WASHINGTON (AP) — Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/rfk">Click here to view the files.</a>

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. Many files related to the senator’s assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government.

“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement.

Gabbard also said the files release “shine a long-overdue light on the truth.”

The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;were disclosed.

Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But he’s also been deeply suspicious for years of the government’s intelligence agencies, and his administration’s release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, commended Trump and Gabbard for their “courage” and “dogged efforts” to release the files.

“Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” the health secretary said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744988598872.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/rfk">Click here to view the files.</a>The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. Many files related to the senator’s assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government.“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement.Gabbard also said the files release “shine a long-overdue light on the truth.”The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;were disclosed.Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But he’s also been deeply suspicious for years of the government’s intelligence agencies, and his administration’s release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI.Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, commended Trump and Gabbard for their “courage” and “dogged efforts” to release the files.“Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” the health secretary said in a statement.

Read the just released files: 1968 Robert F. Kennedy assassination 

ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-trump-biden-meloni-874d84df75e6a73188a38e7551735824">Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni</a>&nbsp;in Rome on Friday for a second day of talks on tariffs and then attended Good Friday services at the Vatican amid speculation of a possible pope greeting this weekend.

“I’ve been missing you,” Meloni jokingly told Vance as he entered the courtyard of Chigi Palace, the premier's office.

They had seen each other just the previous day in the Oval Office, where Trump lavished praise on the Italian leader for her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-albania-migrants-centers-meloni-eu-courts-34d15e7628a6c2fdf20aeb49bcd794f5">crackdown on migration</a>&nbsp;but didn't yield on tariff plans that have increased tensions with the European Union and stoked fears of recession.

The White House and Meloni's office on Friday issued a joint statement that said Trump would visit Italy “in the very near future.”

"There is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe,” the statement said.

Vance having Vatican meetings after tangle with pope

Vance, a Catholic convert, later attended Good Friday services with his wife and three children in St. Peter’s Basilica and was scheduled to meet Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

No meeting with Pope Francis was officially announced and the pontiff didn’t attend the solemn, two-hour Good Friday service or the nighttime Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum. The 88-year-old pope has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-easter-pneumonia-7fc3e1c6ebc191987e7d4c9162bf6a98">cut back his work</a>&nbsp;schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia, and his participation in the weekend’s Easter services is uncertain.

Francis, however, recently met with King Charles III and officials haven’t ruled out a possible audience with Vance, who has criticized Francis on social media in the past, though more recently offered prayers for his recovery.

Francis and Vance have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">tangled sharply over migration</a>&nbsp;and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative U.S. Catholic Church.

Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-theology-migration-e868af574fb2e742c6ed3d756c569769">claimed that Catholic doctrine justified</a>&nbsp;such policies.

Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as “ordo amoris.” He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care — to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his Feb. 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.

“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,” he wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”

Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vice-president-jd-vance-pope-francis-immigration-4f05693320524f9976d3b9ebe31b3f97">acknowledged Francis’ criticism</a>&nbsp;but has said he would continue to defend his views.

“I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” Vance posted on X. “I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.”

Good Friday commemorates Christ’s crucifixion and is marked by the Vatican with a Latin-filled service in St. Peter’s and a nighttime, torchlit procession at the Colosseum.

Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the lone EU leader to attend his inauguration. As the head of a far-right party, she is ideologically aligned with Trump on issues such as curbing migration and promoting traditional values. But Italy and the United States have diverged over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-g7-meloni-putin-ukraine-78cdbaa0d45f9b11a190ee647063eb5f">Meloni's strong support for Ukraine</a>, while Trump's tariff threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests on behalf of the bloc.

A bond market panic led Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">partially pull back on his tariffs</a>&nbsp;by pausing his 20% import taxes on the EU for 90 days and charge a baseline 10% instead. But Trump said Thursday he was in no rush to reach any trade deals.

Vance on Friday reaffirmed the U.S.-Italy friendship and told Meloni that he would brief her on some “interesting” developments in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. “Big trade negotiations” would continue, he said.

Like Trump, Vance seemed dazzled by Meloni's Italian language even though he didn't understand what she was saying.

“Of course, she could have called me a jerk and I wouldn’t know, but it would be in the most beautiful language imaginable, so I wouldn’t even get offended,” he said at the start of their talks.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-trump-biden-meloni-874d84df75e6a73188a38e7551735824">Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni</a>&nbsp;in Rome on Friday for a second day of talks on tariffs and then attended Good Friday services at the Vatican amid speculation of a possible pope greeting this weekend.“I’ve been missing you,” Meloni jokingly told Vance as he entered the courtyard of Chigi Palace, the premier's office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JD Vance and Usha Vance and family attend Good Friday services at St. Peter&#39;s Basilica - The Vatican Rome Italy <a href="https://t.co/Xg8rmsdeCG">pic.twitter.com/Xg8rmsdeCG</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1913390609294828031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SLOTUS</a> attend the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. 🇻🇦 <a href="https://t.co/jgFfoM8Kea">pic.twitter.com/jgFfoM8Kea</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1913252022041670070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Italy Prime Minister Meloni greets JD Vance at Palazzo Chigi Palace Rome Italy <a href="https://t.co/VajQO0Wk7S">pic.twitter.com/VajQO0Wk7S</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1913391657866739778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>They had seen each other just the previous day in the Oval Office, where Trump lavished praise on the Italian leader for her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-albania-migrants-centers-meloni-eu-courts-34d15e7628a6c2fdf20aeb49bcd794f5">crackdown on migration</a>&nbsp;but didn't yield on tariff plans that have increased tensions with the European Union and stoked fears of recession.The White House and Meloni's office on Friday issued a joint statement that said Trump would visit Italy “in the very near future.”"There is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe,” the statement said.<h2>Vance having Vatican meetings after tangle with pope</h2>Vance, a Catholic convert, later attended Good Friday services with his wife and three children in St. Peter’s Basilica and was scheduled to meet Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.No meeting with Pope Francis was officially announced and the pontiff didn’t attend the solemn, two-hour Good Friday service or the nighttime Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum. The 88-year-old pope has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-easter-pneumonia-7fc3e1c6ebc191987e7d4c9162bf6a98">cut back his work</a>&nbsp;schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia, and his participation in the weekend’s Easter services is uncertain.Francis, however, recently met with King Charles III and officials haven’t ruled out a possible audience with Vance, who has criticized Francis on social media in the past, though more recently offered prayers for his recovery.Francis and Vance have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">tangled sharply over migration</a>&nbsp;and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative U.S. Catholic Church.Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-theology-migration-e868af574fb2e742c6ed3d756c569769">claimed that Catholic doctrine justified</a>&nbsp;such policies.Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as “ordo amoris.” He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care — to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.In his Feb. 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,” he wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vice-president-jd-vance-pope-francis-immigration-4f05693320524f9976d3b9ebe31b3f97">acknowledged Francis’ criticism</a>&nbsp;but has said he would continue to defend his views.“I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” Vance posted on X. “I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.”Good Friday commemorates Christ’s crucifixion and is marked by the Vatican with a Latin-filled service in St. Peter’s and a nighttime, torchlit procession at the Colosseum.<h2>Meloni as a bridge between the US and EU</h2>Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the lone EU leader to attend his inauguration. As the head of a far-right party, she is ideologically aligned with Trump on issues such as curbing migration and promoting traditional values. But Italy and the United States have diverged over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-g7-meloni-putin-ukraine-78cdbaa0d45f9b11a190ee647063eb5f">Meloni's strong support for Ukraine</a>, while Trump's tariff threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests on behalf of the bloc.A bond market panic led Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">partially pull back on his tariffs</a>&nbsp;by pausing his 20% import taxes on the EU for 90 days and charge a baseline 10% instead. But Trump said Thursday he was in no rush to reach any trade deals.Vance on Friday reaffirmed the U.S.-Italy friendship and told Meloni that he would brief her on some “interesting” developments in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. “Big trade negotiations” would continue, he said.Like Trump, Vance seemed dazzled by Meloni's Italian language even though he didn't understand what she was saying.“Of course, she could have called me a jerk and I wouldn’t know, but it would be in the most beautiful language imaginable, so I wouldn’t even get offended,” he said at the start of their talks.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

🎥Vice President Vance attends Good Friday service at the Vatican

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nancy Jeter, board member for Women Who Lead, about the nonprofit's sponsorship of Sunrise Park and other projects.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f65fcc68-89ab-4e30-a13f-227e50ebe586">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Sunrise Park improvements championed by Women Who Lead</a>

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Women Who Lead - Sunrise Park" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=4czep-1881a88-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/post-podcast" target="_blank">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nancy Jeter, board member for Women Who Lead, about the nonprofit's sponsorship of Sunrise Park and other projects.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f65fcc68-89ab-4e30-a13f-227e50ebe586">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Sunrise Park improvements championed by Women Who Lead</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: Women Who Lead becomes sponsor of Sunrise Park

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board approved almost $1 million in furniture purchases for the new high school at its meeting on April 7.

The purchases from&nbsp;Circadia are being made with bond funds.

The new school is scheduled to open in August.

HHS Principal Shawn Henderson said staff members had extensive discussions about what furniture should be transferred to the new school and what should be purchased new.

The staff reviewed the budget and the number of rooms that needed to be outfitted, and then determined a budget for each room, Henderson said.

He said you will see some changes in furniture based on the new design of the school.

The science rooms were designed to allow the lab stations to be mobile, rather than built into the wall.

The lab desks could not be moved to the new high school because the ones in the current high school are bolted in place. Those tables will be left in the current high school, which is being remodeled into a middle school.

The science teachers will have built-in lab stations at the front of their classrooms. Other teachers have requested portable, adjustbale lecterns.

Other areas of the school will be outfitted with more furniture from the current high school. Henderson said all of the furniture from the cafeteria, which is two years old, is being transferred to the new school.

New cafeteria seating will be purchased with capital outlay funds for the new middle school.

Soft seating areas where students can meet and collaborate have been added to the new school. Henderson said this is a theme in the school. At the current high school, students often have to sit on the floor in the halls when working on collaborative projects.

The school also features small group rooms throughout its premises.

&nbsp;"It's that constant conversation on how we maximize space with what we have and what we need to purchase," Henderson said.

Board member Derek Yarmer said he wished he had been able to see the agenda item earlier.

Henderson said he and other staff have put extensive time and effort into reviewing the furniture choices to get the most for the dollars spent.

Circadia sells all types of furniture and brands and worked with the school district to select the best furniture for the school at the best price, Henderson said.

"I know you don't have all of that, but from the bottom of my heart, we have dove into this totally and wholistically, brought you this podium that's there. I promise that we were looking through trying to find the best option to put in that bowl," Henderson said.

Yarmer said, "I don't have any reason to doubt you. At the end of the day, we're supposed to look over this stuff to make an informed decision, and I don't think we can actually make an informed decision without just blindly trusting."

Henderson said timing is important, so the items can be ordered, received and placed in time for the school to open in August.

Board President Curt Vajnar said he would also like more time to absorb the purchase of this amount, but he said he understood the timeline.

"Big purchases, I would like to hear about them so we have time to digest them before we have to make that vote," he said.

Vajnar thanked Henderson for all his work and said he thought the bid looked good.

The purchases were approved on a vote of 6-1, with board member Allen Park voting against.

The school board approved&nbsp;$127,812 for 103 flat-panel displays and mounts for the new Hays High building from&nbsp;Kansas City Audio-Visual of Kansas City, Missouri.

The displays will be purchased with bond funds.

Scott Summers said he was trying to lock in the price of the devices as soon as possible to avoid price increases related to tariffs, which could be 10 to 28%.

The screens are wifi compatible and can mirror computer screens, Summers said. The devices will be under warranty.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744917155628.png" alt="Furniture in a typical classroom in the new Hays High School. Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>Furniture in a typical classroom in the new Hays High School. Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board approved almost $1 million in furniture purchases for the new high school at its meeting on April 7.The purchases from&nbsp;Circadia are being made with bond funds.The new school is scheduled to open in August.HHS Principal Shawn Henderson said staff members had extensive discussions about what furniture should be transferred to the new school and what should be purchased new.The staff reviewed the budget and the number of rooms that needed to be outfitted, and then determined a budget for each room, Henderson said.He said you will see some changes in furniture based on the new design of the school.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744917685106.png" alt="Typical lecture classroom furniture. Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>Typical lecture classroom furniture. Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744917235491.png" alt="Typical science room furniture in the new high school. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Typical science room furniture in the new high school. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>The science rooms were designed to allow the lab stations to be mobile, rather than built into the wall.The lab desks could not be moved to the new high school because the ones in the current high school are bolted in place. Those tables will be left in the current high school, which is being remodeled into a middle school.The science teachers will have built-in lab stations at the front of their classrooms. Other teachers have requested portable, adjustbale lecterns.Other areas of the school will be outfitted with more furniture from the current high school. Henderson said all of the furniture from the cafeteria, which is two years old, is being transferred to the new school.New cafeteria seating will be purchased with capital outlay funds for the new middle school.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744917306921.png" alt="Media Center furniture at the new Hays High School. Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>Media Center furniture at the new Hays High School. Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure>Soft seating areas where students can meet and collaborate have been added to the new school. Henderson said this is a theme in the school. At the current high school, students often have to sit on the floor in the halls when working on collaborative projects.The school also features small group rooms throughout its premises.&nbsp;"It's that constant conversation on how we maximize space with what we have and what we need to purchase," Henderson said.Board member Derek Yarmer said he wished he had been able to see the agenda item earlier.Henderson said he and other staff have put extensive time and effort into reviewing the furniture choices to get the most for the dollars spent.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744917531313.png" alt="Commons seating. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Commons seating. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Circadia sells all types of furniture and brands and worked with the school district to select the best furniture for the school at the best price, Henderson said."I know you don't have all of that, but from the bottom of my heart, we have dove into this totally and wholistically, brought you this podium that's there. I promise that we were looking through trying to find the best option to put in that bowl," Henderson said.Yarmer said, "I don't have any reason to doubt you. At the end of the day, we're supposed to look over this stuff to make an informed decision, and I don't think we can actually make an informed decision without just blindly trusting."Henderson said timing is important, so the items can be ordered, received and placed in time for the school to open in August.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744917582895.png" alt="Map of the furniture needs for the new high school. Blue represents new furniture. Yellow represents new and existing furniture and purple represents existing furniture only. Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>Map of the furniture needs for the new high school. Blue represents new furniture. Yellow represents new and existing furniture and purple represents existing furniture only. Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure>Board President Curt Vajnar said he would also like more time to absorb the purchase of this amount, but he said he understood the timeline."Big purchases, I would like to hear about them so we have time to digest them before we have to make that vote," he said.Vajnar thanked Henderson for all his work and said he thought the bid looked good.The purchases were approved on a vote of 6-1, with board member Allen Park voting against.<h2>Classroom displays</h2>The school board approved&nbsp;$127,812 for 103 flat-panel displays and mounts for the new Hays High building from&nbsp;Kansas City Audio-Visual of Kansas City, Missouri.The displays will be purchased with bond funds.Scott Summers said he was trying to lock in the price of the devices as soon as possible to avoid price increases related to tariffs, which could be 10 to 28%.The screens are wifi compatible and can mirror computer screens, Summers said. The devices will be under warranty.

Hays USD 489 spends $1M for furniture for new high school

The Hays school board approved the school fees for the 2025-26 school year at its meeting on April 7.

All fees will remain the same, except for school lunches, which have increased by 5 cents at each grade level, and the afterschool care fee, which will increase from $4 per day to $5 per day.

The district will continue to provide free breakfast for all students.

Board member Allen Park suggested offering a fee discount to families with multiple children. 

Superintendent Ron Wilson said he did not support a fee reduction. The district has had historical fee reductions, and that has decreased the available funds for textbooks and other classroom materials.

With the planned adoption of a new English curriculum, the FY2026 carryover is estimated to be only $6,059, from an FY2025 budget of more than $1.2 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741714465522.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board approved the school fees for the 2025-26 school year at its meeting on April 7.All fees will remain the same, except for school lunches, which have increased by 5 cents at each grade level, and the afterschool care fee, which will increase from $4 per day to $5 per day.The district will continue to provide free breakfast for all students.Board member Allen Park suggested offering a fee discount to families with multiple children. Superintendent Ron Wilson said he did not support a fee reduction. The district has had historical fee reductions, and that has decreased the available funds for textbooks and other classroom materials.With the planned adoption of a new English curriculum, the FY2026 carryover is estimated to be only $6,059, from an FY2025 budget of more than $1.2 million.The full fee schedule is below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744915960859.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays USD 489 approves school fees for 25-26 school year

CLAY
CENTER – The Hays High baseball team lost twice at Clay Center Thursday, 8-7 and
4-0. The Indians have now dropped three-straight and fall to 6-4 on the season.

Game 1: Clay Center 8, Hays 7
 Hays scored four in the first and two in the second to build an early 6-1 lead
but the Tigers answered with five in the fifth to take a 7-6 lead. After the
Indians scored a run in the top of the sixth, Clay Center answered with a two-out
RBI single in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. HHS got a leadoff
single in the seventh but the next three batters were retired.

Brett
Rhoades got the Indians on the board with a one-out RBI double in the first.
Johnny Cano later scored on a wild pitch. Ian McGuire added an RBI single and Bennet
Smith drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Jalen
Smtih drew a bases loaded walk and Rhoades scored on a wild pitch to push the
lead to 6-1 in the top of the second.

Cooper
Johnson had three of the Indians nine hits and had two stolen bases. Rhoades
added two doubles.

Cano
allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with three strikeouts and a walk in
1 2/3 innings relief and took the loss. 

Starter
Trenton Welch allowed six runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts
over 4 1/3 innings.

Game 2: Clay Center 4, Hays 0
 The Tigers scored single runs in the first and second then two in the bottom of
the sixth.

Starter
Jalen Smith allowed two runs on seven hits with a strikeout and walk over three
innings and took the loss.

Cooper
Johnson and Camden Sanders both had doubles and combined for two of the Indians
three hits.

Hays Post SportsCLAY
CENTER – The Hays High baseball team lost twice at Clay Center Thursday, 8-7 and
4-0. The Indians have now dropped three-straight and fall to 6-4 on the season.Game 1: Clay Center 8, Hays 7
 Hays scored four in the first and two in the second to build an early 6-1 lead
but the Tigers answered with five in the fifth to take a 7-6 lead. After the
Indians scored a run in the top of the sixth, Clay Center answered with a two-out
RBI single in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. HHS got a leadoff
single in the seventh but the next three batters were retired.Brett
Rhoades got the Indians on the board with a one-out RBI double in the first.
Johnny Cano later scored on a wild pitch. Ian McGuire added an RBI single and Bennet
Smith drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.Jalen
Smtih drew a bases loaded walk and Rhoades scored on a wild pitch to push the
lead to 6-1 in the top of the second.Cooper
Johnson had three of the Indians nine hits and had two stolen bases. Rhoades
added two doubles.Cano
allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with three strikeouts and a walk in
1 2/3 innings relief and took the loss. Starter
Trenton Welch allowed six runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts
over 4 1/3 innings.Game 2: Clay Center 4, Hays 0
 The Tigers scored single runs in the first and second then two in the bottom of
the sixth.Starter
Jalen Smith allowed two runs on seven hits with a strikeout and walk over three
innings and took the loss.Cooper
Johnson and Camden Sanders both had doubles and combined for two of the Indians
three hits.

⚾ Indians swept at Clay Center

GREAT
BEND – The Hays High girls finished second and boys third at Thursday’s Jack Bowman Track and Field Invitational hosted by Great Bend high school. The girls scored 118.75
points, 43.25 behind first place Andale. The boys scored 120 points and were
three back of second-place Andale and 13 behind first place Bishop Carroll.

The
girls won five events and were led by sophomore Lyndi Zimmerman who broke the school
record in the 100 hurdles (14.57). The previous school record was 14.81 was set by Kristin Fleharty in 2008. Zimmerman now has the fastest time in Class 5A and the second fastest in all classes. She was also on the first-place 4x100 relay along
with Mariah Hallam, Lynsi Kanak and Kamryn McCall. Their time of 49.58 is the second fastest in 5A.

The
other girls first place finishers were Katie Linenberger in the high jump (5-6), Zoe
Winter in the shot put (37-9.50) and Aralen Maupin in the 400 (1:01.96).

The
boys had three first place finishes. Kamani Jones won the high jump (6-4). He finished second in the long jump and triple jump as well as the 4x100 relay. Jack Zeller
won the discus (158-7) and Dalton Meyers the javelin (168-8).

Among
the second place finishes for the Hays girls was Lynsi Kanek in the long
jump, Brooke Bieker the triple jump and Rylen Harrington the javelin.

The boys second place finishes included Jaxson Chartier in the shot put, Taevian
Maupin-Dabney the 400, Bryce Steffan the 300 hurdles and the 4x100 relay consisting
of Holden Lind, Michael Watson, Braxton Basgall and Kamani Jones.

Hays Post SportsGREAT
BEND – The Hays High girls finished second and boys third at Thursday’s Jack Bowman Track and Field Invitational hosted by Great Bend high school. The girls scored 118.75
points, 43.25 behind first place Andale. The boys scored 120 points and were
three back of second-place Andale and 13 behind first place Bishop Carroll.The
girls won five events and were led by sophomore Lyndi Zimmerman who broke the school
record in the 100 hurdles (14.57). The previous school record was 14.81 was set by Kristin Fleharty in 2008. Zimmerman now has the fastest time in Class 5A and the second fastest in all classes. She was also on the first-place 4x100 relay along
with Mariah Hallam, Lynsi Kanak and Kamryn McCall. Their time of 49.58 is the second fastest in 5A.The
other girls first place finishers were Katie Linenberger in the high jump (5-6), Zoe
Winter in the shot put (37-9.50) and Aralen Maupin in the 400 (1:01.96).The
boys had three first place finishes. Kamani Jones won the high jump (6-4). He finished second in the long jump and triple jump as well as the 4x100 relay. Jack Zeller
won the discus (158-7) and Dalton Meyers the javelin (168-8).Among
the second place finishes for the Hays girls was Lynsi Kanek in the long
jump, Brooke Bieker the triple jump and Rylen Harrington the javelin.The boys second place finishes included Jaxson Chartier in the shot put, Taevian
Maupin-Dabney the 400, Bryce Steffan the 300 hurdles and the 4x100 relay consisting
of Holden Lind, Michael Watson, Braxton Basgall and Kamani Jones.

🏃‍♀️ Zimmerman breaks school record, HHS girls second in Great Bend

NEWTON - The Hays High boys golf team finished seventh out of 21 teams at Thursday's Newton Invitational at the Sand Creek Golf Course.

Caleb Thompson led the Indians with a 12-over par 84 and finished in 19th place.

Maize South won the team title with a 322, five shots ahead of second-place Bishop Carroll. The Indians fired a 362.

Garden City's&nbsp;Maddix Shook was individual champ with a 2-over par 74.

HHS Results Caleb Thompson - 84&nbsp; - 19th Cooper Johnson - 90 - 38th Miles Weimer - 92&nbsp; - 44th Mason Simmons - 96 68th

Hays Post SportsNEWTON - The Hays High boys golf team finished seventh out of 21 teams at Thursday's Newton Invitational at the Sand Creek Golf Course.Caleb Thompson led the Indians with a 12-over par 84 and finished in 19th place.Maize South won the team title with a 322, five shots ahead of second-place Bishop Carroll. The Indians fired a 362.Garden City's&nbsp;Maddix Shook was individual champ with a 2-over par 74.HHS Results Caleb Thompson - 84&nbsp; - 19th Cooper Johnson - 90 - 38th Miles Weimer - 92&nbsp; - 44th Mason Simmons - 96 68th

⛳ Indians seventh at Newton Invitational

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a man who was sent there by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportees-el-salvador-contempt-boasberg-da282511ac6f5c8dd19af620995ca440">Trump administration</a>&nbsp;in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.

Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife “to pass along his message of love.” The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.

El Salvador’s Presidnet Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ &amp; ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!”

The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release.

The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">Terrorism Confinement Center</a>, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on.

“They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed," Van Hollen said.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Bukele&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-white-house-el-salvador-kilmar-abrego-garcia-ad338d6b4558a6aba80e8290fd3eece9">said this week</a>&nbsp;that they have no basis to send Abrego Garcia back, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">facilitate his return</a>. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.

Van Hollen’s trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-trump-salvador-due-process-a1265923d0188dc375b01205a0742ac2">Democrats have seized on</a>&nbsp;Abrego Garcia's deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trump's disregard for the courts. Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending him and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news conference Wednesday with the mother of a Maryland woman who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023.

The Maryland senator told reporters Wednesday that he met with Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa, who said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States.

“So today, I tried again to make contact with Mr. Abrego Garcia by driving to the CECOT prison,” Van Hollen said Thursday.

Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia has not had any contact with his family or his lawyers. “There has been no ability to find out anything about his health and well-being," Van Hollen said. He said Abrego Garcia should be able to have contact with his lawyers under international law.

“We won’t give up until Kilmar has his due process rights respected,” Van Hollen said. He said there would be “many more” lawmakers coming to El Salvador.

New Jersey Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823">Cory Booker</a>, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats.

While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">notorious gang prison</a>&nbsp;in support of the Trump administration's efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that he’d visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility “houses the country’s most brutal criminals.”

“I leave now even more determined to support President Trump’s efforts to secure our homeland,” Moore wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepRileyMoore/status/1912289444863828144">social media</a>.

Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that “thanks to President Trump" the facility “now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans.”

The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-maryland-father-deported-el-salvador-6de340ac95f2abb5fd3688fc1679fd66">repeated refusals</a>&nbsp;from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him.

Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants</a>&nbsp;— whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes — and placed them inside the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">maximum-security gang prison</a>&nbsp;just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukele’s broader effort to crack down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-bukele-central-america-crime-gangs-60c3a34c571dfdbdf0a203deb85abf71">on the country’s powerful street gangs</a>, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home.

Human rights groups have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-human-rights-abuses-amnesty-international-bukele-9e6df04aed5b8a21b02e8614b345105a">accused</a>&nbsp;Bukele's government of subjecting those jailed to “systematic use of torture and other mistreatment." Officials there deny wrongdoing.

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a man who was sent there by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportees-el-salvador-contempt-boasberg-da282511ac6f5c8dd19af620995ca440">Trump administration</a>&nbsp;in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. <a href="https://t.co/U9y2gZpxCb">pic.twitter.com/U9y2gZpxCb</a>&mdash; Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/1913034619710034094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife “to pass along his message of love.” The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the “death camps” &amp; “torture”, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!🍹 <a href="https://t.co/r6VWc6Fjtn">pic.twitter.com/r6VWc6Fjtn</a>&mdash; Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) <a href="https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1913028548001923259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>El Salvador’s Presidnet Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ &amp; ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!”The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release.The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">Terrorism Confinement Center</a>, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on.“They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed," Van Hollen said.U.S. President Donald Trump and Bukele&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-white-house-el-salvador-kilmar-abrego-garcia-ad338d6b4558a6aba80e8290fd3eece9">said this week</a>&nbsp;that they have no basis to send Abrego Garcia back, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">facilitate his return</a>. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.Van Hollen’s trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-trump-salvador-due-process-a1265923d0188dc375b01205a0742ac2">Democrats have seized on</a>&nbsp;Abrego Garcia's deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trump's disregard for the courts. Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending him and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news conference Wednesday with the mother of a Maryland woman who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023.The Maryland senator told reporters Wednesday that he met with Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa, who said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States.“So today, I tried again to make contact with Mr. Abrego Garcia by driving to the CECOT prison,” Van Hollen said Thursday.Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia has not had any contact with his family or his lawyers. “There has been no ability to find out anything about his health and well-being," Van Hollen said. He said Abrego Garcia should be able to have contact with his lawyers under international law.“We won’t give up until Kilmar has his due process rights respected,” Van Hollen said. He said there would be “many more” lawmakers coming to El Salvador.New Jersey Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823">Cory Booker</a>, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats.While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">notorious gang prison</a>&nbsp;in support of the Trump administration's efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that he’d visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility “houses the country’s most brutal criminals.”“I leave now even more determined to support President Trump’s efforts to secure our homeland,” Moore wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepRileyMoore/status/1912289444863828144">social media</a>.Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that “thanks to President Trump" the facility “now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans.”The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-maryland-father-deported-el-salvador-6de340ac95f2abb5fd3688fc1679fd66">repeated refusals</a>&nbsp;from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him.Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants</a>&nbsp;— whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes — and placed them inside the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">maximum-security gang prison</a>&nbsp;just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukele’s broader effort to crack down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-bukele-central-america-crime-gangs-60c3a34c571dfdbdf0a203deb85abf71">on the country’s powerful street gangs</a>, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home.Human rights groups have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-human-rights-abuses-amnesty-international-bukele-9e6df04aed5b8a21b02e8614b345105a">accused</a>&nbsp;Bukele's government of subjecting those jailed to “systematic use of torture and other mistreatment." Officials there deny wrongdoing.

Senator meets with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador amid fight over US return

ELLIS COUNTY —Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ian&nbsp;is training his new K9 partner and says that everything is going well, according to social media post from Trooper Tod Hileman.

Ian and the K9 partner have about four weeks training to finish.&nbsp; Ian is trying to find just the right name for his partner and would love your input.&nbsp; &nbsp;Follow Trooper Tod on X and help name Ian's partner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744932945747.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ian&nbsp;is training his new K9 partner and says that everything is going well, according to social media post from Trooper Tod Hileman.Ian and the K9 partner have about four weeks training to finish.&nbsp; Ian is trying to find just the right name for his partner and would love your input.&nbsp; &nbsp;Follow Trooper Tod on X and help name Ian's partner.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">OK, everybody, Trooper Ian is training his new partner and says that everything is going well and they have about four weeks to go. He is trying to pick a name for him and would love your input. Todro was already rejected 🤷‍♂️ Throw out your best suggestions. <a href="https://t.co/EP1Uz6yhva">pic.twitter.com/EP1Uz6yhva</a>&mdash; Trooper Tod (@TrooperTodKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperTodKHP/status/1912990084065849627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

KHP Trooper needs your help naming his K9 partner

DODGE
CITY – The Hays High softball team split their first two games of the Dodge City
Classic at Legends Park. The Indians beat Wichita Northwest 16-0 then lost to
Derby 12-1.

Hays
will play Goddard Eisenhower Friday at 10 a.m. then Maize South at 2 p.m.

Hays 16, Wichita Northwest 0 (4 innings)
 Jaylee Summers didn’t allow a hit as the Indians made short work of the Grizzlies.
Summers stuck out six and walked two in the run-rule victory.

Hays
struck for eight runs in the bottom of the first then added four in the second
and four more in the fourth.

Riley
Dreher, Lanie Becker and Brynlee Rupp all had two hits. Dreher drove in four
runs.



Derby 12, Hays 1 (5 innings)
 The Panthers scored two in the second, three in the third and five in the third.

Hays
committed six errors which resulted in eight of Derby’s runs being unearned.

The
Indians were held to only two hits in the game. Alyse Zimmerman drove in the lone
run with a two-out single in the second inning.

Riley
Dreher allowed five runs (one earned) on three hits over two innings and took
the loss.

Hays Post SportsDODGE
CITY – The Hays High softball team split their first two games of the Dodge City
Classic at Legends Park. The Indians beat Wichita Northwest 16-0 then lost to
Derby 12-1.Hays
will play Goddard Eisenhower Friday at 10 a.m. then Maize South at 2 p.m.Hays 16, Wichita Northwest 0 (4 innings)
 Jaylee Summers didn’t allow a hit as the Indians made short work of the Grizzlies.
Summers stuck out six and walked two in the run-rule victory.Hays
struck for eight runs in the bottom of the first then added four in the second
and four more in the fourth.Riley
Dreher, Lanie Becker and Brynlee Rupp all had two hits. Dreher drove in four
runs.

Derby 12, Hays 1 (5 innings)
 The Panthers scored two in the second, three in the third and five in the third.Hays
committed six errors which resulted in eight of Derby’s runs being unearned.The
Indians were held to only two hits in the game. Alyse Zimmerman drove in the lone
run with a two-out single in the second inning.Riley
Dreher allowed five runs (one earned) on three hits over two innings and took
the loss.

🥎 HHS splits first two games at Dodge City Classic

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire Thursday at Florida State University with his mother’s former service weapon, killing two people and wounding at least six others, investigators said.

Officers quickly arrived and shot and wounded the shooter after he refused to comply with commands, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.

Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, which began around lunch time just outside the student union, sending students and frightened parents hiding for cover in a bowling alley and a freight elevator inside the building.

The shooter, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, is believed to be a Florida State student, investigators said.

He had obtained access to a weapon that belongs to his mother, who has been with the sheriff’s office for over 18 years, said Walt McNeil, Sheriff of Leon County. Police said they believed Ikner shot the victims using his mother's former service handgun.

The two people who died were not students at the university, said Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower, adding that he would not release additional information about the victims.

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital confirmed it was treating six patients wounded from in the shooting, one in critical condition.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus just west of Florida's capital after the university issued an active shooter alert Thursday.

Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the union's lower level after seeing students running from a nearby bar.

“In that moment, it was survival,” he said.

Chris Pento said he and his twins were getting lunch at the student union during a campus tour when they heard gunshots. “It was surreal. And people just started running,” he told WCTV in Tallahassee.

They crammed into a service elevator after encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway. “That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know. It could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

Dozens of patrol vehicles, including a forensics van, were parked outside the student union hours after the shooting. Officers blocked off the area with crime scene tape.

Students and staff who left behind phones, keys and other items in the rush to evacuate waited in the shade and prayed for the victims.

President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office that he had been fully briefed on the shooting. “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place,” he said.

After receiving warnings of an active shooter, students and faculty took cover and waited in classrooms, offices and dorms across campus.

The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?” said Kai McGalla, a sophomore who spoke by phone while locked down at a campus testing center.

Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the main library when alarms went off. Law enforcement officers escorted him and other students from the library with their hands over their heads, he said.

Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.

In 2014, the main library was the site of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1be5cc23a6bf497baaf76e3928145c8e">shooting that wounded three people</a>. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May.

The university canceled all classes and events for Thursday. It also canceled home athletic events through Sunday.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A gunman opened fire Thursday at Florida State University, killing two people and wounded at least five others, police said. The 20-year-old gunman was the son of a sheriff’s deputy whose former service weapon was used in the shooting, authorities said.

The two people who died were not students at the university, but the shooter is believed to be a student, Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower.

Five people were being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Trumbower said, and the shooter was also receiving medical attention.

Students and frightened parents hid in a bowling alley and crammed into a freight elevator inside the student union after hearing gunshots outside the building.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus just west of Florida's capital after the university issued an active shooter alert midday Thursday, saying police were responding near the student union.

After about 15 minutes, university police escorted the students out of the building and he saw a person getting emergency treatment on the lawn, he said.

Chris Pento told WCTV in Tallahassee that he and his twins were getting lunch at the student union during a campus tour when they heard gunshots.

“It was surreal. And people just started running,” he told the TV station.

They packed into a service elevator after encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway. “That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know. It could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

Florida State’s alert system announced about three hours after the shooting that law enforcement had "neutralized the threat." Officials asked students and faculty to avoid the student union and other areas still considered an active crime scene.

Dozens of patrol vehicles, including a forensics van, were parked outside the student union. Officers blocked off the area with crime scene tape.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Multiple victims were reported in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooter-alert-bf66a24ea91959697c7138089b2ef6fb">a shooting Thursday at Florida State University</a>&nbsp;and a suspect was taken into police custody, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known and there were no additional details about the person who was in custody.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-shooting-what-to-know-d444a6ee8f31024f83f0ee320acf7339">Police and FBI were on scene at the university.</a>

Florida State University is canceling classes through Friday, which is two weeks before the university’s scheduled commencement ceremony for graduates on May 2 to 3.

The university’s official finals week per its academic calendar are scheduled to start April 28.

FSU’s alert system announced shortly after 3 p.m. that law enforcement had “neutralized the threat."

Officials are asking students and faculty to avoid the Student Union and several other areas that are still considered an active crime scene. People are otherwise free to move about the campus.

Jake Nair, a senior at Florida State University, was studying in the library when a police officer dashed out of the building, yelling for everyone to stay in place.

“He ran outside with his gun out,” Nair said. “Not all the students heard him, and some of them ran out the back of the library.”

Nair said an alarm in the library then went off and a recorded message warned students to shelter in place because of an active shooter on campus.

Then about five officers came into the library and escorted the students out with their hands up.

“I think they just wanted to make sure none of us had a weapon on us,” Nair said. “To be honest, it was a bit of a surreal moment. It’s the kind of thing you only see on the news.”

The county medical examiner’s office has no updates at this time

An office employee for the Leon County Medical Examiner’s office declined to release information on whether any deaths had been reported to their office at this time, noting that the investigation is still ongoing.

For some Florida State University faculty and staffers who have been on campus for the past dozen years, Thursday’s events brought back memories of another shooting at the school’s main library more than a decade ago.

Three people in 2014 were shot just outside and inside the entrance of Strozier Library in the middle of FSU’s campus. Officers who arrived within two minutes of the first call shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May.

Three bullets struck 21-year-old student Farhan “Ronny” Ahmed, including a shot that severely damaged his spine and left him paralyzed from the waist down. The other two victims were library employee Nathan Scott who was shot in the leg and later released from the hospital and a student who was grazed by a bullet.

May, a 2005 FSU graduate and an attorney, reloaded at least once and tried to enter the library, but was blocked by lobby security barriers. Police responded and fired off a barrage of bullets that killed him.

Videos and a journal obtained by police indicate May thought he was being watched and targeted by the government.

Nearby Florida A&amp;M University cancels classes

Florida A&amp;M University, a university minutes away from Florida State University in Tallahassee,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/FAMU_1887/status/1912936344105410841">announced Thursday afternoon</a>&nbsp;that classes and student activities are canceled for the rest of the day, in response to the shooting.

Employees have the option to work remotely for the rest of the day.

‘We didn’t know — it could get worse, right?’

Chris Pento told Tallahassee TV station WCTV that he was on campus Thursday for a tour with his twins and that they were inside the student union getting lunch when they heard gunshots.

Pento said he and several others crammed into a service elevator after first encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway.

“That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know — it could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened, and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

He said the officers asked if they’d seen anything and then pointed them to safety.

Kai McGalla, an FSU sophomore studying finance and Spanish, was taking a test on Excel spreadsheets at a testing center on campus when he started to hear sirens headed to the student union about a 20-minute walk away. The test proctor told them they were being locked down at the center because of the shooting.