By LINN ANN HUNTINTON Special to Hays Post

Thanks to the financial support of a Hays church, a free laundry service for individuals in Ellis County is going to expand.

Laundry Love was begun by First Call for Help of Ells County in June 2024. Since then, it has provided low-income individuals the ability to wash and dry up to six loads of laundry free of charge once a month.

That free service has been provided at the 27th&nbsp;&amp; Hall St. Laundromat, 507 W. 27th, on the third Thursday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. That service will continue. But funding from Hays First United Methodist Church will provide an additional night on the first Thursday of each month, starting April 2 at a second location. That new location will be 8th&nbsp;Street Laundry Services, 225 E. Eighth St. The times will remain the same, from 4 to 6 pm., with the last load ending at 5:30 p.m.

According to information provided by First Call, in 2025 the Laundry Love program served 204 individuals, with 435 loads of laundry washed and dried completely free at the 27th&nbsp;and Hall location.

The Rev. Dr. Susan Murithi, senior pastor at Hays First United Methodist, said the fact that the program is so well used was a deciding factor in the church’s decision to sponsor the program at both laundromats for 2026.

Macey Pfeifer, First Call’s executive director, said that Sunflower Bank was the sponsor the past two years.

“We are so grateful to Sunflower Bank for bringing this opportunity to us in 2024. They sponsored us for 2024 and 2025 with their original donation of $3,500. First United Methodist’s sponsorship is $1,500 for the year for each location,” Pfeifer said.

First Call’s staff and volunteers will continue running the program at the 27th&nbsp;and Hall location, while volunteers from the church’s Missions and Community Engagement Committee will run the service at the Eighth Street location.

Laundry Love has a contract with Earth Breeze laundry detergent, which will provide boxes of the detergent sheets free of charge. Pfeifer said First Call will also have liquid laundry detergent available, along with fabric softener and dryer sheets. These will all be provided for free at both locations.

Pastor Murithi said the church recently revised its Mission Statement to focus more on 'serving and healing within our community.'

“Whenever we see brokenness or an area needing healing in the community, the congregation is great about stepping up. We try to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

She said Greg Daughhetee, a member of the Missions and Community Engagement Committee, was the one who first heard about Laundry Love and took the idea of sponsoring the program to the committee.

Sherri Brown, chair of the committee, said the group suggested adding a downtown laundromat since many individuals lack the transportation to access the facility at 27th&nbsp;and Hall.

Pfeifer with First Call said she thought the idea was a good one.&nbsp;“Opening this location and having it on an additional day will give households the chance to utilize both nights and wash their clothes twice a month rather than once.”&nbsp;

Murithi said any time First United Methodist Church looks at sponsoring a new project, the members look at several questions: What project represents the greatest need? Do we have an adequate budget? Do we have sufficient people to do this project?

She said the church took up a special collection on Christmas Eve and decided to put all of the money collected toward community service. One of those community service projects was Laundry Love.

Murithi said her goal as a pastor is to have each member of the congregation find some type of outreach project that they can get involved with—whether it’s women knitting prayer shawls to give to people who are grieving; to the church members who help prepare and serve the hot meals once a week for the drive-thru Feeding Hays ministry; to those who volunteer overnight at The Hearth, the cold weather shelter run by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance; to the young people who go shopping each Christmas for Angel Tree gifts for underprivileged children.

Murithi has been the pastor at Hays First United Methodist for about 1½ years. She said of all the churches she has served during her 20-year ministry, “this is one of the most passionate churches about outreach into the community.”

Pfeifer said,&nbsp;“Laundry Love is a wonderful program to have in our community. If you're not blessed enough to own your own machines, it can be quite expensive to wash your clothes every few days or even once a week. The cost adds up. We love that we have businesses/organizations/churches that are willing to be sponsors so this program can remain.

“Every month we have individuals thank us many times throughout the night for offering the program. It really puts into perspective how much you can take for granted. Future goals of Laundry Love would to be to get the word out more and make sure everyone in the community is aware that this is something that is offered.”

Pfeifer said that any organization or church interested in sponsoring Laundry Love in the future may contact her at 785-623-2800.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773164647057.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By LINN ANN HUNTINTON Special to Hays PostThanks to the financial support of a Hays church, a free laundry service for individuals in Ellis County is going to expand.Laundry Love was begun by First Call for Help of Ells County in June 2024. Since then, it has provided low-income individuals the ability to wash and dry up to six loads of laundry free of charge once a month.That free service has been provided at the 27th&nbsp;&amp; Hall St. Laundromat, 507 W. 27th, on the third Thursday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. That service will continue. But funding from Hays First United Methodist Church will provide an additional night on the first Thursday of each month, starting April 2 at a second location. That new location will be 8th&nbsp;Street Laundry Services, 225 E. Eighth St. The times will remain the same, from 4 to 6 pm., with the last load ending at 5:30 p.m.According to information provided by First Call, in 2025 the Laundry Love program served 204 individuals, with 435 loads of laundry washed and dried completely free at the 27th&nbsp;and Hall location.The Rev. Dr. Susan Murithi, senior pastor at Hays First United Methodist, said the fact that the program is so well used was a deciding factor in the church’s decision to sponsor the program at both laundromats for 2026.Macey Pfeifer, First Call’s executive director, said that Sunflower Bank was the sponsor the past two years.“We are so grateful to Sunflower Bank for bringing this opportunity to us in 2024. They sponsored us for 2024 and 2025 with their original donation of $3,500. First United Methodist’s sponsorship is $1,500 for the year for each location,” Pfeifer said.First Call’s staff and volunteers will continue running the program at the 27th&nbsp;and Hall location, while volunteers from the church’s Missions and Community Engagement Committee will run the service at the Eighth Street location.Laundry Love has a contract with Earth Breeze laundry detergent, which will provide boxes of the detergent sheets free of charge. Pfeifer said First Call will also have liquid laundry detergent available, along with fabric softener and dryer sheets. These will all be provided for free at both locations.Pastor Murithi said the church recently revised its Mission Statement to focus more on 'serving and healing within our community.'“Whenever we see brokenness or an area needing healing in the community, the congregation is great about stepping up. We try to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”She said Greg Daughhetee, a member of the Missions and Community Engagement Committee, was the one who first heard about Laundry Love and took the idea of sponsoring the program to the committee.Sherri Brown, chair of the committee, said the group suggested adding a downtown laundromat since many individuals lack the transportation to access the facility at 27th&nbsp;and Hall.Pfeifer with First Call said she thought the idea was a good one.&nbsp;“Opening this location and having it on an additional day will give households the chance to utilize both nights and wash their clothes twice a month rather than once.”&nbsp;Murithi said any time First United Methodist Church looks at sponsoring a new project, the members look at several questions: What project represents the greatest need? Do we have an adequate budget? Do we have sufficient people to do this project?She said the church took up a special collection on Christmas Eve and decided to put all of the money collected toward community service. One of those community service projects was Laundry Love.Murithi said her goal as a pastor is to have each member of the congregation find some type of outreach project that they can get involved with—whether it’s women knitting prayer shawls to give to people who are grieving; to the church members who help prepare and serve the hot meals once a week for the drive-thru Feeding Hays ministry; to those who volunteer overnight at The Hearth, the cold weather shelter run by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance; to the young people who go shopping each Christmas for Angel Tree gifts for underprivileged children.Murithi has been the pastor at Hays First United Methodist for about 1½ years. She said of all the churches she has served during her 20-year ministry, “this is one of the most passionate churches about outreach into the community.”Pfeifer said,&nbsp;“Laundry Love is a wonderful program to have in our community. If you're not blessed enough to own your own machines, it can be quite expensive to wash your clothes every few days or even once a week. The cost adds up. We love that we have businesses/organizations/churches that are willing to be sponsors so this program can remain.“Every month we have individuals thank us many times throughout the night for offering the program. It really puts into perspective how much you can take for granted. Future goals of Laundry Love would to be to get the word out more and make sure everyone in the community is aware that this is something that is offered.”Pfeifer said that any organization or church interested in sponsoring Laundry Love in the future may contact her at 785-623-2800.

Church’s support helps expand free laundry service in Hays

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a broad bill on Thursday to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, a rare bipartisan effort in Congress to address a growing national problem.

The bill, which passed 89-10, would reduce regulations, regulate corporate investors and expand how housing dollars can be used to build affordable homes and rentals. It will now head back to the House, which passed a similar bill earlier this year.

“There is growing demand for affordable housing in rural communities in Kansas and across the country, underscoring the importance of practical and innovative solutions to help meet that need,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“This legislation will streamline rural housing programs, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and help expand access to affordable housing for rural families. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law so we can continue to strengthen rural America and improve access to affordable housing.”

“We have a housing shortage all across America,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who worked with Republicans to win overwhelming support from both parties for the legislation. “We need more housing of every kind. More housing for first-time home buyers, more housing for renters, more housing for seniors, more housing for people with disabilities, more rural housing, more urban housing, more, more, and more."

The legislation, she said, "will help drive down prices.”

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., led the effort with Warren. He said ahead of the vote that the Senate would “do what so many people failed to do in this legislative body for the last few decades, and that is pass consequential legislation that makes it easier to become a homeowner.”

Despite the bipartisan vote in the Senate and a shared eagerness to pass the legislation ahead of the midterm elections, It’s unclear whether the House will take up the bill again — or if President Donald Trump will sign it.

Trump has backed the legislation through the bipartisan negotiations, but he has also slowed its momentum with a declaration last weekend that he won’t sign any new measures unless Congress passes legislation that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-save-america-act-congress-voting-midterms-e4223827fff131d9b8f0afabccd56325">require voters to show proof of citizenship</a>&nbsp;and end most mail-in balloting. The Senate is expected to begin consideration of that bill next week, but it is unlikely to pass as all Democrats oppose it.

At the same time, House leaders have indicated that they are unlikely to accept the Senate version of the housing legislation and have suggested they could launch a formal conference process to negotiate a final deal between the chambers — a process that could take months.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the bill’s passage that conference negotiations are a possibility, “but obviously the quickest way to do this would be to pick up the Senate bill and pass it.”

If the White House wants that to happen, he said, “they’ll probably have to make that argument to House leadership.”

House Financial Services Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., said in a statement that Senate passage is “an important step” but added that, “it is critical we get the details right and mitigate some of the concerns raised by House members with the Senate bill.”

Both Republicans and Democrats have embraced the legislation as there has been a national shortage of home construction and as prices have climbed faster than incomes. The bill would give local governments more power on housing issues, allow banks to invest more in affordable housing and lift limits on the number of public housing units that can receive private financing through Section 8 funding to rehabilitate properties.

“You’ve got many provisions in this bill that stop treating the U.S. like one single housing market and start giving local leaders the tools they need to fix their unique regional puzzle,” said Peter Carroll with Cotality, a company that tracks housing data.

The bill aims to make homebuilding easier by streamlining some regulations that require environmental reviews and inspections. It also lifts a limit on a grant for emergency shelter beds and street homelessness outreach.

As many affordable housing developers are leaning on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3d-printing-homes-manufactured-modular-housing-crisis-b61a54e0caee09f221b859fd99b18a43">manufactured and modular homes</a>&nbsp;that can be transported to areas that need housing, the legislation also would eliminate the requirement that they have to be built on a permanent chassis, reducing costs and making them easier to build and design.

One of the more contested provisions of the bill would bar institutional investors from buying single-family homes — a top priority for Trump.

The bill defines such investors as any that directly or indirectly own 350 or more single-family homes. Investors of any size would not be required to sell single-family homes bought before the date that the bill becomes a law.

They would still be allowed to buy or build single-family homes if they rent them out, but would be required to sell them to an individual homebuyer after seven years.

Trump has pushed the ban as he has been under pressure to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-high-prices-inflation-angry-voters-e6e65165deaf9dfc8dbb986f43b1a61a">voters’ concerns about affordability</a>&nbsp;ahead of the midterm elections. “People live in homes, not corporations,” Trump said in a social media post in January, calling on Congress to act.

Critics of the bill’s limits on large institutional investors say it will lead to less rental housing inventory and higher rents as landlords face less competition. At the same time, it’s unclear how a ban that targets institutional investors that own 350 or more single-family homes would meaningfully reduce competition that ordinary homebuyers may face when they shop for a home.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023 — well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm. They slowed last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">a 30-year low and</a>&nbsp;have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-c284d47896979530871c1660b0e05ca6">January</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-29d84f7fa22d4b8ccc2d2906e9e58618">February</a>&nbsp;versus a year earlier.

A sharp run-up in home prices, especially in the early years of this decade, and a chronic shortage of homes nationally worsened by years of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.

Meanwhile, while the median U.S. monthly rent has been declining for more than two years, it was still 15.2% higher in January than it was at the start of 2020, according to data from Realtor.com.

Kramon reported from Atlanta and Veiga reported from Los Angeles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773348589836.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a broad bill on Thursday to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, a rare bipartisan effort in Congress to address a growing national problem.The bill, which passed 89-10, would reduce regulations, regulate corporate investors and expand how housing dollars can be used to build affordable homes and rentals. It will now head back to the House, which passed a similar bill earlier this year.“There is growing demand for affordable housing in rural communities in Kansas and across the country, underscoring the importance of practical and innovative solutions to help meet that need,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“This legislation will streamline rural housing programs, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and help expand access to affordable housing for rural families. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law so we can continue to strengthen rural America and improve access to affordable housing.”“We have a housing shortage all across America,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who worked with Republicans to win overwhelming support from both parties for the legislation. “We need more housing of every kind. More housing for first-time home buyers, more housing for renters, more housing for seniors, more housing for people with disabilities, more rural housing, more urban housing, more, more, and more."The legislation, she said, "will help drive down prices.”Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., led the effort with Warren. He said ahead of the vote that the Senate would “do what so many people failed to do in this legislative body for the last few decades, and that is pass consequential legislation that makes it easier to become a homeowner.”<h2>Roadblocks ahead for the legislation</h2>Despite the bipartisan vote in the Senate and a shared eagerness to pass the legislation ahead of the midterm elections, It’s unclear whether the House will take up the bill again — or if President Donald Trump will sign it.Trump has backed the legislation through the bipartisan negotiations, but he has also slowed its momentum with a declaration last weekend that he won’t sign any new measures unless Congress passes legislation that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-save-america-act-congress-voting-midterms-e4223827fff131d9b8f0afabccd56325">require voters to show proof of citizenship</a>&nbsp;and end most mail-in balloting. The Senate is expected to begin consideration of that bill next week, but it is unlikely to pass as all Democrats oppose it.At the same time, House leaders have indicated that they are unlikely to accept the Senate version of the housing legislation and have suggested they could launch a formal conference process to negotiate a final deal between the chambers — a process that could take months.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the bill’s passage that conference negotiations are a possibility, “but obviously the quickest way to do this would be to pick up the Senate bill and pass it.”If the White House wants that to happen, he said, “they’ll probably have to make that argument to House leadership.”House Financial Services Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., said in a statement that Senate passage is “an important step” but added that, “it is critical we get the details right and mitigate some of the concerns raised by House members with the Senate bill.”<h2>Making housing more attainable</h2>Both Republicans and Democrats have embraced the legislation as there has been a national shortage of home construction and as prices have climbed faster than incomes. The bill would give local governments more power on housing issues, allow banks to invest more in affordable housing and lift limits on the number of public housing units that can receive private financing through Section 8 funding to rehabilitate properties.“You’ve got many provisions in this bill that stop treating the U.S. like one single housing market and start giving local leaders the tools they need to fix their unique regional puzzle,” said Peter Carroll with Cotality, a company that tracks housing data.The bill aims to make homebuilding easier by streamlining some regulations that require environmental reviews and inspections. It also lifts a limit on a grant for emergency shelter beds and street homelessness outreach.As many affordable housing developers are leaning on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3d-printing-homes-manufactured-modular-housing-crisis-b61a54e0caee09f221b859fd99b18a43">manufactured and modular homes</a>&nbsp;that can be transported to areas that need housing, the legislation also would eliminate the requirement that they have to be built on a permanent chassis, reducing costs and making them easier to build and design.<h2>Corporate investors</h2>One of the more contested provisions of the bill would bar institutional investors from buying single-family homes — a top priority for Trump.The bill defines such investors as any that directly or indirectly own 350 or more single-family homes. Investors of any size would not be required to sell single-family homes bought before the date that the bill becomes a law.They would still be allowed to buy or build single-family homes if they rent them out, but would be required to sell them to an individual homebuyer after seven years.Trump has pushed the ban as he has been under pressure to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-high-prices-inflation-angry-voters-e6e65165deaf9dfc8dbb986f43b1a61a">voters’ concerns about affordability</a>&nbsp;ahead of the midterm elections. “People live in homes, not corporations,” Trump said in a social media post in January, calling on Congress to act.Critics of the bill’s limits on large institutional investors say it will lead to less rental housing inventory and higher rents as landlords face less competition. At the same time, it’s unclear how a ban that targets institutional investors that own 350 or more single-family homes would meaningfully reduce competition that ordinary homebuyers may face when they shop for a home.<h2>A need for reform</h2>The U.S. housing market has been in a slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023 — well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm. They slowed last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">a 30-year low and</a>&nbsp;have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-c284d47896979530871c1660b0e05ca6">January</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-29d84f7fa22d4b8ccc2d2906e9e58618">February</a>&nbsp;versus a year earlier.A sharp run-up in home prices, especially in the early years of this decade, and a chronic shortage of homes nationally worsened by years of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.Meanwhile, while the median U.S. monthly rent has been declining for more than two years, it was still 15.2% higher in January than it was at the start of 2020, according to data from Realtor.com.___Kramon reported from Atlanta and Veiga reported from Los Angeles.

Senate passes Kan. U.S. Senator's housing bill to improve access, affordability

NEW YORK (AP) — With no clear end in sight, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-12-2026-oil-prices-90e17dbf7354d1e9428994ab2a036506">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;sent oil prices back to $100 per barrel on Thursday, and stocks sank worldwide.

The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.5% and resumed its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stock-markets-iran-war-458890210407eb0cba85c7e1a684c890">sharp swings</a>&nbsp;following a couple days of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-trump-9015cbc7db4569fddd124659acfcaf86">relative calm</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739 points, or 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.8%.

The center of action was again the oil market, where the price of a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 9.2% to settle at $100.46. Worries are worsening that the war could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-hormuz-oil-shipping-49a1901c35cf2507830776a29706cf98">block the production of oil</a>&nbsp;in the Persian Gulf for a long time and cause a debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-oil-prices-gasoline-economy-consumers-a5b47c09f83406adf2a00616382003f6">surge of inflation</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-trump-economy-oil-gas-66806b02a000235f1979e591279b6554">global economy</a>.

Iran’s new supreme leader released his first statement Thursday since succeeding his late father, saying his country would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-12-2026">keep up attacks</a>&nbsp;on Gulf Arab neighbors and use the effective closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;as leverage against the United States and Israel. A fifth of the world’s oil typically sails through the strait, and oil producers in the region are cutting production because their crude has nowhere to go.

Countries around the world are trying to make up for that, and the International Energy Agency said Wednesday that its members would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">release a record amount of oil</a>, 400 million barrels, from stockpiles built for such emergencies.

But such moves are short-term fixes, and they do not clear the long-term risks. Analysts have said that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil prices could jump to $150.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investors-iran-war-stock-market-panic-c4aaaec1ed1055f45f401cc5d7be59ec">history of bouncing back</a>&nbsp;relatively quickly from military conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t stay too high for too long. Even with all the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">up-</a>&nbsp;and-&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-1f7bf89b783a9ba731f4b25564bf80f8">down</a>&nbsp;swings of the last couple weeks, many rocking markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">hour to hour</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is just 4.4% below its all-time high set in January.

What’s made this jump for oil prices frightening is not only the degree — prices jumped near $120 this week to their highest level since 2022 — but that they’re occurring during an uncertain time for the economy.

Last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-inflation-trump-tariffs-075a0d33e0794b7c93b9b8a7302dab98">hiring by U.S. employers was surprisingly weak</a>, which raised worries about a possible worst-case scenario for the economy called “stagflation.” That’s where economic growth stagnates while inflation remains high, and it’s a miserable mix that the Federal Reserve has no good tools to fix.

A more encouraging signal arrived Thursday. A report said that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-7d7482b3fe6d8a3957b9abf386c66019">number of U.S. workers applying for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;inched lower last week. That’s a sign that layoffs are potentially remaining low around the country.

Dollar General, meanwhile, reported better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. But the retailer with relatively low prices, whose customers often have the least cushion to absorb higher gasoline prices, gave forecasts for revenue this upcoming year that indicated a potential slowdown in growth. Its stock fell 6.1%.

Some of Wall Street’s worst losses again hit companies with big fuel bills. Cruise-ship operator Carnival fell 7.9%, and United Airlines sank 4.6%.

Worries about the private-credit industry also continued to hurt the market. Investors have been pulling their money out of some funds and companies that have lent to businesses whose profits are under threat. Many of the worries are focused on business that may not pay back their loans because of competition from AI-powered rivals.

Morgan Stanley fell 4.1% after its North Haven Private Income Fund said it allowed investors to redeem 5% of its total shares instead of the nearly 11% they had requested. That 5% cap is the advertised limit.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 103.18 points to 6,672.62. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739.42 to 46,677.85, and the Nasdaq composite sank 404.16 to 22,311.98.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across Europe and Asia.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1%, and France’s CAC 40 sank 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

In the bond market, Treasury yields continued to climb because of upward pressure from rising oil prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.26% from 4.21% late Wednesday and from just 3.97% before the war started.

Higher yields make all kinds of borrowing more expensive, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-a411c97f2ac6b5da22f3e6479944af66">mortgages</a>&nbsp;for potential U.S. homebuyers and bond offerings for companies looking to expand. They also push down on prices for all kinds of investments, from stocks to crypto.

Because of the spike for oil prices, traders have pushed back forecasts for when the Fed could resume its cuts to interest rates. President Donald Trump has been angrily calling for such cuts, which would give the economy and job market a boost but also potentially worsen inflation.

A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 9.7% to settle at $95.73.

AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683569393523.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — With no clear end in sight, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-12-2026-oil-prices-90e17dbf7354d1e9428994ab2a036506">war with Iran</a>&nbsp;sent oil prices back to $100 per barrel on Thursday, and stocks sank worldwide.The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.5% and resumed its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stock-markets-iran-war-458890210407eb0cba85c7e1a684c890">sharp swings</a>&nbsp;following a couple days of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-trump-9015cbc7db4569fddd124659acfcaf86">relative calm</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739 points, or 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.8%.The center of action was again the oil market, where the price of a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 9.2% to settle at $100.46. Worries are worsening that the war could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-hormuz-oil-shipping-49a1901c35cf2507830776a29706cf98">block the production of oil</a>&nbsp;in the Persian Gulf for a long time and cause a debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-oil-prices-gasoline-economy-consumers-a5b47c09f83406adf2a00616382003f6">surge of inflation</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-trump-economy-oil-gas-66806b02a000235f1979e591279b6554">global economy</a>.Iran’s new supreme leader released his first statement Thursday since succeeding his late father, saying his country would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-12-2026">keep up attacks</a>&nbsp;on Gulf Arab neighbors and use the effective closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;as leverage against the United States and Israel. A fifth of the world’s oil typically sails through the strait, and oil producers in the region are cutting production because their crude has nowhere to go.Countries around the world are trying to make up for that, and the International Energy Agency said Wednesday that its members would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">release a record amount of oil</a>, 400 million barrels, from stockpiles built for such emergencies.But such moves are short-term fixes, and they do not clear the long-term risks. Analysts have said that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil prices could jump to $150.To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investors-iran-war-stock-market-panic-c4aaaec1ed1055f45f401cc5d7be59ec">history of bouncing back</a>&nbsp;relatively quickly from military conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t stay too high for too long. Even with all the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-iran-oil-trump-c9a42448cbc7afc35e959dd444614aa0">up-</a>&nbsp;and-&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-iran-1f7bf89b783a9ba731f4b25564bf80f8">down</a>&nbsp;swings of the last couple weeks, many rocking markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-gold-iran-trump-25fd9bfa1b20549a6cbbdee61b2ea05f">hour to hour</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is just 4.4% below its all-time high set in January.What’s made this jump for oil prices frightening is not only the degree — prices jumped near $120 this week to their highest level since 2022 — but that they’re occurring during an uncertain time for the economy.Last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-inflation-trump-tariffs-075a0d33e0794b7c93b9b8a7302dab98">hiring by U.S. employers was surprisingly weak</a>, which raised worries about a possible worst-case scenario for the economy called “stagflation.” That’s where economic growth stagnates while inflation remains high, and it’s a miserable mix that the Federal Reserve has no good tools to fix.A more encouraging signal arrived Thursday. A report said that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-7d7482b3fe6d8a3957b9abf386c66019">number of U.S. workers applying for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;inched lower last week. That’s a sign that layoffs are potentially remaining low around the country.Dollar General, meanwhile, reported better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. But the retailer with relatively low prices, whose customers often have the least cushion to absorb higher gasoline prices, gave forecasts for revenue this upcoming year that indicated a potential slowdown in growth. Its stock fell 6.1%.Some of Wall Street’s worst losses again hit companies with big fuel bills. Cruise-ship operator Carnival fell 7.9%, and United Airlines sank 4.6%.Worries about the private-credit industry also continued to hurt the market. Investors have been pulling their money out of some funds and companies that have lent to businesses whose profits are under threat. Many of the worries are focused on business that may not pay back their loans because of competition from AI-powered rivals.Morgan Stanley fell 4.1% after its North Haven Private Income Fund said it allowed investors to redeem 5% of its total shares instead of the nearly 11% they had requested. That 5% cap is the advertised limit.All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 103.18 points to 6,672.62. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 739.42 to 46,677.85, and the Nasdaq composite sank 404.16 to 22,311.98.In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across Europe and Asia.Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1%, and France’s CAC 40 sank 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.In the bond market, Treasury yields continued to climb because of upward pressure from rising oil prices. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.26% from 4.21% late Wednesday and from just 3.97% before the war started.Higher yields make all kinds of borrowing more expensive, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-a411c97f2ac6b5da22f3e6479944af66">mortgages</a>&nbsp;for potential U.S. homebuyers and bond offerings for companies looking to expand. They also push down on prices for all kinds of investments, from stocks to crypto.Because of the spike for oil prices, traders have pushed back forecasts for when the Fed could resume its cuts to interest rates. President Donald Trump has been angrily calling for such cuts, which would give the economy and job market a boost but also potentially worsen inflation.A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 9.7% to settle at $95.73.___AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Oil price jumps, stocks sink worldwide with no end in sight for Iran war

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post Sports

SALINA - The Hays High Lady Indians advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 1995 with a 49-46 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel in the 5A state quarterfinals at the Tony's Pizza Events Center.

The biggest lead of the first half happened at halftime when Hays (24-1) took a four point advantage at 27-23. The prior 15:30 was all played with neither team leading by more than three points.&nbsp;

The teams traded the lead seven times in the first quarter. The Indians had the biggest first quarter lead at 10-7 on Jenna Schmeidler's first field goal. Kapaun answered back with a 7-2 run to close out the final 1:50 of the quarter and take a 14-12 lead to the second quarter.

Zoe Winter opened the second quarter with a traditional three point play to give Hays a 15-14 edge. Kapaun (19-7) went on a 6-2 spurt that gave the Crusaders their first of two three point leads. The first at 20-17 and then again at 23-20 ninety seconds later.

Kapaun's last points of the half came with 3:50 remaining before halftime. The Indians ended the half on a 7-0 run. Kinslee Newell got a layup one possession before taking a charge to give Hays the ball back with 1:35 left in the half. Schmeidler scored the final two points of the half for a 27-23 halftime advantage.

Hays never trailed in the second half. After not hitting a single three pointer in the first half, the Indians made three in the third quarter to help build a 12 point lead. Schmeidler made the first three pointer 45 seconds in the quarter and followed that up wit a pair of free throws at 32-25.

Morgan Armbruster, Winter and Ramiyah Turner each scored a field goal on an 8-1 run that gave the Indians the first of two 12 point leads at 40-28. Kapaun held the Indians scoreless for the final three minutes of the third quarter. The Crusaders managed just five points in that stretch to close the gap down to 40-33 at the end of three quarters.

Hays once again built their lead to 12 in the first ninety seconds of the four quarter. Newell scored a second field goal for a 45-33 lead with 6:30 remaining. The Indians though went cold for the rest of the game. Through the remainder of the game Hays made just one of five field goals and turned the ball over four times.&nbsp;

Kapaun was able to cut the lead down to one point at 47-46 with 1:05 remaining. Hays missed a shot near the end of the shot clock but the miss was grabbed by Newell. Two fouls later Schmeidler nailed a pair of free throws with 13.5 left on the clock for a 49-46 lead.

Kapaun got a clean look at a three but missed. The rebound went out-of-bounds and with 0.2 seconds left the Crusaders could do nothing with the remaining time.

The victory is just the fifth state tournament win for Hays in program history. It is the first since 1995.

Hays will face Shawnee Heights in the semifinals at 3:30 on Friday. The game will played at Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State University. The Hertz Pregame Show starts at 3:10 on 96.9 KFIX. The game will be streamed on Hays Post.

The other half of the bracket will play at 1:30 when the top seeded Andover Trojans face off with St. James Academy.&nbsp;

Rupp 2, Schmeidler 18, Humphrey 0, LaBarge 2, Cunningham 0, Armbruster 3, Turner 3, Newell 4, Buckles 7, Winter 10.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post SportsSALINA - The Hays High Lady Indians advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 1995 with a 49-46 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel in the 5A state quarterfinals at the Tony's Pizza Events Center.The biggest lead of the first half happened at halftime when Hays (24-1) took a four point advantage at 27-23. The prior 15:30 was all played with neither team leading by more than three points.&nbsp;The teams traded the lead seven times in the first quarter. The Indians had the biggest first quarter lead at 10-7 on Jenna Schmeidler's first field goal. Kapaun answered back with a 7-2 run to close out the final 1:50 of the quarter and take a 14-12 lead to the second quarter.Zoe Winter opened the second quarter with a traditional three point play to give Hays a 15-14 edge. Kapaun (19-7) went on a 6-2 spurt that gave the Crusaders their first of two three point leads. The first at 20-17 and then again at 23-20 ninety seconds later.Kapaun's last points of the half came with 3:50 remaining before halftime. The Indians ended the half on a 7-0 run. Kinslee Newell got a layup one possession before taking a charge to give Hays the ball back with 1:35 left in the half. Schmeidler scored the final two points of the half for a 27-23 halftime advantage.Highlights<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2282120435&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/hhs-wbkb-highlights-v-kapaun" title="HHS WBKB Highlights v Kapaun Mar 11, 2026" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">HHS WBKB Highlights v Kapaun Mar 11, 2026</a></div></div>Hays never trailed in the second half. After not hitting a single three pointer in the first half, the Indians made three in the third quarter to help build a 12 point lead. Schmeidler made the first three pointer 45 seconds in the quarter and followed that up wit a pair of free throws at 32-25.Morgan Armbruster, Winter and Ramiyah Turner each scored a field goal on an 8-1 run that gave the Indians the first of two 12 point leads at 40-28. Kapaun held the Indians scoreless for the final three minutes of the third quarter. The Crusaders managed just five points in that stretch to close the gap down to 40-33 at the end of three quarters.Hays once again built their lead to 12 in the first ninety seconds of the four quarter. Newell scored a second field goal for a 45-33 lead with 6:30 remaining. The Indians though went cold for the rest of the game. Through the remainder of the game Hays made just one of five field goals and turned the ball over four times.&nbsp;Kapaun was able to cut the lead down to one point at 47-46 with 1:05 remaining. Hays missed a shot near the end of the shot clock but the miss was grabbed by Newell. Two fouls later Schmeidler nailed a pair of free throws with 13.5 left on the clock for a 49-46 lead.Kapaun got a clean look at a three but missed. The rebound went out-of-bounds and with 0.2 seconds left the Crusaders could do nothing with the remaining time.Coach Len Melvin<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%253Atracks%253A2282121413&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/melvin-post-int-v-kapaun-mar" title="Melvin Post Int v Kapaun Mar 11, 2026" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Melvin Post Int v Kapaun Mar 11, 2026</a></div></div>The victory is just the fifth state tournament win for Hays in program history. It is the first since 1995.Hays will face Shawnee Heights in the semifinals at 3:30 on Friday. The game will played at Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State University. The Hertz Pregame Show starts at 3:10 on 96.9 KFIX. The game will be streamed on Hays Post.The other half of the bracket will play at 1:30 when the top seeded Andover Trojans face off with St. James Academy.&nbsp;Rupp 2, Schmeidler 18, Humphrey 0, LaBarge 2, Cunningham 0, Armbruster 3, Turner 3, Newell 4, Buckles 7, Winter 10.

🏀 Hays survives and advances with win over Kapaun

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>

Passengers at a handful of airports this week waited in hours-long security lines as the government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security dragged on.

Though Transportation Security Administration officers are required by law to work during a lapse in funding, more than usual have been absent after receiving only a partial paycheck during the most recent pay period. TSA officers will miss an entire paycheck this weekend if the shutdown is still in effect then.&nbsp;

No end to the shutdown appeared imminent Wednesday, as the U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have funded TSA and other agencies in DHS that are not related to immigration enforcement.

In the meantime, TSA officers are not being paid.&nbsp;

Most live paycheck-to-paycheck, said Johnny Jones, the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, which represents TSA agents.

The lack of pay has contributed to absenteeism, Jones added. The union does not condone coordinated “sick-outs,” which are illegal.&nbsp;

But individual officers miss work for one of three reasons during a shutdown, he said: pre-planned time off, legitimate illness or personal emergencies, and those calling in sick but seeking other work to pay bills.

“If you’re normally receiving a paycheck, you wouldn’t have that third group,” he said.

Some of those who are working are going without lunch or making other sacrifices, Jones added. And he said two colleagues were evicted during the most recent shutdown last fall, which lasted for 43 days.

The U.S. war against Iran, which has an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-iran-war-estimated-cost-billions-already-no-end-sight" target="_blank">estimated price</a>&nbsp;in the billions of dollars in just its first two weeks, has also driven resentment among TSA workers, Jones said.

“One of the things that I’ve heard from the colleagues is that, man, we got plenty of money to go fight wars and bomb Iran, but we can’t pay our own employees,” he said.

No exceptionally long wait times were reported Wednesday, but the previous few days saw several examples of snarled security lines.

Security lines&nbsp;<a href="http://houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/government-shutdown-hobby-airport-21963811.php" target="_blank">topped three hours</a>&nbsp;at Houston’s William P. Hobby International Airport on Monday and Tuesday.&nbsp;

Lines at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were up to two hours Monday and the airport’s social media drew a direct line to the shutdown.

“Due to impacts from the federal government’s partial shutdown, there continues to be a shortage of TSA workers at the security checkpoint … which is causing longer-than-average lines,” the airport’s X account&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/flyneworleans/status/2030952799811355119?s=20" target="_blank">posted</a>.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport also urged passengers to leave extra time to account for factors including “TSA staffing constraints.”

CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-absences-double-shutdown-300-quit-airport-security-lines/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that more than 300 TSA agents have left their jobs since the shutdown began. TSA officials did not respond to messages seeking confirmation of that figure.

The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Washington’s Patty Murray, sought unanimous consent Wednesday for the Senate to approve a bill that would fund all of DHS other than Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the secretary’s office.

Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican who chairs the subcommittee on Homeland Security funding, objected.

Murray’s bill “would effectively defund our law enforcement officers that are charged with keeping Americans safe,” Britt said.

Each party blamed the other for the impasse, which has been unbreachable since the department’s funding lapsed Feb. 14.

Following the January fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis, Democrats are demanding changes to immigration agencies’ conduct as a condition of funding the department.

Republicans have said they are willing to negotiate the issue, but the parties disagree on what to do for the department, which also includes the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in the meantime.

Republican leaders sought to pass a short-term continuing resolution to fund the entire department, but Democrats rejected it, saying it would allow the operation of immigration agencies without adding accountability measures.

“Right now, TSA agents are going without pay because Republicans and the White House have decided they would rather shut down all of DHS than pass some very basic reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol,” Murray said. “We also want TSA and FEMA funded, but we are not going to be blackmailed into cutting a blank check for ICE to get it done.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, said Democrats have stopped negotiating on DHS funding in a bid to keep the issue alive for the November midterm elections.&nbsp;

“The American people are tired,” he said. “Lines get longer at the airports because TSA isn’t funded. The American people want us to do our jobs. Republicans are at the table. We’re ready to work toward a solution. Democrats have walked away.”

Jones, the AFGE member and TSA officer, declined to say which approach to short-term funding was preferable, but said it was Congress’ job to fund the federal government.

“We all swear the same oath to the same Constitution,” he said. “Now my job function is a little different than theirs, so they need to do theirs so I can do mine.”

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>Passengers at a handful of airports this week waited in hours-long security lines as the government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security dragged on.Though Transportation Security Administration officers are required by law to work during a lapse in funding, more than usual have been absent after receiving only a partial paycheck during the most recent pay period. TSA officers will miss an entire paycheck this weekend if the shutdown is still in effect then.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE. The Democrats’ DHS shutdown has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights. There is ZERO reason for spring break travel to be held hostage for political points — Democrats… <a href="https://t.co/sp1vnzXJbb">pic.twitter.com/sp1vnzXJbb</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2030748642651549895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>No end to the shutdown appeared imminent Wednesday, as the U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have funded TSA and other agencies in DHS that are not related to immigration enforcement.In the meantime, TSA officers are not being paid.&nbsp;Most live paycheck-to-paycheck, said Johnny Jones, the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 100, which represents TSA agents.The lack of pay has contributed to absenteeism, Jones added. The union does not condone coordinated “sick-outs,” which are illegal.&nbsp;But individual officers miss work for one of three reasons during a shutdown, he said: pre-planned time off, legitimate illness or personal emergencies, and those calling in sick but seeking other work to pay bills.“If you’re normally receiving a paycheck, you wouldn’t have that third group,” he said.Some of those who are working are going without lunch or making other sacrifices, Jones added. And he said two colleagues were evicted during the most recent shutdown last fall, which lasted for 43 days.The U.S. war against Iran, which has an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-iran-war-estimated-cost-billions-already-no-end-sight" target="_blank">estimated price</a>&nbsp;in the billions of dollars in just its first two weeks, has also driven resentment among TSA workers, Jones said.“One of the things that I’ve heard from the colleagues is that, man, we got plenty of money to go fight wars and bomb Iran, but we can’t pay our own employees,” he said.<h2>Long lines</h2>No exceptionally long wait times were reported Wednesday, but the previous few days saw several examples of snarled security lines.Security lines&nbsp;<a href="http://houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/government-shutdown-hobby-airport-21963811.php" target="_blank">topped three hours</a>&nbsp;at Houston’s William P. Hobby International Airport on Monday and Tuesday.&nbsp;Lines at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were up to two hours Monday and the airport’s social media drew a direct line to the shutdown.“Due to impacts from the federal government’s partial shutdown, there continues to be a shortage of TSA workers at the security checkpoint … which is causing longer-than-average lines,” the airport’s X account&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/flyneworleans/status/2030952799811355119?s=20" target="_blank">posted</a>.Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport also urged passengers to leave extra time to account for factors including “TSA staffing constraints.”CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-absences-double-shutdown-300-quit-airport-security-lines/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that more than 300 TSA agents have left their jobs since the shutdown began. TSA officials did not respond to messages seeking confirmation of that figure.<h2>Senate gridlock</h2>The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Washington’s Patty Murray, sought unanimous consent Wednesday for the Senate to approve a bill that would fund all of DHS other than Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the secretary’s office.Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican who chairs the subcommittee on Homeland Security funding, objected.Murray’s bill “would effectively defund our law enforcement officers that are charged with keeping Americans safe,” Britt said.Each party blamed the other for the impasse, which has been unbreachable since the department’s funding lapsed Feb. 14.Following the January fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis, Democrats are demanding changes to immigration agencies’ conduct as a condition of funding the department.Republicans have said they are willing to negotiate the issue, but the parties disagree on what to do for the department, which also includes the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in the meantime.Republican leaders sought to pass a short-term continuing resolution to fund the entire department, but Democrats rejected it, saying it would allow the operation of immigration agencies without adding accountability measures.“Right now, TSA agents are going without pay because Republicans and the White House have decided they would rather shut down all of DHS than pass some very basic reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol,” Murray said. “We also want TSA and FEMA funded, but we are not going to be blackmailed into cutting a blank check for ICE to get it done.”<h2>Politics cited</h2>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, said Democrats have stopped negotiating on DHS funding in a bid to keep the issue alive for the November midterm elections.&nbsp;“The American people are tired,” he said. “Lines get longer at the airports because TSA isn’t funded. The American people want us to do our jobs. Republicans are at the table. We’re ready to work toward a solution. Democrats have walked away.”Jones, the AFGE member and TSA officer, declined to say which approach to short-term funding was preferable, but said it was Congress’ job to fund the federal government.“We all swear the same oath to the same Constitution,” he said. “Now my job function is a little different than theirs, so they need to do theirs so I can do mine.”

Long security lines pop up at airports as TSA officers go without pay

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A grass fire broke out Thursday morning in Russell County, prompting all fire departments in the county to respond.

Russell County Emergency Manager David Elliott said the fire was reported at 6 a.m. near 203rd and 15th streets, south of Wilson Lake.

Elliott said no structures were damaged, and no homes were in immediate danger.

No injuries were reported, and the number of acres burned remains unknown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773331909458.jpeg" alt="Two fire trucks and a water tanker from Dorrance responding to a fire south of Wilson Lake in Russell County. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Two fire trucks and a water tanker from Dorrance responding to a fire south of Wilson Lake in Russell County. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA grass fire broke out Thursday morning in Russell County, prompting all fire departments in the county to respond.Russell County Emergency Manager David Elliott said the fire was reported at 6 a.m. near 203rd and 15th streets, south of Wilson Lake.The fire is under control.Elliott said no structures were damaged, and no homes were in immediate danger.No injuries were reported, and the number of acres burned remains unknown.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773331957444.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773331998924.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773331975726.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773332020842.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773332034907.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773332050906.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773332220091.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

📷 Russell County fire near Wilson Lake under control

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's unrelenting attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf pushed oil back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stocks-markets-iran-crude-trump-45f78a8cfe9a5c7e1a2279150a2f90f1">above $100 a barrel</a>&nbsp;on Thursday, as American and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic with no sign of an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the war</a>&nbsp;in sight.

Iran is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-war-attrition-analysis-5d7e50c3a6da57414bbf4a5e255e4a7e">inflict enough global economic pain</a>&nbsp;to pressure the United States and Israel to halt their bombardment, which started the war on Feb. 28. Iran's president said its attacks would continue until Iran gets security guarantees against another assault, indicating that even a ceasefire or U.S. declaration of victory might not halt the conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump has meanwhile promised to “finish the job,” even though he claimed Iran is “virtually destroyed.”

Iran-backed Hezbollah militants meanwhile launched some 200 rockets from Lebanon at northern Israel while sirens rang out and loud booms from the interception of Iranian missiles could be heard in other areas. Israel launched another wave of attacks on Tehran and in Lebanon, where 11 people were killed.

The U.N. refugee agency said up to 3.2 million people in Iran have been displaced by the ongoing war. It said most have fled from Tehran and other major cities toward the north of the country or rural areas. It says at least 759,000 people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/lebanon-shelter-hezbollah-israel-war-487792d7f62cfc2c5d9d20a2fd62fea1">internally displaced in Lebanon</a>.

Iranian officials dismiss any notion of backing down

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested online Thursday that for the war to end, the world would need to recognize Iran’s “legitimate rights,” pay reparations and offer guarantees against future attacks.

In addition to attacking energy infrastructure around the region, Iran has a stranglehold on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>, the waterway leading from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported.

Amid speculation that the U.S. might target Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s main oil terminal, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf threatened in a social media post that any attempt to take Iranian islands would “make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders.”

With traffic in the strait effectively stopped, the price of Brent crude oil, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">international standard</a>, rose another 9% to more than $100 a barrel, up some 38% over what it cost when the war started. Prices have swung back and forth in recent days, at one point surging to around $120 a barrel.

Iran and Hezbollah launch multiple attacks on Israel

It was a sleepless night for many Israelis as Hezbollah launched some 200 rockets at the country’s north and deeper into Israel, according to the Israeli military.

“The noise was extraordinary, it was really scary,” said Naama Porat, a resident of the rural community of Klil, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Lebanese border. As the sound of explosions and interceptions rang out, she dashed with her son to a shelter and spent the night there.

No serious injuries were reported, but the extent of the fire shook residents of the north, who have repeatedly been told by their leaders that Hezbollah was dealt a devastating blow in 2024 during its last war with Israel.

“They have stocks of weapons and it just doesn’t end. We don’t know how much and what to expect,” Porat said.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon that if its government does not prevent Hezbollah from attacking, Israel “will take the territory and do it ourselves.”

More than 20 killed in strikes on Lebanon and Iran

Israel, meantime, hit a car in a seaside area of Lebanon's capital where dozens of displaced people have been sheltering, killing eight and wounding 31, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it was “not aware” of a strike at that location.

The Israeli military said it struck a nuclear facility in Iran in recent days. Israel had destroyed the “Taleghan 2” site in an airstrike in October 2024. Earlier this year satellite photos raised concerns that Iran was working to restore the facility.

The U.S. and Israel say that destroying whatever remains of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c">Iran's nuclear program</a>&nbsp;is one of the central aims of the war. They have long suspected Iran seeks nuclear weapons, while the Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is peaceful.

In Tehran, security force checkpoints came under attack for the first time on Wednesday night, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported. At least 10 people were killed in the suspected drone assaults.

Israel and the U.S. military did not immediately respond to requests for comment over whether they were behind the attacks.

Iran fires at Gulf Arab countries and hits ship in Persian Gulf

Iran’s latest attacks on its Gulf neighbors flouted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-11-2026-oil-prices-24243b5c1e1f32ea8ff52b9a02822396">a U.N. Security Council resolution</a>&nbsp;approved Wednesday.

Early Thursday, a container ship was hit with a projectile off the coast of Dubai, sparking a small fire, according to British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center. It said the crew were safe.

An Iranian attack sparked a major fire on Muharraq Island, home to Bahrain's international airport. Kuwait authorities said an Iranian drone smashed into a residential building, wounding two people, and that a drone attack on Kuwait International Airport had caused damage but no casualties.

The UAE said it had activated air defenses twice to protect the futuristic city of Dubai from attacks, and firefighters extinguished a blaze at a tower after a drone hit.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said it shot down a drone targeting the diplomatic quarter in its capital, Riyadh, and other drones in the east, including at least one trying to target its Shaybah oil field.

Following an attack on Iraq's Basra port Wednesday that killed at least one person, officials said Thursday that operations were halted at all the country's oil terminals.

In the UAE, Citibank said it would close all but one of its branches due to an Iranian threat — not yet realized — to target financial institutions in the region.

Melzer reported from Mitzpe Hila, Israel and Rising from Bangkok. Associated Press writer Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773309566054.png" alt="Image from video. provided by Bahrain Interior Ministry via Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image from video. provided by Bahrain Interior Ministry via Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's unrelenting attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf pushed oil back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-stocks-markets-iran-crude-trump-45f78a8cfe9a5c7e1a2279150a2f90f1">above $100 a barrel</a>&nbsp;on Thursday, as American and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic with no sign of an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the war</a>&nbsp;in sight.Iran is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-war-attrition-analysis-5d7e50c3a6da57414bbf4a5e255e4a7e">inflict enough global economic pain</a>&nbsp;to pressure the United States and Israel to halt their bombardment, which started the war on Feb. 28. Iran's president said its attacks would continue until Iran gets security guarantees against another assault, indicating that even a ceasefire or U.S. declaration of victory might not halt the conflict.U.S. President Donald Trump has meanwhile promised to “finish the job,” even though he claimed Iran is “virtually destroyed.”Iran-backed Hezbollah militants meanwhile launched some 200 rockets from Lebanon at northern Israel while sirens rang out and loud booms from the interception of Iranian missiles could be heard in other areas. Israel launched another wave of attacks on Tehran and in Lebanon, where 11 people were killed.The U.N. refugee agency said up to 3.2 million people in Iran have been displaced by the ongoing war. It said most have fled from Tehran and other major cities toward the north of the country or rural areas. It says at least 759,000 people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/lebanon-shelter-hezbollah-israel-war-487792d7f62cfc2c5d9d20a2fd62fea1">internally displaced in Lebanon</a>.<h2>Iranian officials dismiss any notion of backing down</h2>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested online Thursday that for the war to end, the world would need to recognize Iran’s “legitimate rights,” pay reparations and offer guarantees against future attacks.In addition to attacking energy infrastructure around the region, Iran has a stranglehold on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-hormuz-iran-energy-war-5b60e82ef2fc68e2b43aa570a32404dd">Strait of Hormuz</a>, the waterway leading from the Persian Gulf toward the Indian Ocean through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported.Amid speculation that the U.S. might target Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s main oil terminal, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf threatened in a social media post that any attempt to take Iranian islands would “make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders.”With traffic in the strait effectively stopped, the price of Brent crude oil, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-oil-europe-reserve-release-eaf0cf9988cd7e06f0dc2a8ee800762e">international standard</a>, rose another 9% to more than $100 a barrel, up some 38% over what it cost when the war started. Prices have swung back and forth in recent days, at one point surging to around $120 a barrel.<h2>Iran and Hezbollah launch multiple attacks on Israel</h2>It was a sleepless night for many Israelis as Hezbollah launched some 200 rockets at the country’s north and deeper into Israel, according to the Israeli military.“The noise was extraordinary, it was really scary,” said Naama Porat, a resident of the rural community of Klil, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Lebanese border. As the sound of explosions and interceptions rang out, she dashed with her son to a shelter and spent the night there.No serious injuries were reported, but the extent of the fire shook residents of the north, who have repeatedly been told by their leaders that Hezbollah was dealt a devastating blow in 2024 during its last war with Israel.“They have stocks of weapons and it just doesn’t end. We don’t know how much and what to expect,” Porat said.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon that if its government does not prevent Hezbollah from attacking, Israel “will take the territory and do it ourselves.”<h2>More than 20 killed in strikes on Lebanon and Iran</h2>Israel, meantime, hit a car in a seaside area of Lebanon's capital where dozens of displaced people have been sheltering, killing eight and wounding 31, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it was “not aware” of a strike at that location.The Israeli military said it struck a nuclear facility in Iran in recent days. Israel had destroyed the “Taleghan 2” site in an airstrike in October 2024. Earlier this year satellite photos raised concerns that Iran was working to restore the facility.The U.S. and Israel say that destroying whatever remains of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c">Iran's nuclear program</a>&nbsp;is one of the central aims of the war. They have long suspected Iran seeks nuclear weapons, while the Islamic Republic says its nuclear program is peaceful.In Tehran, security force checkpoints came under attack for the first time on Wednesday night, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported. At least 10 people were killed in the suspected drone assaults.Israel and the U.S. military did not immediately respond to requests for comment over whether they were behind the attacks.<h2>Iran fires at Gulf Arab countries and hits ship in Persian Gulf</h2>Iran’s latest attacks on its Gulf neighbors flouted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-11-2026-oil-prices-24243b5c1e1f32ea8ff52b9a02822396">a U.N. Security Council resolution</a>&nbsp;approved Wednesday.Early Thursday, a container ship was hit with a projectile off the coast of Dubai, sparking a small fire, according to British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center. It said the crew were safe.An Iranian attack sparked a major fire on Muharraq Island, home to Bahrain's international airport. Kuwait authorities said an Iranian drone smashed into a residential building, wounding two people, and that a drone attack on Kuwait International Airport had caused damage but no casualties.The UAE said it had activated air defenses twice to protect the futuristic city of Dubai from attacks, and firefighters extinguished a blaze at a tower after a drone hit.Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said it shot down a drone targeting the diplomatic quarter in its capital, Riyadh, and other drones in the east, including at least one trying to target its Shaybah oil field.Following an attack on Iraq's Basra port Wednesday that killed at least one person, officials said Thursday that operations were halted at all the country's oil terminals.In the UAE, Citibank said it would close all but one of its branches due to an Iranian threat — not yet realized — to target financial institutions in the region.___Melzer reported from Mitzpe Hila, Israel and Rising from Bangkok. Associated Press writer Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.

Iran not backing down as oil prices soar again

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Grow Hays is launching a pilot program to give parents a hand up as they pursue further education.

The BEACON program, which stands for Building Education and Career Opportunities at Night, will offer child care for parents while they participate in online courses.

Bright Minds is the child care sponsor for the program, and they will use their facilities at the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury in Hays.

The program will supervise infants up to children 13 years old for $5 per night. The parents must remain on site and be enrolled in an online degree completion program, college course, certification program or job training.

Hours will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Free high-speed internet and a quiet place to study will be offered.

James Robben of Grow Hays said the idea for the program came from his sister, a mother, who struggled to finish her degree online.

"She gave me this story that she would cook dinner, help her kids do their homework, and then after they went to bed, she would sometimes stay up until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning to do her homework."

Robben said she also spent weekends studying and would, at other times, wake up at 5 a.m. to study and then go to work.

"I asked the President of Fort Hays State University, Tisa Mason, 'Do you still have night school?' She said, 'Yes. It's called online,'" Robben said.

Robben said online classes do not solve the problem of parents needing to care for their children and have quiet time to study.

"The [parents] can go home afterward, read a book with their kids and have family time still," Robben said. "Instead of staying up to 2 o'clock, they are going to bed at a more normal time and getting back to family basics.

"And [parents] are able to go back [to school] and better their lives as well."

The $5 per night does not cover the cost of the child care, but Robben said Bright Minds was willing to partner with the program anyway.

Robben said he has had discussions with Thomas More Prep-Marian about its students acting as tutors for service hours, and perhaps Fort Hays State University participating in some way.

"It's dedicated as a quiet space so parents can go back to school, hopefully,  better their education, get a better career and get a better job. Maybe it's just getting a certificate or a GED. It's an opportunity to finish some school or go back to school."

The session for this pilot program will run through the end of the spring semester in May. Another is planned for the fall semester.

"Success for this program doesn't look like 30 people in the room working on homework. It might look like one person four years from now getting a degree and getting a better job," Robben said.

The pilot program is limited to 10 spots, but Robben said he hopes to see expansion.

"We are going to start small and learn and adapt to the challenges we haven't even thought of yet," he said.

You can sign up for the program by calling Robben at Grow Hays at 785-628-3102, <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdW7lmBjnz1KlkWhE6OLepZ4R6NeJbzYvP8CAxN7yaLMDCiIw/viewform">CLICK HERE</a> or find more information on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrowHays">Grow Hays Facebook page.</a>&nbsp;

"If you are a parent in Ellis County looking to go back to school or you're currently enrolled and not finding it easy to get your homework done ..." Robben said. "If you need an opportunity, at least try this out. Get ahold of us.

"Look us up on Facebook. BEACON is here to help you without sacrificing your family life," Robben said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773091228370.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Grow Hays - Beacon Program" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=ivbp2-1a6373f-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300%22 loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
Podbean Player
 </div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostGrow Hays is launching a pilot program to give parents a hand up as they pursue further education.The BEACON program, which stands for Building Education and Career Opportunities at Night, will offer child care for parents while they participate in online courses.Bright Minds is the child care sponsor for the program, and they will use their facilities at the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury in Hays.The program will supervise infants up to children 13 years old for $5 per night. The parents must remain on site and be enrolled in an online degree completion program, college course, certification program or job training.Hours will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.Free high-speed internet and a quiet place to study will be offered.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773088501205.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>James Robben of Grow Hays said the idea for the program came from his sister, a mother, who struggled to finish her degree online."She gave me this story that she would cook dinner, help her kids do their homework, and then after they went to bed, she would sometimes stay up until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning to do her homework."Robben said she also spent weekends studying and would, at other times, wake up at 5 a.m. to study and then go to work."I asked the President of Fort Hays State University, Tisa Mason, 'Do you still have night school?' She said, 'Yes. It's called online,'" Robben said.Robben said online classes do not solve the problem of parents needing to care for their children and have quiet time to study."The [parents] can go home afterward, read a book with their kids and have family time still," Robben said. "Instead of staying up to 2 o'clock, they are going to bed at a more normal time and getting back to family basics."And [parents] are able to go back [to school] and better their lives as well."The $5 per night does not cover the cost of the child care, but Robben said Bright Minds was willing to partner with the program anyway.Robben said he has had discussions with Thomas More Prep-Marian about its students acting as tutors for service hours, and perhaps Fort Hays State University participating in some way."It's dedicated as a quiet space so parents can go back to school, hopefully, better their education, get a better career and get a better job. Maybe it's just getting a certificate or a GED. It's an opportunity to finish some school or go back to school."The session for this pilot program will run through the end of the spring semester in May. Another is planned for the fall semester."Success for this program doesn't look like 30 people in the room working on homework. It might look like one person four years from now getting a degree and getting a better job," Robben said.The pilot program is limited to 10 spots, but Robben said he hopes to see expansion."We are going to start small and learn and adapt to the challenges we haven't even thought of yet," he said.You can sign up for the program by calling Robben at Grow Hays at 785-628-3102, <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdW7lmBjnz1KlkWhE6OLepZ4R6NeJbzYvP8CAxN7yaLMDCiIw/viewform">CLICK HERE</a> or find more information on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrowHays">Grow Hays Facebook page.</a>&nbsp;"If you are a parent in Ellis County looking to go back to school or you're currently enrolled and not finding it easy to get your homework done ..." Robben said. "If you need an opportunity, at least try this out. Get ahold of us."Look us up on Facebook. BEACON is here to help you without sacrificing your family life," Robben said.

BEACON program to offer child care, study space for parents

In my previous newsletter I mentioned property tax relief for senior citizens and disabled veterans.&nbsp;Under current law, to qualify for this property tax adjustment, a home must be valued at less than $350,000 for a person eligible.

&nbsp;Last week SB 402 was passed out of the Senate and sent to the House for approval. SB 402 would increase the value to $375,000 or less for those who qualify for this tax relief.

An update on our budget: Last Tuesday the Senate bill Sub SB 315 was debated and passed on the Senate floor. The vote represents a key step in the process towards adopting a budget for FY 2027. The budget focuses funding on core state responsibilities such as education, public safety, and transportation. With 70% of the budget dedicated to court-mandated spending on K-12 education and human services, the budget wisely holds the line on true discretionary spending and provisions that will help root out waste, paving the way for a positive fiscal future for our state.

After the incidents in Minnesota this year and similar dangerous interactions between left-wing protestors and law enforcement around the country, it became important to review our laws and close loopholes that exist to protect both the public and law enforcement in situations that may develop in the future. The Senate President worked with law enforcement to create SB 452, which would create the crime of unlawful approach of a first responder and would incorporate federal law enforcement officers, their vehicles and enforcement of federal law into certain traffic, criminal and tort laws. This new law passed the Senate and has been passed to the House for approval.

The Senate passed Sub HB 2299 which establishes a bell-to-bell prohibition on the use of cell phones for all public and KSDE accredited non-public schools giving our state’s teachers a distraction-free environment where students can focus on learning.

The Senate adopted HCR 5033 which ratifies and provides for the continuation of the state of disaster emergency declaration issued on February 24, 2026, for certain counties. This resolution is a continuation for the wildfires in western Kansas, including all the counties in our 40th Senate District.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644852447177.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA March 10In my previous newsletter I mentioned property tax relief for senior citizens and disabled veterans.&nbsp;Under current law, to qualify for this property tax adjustment, a home must be valued at less than $350,000 for a person eligible.&nbsp;Last week SB 402 was passed out of the Senate and sent to the House for approval. SB 402 would increase the value to $375,000 or less for those who qualify for this tax relief.An update on our budget: Last Tuesday the Senate bill Sub SB 315 was debated and passed on the Senate floor. The vote represents a key step in the process towards adopting a budget for FY 2027. The budget focuses funding on core state responsibilities such as education, public safety, and transportation. With 70% of the budget dedicated to court-mandated spending on K-12 education and human services, the budget wisely holds the line on true discretionary spending and provisions that will help root out waste, paving the way for a positive fiscal future for our state.After the incidents in Minnesota this year and similar dangerous interactions between left-wing protestors and law enforcement around the country, it became important to review our laws and close loopholes that exist to protect both the public and law enforcement in situations that may develop in the future. The Senate President worked with law enforcement to create SB 452, which would create the crime of unlawful approach of a first responder and would incorporate federal law enforcement officers, their vehicles and enforcement of federal law into certain traffic, criminal and tort laws. This new law passed the Senate and has been passed to the House for approval.The Senate passed Sub HB 2299 which establishes a bell-to-bell prohibition on the use of cell phones for all public and KSDE accredited non-public schools giving our state’s teachers a distraction-free environment where students can focus on learning.The Senate adopted HCR 5033 which ratifies and provides for the continuation of the state of disaster emergency declaration issued on February 24, 2026, for certain counties. This resolution is a continuation for the wildfires in western Kansas, including all the counties in our 40th Senate District.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.