Melvin F. Meis passed away on February 3, 2024, at Cedar Village, Ness City, Kansas. He was born on October 29, 1930, in Ness City, Kansas, the son of Leo and Sera (Stecklein) Meis. Melvin went to Sunshine School and then graduated from Ness City High School in 1948. He was a lifelong resident of Ness City.

Melvin married Lora Jean Rohr on September 15, 1952.

In the early Spring of 1959, Melvin started Meis Construction and began building houses. If you’ve lived in Ness City for any time, you probably know someone that lives in a home built by Melvin. He built over 85 homes, remodeled, or built over 13 commercial buildings and recorded over 40 major additions on homes (not counting the number of finishing basements, building garages, kitchen cabinet jobs, etc.) While he was semi-retired, he continued smaller remodeling jobs on his own.

Melvin was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ness City. He joined the Knights of Columbus on May 1, 1949, and he earned his 2nd and 3rd degrees. He served as Grand Knight from 2002-2004. He was just 3 months short of being a Knight for 75 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lora Jean, on May 21, 2006, as well as his parents and seven siblings. Survivors include four daughters, Paulette (Keith) Pfannenstiel, Baldwin City, Kansas; Carol Deanne (Steve) Mulvihill, Berthoud, Colorado; Myrna Mohr, Berthoud, Colorado; and Melinda (Randy) Warford, Taylorsville, Kentucky; two brothers, Don and Arlin; three sisters, Julie Beutler, Diane Klaus and Delores Musetto; 11 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Private services will be on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ness City preceded by a Rosary at 9:30 a.m., burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.&nbsp;

Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Parish.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707332614999.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Melvin F. Meis passed away on February 3, 2024, at Cedar Village, Ness City, Kansas. He was born on October 29, 1930, in Ness City, Kansas, the son of Leo and Sera (Stecklein) Meis. Melvin went to Sunshine School and then graduated from Ness City High School in 1948. He was a lifelong resident of Ness City.Melvin married Lora Jean Rohr on September 15, 1952.In the early Spring of 1959, Melvin started Meis Construction and began building houses. If you’ve lived in Ness City for any time, you probably know someone that lives in a home built by Melvin. He built over 85 homes, remodeled, or built over 13 commercial buildings and recorded over 40 major additions on homes (not counting the number of finishing basements, building garages, kitchen cabinet jobs, etc.) While he was semi-retired, he continued smaller remodeling jobs on his own.Melvin was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ness City. He joined the Knights of Columbus on May 1, 1949, and he earned his 2nd and 3rd degrees. He served as Grand Knight from 2002-2004. He was just 3 months short of being a Knight for 75 years.He was preceded in death by his wife, Lora Jean, on May 21, 2006, as well as his parents and seven siblings. Survivors include four daughters, Paulette (Keith) Pfannenstiel, Baldwin City, Kansas; Carol Deanne (Steve) Mulvihill, Berthoud, Colorado; Myrna Mohr, Berthoud, Colorado; and Melinda (Randy) Warford, Taylorsville, Kentucky; two brothers, Don and Arlin; three sisters, Julie Beutler, Diane Klaus and Delores Musetto; 11 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.Visitation will be from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Private services will be on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ness City preceded by a Rosary at 9:30 a.m., burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.&nbsp;Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Parish.

Melvin F. Meis

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach lead a coalition of state attorneys general in opposition to an Environmental Protection Agency regulation that would require the replacement of more than 9 million lead pipes across the country, Kobach said in a press release issued today.

The city of Hays has contracted with a company to assist the city in determining where in Hays lead pipes might exist.

The process is part of a national initiative spearheaded by the Biden administration. The EPA announced in late November that utilities would have to pull and replace the lead pipes within 10 years.

In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/known-to-be-toxic-for-a-century-lead-still-poisons-thousands-of-midwestern-kids/">Kansas, the EPA estimates</a>&nbsp;54,107 lead pipes remain while the&nbsp;Natural Resources Defense Council believes there are more than 160,000.

Kobach said the proposed rule would cost individual homeowners thousands of dollars.

“This is another example of unnecessary overreach by the Biden administration. Americans are already burdened by rising energy and utility costs and crushing inflation, and this proposal just adds insult to injury,” Kobach said. “The EPA should abandon it.”

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eb8542e2-3db5-43d1-91a6-5ca28c1671fe">For much of the 20th Century, utilities were permitted to install lead service lines, the pipes that carry water from water mains under the street into homes. The EPA banned them in 1986, but utilities have never been required to remove existing pipes, according to a story published&nbsp; on the Hays Post from the Kansas Reflector.</a>

Lead is a neurotoxin that in high doses can be fatal. It was in pipes, gasoline and household paint for most of the last century, exposing generations of children to its effects, the Reflector story said.

Even at low levels, exposure to lead can hinder children’s brain development and cause behavioral problems and learning difficulties. Lead-poisoned children can have trouble with language processing, memory, attention and impulsivity. Later in life, it raises the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, the Reflector story said.

The multi-state coalition strongly opposes the EPA’s&nbsp;“National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper,” because the regulations&nbsp;would increase utility costs for everyone and force private homeowners to pay to replace their own lines if they contain lead and connect to a city line, the press release said.

“This proposed rule creates a heavy-handed mandate on states that is nigh impossible to comply with and is also a financial burden on already squeezed middle-class families,” the joint letter reads. “It is unworkable, underfunded, and unnecessary and should be withdrawn.”

The attorneys general estimate the removal and replacement of the pipes would cost more than $60 billion. Congress earmarked only $15 billion for the undertaking. The EPA estimates it will cost an average of $4,700 or between $1,200 and $12,300 per line that needs to be replaced.

Kobach leads the multistate coalition. He was joined by 14 other states including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

How many pipes if any remain in Hays is yet to be determined, Jeff Crispin, Hays director of water resources, said during an interview in December.

The city is working with Burns &amp; McDonnell Engineers as well as BlueConduit, which does predictive modeling to identify areas where the city might need to investigate for lead pipe.

The deadline to identify the pipes is October, Crispin said.

"Right now it's about identifying," Crispin said. "In the future, there will be some discussion and research on how to eradicate any lead that would be found within service lines that go into a home."

Typically cities deal with water mains and the lines that go to the meter. Past the meter is typically private and the responsibility of the homeowner, Crispin said.

"This requires the city to know what the material is not only from the city line to the meter but the meter to inside the home," he said.

Crispin said he has no idea how much removing any lead pipes might cost the city. That information will not be available until the survey is complete.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707252436670.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostKansas Attorney General Kris Kobach lead a coalition of state attorneys general in opposition to an Environmental Protection Agency regulation that would require the replacement of more than 9 million lead pipes across the country, Kobach said in a press release issued today.The city of Hays has contracted with a company to assist the city in determining where in Hays lead pipes might exist.The process is part of a national initiative spearheaded by the Biden administration. The EPA announced in late November that utilities would have to pull and replace the lead pipes within 10 years.In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/known-to-be-toxic-for-a-century-lead-still-poisons-thousands-of-midwestern-kids/">Kansas, the EPA estimates</a>&nbsp;54,107 lead pipes remain while the&nbsp;Natural Resources Defense Council believes there are more than 160,000.Kobach said the proposed rule would cost individual homeowners thousands of dollars.“This is another example of unnecessary overreach by the Biden administration. Americans are already burdened by rising energy and utility costs and crushing inflation, and this proposal just adds insult to injury,” Kobach said. “The EPA should abandon it.”<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eb8542e2-3db5-43d1-91a6-5ca28c1671fe">For much of the 20th Century, utilities were permitted to install lead service lines, the pipes that carry water from water mains under the street into homes. The EPA banned them in 1986, but utilities have never been required to remove existing pipes, according to a story published&nbsp; on the Hays Post from the Kansas Reflector.</a>Lead is a neurotoxin that in high doses can be fatal. It was in pipes, gasoline and household paint for most of the last century, exposing generations of children to its effects, the Reflector story said.Even at low levels, exposure to lead can hinder children’s brain development and cause behavioral problems and learning difficulties. Lead-poisoned children can have trouble with language processing, memory, attention and impulsivity. Later in life, it raises the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, the Reflector story said.The multi-state coalition strongly opposes the EPA’s&nbsp;“National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper,” because the regulations&nbsp;would increase utility costs for everyone and force private homeowners to pay to replace their own lines if they contain lead and connect to a city line, the press release said.“This proposed rule creates a heavy-handed mandate on states that is nigh impossible to comply with and is also a financial burden on already squeezed middle-class families,” the joint letter reads. “It is unworkable, underfunded, and unnecessary and should be withdrawn.”The attorneys general estimate the removal and replacement of the pipes would cost more than $60 billion. Congress earmarked only $15 billion for the undertaking. The EPA estimates it will cost an average of $4,700 or between $1,200 and $12,300 per line that needs to be replaced.Kobach leads the multistate coalition. He was joined by 14 other states including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.How many pipes if any remain in Hays is yet to be determined, Jeff Crispin, Hays director of water resources, said during an interview in December.The city is working with Burns &amp; McDonnell Engineers as well as BlueConduit, which does predictive modeling to identify areas where the city might need to investigate for lead pipe.The deadline to identify the pipes is October, Crispin said."Right now it's about identifying," Crispin said. "In the future, there will be some discussion and research on how to eradicate any lead that would be found within service lines that go into a home."Typically cities deal with water mains and the lines that go to the meter. Past the meter is typically private and the responsibility of the homeowner, Crispin said."This requires the city to know what the material is not only from the city line to the meter but the meter to inside the home," he said.Crispin said he has no idea how much removing any lead pipes might cost the city. That information will not be available until the survey is complete.

Kobach, coalition demand Biden drop EPA lead pipe rule; Hays survey underway

Kenneth “Kenny” Frank Branda, of rural Wilson, passed away on February 1, 2024, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas, at the age of 80. He was born on October 19, 1943, to Bohumil “Shorty” and Edith (Mahoney) Branda in Ellsworth, Kansas.

Kenny graduated from Wilson High School in 1961 and went on to attend Fort Hays State University. He chose a ski trip over his finals, which ended his higher education. He married Amy (Hoch) in front of a few close friends and family on June 3, 2005, in rural Wilson.

Kenny farmed his whole life, which began with his father. He started plumbing in 1963 before starting Kennys Construction, Inc in 1972. Kenny was in the construction business for 52 years. Kenny played in the dirt every opportunity he had, whether it was moving and setting up drilling rigs, digging basements, or building roads and terraces. He was a perfectionist in his work and didn’t quit until the work was just right. Kenny would also move snow in the winter from the high school parking lot, clear streets and driveways for those who he knew needed to go to doctors’ appointments, etc.

God did not give Kenny patience. He would paint something and have it assembled before the paint even dried. Which resulted in getting paint all over his hands and clothes. Before he was old enough to have a license, he rode his bike to town and traded it for his first car. Later in life Kenny and Amy purchased two jet skis. Kenny had to try them out on the pond before he could get them on the lake. He and the jet ski both ended up on the shore.

Kenny was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus (Former Grand Knight), Wilson High School Alumni Association (Coordinator), Sons of the American Legion, Former City Council Member, and Former Wilson Fire Department Chief.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Amy of rural Wilson; daughters, Joan Branda of Trenton, TX, Sharon (Mike) McConnell of South Haven, KS; bonus son, Martin (Courtney) Swart of Canton, KS; five grandchildren, Kristin (Josh) Weger, Jessica (Cody) Douglas, Kaitlin (Roger) Graham, Breanna (Seth) Stroman, James McConnell and his two bonus grandchildren, Kensington and Oliver Swart and ten great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the funeral home in Wilson. Visitation will be on Friday, 6:00-8:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Scattering will take place at a later time in Rural Wilson.

Memorials are suggested to Wilson Alumni Association and Golden Belt Humane Society and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, P.O. Box 533, Wilson, KS 67490.

Kenneth “Kenny” Frank Branda, of rural Wilson, passed away on February 1, 2024, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas, at the age of 80. He was born on October 19, 1943, to Bohumil “Shorty” and Edith (Mahoney) Branda in Ellsworth, Kansas.Kenny graduated from Wilson High School in 1961 and went on to attend Fort Hays State University. He chose a ski trip over his finals, which ended his higher education. He married Amy (Hoch) in front of a few close friends and family on June 3, 2005, in rural Wilson.Kenny farmed his whole life, which began with his father. He started plumbing in 1963 before starting Kennys Construction, Inc in 1972. Kenny was in the construction business for 52 years. Kenny played in the dirt every opportunity he had, whether it was moving and setting up drilling rigs, digging basements, or building roads and terraces. He was a perfectionist in his work and didn’t quit until the work was just right. Kenny would also move snow in the winter from the high school parking lot, clear streets and driveways for those who he knew needed to go to doctors’ appointments, etc.God did not give Kenny patience. He would paint something and have it assembled before the paint even dried. Which resulted in getting paint all over his hands and clothes. Before he was old enough to have a license, he rode his bike to town and traded it for his first car. Later in life Kenny and Amy purchased two jet skis. Kenny had to try them out on the pond before he could get them on the lake. He and the jet ski both ended up on the shore.Kenny was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus (Former Grand Knight), Wilson High School Alumni Association (Coordinator), Sons of the American Legion, Former City Council Member, and Former Wilson Fire Department Chief.Kenny is survived by his wife, Amy of rural Wilson; daughters, Joan Branda of Trenton, TX, Sharon (Mike) McConnell of South Haven, KS; bonus son, Martin (Courtney) Swart of Canton, KS; five grandchildren, Kristin (Josh) Weger, Jessica (Cody) Douglas, Kaitlin (Roger) Graham, Breanna (Seth) Stroman, James McConnell and his two bonus grandchildren, Kensington and Oliver Swart and ten great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents.A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the funeral home in Wilson. Visitation will be on Friday, 6:00-8:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Scattering will take place at a later time in Rural Wilson.Memorials are suggested to Wilson Alumni Association and Golden Belt Humane Society and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, P.O. Box 533, Wilson, KS 67490.

Kenneth “Kenny” Frank Branda

Abby was born January 10, 1981 in the Phillipsburg, KS hospital, and passed on January 30, 2024 in the Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS. She was baptized in the American Lutheran Church, Smith Center, on February 8, 1981, and confirmed in May of 1995. She spent the majority of her life living in Gaylord, KS. She appreciated the folks and town of her youth and did her best to repay this community while working as a city treasurer and later as city clerk throughout her life.

Abby was ‘big sis’ to her twin sisters Baylee and Catlin, and when disgusted with their antics, she tried her best to ‘give them away.’ Her mother, Barb, would be quickly notified by a close neighbor, Minnie Henning, of Abby’s mission. The three girls played Barbies, baby dolls, games and enjoyed their kitties, Mr. Whiskers and Lady Petunia. Sometimes the chaos of twin sisters led Abby to spend more time with her dad, Dennis, to help irrigate, check cattle, and be ‘a big helper’ with field work. When older, Abby helped her younger sisters as they worked on 4-H projects, competing in floral, gardening, baking, craft and livestock projects.

Abby thoroughly enjoyed learning and appreciated her teachers’ encouragement. All of her teachers helped Abby find various career paths. Abby attended Gaylord Grade School until her sixth-grade year, and then transferred to the Kensington School District. She graduated as a Goldbug on May 5, 1999. From Bob Bearley, she learned : God is Good! From Don Weins, she learned to give her time to helping others, whether in the school, town, or community. From Butch Whelchel, she learned analytical decision making and organizational skills helped, not only at meat’s judging contests, but also in life. Abby graduated from Colby College with a Vet Tech’s degree in 2001. Then she worked as a vet tech in Smith Center, Osborne, and Ellsworth, KS. Later she studied Veterinary Science at KSU, but left to work as a secretary and city clerk. Abby liked the challenge of studying city documents, interpretating ordinances, and completing government regulation forms. She wanted the Gaylord kids to have fond memories of their youth, so she planned a Halloween party which has become a yearly event. This was a dedication to Jeri Brooks, another mentor for Abby. When the city clerk position became part time, she worked for MAP. Later she worked at the Guaranty Bank in Smith Center. Abby found herself among a group of unique individuals who included her as a friend from day one. Their friendship and laughter eased the constant reminder of her ongoing health problems.

Abby married Wil Neussendorfer on October 16, 2010, at the American Lutheran Church. When Wil repeated his vows, ‘in sickness and in health’, he faithfully demonstrated this meaning every day. They, usually, enjoyed working the endless hours when remodeling their home. They enjoyed concerts, traveling the countryside, helping Dennis with farming, and running farm errands. With Wil’s encouragement, Abby started professional machine quilting, and many quilts will carry on in her memory, especially those displaying her free hand quilting of feathers.

In May of 2011, when hospitalized in the Wesley Hospital, she learned of her Renal disease. Here, after the loss of infant son, Montgomery, her life changed forever. In 2013, Abby started dialysis, and when unable to perform dialysis at home, she spent three days a week driving or being driven to Kearney for dialysis. Because of her Vet Tech degree and interest in medicine, she understood her disease and carried through with the doctor’s orders. The disease controlled her life, but she kept a cheerful outlook and did her best to perform her tasks at hand. As she often remarked: I’m taking one for the team.

Abby was brave, and she taught her family the meaning of courage. Few realize the physical pain she suffered; few realize her mental endurance. A day after her passing, we saw a lone robin perched on the tallest branch of our backyard crabapple tree, chirping his spring song melody We interpret this to mean: Abby is in ‘the great beyond,‘ holding her infant son, Montgomery. Now, for Abby, her spiritual eternity is good because God is good.

Left to mourn: Wil Neussendorfer (husband) Gaylord; Barbara and Dennis Lehmann (parents) Gaylord; Baylee (sister) CA; Catlin (sister) and Brian (brother-in-law) Shawnee .

Ken and Susan Neussendorfer (in laws) ND; Megan and Tyler Neussendorfer (step children) ND.

Brock and Ruth Mueller (uncle and aunt) Sylvan Grove; Shay and Shannon (cousins) and their families.

Bill and Sheryl Thorpe (cousins), North Carolina; and son Steve and family.

Daryl and Katherine Lehmann (uncle and aunt) Smith Center; their children TJ, Candy, and Dallas (cousins) and their families.

Dean and Dixie Matson (uncle and aunt) Wichita, and their children Lindsey and Wes (cousins) and their families.

Denton and Kathy Lehmann (uncle and aunt) Smith Center; Scout, Kris and Spenser (cousins) and their families.

Dirk and Roberta Lehmann (uncle and Aunt), Eudora; Dominic, Cecilia, Victoria, Sophia, Olivia, and Derek (cousins) and their families.

Preceding in death: Montgomery Neussendorfer; Raymond and Audrey Mueller; Leland and Vanora Lehmann; Dianne Wahl; Craig Neussendorfer; Allen and Dorothy Olson; Paul and Magdeline Neussendorfer.

Abby was born January 10, 1981 in the Phillipsburg, KS hospital, and passed on January 30, 2024 in the Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS. She was baptized in the American Lutheran Church, Smith Center, on February 8, 1981, and confirmed in May of 1995. She spent the majority of her life living in Gaylord, KS. She appreciated the folks and town of her youth and did her best to repay this community while working as a city treasurer and later as city clerk throughout her life.Abby was ‘big sis’ to her twin sisters Baylee and Catlin, and when disgusted with their antics, she tried her best to ‘give them away.’ Her mother, Barb, would be quickly notified by a close neighbor, Minnie Henning, of Abby’s mission. The three girls played Barbies, baby dolls, games and enjoyed their kitties, Mr. Whiskers and Lady Petunia. Sometimes the chaos of twin sisters led Abby to spend more time with her dad, Dennis, to help irrigate, check cattle, and be ‘a big helper’ with field work. When older, Abby helped her younger sisters as they worked on 4-H projects, competing in floral, gardening, baking, craft and livestock projects.Abby thoroughly enjoyed learning and appreciated her teachers’ encouragement. All of her teachers helped Abby find various career paths. Abby attended Gaylord Grade School until her sixth-grade year, and then transferred to the Kensington School District. She graduated as a Goldbug on May 5, 1999. From Bob Bearley, she learned : God is Good! From Don Weins, she learned to give her time to helping others, whether in the school, town, or community. From Butch Whelchel, she learned analytical decision making and organizational skills helped, not only at meat’s judging contests, but also in life. Abby graduated from Colby College with a Vet Tech’s degree in 2001. Then she worked as a vet tech in Smith Center, Osborne, and Ellsworth, KS. Later she studied Veterinary Science at KSU, but left to work as a secretary and city clerk. Abby liked the challenge of studying city documents, interpretating ordinances, and completing government regulation forms. She wanted the Gaylord kids to have fond memories of their youth, so she planned a Halloween party which has become a yearly event. This was a dedication to Jeri Brooks, another mentor for Abby. When the city clerk position became part time, she worked for MAP. Later she worked at the Guaranty Bank in Smith Center. Abby found herself among a group of unique individuals who included her as a friend from day one. Their friendship and laughter eased the constant reminder of her ongoing health problems.Abby married Wil Neussendorfer on October 16, 2010, at the American Lutheran Church. When Wil repeated his vows, ‘in sickness and in health’, he faithfully demonstrated this meaning every day. They, usually, enjoyed working the endless hours when remodeling their home. They enjoyed concerts, traveling the countryside, helping Dennis with farming, and running farm errands. With Wil’s encouragement, Abby started professional machine quilting, and many quilts will carry on in her memory, especially those displaying her free hand quilting of feathers.In May of 2011, when hospitalized in the Wesley Hospital, she learned of her Renal disease. Here, after the loss of infant son, Montgomery, her life changed forever. In 2013, Abby started dialysis, and when unable to perform dialysis at home, she spent three days a week driving or being driven to Kearney for dialysis. Because of her Vet Tech degree and interest in medicine, she understood her disease and carried through with the doctor’s orders. The disease controlled her life, but she kept a cheerful outlook and did her best to perform her tasks at hand. As she often remarked: I’m taking one for the team.Abby was brave, and she taught her family the meaning of courage. Few realize the physical pain she suffered; few realize her mental endurance. A day after her passing, we saw a lone robin perched on the tallest branch of our backyard crabapple tree, chirping his spring song melody We interpret this to mean: Abby is in ‘the great beyond,‘ holding her infant son, Montgomery. Now, for Abby, her spiritual eternity is good because God is good.Left to mourn: Wil Neussendorfer (husband) Gaylord; Barbara and Dennis Lehmann (parents) Gaylord; Baylee (sister) CA; Catlin (sister) and Brian (brother-in-law) Shawnee .Ken and Susan Neussendorfer (in laws) ND; Megan and Tyler Neussendorfer (step children) ND.Brock and Ruth Mueller (uncle and aunt) Sylvan Grove; Shay and Shannon (cousins) and their families.Bill and Sheryl Thorpe (cousins), North Carolina; and son Steve and family.Daryl and Katherine Lehmann (uncle and aunt) Smith Center; their children TJ, Candy, and Dallas (cousins) and their families.Dean and Dixie Matson (uncle and aunt) Wichita, and their children Lindsey and Wes (cousins) and their families.Denton and Kathy Lehmann (uncle and aunt) Smith Center; Scout, Kris and Spenser (cousins) and their families.Dirk and Roberta Lehmann (uncle and Aunt), Eudora; Dominic, Cecilia, Victoria, Sophia, Olivia, and Derek (cousins) and their families.Preceding in death: Montgomery Neussendorfer; Raymond and Audrey Mueller; Leland and Vanora Lehmann; Dianne Wahl; Craig Neussendorfer; Allen and Dorothy Olson; Paul and Magdeline Neussendorfer.

Aubrey (Abby) Lehmann Neussendorfer

Lloyd “Jim” James Schippert, age 77, of Kearney, NE, formerly of Great Bend, KS, passed away at CHI Health - Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE on Thursday, February 1, 2024. &nbsp;

He was the son of Lloyd W. Schippert and Dorothy (Larsen) Schippert, born October 22, 1946 in Colby, Kansas. &nbsp;Jim attended Great Bend High School and graduated with the class of 1966. &nbsp;He married the love of his life, Helen Dianne Cargill, on August 18, 1968, in Great Bend. After graduating in 1972 from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, he worked at the Central Kansas Medical Center. &nbsp;He then helped to open and operate Family Pharmacy in Great Bend. &nbsp;Jim later went on to work for Wal-Mart Pharmacy for 27 years.

Jim was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was also a car enthusiast. He loved animals and being outside enjoying nature. When not doing these things, he found happiness building and creating wood furniture and toys. He was an amazing and loving father and grandfather, and brought into this world three babies, Kristina, David, and Brian.

Survivors include his wife, Dianne Schippert of Kearney; sons and daughters in law, Brian and Rebecca Schippert and their sons, Titus and Tucker all of Kearney; David and Jessica Schippert and their daughters, Ella, Anna, and Alia all of Springfield, MO; and many other extended family and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughter in infancy, Kristina; parents, Lloyd W. and Dorothy Schippert; and parents in law, John and Helen Cargill.

A Memorial service will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. &nbsp;Memorials can be made to Golden Belt Humane Society or Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707160710921.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lloyd “Jim” James Schippert, age 77, of Kearney, NE, formerly of Great Bend, KS, passed away at CHI Health - Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE on Thursday, February 1, 2024. &nbsp;He was the son of Lloyd W. Schippert and Dorothy (Larsen) Schippert, born October 22, 1946 in Colby, Kansas. &nbsp;Jim attended Great Bend High School and graduated with the class of 1966. &nbsp;He married the love of his life, Helen Dianne Cargill, on August 18, 1968, in Great Bend. After graduating in 1972 from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, he worked at the Central Kansas Medical Center. &nbsp;He then helped to open and operate Family Pharmacy in Great Bend. &nbsp;Jim later went on to work for Wal-Mart Pharmacy for 27 years.Jim was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was also a car enthusiast. He loved animals and being outside enjoying nature. When not doing these things, he found happiness building and creating wood furniture and toys. He was an amazing and loving father and grandfather, and brought into this world three babies, Kristina, David, and Brian.Survivors include his wife, Dianne Schippert of Kearney; sons and daughters in law, Brian and Rebecca Schippert and their sons, Titus and Tucker all of Kearney; David and Jessica Schippert and their daughters, Ella, Anna, and Alia all of Springfield, MO; and many other extended family and friends.Jim was preceded in death by his daughter in infancy, Kristina; parents, Lloyd W. and Dorothy Schippert; and parents in law, John and Helen Cargill.A Memorial service will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. &nbsp;Memorials can be made to Golden Belt Humane Society or Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. &nbsp;

Lloyd “Jim” James Schippert

Mary Etta (Rollins) Hatton, age 63, died on January 30, 2024, at Cedar Village, Ness City. &nbsp;She was born on October 10, 1960, in LaCrosse, Kansas, the daughter of Wilbert “Bill” and Bernice (Bennett) Rollins.

Mary grew up in rural McCracken, attended early school years in Hays, lived in Florida for several years and eventually settled in Ness City, Kansas. Mary held many jobs throughout the years, but her most beloved was as a truck driver for a retail clothing company. &nbsp;She will be remembered for her frank talk and her dry sense of humor. &nbsp;She also loved her animals, especially her cat Sissy. &nbsp;

Mary is survived by four grandchildren, Kelli Hunter, Ness City, Chrissi Hunter, Ness City, Hailey Hunter, Jetmore, and Justis Lees, Dodge City, and three great grandchildren, Hunter Bemis, Matthew Gomez, and Javier Gomez; two sisters Wanda Bankhead, Morriston, Florida and Pam Bankhead, Ocala, Florida; one brother Donnie &amp; Jeannie Harp, Emporia and several aunt, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her only daughter, Marie (Helms) Buller; her longtime companion, Elmer Donner; four brothers Ronnie Harp, Billy Harp, Tony Harp, and Rick Springfield; and two nephews Doyle and Delmas Bankhead.

Memorial services will be on Saturday February 10, 2024, 9:30 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be given to Cedar Village or the Ness City Fire Department. &nbsp;

Memories and words of support may be shared with the family by writing in the guest book at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Mary Etta (Rollins) Hatton, age 63, died on January 30, 2024, at Cedar Village, Ness City. &nbsp;She was born on October 10, 1960, in LaCrosse, Kansas, the daughter of Wilbert “Bill” and Bernice (Bennett) Rollins.Mary grew up in rural McCracken, attended early school years in Hays, lived in Florida for several years and eventually settled in Ness City, Kansas. Mary held many jobs throughout the years, but her most beloved was as a truck driver for a retail clothing company. &nbsp;She will be remembered for her frank talk and her dry sense of humor. &nbsp;She also loved her animals, especially her cat Sissy. &nbsp;Mary is survived by four grandchildren, Kelli Hunter, Ness City, Chrissi Hunter, Ness City, Hailey Hunter, Jetmore, and Justis Lees, Dodge City, and three great grandchildren, Hunter Bemis, Matthew Gomez, and Javier Gomez; two sisters Wanda Bankhead, Morriston, Florida and Pam Bankhead, Ocala, Florida; one brother Donnie &amp; Jeannie Harp, Emporia and several aunt, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her only daughter, Marie (Helms) Buller; her longtime companion, Elmer Donner; four brothers Ronnie Harp, Billy Harp, Tony Harp, and Rick Springfield; and two nephews Doyle and Delmas Bankhead.Memorial services will be on Saturday February 10, 2024, 9:30 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, Kansas.Memorial contributions may be given to Cedar Village or the Ness City Fire Department. &nbsp;Memories and words of support may be shared with the family by writing in the guest book at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Mary Etta (Rollins) Hatton

Neal E. Delaney, age 77, went to his final adventure on February 1, 2024, after a battle with cancer. &nbsp;He died surrounded by his family at Cedar Village, Ness City, Kansas. &nbsp;Neal was born on October 7, 1946, in Ransom, Kansas, the son of Sam and Frieda (Meis) Delaney.

Neal attended Ness City Schools, graduating in 1965, the 1st class in the new high school. &nbsp;He went on to attend Greer Tech School in Chicago. He worked at Durfee’s before serving in Vietnam with the United States Army. &nbsp;Neal and his brother Dean did custom cutting for several years. &nbsp;They then rented a farm and Neal began his passion to be a farmer. &nbsp;He purchased his first land in 1973. &nbsp;He leaves a beautiful legacy for his family!

Neal married Dianne Witthuhn on May 31, 1982, in Ness City. To this union were born two children. &nbsp;He is survived by his wife; son, Jared (Stephanie) of Ness City; daughter, Heather (Kyle) Downs of Derby; four grandchildren, Clayton and Carl Delaney, Brooke and Jacob Downs; brother, Dean (Kathy) Delaney of Alamota; sister, Marion Kleweno of Bazine; mother in law, Pauline Witthuhn of Ness City; brother in law, Don (Nancy) Witthuhn of Bazine; and many nieces, nephews, friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Frieda Delaney; niece, Shelly Wesley; father in law, Bud Witthuhn; and brother in law, Larry Kleweno.

A funeral service will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on February 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m. &nbsp;followed by burial in the Ness City Cemetery. Viewing will be at the funeral home on Sunday, February 4, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Grandchildren Education Fund or St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706813480729.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Neal E. Delaney, age 77, went to his final adventure on February 1, 2024, after a battle with cancer. &nbsp;He died surrounded by his family at Cedar Village, Ness City, Kansas. &nbsp;Neal was born on October 7, 1946, in Ransom, Kansas, the son of Sam and Frieda (Meis) Delaney.Neal attended Ness City Schools, graduating in 1965, the 1st class in the new high school. &nbsp;He went on to attend Greer Tech School in Chicago. He worked at Durfee’s before serving in Vietnam with the United States Army. &nbsp;Neal and his brother Dean did custom cutting for several years. &nbsp;They then rented a farm and Neal began his passion to be a farmer. &nbsp;He purchased his first land in 1973. &nbsp;He leaves a beautiful legacy for his family!Neal married Dianne Witthuhn on May 31, 1982, in Ness City. To this union were born two children. &nbsp;He is survived by his wife; son, Jared (Stephanie) of Ness City; daughter, Heather (Kyle) Downs of Derby; four grandchildren, Clayton and Carl Delaney, Brooke and Jacob Downs; brother, Dean (Kathy) Delaney of Alamota; sister, Marion Kleweno of Bazine; mother in law, Pauline Witthuhn of Ness City; brother in law, Don (Nancy) Witthuhn of Bazine; and many nieces, nephews, friends and family.He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Frieda Delaney; niece, Shelly Wesley; father in law, Bud Witthuhn; and brother in law, Larry Kleweno.A funeral service will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on February 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m. &nbsp;followed by burial in the Ness City Cemetery. Viewing will be at the funeral home on Sunday, February 4, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.Memorial contributions may be given to the Grandchildren Education Fund or St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.

Neal E. Delaney

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly today announced that John Godfrey is the new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the State of Kansas. In his role, he will lead the Kansas Information Security Office (KISO) in developing and implementing information security strategies, including cybersecurity strategies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Godfrey steps into the role following Jeff Maxon’s&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi9nb3Zlcm5vci1rZWxseS1hcHBvaW50cy1qZWZmLW1heG9uLWFzLWNoaWVmLWluZm9ybWF0aW9uLXRlY2hub2xvZ3ktb2ZmaWNlci8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjQwMjAyLjg5NTU5MzUxIn0.jpeT63Gl10U6xmUxweOO9ZZiIdF6oGy_d_gPaJnM5u0/s/1303161001/br/236457026829-l">appointment</a>&nbsp;to Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) for the State of Kansas in October 2023.&nbsp;

“John Godfrey’s years of experience in information security give him the unique perspective of the challenges we face when providing secure and dependable digital services to Kansans,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “I look forward to working with him as he builds on our whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Godfrey comes to the state after serving as the CISO-in-Residence and Founder of LionHeart Cybersecurity Advisors in Kansas City, KS. He also has extensive experience working with several of the State’s Regents universities. He spent more than 10 years with The University of Kansas Medical Center, six of which were as CISO and Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Security. Additionally, Godfrey spent more than five years as a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer, and Systems Administrator and Information Security Analyst at Kansas State University.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“This is an exciting time to join the KISO and advance the strategies put in place by my predecessor,”&nbsp;John Godfrey said. “Coordination and collaboration are critical to advancing the cybersecurity posture of Kansas, and the KISO has been active in building a statewide cyber community that includes all 105 counties. I look forward to working with this dedicated group of professionals on what’s next for the future of information security.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2021, Godfrey was a member of the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force where he chaired the Statewide Communication &amp; Collaboration Subcommittee. The Task Force produced a final report to the Governor’s Office that included forty-one recommendations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Godfrey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from American InterContinental University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice Studies and Information Networking and Telecommunications from Fort Hays State University. He has a Master of Science in Information Assurance from Capital Technology University and is currently working on a Doctor of Science in Cybersecurity at Capital Technology University. Additionally, he has multiple licenses and professional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS), Security+ and Network+ certifications from CompTIA, and several National Security Agency (NSA)/Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) certifications.&nbsp;

Office of Governor Laura KellyTOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly today announced that John Godfrey is the new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the State of Kansas. In his role, he will lead the Kansas Information Security Office (KISO) in developing and implementing information security strategies, including cybersecurity strategies.&nbsp;&nbsp;Godfrey steps into the role following Jeff Maxon’s&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi9nb3Zlcm5vci1rZWxseS1hcHBvaW50cy1qZWZmLW1heG9uLWFzLWNoaWVmLWluZm9ybWF0aW9uLXRlY2hub2xvZ3ktb2ZmaWNlci8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjQwMjAyLjg5NTU5MzUxIn0.jpeT63Gl10U6xmUxweOO9ZZiIdF6oGy_d_gPaJnM5u0/s/1303161001/br/236457026829-l">appointment</a>&nbsp;to Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) for the State of Kansas in October 2023.&nbsp;“John Godfrey’s years of experience in information security give him the unique perspective of the challenges we face when providing secure and dependable digital services to Kansans,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “I look forward to working with him as he builds on our whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Godfrey comes to the state after serving as the CISO-in-Residence and Founder of LionHeart Cybersecurity Advisors in Kansas City, KS. He also has extensive experience working with several of the State’s Regents universities. He spent more than 10 years with The University of Kansas Medical Center, six of which were as CISO and Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Security. Additionally, Godfrey spent more than five years as a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer, and Systems Administrator and Information Security Analyst at Kansas State University.&nbsp;&nbsp;“This is an exciting time to join the KISO and advance the strategies put in place by my predecessor,”&nbsp;John Godfrey said. “Coordination and collaboration are critical to advancing the cybersecurity posture of Kansas, and the KISO has been active in building a statewide cyber community that includes all 105 counties. I look forward to working with this dedicated group of professionals on what’s next for the future of information security.”&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2021, Godfrey was a member of the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force where he chaired the Statewide Communication &amp; Collaboration Subcommittee. The Task Force produced a final report to the Governor’s Office that included forty-one recommendations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Godfrey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from American InterContinental University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice Studies and Information Networking and Telecommunications from Fort Hays State University. He has a Master of Science in Information Assurance from Capital Technology University and is currently working on a Doctor of Science in Cybersecurity at Capital Technology University. Additionally, he has multiple licenses and professional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS), Security+ and Network+ certifications from CompTIA, and several National Security Agency (NSA)/Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) certifications.&nbsp;

FHSU graduate named state chief information security officer

&nbsp;By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/dylan-lysen">Dylan Lysen</a>, <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a>

Shelly Lamb argues in a federal lawsuit that coworkers and inmates at the Kansas Department of Corrections harassed her and the department violated her civil rights and committed sex discrimination because she is a transgender woman.

A transgender woman is suing the Kansas Department of Corrections in federal court for creating a hostile work environment when she transitioned.

Shelly Lamb, a former counselor and supervisor for the agency’s prison facility in Hutchinson, argues her civil rights were violated because the state agency refused to acknowledge her transition, use her new name or stop employees and inmates from misusing her pronouns and catcalling her.

She also argues the agency retaliated against her when she pushed for her civil rights by moving her office to a basement closet and then another office with no air conditioning before she eventually resigned in 2022.

Madeline Johnson of Missouri Kansas Queer Law, who is representing Lamb, said the agency’s actions are a violation of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on sex.

“It's a pretty clear-cut case of discrimination and retaliation,” Johnson said, “because Shelly came out in her place of employment.”

Lamb is seeking an unspecified amount of financial compensation for lost pay and benefits.

The Kansas Department of Corrections has not yet filed a response to the complaint. Officials also declined to comment. Spokesperson David Thompson said in an email that the department does not comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court. That means the case bypasses the state law known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-05-25/kansas-anti-transgender-law-bathroom-bill" target="_blank">“Women’s Bill of Rights,”</a>&nbsp;which legally defines a man and woman by their sex assigned at birth. Opponents also argued the law would bar transgender women from using women’s bathrooms, but the ACLU of Kansas and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach now say there is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-06-26/kobach-says-trans-kansans-ids-will-be-changed-back-to-their-sex-assigned-at-birth" target="_blank">no enforcement mechanism</a>.

Johnson said the state law, enacted last year, would also not apply to Lamb because the alleged discrimination occurred before then.

According to the filed complaint, Lamb said she notified the Kansas Department of Corrections in October 2021 that she planned to transition and begin presenting herself as a woman. But the agency’s human resources department allegedly told her it would not acknowledge her transition and prohibited her from wearing a hairpiece, makeup, nail polish or women’s clothing. Lamb was also told not to use the women’s bathroom, according to the complaint.

Lamb alleges the department would not require other employees to use her new name or female pronouns when referring to her, resulting in other employees and inmates harassing her. And the agency would not acknowledge her name in its database for months despite Lamb obtaining a new driver’s license showing the change, according to the complaint.

Lamb also alleges the human resources department implied that her position required her to be a man, despite other female employees working in the same position.

After Lamb’s transition, the agency allegedly changed Lamb's job duties, took away her counseling caseload and moved the office she shared with other employees to a basement office that was originally a supply closet. Lamb’s office was later changed again to an unused portion of the facility that did not have air conditioning, according to her complaint.

Lamb contends in the lawsuit that her employers were trying to force her to resign. She eventually resigned from the position in August 2022.

After speaking to an attorney, Lamb notified the human resources department that she had a right to present as a woman and that she would continue to do so at work. She also said she would sue if she was continued to be required to “hide her gender identity and remain ‘closeted.’”

Johnson said the actions from Kansas Department of Corrections employees result in sex discrimination and retaliation. She points to the U.S. Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/863498848/supreme-court-delivers-major-victory-to-lgbtq-employees" target="_blank">landmark decision</a>&nbsp;in 2020 — known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/17-1618_hfci.pdf" target="_blank">Bostock v. Clayton County</a>&nbsp;— that ruled federal civil rights law prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, wrote in the ruling that the law extends to people who are transgender.

"An employer who fired an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex," Gorsuch wrote for the court. “Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what (the civil rights law) forbids.”

While Kansas’ “Women’s Bill of Rights” does not apply to the federal case, it does highlight the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-06-26/kobach-says-trans-kansans-ids-will-be-changed-back-to-their-sex-assigned-at-birth" target="_blank">conservative view toward transgender individuals</a>. The law was one of two the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature passed in 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-04-05/kansas-lawmakers-override-democratic-governors-veto-enacting-ban-on-transgender-athletes" target="_blank">restricting transgender rights</a>.

Johnson said those laws are likely unconstitutional.

“This is an important case and a very important time,” Johnson said. “We’re very confident in our pleadings and believe Shelly has a very strong case.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707055717302.png" alt="The Kansas Department of Corrections allegedly discriminated against Shelly Lamb, a former counselor and supervisor, for transitioning.&nbsp; photo Dylan Lysen, Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Department of Corrections allegedly discriminated against Shelly Lamb, a former counselor and supervisor, for transitioning.&nbsp; photo Dylan Lysen, Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/dylan-lysen">Dylan Lysen</a>, <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a><h2>Shelly Lamb argues in a federal lawsuit that coworkers and inmates at the Kansas Department of Corrections harassed her and the department violated her civil rights and committed sex discrimination because she is a transgender woman.</h2>A transgender woman is suing the Kansas Department of Corrections in federal court for creating a hostile work environment when she transitioned.Shelly Lamb, a former counselor and supervisor for the agency’s prison facility in Hutchinson, argues her civil rights were violated because the state agency refused to acknowledge her transition, use her new name or stop employees and inmates from misusing her pronouns and catcalling her.She also argues the agency retaliated against her when she pushed for her civil rights by moving her office to a basement closet and then another office with no air conditioning before she eventually resigned in 2022.Madeline Johnson of Missouri Kansas Queer Law, who is representing Lamb, said the agency’s actions are a violation of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on sex.“It's a pretty clear-cut case of discrimination and retaliation,” Johnson said, “because Shelly came out in her place of employment.”Lamb is seeking an unspecified amount of financial compensation for lost pay and benefits.The Kansas Department of Corrections has not yet filed a response to the complaint. Officials also declined to comment. Spokesperson David Thompson said in an email that the department does not comment on pending litigation.The lawsuit was filed in federal court. That means the case bypasses the state law known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-05-25/kansas-anti-transgender-law-bathroom-bill" target="_blank">“Women’s Bill of Rights,”</a>&nbsp;which legally defines a man and woman by their sex assigned at birth. Opponents also argued the law would bar transgender women from using women’s bathrooms, but the ACLU of Kansas and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach now say there is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-06-26/kobach-says-trans-kansans-ids-will-be-changed-back-to-their-sex-assigned-at-birth" target="_blank">no enforcement mechanism</a>.Johnson said the state law, enacted last year, would also not apply to Lamb because the alleged discrimination occurred before then.According to the filed complaint, Lamb said she notified the Kansas Department of Corrections in October 2021 that she planned to transition and begin presenting herself as a woman. But the agency’s human resources department allegedly told her it would not acknowledge her transition and prohibited her from wearing a hairpiece, makeup, nail polish or women’s clothing. Lamb was also told not to use the women’s bathroom, according to the complaint.Lamb alleges the department would not require other employees to use her new name or female pronouns when referring to her, resulting in other employees and inmates harassing her. And the agency would not acknowledge her name in its database for months despite Lamb obtaining a new driver’s license showing the change, according to the complaint.Lamb also alleges the human resources department implied that her position required her to be a man, despite other female employees working in the same position.After Lamb’s transition, the agency allegedly changed Lamb's job duties, took away her counseling caseload and moved the office she shared with other employees to a basement office that was originally a supply closet. Lamb’s office was later changed again to an unused portion of the facility that did not have air conditioning, according to her complaint.Lamb contends in the lawsuit that her employers were trying to force her to resign. She eventually resigned from the position in August 2022.After speaking to an attorney, Lamb notified the human resources department that she had a right to present as a woman and that she would continue to do so at work. She also said she would sue if she was continued to be required to “hide her gender identity and remain ‘closeted.’”Johnson said the actions from Kansas Department of Corrections employees result in sex discrimination and retaliation. She points to the U.S. Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/863498848/supreme-court-delivers-major-victory-to-lgbtq-employees" target="_blank">landmark decision</a>&nbsp;in 2020 — known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/17-1618_hfci.pdf" target="_blank">Bostock v. Clayton County</a>&nbsp;— that ruled federal civil rights law prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, wrote in the ruling that the law extends to people who are transgender."An employer who fired an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex," Gorsuch wrote for the court. “Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what (the civil rights law) forbids.”While Kansas’ “Women’s Bill of Rights” does not apply to the federal case, it does highlight the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-06-26/kobach-says-trans-kansans-ids-will-be-changed-back-to-their-sex-assigned-at-birth" target="_blank">conservative view toward transgender individuals</a>. The law was one of two the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature passed in 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-04-05/kansas-lawmakers-override-democratic-governors-veto-enacting-ban-on-transgender-athletes" target="_blank">restricting transgender rights</a>.Johnson said those laws are likely unconstitutional.“This is an important case and a very important time,” Johnson said. “We’re very confident in our pleadings and believe Shelly has a very strong case.”

Transgender Kan. state employee says she was harassed at work after her transition

Joel D. Fose, 60, Hays, died Thursday, February 1, 2024 at HaysMed.

He was born May 27, 1963 in Jetmore, the son of Ralph and Luella (Hey) Fose. On October 18, 2004 he was united in marriage to Lisa M. Koerner in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joel worked at Wal-Mart and was a member of Celebration Community Church. He was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan, and he enjoyed watching movies, being at the lake, gardening, fishing, and golfing. Most of all, Joel loved his family.

Survivors include his wife Lisa M. Fose of Hays, his stepson, Scott Hupka and wife Nichole of Whiteman Air Force Base, three stepdaughters, Trina Messina and husband Dylan of Arcadia, OK, Ashley Hupka and fiancé Nathan Baumann of Newton, and Heather Hupka and fiancé Gabe Ibarra of McPherson, a brother, Jay Fose and wife Carey of WaKeeney, three sisters, Lorna Nutt and husband Joe of Mustang, OK, Lana Dinkel of Ellis, and Lisa J. Fose of Ellis, a sister-in-law, Jean Fose of WaKeeney, nine step grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John and Jerry Fose, a brother-in-law, Mike Dinkel, and a niece, Jena Scheffe.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at Celebration Community Church with Pastor Brant Rice officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until service time on Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested for family wishes with checks payable to Lisa M. Fose. Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Joel may be left for his family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706908725028.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Joel D. Fose, 60, Hays, died Thursday, February 1, 2024 at HaysMed.He was born May 27, 1963 in Jetmore, the son of Ralph and Luella (Hey) Fose. On October 18, 2004 he was united in marriage to Lisa M. Koerner in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joel worked at Wal-Mart and was a member of Celebration Community Church. He was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan, and he enjoyed watching movies, being at the lake, gardening, fishing, and golfing. Most of all, Joel loved his family.Survivors include his wife Lisa M. Fose of Hays, his stepson, Scott Hupka and wife Nichole of Whiteman Air Force Base, three stepdaughters, Trina Messina and husband Dylan of Arcadia, OK, Ashley Hupka and fiancé Nathan Baumann of Newton, and Heather Hupka and fiancé Gabe Ibarra of McPherson, a brother, Jay Fose and wife Carey of WaKeeney, three sisters, Lorna Nutt and husband Joe of Mustang, OK, Lana Dinkel of Ellis, and Lisa J. Fose of Ellis, a sister-in-law, Jean Fose of WaKeeney, nine step grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John and Jerry Fose, a brother-in-law, Mike Dinkel, and a niece, Jena Scheffe.Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at Celebration Community Church with Pastor Brant Rice officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until service time on Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested for family wishes with checks payable to Lisa M. Fose. Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Joel may be left for his family at www.haysmemorial.com

Joel D. Fose

JERUSALEM (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday it's time to further disable Iran-backed militias that have struck at U.S. forces and ships in the Middle East and the U.S. is preparing to take significant action in response to the deaths of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">three U.S. service members</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.

For days the U.S. has hinted strikes are imminent. While the threat of retaliation for Sunday's deaths has driven some militant groups to say they were stopping hostilities, as late as Thursday Yemen’s Houthi rebels were still attacking vessels and fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea.

“At this point, it’s time to take away even more capability than we’ve taken in the past,” Austin said Thursday in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-pentagon-cancer-secret-hospital-313255a7126a0482a67ec18b7474a8c1">first press conference</a>&nbsp;since he was hospitalized on Jan. 1 due to complications from prostate cancer treatment.

Previous U.S. strikes have not deterred the attacks. Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, Iranian-backed militant groups have struck U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria at least 166 times with rockets, missiles and one-way attack drones, drawing about a half-dozen U.S. counterstrikes on militant facilities in both countries. The U.S. military also has carried out airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The U.S. has attributed the attack on Tower 22 in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.

While Iran has denied involvement, Austin said Thursday that “how much Iran knew or didn’t know, we don’t know. But it really doesn’t matter because Iran sponsors these groups.”

Austin said “without that facilitation, these kinds of things don’t happen.” He said the Pentagon is still looking at the forensics of the drone that struck Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that’s been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

“I don’t think the adversaries are of a ‘one and done’ mindset. And so they have a lot of capability. I have a lot more,” Austin said. "We’re going to do what’s necessary to protect our troops."

In the Red Sea, the Houthis have fired on commercial and military ships almost 40 times since November. In the latest attack, they fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship on Thursday, U.S. defense officials said.

The attack happened west of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen long held by the rebels, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military group overseeing Mideast waterways. It said the crew and the vessel were safe and the blast came far off the vessel's starboard side.

The U.S. defense officials identified the targeted container ship as the Koi, a Bermuda-owned vessel. Its management could not be immediately reached for comment. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. The Houthis did not claim responsibility for the assault.

The Houthis say they are targeting ships over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Jan. 26,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.

The Pentagon has the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in the region, along with at least a half dozen other major U.S. warships, U.S. Air Force fighter jets and radar aircraft. It has already been regularly using those assets to conduct strikes and defend ships.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705112808392.png" alt="View of aircraft launch for the attack Jan. 11 -image U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>View of aircraft launch for the attack Jan. 11 -image U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday it's time to further disable Iran-backed militias that have struck at U.S. forces and ships in the Middle East and the U.S. is preparing to take significant action in response to the deaths of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">three U.S. service members</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.For days the U.S. has hinted strikes are imminent. While the threat of retaliation for Sunday's deaths has driven some militant groups to say they were stopping hostilities, as late as Thursday Yemen’s Houthi rebels were still attacking vessels and fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea.“At this point, it’s time to take away even more capability than we’ve taken in the past,” Austin said Thursday in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-pentagon-cancer-secret-hospital-313255a7126a0482a67ec18b7474a8c1">first press conference</a>&nbsp;since he was hospitalized on Jan. 1 due to complications from prostate cancer treatment.Previous U.S. strikes have not deterred the attacks. Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, Iranian-backed militant groups have struck U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria at least 166 times with rockets, missiles and one-way attack drones, drawing about a half-dozen U.S. counterstrikes on militant facilities in both countries. The U.S. military also has carried out airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.The U.S. has attributed the attack on Tower 22 in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.While Iran has denied involvement, Austin said Thursday that “how much Iran knew or didn’t know, we don’t know. But it really doesn’t matter because Iran sponsors these groups.”Austin said “without that facilitation, these kinds of things don’t happen.” He said the Pentagon is still looking at the forensics of the drone that struck Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that’s been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.“I don’t think the adversaries are of a ‘one and done’ mindset. And so they have a lot of capability. I have a lot more,” Austin said. "We’re going to do what’s necessary to protect our troops."In the Red Sea, the Houthis have fired on commercial and military ships almost 40 times since November. In the latest attack, they fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship on Thursday, U.S. defense officials said.The attack happened west of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen long held by the rebels, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military group overseeing Mideast waterways. It said the crew and the vessel were safe and the blast came far off the vessel's starboard side.The U.S. defense officials identified the targeted container ship as the Koi, a Bermuda-owned vessel. Its management could not be immediately reached for comment. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. The Houthis did not claim responsibility for the assault.The Houthis say they are targeting ships over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Jan. 26,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.The Pentagon has the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in the region, along with at least a half dozen other major U.S. warships, U.S. Air Force fighter jets and radar aircraft. It has already been regularly using those assets to conduct strikes and defend ships.

Pentagon: New plans in place for US strikes against Iran-backed militias

Frank Rohr, 84, Dighton Kansas, died January 30th, 2024 surrounded by his family and friends.

He was born October 4th, 1939 to Martin and Matilda (Herman) Rohr on the family farm inside the limestone home in South East Gove County.

Frank grew up on the family farm and attended a rural country school.On September 20, 1960 he was united in marriage to Mert (Myrtle) Jane Sharpe, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Park, Kansas.Survivors include his son, Frankie (Franklin G.) &amp; wife Joyce, of Quinter Ks; son, Darren &amp; wife Roseann, of DeSoto, Ks; and grandchildren Chelsea, Cameron, Cole, &amp; Laramie.

Frank is also survived by 4 sisters, Elnora Keeler, Esther Walker, Millie Schwindt, Martina Stanton and special companion, Louise Miller.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mert (Myrtle), his parents Martin and Matilda, three brothers and three sisters , Wendolyn, Eddy, Walter Rohr, Helen Zerr, Florina Heile, and Barbara Howard; and his beloved son Kevin Rohr. He is loved and missed by his family, many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

Frank grew up on the family farm and continued farming the remainder of his life. He also worked custom wheat and silage harvesting, and started Rohr's Restraunt Service with his wife and sons. Darren continues in the Restraunt Hood Cleaning business in Kansas City and Frankie continues farming on the family farm.Frank had many interests in including restoring antique tractors and when that came to be too much for him he restored lawn mowers. He enjoyed going to agriculture trade shows with his son Frankie and enjoyed traveling and made many memories with his sons in Las Vegas. Frank really enjoyed dancing, leading many wedding marches for family and traveling to local dances. Frank loved his many dogs over the years.

He battled colon cancer in 1984 and then proceeded to battle skin cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and liver cancer.

There will be a Catholic wake service at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 322 S 1st, Dighton, Ks 67839 on Sunday February 4th at 6 p.m.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday February 5th, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 202 Cottonwood St., Ks 67751In lieu of flowers, memorial are suggested to St. Theresa Catholic Church, Dighton, Ks or Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Park, Ks or your local animal shelter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706813569702.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Frank Rohr, 84, Dighton Kansas, died January 30th, 2024 surrounded by his family and friends.He was born October 4th, 1939 to Martin and Matilda (Herman) Rohr on the family farm inside the limestone home in South East Gove County.Frank grew up on the family farm and attended a rural country school.On September 20, 1960 he was united in marriage to Mert (Myrtle) Jane Sharpe, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Park, Kansas.Survivors include his son, Frankie (Franklin G.) &amp; wife Joyce, of Quinter Ks; son, Darren &amp; wife Roseann, of DeSoto, Ks; and grandchildren Chelsea, Cameron, Cole, &amp; Laramie.Frank is also survived by 4 sisters, Elnora Keeler, Esther Walker, Millie Schwindt, Martina Stanton and special companion, Louise Miller.He was preceded in death by his wife Mert (Myrtle), his parents Martin and Matilda, three brothers and three sisters , Wendolyn, Eddy, Walter Rohr, Helen Zerr, Florina Heile, and Barbara Howard; and his beloved son Kevin Rohr. He is loved and missed by his family, many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.Frank grew up on the family farm and continued farming the remainder of his life. He also worked custom wheat and silage harvesting, and started Rohr's Restraunt Service with his wife and sons. Darren continues in the Restraunt Hood Cleaning business in Kansas City and Frankie continues farming on the family farm.Frank had many interests in including restoring antique tractors and when that came to be too much for him he restored lawn mowers. He enjoyed going to agriculture trade shows with his son Frankie and enjoyed traveling and made many memories with his sons in Las Vegas. Frank really enjoyed dancing, leading many wedding marches for family and traveling to local dances. Frank loved his many dogs over the years.He battled colon cancer in 1984 and then proceeded to battle skin cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and liver cancer.There will be a Catholic wake service at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 322 S 1st, Dighton, Ks 67839 on Sunday February 4th at 6 p.m.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday February 5th, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 202 Cottonwood St., Ks 67751In lieu of flowers, memorial are suggested to St. Theresa Catholic Church, Dighton, Ks or Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Park, Ks or your local animal shelter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Franklin Martin Rohr

Mary Etta Rollins, 63, passed away on January 30, 2024 at the Cedar Village Care Center in Ness City, Kansas. &nbsp;She was born on October 10, 1960 in LaCrosse, Kansas the daughter of Wilbert and Bernice (Bennett) Rollins.

A memorial service will be on Saturday, February 10, 2024, 9:30 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, Kansas. &nbsp;

Memorial contributions may be given to the Cedar Village or Ness City Fire Department.

Mary Etta Rollins, 63, passed away on January 30, 2024 at the Cedar Village Care Center in Ness City, Kansas. &nbsp;She was born on October 10, 1960 in LaCrosse, Kansas the daughter of Wilbert and Bernice (Bennett) Rollins.A memorial service will be on Saturday, February 10, 2024, 9:30 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, Kansas. &nbsp;Memorial contributions may be given to the Cedar Village or Ness City Fire Department.Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Mary Etta Rollins

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —&nbsp;A Republican state senator demanded answers Tuesday on deaths in Kansas’ foster system, asking if children are still slipping through the cracks after a 5-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and died last year after living in a homeless camp.

Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a member of the Senate committee that oversees public health and welfare, said she knew of two more foster care kids who had died this month, though she did not provide other details.

Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, asked Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard to give an estimate of how many foster children have died over the past year, as well as more details about the death of the 5-year-old, a case that sparked widespread outrage over system failures.&nbsp;

“When will we find out more information about the little five-year-old here in Topeka that was murdered, living in a tent home and that trail of contacted, not contacted, touched, not touched as far as with law enforcement or with DCF?” Baumgardner asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to Reflector inquiry on the number of foster care deaths.&nbsp;

In October, the five-year-old was found at a gas station in southeast Topeka, sexually assaulted and with life-threatening injuries. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment but died shortly after. Her former neighbors said she had been living in a homeless camp at the time of her death, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2023/10/05/zoey-felix-former-topeka-home-city-evergy-utilities-shut-off/71061637007/">Topeka Capital-Journal reported</a>.&nbsp;

The state’s child welfare agency received multiple reports asking the state to look into her case before her death. The Kansas Reflector obtained a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/10/18/kansas-dcf-received-nine-reports-including-allegations-of-drug-use-before-death-of-5-year-old/">summary of the reports</a>, showing five home visits and a phone call from department officials. The reports, which ranged from September 2022&nbsp; to little more than a month before her death, warned that the child wasn’t supervised, was living in a home without utilities and was around drugs, among other allegations.&nbsp;

Howard said she could not release many of the details publicly due to state statute, but said the agency has implemented policy changes such as requiring tighter time frames for workers to contact law enforcement if they aren’t able to reach families, along with supporting legislation that would allow more public release of data in cases such as these.&nbsp;

Beyond keeping children physically safe, other questions for the department focused on how to help them after they become young adults.&nbsp;Sen. Chase Blasi, R-Wichita, said he wanted to ensure youths leaving the system had adequate resources.&nbsp;

“What steps are we doing or can we do to ensure kids who are aging out of foster care don’t just go to the streets?” Blasi said. “Ultimately that is a very horrific thing to do in a first world country. I mean, I hope that something that’s not something we can do to help address that.”&nbsp;

Howard said there were housing partnerships and subsidies to help youths exiting the system, but her agency was working on the best ways to engage this population.&nbsp;

“How do we best support them in understanding that these resources that are available to them aren’t about trying to control them or keep them in a system or anything like that” Howard said.&nbsp; “This is about giving them the opportunity to be successful as they leave the system. And, again, we do have fairly robust supports, I think the issue is engagement.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706794589091.png" alt="Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, faced questions from state senators about the death last year of a 5-year-old girl. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, faced questions from state senators about the death last year of a 5-year-old girl. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA —&nbsp;A Republican state senator demanded answers Tuesday on deaths in Kansas’ foster system, asking if children are still slipping through the cracks after a 5-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and died last year after living in a homeless camp.Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a member of the Senate committee that oversees public health and welfare, said she knew of two more foster care kids who had died this month, though she did not provide other details.Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, asked Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard to give an estimate of how many foster children have died over the past year, as well as more details about the death of the 5-year-old, a case that sparked widespread outrage over system failures.&nbsp;“When will we find out more information about the little five-year-old here in Topeka that was murdered, living in a tent home and that trail of contacted, not contacted, touched, not touched as far as with law enforcement or with DCF?” Baumgardner asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;A department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to Reflector inquiry on the number of foster care deaths.&nbsp;In October, the five-year-old was found at a gas station in southeast Topeka, sexually assaulted and with life-threatening injuries. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment but died shortly after. Her former neighbors said she had been living in a homeless camp at the time of her death, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2023/10/05/zoey-felix-former-topeka-home-city-evergy-utilities-shut-off/71061637007/">Topeka Capital-Journal reported</a>.&nbsp;The state’s child welfare agency received multiple reports asking the state to look into her case before her death. The Kansas Reflector obtained a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/10/18/kansas-dcf-received-nine-reports-including-allegations-of-drug-use-before-death-of-5-year-old/">summary of the reports</a>, showing five home visits and a phone call from department officials. The reports, which ranged from September 2022&nbsp; to little more than a month before her death, warned that the child wasn’t supervised, was living in a home without utilities and was around drugs, among other allegations.&nbsp;Howard said she could not release many of the details publicly due to state statute, but said the agency has implemented policy changes such as requiring tighter time frames for workers to contact law enforcement if they aren’t able to reach families, along with supporting legislation that would allow more public release of data in cases such as these.&nbsp;Beyond keeping children physically safe, other questions for the department focused on how to help them after they become young adults.&nbsp;Sen. Chase Blasi, R-Wichita, said he wanted to ensure youths leaving the system had adequate resources.&nbsp;“What steps are we doing or can we do to ensure kids who are aging out of foster care don’t just go to the streets?” Blasi said. “Ultimately that is a very horrific thing to do in a first world country. I mean, I hope that something that’s not something we can do to help address that.”&nbsp;Howard said there were housing partnerships and subsidies to help youths exiting the system, but her agency was working on the best ways to engage this population.&nbsp;“How do we best support them in understanding that these resources that are available to them aren’t about trying to control them or keep them in a system or anything like that” Howard said.&nbsp; “This is about giving them the opportunity to be successful as they leave the system. And, again, we do have fairly robust supports, I think the issue is engagement.”

Kansas DCF questioned on transparency, resources for youths aging out of system

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it's nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, a sign that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. But the Fed also signaled that the first rate cut is likely months away.

The central bank kept its key rate unchanged at about 5.4%, a 22-year high. In a statement, it marked a policy shift by dropping previous wording that had said it was still considering further rate hikes.

Still, the Fed cautioned that it "does not expect it will be appropriate" to cut rates "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably" to its 2% target. That suggests that a rate reduction is unlikely at its next meeting in March.

"I don't think it's likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting" to start cutting rates, Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.

The overall changes to the Fed's statement Wednesday — compared with its last meeting in December — show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions while still maintaining flexibility. In December, the officials had signaled that they expected to carry out three quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. Yet they have said little about when those cuts might begin. Senior officials have stressed that the Fed will proceed cautiously.

The central bank's message — that it's edging closer to cutting rates but not planning to do so anytime soon — disappointed traders on Wall Street. Stock prices fell broadly after the statement was released and while Powell addressed reporters.

The change in the Fed's stance comes as the economy is showing surprising durability after a series of 11 rate hikes helped drastically slow inflation, which had hit a four-decade high 18 months ago. Over the past six months, prices have risen at an annual rate of just below 2%, consistent with the Fed's target level, according to its preferred inflation gauge. And growth remains healthy. In the final three months of last year, the economy expanded at a 3.3% annual rate, the government said last week.

The Fed is assessing inflation and the economy at a time when the intensifying presidential campaign is pivoting in no small part on voters' perceptions of President Joe Biden's economic stewardship. Republicans in Congress have attacked Biden over the high inflation that gripped the nation beginning in 2021 as the economy emerged from recession. But the latest economic data — ranging from steady consumer spending to solid job growth to the slowdown in inflation — has been bolstering consumer confidence.

At his news conference, Powell said the Fed welcomes signs of economic strength. But he said the policymakers are seeking further evidence of a sustained slowdown in inflation.

"We want to see strong growth and a strong labor market," the Fed chair said. "We're looking for inflation to come down, as it has been coming down for the last six months."

Most economists have said they expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. Rate cuts would eventually lead to lower borrowing costs for America's consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.

A year ago, many analysts were predicting that widespread layoffs and sharply higher unemployment would be needed to cool the economy and curb inflation. Yet job growth has been steady. The unemployment rate, at 3.7%, isn't far above a half-century low.

Labor costs are easing, too. On Wednesday, the government reported that pay and benefits for America's workers, which accelerated in 2022, grew in the final three months of 2023 at the slowest pace in 2 1/2 years.

The Fed appears on the verge of achieving a rare "soft landing," in which it manages to conquer high inflation without causing a recession. Should the pace of economic growth strengthen, though, it could complicate the challenge for the Fed. A much faster expansion, especially one fueled by rate cuts, could potentially re-ignite inflation.

On the other hand, any evidence that the economy is slowing appreciably would likely accelerate the Fed's timetable for rate cuts. And indeed, some cracks in the job market have begun to emerge and, if they worsen, could spur the Fed to cut rates quickly.

"If we saw an unexpected weakening in the labor market, that would certainly weigh on cutting sooner," Powell said at his news conference. "If we saw inflation being stickier or higher, it would argue for moving later."

Asked whether he thought the Fed has already achieved a soft landing, Powell suggested it would be premature to say so.

"We have a ways to go," he said. "Core inflation is still well above target on a 12-month basis. Certainly, I'm encouraged and we're encouraged by the progress, but we're not declaring victory at this point. We think we have a ways to go."

For several months, most of the nation's job growth has occurred in just a few sectors — health care, government and hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Any weakening in those areas of the economy could threaten hiring and the overall expansion.

A report Tuesday showed that the number of workers who quit in December reached its lowest level in three years. That suggested that fewer Americans are being recruited for new, higher-paying jobs or are willing to search for and take new positions. Though quits remain at a level consistent with a solid job market, they have fallen about one-third from their peak in mid-2022.

Still, the U.S. economy is outdoing its counterparts overseas. During the October-December quarter, the 20 countries that share the euro currency barely avoided a recession, posting essentially no growth. Still, as in the United States, unemployment is very low in the euro area, and inflation has slowed to a 2.9% annual rate. Though the European Central Bank could cut rates as soon as April, many economists think that might not happen until June.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it's nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, a sign that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. But the Fed also signaled that the first rate cut is likely months away.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;We believe that our policy rate is likely at its peak for this tightening cycle and that if the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/yAfZAciDHG">pic.twitter.com/yAfZAciDHG</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752782457072431479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The central bank kept its key rate unchanged at about 5.4%, a 22-year high. In a statement, it marked a policy shift by dropping previous wording that had said it was still considering further rate hikes.Still, the Fed cautioned that it "does not expect it will be appropriate" to cut rates "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably" to its 2% target. That suggests that a rate reduction is unlikely at its next meeting in March."I don't think it's likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting" to start cutting rates, Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.The overall changes to the Fed's statement Wednesday — compared with its last meeting in December — show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions while still maintaining flexibility. In December, the officials had signaled that they expected to carry out three quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. Yet they have said little about when those cuts might begin. Senior officials have stressed that the Fed will proceed cautiously.The central bank's message — that it's edging closer to cutting rates but not planning to do so anytime soon — disappointed traders on Wall Street. Stock prices fell broadly after the statement was released and while Powell addressed reporters.The change in the Fed's stance comes as the economy is showing surprising durability after a series of 11 rate hikes helped drastically slow inflation, which had hit a four-decade high 18 months ago. Over the past six months, prices have risen at an annual rate of just below 2%, consistent with the Fed's target level, according to its preferred inflation gauge. And growth remains healthy. In the final three months of last year, the economy expanded at a 3.3% annual rate, the government said last week.The Fed is assessing inflation and the economy at a time when the intensifying presidential campaign is pivoting in no small part on voters' perceptions of President Joe Biden's economic stewardship. Republicans in Congress have attacked Biden over the high inflation that gripped the nation beginning in 2021 as the economy emerged from recession. But the latest economic data — ranging from steady consumer spending to solid job growth to the slowdown in inflation — has been bolstering consumer confidence.At his news conference, Powell said the Fed welcomes signs of economic strength. But he said the policymakers are seeking further evidence of a sustained slowdown in inflation."We want to see strong growth and a strong labor market," the Fed chair said. "We're looking for inflation to come down, as it has been coming down for the last six months."Most economists have said they expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. Rate cuts would eventually lead to lower borrowing costs for America's consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.A year ago, many analysts were predicting that widespread layoffs and sharply higher unemployment would be needed to cool the economy and curb inflation. Yet job growth has been steady. The unemployment rate, at 3.7%, isn't far above a half-century low.Labor costs are easing, too. On Wednesday, the government reported that pay and benefits for America's workers, which accelerated in 2022, grew in the final three months of 2023 at the slowest pace in 2 1/2 years.The Fed appears on the verge of achieving a rare "soft landing," in which it manages to conquer high inflation without causing a recession. Should the pace of economic growth strengthen, though, it could complicate the challenge for the Fed. A much faster expansion, especially one fueled by rate cuts, could potentially re-ignite inflation.On the other hand, any evidence that the economy is slowing appreciably would likely accelerate the Fed's timetable for rate cuts. And indeed, some cracks in the job market have begun to emerge and, if they worsen, could spur the Fed to cut rates quickly."If we saw an unexpected weakening in the labor market, that would certainly weigh on cutting sooner," Powell said at his news conference. "If we saw inflation being stickier or higher, it would argue for moving later."Asked whether he thought the Fed has already achieved a soft landing, Powell suggested it would be premature to say so."We have a ways to go," he said. "Core inflation is still well above target on a 12-month basis. Certainly, I'm encouraged and we're encouraged by the progress, but we're not declaring victory at this point. We think we have a ways to go."For several months, most of the nation's job growth has occurred in just a few sectors — health care, government and hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Any weakening in those areas of the economy could threaten hiring and the overall expansion.A report Tuesday showed that the number of workers who quit in December reached its lowest level in three years. That suggested that fewer Americans are being recruited for new, higher-paying jobs or are willing to search for and take new positions. Though quits remain at a level consistent with a solid job market, they have fallen about one-third from their peak in mid-2022.Still, the U.S. economy is outdoing its counterparts overseas. During the October-December quarter, the 20 countries that share the euro currency barely avoided a recession, posting essentially no growth. Still, as in the United States, unemployment is very low in the euro area, and inflation has slowed to a 2.9% annual rate. Though the European Central Bank could cut rates as soon as April, many economists think that might not happen until June.

Bad news for borrowers: Interest rate cuts still months away

Irene Marie (Stremel) Foster, Grainfield, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, in Hays, Kansas surrounded by her loving family. Irene was born October 30, 1945, in Hays, Kansas to Edward (Ed) and Isabel (Schuckman) Stremel. Irene attended and graduated from Schoenchen High School, Schoenchen, Kansas. She married James L. Ross and later married Morris Ray Foster in in Canton, Georgia in1984.

After graduating from high school, Irene was employed at TEMPO and at TRAVENOL in Hays, Kansas. She later moved to Georgia and was employed by Lockheed Martin, Marietta, Georgia. She then worked for and retired from Northwest Airlines, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She belonged to the Grainfield American Legion Auxiliary Post 301, was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield, Kansas and St Agnes Catholic Ladies Guild, a lifetime member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Elk Foundation committee member. Irene loved working with her arts and crafts, especially her stained -glass projects. Camping, traveling, and volunteering were some of her favorite things to do. Most of all, Irene loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Irene is preceded in death by Morris Foster, her spouse of 32 years; parents, Ed and Isabel Stremel; and brother, John Stremel.

She leaves to mourn her passing, two sons, Jeff Ross of Fairmont, Nebraska and Dale Ross of Auburn, Washington; granddaughter, Jenna Ginther and husband Cory; grandson, Randy Ross of Amarillo, Texas; great-grandsons, Jacob, Jeremiah, and Justan Fox; great granddaughter, Jaelyn Ginther; sister, Esther Schaffer; two brothers, Ed Stremel and wife Mary of Olathe, Kansas and Mike Stremel and wife Lori of Hays; sister-in-law, Claudia Stremel and companion, Arlyn Wasinger; and many special nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Thursday, February 1, 2024, 10:00 AM, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Wakeeney, Kansas. Interment will immediately follow the service in the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Wakeeney, Kansas. Visitation will be held at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a Vigil service starting at 7:00 PM. Family will greet friends from 6:00 PM-7:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Grainfield American Legion Post 301 or St. Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield, Kansas. Memorials may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of caring and comfort may be left at mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

Irene Marie (Stremel) Foster, Grainfield, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, in Hays, Kansas surrounded by her loving family. Irene was born October 30, 1945, in Hays, Kansas to Edward (Ed) and Isabel (Schuckman) Stremel. Irene attended and graduated from Schoenchen High School, Schoenchen, Kansas. She married James L. Ross and later married Morris Ray Foster in in Canton, Georgia in1984.After graduating from high school, Irene was employed at TEMPO and at TRAVENOL in Hays, Kansas. She later moved to Georgia and was employed by Lockheed Martin, Marietta, Georgia. She then worked for and retired from Northwest Airlines, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She belonged to the Grainfield American Legion Auxiliary Post 301, was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield, Kansas and St Agnes Catholic Ladies Guild, a lifetime member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Elk Foundation committee member. Irene loved working with her arts and crafts, especially her stained -glass projects. Camping, traveling, and volunteering were some of her favorite things to do. Most of all, Irene loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.Irene is preceded in death by Morris Foster, her spouse of 32 years; parents, Ed and Isabel Stremel; and brother, John Stremel.She leaves to mourn her passing, two sons, Jeff Ross of Fairmont, Nebraska and Dale Ross of Auburn, Washington; granddaughter, Jenna Ginther and husband Cory; grandson, Randy Ross of Amarillo, Texas; great-grandsons, Jacob, Jeremiah, and Justan Fox; great granddaughter, Jaelyn Ginther; sister, Esther Schaffer; two brothers, Ed Stremel and wife Mary of Olathe, Kansas and Mike Stremel and wife Lori of Hays; sister-in-law, Claudia Stremel and companion, Arlyn Wasinger; and many special nieces and nephews.A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Thursday, February 1, 2024, 10:00 AM, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Wakeeney, Kansas. Interment will immediately follow the service in the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Wakeeney, Kansas. Visitation will be held at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a Vigil service starting at 7:00 PM. Family will greet friends from 6:00 PM-7:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Grainfield American Legion Post 301 or St. Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield, Kansas. Memorials may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of caring and comfort may be left at mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.