NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – The Hays High girls finished fifth
and the boys sixth at the Hesston Special cross country meet Thursday. The meet
was moved to Bethel College due to wet grounds in Hesston.

The girls scored 35 points in the 4A, 5A and 6A
race which was won by Newton who had 17 points, one better than second place
Garden City.

Individually, Ava Biggs finished seventh (24:38.2)
and Serena Wilson who placed eighth (25:27.7) for HHS in the senior girls 5K.
Aralen Maupin finished 11th and Kynli Koeningsman 12th. Bekah Clark placed
ninth in the sophomore race. Alexa Cooley was fifth (24:12.5) and Avrie
Branaman sixth (24:33.2) in the freshman race.

The Indians boys scored 108 points. Andale won the
large school division with 17 points, five less than second place Garden City.

Malachi Chance placed 10th (19:50.2) in the senior
boys 5K. Chris Hollis was 13th (22:41.8). Aiden Hardman finished 17th (22:03.1)
in the junior race, Benson Ramirez led the Indians in the sophomore race with a
22nd place finish (24:26.6). Emmitt Dreiling (22:42.6) finished ninth in the freshman
race.

Hays Post SportsNORTH NEWTON, Kan. – The Hays High girls finished fifth
and the boys sixth at the Hesston Special cross country meet Thursday. The meet
was moved to Bethel College due to wet grounds in Hesston.The girls scored 35 points in the 4A, 5A and 6A
race which was won by Newton who had 17 points, one better than second place
Garden City.Individually, Ava Biggs finished seventh (24:38.2)
and Serena Wilson who placed eighth (25:27.7) for HHS in the senior girls 5K.
Aralen Maupin finished 11th and Kynli Koeningsman 12th. Bekah Clark placed
ninth in the sophomore race. Alexa Cooley was fifth (24:12.5) and Avrie
Branaman sixth (24:33.2) in the freshman race.The Indians boys scored 108 points. Andale won the
large school division with 17 points, five less than second place Garden City.Malachi Chance placed 10th (19:50.2) in the senior
boys 5K. Chris Hollis was 13th (22:41.8). Aiden Hardman finished 17th (22:03.1)
in the junior race, Benson Ramirez led the Indians in the sophomore race with a
22nd place finish (24:26.6). Emmitt Dreiling (22:42.6) finished ninth in the freshman
race.

👟 HHS girls fifth, boys sixth at Hesston Special

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Hays man has been arrested on charges of felony theft and identity theft after allegedly signing up for internet services in the name of a disabled adult for whom he cared.

Curtis Joe Koerner, 39, of Hays, served as a caregiver for a disabled adult for two years.

He allegedly used that person's name to sign up for internet services in 2018 and was continuing to use those services.

Another caregiver was reviewing the victim's bills and found a second account under a different address, according to Lt. Brandon Wright of the Hays Police Department.

Officers were able to locate Koerner at the address associated with the account.

Koerner was arrested on Aug. 26 on requested charges of identity theft and felony theft.

The billing on the account from June 2018 to present amounted to more than $6,200, according to Wright.

Wright said this is a good example of why people should review their bills regularly.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757686077138.png" alt="Koerner photo Ellis County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Koerner photo Ellis County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Hays man has been arrested on charges of felony theft and identity theft after allegedly signing up for internet services in the name of a disabled adult for whom he cared.Curtis Joe Koerner, 39, of Hays, served as a caregiver for a disabled adult for two years.He allegedly used that person's name to sign up for internet services in 2018 and was continuing to use those services.Another caregiver was reviewing the victim's bills and found a second account under a different address, according to Lt. Brandon Wright of the Hays Police Department.Officers were able to locate Koerner at the address associated with the account.Koerner was arrested on Aug. 26 on requested charges of identity theft and felony theft.The billing on the account from June 2018 to present amounted to more than $6,200, according to Wright.Wright said this is a good example of why people should review their bills regularly.

Hays man allegedly steals disabled man's identity, racks up 7 years of internet bills

NEW YORK (AP) — West Nile virus infections are intense so far this year, with case counts running 40% higher than normal, health officials say.

More than 770 cases, including about 490 severe cases, were reported as of early September, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/current-year-data.html">data posted this week</a>. About 550 cases — 350 of them severe — are usually reported by this time of year.

Health officials are ramping up warnings to the public, because most cases of the mosquito-borne disease are reported in August and September.

“West Nile virus can be a very serious disease and its presence in mosquitoes remains high right now in Massachusetts,” said the state’s public health commissioner, Dr. Robbie Goldstein, in a statement last week.

People can protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible, and using an EPA-registered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mosquito-repellent-cdc-recommends-e47c0c35ffe49d6f36b39d03f1b95e06">insect repellent</a>&nbsp;when spending time outdoors, health officials say.

West Nile virus was first reported in the United States in 1999 in New York, and then gradually spread across the country. It&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/historic-data.html">peaked</a>&nbsp;in 2003, when nearly 10,000 cases were reported.

Scientists say many people — perhaps tens of thousands each year — are infected but don’t know it because they have no symptoms, or only mild ones such as headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and rashes.

In severe cases, damage to the central nervous system causes inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, and even death.

In the last decade, health officials have fielded reports of 2,000 cases annually on average, including 1,200 life-threatening neurological illnesses and approximately 120 deaths. Deaths are on pace to be higher this year, CDC officials said, but they declined to discuss specifics, saying mortality statistics are too preliminary.

The problem is not that there are more mosquitoes this year, but rather that a higher proportion of the bugs are carrying the virus, CDC officials said. Mosquito infection rates can be affected by such factors as temperature, rainfall, the amount of insect control going on, and how many nearby birds are infected.

Colorado, which tends to see more West Nile virus, has reported about 150 of the nation’s cases — more than double what other states are reporting.

Fort Collins is a hot spot. Monitoring last month in an area in the southwest part of the city found that 35 out of every 1,000 female mosquitoes were infected — far higher than the 8 per 1,000 that would be expected for that time of year — said Roxanne Connelly, a CDC entomologist who lives there.

It's not clear why, but she noted it's been a wet and warm year.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757619113812.png" alt="Image KDHI from data updated Sept. 5" />
 <figcaption>Image KDHI from data updated Sept. 5</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — West Nile virus infections are intense so far this year, with case counts running 40% higher than normal, health officials say.More than 770 cases, including about 490 severe cases, were reported as of early September, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/current-year-data.html">data posted this week</a>. About 550 cases — 350 of them severe — are usually reported by this time of year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720035619901.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>Health officials are ramping up warnings to the public, because most cases of the mosquito-borne disease are reported in August and September.“West Nile virus can be a very serious disease and its presence in mosquitoes remains high right now in Massachusetts,” said the state’s public health commissioner, Dr. Robbie Goldstein, in a statement last week.People can protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible, and using an EPA-registered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mosquito-repellent-cdc-recommends-e47c0c35ffe49d6f36b39d03f1b95e06">insect repellent</a>&nbsp;when spending time outdoors, health officials say.West Nile virus was first reported in the United States in 1999 in New York, and then gradually spread across the country. It&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/historic-data.html">peaked</a>&nbsp;in 2003, when nearly 10,000 cases were reported.Scientists say many people — perhaps tens of thousands each year — are infected but don’t know it because they have no symptoms, or only mild ones such as headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and rashes.In severe cases, damage to the central nervous system causes inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, and even death.In the last decade, health officials have fielded reports of 2,000 cases annually on average, including 1,200 life-threatening neurological illnesses and approximately 120 deaths. Deaths are on pace to be higher this year, CDC officials said, but they declined to discuss specifics, saying mortality statistics are too preliminary.The problem is not that there are more mosquitoes this year, but rather that a higher proportion of the bugs are carrying the virus, CDC officials said. Mosquito infection rates can be affected by such factors as temperature, rainfall, the amount of insect control going on, and how many nearby birds are infected.Colorado, which tends to see more West Nile virus, has reported about 150 of the nation’s cases — more than double what other states are reporting.Fort Collins is a hot spot. Monitoring last month in an area in the southwest part of the city found that 35 out of every 1,000 female mosquitoes were infected — far higher than the 8 per 1,000 that would be expected for that time of year — said Roxanne Connelly, a CDC entomologist who lives there.It's not clear why, but she noted it's been a wet and warm year.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

West Nile virus cases running higher than normal, prompting health warnings

OREM, Utah (AP) — The FBI released two photos of a person of interest in the assassination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">Charlie Kirk</a>, a close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters. The shooter, who fired a single shot from a distant roof, remained at large and unidentified on Thursday nearly 24 hours into the investigation.

The release of photos of a person in a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeve black shirt, as well as a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, reflected law enforcement's urgent appeal for public help in locating the gunman, who vanished after jumping off the roof and fleeing through a wooded area near the Utah university where Kirk was killed in a targeted attack.

Investigators were sifting through potential clues, including a palm print and a shoe impression found near the scene, as well as a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle hidden in a towel in a wooded area near the university campus along what they suspect to be the path the shooter took while fleeing. Besides the spent cartridge recovered in the chamber, three other rounds were loaded in the magazine, according to information circulated among law enforcement and described to The Associated Press. The weapon and ammunition are being forensically analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab for clues that could help identify the shooter or the motive.

The new information suggested at least modest progress in an investigation into a killing that law enforcement was treating as the latest instance of political violence to convulse the United States across the ideological spectrum. Yet key questions remained unanswered. Law enforcement had yet to identify the shooter or disclose a motive and acknowledged at a news conference Thursday that the suspect's college-age appearance may have helped the person blend in on the college campus where Kirk was shot.

The Wednesday afternoon attack, carried out in a broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues at a Utah Valley University courtyard, was captured on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-video-graphic-online-social-media-6cfd4dfde356b960aeea69c01ea3ec34">grisly videos circulating on social media</a>. The videos show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.

Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting.

“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”

Kirk’s casket was to be flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Arizona, where his his nonprofit political youth organization, Turning Point USA, is based.

OREM, Utah (AP) — The sniper who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot and has not been identified, authorities said Thursday in disclosing they have recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle they believe was used in the attack and are reviewing video footage of the person they believe was responsible.

The shooter appeared to be of college age and blended in on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/ap-reporter-describes-scene-after-charlie-kirk-was-shot-5ced708431fe4fbea765fb13102eff34">the university campus where Kirk was killed</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, said Beau Mason, the commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety. It remained unclear how far the shooter has traveled, though law enforcement officials say nearby woods where the rifle was found have been secured.

Even as law enforcement officials revealed new details about an attack they called targeted, much remained unclear nearly 24 hours later, including the sniper's identity, motive and whereabouts. Two people detained Wednesday were released after neither was determined to be connected to the shooting, but by Thursday officials expressed confidence they had tracked the shooter's movements on campus in the run-up to it.

Later Thursday, the FBI released two photos of a person of interest in connection with the shooting as investigators appealed to the public for information. The photos show a person wearing a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeve black shirt.

Law enforcement recovered a Mauser .30 caliber bolt-action rifle hidden in a towel in a wooded area near the university campus along what they suspect to be the shooter’s path as they fled the scene, according to information circulated among law enforcement and shared with The Associated Press. Besides the spent cartridge recovered in the chamber, three other rounds were loaded in the magazine. The weapon and ammunition are being forensically analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab for clues that could help identify the shooter or the motive.

Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was killed in broad daylight while speaking about social issues at a Utah Valley University campus courtyard. The circumstances brought renewed attention to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">the escalating threat of political violence</a>&nbsp;in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. The killing drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.

The attack was captured on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-video-graphic-online-social-media-6cfd4dfde356b960aeea69c01ea3ec34">grisly videos circulating on social media</a>&nbsp;that show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.

Trump said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Kirk played a pivotal role in setting up Trump's second Republican administration, Vance wrote.

OREM, Utah (AP) — The FBI released two photos of a person of interest in the assassination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">Charlie Kirk</a>, a close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters. The shooter, who fired a single shot from a distant roof, remained at large and unidentified on Thursday nearly 24 hours into the investigation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are asking for the public&#39;s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. 1-800-CALL-FBI Digital media tips: <a href="https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ">https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/ALuVkTXuDc">pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc</a>&mdash; FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBISaltLakeCity/status/1966169520403525760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The release of photos of a person in a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeve black shirt, as well as a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, reflected law enforcement's urgent appeal for public help in locating the gunman, who vanished after jumping off the roof and fleeing through a wooded area near the Utah university where Kirk was killed in a targeted attack.Investigators were sifting through potential clues, including a palm print and a shoe impression found near the scene, as well as a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle hidden in a towel in a wooded area near the university campus along what they suspect to be the path the shooter took while fleeing. Besides the spent cartridge recovered in the chamber, three other rounds were loaded in the magazine, according to information circulated among law enforcement and described to The Associated Press. The weapon and ammunition are being forensically analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab for clues that could help identify the shooter or the motive.The new information suggested at least modest progress in an investigation into a killing that law enforcement was treating as the latest instance of political violence to convulse the United States across the ideological spectrum. Yet key questions remained unanswered. Law enforcement had yet to identify the shooter or disclose a motive and acknowledged at a news conference Thursday that the suspect's college-age appearance may have helped the person blend in on the college campus where Kirk was shot.The Wednesday afternoon attack, carried out in a broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues at a Utah Valley University courtyard, was captured on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-video-graphic-online-social-media-6cfd4dfde356b960aeea69c01ea3ec34">grisly videos circulating on social media</a>. The videos show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting.“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”Kirk’s casket was to be flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Arizona, where his his nonprofit political youth organization, Turning Point USA, is based.-----------OREM, Utah (AP) — The sniper who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot and has not been identified, authorities said Thursday in disclosing they have recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle they believe was used in the attack and are reviewing video footage of the person they believe was responsible.The shooter appeared to be of college age and blended in on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/ap-reporter-describes-scene-after-charlie-kirk-was-shot-5ced708431fe4fbea765fb13102eff34">the university campus where Kirk was killed</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, said Beau Mason, the commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety. It remained unclear how far the shooter has traveled, though law enforcement officials say nearby woods where the rifle was found have been secured.Even as law enforcement officials revealed new details about an attack they called targeted, much remained unclear nearly 24 hours later, including the sniper's identity, motive and whereabouts. Two people detained Wednesday were released after neither was determined to be connected to the shooting, but by Thursday officials expressed confidence they had tracked the shooter's movements on campus in the run-up to it.Later Thursday, the FBI released two photos of a person of interest in connection with the shooting as investigators appealed to the public for information. The photos show a person wearing a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeve black shirt.Law enforcement recovered a Mauser .30 caliber bolt-action rifle hidden in a towel in a wooded area near the university campus along what they suspect to be the shooter’s path as they fled the scene, according to information circulated among law enforcement and shared with The Associated Press. Besides the spent cartridge recovered in the chamber, three other rounds were loaded in the magazine. The weapon and ammunition are being forensically analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab for clues that could help identify the shooter or the motive.Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was killed in broad daylight while speaking about social issues at a Utah Valley University campus courtyard. The circumstances brought renewed attention to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">the escalating threat of political violence</a>&nbsp;in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. The killing drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.The attack was captured on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-video-graphic-online-social-media-6cfd4dfde356b960aeea69c01ea3ec34">grisly videos circulating on social media</a>&nbsp;that show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.Trump said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Kirk played a pivotal role in setting up Trump's second Republican administration, Vance wrote.“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”

FBI releases images of person of interest in Charlie Kirk assassination

OREM, Utah (AP) — The sniper who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot and has not yet been identified, authorities said Thursday in disclosing they recovered a high-powered rifle.

The shooter appeared to be of “college age" and is believed to have blended in on the university campus where Kirk was shot, authorities said as they investigated the latest act of political violence to befall America.

“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.

Kirk was killed with a gunshot from a distant rooftop at the Utah Valley University campus, where he was speaking Wednesday. Federal, state and local authorities were working what they called “multiple active crime scenes."

“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,"&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/spencer-cox">Utah Gov. Spencer Cox</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday. "I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”

Two people were detained Wednesday, but neither was determined to be connected to the shooting and both were released, public safety officials said.

The circumstances of the shooting drew renewed attention to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">an escalating threat of political violence</a>&nbsp;in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. The assassination drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.

Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A shot rings out, and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family on Thursday in Salt Lake City. According to a person familiar with Vance’s plans but not authorized to speak about them publicly, the Vances will visit Utah instead of attending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-attacks-anniversary-world-trade-center-0c2af6068dd5f1cc9f71a56c8a1c0c83">an outdoor ceremony to commemorate Sept. 11</a>&nbsp;in New York.

Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Kirk played a pivotal role in setting up the second Trump administration, Vance wrote.

OREM, Utah (AP) — The sniper who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot and has not yet been identified, authorities said Thursday in disclosing they recovered a high-powered rifle.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FBI Special Agent In Charge Robert Bohls: &quot;We have recovered what we believe is the weapon that was used in yesterday&#39;s shooting. It is a high powered bolt action rifle.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/OQNPXBSmut">pic.twitter.com/OQNPXBSmut</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1966131586623004918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The FBI has created a digital media tip line seeking information regarding the shooting at Utah Valley University that took place on September 10, 2025: <a href="https://t.co/aNUqciEesp">https://t.co/aNUqciEesp</a>&mdash; FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBISaltLakeCity/status/1965906435054694671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The FBI has created a digital media tip line seeking information regarding the shooting at Utah Valley University that took place on September 10, 2025: <a href="https://t.co/aNUqciEesp">https://t.co/aNUqciEesp</a>&mdash; FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBISaltLakeCity/status/1965906435054694671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The shooter appeared to be of “college age" and is believed to have blended in on the university campus where Kirk was shot, authorities said as they investigated the latest act of political violence to befall America.“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.Kirk was killed with a gunshot from a distant rooftop at the Utah Valley University campus, where he was speaking Wednesday. Federal, state and local authorities were working what they called “multiple active crime scenes."“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,"&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/spencer-cox">Utah Gov. Spencer Cox</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday. "I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”Two people were detained Wednesday, but neither was determined to be connected to the shooting and both were released, public safety officials said.The circumstances of the shooting drew renewed attention to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">an escalating threat of political violence</a>&nbsp;in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. The assassination drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A shot rings out, and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family on Thursday in Salt Lake City. According to a person familiar with Vance’s plans but not authorized to speak about them publicly, the Vances will visit Utah instead of attending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-attacks-anniversary-world-trade-center-0c2af6068dd5f1cc9f71a56c8a1c0c83">an outdoor ceremony to commemorate Sept. 11</a>&nbsp;in New York.Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Kirk played a pivotal role in setting up the second Trump administration, Vance wrote.“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”

🎥 FBI gives update on their work to ID Charlie Kirk's killer 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-schoenbaum">HANNAH SCHOENBAUM</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alanna-durkin-richer">ALANNA DURKIN RICHER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-sherman">MARK SHERMAN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-tucker">ERIC TUCKER</a>

OREM, Utah (AP) — Authorities searched on Thursday for a sniper who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Charlie Kirk</a>, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, with one bullet and then slipped away amid the mayhem resulting from the latest act of political violence to befall America.

Kirk was killed with a gunshot from a distant rooftop at the Utah Valley University campus, where he was speaking on Wednesday, authorities said. Federal, state and local authorities were working what they called “multiple active crime scenes." As the search stretched into a second day, they provided little information about the shooter’s identity, motive, location or evidence and were reviewing grainy security videos of a mysterious person in dark clothing.

“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,"&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/spencer-cox">Utah Gov. Spencer Cox</a>&nbsp;said. "I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”

Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family on Thursday in Salt Lake City. According to a person familiar with Vance’s plans but not authorized to speak about them publicly, the Vances will visit Utah instead of New York, which had been their planned destination for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-attacks-anniversary-world-trade-center-0c2af6068dd5f1cc9f71a56c8a1c0c83">an outdoor ceremony to commemorate Sept. 11</a>.

Vance posted a lengthy remembrance on X chronicling the origins of their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s run for the Senate and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Through the years, Vance wrote, Kirk checked in and played a pivotal role in setting up the second Trump administration.

Kirk was taking questions about gun violence

Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political youth organization, Arizona-based Turning Point USA, at the Sorensen Center courtyard on campus. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.

“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” the person asked. Kirk responded, “Too many.”

The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”

“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.

The shooter, who Cox pledged would be held accountable in a state with the death penalty, wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away.

Madison Lattin was watching only a few dozen feet from Kirk’s left when she said she heard the bullet hit Kirk.

“Blood is falling and dripping down and you’re just like so scared, not just for him but your own safety,” she said.

She said she saw people drop to the ground in an eerie silence pierced immediately by cries. Lattin ran while others splashed through decorative pools to get away. Some fell and were trampled in the stampede. People lost their shoes, backpacks, folding chairs and water bottles in the frenzy.

When Lattin later learned that Kirk had died, she said she wept, describing him as a role model who had showed her how to be determined and fight for the truth.

Some 3,000 people were in attendance, according to a statement from the Utah Department of Public Safety. The university police department had six officers working the event, along with Kirk’s own security detail, authorities said.

Trump announced the death on social media and praised the 31-year-old Kirk who was co-founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point</a>&nbsp;as “Great, and even Legendary.” Later Wednesday, he released a recorded video from the White House in which he called Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom” and blamed the rhetoric of the “radical left” for the killing.

Utah Valley University said the campus was immediately evacuated after the shooting, with officers escorting people to safety. It will be closed until Monday.

Meanwhile, armed officers walked around the neighborhood bordering the campus, knocking on doors and asking for any information residents might have on the shooting. Helicopters buzzed overhead.

Wednesday’s event, billed as the first stop on Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour,” had generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”

Condemnation from across the political spectrum

The shooting drew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-political-violence-reaction-87f6755421938d0a0d7c5905be10767f">swift condemnation</a>&nbsp;across the political aisle as Democratic officials joined Trump, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff and issued a presidential proclamation, and Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the violence.

“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who last March hosted Kirk on his podcast, posted on X.

“The murder of Charlie Kirk breaks my heart. My deepest sympathies are with his wife, two young children, and friends,” said Gabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-0ee455e480004cbeae7dc716da2a0ddd">who was wounded in a 2011 shooting</a>&nbsp;in her Arizona district.

The shooting appeared poised to become part of a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major parties. The attacks include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-killed-congress-violence-1e6a061c4265b0136ebb058a2777b85f">assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband</a>&nbsp;at their house in June, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boulder-colorado-attack-soliman-israel-hostages-8110fb3abd3da90f36c3d970f4c26f5b">firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages</a>, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-governor-mansion-fire-cody-balmer-cd896e2bb8f5a00a73b07b9f1013df93">fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor</a>, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-54f385fbdac215b89c6df047fa399039">shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year</a>.

Former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at Wednesday’s event, told the Fox News Channel that he didn’t believe Kirk had enough security.

“Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And so we just don’t have these types of things.”

Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. It was not an immediate success.

But Kirk’s zeal for confronting liberals in academia eventually won over an influential set of conservative financiers.

Despite early misgivings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-turning-point-voter-mobilization-musk-07286c2572b02aafefdda1cda093e788">Turning Point</a>&nbsp;enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, during the general election campaign.

Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.

Richer and Sherman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver; Michael Biesecker, Brian Slodysko, Lindsay Whitehurst and Michelle L. Price in Washington; Jesse Bedayn in Orem, Utah; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541335583.png" alt="Police respond to the scene of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was speaking during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)" />
 <figcaption>Police respond to the scene of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was speaking during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-schoenbaum">HANNAH SCHOENBAUM</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alanna-durkin-richer">ALANNA DURKIN RICHER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mark-sherman">MARK SHERMAN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-tucker">ERIC TUCKER</a>OREM, Utah (AP) — Authorities searched on Thursday for a sniper who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Charlie Kirk</a>, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, with one bullet and then slipped away amid the mayhem resulting from the latest act of political violence to befall America.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The FBI has created a digital media tip line seeking information regarding the shooting at Utah Valley University that took place on September 10, 2025: <a href="https://t.co/aNUqciEesp">https://t.co/aNUqciEesp</a>&mdash; FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBISaltLakeCity/status/1965906435054694671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The FBI is working alongside our local and state law enforcement partners in Utah to fully investigate and seek justice in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Anyone with information, photos, and video from the incident can help the FBI identity more… <a href="https://t.co/JEQ22lIwfv">pic.twitter.com/JEQ22lIwfv</a>&mdash; FBI (@FBI) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI/status/1965962302458417304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kirk was killed with a gunshot from a distant rooftop at the Utah Valley University campus, where he was speaking on Wednesday, authorities said. Federal, state and local authorities were working what they called “multiple active crime scenes." As the search stretched into a second day, they provided little information about the shooter’s identity, motive, location or evidence and were reviewing grainy security videos of a mysterious person in dark clothing.“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,"&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/spencer-cox">Utah Gov. Spencer Cox</a>&nbsp;said. "I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”Two people were detained Wednesday, but neither was determined to be connected to the shooting and both were released, public safety officials said.The circumstances of the shooting drew renewed attention to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">an escalating threat of political violence</a>&nbsp;in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. The assassination drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A shot rings out, and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were set to visit with Kirk’s family on Thursday in Salt Lake City. According to a person familiar with Vance’s plans but not authorized to speak about them publicly, the Vances will visit Utah instead of New York, which had been their planned destination for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-attacks-anniversary-world-trade-center-0c2af6068dd5f1cc9f71a56c8a1c0c83">an outdoor ceremony to commemorate Sept. 11</a>.Vance posted a lengthy remembrance on X chronicling the origins of their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s run for the Senate and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting. Through the years, Vance wrote, Kirk checked in and played a pivotal role in setting up the second Trump administration.“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”<h2>Kirk was taking questions about gun violence</h2>Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political youth organization, Arizona-based Turning Point USA, at the Sorensen Center courtyard on campus. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” the person asked. Kirk responded, “Too many.”The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.Then a single shot rang out.The shooter, who Cox pledged would be held accountable in a state with the death penalty, wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away.Madison Lattin was watching only a few dozen feet from Kirk’s left when she said she heard the bullet hit Kirk.“Blood is falling and dripping down and you’re just like so scared, not just for him but your own safety,” she said.She said she saw people drop to the ground in an eerie silence pierced immediately by cries. Lattin ran while others splashed through decorative pools to get away. Some fell and were trampled in the stampede. People lost their shoes, backpacks, folding chairs and water bottles in the frenzy.When Lattin later learned that Kirk had died, she said she wept, describing him as a role model who had showed her how to be determined and fight for the truth.<h2>Trump calls Kirk ‘martyr for truth’</h2>Some 3,000 people were in attendance, according to a statement from the Utah Department of Public Safety. The university police department had six officers working the event, along with Kirk’s own security detail, authorities said.Trump announced the death on social media and praised the 31-year-old Kirk who was co-founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point</a>&nbsp;as “Great, and even Legendary.” Later Wednesday, he released a recorded video from the White House in which he called Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom” and blamed the rhetoric of the “radical left” for the killing.Utah Valley University said the campus was immediately evacuated after the shooting, with officers escorting people to safety. It will be closed until Monday.Meanwhile, armed officers walked around the neighborhood bordering the campus, knocking on doors and asking for any information residents might have on the shooting. Helicopters buzzed overhead.Wednesday’s event, billed as the first stop on Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour,” had generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”<h2>Condemnation from across the political spectrum</h2>The shooting drew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-political-violence-reaction-87f6755421938d0a0d7c5905be10767f">swift condemnation</a>&nbsp;across the political aisle as Democratic officials joined Trump, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff and issued a presidential proclamation, and Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the violence.“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who last March hosted Kirk on his podcast, posted on X.“The murder of Charlie Kirk breaks my heart. My deepest sympathies are with his wife, two young children, and friends,” said Gabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-0ee455e480004cbeae7dc716da2a0ddd">who was wounded in a 2011 shooting</a>&nbsp;in her Arizona district.The shooting appeared poised to become part of a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major parties. The attacks include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-killed-congress-violence-1e6a061c4265b0136ebb058a2777b85f">assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband</a>&nbsp;at their house in June, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boulder-colorado-attack-soliman-israel-hostages-8110fb3abd3da90f36c3d970f4c26f5b">firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages</a>, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-governor-mansion-fire-cody-balmer-cd896e2bb8f5a00a73b07b9f1013df93">fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor</a>, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-54f385fbdac215b89c6df047fa399039">shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year</a>.Former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at Wednesday’s event, told the Fox News Channel that he didn’t believe Kirk had enough security.“Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And so we just don’t have these types of things.”Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. It was not an immediate success.But Kirk’s zeal for confronting liberals in academia eventually won over an influential set of conservative financiers.Despite early misgivings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-turning-point-voter-mobilization-musk-07286c2572b02aafefdda1cda093e788">Turning Point</a>&nbsp;enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, during the general election campaign.Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.___Richer and Sherman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver; Michael Biesecker, Brian Slodysko, Lindsay Whitehurst and Michelle L. Price in Washington; Jesse Bedayn in Orem, Utah; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.

Shooter still at large: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk assassinated in Utah

The Hays USD 489 school board decided to create a committee to help shape policy on naming rights for school district facilities.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a90fb672-f7e5-4826-b5f3-1decd214e83c">The district effectively let an offer from Golden Belt Bank of $200,000 for the naming rights to the new football field at Hays High School expire. That contract would have been for a 10-year term.</a>

The bank set a deadline of Sept. 15 to accept the offer.

Board member Ruth Ruder thanked Golden Belt Bank for what she called a tremendous offer.&nbsp;

"We just recently talked about taxes, and here you're given an opportunity to take $200,000 that is given from Golden Belt Bank," she said.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPONHTXLmgQ">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 school board passes budget with tax increase</a>

She said although naming of facilities is usually seen at colleges, Hays could be at the forefront of something new.

She said the Golden Belt Bank offer did not include the bank's logo on the turf or changing the name of the school's mascot to the "Golden Belt Indians."

"When you are talking about increasing revenue, this is the way to do it," she said. "I'm not just talking about the football field. I'm talking about the auditorium, the basketball courts, the tennis courts."

Ruder said she could not think of a downside to Golden Belt Bank's offer.

"It's funds in our pocket. It's free funds. To me, that's positivity for the community and positivity on for Hays High School," she said.

Board member Jayme Goetz said she has talked to community members, teachers and coaches about the facility naming issue. She said those people had reservations, but indicated they would approve of naming rights if the price was right.

Goetz said she thought money raised from naming fields should be designated for turf replacement, and the price for those naming rights should be proportional to the cost of that replacement.

She estimated the cost of replacing the turf at $600,000 to $800,000 every eight to 10 years. She proposed naming rights should cost $35,000 to $40,000 per year.

Board member Meagan Zampeiri-Lillpopp said she believed a policy on naming rights was necessary.

"I am interested in the conversation," she said.

Board member Allen Park said, "If it's worth doing, it should be done right."

"This is policy, and that's our job. I think it should be fair. I think we should give the opportunity to everybody somehow," he said.

Board President Curt Vajnar said he did not think the board had a deadline for making decisions on naming rights. The bank has a deadline, he said.

"The naming of USD 489 facilities belongs to the citizens of Hays, not a business or entity. ... At the end of that end zone, it says Hays. It does not say Hays High School. It belongs to all of us."

Vajnar said he did not think the bank was offering enough for the naming rights for a 10-year contract. He also said he thought all businesses and entities should have the same opportunity to have naming rights, as Park discussed.

He echoed Goetz's comments, saying any money coming from the naming rights of the fields should be designated for field maintenance.

Board Vice President Ken Brooks said he did not think Golden Belt Bank had any ill intentions when making the donation offer.

"They were trying to help our community and help our school district," he said.&nbsp;

Brooks said everything the rest of the board was asking for in the contract was included, except for the donation paying for the full replacement of the turf.

He said the community members he has spoken to have been in favor of accepting the bank's donation.

"I get you may feel this is not enough, but this is a generous offer," Brooks said.

He said the football season was starting, and Golden Belt Bank was the only entity that came forward with such a donation offer.

"I get that we want to have a policy going forward, but I don't think that this is a bad plan," Brooks said. "When I look at what they proposed, I don't see any red flags in there."

Vajnar said he had spoken to officials at the bank, and he believed there was no ill will between the district and the bank.

&nbsp;"If it's worth that to them now, it will be worth it to them three or four months from now," Vajnar said, "Just because they were first doesn't mean it's theirs."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757531043130.jpeg" alt="Hays High School football field viewed from the school's commons" />
 <figcaption>Hays High School football field viewed from the school's commons</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school board decided to create a committee to help shape policy on naming rights for school district facilities.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a90fb672-f7e5-4826-b5f3-1decd214e83c">The district effectively let an offer from Golden Belt Bank of $200,000 for the naming rights to the new football field at Hays High School expire. That contract would have been for a 10-year term.</a>The bank set a deadline of Sept. 15 to accept the offer.Board member Ruth Ruder thanked Golden Belt Bank for what she called a tremendous offer.&nbsp;"We just recently talked about taxes, and here you're given an opportunity to take $200,000 that is given from Golden Belt Bank," she said.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPONHTXLmgQ">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 school board passes budget with tax increase</a>She said although naming of facilities is usually seen at colleges, Hays could be at the forefront of something new.She said the Golden Belt Bank offer did not include the bank's logo on the turf or changing the name of the school's mascot to the "Golden Belt Indians.""When you are talking about increasing revenue, this is the way to do it," she said. "I'm not just talking about the football field. I'm talking about the auditorium, the basketball courts, the tennis courts."Ruder said she could not think of a downside to Golden Belt Bank's offer."It's funds in our pocket. It's free funds. To me, that's positivity for the community and positivity on for Hays High School," she said.Board member Jayme Goetz said she has talked to community members, teachers and coaches about the facility naming issue. She said those people had reservations, but indicated they would approve of naming rights if the price was right.Goetz said she thought money raised from naming fields should be designated for turf replacement, and the price for those naming rights should be proportional to the cost of that replacement.She estimated the cost of replacing the turf at $600,000 to $800,000 every eight to 10 years. She proposed naming rights should cost $35,000 to $40,000 per year.Board member Meagan Zampeiri-Lillpopp said she believed a policy on naming rights was necessary."I am interested in the conversation," she said.Board member Allen Park said, "If it's worth doing, it should be done right.""This is policy, and that's our job. I think it should be fair. I think we should give the opportunity to everybody somehow," he said.Board President Curt Vajnar said he did not think the board had a deadline for making decisions on naming rights. The bank has a deadline, he said."The naming of USD 489 facilities belongs to the citizens of Hays, not a business or entity. ... At the end of that end zone, it says Hays. It does not say Hays High School. It belongs to all of us."Vajnar said he did not think the bank was offering enough for the naming rights for a 10-year contract. He also said he thought all businesses and entities should have the same opportunity to have naming rights, as Park discussed.He echoed Goetz's comments, saying any money coming from the naming rights of the fields should be designated for field maintenance.Board Vice President Ken Brooks said he did not think Golden Belt Bank had any ill intentions when making the donation offer."They were trying to help our community and help our school district," he said.&nbsp;Brooks said everything the rest of the board was asking for in the contract was included, except for the donation paying for the full replacement of the turf.He said the community members he has spoken to have been in favor of accepting the bank's donation."I get you may feel this is not enough, but this is a generous offer," Brooks said.He said the football season was starting, and Golden Belt Bank was the only entity that came forward with such a donation offer."I get that we want to have a policy going forward, but I don't think that this is a bad plan," Brooks said. "When I look at what they proposed, I don't see any red flags in there."Vajnar said he had spoken to officials at the bank, and he believed there was no ill will between the district and the bank.&nbsp;"If it's worth that to them now, it will be worth it to them three or four months from now," Vajnar said, "Just because they were first doesn't mean it's theirs."The board did not vote on the issue.

Hays USD 489 postpones naming rights decision, despite bank's deadline

DOWNS — The Kansas Storytelling Festival is holding three qualifying events for the 2026 Tall Tales storytelling contest. 

Anyone (amateur) is welcome to enter these preliminary events to become one of four finalists at the Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026 in Downs. All qualifier events are free to attend.

The first qualifier will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, beginning at 5:00pm. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tonganoxieartscouncil.org/copy-of-story-telling-festival">Art Events &amp; Workshops | Arts Council</a> Following the Tall Tale contest at about 7:35 p.m., Professional Storyteller Paul Strickland will perform.

The second qualifier will be held Saturday, September 20 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca St., Wichita, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Following the contest, previous Kansas Tall Tale champions and historical Legends will perform. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-545-5285.

The final qualifier will be held in Downs, the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas” on Saturday, October 11, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1018 Blunt Street, Downs. The Downs event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-454-1177.

A tall tale is a unique form of American Story Telling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are.&nbsp; A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination. 

Professional storytellers cannot compete. 

Information and rules for the Tall Tale Competition are posted at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">kansasstorytellingfestival.com</a>&nbsp;

Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. For more information or to register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>&nbsp;or the Kansas Storytelling FaceBook page at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival">https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757428030972.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedDOWNS — The Kansas Storytelling Festival is holding three qualifying events for the 2026 Tall Tales storytelling contest. Anyone (amateur) is welcome to enter these preliminary events to become one of four finalists at the Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026 in Downs. All qualifier events are free to attend.The first qualifier will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, beginning at 5:00pm. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tonganoxieartscouncil.org/copy-of-story-telling-festival">Art Events &amp; Workshops | Arts Council</a> Following the Tall Tale contest at about 7:35 p.m., Professional Storyteller Paul Strickland will perform.The second qualifier will be held Saturday, September 20 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca St., Wichita, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Following the contest, previous Kansas Tall Tale champions and historical Legends will perform. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-545-5285.The final qualifier will be held in Downs, the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas” on Saturday, October 11, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1018 Blunt Street, Downs. The Downs event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-454-1177.A tall tale is a unique form of American Story Telling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are.&nbsp; A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination. Professional storytellers cannot compete. Information and rules for the Tall Tale Competition are posted at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">kansasstorytellingfestival.com</a>&nbsp;Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. For more information or to register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>&nbsp;or the Kansas Storytelling FaceBook page at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival">https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival</a>.

Storytelling festival's Tall Tale preliminaries begin Saturday

By KAREN MADORIN Hays Post

You’d think a gal who’s celebrated 70 summers would know bumble and honey bees are very different creatures. 

Both are bees but live entirely different lifestyles. Compare them to city and rural residents or people from Alaska and Florida. Until recently, I never considered their differences other than to note one was fuzzier and bigger.

Because we planted more flowers this year, scores more bumble bees zip through our airways, flitting from one blossom to another. Numbers increased enough we may need bee traffic control to prevent wrecks. 

That observation awakened the one time four-year-old-me full of questions needing answers. What do they eat, where do they live, are they like honey bees only bigger, and so on. Once my curiosity fired up, I scoured one article after another to learn these unique creatures are very different from honey bees that share their territory.

Honey bees are smaller with lighter coloring. Often, over a thousand live year-round in above ground hives either man-made or bee-constructed and filled with complex hexagonal wax combs designed to store honey. This labor-intensive lifestyle ensures colonies survive winters to emerge each spring. 

Workers and drones specialize in collecting pollen and nectar, organizing tidy hives and combs, and nurturing expanding populations. It can take seven or more honey bees to harvest nectar from one flower. To succeed, colonies must function as a fine-tuned organization.

Bumble bees, larger, fuzzier, and more intensely colored than honey bees operate with an entirely different mindset. Their colonies are much smaller than honey bees’. As few as 20 to possibly 400 share a hive. Drones and workers live only one season and die before winter. Only the queen survives 'til the next year so bumble bee hives exist for only one season. 

The queen doesn’t over-winter at that site. She scouts a sheltered location where she hibernates and incubates fertilized eggs 'til emerging the following spring. She then establishes a new hive in either a log or tree cavity or in an abandoned animal hole in the ground, lays eggs, and collects enough pollen to get that first hatch started.

The initial emergents are all female and once mature, care for the following hatches which turn into drones and worker bees. Bumble bees make honey, but since they don’t live through the winter, they don’t store it. They produce enough to survive from week to week, tucking it in little wax pots stashed around comb-less, disorganized hives.

Only females sting, and unlike honey bees, they don’t lose their stinger after they use it so they can wreak havoc again. 

Males have no stinger so outdoor-lovers who can identify carriers of XY chromosomes can relax when sizable, fuzzy, yellow and black dudes do a fly-by. No squealing or evasive tactics necessary.

Where it takes multiple honey bees to harvest pollen and nectar from a flower, bumble bees are more efficient. One latches onto a blossom’s anther and flaps its wings. The resulting vibration loosens pollen so the bee can harvest it, or it pollinates nearby blossoms. One researcher mentioned greenhouses utilize bumble bees to increase tomato production.

Some humans earn specialized degrees to learn everything possible about bumble bees. I prefer to watch them vibrating my flowers. 

That said, I enjoyed the time I spent unearthing facts I should have known years ago.

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN Hays PostYou’d think a gal who’s celebrated 70 summers would know bumble and honey bees are very different creatures. Both are bees but live entirely different lifestyles. Compare them to city and rural residents or people from Alaska and Florida. Until recently, I never considered their differences other than to note one was fuzzier and bigger.Because we planted more flowers this year, scores more bumble bees zip through our airways, flitting from one blossom to another. Numbers increased enough we may need bee traffic control to prevent wrecks. That observation awakened the one time four-year-old-me full of questions needing answers. What do they eat, where do they live, are they like honey bees only bigger, and so on. Once my curiosity fired up, I scoured one article after another to learn these unique creatures are very different from honey bees that share their territory.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757439651483.jpeg" alt="Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Honey bees are smaller with lighter coloring. Often, over a thousand live year-round in above ground hives either man-made or bee-constructed and filled with complex hexagonal wax combs designed to store honey. This labor-intensive lifestyle ensures colonies survive winters to emerge each spring. Workers and drones specialize in collecting pollen and nectar, organizing tidy hives and combs, and nurturing expanding populations. It can take seven or more honey bees to harvest nectar from one flower. To succeed, colonies must function as a fine-tuned organization.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757439614520.jpeg" alt="Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Bumble bees, larger, fuzzier, and more intensely colored than honey bees operate with an entirely different mindset. Their colonies are much smaller than honey bees’. As few as 20 to possibly 400 share a hive. Drones and workers live only one season and die before winter. Only the queen survives 'til the next year so bumble bee hives exist for only one season. The queen doesn’t over-winter at that site. She scouts a sheltered location where she hibernates and incubates fertilized eggs 'til emerging the following spring. She then establishes a new hive in either a log or tree cavity or in an abandoned animal hole in the ground, lays eggs, and collects enough pollen to get that first hatch started.The initial emergents are all female and once mature, care for the following hatches which turn into drones and worker bees. Bumble bees make honey, but since they don’t live through the winter, they don’t store it. They produce enough to survive from week to week, tucking it in little wax pots stashed around comb-less, disorganized hives.Only females sting, and unlike honey bees, they don’t lose their stinger after they use it so they can wreak havoc again. Males have no stinger so outdoor-lovers who can identify carriers of XY chromosomes can relax when sizable, fuzzy, yellow and black dudes do a fly-by. No squealing or evasive tactics necessary.Where it takes multiple honey bees to harvest pollen and nectar from a flower, bumble bees are more efficient. One latches onto a blossom’s anther and flaps its wings. The resulting vibration loosens pollen so the bee can harvest it, or it pollinates nearby blossoms. One researcher mentioned greenhouses utilize bumble bees to increase tomato production.Some humans earn specialized degrees to learn everything possible about bumble bees. I prefer to watch them vibrating my flowers. That said, I enjoyed the time I spent unearthing facts I should have known years ago.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Things I ought to know

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflecto</a>r

TOPEKA — Kansas education commissioner Randy Watson announced Wednesday he plans to retire from the position he has held since 2014.

Watson said he will remain in the position until the Kansas State Board of Education hires a new commissioner.

“For 10 years, it’s been my pleasure to serve the board,” Watson said in a news release following Wednesday’s board meeting, where he made the announcement. “They’ve done remarkable work and have had many accomplishments over that time. I’m proud to have been a small part of that.”

Board chair Cathy Hopkins praised Watson for bringing stability to the board.

“He’s always asking, ‘How can I make this board function on behalf of Kansas education as its best possible peak?’ He exemplifies that so well,” Hopkins said.

The news release said Watson helped lead initiatives to improve literacy, strengthen the accreditation system for K-12 schools, and redesign schools to meet student needs and create stronger pathways for post-graduation success. He also visited all 286 school districts multiple times during his time as commissioner, the news release said.

Watson received widespread attention in 2022 for making&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/24/worry-about-the-indians-raiding-kansas-education-commissioner-under-fire-for-conference-joke/">insensitive comments</a>&nbsp;about American Indians during an online education conference. The board suspended him for a month without pay, and&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/12/kansas-education-commissioner-publicly-apologizes-for-racist-story-on-native-americans/">he apologized</a>&nbsp;for the remarks.

Before he was named education commissioner, Watson was the superintendent for McPherson public schools. His also has experience as a teacher, principal and coach.

The Coffeyville native earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a doctorate from Kansas State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584484524519.png" alt="File photo Dr. Randy Watson" />
 <figcaption>File photo Dr. Randy Watson</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflecto</a>rTOPEKA — Kansas education commissioner Randy Watson announced Wednesday he plans to retire from the position he has held since 2014.Watson said he will remain in the position until the Kansas State Board of Education hires a new commissioner.“For 10 years, it’s been my pleasure to serve the board,” Watson said in a news release following Wednesday’s board meeting, where he made the announcement. “They’ve done remarkable work and have had many accomplishments over that time. I’m proud to have been a small part of that.”Board chair Cathy Hopkins praised Watson for bringing stability to the board.“He’s always asking, ‘How can I make this board function on behalf of Kansas education as its best possible peak?’ He exemplifies that so well,” Hopkins said.The news release said Watson helped lead initiatives to improve literacy, strengthen the accreditation system for K-12 schools, and redesign schools to meet student needs and create stronger pathways for post-graduation success. He also visited all 286 school districts multiple times during his time as commissioner, the news release said.Watson received widespread attention in 2022 for making&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/24/worry-about-the-indians-raiding-kansas-education-commissioner-under-fire-for-conference-joke/">insensitive comments</a>&nbsp;about American Indians during an online education conference. The board suspended him for a month without pay, and&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/12/kansas-education-commissioner-publicly-apologizes-for-racist-story-on-native-americans/">he apologized</a>&nbsp;for the remarks.Before he was named education commissioner, Watson was the superintendent for McPherson public schools. His also has experience as a teacher, principal and coach.The Coffeyville native earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a doctorate from Kansas State University.

Kansas education commissioner announces retirement

SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office has filed formal charges against Clowie Ann McLaughlin, 80, of Augusta, in connection with a deadly crash on August 30 that claimed the lives of two Wichita women.

McLaughlin is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, severity level 4 person felonies, in the deaths of 42-year-old LaShea Bell and her daughter, 25-year-old A’Niah Bell.

The crash happened around 9:35 p.m. at the intersection of Central and Webb Road. According to Wichita police, McLaughlin’s black Chevrolet truck collided with a white BMW carrying the Bells and a gray Jeep driven by a 41-year-old man. LaShea Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, while A’Niah Bell later died at a local hospital. The Jeep driver was treated at the scene and released.

Police said speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the collision. McLaughlin was taken to a hospital for treatment of her own injuries and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail after being medically cleared. She bonded out Sunday evening after posting a $100,000 bond.

McLaughlin is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Monday, September 15, at 10 a.m.

Because the investigation and legal proceedings remain ongoing, authorities say no further details will be released at this time. Officials also reminded the public that all criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541241700.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office has filed formal charges against Clowie Ann McLaughlin, 80, of Augusta, in connection with a deadly crash on August 30 that claimed the lives of two Wichita women.McLaughlin is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, severity level 4 person felonies, in the deaths of 42-year-old LaShea Bell and her daughter, 25-year-old A’Niah Bell.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756722147795.png" alt="Clowie Ann McLaughlin (Photo courtesy Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office)&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Clowie Ann McLaughlin (Photo courtesy Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office)&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The crash happened around 9:35 p.m. at the intersection of Central and Webb Road. According to Wichita police, McLaughlin’s black Chevrolet truck collided with a white BMW carrying the Bells and a gray Jeep driven by a 41-year-old man. LaShea Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, while A’Niah Bell later died at a local hospital. The Jeep driver was treated at the scene and released.Police said speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the collision. McLaughlin was taken to a hospital for treatment of her own injuries and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail after being medically cleared. She bonded out Sunday evening after posting a $100,000 bond.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541392417.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>McLaughlin is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Monday, September 15, at 10 a.m.Because the investigation and legal proceedings remain ongoing, authorities say no further details will be released at this time. Officials also reminded the public that all criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

80-year-old charged in DUI crash that killed Kan. mother, daughter 

OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event in an act that drew renewed attention to the threat of political violence across the United States.

The death was announced on social media by Trump, who praised the 31-year-old Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of the youth organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>, as “Great, and even Legendary.”

“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account.

The suspected shooter has not been arrested, Orem, Utah, Mayor David Young said. A person who was taken into custody by law enforcement at the university where Kirk was speaking was not the suspect, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away. The AP was able to confirm the videos were taken at Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.

“We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA.

Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions for an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.

“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” an audience members asked. Kirk responded: “Too many.”

The event had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit to Utah colleges was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”

Trump and a host of Republican and Democratic elected officials decried the shooting and offered prayers for Kirk on social media.

“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year.

Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who was at the event, said in an interview on Fox News Channel that he heard one shot and saw Kirk go back.

“It seemed like it was a close shot,” Chaffetz said, who seemed shaken as he spoke.

He said there was a light police presence at the event and Kirk had some security but not enough.

Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.-------------------

OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>&nbsp;and a close ally of President Donald Trump, was in critical condition at a Utah hospital Wednesday after being shot at a college event, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

A person who was taken into custody at Utah Valley University was not the suspect, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to speak publicly. It was not clear if authorities were still searching the campus for a suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757539632054.png" alt="Charlie Kirk photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Charlie Kirk photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event in an act that drew renewed attention to the threat of political violence across the United States.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Charlie Kirk was a father, husband, son and a voice for young conservatives. He was a man of faith who deeply loved his country. His murder is an appalling act of violence, and I am heartbroken for his wife, children and loved ones. Please pray for the Kirk family and our…&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1965909915781709863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In honor of Charlie Kirk, President Trump is ordering all American flags throughout the U.S. to be lowered to Half Mast. <a href="https://t.co/FOYHIZU2FD">pic.twitter.com/FOYHIZU2FD</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1965885627116966045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his… <a href="https://t.co/aM8Pz3TKml">pic.twitter.com/aM8Pz3TKml</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1965880535659470994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Psalms 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1965888011192893625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Please pray for Charlie Kirk and his family.&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1965854972349919555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The loss of Charlie Kirk will be felt by all corners of the conservative movement. Charlie touched the lives of many people -– but most of all, America&#39;s youth. His bright spirit and determination to bring about a better future for his children and his fellow Americans will…&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1965887318423908505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The death was announced on social media by Trump, who praised the 31-year-old Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of the youth organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>, as “Great, and even Legendary.”“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account.The suspected shooter has not been arrested, Orem, Utah, Mayor David Young said. A person who was taken into custody by law enforcement at the university where Kirk was speaking was not the suspect, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to speak publicly.Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away. The AP was able to confirm the videos were taken at Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.“We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA.Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions for an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” an audience members asked. Kirk responded: “Too many.”The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.Then a single shot rang out.The event had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit to Utah colleges was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”Trump and a host of Republican and Democratic elected officials decried the shooting and offered prayers for Kirk on social media.“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump posted on Truth Social.The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year.Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who was at the event, said in an interview on Fox News Channel that he heard one shot and saw Kirk go back.“It seemed like it was a close shot,” Chaffetz said, who seemed shaken as he spoke.He said there was a light police presence at the event and Kirk had some security but not enough.“Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And so we just don’t have these types of things.”Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. It was not an immediate success.But Kirk’s zeal for confronting liberals in academia eventually won over an influential set of conservative financiers.Despite early misgivings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-turning-point-voter-mobilization-musk-07286c2572b02aafefdda1cda093e788">Turning Point</a>&nbsp;enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, during the general election campaign.Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.-------------------OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>&nbsp;and a close ally of President Donald Trump, was in critical condition at a Utah hospital Wednesday after being shot at a college event, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and…&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1965851035467132940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Laina and I are heartbroken to learn that <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CharlieKirk11</a> was shot while holding an event in Utah. We are praying for him, his family, and everyone at the event.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1965850846669017462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Please pray for Charlie Kirk and his family.&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1965854972349919555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” - President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/GqYC4QdhA1">pic.twitter.com/GqYC4QdhA1</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1965854672390148201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🙏 Lord, we lift up Charlie Kirk in this immediate moment. Grant him strength, his doctors wisdom, and the kind of protection only YOU can provide. 🇺🇸✝️&mdash; House Republicans (@HouseGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP/status/1965853007683399997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We love you Charlie Kirk. Praying for you. <a href="https://t.co/ti1viJjM5L">https://t.co/ti1viJjM5L</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1965853529266094107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk after this senseless act.&mdash; Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveScalise/status/1965853329260740853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A person who was taken into custody at Utah Valley University was not the suspect, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to speak publicly. It was not clear if authorities were still searching the campus for a suspect.Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away. The AP was able to confirm the videos were taken at Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.“We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA.Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. The event had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit to Utah colleges was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”The college said a “single shot” had been fired at Kirk and a suspect was in custody.Trump and a host of Republican and Democratic elected officials decried the shooting and offered prayers for Kirk on social media.“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump posted on Truth Social.The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year.Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who was at the event, said in an interview on Fox News Channel that he heard one shot and saw Kirk go back.“It seemed like it was a close shot,” Chaffetz said, who seemed shaken as he spoke.He said there was a light police presence at the event and Kirk had some security but not enough.“Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And so we just don’t have these types of things.”Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. It was not an immediate success.But Kirk’s zeal for confronting liberals in academia eventually won over an influential set of conservative financiers.Despite early misgivings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-turning-point-voter-mobilization-musk-07286c2572b02aafefdda1cda093e788">Turning Point</a>&nbsp;enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, during the general election campaign.Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.------------OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot Wednesday at an event at a Utah college, Turning Point said.“We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA.Kirk was attending an event at Utah Valley University.The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally last year.