WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing his concerns about the justification for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">military strikes in Iran</a>&nbsp;and saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war.

“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent said in a statement posted on social media, making claims President Donald Trump has denied.

Kent, a former Green Beret and political candidate with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-be616cae0967ca6ee9c78ac1efee8e31">connections to right-wing extremists</a>, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-kent-trump-confirmation-green-beret-extremist-725054a0efb888171d39dccd11af0265">confirmed</a>&nbsp;last July on a 52-44 vote. As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he was in charge of an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.

His resignation demonstrates that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-democrats-oil-midterms-e4919b1a69f90f47f8f61c5967e12fac">unease about the war</a>&nbsp;within Trump's base extends to at least one senior member of his Republican administration.

The leadership change comes at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-iran-terrorism-firings-18d59b0c72ca52db09c8ff03215efe14">heightened concern</a>&nbsp;about terrorism following several recent violent attacks in the U.S.

Justification for Iran strikes at heart of resignation

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-kent-resignation-iran-donald-trump-6d87b1f4852913d7d55ff1f195d7fc87">Kent's decision</a>&nbsp;came down to the reasoning behind the strikes on Iran, he wrote in his resignation letter.

Trump has offered shifting reasons for the strikes and has pushed back on claims that Israel forced the U.S. to act. House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested the White House believed Israel was determined to strike on its own, leaving the Republican president with a “very difficult decision.”

Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said he always thought Kent was "weak on security” and if someone in his administration did not believe Iran was a threat, “we don’t want those people.”

“They’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people,” Trump said. “Iran was a tremendous threat.”

A year ago, in nominating Kent, Trump praised him as a man who had “hunted down terrorists and criminals his entire adult life.”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, whose office oversaw Kent's work, wrote in a social media post Tuesday that it was up to Trump to decide whether Iran posed a threat.

“After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion,” Gabbard wrote in the post. She did not mention her own views of the strikes.

Democrats strongly opposed Kent’s confirmation because of his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. But following his resignation, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Kent's concerns about the war in Iran were justified.

“I strongly disagree with many of the positions he has espoused over the years, particularly those that risk politicizing our intelligence community," Warner said. “But on this point, he is right: There was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.”

Johnson, though, pushed back on Kent's claims at a press conference on Tuesday.

“I got all the briefings. We all understood that there was clearly an imminent threat that Iran was very close to the enrichment of nuclear capability and they were building missiles at a pace no one in the region could keep up with,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he is convinced that if Trump had waited “we would have mass casualties of Americans, service members and others, and our installation would have been dramatically damaged.”

Departure follows three recent acts of violence

In New York City, two men who federal authorities say were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/explosives-protest-mamdani-434928cf6fa8771bc3dfa5c260ee7b03">inspired by the Islamic State group</a>&nbsp;took powerful homemade bombs to a far-right protest outside the mayoral mansion.

In Michigan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-synagogue-attack-fbi-investigation-58331bad2c28e78c6c99a4a764637873">a naturalized citizen from Lebanon</a>&nbsp;rammed his vehicle into a synagogue, where he was shot at by security before he fatally shot himself.

And in Virginia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/old-dominion-university-virginia-gunman-dead-e49b6d42f2b76d2ad92a2ee72833e9ad">a man previously imprisoned</a>&nbsp;on a terrorism conviction opened fire in a university classroom. Officials said the attack ended when he was killed by students.

Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel are scheduled to testify before lawmakers this week about threats facing the U.S., an annual hearing likely to be dominated this year by questions about the Iran war and the revelation that outdated intelligence likely led to the U.S. firing a missile that hit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-minab-girls-school-airstrike-us-israel-c3095dc9729881b567277a1c5c47efb2">an elementary school in Iran</a>&nbsp;and killed more than 165 people.

A veteran and former congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard has previously criticized talk of military strikes in Iran. Six years ago she said that "an all out war with Iran would make the wars that we’ve seen in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic. It will be far more costly in lives, American lives, and American taxpayer dollars — and all towards accomplishing what goal? What objective?”

A spokesperson for Gabbard declined to answer questions about Gabbard's views on the current strikes.

Kent's military background and his personal story of sacrifice made him a compelling figure among Trump supporters.

Before joining Trump's administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state. As a Green Beret, he saw combat in 11 deployments before retiring to join the CIA. He also endured tragedy: His wife, a Navy cryptologist, was killed by a suicide bomber in 2019 in Syria, leaving him with two young sons. Kent, 45, has since remarried.

During the United States’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Kent criticized what he said was a misguided desire for nation building by some in Washington, D.C.

“It speaks to our hubris,” Kent told reporters while campaigning for Congress. “For us not to have learned from all this just shows that there are people making money and making their careers at the other end of it. They’ve been doing it on the backs and dead bodies of U.S. soldiers.”

During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted support from a variety of far-right figures.

Early during his first campaign, Kent acknowledged that a political consultant set up a call intended to broaden his social media reach that was joined by Nick Fuentes, a popular right-wing influencer who has said that Jews are holding the U.S. “hostage” and once proclaimed that “Hitler was awesome, Hitler was right.”

Kent later disavowed those ties and stated that he rejected all “racism and bigotry.”

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent refused to distance himself from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-ap-fact-check-ted-cruz-congress-767d5dad0631f88bb0b10a45115a1bc6">a conspiracy theory</a>&nbsp;that federal agents instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">false claims</a>&nbsp;that Trump won the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.

Republicans praised Kent’s counterterrorism qualifications, pointing to his military and intelligence experience.

Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the Intelligence Committee, said in a floor speech that Kent had “dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Brian Slodysko contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773277596614.png" alt="Operation Epic Fury -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Operation Epic Fury -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing his concerns about the justification for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">military strikes in Iran</a>&nbsp;and saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773765452531.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent said in a statement posted on social media, making claims President Donald Trump has denied.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump on resignation of Joe Kent, Director of National Counterterrorism Center:&quot; I always thought he was weak on security.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/6zZB6fnflT">pic.twitter.com/6zZB6fnflT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2033938685402456305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> on resignation of Joe Kent, Director of National Counterterrorism Center : &quot;I don&#39;t know where Joe Kent is getting his information, but he wasn&#39;t in those briefings clearly...they had exquisite intelligence that we understood this was a serious moment for us.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7FDWfyYmwT">pic.twitter.com/7FDWfyYmwT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2033921004716626391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kent, a former Green Beret and political candidate with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-be616cae0967ca6ee9c78ac1efee8e31">connections to right-wing extremists</a>, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-kent-trump-confirmation-green-beret-extremist-725054a0efb888171d39dccd11af0265">confirmed</a>&nbsp;last July on a 52-44 vote. As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he was in charge of an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.His resignation demonstrates that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-democrats-oil-midterms-e4919b1a69f90f47f8f61c5967e12fac">unease about the war</a>&nbsp;within Trump's base extends to at least one senior member of his Republican administration.The leadership change comes at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-iran-terrorism-firings-18d59b0c72ca52db09c8ff03215efe14">heightened concern</a>&nbsp;about terrorism following several recent violent attacks in the U.S.<h2>Justification for Iran strikes at heart of resignation</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-kent-resignation-iran-donald-trump-6d87b1f4852913d7d55ff1f195d7fc87">Kent's decision</a>&nbsp;came down to the reasoning behind the strikes on Iran, he wrote in his resignation letter.Trump has offered shifting reasons for the strikes and has pushed back on claims that Israel forced the U.S. to act. House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested the White House believed Israel was determined to strike on its own, leaving the Republican president with a “very difficult decision.”Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said he always thought Kent was "weak on security” and if someone in his administration did not believe Iran was a threat, “we don’t want those people.”“They’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people,” Trump said. “Iran was a tremendous threat.”A year ago, in nominating Kent, Trump praised him as a man who had “hunted down terrorists and criminals his entire adult life.”Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, whose office oversaw Kent's work, wrote in a social media post Tuesday that it was up to Trump to decide whether Iran posed a threat.“After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion,” Gabbard wrote in the post. She did not mention her own views of the strikes.Democrats strongly opposed Kent’s confirmation because of his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. But following his resignation, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Kent's concerns about the war in Iran were justified.“I strongly disagree with many of the positions he has espoused over the years, particularly those that risk politicizing our intelligence community," Warner said. “But on this point, he is right: There was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.”Johnson, though, pushed back on Kent's claims at a press conference on Tuesday.“I got all the briefings. We all understood that there was clearly an imminent threat that Iran was very close to the enrichment of nuclear capability and they were building missiles at a pace no one in the region could keep up with,” Johnson said.Johnson said he is convinced that if Trump had waited “we would have mass casualties of Americans, service members and others, and our installation would have been dramatically damaged.”<h2>Departure follows three recent acts of violence</h2>In New York City, two men who federal authorities say were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/explosives-protest-mamdani-434928cf6fa8771bc3dfa5c260ee7b03">inspired by the Islamic State group</a>&nbsp;took powerful homemade bombs to a far-right protest outside the mayoral mansion.In Michigan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-synagogue-attack-fbi-investigation-58331bad2c28e78c6c99a4a764637873">a naturalized citizen from Lebanon</a>&nbsp;rammed his vehicle into a synagogue, where he was shot at by security before he fatally shot himself.And in Virginia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/old-dominion-university-virginia-gunman-dead-e49b6d42f2b76d2ad92a2ee72833e9ad">a man previously imprisoned</a>&nbsp;on a terrorism conviction opened fire in a university classroom. Officials said the attack ended when he was killed by students.Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel are scheduled to testify before lawmakers this week about threats facing the U.S., an annual hearing likely to be dominated this year by questions about the Iran war and the revelation that outdated intelligence likely led to the U.S. firing a missile that hit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-minab-girls-school-airstrike-us-israel-c3095dc9729881b567277a1c5c47efb2">an elementary school in Iran</a>&nbsp;and killed more than 165 people.A veteran and former congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard has previously criticized talk of military strikes in Iran. Six years ago she said that "an all out war with Iran would make the wars that we’ve seen in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic. It will be far more costly in lives, American lives, and American taxpayer dollars — and all towards accomplishing what goal? What objective?”A spokesperson for Gabbard declined to answer questions about Gabbard's views on the current strikes.<h2>A popular figure among Trump supporters</h2>Kent's military background and his personal story of sacrifice made him a compelling figure among Trump supporters.Before joining Trump's administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state. As a Green Beret, he saw combat in 11 deployments before retiring to join the CIA. He also endured tragedy: His wife, a Navy cryptologist, was killed by a suicide bomber in 2019 in Syria, leaving him with two young sons. Kent, 45, has since remarried.During the United States’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Kent criticized what he said was a misguided desire for nation building by some in Washington, D.C.“It speaks to our hubris,” Kent told reporters while campaigning for Congress. “For us not to have learned from all this just shows that there are people making money and making their careers at the other end of it. They’ve been doing it on the backs and dead bodies of U.S. soldiers.”During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted support from a variety of far-right figures.Early during his first campaign, Kent acknowledged that a political consultant set up a call intended to broaden his social media reach that was joined by Nick Fuentes, a popular right-wing influencer who has said that Jews are holding the U.S. “hostage” and once proclaimed that “Hitler was awesome, Hitler was right.”Kent later disavowed those ties and stated that he rejected all “racism and bigotry.”During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent refused to distance himself from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-ap-fact-check-ted-cruz-congress-767d5dad0631f88bb0b10a45115a1bc6">a conspiracy theory</a>&nbsp;that federal agents instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">false claims</a>&nbsp;that Trump won the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.Republicans praised Kent’s counterterrorism qualifications, pointing to his military and intelligence experience.Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the Intelligence Committee, said in a floor speech that Kent had “dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”___Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Brian Slodysko contributed to this report.

Read the letter: US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Amongst a lot of public interest, it's now official that Chick-fil-A is coming to Hays.

Hays city commissioners will look Thursday at a resolution of intent to issue industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) for the developer of a new Chick-fil-A quick-service restaurant at 3404 Vine, the site of the former Rodeway Inn motel, which was closed and razed.

Construction of the $6.2 million project is expected to begin in&nbsp;the second quarter of 2026, following the city commission's approval of the requested incentive. Completion of the restaurant is anticipated at the end of the year.&nbsp;

The specific economic development incentive being requested through the IRB issuance is a sales tax exemption. All purchases related to the construction of the project included in the IRB issuance are eligible for an exemption from all state and local sales taxes.

An IRB issuance does not count against the city’s debt limit or debt rating and does not&nbsp;require taxpayer commitment. Instead, the city acts as a conduit issuer, and payment obligations&nbsp;belong to the developer.

Once construction is complete, the exemption would expire, and all sales and purchases at the location would be&nbsp;subject to regular sales tax collections.

Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, said initial annual retail sales of the restaurant are estimated by the developer at about $5.5 million. At the city's&nbsp;current sales tax rate of 2.25%, that would generate about $123,750 in&nbsp;average annual sales tax revenue for Hays.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773763103628.png" alt="A Chick-fil-A restaurant is planned to be built this year in Hays at 3404 Vine. Courtesy image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A Chick-fil-A restaurant is planned to be built this year in Hays at 3404 Vine. Courtesy image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAmongst a lot of public interest, it's now official that Chick-fil-A is coming to Hays.Hays city commissioners will look Thursday at a resolution of intent to issue industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) for the developer of a new Chick-fil-A quick-service restaurant at 3404 Vine, the site of the former Rodeway Inn motel, which was closed and razed.Construction of the $6.2 million project is expected to begin in&nbsp;the second quarter of 2026, following the city commission's approval of the requested incentive. Completion of the restaurant is anticipated at the end of the year.&nbsp;The specific economic development incentive being requested through the IRB issuance is a sales tax exemption. All purchases related to the construction of the project included in the IRB issuance are eligible for an exemption from all state and local sales taxes.An IRB issuance does not count against the city’s debt limit or debt rating and does not&nbsp;require taxpayer commitment. Instead, the city acts as a conduit issuer, and payment obligations&nbsp;belong to the developer.Once construction is complete, the exemption would expire, and all sales and purchases at the location would be&nbsp;subject to regular sales tax collections.Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, said initial annual retail sales of the restaurant are estimated by the developer at about $5.5 million. At the city's&nbsp;current sales tax rate of 2.25%, that would generate about $123,750 in&nbsp;average annual sales tax revenue for Hays.&nbsp;

It's official. Chick-fil-A coming to Hays

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nancy Jeter, president of Women Who Lead, about improvements planned for Sunrise Park.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Nancy Jeter, president of Women Who Lead, about improvements planned for Sunrise Park.

🎙 Post Podcast: Women Who Lead: Sunrise Park

LYONS, Kan. — The Lyons City Council voted Monday to remove Police Chief Justin Holiday "for cause" following a weeks-long suspension and administrative review.

Following an executive session, the city council approved the decision in a 5–2 vote. Holiday had been placed on suspension on Feb. 17, with city officials stating at the time that the action was “based on the needs of the department and the community.”

City officials extended the suspension by an additional two weeks on March 2 to allow for further administrative review. No specific details regarding the reason for the suspension or removal have been released, with the city continuing to describe the situation as a “personnel matter.”

In the interim, Sgt. Cory Ryan has been appointed acting police chief. The city has also entered into an agreement with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office to assist with law enforcement coverage as needed.

MARC JACOBS Hutch Post&nbsp;LYONS, Kan. — The Lyons City Council voted Monday to remove Police Chief Justin Holiday "for cause" following a weeks-long suspension and administrative review.Following an executive session, the city council approved the decision in a 5–2 vote. Holiday had been placed on suspension on Feb. 17, with city officials stating at the time that the action was “based on the needs of the department and the community.”City officials extended the suspension by an additional two weeks on March 2 to allow for further administrative review. No specific details regarding the reason for the suspension or removal have been released, with the city continuing to describe the situation as a “personnel matter.”In the interim, Sgt. Cory Ryan has been appointed acting police chief. The city has also entered into an agreement with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office to assist with law enforcement coverage as needed.

Lyons city council removes police chief

By BRETT MARSHALL Western Athletic Conference

Lady Indians go 8-0 in WAC, finish 2nd in Class 5A

It was just a year ago that the Hays High Lady Indians made their first appearance in the Class 5A state basketball tournament in 29 seasons.

Their trip to the 5A state was short-lived, however, losing in the opening round to No. 8-seeded and eventual champion St. Thomas Aquinas, 51-48.

Coach Len Melvin and his group of returners made a promise to themselves shortly thereafter that the 2025-2026 season would see them advance further.

Melvin’s squad succeeded in nearly every category and goal as they swept through the Western Athletic Conference with an 8-0 record, the third straight year that they have had an umblemished conference record.

Taking a 21-1 record into the postseason, the Lady Indians came through their sub-state and then eked out a 49-46 victory in the 5A first round over Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel before rolling over Shawnee Heights, 66-41, in the semifinal.

Making their first state championship appearance was a huge step for the Lady Indians only to see their bid for that promised land trophy come up just shy in a heart-breaking 49-48 loss to St. James Academy of Lenexa.

“It’s always tough to lose that last one, especially on the big stage,” Melvin said of his team’s bid for history. “We gave it our best shot and just came up short. I’m certain it will motivate our next year’s team to get back there and finish the job.”

After the successful 2024-25 campaign, Melvin said he needed to upgrade the team’s non-conference schedule to get his team competitive with elite teams. In reviewing the team’s success this season, it is apparent that the ploy worked extremely well.

Early in the season, they defeated eventual 4A semifinalist Wellington and Colorado 5A semifinalist Standley Lake High School of Westminster, Colo. They posted wins in the Rock Creek Invitational over 4A semifinalist Rock Creek, only to lose to 3A state champion Silver Lake. Wins also came against 6A Manhattan and private school power Sunrise Christian Academy.

“No doubt that the schedule helped us to be more competitive,” Melvin said. “We played a lot better teams and that was and will be the focal point for us. Our AD (Chris Drees) did a great job of scheduling for us. I felt good about going to state this year.”

A season ago, Melvin lost all-state guard Molly Martin and center Katie Linenberger to graduation. This time around, he will see six seniors exit the program, four of whom were starters.

That group completed the third consecutive unbeaten WAC schedule, giving them 26 straight conference victories dating back to the final two WAC games of the 2022-2023 season.

With all-state sophomore point guard Jenna Schmeidler as the only underclassman to start, Melvin will have to replace front-court starters Molly Buckles (6-0) and Zoe Winter (5-11), along with guards Annie Humphrey (5-4), Kinslee Newell (5-4). Seniors Rylen Harrington (5-4) and Liz Cunningham (5-5) provided depth at guard off the bench.

“It’s a big group that has had a huge impact on the success of our program for the last four years,” Melvin said. “We’ve done a good job of growing our young talent, and I would guess we’ll have a little smaller lineup. The execution of things will look different, but the philosophy of playing tough defense, sharing the ball, will remain the same.”

While the Lady Indians were dominant in their eight WAC victories (margin of 30 points per game), Melvin says the team keeps the same focus as it does with other teams.

“Our girls have a ton of pride when it comes to the WAC schedule,” Melvin said. “I felt like this year, Liberal and Garden City were good teams and everybody has one or two outstanding players. You just have to stay focused on each game and not take anybody for granted.”

Melvin praised his latest team for the chemistry that it developed among all the players.

“It was an incredibly close group that created a rare environment,” Melvin said. “They cared about each other, and they just wanted the team to be successful. Nobody cared who scored the points.”

Melvin’s junior varsity team will likely have several players step into varsity roles next year after finishing 12-1 in its schedule.

The Lady Indians had an impressive margin of victory, averaging 58.2 points while limiting opponents to 36.2 points. They shot 43.9 percent from the field while holding foes to just 32.1 percent. Their stingy defense forced an average of 17.5 turnovers and they owned a 31.5-21.7 rebounding advantage as well.

“We are fortunate to have a terrific set of coaches working with the younger girls, too,” Melvin said. “We just want to continue to build and have a goal of getting back to the championship game and winning it.”

Melvin was voted Coach of the Year by his peers.

Hays’ Schmeidler steps up role, repeats as WAC Player of Year

When she completed her freshman season as the starting point guard for an elite Hays High School Lady Indians’ basketball team, Jenna Schmeidler was being recognized for being one of the top players, not just in the Western Athletic Conference, but also in the state of Kansas.

The 5-7 point guard was talented enough that it allowed Hays head coach Len Melvin to move then senior all-state guard Molly Martin to the No. 2 shooting guard slot. Success soon followed for both the Lady Indians (22-1 a year ago) and for Schmeidler, the consummate floor general.

In her debut high school season, Schmeidler averaged 15.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. For that, she was voted 2024-2025 WAC Player of the Year. It is believed she was the first freshman to be so honored.

How to follow-up such an impressive rookie high school career. Well, she did just fine. And then some.

Her Lady Indians rolled to a 25-2 overall record, going 8-0 again in the WAC, and reached the Class 5A State championship game against St. James Academy, just coming up short in a 49-48 loss on Saturday (March 14) at Koch Arena in Wichita.

A little more than 24 hours later, on a Sunday evening, she received a text from her coach to notify her that she had once again been voted Player of the Year in the WAC, a conference that includes three Class 6A schools.

“I’m extremely grateful because I couldn’t do it without the help and support of my teammates and coaches,” Schmeidler said in a telephone interview. “I’ve been fortunate to have such great upperclassmen teammates who helped me pick-up things and showed me what good leadership looks like. This year, we had a great group of seniors and they were extremely helpful.”

After her stellar freshman campaign, Schmeidler said she wanted to work on getting physically stronger and just find more ways to help her team.

“She had a year under her belt and she gained so much experience her freshman year,” Melvin said. “Her role was different this year because we had so many more things we needed from her and she delivered.”

Schmeidler said she worked diligently all year between the seasons to work on getting physically stronger and to improve other skills.

“I know by improving my strength that I was able to extend my shooting from 3-point range,” Schmeidler said. “I was able to get my shot off with a quicker release and I think I did better playing through contact.”

Her statistics for the just completed season will back-up those improvements, increasing her numbers in nearly every category.

She averaged 19.9 points and scored a career-high 33 points in one game. She increased her rebounding average to 5.3 and assists doubled from 50 to 110 (4.07 average). She shot 49 percent from the field and connected on 44 percent from behind the arc (77-of-176). She more that doubled her 3-point shots made and attempted from her freshman year.

Adding to her offensive exploits was her deadly free throw shooting, cashing in 92-of-99 charities for an amazing 93 percent.&nbsp;

“I think the game has become more physical and I know I still need to get even stronger than this year,” Schmeidler said. “The summer ball playing with bigger, stronger, older girls really has helped me.”

Schmeidler’s main focus is to create opportunities for her teammates.

“I think I did a good job by creating shots for my teammates and dishing more assists,” she said. “I did a better job of boxing out on defense because our mindset is to get stops. I think I saw the game more in slow motion and that allowed me to make better decisions.”

While coming up short in the state championship game was disappointing, Schmeidler said she and her teammates will use that as fuel to improve and make a run again next year.

“The atmosphere of that game in Wichita was incredible and that’s what I want to experience again,” Schmeidler said. “Our coaches push us to get better and I know that we will continue to fight in each game and support each other.”

Schmeidler said she believes the competition in the WAC also helps her team compete against outside teams as well.

“There’s some great players in the WAC,” she said. “We just focus on taking one game at a time. We respect every team and know that we can’t take a night off. There is a lot of pride for us in representing our community and that was what was so special about this season.”

Schmeidler’s work ethic includes three days per week of lifting, strength and conditioning and at least two or three other days working on specific skills.

“There’s always room for improvement, and that’s my goal,” Schmeidler said.

Joining Schmeidler on the all-WAC first team were seniors Shamari Lewis and Kylie Rhine of runner-up Liberal; teammate Zoe Winter and Garden City freshman Tegan Snodgrass.

The second team was comprised of senior Molly Buckles of Hays; Junior Alex Mayers of Great Bend; juniors Emily Gutierrez and Piper Mellinger of Dodge City, and sophomore Mia Hannagan of Garden City.

2025-26 Girls All-Western Athletic Conference FIRST TEAM Jenna Schmeidler - So. - Hays Shamari Lewis - Sr. - Liberal Zoe Winter - Sr. - Hays Tegan Snodgrass - Fr. - Garden City Kylie Rhine - Sr. - Liberal

Player of the Year: Jenna Schmeidler, Hays Coach of the Year: Len Melvin, Hays

SECOND TEAM Emily Gutierrez - Jr. - Dodge City Mia Hannagan - So. - Garden City Molly Buckles - Sr. - Hays Alex Mayers - Jr. - Great Bend Piper Mellinger - Jr. - Dodge City

By BRETT MARSHALL Western Athletic Conference<h2>Lady Indians go 8-0 in WAC, finish 2nd in Class 5A</h2>It was just a year ago that the Hays High Lady Indians made their first appearance in the Class 5A state basketball tournament in 29 seasons.Their trip to the 5A state was short-lived, however, losing in the opening round to No. 8-seeded and eventual champion St. Thomas Aquinas, 51-48.Coach Len Melvin and his group of returners made a promise to themselves shortly thereafter that the 2025-2026 season would see them advance further.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773745157288.png" alt="Photo courtesy Hays High School" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Hays High School</figcaption>
 </figure>Melvin’s squad succeeded in nearly every category and goal as they swept through the Western Athletic Conference with an 8-0 record, the third straight year that they have had an umblemished conference record.Taking a 21-1 record into the postseason, the Lady Indians came through their sub-state and then eked out a 49-46 victory in the 5A first round over Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel before rolling over Shawnee Heights, 66-41, in the semifinal.Making their first state championship appearance was a huge step for the Lady Indians only to see their bid for that promised land trophy come up just shy in a heart-breaking 49-48 loss to St. James Academy of Lenexa.“It’s always tough to lose that last one, especially on the big stage,” Melvin said of his team’s bid for history. “We gave it our best shot and just came up short. I’m certain it will motivate our next year’s team to get back there and finish the job.”After the successful 2024-25 campaign, Melvin said he needed to upgrade the team’s non-conference schedule to get his team competitive with elite teams. In reviewing the team’s success this season, it is apparent that the ploy worked extremely well.Early in the season, they defeated eventual 4A semifinalist Wellington and Colorado 5A semifinalist Standley Lake High School of Westminster, Colo. They posted wins in the Rock Creek Invitational over 4A semifinalist Rock Creek, only to lose to 3A state champion Silver Lake. Wins also came against 6A Manhattan and private school power Sunrise Christian Academy.“No doubt that the schedule helped us to be more competitive,” Melvin said. “We played a lot better teams and that was and will be the focal point for us. Our AD (Chris Drees) did a great job of scheduling for us. I felt good about going to state this year.”A season ago, Melvin lost all-state guard Molly Martin and center Katie Linenberger to graduation. This time around, he will see six seniors exit the program, four of whom were starters.That group completed the third consecutive unbeaten WAC schedule, giving them 26 straight conference victories dating back to the final two WAC games of the 2022-2023 season.With all-state sophomore point guard Jenna Schmeidler as the only underclassman to start, Melvin will have to replace front-court starters Molly Buckles (6-0) and Zoe Winter (5-11), along with guards Annie Humphrey (5-4), Kinslee Newell (5-4). Seniors Rylen Harrington (5-4) and Liz Cunningham (5-5) provided depth at guard off the bench.“It’s a big group that has had a huge impact on the success of our program for the last four years,” Melvin said. “We’ve done a good job of growing our young talent, and I would guess we’ll have a little smaller lineup. The execution of things will look different, but the philosophy of playing tough defense, sharing the ball, will remain the same.”While the Lady Indians were dominant in their eight WAC victories (margin of 30 points per game), Melvin says the team keeps the same focus as it does with other teams.“Our girls have a ton of pride when it comes to the WAC schedule,” Melvin said. “I felt like this year, Liberal and Garden City were good teams and everybody has one or two outstanding players. You just have to stay focused on each game and not take anybody for granted.”Melvin praised his latest team for the chemistry that it developed among all the players.“It was an incredibly close group that created a rare environment,” Melvin said. “They cared about each other, and they just wanted the team to be successful. Nobody cared who scored the points.”Melvin’s junior varsity team will likely have several players step into varsity roles next year after finishing 12-1 in its schedule.The Lady Indians had an impressive margin of victory, averaging 58.2 points while limiting opponents to 36.2 points. They shot 43.9 percent from the field while holding foes to just 32.1 percent. Their stingy defense forced an average of 17.5 turnovers and they owned a 31.5-21.7 rebounding advantage as well.“We are fortunate to have a terrific set of coaches working with the younger girls, too,” Melvin said. “We just want to continue to build and have a goal of getting back to the championship game and winning it.”Melvin was voted Coach of the Year by his peers.<h2>Hays’ Schmeidler steps up role, repeats as WAC Player of Year</h2>When she completed her freshman season as the starting point guard for an elite Hays High School Lady Indians’ basketball team, Jenna Schmeidler was being recognized for being one of the top players, not just in the Western Athletic Conference, but also in the state of Kansas.The 5-7 point guard was talented enough that it allowed Hays head coach Len Melvin to move then senior all-state guard Molly Martin to the No. 2 shooting guard slot. Success soon followed for both the Lady Indians (22-1 a year ago) and for Schmeidler, the consummate floor general.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773745328424.png" alt="WAC Player of the Year: Jenna Schmeidler, 5-7, Soph., Guard (photo courtesy westernathletics.com)" />
 <figcaption>WAC Player of the Year: Jenna Schmeidler, 5-7, Soph., Guard (photo courtesy westernathletics.com)</figcaption>
 </figure>In her debut high school season, Schmeidler averaged 15.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. For that, she was voted 2024-2025 WAC Player of the Year. It is believed she was the first freshman to be so honored.How to follow-up such an impressive rookie high school career. Well, she did just fine. And then some.Her Lady Indians rolled to a 25-2 overall record, going 8-0 again in the WAC, and reached the Class 5A State championship game against St. James Academy, just coming up short in a 49-48 loss on Saturday (March 14) at Koch Arena in Wichita.A little more than 24 hours later, on a Sunday evening, she received a text from her coach to notify her that she had once again been voted Player of the Year in the WAC, a conference that includes three Class 6A schools.“I’m extremely grateful because I couldn’t do it without the help and support of my teammates and coaches,” Schmeidler said in a telephone interview. “I’ve been fortunate to have such great upperclassmen teammates who helped me pick-up things and showed me what good leadership looks like. This year, we had a great group of seniors and they were extremely helpful.”After her stellar freshman campaign, Schmeidler said she wanted to work on getting physically stronger and just find more ways to help her team.“She had a year under her belt and she gained so much experience her freshman year,” Melvin said. “Her role was different this year because we had so many more things we needed from her and she delivered.”Schmeidler said she worked diligently all year between the seasons to work on getting physically stronger and to improve other skills.“I know by improving my strength that I was able to extend my shooting from 3-point range,” Schmeidler said. “I was able to get my shot off with a quicker release and I think I did better playing through contact.”Her statistics for the just completed season will back-up those improvements, increasing her numbers in nearly every category.She averaged 19.9 points and scored a career-high 33 points in one game. She increased her rebounding average to 5.3 and assists doubled from 50 to 110 (4.07 average). She shot 49 percent from the field and connected on 44 percent from behind the arc (77-of-176). She more that doubled her 3-point shots made and attempted from her freshman year.Adding to her offensive exploits was her deadly free throw shooting, cashing in 92-of-99 charities for an amazing 93 percent.&nbsp;“I think the game has become more physical and I know I still need to get even stronger than this year,” Schmeidler said. “The summer ball playing with bigger, stronger, older girls really has helped me.”Schmeidler’s main focus is to create opportunities for her teammates.“I think I did a good job by creating shots for my teammates and dishing more assists,” she said. “I did a better job of boxing out on defense because our mindset is to get stops. I think I saw the game more in slow motion and that allowed me to make better decisions.”While coming up short in the state championship game was disappointing, Schmeidler said she and her teammates will use that as fuel to improve and make a run again next year.“The atmosphere of that game in Wichita was incredible and that’s what I want to experience again,” Schmeidler said. “Our coaches push us to get better and I know that we will continue to fight in each game and support each other.”Schmeidler said she believes the competition in the WAC also helps her team compete against outside teams as well.“There’s some great players in the WAC,” she said. “We just focus on taking one game at a time. We respect every team and know that we can’t take a night off. There is a lot of pride for us in representing our community and that was what was so special about this season.”Schmeidler’s work ethic includes three days per week of lifting, strength and conditioning and at least two or three other days working on specific skills.“There’s always room for improvement, and that’s my goal,” Schmeidler said.Joining Schmeidler on the all-WAC first team were seniors Shamari Lewis and Kylie Rhine of runner-up Liberal; teammate Zoe Winter and Garden City freshman Tegan Snodgrass.The second team was comprised of senior Molly Buckles of Hays; Junior Alex Mayers of Great Bend; juniors Emily Gutierrez and Piper Mellinger of Dodge City, and sophomore Mia Hannagan of Garden City.2025-26 Girls All-Western Athletic Conference FIRST TEAM Jenna Schmeidler - So. - Hays Shamari Lewis - Sr. - Liberal Zoe Winter - Sr. - Hays Tegan Snodgrass - Fr. - Garden City Kylie Rhine - Sr. - LiberalPlayer of the Year: Jenna Schmeidler, Hays Coach of the Year: Len Melvin, HaysSECOND TEAM Emily Gutierrez - Jr. - Dodge City Mia Hannagan - So. - Garden City Molly Buckles - Sr. - Hays Alex Mayers - Jr. - Great Bend Piper Mellinger - Jr. - Dodge City

🏀 It’s another sweep for the HHS girls; Schmeidler POY

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

As property taxes continue to frustrate Kansans, a tax policy expert says many of the relief options being discussed in Topeka have significant drawbacks.

Chris Courtwright, a member of Gov. Laura Kelly's Council on Tax Reform, spoke to Rotary attendees on Monday at the Venue in Hays. He is the author of "Kansas Tax Facts," a guide on Kansas state and local tax policy.&nbsp;

"There aren't any great solutions, regardless of what the politicians suggest," Courtwright said.

Courtwright retired after 34 years as the Kansas Legislature’s principal economist and a member of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group. He is an author with the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/chris-w-courtwright/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

He began his presentation by citing the Kansas Constitution, which requires the Legislature to provide adequate and equitable funding for public schools.

Courtwright said about 40% of all property tax revenue goes to schools. While he supports funding education, he said the overall property tax burden still needs to be addressed.

He also provided background on the history of property taxes and why they have long been unpopular with taxpayers.

"The last time we amended the Kansas constitution in a meaningful way when it came to property taxes was the early 1990s. The taxes on our residential houses were about a third of all property taxes. It's now two-thirds of the property tax base," he said.

Courtwright said that reducing property taxes for one group often shifts the burden onto others. He compared it to squeezing a balloon; when one side shrinks, another side expands.

There are more than 4,000 property tax subdivisions in Kansas. Courtwright said state and local taxes combined are $21 billion, with local governments contributing about 42% and property taxes about 34%. Property taxes are about 80% of local taxes.

"Property taxes have always been the workhorse of local finances," Courtwright said. "Locals get all their money from property taxes. ... They're the bread and butter."

According to Courtwright, the median residential sales price in Ellis County is $230,000 for a house. As of January, the mean residential value is about $160,000.

Courtwright said the two kinds of relief are under discussion right now.

Option one is to reduce the statewide school property tax that helps fund public schools. Lowering that rate would decrease property taxes for all property owners, but the state would have to replace every dollar lost with money from the state general fund.

Option two would reduce property taxes specifically for homeowners by increasing the amount of a home’s value that is exempt from the statewide school property tax. Businesses, agriculture and other properties would not be included.

In 2024, lawmakers gave property tax relief exclusively to homeowners by keeping the mill levy at 20 mills while increasing the residential exemption from about $44,000 to $75,000.

Courtwright said the change only provided about a $71 tax cut for every home in the state valued at least $75,000.

He also cautioned against valuation caps, saying those policies can create inequities and may lead to higher taxes elsewhere over time.

"There are generational equity issues. It makes it harder for young people to buy homes. We become the land of aristocracy," he said.

"Doing this makes it that much harder for younger people to stay in the state and find housing. There are a bunch of reasons not to do this. The right-of-center Tax Foundation says don't do this," he said.

Courtwright said lawmakers are discussing putting a valuation cap on the ballot in 2026.

He emphasized property tax cuts involve trade-offs and money used to reduce property taxes could instead go toward priorities such as education, Medicaid expansion or social services.

Courtwright's recommendation to cut property taxes would be to lower the residential assessment rate in the Kansas Constitution from 11.5% to 9%. However, he noted passing such a change would be difficult because other property groups would likely oppose it.

"If you put that on the ballot, homeowners would vote for it, but then the balloon would get squeezed in a different direction. Some of the other classes of property... those lobbies aren't gonna let that get on the ballot," he said in response to a question about possible legislation that can balance residential property taxes.

Other ideas, he said, lawmakers could consider are&nbsp;

• Expanding “circuit breaker” or programs that give property tax refunds to seniors, disabled residents and low-income homeowners.

• Give local governments more types of taxes, such as liquor, cigarette or fuel taxes, so they rely less on property taxes.

When asked about proposals by some lawmakers to eliminate property taxes, Courtwright called the idea “a cruel hoax.”

"There is no way in so many areas of the state that it would work," he said. "It's absurd. They're just doing it because it's an election year and because they can't afford to do any of the stuff I've been talking about."

Courtwright also suggested if the state has extra money available for tax cuts, lawmakers should consider other types of tax relief rather than focusing solely on property taxes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773700269729.jpeg" alt="Chris Courtwright speaking with the Rotary Club of Hays on Monday about property taxes in Kansas. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Chris Courtwright speaking with the Rotary Club of Hays on Monday about property taxes in Kansas. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostAs property taxes continue to frustrate Kansans, a tax policy expert says many of the relief options being discussed in Topeka have significant drawbacks.Chris Courtwright, a member of Gov. Laura Kelly's Council on Tax Reform, spoke to Rotary attendees on Monday at the Venue in Hays. He is the author of "Kansas Tax Facts," a guide on Kansas state and local tax policy.&nbsp;"There aren't any great solutions, regardless of what the politicians suggest," Courtwright said.Courtwright retired after 34 years as the Kansas Legislature’s principal economist and a member of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group. He is an author with the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/chris-w-courtwright/">Kansas Reflector</a>.He began his presentation by citing the Kansas Constitution, which requires the Legislature to provide adequate and equitable funding for public schools.Courtwright said about 40% of all property tax revenue goes to schools. While he supports funding education, he said the overall property tax burden still needs to be addressed.He also provided background on the history of property taxes and why they have long been unpopular with taxpayers."The last time we amended the Kansas constitution in a meaningful way when it came to property taxes was the early 1990s. The taxes on our residential houses were about a third of all property taxes. It's now two-thirds of the property tax base," he said.Courtwright said that reducing property taxes for one group often shifts the burden onto others. He compared it to squeezing a balloon; when one side shrinks, another side expands.There are more than 4,000 property tax subdivisions in Kansas. Courtwright said state and local taxes combined are $21 billion, with local governments contributing about 42% and property taxes about 34%. Property taxes are about 80% of local taxes."Property taxes have always been the workhorse of local finances," Courtwright said. "Locals get all their money from property taxes. ... They're the bread and butter."According to Courtwright, the median residential sales price in Ellis County is $230,000 for a house. As of January, the mean residential value is about $160,000.Courtwright said the two kinds of relief are under discussion right now.Option one is to reduce the statewide school property tax that helps fund public schools. Lowering that rate would decrease property taxes for all property owners, but the state would have to replace every dollar lost with money from the state general fund.Option two would reduce property taxes specifically for homeowners by increasing the amount of a home’s value that is exempt from the statewide school property tax. Businesses, agriculture and other properties would not be included.In 2024, lawmakers gave property tax relief exclusively to homeowners by keeping the mill levy at 20 mills while increasing the residential exemption from about $44,000 to $75,000.Courtwright said the change only provided about a $71 tax cut for every home in the state valued at least $75,000.He also cautioned against valuation caps, saying those policies can create inequities and may lead to higher taxes elsewhere over time."There are generational equity issues. It makes it harder for young people to buy homes. We become the land of aristocracy," he said."Doing this makes it that much harder for younger people to stay in the state and find housing. There are a bunch of reasons not to do this. The right-of-center Tax Foundation says don't do this," he said.Courtwright said lawmakers are discussing putting a valuation cap on the ballot in 2026.He emphasized property tax cuts involve trade-offs and money used to reduce property taxes could instead go toward priorities such as education, Medicaid expansion or social services.Courtwright's recommendation to cut property taxes would be to lower the residential assessment rate in the Kansas Constitution from 11.5% to 9%. However, he noted passing such a change would be difficult because other property groups would likely oppose it."If you put that on the ballot, homeowners would vote for it, but then the balloon would get squeezed in a different direction. Some of the other classes of property... those lobbies aren't gonna let that get on the ballot," he said in response to a question about possible legislation that can balance residential property taxes.Other ideas, he said, lawmakers could consider are&nbsp;• Expanding “circuit breaker” or programs that give property tax refunds to seniors, disabled residents and low-income homeowners.• Give local governments more types of taxes, such as liquor, cigarette or fuel taxes, so they rely less on property taxes.When asked about proposals by some lawmakers to eliminate property taxes, Courtwright called the idea “a cruel hoax.”"There is no way in so many areas of the state that it would work," he said. "It's absurd. They're just doing it because it's an election year and because they can't afford to do any of the stuff I've been talking about."Courtwright also suggested if the state has extra money available for tax cuts, lawmakers should consider other types of tax relief rather than focusing solely on property taxes.

Tax expert outlines challenges of property tax relief in Kansas during Hays visit

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-scolforo">MARK SCOLFORO</a>

A woman raising two children was among the six U.S. service members killed last week when a refueling plane involved in the war with Iran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-tanker-aircraft-crash-iraq-kc135-c337359a58be6280dc96fdbf1cb48a5b">crashed</a>&nbsp;in western Iraq.

Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, hailed from a large family in Bardstown, Kentucky, and was “very, very” proud of her military career, her husband Gregory Pruitt said Sunday.

“I’ll give you something brief -– in a word, radiant,” he said on a phone interview, trying to hold back tears. “If there was a light in the room, she was it.”

Survivors include the couple’s 3-year-old daughter and Sgt. Pruitt’s stepson.

Most recently, she had served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron from Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. She was an assistant flight chief of operations and was an instructor in operating the boom of a KC-135.

Pruitt joined the military nine years ago and had previously deployed overseas three times. She had nearly 900 combat flight hours and two associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force.

The U.S. military late Saturday identified Pruitt and the other five crash victims, three connected to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and Sumpter Smith; the other three were out of an Ohio Air National Guard base in Columbus.

“To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing, in a news release. “To lose them at the same time is unimaginable.”

Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, the Ohio adjutant general, called the three from Columbus “remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard. Their impact on their teammates and our mission will not be forgotten.”

The aircraft was in “friendly” airspace, supporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-tanker-aircraft-crash-iraq-kc135-c337359a58be6280dc96fdbf1cb48a5b">operations</a>&nbsp;against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran</a>, when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred on Thursday, according to U.S. Central Command. The other plane landed safety, U.S. military officials said. The crash is being investigated.

The KC-135 aircraft refuels other planes in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The plane also can be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.

The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. It has been in service for more than 60 years.

Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, 33, had just been promoted to major in January and had been deployed less than a week when the crash occurred, his brother-in-law said.

The pilot left behind three small children: 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, according to his brother-in-law, James Harrill.

Klinner was a graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama. He had just moved with his family into a new home, his wife Libby Klinner said in an Instagram post mourning his death.

He was the chief of squadron standards and evaluations at the Birmingham air base.

An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also ready to help others. When Harrill last saw him in January, Klinner had shoveled Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow during a family wedding.

“Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,” said Harrill, of Atlanta, who helped set up a GoFundMe site for Klinner’s family. “He was literally one of the most kindest, giving people.”

Libby Klinner said in a post that her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father.

“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” she wrote. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”

He deployed four times since 2019 and had put in 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours.

Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, served with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 166th Air Refueling Squadron as a boom operator responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to the receiving aircraft, according to his Air Force biography.

His mother, Cheryl Simmons, said Saturday that she was making funeral plans for her son, who lived in Columbus.

In a statement obtained by WCMH-TV in Columbus, Tyler Simmons’ family said it was saddened beyond measure to hear of the fatal crash.

“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,” they said.

Simmons joined the Air Force in 2017 and earned an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force. He became a refueling specialist in 2022 and was made a technical sergeant in 2023. He deployed three times in the past decade and had 230 combat hours.

Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, was a pilot with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, serving as its chief of current operations. She was responsible for the flying hour program and managing daily flight scheduling, among other duties.

Savino, from Covington, Washington, was a product of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Central Washington University, earning an active duty commission in 2017.

She served at bases in Georgia and Mississippi and had more than 300 combat hours. She was made captain in 2021.

A captain with more than 2,000 flight hours

Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, was an instructor pilot for the KC135R Stratotanker with 19 years of service, according to the Ohio National Guard.

A resident of Stoutsville, Ohio, Koval was an aircraft commander with the 121st Air Refueling Wing out of Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus. The military said he had trained pilots in air refueling, aeromedical, cargo and passenger operations.

A statement from the U.S. government said Koval was from Mooresville, Indiana.

Koval had a bachelor’s degree in aviation operations from Purdue University and deployed five times in the past 12 years. His assignments included stops in Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Texas an Oklahoma.

Koval had more than 2,000 flight hours, including 443 in combat, the Ohio Guard said. He was promoted to captain in 2022.

Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, was in the military for a decade after getting a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015, with deployments in 2015 and this year.

Angst was a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron and lived in Columbus. A statement about his death from the federal government indicated he was from Wilmington, Ohio.

He had 880 flight hours, including 67 combat hours. Angst was promoted to captain in November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773573408043.png" alt="Clockwise from top left: Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Maj. John A. Klinner." />
 <figcaption>Clockwise from top left: Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Maj. John A. Klinner.</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-scolforo">MARK SCOLFORO</a>A woman raising two children was among the six U.S. service members killed last week when a refueling plane involved in the war with Iran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-tanker-aircraft-crash-iraq-kc135-c337359a58be6280dc96fdbf1cb48a5b">crashed</a>&nbsp;in western Iraq.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773573301527.png" alt="Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky," />
 <figcaption>Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky,</figcaption>
 </figure>Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, hailed from a large family in Bardstown, Kentucky, and was “very, very” proud of her military career, her husband Gregory Pruitt said Sunday.“I’ll give you something brief -– in a word, radiant,” he said on a phone interview, trying to hold back tears. “If there was a light in the room, she was it.”Survivors include the couple’s 3-year-old daughter and Sgt. Pruitt’s stepson.Most recently, she had served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron from Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. She was an assistant flight chief of operations and was an instructor in operating the boom of a KC-135.Pruitt joined the military nine years ago and had previously deployed overseas three times. She had nearly 900 combat flight hours and two associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force.<h2>Crash in friendly airspace</h2>The U.S. military late Saturday identified Pruitt and the other five crash victims, three connected to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and Sumpter Smith; the other three were out of an Ohio Air National Guard base in Columbus.“To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing, in a news release. “To lose them at the same time is unimaginable.”Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, the Ohio adjutant general, called the three from Columbus “remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard. Their impact on their teammates and our mission will not be forgotten.”The aircraft was in “friendly” airspace, supporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-tanker-aircraft-crash-iraq-kc135-c337359a58be6280dc96fdbf1cb48a5b">operations</a>&nbsp;against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran</a>, when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred on Thursday, according to U.S. Central Command. The other plane landed safety, U.S. military officials said. The crash is being investigated.The KC-135 aircraft refuels other planes in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The plane also can be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. It has been in service for more than 60 years.<h2>A new father and a new major</h2>Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, 33, had just been promoted to major in January and had been deployed less than a week when the crash occurred, his brother-in-law said.The pilot left behind three small children: 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, according to his brother-in-law, James Harrill.Klinner was a graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama. He had just moved with his family into a new home, his wife Libby Klinner said in an Instagram post mourning his death.He was the chief of squadron standards and evaluations at the Birmingham air base.An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also ready to help others. When Harrill last saw him in January, Klinner had shoveled Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow during a family wedding.“Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,” said Harrill, of Atlanta, who helped set up a GoFundMe site for Klinner’s family. “He was literally one of the most kindest, giving people.”Libby Klinner said in a post that her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father.“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” she wrote. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”He deployed four times since 2019 and had put in 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours.<h2>A man with a ready smile</h2>Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, served with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 166th Air Refueling Squadron as a boom operator responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to the receiving aircraft, according to his Air Force biography.His mother, Cheryl Simmons, said Saturday that she was making funeral plans for her son, who lived in Columbus.In a statement obtained by WCMH-TV in Columbus, Tyler Simmons’ family said it was saddened beyond measure to hear of the fatal crash.“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,” they said.Simmons joined the Air Force in 2017 and earned an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force. He became a refueling specialist in 2022 and was made a technical sergeant in 2023. He deployed three times in the past decade and had 230 combat hours.<h2>Pilot with Birmingham, Alabama, squadron</h2>Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, was a pilot with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, serving as its chief of current operations. She was responsible for the flying hour program and managing daily flight scheduling, among other duties.Savino, from Covington, Washington, was a product of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Central Washington University, earning an active duty commission in 2017.She served at bases in Georgia and Mississippi and had more than 300 combat hours. She was made captain in 2021.<h2>A captain with more than 2,000 flight hours</h2>Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, was an instructor pilot for the KC135R Stratotanker with 19 years of service, according to the Ohio National Guard.A resident of Stoutsville, Ohio, Koval was an aircraft commander with the 121st Air Refueling Wing out of Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus. The military said he had trained pilots in air refueling, aeromedical, cargo and passenger operations.A statement from the U.S. government said Koval was from Mooresville, Indiana.Koval had a bachelor’s degree in aviation operations from Purdue University and deployed five times in the past 12 years. His assignments included stops in Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Texas an Oklahoma.Koval had more than 2,000 flight hours, including 443 in combat, the Ohio Guard said. He was promoted to captain in 2022.<h2>Degree in aerospace engineering</h2>Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, was in the military for a decade after getting a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015, with deployments in 2015 and this year.Angst was a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron and lived in Columbus. A statement about his death from the federal government indicated he was from Wilmington, Ohio.He had 880 flight hours, including 67 combat hours. Angst was promoted to captain in November.

'Radiant' mother among US service members who died in air crash in Iraq

DORRANCE — The Dorrance American Legion Post 334 will host a steak feed Saturday, March 21.

Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with the meal at 6:30 p.m.

12 or 6-ounce ribeye steak with baked potato, corn, green beans, tea or water, and a big selection of desserts will be served. Cold beer and mixed drinks will be available.

Call-in and carry-out orders are available by phoning 785-666-4275.&nbsp;

Proceeds benefit the Dorrance American Legion Post 334.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629384043919.jpeg" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>Dorrance American LegionDORRANCE — The Dorrance American Legion Post 334 will host a steak feed Saturday, March 21.Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with the meal at 6:30 p.m.12 or 6-ounce ribeye steak with baked potato, corn, green beans, tea or water, and a big selection of desserts will be served. Cold beer and mixed drinks will be available.Call-in and carry-out orders are available by phoning 785-666-4275.&nbsp;Proceeds benefit the Dorrance American Legion Post 334.

Dorance steak feed to benefit American Legion Post 334 

Hays Post Sports HAYS -&nbsp;The TMP-Marian Monarchs girls and boys basketball teams landed three players each on the All-Mid-Continent League teams released on Monday.

The Hoxie girls won the league regular-season and tournament titles and finished with a league-high five players named to the All-MCL teams.

That included Evie Schippers and Allie Gourley, who were named to the first team.

Oakley’s Chesney Marshall was a unanimous first-team selection along with her teammate Alexa Weiser.

Russell’s Norah Mooney was also named to the first-team.

TMP’s Claire Schippers was a second-team selection along with her teammate, Hannah Rose. Raegan Allen was an honorable mention pick.

TMP-Marian, Plainville and Ellis all had three players earn all-league
honors.

TMP’s Ty Schmeidler and Jacob Seib were both first-team
selections. Grant Nehls was a second-team pick.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750679049780.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post Sports HAYS -&nbsp;The TMP-Marian Monarchs girls and boys basketball teams landed three players each on the All-Mid-Continent League teams released on Monday.The Hoxie girls won the league regular-season and tournament titles and finished with a league-high five players named to the All-MCL teams.You can find a both teams below.That included Evie Schippers and Allie Gourley, who were named to the first team.Oakley’s Chesney Marshall was a unanimous first-team selection along with her teammate Alexa Weiser.Russell’s Norah Mooney was also named to the first-team.TMP’s Claire Schippers was a second-team selection along with her teammate, Hannah Rose. Raegan Allen was an honorable mention pick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773673115117.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>BOYS</h2>TMP-Marian, Plainville and Ellis all had three players earn all-league
honors.TMP’s Ty Schmeidler and Jacob Seib were both first-team
selections. Grant Nehls was a second-team pick.Plainville’s Joey Dintino was also named to the first-team
all with Phillipsburg’s EJ Hall and Vladon Crawford from Trego.The TMP boys won both the MCL regular season and tournament
titles. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773673133561.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>