send the match to a fifth set.

Southwestern Oklahoma State led by as many as three early in the final set before the Tigers used a 3-0 run to go on top for the first time at 7-6. Back-to-back kills from Cormaney and two from Grace Schmedding helped the Tigers go up 11-8 before three kills from Rains helped the Tigers reach match point. Reeves finished things off with her team-high 14th kill, giving FHSU the match with a 15-11 win.

Reeves added a team-high five blocks, while Evans recording five aces and added 15 digs to her defensive efforts. Reyes coordinated the offense with 28 assists and added eight kills, nine digs and four blocks for a well-rounded performance. Rains chipped in 12 kills and one block, while Goodwin and Cormaney each had nine kills and three blocks. Hailey Smith and Paris Patterson both racked up 15 kills, with Smith adding six blocks to lead the Bulldogs.

The Tigers narrowly edged SWOSU in attack percentage, .165-.163. The Bulldogs racked up 16 blocks, compared to eight for the Tigers, while both teams totaled nine service aces. The Tigers held a 75-69 edge in blocks and a 54-46 advantage in assists.

Fort Hays State 3, East Central 0 After battling SWOSU for nearly 2.5 hours to start the day, Fort Hays State returned to the court 90 minutes later to sweep East Central, 25-22, 25-19, 25-17. FHSU recorded nine service aces for the second-straight match, overpowering ECU throughout the match. The victory was highlighted by a dominant attack percentage of .219 compared to East Central's .110.

Fort Hays State came into the first set with momentum, racing in front by as many as seven before ECU used a 9-2 run to tie the score at 22. Back-to-back kills from Bergschneider thwarted the run before an ECU error brought the frame to an end at 25-22.

East Central took control early in the second set, leading by as many as five at 13-8 before an FHSU timeout. The Black and Gold responded with a 6-1 run to level the score at 14 including two kills from Goodwin and one each from Schmedding, Cormaney, Reeves and Bergschneider. The teams then traded sets before a Cormaney kill gave FHSU its first lead of the set at 18-17. That kick-started a 6-0 FHSU run before Schmedding delivered the final blow for a 25-19 win.

In the third set, Fort Hays State secured a decisive 25-17 win highlighted by two Evans service aces and five kills from Goodwin. A 5-0 run in the heart of the frame gave FHSU control for good, including two kills from Goodwin, one from Bergschneider and a Cormaney ace.

Goodwin led the FHSU offense with 10 kills on 15 attempts, posting a hitting percentage of .533. Annie Eaton orchestrated the attack with 24 assists while adding two service aces. Reeves tallied six kills and three blocks, while Abrey Galt paced the team with eight digs alongside 14 assists and one ace. Jayla Buford led ECU with 12 kills alongside two blocks.

The Tigers will wrap up competition in the MIAA/GAC Crossover on Saturday (Sept. 20) in Shawnee, Okla. when FHSU battles Northwestern Oklahoma State at 9 a.m. and Oklahoma Baptist at 12:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758325543240.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Parker Nisbeth" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Parker Nisbeth</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsEDMOND, Okla. - The Fort Hays State volleyball team improved to 9-1 with a pair of victories Friday (Sept. 19) at the MIAA/GAC Crossover, with the Tigers holding on to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma State in five sets before cruising to straight-set victory over East Central.Fort Hays State dropped in 18 service aces on the day, including eight from libero Kirsten Evans. Ashlyn Reeves led the team with 20 kills and eight blocks across the two matches, while Ella Goodwin added 19 kills.The SWOSU Bulldogs dip to 2-9 on the year with the loss, while the orange and black Tigers are now 2-11 overall.Fort Hays State 3, Southwestern Oklahoma State 2 The Tigers edged out Southwestern Oklahoma in a tight five-set match to begin the day, winning 25-17, 28-26, 17-25, 19-25, 15-11.The first set opened with a back-and-forth exchange, but Fort Hays State gained momentum with a critical 7-0 run, highlighted by a pair of combo blocks from Reeves and Caiya Stucky Reyes, bringing the score to 11-5 at the midpoint. Gracie Rains and Reeves were instrumental in extending the lead, with each securing pivotal kills to thwart the Bulldogs' efforts. The set concluded with Fort Hays State securing a confident 25-17 victory thanks to 15 kills compared to only one error, good for an eye-popping swing rate of .500.The second set began with Fort Hays State and the Bulldogs again trading points before SWOSU slowly took control. The Bulldogs later scored five in a row to lead 22-17, but a 4-0 Tiger run including kills from Reeves and Goodwin and an Evans ace helped FHSU close within one. The Bulldogs then reached set point at 24-21 before the Tigers again scored four in a row to retake the lead, 25-24. SWOSU answered back with back-to-back points to again reach set point, but the Tigers made the final push with three in a row to take the set, 28-26, on a Carsyn Cormaney kill.The teams traded the lead six times early in the third set before SWOSU closed the frame on a 14-5 run to extend the match, 25-17.Two service aces from Peyton Bergschneider helped the Tigers take an early 3-0 lead in the fourth set before the Bulldogs rallied to take the lead at 10-9. FHSU kept things close until SWOSU broke open a 16-16 tie with a 9-3 run, taking the set 25-19 to send the match to a fifth set.Southwestern Oklahoma State led by as many as three early in the final set before the Tigers used a 3-0 run to go on top for the first time at 7-6. Back-to-back kills from Cormaney and two from Grace Schmedding helped the Tigers go up 11-8 before three kills from Rains helped the Tigers reach match point. Reeves finished things off with her team-high 14th kill, giving FHSU the match with a 15-11 win.Reeves added a team-high five blocks, while Evans recording five aces and added 15 digs to her defensive efforts. Reyes coordinated the offense with 28 assists and added eight kills, nine digs and four blocks for a well-rounded performance. Rains chipped in 12 kills and one block, while Goodwin and Cormaney each had nine kills and three blocks. Hailey Smith and Paris Patterson both racked up 15 kills, with Smith adding six blocks to lead the Bulldogs.The Tigers narrowly edged SWOSU in attack percentage, .165-.163. The Bulldogs racked up 16 blocks, compared to eight for the Tigers, while both teams totaled nine service aces. The Tigers held a 75-69 edge in blocks and a 54-46 advantage in assists.Fort Hays State 3, East Central 0 After battling SWOSU for nearly 2.5 hours to start the day, Fort Hays State returned to the court 90 minutes later to sweep East Central, 25-22, 25-19, 25-17. FHSU recorded nine service aces for the second-straight match, overpowering ECU throughout the match. The victory was highlighted by a dominant attack percentage of .219 compared to East Central's .110.Fort Hays State came into the first set with momentum, racing in front by as many as seven before ECU used a 9-2 run to tie the score at 22. Back-to-back kills from Bergschneider thwarted the run before an ECU error brought the frame to an end at 25-22.East Central took control early in the second set, leading by as many as five at 13-8 before an FHSU timeout. The Black and Gold responded with a 6-1 run to level the score at 14 including two kills from Goodwin and one each from Schmedding, Cormaney, Reeves and Bergschneider. The teams then traded sets before a Cormaney kill gave FHSU its first lead of the set at 18-17. That kick-started a 6-0 FHSU run before Schmedding delivered the final blow for a 25-19 win.In the third set, Fort Hays State secured a decisive 25-17 win highlighted by two Evans service aces and five kills from Goodwin. A 5-0 run in the heart of the frame gave FHSU control for good, including two kills from Goodwin, one from Bergschneider and a Cormaney ace.Goodwin led the FHSU offense with 10 kills on 15 attempts, posting a hitting percentage of .533. Annie Eaton orchestrated the attack with 24 assists while adding two service aces. Reeves tallied six kills and three blocks, while Abrey Galt paced the team with eight digs alongside 14 assists and one ace. Jayla Buford led ECU with 12 kills alongside two blocks.UP NEXTThe Tigers will wrap up competition in the MIAA/GAC Crossover on Saturday (Sept. 20) in Shawnee, Okla. when FHSU battles Northwestern Oklahoma State at 9 a.m. and Oklahoma Baptist at 12:30 p.m.

🏐 FHSU runs win streak to six after two wins Friday

The Ellis County unemployment rate dropped by .3% to 3.4% in August, compared to July's 3.7% and remains almost a half point below the statewide average 3.8%.

Trego and Lane counties both posted numbers above 5%, and Graham, Gove, Russell, Decatur, Phillips, Wallace and Rush counties all had rates of 4% or more in August.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in August statewide.

This is unchanged from 3.8% in July and an increase from 3.7% in August 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67% in August.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,700 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 1,300 over the month, while government decreased by 3,400. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;leisure and hospitality&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(-2,100 jobs).

Since August 2024, Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 10,000. This change is due to a decrease of 200 private sector jobs and a decrease of 9,800 government jobs.

Technical Note: This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for August 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers, while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week, including Aug. 12.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758316244171.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Kansas Department of LaborThe Ellis County unemployment rate dropped by .3% to 3.4% in August, compared to July's 3.7% and remains almost a half point below the statewide average 3.8%.Trego and Lane counties both posted numbers above 5%, and Graham, Gove, Russell, Decatur, Phillips, Wallace and Rush counties all had rates of 4% or more in August.Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in August statewide.This is unchanged from 3.8% in July and an increase from 3.7% in August 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67% in August.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,700 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 1,300 over the month, while government decreased by 3,400. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;leisure and hospitality&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(-2,100 jobs).Since August 2024, Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 10,000. This change is due to a decrease of 200 private sector jobs and a decrease of 9,800 government jobs.Technical Note: This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for August 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers, while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week, including Aug. 12.

Ellis County unemployment rate drops in August

WASHINGTON (AP)— The fate of TikTok’s U.S. operations are still somewhat uncertain after Trump’s call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The U.S. president wants an American buyer of the social media site’s U.S. operations for national security reasons and his post on social media about his call with Xi acted like a deal was ready.

Trump posted on Truth Social: “appreciate the TikTok approval.”

But it’s unclear just what Xi approved regarding the sale of the assets by the Chinese company ByteDance.

The Chinese government statement said the Chinese government “would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules lead to a solution that complies with China’s laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides. The U.S. side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755885123824.png" alt="Image of President Trump from the White House TikTok account" />
 <figcaption>Image of President Trump from the White House TikTok account</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)— The fate of TikTok’s U.S. operations are still somewhat uncertain after Trump’s call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.The U.S. president wants an American buyer of the social media site’s U.S. operations for national security reasons and his post on social media about his call with Xi acted like a deal was ready.Trump posted on Truth Social: “appreciate the TikTok approval.”But it’s unclear just what Xi approved regarding the sale of the assets by the Chinese company ByteDance.The Chinese government statement said the Chinese government “would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules lead to a solution that complies with China’s laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides. The U.S. side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors.”

Fate of TikTok in the U.S. still uncertain

A Graham County Commissioner is in the process of resigning his seat after he entered plea agreements on a bribery and a drug charge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758299395315.jpeg" alt="Graham County Commissioners: L to R: Jarrod Knoll, District 1, Jason Nelson, District 2, Dan Irby, District 3" />
 <figcaption>Graham County Commissioners: L to R: Jarrod Knoll, District 1, Jason Nelson, District 2, Dan Irby, District 3</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Graham County Commissioner is in the process of resigning his seat after he entered plea agreements on a bribery and a drug charge.Jarrod Knoll said in a phone interview Friday that the charges against him were an attempt to get him out of office, and he intends to run for Graham County Commission again."This is all about Delta 8 and getting me out of office," he said. "This happened two and a half years ago."Knoll signed plea agreements on two criminal cases as of Sept. 9.On the bribery charge, a class A misdemeanor, he pled guilty through an Alfrod plea. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to likely convict them at trial.He was sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation.The bribery charge stemmed from an alleged $4,000 promise made to the Graham County Community Development Director for the Travel and Tourism Committee, contingent upon the committee not requesting a transient guest tax.&nbsp;Knoll owns a motel in Hill City.On May 21, Knoll entered into a diversion agreement on a charge from 2023 of distribution of a substance containing THC in his store, 2 Lane Liquor in Hill City. The charge is a level 4 drug felony.Another charge of drug distribution of THC and a charge of possession of THC with intent to distribute were dismissed.Knoll agreed to serve one year of unsupervised probation.Knoll said his charges stemmed from the sale of products containing what is commonly referred to as Delta 8.A 2021 Kansas Attorney General opinion stated that Delta 8 is illegal in Kansas except under strict conditions, including that the final product must contain no more than 0.3% total THC.Law enforcement raids on retailers selling Delta 8 started in 2022, but some sellers argue the Attorney General's opinion is not the same as a law enacted by the Kansas Legislature. Enforcement has varied by jurisdiction.Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham served as a special prosecutor on the Knoll cases, but Cunningham declined to comment on the cases on Thursday.On Nov. 3, 2023, the then Graham County Attorney, Jill Elliott, filed a petition to remove Knoll from office.In that petition, she cited,&nbsp;• Knoll was also serving on the Morland City Council. Serving as an elected official for more than one local government is against state statute. • Knoll had moved out of his commission district and was now primarily residing at his motel in Hill City, which is Graham County's District 2. • Knoll had committed bribery •&nbsp;Knoll had sold THC-containing products in his liquor store, 2 Lane Liquor, in Hill City.&nbsp;At the time of the filing, Knoll was also serving as a school board member for&nbsp;USD 281, having been elected in 2019.Elliott, serving as the Graham County Attorney and Knoll participated in mediation on April 17, 2024.Knoll in that settlement agreed to resign from the Morland City Council immediately and to resign from the Graham County Commission if he was convicted or diverted on any crime he was charged with at that time.Knoll was listed as a county commissioner as of the Sept. 9 official minutes of the Graham County Commission, which are available on the county's website.The minutes from the Sept. 16 meeting have not been approved and have not been released, although the Hays Post requested them on Thursday. Knoll said he did not serve as a commissioner in an official capacity at the Sept. 16 meeting.Knoll is still listed as a commissioner on the Graham County website, and the Graham County Deputy Clerk said by phone that Knoll was still a commissioner as of Thursday. However, Knoll said on Friday he was working through paperwork with his attorney to officially resign and planned to release a statement on the resignation early next week.The current Graham County Attorney, Mike Abbott, said on Thursday he had been made aware of the Knoll's charges and the settlement earlier this week. He said he was still looking into the case.Knoll said in a phone call on Friday with the Hays Post there will be more information to come out about his case shortly."It's a crazy deal. It was all about getting me out of office," he said. "I'll definitely run for office again. I have 80% plus approval right here, in my opinion. We will definitely be running for office after this is all cleared up.&nbsp;"It'll be county commission," he said of his future hopes for office. "Our county is in a crisis right now. In my opinion, we really need my leadership and business knowledge. We own several businesses in the community. My only goal is to do what's best for the county. That's it. Honest to God."