BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — University officials across Kansas celebrated a third year of growing enrollments on Wednesday, even though&nbsp; the future will present more challenges.&nbsp;

“We’re obviously extremely pleased,” said Blake Benson, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. “It’s a third consecutive year of growth, and we’re really glad to see that it’s spread out — the public universities, community colleges and technical colleges are all up, so very, very positive news.”

In general, Board of Regents public universities saw enrollment growth or stayed level. The only drop was at Fort Hays State University, which essentially stabilized with a decrease of 0.2%. Washburn University increased enrollment by 2.3%.&nbsp;

Twelve of 19 Kansas community colleges also posted enrollment growth, although Fort Scott Community College seeing a decreased enrollment of 17.2%,&nbsp;<a href="https://submission.kansasregents.gov/ibi_apps/portal/BIP_Public2/KHEStats" target="_blank">Kansas Board of Regent data showed</a>. All six technical colleges Increased or stayed stable in their enrollment.&nbsp;

Emporia State University saw the biggest enrollment jump this year of 5.8%, a strong recovery after posting losses since 2020. The school increased enrollment by 263 students, for a total of 4,820.

In a letter to students, ESU president Ken Hush attributed the growth to no tuition or fee increase for two years, increasing student scholarships awarded by 141%, investment in student activities and more funding from the ESU Foundation, among other factors.

The university&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/former-interim-emporia-state-president-condemns-mass-firing-of-tenured-faculty/">fired tenured faculty</a>&nbsp;as part of restructuring efforts.&nbsp;

“When we began our transformation, we predicted changes in our enrollment as we took on the challenges facing our university, with the prediction for fall 2025 holding stable after some initial decreases,” Hush wrote, adding he was pleased to instead post a 6% increase.

Kansas State and Wichita State increased enrollment at about the same rate, 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively.&nbsp; The University of Kansas posted a 1.2% increase, while the University of Kansas Medical Center enrollment increased 1.9%.

“We’ve been working diligently on a strategic enrollment plan, and we’re really seeing the fruits of the labor across campus and have had some of the largest enrollment gains that we’ve seen,” said Karen Goos, K-State’s vice provost for enrollment management.

Freshmen enrollment numbers were up 7.5% this year, she said. Growth is occurring with both new students and retention of current students, Goos added.&nbsp;

Scott Cason, Fort Hays State University spokesman, said the school’s on-campus enrollment increased by 2% this year and the number of new undergraduate students attending the school grew by 9%.&nbsp;

“Our residence halls are in full capacity right now,” he said. “We haven’t seen that in a long time. It shows you that the on-campus experience is still a draw, even in times where there have been increasing questions about the perception of the value of the college degree.”

The school did see a small decrease in international students and in general in online enrollment, Cason said. Once dominating among Kansas schools in online enrollment, FHSU has more competition in that arena and experienced a drop after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other schools are reporting decreasing numbers of international students, but that data won’t be collected by the Board of Regents until later in the school year, Benson said.&nbsp;

Cason said Fort Hays State lost only three international students. He attributed that to their diversity of enrollment sources internationally.&nbsp;

“We’re actually up in our early college program that includes our international students. We have partner campuses,” he said, adding that although they have strong partnerships in China, they also draw from Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia and Senegal.

“We haven’t seen the disruption that other schools have seen that count more heavily on traditional international student models,” he said.

Challenges are expected for post-secondary institutions in coming years as the number of students graduating from Kansas high schools will begin decreasing next year. The change is often referred to as an enrollment cliff. In addition, schools are already experiencing decreases in graduating high school students who enroll in higher education, she said.

“What we’re seeing is the percent of students who are having any post-secondary credentials after high school has declined pretty significantly,” Goos said. “We actually have seen an increase of high school graduates. This will be the last year. After this, we will start to decline.”

Benson said the decrease in number of graduating high school students in 2026 is one of the primary challenges facing higher education.&nbsp;

“That’s probably not going to be just a two- or three-year challenge,” he said. “That’s going to be that way for the foreseeable future. That just means the pool of traditional college-age students will continue shrinking, even as the demand for college-educated workers keeps growing.”

That makes it imperative for Kansas to increase the number of students going to college to meet workforce needs, Benson said.&nbsp;

“I think we’ve also got to work to enroll adult learners, including those who may already have some college credit but no degree,” Benson said. “I don’t think that there’s going to be a silver bullet answer to it, but I’m really proud of the steps that the system in our institutions have taken to get ready for those challenges, and I think that we’ll be able to meet them.”

K-State is planning for all those challenges, Goos said.&nbsp;

“We’re just launching a new strategic enrollment plan with the idea of thinking about, how do we move forward with the enrollment cliff?” she said. “How do we position ourselves?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759428178918.png" alt=" Blake Benson, left, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, was pleased to see increased enrollment in Kansas post-secondary schools. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Blake Benson, left, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, was pleased to see increased enrollment in Kansas post-secondary schools. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — University officials across Kansas celebrated a third year of growing enrollments on Wednesday, even though&nbsp; the future will present more challenges.&nbsp;“We’re obviously extremely pleased,” said Blake Benson, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. “It’s a third consecutive year of growth, and we’re really glad to see that it’s spread out — the public universities, community colleges and technical colleges are all up, so very, very positive news.”In general, Board of Regents public universities saw enrollment growth or stayed level. The only drop was at Fort Hays State University, which essentially stabilized with a decrease of 0.2%. Washburn University increased enrollment by 2.3%.&nbsp;Twelve of 19 Kansas community colleges also posted enrollment growth, although Fort Scott Community College seeing a decreased enrollment of 17.2%,&nbsp;<a href="https://submission.kansasregents.gov/ibi_apps/portal/BIP_Public2/KHEStats" target="_blank">Kansas Board of Regent data showed</a>. All six technical colleges Increased or stayed stable in their enrollment.&nbsp;Emporia State University saw the biggest enrollment jump this year of 5.8%, a strong recovery after posting losses since 2020. The school increased enrollment by 263 students, for a total of 4,820.In a letter to students, ESU president Ken Hush attributed the growth to no tuition or fee increase for two years, increasing student scholarships awarded by 141%, investment in student activities and more funding from the ESU Foundation, among other factors.The university&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/former-interim-emporia-state-president-condemns-mass-firing-of-tenured-faculty/">fired tenured faculty</a>&nbsp;as part of restructuring efforts.&nbsp;“When we began our transformation, we predicted changes in our enrollment as we took on the challenges facing our university, with the prediction for fall 2025 holding stable after some initial decreases,” Hush wrote, adding he was pleased to instead post a 6% increase.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759428093235.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State and Wichita State increased enrollment at about the same rate, 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively.&nbsp; The University of Kansas posted a 1.2% increase, while the University of Kansas Medical Center enrollment increased 1.9%.“We’ve been working diligently on a strategic enrollment plan, and we’re really seeing the fruits of the labor across campus and have had some of the largest enrollment gains that we’ve seen,” said Karen Goos, K-State’s vice provost for enrollment management.Freshmen enrollment numbers were up 7.5% this year, she said. Growth is occurring with both new students and retention of current students, Goos added.&nbsp;Scott Cason, Fort Hays State University spokesman, said the school’s on-campus enrollment increased by 2% this year and the number of new undergraduate students attending the school grew by 9%.&nbsp;“Our residence halls are in full capacity right now,” he said. “We haven’t seen that in a long time. It shows you that the on-campus experience is still a draw, even in times where there have been increasing questions about the perception of the value of the college degree.”The school did see a small decrease in international students and in general in online enrollment, Cason said. Once dominating among Kansas schools in online enrollment, FHSU has more competition in that arena and experienced a drop after the COVID-19 pandemic.Other schools are reporting decreasing numbers of international students, but that data won’t be collected by the Board of Regents until later in the school year, Benson said.&nbsp;Cason said Fort Hays State lost only three international students. He attributed that to their diversity of enrollment sources internationally.&nbsp;“We’re actually up in our early college program that includes our international students. We have partner campuses,” he said, adding that although they have strong partnerships in China, they also draw from Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia and Senegal.“We haven’t seen the disruption that other schools have seen that count more heavily on traditional international student models,” he said.Challenges are expected for post-secondary institutions in coming years as the number of students graduating from Kansas high schools will begin decreasing next year. The change is often referred to as an enrollment cliff. In addition, schools are already experiencing decreases in graduating high school students who enroll in higher education, she said.“What we’re seeing is the percent of students who are having any post-secondary credentials after high school has declined pretty significantly,” Goos said. “We actually have seen an increase of high school graduates. This will be the last year. After this, we will start to decline.”Benson said the decrease in number of graduating high school students in 2026 is one of the primary challenges facing higher education.&nbsp;“That’s probably not going to be just a two- or three-year challenge,” he said. “That’s going to be that way for the foreseeable future. That just means the pool of traditional college-age students will continue shrinking, even as the demand for college-educated workers keeps growing.”That makes it imperative for Kansas to increase the number of students going to college to meet workforce needs, Benson said.&nbsp;“I think we’ve also got to work to enroll adult learners, including those who may already have some college credit but no degree,” Benson said. “I don’t think that there’s going to be a silver bullet answer to it, but I’m really proud of the steps that the system in our institutions have taken to get ready for those challenges, and I think that we’ll be able to meet them.”K-State is planning for all those challenges, Goos said.&nbsp;“We’re just launching a new strategic enrollment plan with the idea of thinking about, how do we move forward with the enrollment cliff?” she said. “How do we position ourselves?”

Kansas post-secondary schools see increased enrollment, plan for challenges ahead

Thanks to the Hays VFW Post #9076  Honor Guards for adding the POW flag to the American flag  that they donated for the flag pole at the location of the Bob &amp; Pat Schmidt Community Center on Friday, Sept. 26.

The POW flag was a welcomed addition to complete the pole near the Hays Senior Center new location.



<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759422851072.jpeg" alt="Photo by Guy Windholz/Hays" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Guy Windholz/Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThanks to the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guards for adding the POW flag to the American flag that they donated for the flag pole at the location of the Bob &amp; Pat Schmidt Community Center on Friday, Sept. 26.The POW flag was a welcomed addition to complete the pole near the Hays Senior Center new location.

Hays VFW Post #9076 donates POW flag to Community Center, Hays Senior Center flag pole 

The Hays Post is sharing the Tiger Media Network live-stream for the funeral services for Sgt. Scott Heimann from Gross Memorial Colliseum.

<a target="_blank" href="https://youtube.com/live/A__w6lc5JkY?feature=share">https://youtube.com/live/A__w6lc5JkY?feature=share</a>

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/259a0a4e-7e84-4de0-abd6-7a961ab84091">You can read Sgt. Heimann's full obituary here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759260857096.jpeg" alt="Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann" />
 <figcaption>Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann</figcaption>
 </figure>The Hays Post is sharing the Tiger Media Network live-stream for the funeral services for Sgt. Scott Heimann from Gross Memorial Colliseum.See the link below.<a target="_blank" href="https://youtube.com/live/A__w6lc5JkY?feature=share">https://youtube.com/live/A__w6lc5JkY?feature=share</a>Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, at Gross Memorial Coliseum.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/259a0a4e-7e84-4de0-abd6-7a961ab84091">You can read Sgt. Heimann's full obituary here.</a>

Hays Post to stream Heimann funeral

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bh8WP1mNj/">Watch the Senator's speech to the Senate here.</a>

U.S.Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, gave a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday honoring Sgt. Scott Heimann of the Hays Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday.

"Hays Police Officer Sgt. Scott Heimann tragically died on Sunday while defending his community from harm.  Hays is a small, tight-knit town, and the loss of this young man is deeply heartbreaking for us. 

We will always remember Sgt. Heimann's sacrifice and honor the legacy he leaves behind. My prayers are with Sgt Heimann’s wife, children and the entire law enforcement and Hays community during this difficult time."

Senator Marshall also introduced a Senate resolution to honor the life and sacrifice of Sgt. Heimann. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759423212698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bh8WP1mNj/">Watch the Senator's speech to the Senate here.</a>U.S.Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, gave a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday honoring Sgt. Scott Heimann of the Hays Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday.Moran said in a Facebook post:"Hays Police Officer Sgt. Scott Heimann tragically died on Sunday while defending his community from harm. Hays is a small, tight-knit town, and the loss of this young man is deeply heartbreaking for us. We will always remember Sgt. Heimann's sacrifice and honor the legacy he leaves behind. My prayers are with Sgt Heimann’s wife, children and the entire law enforcement and Hays community during this difficult time."Senator Marshall also introduced a Senate resolution to honor the life and sacrifice of Sgt. Heimann.

Sen. Moran honors Sgt. Heimann on Senate floor 

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has intervened for the first time in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-catholic-durbin-chicago-archdiocese-immigration-af966da9a8483f116d65f494799eba5f">abortion dispute</a>&nbsp;roiling the U.S. Catholic Church by raising the seeming contradiction over what it really means to be “pro-life.”

Leo, a Chicago native, was asked late Tuesday about plans by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich to give a lifetime achievement award to Illinois Senator Dick Durbin for his work helping immigrants. The plans drew objection from some conservative U.S. bishops given the powerful Democratic senator’s support for abortion rights.

Leo called first of all for respect for both sides, but he also pointed out the seeming contradiction in such debates.

“Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life,” Leo said. “Someone who says that ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”

Leo, whose words echoed a common Catholic argument often made in discussions about abortion, spoke hours before Cupich announced that Durbin had declined the award.

Church teaching forbids abortion but it also opposes capital punishment as “inadmissible” under all circumstances. U.S. bishops and the Vatican have strongly called for humane treatment of migrants, citing the Biblical command to “welcome the stranger.”

In his comments about the Illinois dispute, Leo made no mention of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-deportation-ice-chicago-arrests-a09921fedd10489f08a4073abe31345e">a surge of immigration enforcement in the Chicago area</a>.

Still, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in and disputed concerns raised by Pope Leo about the treatment of immigrants, saying that she “would reject there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration.”

The administration, Leavitt said, “is trying to enforce our nation’s laws in the most humane way possible.”

Leo said he wasn’t familiar with the details of the dispute over the Durbin award, but said it was nevertheless important to look at the senator’s overall record and noted Durbin’s four-decade tenure. Responding to a question in English from the U.S. Catholic broadcaster EWTN News, he said there were many ethical issues that constitute the teaching of the Catholic Church.

“I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them but I would ask first and foremost that there be greater respect for one another and that we search together both as human beings, in that case as American citizens or citizens of the state of Illinois, as well as Catholics to say we need to you know really look closely at all of these ethical issues and to find the way forward in this church. Church teaching on each one of those issues is very clear,” he said.

Cupich was a close adviser to Pope Francis, who strongly upheld church teaching opposing abortion but also criticized the politicizing of the abortion debate by U.S. bishops. Some bishops had called for denying Communion to Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights, including former President Joe Biden.

Biden met on several occasions with Francis and told reporters in 2021 that Francis had told him to continue receiving Communion. During a visit to Rome that year he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-joe-biden-g-20-summit-europe-rome-b88497127cc09a79d018cd262b1c41a1">received the sacrament</a>&nbsp;during Mass at a church in Francis’ diocese.

Durbin was barred from receiving Communion in his home diocese of Springfield in 2004. Springfield Bishop Thomas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2001350b11b6466282caf73b671fd861">Paprocki has continued the prohibition</a>&nbsp;and was one of the U.S. bishops who strongly objected to Cupich's decision to honor the senator. Cupich claims Durbin as a member of the Chicago Archdiocese, where Durbin also has a home.

In his statement announcing that Durbin would decline the award, Cupich lamented that the polarization in the U.S. has created a situation where U.S. Catholics “find themselves politically homeless” since neither the Republican nor the Democratic party fully encapsulates the breadth of Catholic teaching.

He defended honoring Durbin for his pro-immigration stance, and said the planned Nov. 3 award ceremony could have been an occasion to engage him and other political leaders with the hope of pressing the church’s view on other issues, including abortion.

“It could be an invitation to Catholics who tirelessly promote the dignity of the unborn, the elderly, and the sick to extend the circle of protection to immigrants facing in this present moment an existential threat to their lives and the lives of their families,” Cupich wrote.

Paprocki, for his part, thanked Durbin for declining the award. “I ask that all Catholics continue to pray for our church, our country, and for the human dignity of all people to be respected in all stages of life including the unborn and immigrants,” Paprocki said in a Facebook post.

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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747390720796.png" alt="FIle photo Pope Leo XIV courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>FIle photo Pope Leo XIV courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has intervened for the first time in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-catholic-durbin-chicago-archdiocese-immigration-af966da9a8483f116d65f494799eba5f">abortion dispute</a>&nbsp;roiling the U.S. Catholic Church by raising the seeming contradiction over what it really means to be “pro-life.”Leo, a Chicago native, was asked late Tuesday about plans by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich to give a lifetime achievement award to Illinois Senator Dick Durbin for his work helping immigrants. The plans drew objection from some conservative U.S. bishops given the powerful Democratic senator’s support for abortion rights.Leo called first of all for respect for both sides, but he also pointed out the seeming contradiction in such debates.“Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life,” Leo said. “Someone who says that ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”<h2>The White House weighs in</h2>Leo, whose words echoed a common Catholic argument often made in discussions about abortion, spoke hours before Cupich announced that Durbin had declined the award.Church teaching forbids abortion but it also opposes capital punishment as “inadmissible” under all circumstances. U.S. bishops and the Vatican have strongly called for humane treatment of migrants, citing the Biblical command to “welcome the stranger.”In his comments about the Illinois dispute, Leo made no mention of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-deportation-ice-chicago-arrests-a09921fedd10489f08a4073abe31345e">a surge of immigration enforcement in the Chicago area</a>.Still, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in and disputed concerns raised by Pope Leo about the treatment of immigrants, saying that she “would reject there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration.”The administration, Leavitt said, “is trying to enforce our nation’s laws in the most humane way possible.”<h2>Pope Leo says mutual respect is needed</h2>Leo said he wasn’t familiar with the details of the dispute over the Durbin award, but said it was nevertheless important to look at the senator’s overall record and noted Durbin’s four-decade tenure. Responding to a question in English from the U.S. Catholic broadcaster EWTN News, he said there were many ethical issues that constitute the teaching of the Catholic Church.“I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them but I would ask first and foremost that there be greater respect for one another and that we search together both as human beings, in that case as American citizens or citizens of the state of Illinois, as well as Catholics to say we need to you know really look closely at all of these ethical issues and to find the way forward in this church. Church teaching on each one of those issues is very clear,” he said.Cupich was a close adviser to Pope Francis, who strongly upheld church teaching opposing abortion but also criticized the politicizing of the abortion debate by U.S. bishops. Some bishops had called for denying Communion to Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights, including former President Joe Biden.Biden met on several occasions with Francis and told reporters in 2021 that Francis had told him to continue receiving Communion. During a visit to Rome that year he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-joe-biden-g-20-summit-europe-rome-b88497127cc09a79d018cd262b1c41a1">received the sacrament</a>&nbsp;during Mass at a church in Francis’ diocese.Durbin was barred from receiving Communion in his home diocese of Springfield in 2004. Springfield Bishop Thomas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2001350b11b6466282caf73b671fd861">Paprocki has continued the prohibition</a>&nbsp;and was one of the U.S. bishops who strongly objected to Cupich's decision to honor the senator. Cupich claims Durbin as a member of the Chicago Archdiocese, where Durbin also has a home.<h2>Senator Durbin declines his award</h2>In his statement announcing that Durbin would decline the award, Cupich lamented that the polarization in the U.S. has created a situation where U.S. Catholics “find themselves politically homeless” since neither the Republican nor the Democratic party fully encapsulates the breadth of Catholic teaching.He defended honoring Durbin for his pro-immigration stance, and said the planned Nov. 3 award ceremony could have been an occasion to engage him and other political leaders with the hope of pressing the church’s view on other issues, including abortion.“It could be an invitation to Catholics who tirelessly promote the dignity of the unborn, the elderly, and the sick to extend the circle of protection to immigrants facing in this present moment an existential threat to their lives and the lives of their families,” Cupich wrote.Paprocki, for his part, thanked Durbin for declining the award. “I ask that all Catholics continue to pray for our church, our country, and for the human dignity of all people to be respected in all stages of life including the unborn and immigrants,” Paprocki said in a Facebook post.___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.

Pope intervenes in US abortion debate roiling the Catholic Church

TOPEKA — Fort Riley announced Wednesday that many civilian employees are furloughed as a result of the federal government shutdown that went into effect at midnight Tuesday.

In a social media post, Fort Riley said email messages and phone calls to affected civilian staff will not be answered and many social media channeled will not be monitored.

More than 15 departments were closed, according to the post, including Public Affairs, Soldier and Family Assistance Center, some child care services, the Recycling Center and the Military Personnel Division administration.

Other departments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FortRiley/posts/pfbid02xtT4ukJa9FxrxzHqVbqTepydihno6fYpaZ5RQmhKhhd9mcAFj3YCEH16ueiroXRcl" target="_blank">are scheduling work by appointment only</a>.

“Those who still report to work are classified as exempt and are generally in the life/health/safety fields,” Fort Riley’s social media posted in response to a question about who is affected. “Those who are not exempt do not report to work until funding is restored.”

A separate social media post referred people to the U.S. Defense Department’s website, which reads: “Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.”

Fort Riley also postponed its Retiree Appreciation Day scheduled for Saturday.

In federal information posted online about the government shutdown, federal civilian paychecks for Sept. 7–Sept. 20 would not be delayed. Those checks generally arrive between Sept. 26 and Oct. 2, the information said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759406650396.png" alt="Fort Riley has closed more than 15 offices as a result of the government shutdown and the furlough of some civilian employees. (U.S. Defense Department)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Riley has closed more than 15 offices as a result of the government shutdown and the furlough of some civilian employees. (U.S. Defense Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Fort Riley announced Wednesday that many civilian employees are furloughed as a result of the federal government shutdown that went into effect at midnight Tuesday.In a social media post, Fort Riley said email messages and phone calls to affected civilian staff will not be answered and many social media channeled will not be monitored.More than 15 departments were closed, according to the post, including Public Affairs, Soldier and Family Assistance Center, some child care services, the Recycling Center and the Military Personnel Division administration.Other departments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FortRiley/posts/pfbid02xtT4ukJa9FxrxzHqVbqTepydihno6fYpaZ5RQmhKhhd9mcAFj3YCEH16ueiroXRcl" target="_blank">are scheduling work by appointment only</a>.“Those who still report to work are classified as exempt and are generally in the life/health/safety fields,” Fort Riley’s social media posted in response to a question about who is affected. “Those who are not exempt do not report to work until funding is restored.”A separate social media post referred people to the U.S. Defense Department’s website, which reads: “Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.”Fort Riley also postponed its Retiree Appreciation Day scheduled for Saturday.In federal information posted online about the government shutdown, federal civilian paychecks for Sept. 7–Sept. 20 would not be delayed. Those checks generally arrive between Sept. 26 and Oct. 2, the information said.

Fort Riley closes 15+ departments, furloughs employees after federal government shutdown

&nbsp;By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler at a Wednesday night vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimann said that his deep faith had been shaken in the wake of the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/259a0a4e-7e84-4de0-abd6-7a961ab84091">Sunday killing in the line of duty of one of his officers</a>.

He added he continued to find comfort in the word of God.

Heimann served on the Hays Police Department since 2016, all of those years under the direction of Scheibler. He was serving as a patrol sergeant when he was killed, having recently been promoted.

Mourners gathered Wednesday night at the Thomas More Prep-Marian grotto for a candlelight vigil for Heimann. Many of them were his peers dressed in uniform. The Kansas Highway Patrol offered a special escort for the family.

"Scott was an amazing and talented man," Scheibler said. "He was kind and compassionate and caring in all that he did. Scott was so smart, so strong. He had an amazing sense of humor.&nbsp;

"If Scott were here, he would tell you he was handsome too," Scheibler said, which brought giggles from the crowd.

He said Heimann could have done anything in the world and been successful. He wanted to be a Hays Police officer.

"He wanted to stand on the wall and protect this community," Scheibler said. "I think it's important that you know that he wanted to protect you."

He said this made him successful throughout his career. Scheibler said he was a strong leader and a mentor for the Hays Police Department.

Scheibler said Heimann joked with him that he was keeping the seat warm for him, as Scott hoped to one day be the chief of the Hays Police Department.

"Scott impacted our community in so many ways," he said, "By reading books to children in the library, giving knuckle bumps as kids walked to school, wrestling drunks in the bar, to responding to the most dangerous threats in our community."

Scheibler's voice began to waver, "During the last few days, as my thoughts dwell on Scott, I'm reminded of the Bible verse Isiah 6:8.

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom should I send? Who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am.'"

"When evil came to our community that night, like so many other times for the members of the Special Situation Response Team, he left his family, he left the comfort and safety of his home and raised his hand and said, 'Here I am.'"

He called Heimann his friend, his brother in blue and his hero.

"... not because of how he fell, but how he lived to serve," Scheibler said. "I find assurance in Matthew 5:9. 'Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called the children of God.'"

He called Heimann the ultimate peacemaker.

"God bless Scott, and may the example of his life bring peace to us all," Scheibler said.

Heimann, 32, was a 2012 graduate of TMP, the Catholic middle and high school in Hays. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays and was noted by many as a devout Catholic.

Fr. Fred Gatschet spoke to the mourners, "This evening we are going to acknowledge the hurt, the sense of loss, the grief, the anger, the frustration with the whole situation. As we go through the vigil tomorrow and the funeral, we will interject more hope and consolation."

Gatschet read Psalm 22, which was the Psalm that Jesus cited when he was on the cross.

The Psalm begins, "My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, my cries of anguish?"

As the Psalm continues, it says, "but you, oh Lord, do not stay far off. My strength comes quickly to help me, deliver my soul from the sword."

He concluded by quoting St. Theresa of Avila, "Let nothing upset you. Let nothing startle you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience wins all that it seeks. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone is enough."

Mayor Sandy Jacobs called Heimann a brave soul who made the ultimate sacrifice.&nbsp;

"On behalf of the city, my fellow commissioners and city staff, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends and colleagues of the fallen officer, Sgt. Scott Heimann. His service and sacrifice serving our community will never be forgotten," she said.

"We stand united with our police department and the entire community as we navigate this really difficult time," she said.&nbsp;

She asked the community to keep all those affected in their thoughts and prayers.

"Scott Heimann was more than just a uniform. He was a protector, a neighbor, a friend, a husband and a father. He was someone who stood tall every day, not knowing what the shift might bring, but always showing up with courage and commitment."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/259a0a4e-7e84-4de0-abd6-7a961ab84091">Heimann is survived by his wife,&nbsp;Beth, and a young son and daughter.</a>&nbsp;His parents and mother-in-law and father-in-law are also Hays residents.

Jacobs continued, "Tonight we hold these candles, not only to mourn and honor, to shine light in the darkness of loss and to say to family and the department and each other, 'You are not alone.'"

"To Scott's family, your pain is unimaginable, and no words can make it easier, but please know, Scott did not serve in vain.&nbsp;

"This city is safer, stronger and better because of his sacrifice. We are forever in his debt," she said.

"To all that are gathered here," Jacobs said, "May this night remind us of the power of unity, the strength of community and the enduring light of service and love."

The vigil was concluded with a song sung by TMP students, followed by a prayer led by Fr. Gatsche.

A visitation for Heimann will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Hays Post will offer a live stream of the funeral in cooperation with Tiger Media Network through YouTube.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759373790773.jpeg" alt="Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler exits the vigil for Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann followed by members of the family. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler exits the vigil for Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann followed by members of the family. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays Police Chief Don Scheibler at a Wednesday night vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimann said that his deep faith had been shaken in the wake of the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/259a0a4e-7e84-4de0-abd6-7a961ab84091">Sunday killing in the line of duty of one of his officers</a>.He added he continued to find comfort in the word of God.Heimann served on the Hays Police Department since 2016, all of those years under the direction of Scheibler. He was serving as a patrol sergeant when he was killed, having recently been promoted.Mourners gathered Wednesday night at the Thomas More Prep-Marian grotto for a candlelight vigil for Heimann. Many of them were his peers dressed in uniform. The Kansas Highway Patrol offered a special escort for the family.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759373963756.jpeg" alt="Members of law enforcement are given hugs after the vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimanm, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Members of law enforcement are given hugs after the vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimanm, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759375077046.jpeg" alt="Officers console each other at a vigil for Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Officers console each other at a vigil for Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>"Scott was an amazing and talented man," Scheibler said. "He was kind and compassionate and caring in all that he did. Scott was so smart, so strong. He had an amazing sense of humor.&nbsp;"If Scott were here, he would tell you he was handsome too," Scheibler said, which brought giggles from the crowd.He said Heimann could have done anything in the world and been successful. He wanted to be a Hays Police officer."He wanted to stand on the wall and protect this community," Scheibler said. "I think it's important that you know that he wanted to protect you."He said this made him successful throughout his career. Scheibler said he was a strong leader and a mentor for the Hays Police Department.Scheibler said Heimann joked with him that he was keeping the seat warm for him, as Scott hoped to one day be the chief of the Hays Police Department."Scott impacted our community in so many ways," he said, "By reading books to children in the library, giving knuckle bumps as kids walked to school, wrestling drunks in the bar, to responding to the most dangerous threats in our community."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759374210478.jpeg" alt="Law enforcement officers leaving the vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement officers leaving the vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Scheibler's voice began to waver, "During the last few days, as my thoughts dwell on Scott, I'm reminded of the Bible verse Isiah 6:8."And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom should I send? Who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am.'""When evil came to our community that night, like so many other times for the members of the Special Situation Response Team, he left his family, he left the comfort and safety of his home and raised his hand and said, 'Here I am.'"He called Heimann his friend, his brother in blue and his hero."... not because of how he fell, but how he lived to serve," Scheibler said. "I find assurance in Matthew 5:9. 'Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called the children of God.'"He called Heimann the ultimate peacemaker."God bless Scott, and may the example of his life bring peace to us all," Scheibler said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759374433450.jpeg" alt="Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler receives a hug after the vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler receives a hug after the vigil for Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759374749420.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Heimann, 32, was a 2012 graduate of TMP, the Catholic middle and high school in Hays. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays and was noted by many as a devout Catholic.Fr. Fred Gatschet spoke to the mourners, "This evening we are going to acknowledge the hurt, the sense of loss, the grief, the anger, the frustration with the whole situation. As we go through the vigil tomorrow and the funeral, we will interject more hope and consolation."Gatschet read Psalm 22, which was the Psalm that Jesus cited when he was on the cross.The Psalm begins, "My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, my cries of anguish?"As the Psalm continues, it says, "but you, oh Lord, do not stay far off. My strength comes quickly to help me, deliver my soul from the sword."He concluded by quoting St. Theresa of Avila, "Let nothing upset you. Let nothing startle you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience wins all that it seeks. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone is enough."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759375201715.jpeg" alt="Kansas Highway Patrol officers stand at attention at the vigil for Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Highway Patrol officers stand at attention at the vigil for Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759375360653.jpeg" alt="Mayor Sandy Jacobs extends condolences to Sgt. Scott Heimann's family and friends at a vigil for the fallen officer on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Sandy Jacobs extends condolences to Sgt. Scott Heimann's family and friends at a vigil for the fallen officer on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Mayor Sandy Jacobs called Heimann a brave soul who made the ultimate sacrifice.&nbsp;"On behalf of the city, my fellow commissioners and city staff, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends and colleagues of the fallen officer, Sgt. Scott Heimann. His service and sacrifice serving our community will never be forgotten," she said."We stand united with our police department and the entire community as we navigate this really difficult time," she said.&nbsp;She asked the community to keep all those affected in their thoughts and prayers."Scott Heimann was more than just a uniform. He was a protector, a neighbor, a friend, a husband and a father. He was someone who stood tall every day, not knowing what the shift might bring, but always showing up with courage and commitment."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/259a0a4e-7e84-4de0-abd6-7a961ab84091">Heimann is survived by his wife,&nbsp;Beth, and a young son and daughter.</a>&nbsp;His parents and mother-in-law and father-in-law are also Hays residents.Jacobs continued, "Tonight we hold these candles, not only to mourn and honor, to shine light in the darkness of loss and to say to family and the department and each other, 'You are not alone.'""To Scott's family, your pain is unimaginable, and no words can make it easier, but please know, Scott did not serve in vain.&nbsp;"This city is safer, stronger and better because of his sacrifice. We are forever in his debt," she said."To all that are gathered here," Jacobs said, "May this night remind us of the power of unity, the strength of community and the enduring light of service and love."The vigil was concluded with a song sung by TMP students, followed by a prayer led by Fr. Gatsche.A visitation for Heimann will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Gross Memorial Coliseum.Hays Post will offer a live stream of the funeral in cooperation with Tiger Media Network through YouTube.

Vigil: Community shaken by officer's death but blessed by 'ultimate peacemaker'

COLBY —&nbsp;Colby Community College posted the highest Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) enrollment increase among all public institutions in Kansas for fall 2025, according to preliminary enrollment reports from the Kansas Board of Regents.

Colby's FTE climbed 10.7% in one year, rising from 899 in fall 2024 to 995 this semester. FTE measures enrollment based on the number of credit hours taken rather than headcount alone. For example, one student taking 15 credit hours equals 1.0 FTE, while two part-time students taking seven and eight credit hours, respectively, also equal 1.0 FTE when combined.

 The state’s fall preliminary report is based on enrollment as of the 20th&nbsp;day of classes and does not include courses that begin later in the semester.

The increase marks not only strong short-term momentum but also long-term growth. 

Over the past five years, CCC has recorded a 16.2% rise in FTE, a significant achievement during a period when many Kansas colleges faced enrollment declines. Taking a longer perspective, the College has posted 12.3% FTE growth over the last decade, the highest among the state’s 19 community colleges.

"Our enrollment growth is a reflection of Colby Community College’s commitment to student success and community partnerships,” said CCC President Dr. Seth Carter. “We remain dedicated to offering high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to all of the students we serve.

With enrollment gains across one-year, five-year, and ten-year trends, CCC continues to strengthen its position as a resilient and forward-thinking institution in Kansas higher education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581529246979.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Colby Community CollegeCOLBY —&nbsp;Colby Community College posted the highest Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) enrollment increase among all public institutions in Kansas for fall 2025, according to preliminary enrollment reports from the Kansas Board of Regents.Colby's FTE climbed 10.7% in one year, rising from 899 in fall 2024 to 995 this semester. FTE measures enrollment based on the number of credit hours taken rather than headcount alone. For example, one student taking 15 credit hours equals 1.0 FTE, while two part-time students taking seven and eight credit hours, respectively, also equal 1.0 FTE when combined. The state’s fall preliminary report is based on enrollment as of the 20th&nbsp;day of classes and does not include courses that begin later in the semester.The increase marks not only strong short-term momentum but also long-term growth. Over the past five years, CCC has recorded a 16.2% rise in FTE, a significant achievement during a period when many Kansas colleges faced enrollment declines. Taking a longer perspective, the College has posted 12.3% FTE growth over the last decade, the highest among the state’s 19 community colleges."Our enrollment growth is a reflection of Colby Community College’s commitment to student success and community partnerships,” said CCC President Dr. Seth Carter. “We remain dedicated to offering high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to all of the students we serve.With enrollment gains across one-year, five-year, and ten-year trends, CCC continues to strengthen its position as a resilient and forward-thinking institution in Kansas higher education.

Colby Community College leads Kansas in enrollment growth

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats kept their promise to reject any Republican spending bill that didn’t extend or restore health care benefits, choosing instead to force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-chuck-schumer-20e54a0f5e4fee909d0f9ea2c07c15e1">a government shutdown</a>. Now they have to figure out how to get out of it.

Just hours after the shutdown began, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that if the Republicans work with them, “the shutdown could go away very quickly.”

But that won’t be easy. Republican leaders — Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump — have said that they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-democrats-health-care-blame-ee852953197b7b59f3447aa3a2167ac0">won’t negotiate or be “held hostage</a>&nbsp;” by Democrats demanding concessions to reopen the government. The bill Democrats voted against was a simple extension of funding for 45 days, legislation they say should be noncontroversial.

While that uncompromising Republican position may not last long — there were some early, informal talks on the Senate floor Wednesday — reaching a deal would be difficult. It’s deeply uncertain, for now, if the two sides could find common ground on health care policy or sow enough trust for the Democrats to change their position.

At the same time, an extended shutdown could be increasingly painful for Democrats. The Trump administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-congress-government-shutdown-99d4cafe53209f6dc6ae5562c2ac79d2">threatened to lay off thousands of workers</a>&nbsp;and target Democratic-leaning states. On Wednesday, the White House announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-new-york-rail-projects-money-withheld-ada494e08ae9ae5269c6ce554ecdbd43">putting a hold on subway and tunnel projects</a>&nbsp;in Schumer’s home state of New York.

“This Democrat shutdown is actually delaying progress on the issues that Democrats claim to be interested in,” Thune, who represents South Dakota, said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

Some wavering Democrats emerge in shutdown saga

Republicans were encouraged Tuesday evening when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-senate-schumer-thune-trump-health-care-b85fe6cdd5d8cdc3e3aa1f4ae889474f">three Democrats voted with them to keep the government open</a>&nbsp;— Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine.

Republicans, who hold the majority, need eight Democrats to win the 60 votes needed for passage in the 53-47 Senate. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against the measure.

Thune is holding repeated votes on the measure, which failed 55-45 on Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning. He said he hopes that five Democrats will eventually feel the pressure and support the bill “when they realize that this is playing a losing hand.”

Republicans are eyeing several moderate Democrats who appeared to be wavering before casting “no” votes on Tuesday night, including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Gary Peters of Michigan. Both voted to keep the government open in March,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-congress-chuck-schumer-government-funding-shutdown-43d1acea20c34ad28d848edc08ad6375">along with Schumer</a>, while many of their colleagues voted for a shutdown.

But Shaheen and Peters each voted no on Tuesday after extensive negotiations with colleagues in both parties on the floor. Shaheen said afterward that “I have been in intensive conversations with colleagues from both sides of the aisle on how to find a path forward and I’m eager to work with my Republican colleagues to find common ground.”

Democrats at a crossroad: To dig in or dig out?

As some Democrats are already looking for a way out, others say they need to dig in and fight.

“As Donald Trump’s lawlessness grows during this shutdown, our spines should stiffen, not bend,” Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said in a social media post on Wednesday. “Let’s stand for something. The American people don’t want us to fund the destruction of their health care and the destruction of our democracy.”

The divisions in the caucus pose a dilemma for Schumer, who was blasted by base voters and activists in March when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. Many Democrats in the House and Senate have suggested that shutting down the government is their only leverage to fight Trump and push back on his policies, including health care and spending cuts.

“Standing up to (Trump) on this is sending a message to him on those other issues as well,” said Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Democrats have demanded that Republicans immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">extend health care subsidies</a>&nbsp;for people who purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The expanded subsidies first put in place in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire at the end of the year, raising premium costs for millions of people.

Many Republicans have said they are open to an extension, but they want to see changes. Other Republicans — especially in the House — see it as an unacceptable expansion of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, which Republicans have tried to eliminate or cut back since it was enacted 15 years ago.

Johnson has not committed to talks on the issue and said, “There has to be reform.”

Obamacare “is a flawed system,” Johnson said on CNBC.

Thune has repeatedly said that Republicans are willing to negotiate on the issue once the government reopens.

Even so, some Republicans began informal talks with Democrats on the Senate floor Wednesday about potentially extending the expanded subsidies for a year and then eventually phasing them out. The idea floated by Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota would likely be rejected by many Republicans, but Democrats said they were encouraged that the two sides were talking at all.

“At least we’re on the same page talking about the same problem,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said after the floor huddle. “So I see that as progress, but it’s a long way from where we have to end up.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdowns-history-schumer-trump-f442ba1392fab3e7cab37756302e829c">Past shutdowns</a>&nbsp;show that it’s hard to win major concessions by closing the government.

In 2018, the government shut down for three days as Democrats, led by Schumer, insisted that any budget measure come with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-immigration-bills-north-america-532fcd6149a34d488723517156c34a55">protections for young immigrants</a>&nbsp;known as “Dreamers” under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. They voted to reopen after then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised only a vote on the issue.

Later that year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">Trump forced a shutdown</a>&nbsp;over funding for his border wall and retreated after 35 days as intensifying delays at the nation’s airports and missed paydays for hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and House Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-general-news-9f568e68401b4695ad8290e89169d9c2">triggered a shutdown in 2013</a>&nbsp;over Obama’s health care law. Bipartisan negotiations in the Senate finally ended the shutdown after 16 days, and Republicans did not win any major concessions on health care.

“I don’t think shutdowns benefit anybody, least of all the American people,” Thune said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759369156073.png" alt="House Minority Leaker Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Schumer following their Oval Office meeting this week-image courtesy Jeffries' office" />
 <figcaption>House Minority Leaker Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Schumer following their Oval Office meeting this week-image courtesy Jeffries' office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats kept their promise to reject any Republican spending bill that didn’t extend or restore health care benefits, choosing instead to force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-chuck-schumer-20e54a0f5e4fee909d0f9ea2c07c15e1">a government shutdown</a>. Now they have to figure out how to get out of it.Just hours after the shutdown began, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that if the Republicans work with them, “the shutdown could go away very quickly.”But that won’t be easy. Republican leaders — Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump — have said that they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-democrats-health-care-blame-ee852953197b7b59f3447aa3a2167ac0">won’t negotiate or be “held hostage</a>&nbsp;” by Democrats demanding concessions to reopen the government. The bill Democrats voted against was a simple extension of funding for 45 days, legislation they say should be noncontroversial.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Even the Democrat-controlled CBO highlights the disastrous impacts of a government shutdown ➡️ costing Americans $400 MILLION A DAY. <a href="https://t.co/3lPyMNBCyY">pic.twitter.com/3lPyMNBCyY</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1973478659664314727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>While that uncompromising Republican position may not last long — there were some early, informal talks on the Senate floor Wednesday — reaching a deal would be difficult. It’s deeply uncertain, for now, if the two sides could find common ground on health care policy or sow enough trust for the Democrats to change their position.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨A statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a> <a href="https://t.co/Wc91BposJE">pic.twitter.com/Wc91BposJE</a>&mdash; Department of State (@StateDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1973520967440969807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>At the same time, an extended shutdown could be increasingly painful for Democrats. The Trump administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-congress-government-shutdown-99d4cafe53209f6dc6ae5562c2ac79d2">threatened to lay off thousands of workers</a>&nbsp;and target Democratic-leaning states. On Wednesday, the White House announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-new-york-rail-projects-money-withheld-ada494e08ae9ae5269c6ce554ecdbd43">putting a hold on subway and tunnel projects</a>&nbsp;in Schumer’s home state of New York.“This Democrat shutdown is actually delaying progress on the issues that Democrats claim to be interested in,” Thune, who represents South Dakota, said on the Senate floor Wednesday.<h2>Some wavering Democrats emerge in shutdown saga</h2>Republicans were encouraged Tuesday evening when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-senate-schumer-thune-trump-health-care-b85fe6cdd5d8cdc3e3aa1f4ae889474f">three Democrats voted with them to keep the government open</a>&nbsp;— Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine.Republicans, who hold the majority, need eight Democrats to win the 60 votes needed for passage in the 53-47 Senate. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against the measure.Thune is holding repeated votes on the measure, which failed 55-45 on Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning. He said he hopes that five Democrats will eventually feel the pressure and support the bill “when they realize that this is playing a losing hand.”Republicans are eyeing several moderate Democrats who appeared to be wavering before casting “no” votes on Tuesday night, including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Gary Peters of Michigan. Both voted to keep the government open in March,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-congress-chuck-schumer-government-funding-shutdown-43d1acea20c34ad28d848edc08ad6375">along with Schumer</a>, while many of their colleagues voted for a shutdown.But Shaheen and Peters each voted no on Tuesday after extensive negotiations with colleagues in both parties on the floor. Shaheen said afterward that “I have been in intensive conversations with colleagues from both sides of the aisle on how to find a path forward and I’m eager to work with my Republican colleagues to find common ground.”<h2>Democrats at a crossroad: To dig in or dig out?</h2>As some Democrats are already looking for a way out, others say they need to dig in and fight.“As Donald Trump’s lawlessness grows during this shutdown, our spines should stiffen, not bend,” Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said in a social media post on Wednesday. “Let’s stand for something. The American people don’t want us to fund the destruction of their health care and the destruction of our democracy.”The divisions in the caucus pose a dilemma for Schumer, who was blasted by base voters and activists in March when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. Many Democrats in the House and Senate have suggested that shutting down the government is their only leverage to fight Trump and push back on his policies, including health care and spending cuts.“Standing up to (Trump) on this is sending a message to him on those other issues as well,” said Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.<h2>The politics of health care</h2>Democrats have demanded that Republicans immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">extend health care subsidies</a>&nbsp;for people who purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The expanded subsidies first put in place in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire at the end of the year, raising premium costs for millions of people.Many Republicans have said they are open to an extension, but they want to see changes. Other Republicans — especially in the House — see it as an unacceptable expansion of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, which Republicans have tried to eliminate or cut back since it was enacted 15 years ago.Johnson has not committed to talks on the issue and said, “There has to be reform.”Obamacare “is a flawed system,” Johnson said on CNBC.Thune has repeatedly said that Republicans are willing to negotiate on the issue once the government reopens.Even so, some Republicans began informal talks with Democrats on the Senate floor Wednesday about potentially extending the expanded subsidies for a year and then eventually phasing them out. The idea floated by Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota would likely be rejected by many Republicans, but Democrats said they were encouraged that the two sides were talking at all.“At least we’re on the same page talking about the same problem,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said after the floor huddle. “So I see that as progress, but it’s a long way from where we have to end up.”<h2>Lessons from the past</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdowns-history-schumer-trump-f442ba1392fab3e7cab37756302e829c">Past shutdowns</a>&nbsp;show that it’s hard to win major concessions by closing the government.In 2018, the government shut down for three days as Democrats, led by Schumer, insisted that any budget measure come with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-immigration-bills-north-america-532fcd6149a34d488723517156c34a55">protections for young immigrants</a>&nbsp;known as “Dreamers” under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. They voted to reopen after then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised only a vote on the issue.Later that year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">Trump forced a shutdown</a>&nbsp;over funding for his border wall and retreated after 35 days as intensifying delays at the nation’s airports and missed paydays for hundreds of thousands of federal workers.Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and House Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-general-news-9f568e68401b4695ad8290e89169d9c2">triggered a shutdown in 2013</a>&nbsp;over Obama’s health care law. Bipartisan negotiations in the Senate finally ended the shutdown after 16 days, and Republicans did not win any major concessions on health care.“I don’t think shutdowns benefit anybody, least of all the American people,” Thune said.___

Democrats voted for a shutdown. Now they have to find a way out

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jane-goodall">Jane Goodall</a>, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, has died. She was 91.

The Jane Goodall Institute announced the primatologist’s death Wednesday in an Instagram post. According to the Washington, D.C.-based institute, Goodall died of natural causes while in California on a U.S. speaking tour.

Her discoveries “revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world," it said.

While living among chimpanzees in Africa decades ago, Goodall documented the animals using tools and doing other activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans, and also noted their distinct personalities. Her observations and subsequent magazine and documentary appearances in the 1960s transformed how the world perceived not only humans' closest living biological relatives but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals, while propelling her into the public consciousness.

“Out there in nature by myself, when you’re alone, you can become part of nature and your humanity doesn’t get in the way,” she told The Associated Press in 2021. “It’s almost like an out-of-body experience when suddenly you hear different sounds and you smell different smells and you’re actually part of this amazing tapestry of life.”

She had been scheduled to meet with students and teachers on Wednesday to launch the planting of 5,000 trees around wildfire burn zones in the Los Angeles area. Organizers learned of her death as the event was to begin at EF Academy in Pasadena, said spokesperson Shawna Marino. The first tree was planted in Goodall’s name after a moment of silence.

“I don’t think there’s any better way to honor her legacy than having a thousand children gathered for her,” Marino said.

Goodall in her later years devoted decades to education and advocacy on humanitarian causes and protecting the natural world. In her usual soft-spoken British accent, she was known for balancing the grim realities of the climate crisis with a sincere message of hope for the future.

From her base in the British coastal town of Bournemouth, she traveled nearly 300 days a year, even after she turned 90, to speak to packed auditoriums. Between more serious messages, her speeches often featured her whooping like a chimpanzee or lamenting that Tarzan chose the wrong Jane.

Tributes from animal rights organizations, political leaders and admirers poured in following news of her death.

“I’m deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Jane Goodall, our dear Messenger of Peace. She is leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity &amp; our planet," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

While first studying chimps in Tanzania in the early 1960s, Goodall was known for her unconventional approach. She didn’t simply observe them from afar but immersed herself in every aspect of their lives. She fed them and gave them names instead of numbers, which some scientists criticized.

Her findings were circulated to millions when she first appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1963 and then in a popular documentary. A collection of photos of Goodall in the field helped her and even some of the chimps become famous. One iconic image showed her crouching across from the infant chimpanzee named Flint. Each has arms outstretched, reaching for the other.

In 1972,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rootsandshoots.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/flo-obituary.pdf">the Sunday Times</a>&nbsp;published an obituary for Flo, Flint's mother and the dominant matriarch. Flint died soon after showing signs of grief and losing weight.

″What the chimps have taught me over the years is they’re so like us. They’ve blurred the line between humans and animals,″ she said in 1997.

Goodall earned top civilian honors from a number of countries. She was awarded the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-medal-of-freedom-clinton-soros-denzel-washington-4b19a363d3058ac3b8107e2002b93651">Presidential Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;in 2025 by then-U.S. President Joe Biden and won the prestigious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jane-goodall-templeton-prize-1ee6d31271e9329799342c0fa8f1e8b9">Templeton Prize</a>&nbsp;in 2021.

“Her groundbreaking discoveries have changed humanity’s understanding of its role in an interconnected world, and her advocacy has pointed to a greater purpose for our species in caring for life on this planet,” said the Templeton Prize citation, which honors individuals whose life’s work embodies a fusion of science and spirituality.

The Humane World for Animals said Wednesday that Goodall’s influence on the animal protection community was immeasurable.

“Her work on behalf of primates and all animals will never be forgotten,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the group formerly the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International.

Born in London in 1934, Goodall said her fascination with animals began around when she learned to crawl. In her book, “In the Shadow of Man,” she described an early memory of hiding in a henhouse to see a chicken lay an egg. She was there so long her mother reported her missing to police.

She bought her first book — Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Tarzan of the Apes” — when she was 10 and soon made up her mind about her future: Live with wild animals in Africa.

That plan stayed with her through a secretarial course when she was 18 and two different jobs. By 1957, she accepted an invitation to travel to a farm in Kenya.

There she met the famed anthropologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey at a natural history museum in Nairobi. He gave her a job as an assistant secretary.

Three years later, despite Goodall not having a college degree, Leakey asked if she would be interested in studying chimpanzees in what is now Tanzania. She told the AP that he chose her “because he wanted an open mind.”

The beginning was filled with complications. British authorities insisted she have a companion, so she brought her mother. The chimps fled if she got within 500 yards (460 meters) of them. She also spent weeks sick from what she believed was malaria.

Eventually she gained the animals’ trust. By the fall of 1960 she observed the chimpanzee named David Greybeard make a tool from twigs to fish termites from a nest. It was previously believed that only humans made and used tools.

She also found that chimps have individual personalities and share humans’ emotions of pleasure, joy, sadness and fear. She documented bonds between mothers and infants, sibling rivalry and male dominance. She found there was no sharp line between humans and the animal kingdom.

In later years, she discovered chimpanzees engage in a type of warfare, and in 1987 she and her staff observed a chimp “adopt” a 3-year-old orphan that wasn't closely related.

Her work moved into global advocacy after she watched a disturbing film of experiments on laboratory animals in 1986.

″I knew I had to do something,″ she said. ″It was payback time.″

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and halted her in-person events, she began podcasting from her childhood home in England. Through dozens of “Jane Goodall Hopecast” episodes, she talked with guests including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, author Margaret Atwood and marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.

“If one wants to reach people; If one wants to change attitudes, you have to reach the heart," she said during her first episode. "You can reach the heart by telling stories, not by arguing with people’s intellects.”

In later years, she pushed back on “gloom and doom” messaging and aggressive tactics by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greta-thunberg-international-news-environment-climate-change-switzerland-ee36c1b18874d3ebec2c743f0968396f">climate activists</a>, saying they could backfire.

Her advice: “Focus on the present and make choices today whose impact will build over time.”

Associated Press journalist Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan; contributed.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/standards-for-working-with-outside-groups/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/discover/Supporting-AP">AP.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759356690455.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>0By HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jane-goodall">Jane Goodall</a>, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, has died. She was 91.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jane Goodall has died at the age of 91. Here&#39;s her receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January. Find all of her C-SPAN appearances here: <a href="https://t.co/9yN0ncolvf">https://t.co/9yN0ncolvf</a> <a href="https://t.co/FPvK99srtp">https://t.co/FPvK99srtp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1973461332411449525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Jane Goodall Institute announced the primatologist’s death Wednesday in an Instagram post. According to the Washington, D.C.-based institute, Goodall died of natural causes while in California on a U.S. speaking tour.Her discoveries “revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world," it said.While living among chimpanzees in Africa decades ago, Goodall documented the animals using tools and doing other activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans, and also noted their distinct personalities. Her observations and subsequent magazine and documentary appearances in the 1960s transformed how the world perceived not only humans' closest living biological relatives but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals, while propelling her into the public consciousness.“Out there in nature by myself, when you’re alone, you can become part of nature and your humanity doesn’t get in the way,” she told The Associated Press in 2021. “It’s almost like an out-of-body experience when suddenly you hear different sounds and you smell different smells and you’re actually part of this amazing tapestry of life.”<h2>Goodall never lost hope for the future</h2>She had been scheduled to meet with students and teachers on Wednesday to launch the planting of 5,000 trees around wildfire burn zones in the Los Angeles area. Organizers learned of her death as the event was to begin at EF Academy in Pasadena, said spokesperson Shawna Marino. The first tree was planted in Goodall’s name after a moment of silence.“I don’t think there’s any better way to honor her legacy than having a thousand children gathered for her,” Marino said.Goodall in her later years devoted decades to education and advocacy on humanitarian causes and protecting the natural world. In her usual soft-spoken British accent, she was known for balancing the grim realities of the climate crisis with a sincere message of hope for the future.From her base in the British coastal town of Bournemouth, she traveled nearly 300 days a year, even after she turned 90, to speak to packed auditoriums. Between more serious messages, her speeches often featured her whooping like a chimpanzee or lamenting that Tarzan chose the wrong Jane.Tributes from animal rights organizations, political leaders and admirers poured in following news of her death.“I’m deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Jane Goodall, our dear Messenger of Peace. She is leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity &amp; our planet," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.<h2>Living among the chimpanzees</h2>While first studying chimps in Tanzania in the early 1960s, Goodall was known for her unconventional approach. She didn’t simply observe them from afar but immersed herself in every aspect of their lives. She fed them and gave them names instead of numbers, which some scientists criticized.Her findings were circulated to millions when she first appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1963 and then in a popular documentary. A collection of photos of Goodall in the field helped her and even some of the chimps become famous. One iconic image showed her crouching across from the infant chimpanzee named Flint. Each has arms outstretched, reaching for the other.In 1972,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rootsandshoots.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/flo-obituary.pdf">the Sunday Times</a>&nbsp;published an obituary for Flo, Flint's mother and the dominant matriarch. Flint died soon after showing signs of grief and losing weight.″What the chimps have taught me over the years is they’re so like us. They’ve blurred the line between humans and animals,″ she said in 1997.Goodall earned top civilian honors from a number of countries. She was awarded the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-medal-of-freedom-clinton-soros-denzel-washington-4b19a363d3058ac3b8107e2002b93651">Presidential Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;in 2025 by then-U.S. President Joe Biden and won the prestigious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jane-goodall-templeton-prize-1ee6d31271e9329799342c0fa8f1e8b9">Templeton Prize</a>&nbsp;in 2021.“Her groundbreaking discoveries have changed humanity’s understanding of its role in an interconnected world, and her advocacy has pointed to a greater purpose for our species in caring for life on this planet,” said the Templeton Prize citation, which honors individuals whose life’s work embodies a fusion of science and spirituality.The Humane World for Animals said Wednesday that Goodall’s influence on the animal protection community was immeasurable.“Her work on behalf of primates and all animals will never be forgotten,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the group formerly the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International.<h2>Charting a course from an early age</h2>Born in London in 1934, Goodall said her fascination with animals began around when she learned to crawl. In her book, “In the Shadow of Man,” she described an early memory of hiding in a henhouse to see a chicken lay an egg. She was there so long her mother reported her missing to police.She bought her first book — Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Tarzan of the Apes” — when she was 10 and soon made up her mind about her future: Live with wild animals in Africa.That plan stayed with her through a secretarial course when she was 18 and two different jobs. By 1957, she accepted an invitation to travel to a farm in Kenya.There she met the famed anthropologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey at a natural history museum in Nairobi. He gave her a job as an assistant secretary.Three years later, despite Goodall not having a college degree, Leakey asked if she would be interested in studying chimpanzees in what is now Tanzania. She told the AP that he chose her “because he wanted an open mind.”The beginning was filled with complications. British authorities insisted she have a companion, so she brought her mother. The chimps fled if she got within 500 yards (460 meters) of them. She also spent weeks sick from what she believed was malaria.Eventually she gained the animals’ trust. By the fall of 1960 she observed the chimpanzee named David Greybeard make a tool from twigs to fish termites from a nest. It was previously believed that only humans made and used tools.She also found that chimps have individual personalities and share humans’ emotions of pleasure, joy, sadness and fear. She documented bonds between mothers and infants, sibling rivalry and male dominance. She found there was no sharp line between humans and the animal kingdom.In later years, she discovered chimpanzees engage in a type of warfare, and in 1987 she and her staff observed a chimp “adopt” a 3-year-old orphan that wasn't closely related.<h2>Becoming an activist</h2>Her work moved into global advocacy after she watched a disturbing film of experiments on laboratory animals in 1986.″I knew I had to do something,″ she said. ″It was payback time.″When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and halted her in-person events, she began podcasting from her childhood home in England. Through dozens of “Jane Goodall Hopecast” episodes, she talked with guests including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, author Margaret Atwood and marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.“If one wants to reach people; If one wants to change attitudes, you have to reach the heart," she said during her first episode. "You can reach the heart by telling stories, not by arguing with people’s intellects.”In later years, she pushed back on “gloom and doom” messaging and aggressive tactics by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greta-thunberg-international-news-environment-climate-change-switzerland-ee36c1b18874d3ebec2c743f0968396f">climate activists</a>, saying they could backfire.Her advice: “Focus on the present and make choices today whose impact will build over time.”___Associated Press journalist Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan; contributed.___The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/standards-for-working-with-outside-groups/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/discover/Supporting-AP">AP.org</a>.

Jane Goodall, the celebrated primatologist and conservationist, has died

By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph Post

Eastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt hopes the country learns something in the wake of the
tragic death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was shot and
killed while taking questions from students at Utah Valley University September
10th.

Schmidt, a
Republican, says he didn’t know Kirk personally, but had followed his work.

“Look, here’s the
bottom line, we all say that we want people who are willing to sit down and debate
with and try to persuade people who have a very different view from them. That’s
the way our self-governing system is supposed to work and that’s what Charlie Kirk
did,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.&nbsp;
“Some people really didn’t like or they really did like it, but at the
end of the day he went and sat down and debated with people who had a different
world view and tried to persuade them and often did. And I think we ought to
celebrate that. It’s the way the system is supposed to work.”

Suspect Tyler
Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder and could face the death
penalty.

By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph PostEastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt hopes the country learns something in the wake of the
tragic death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.Kirk was shot and
killed while taking questions from students at Utah Valley University September
10th.Schmidt, a
Republican, says he didn’t know Kirk personally, but had followed his work.“Look, here’s the
bottom line, we all say that we want people who are willing to sit down and debate
with and try to persuade people who have a very different view from them. That’s
the way our self-governing system is supposed to work and that’s what Charlie Kirk
did,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.&nbsp;
“Some people really didn’t like or they really did like it, but at the
end of the day he went and sat down and debated with people who had a different
world view and tried to persuade them and often did. And I think we ought to
celebrate that. It’s the way the system is supposed to work.”Suspect Tyler
Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder and could face the death
penalty.Schmidt says this
goes beyond the murder of one young man.“So, when he was assassinated,
when he was murdered, you know it was an assault not just on one young man, it
was also an assault on the idea that we want this country to work in a
non-violent way, where instead there’s a clash of ideas and not a clash of
bullets,” according to Schmidt.Schmidt hopes the
country grows from this tragedy.“I hope it’s been
a wakeup call for a lot of people,” Schmidt says. “It’s always easier to sort
of default to the name calling and the exaggeration. It’s harder to have a thoughtful
discussion about issues you disagree on, but that’s what the country requires. It’s
what the people expect. And I hope it’s what’s going to come out of this
terrible, terrible crime.”