The NTSB on Tuesday issued a statement in regards to the ongoing investigation of the gas line explosion from Saturday.&nbsp; Here is the context of the statment:

"The NTSB is investigating the Feb. 22 natural gas fueled commercial building explosion, in Hutchinson, Kansas.

A team of five investigators arrived on site Monday (one investigator arrived Sunday), to begin the on-scene portion of the investigation which included inspecting the failed pipe. Today, investigators oversaw the extraction and securement of the failed pipe for shipping to the NTSB materials lab in Washington, D.C., for examination.

In the coming days, the team will be conducting interviews with personnel and witnesses.

During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident.

For information about the status of evacuation orders, please contact local authorities.

The next update will be the preliminary report, which will be available within 30 days; it can be accessed by searching our pipeline investigations pages. A link to the report will also be posted on NTSB Newsroom Twitter.

The preliminary report will contain factual information gathered during the initial phase of the investigation. A final report is expected to be released within 12 - 24 months. "

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740421883145.png" alt="Image from video released by Hutchinson Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Image from video released by Hutchinson Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>The NTSB on Tuesday issued a statement in regards to the ongoing investigation of the gas line explosion from Saturday.&nbsp; Here is the context of the statment:"The NTSB is investigating the Feb. 22 natural gas fueled commercial building explosion, in Hutchinson, Kansas.A team of five investigators arrived on site Monday (one investigator arrived Sunday), to begin the on-scene portion of the investigation which included inspecting the failed pipe. Today, investigators oversaw the extraction and securement of the failed pipe for shipping to the NTSB materials lab in Washington, D.C., for examination.In the coming days, the team will be conducting interviews with personnel and witnesses.During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident.For information about the status of evacuation orders, please contact local authorities.The next update will be the preliminary report, which will be available within 30 days; it can be accessed by searching our pipeline investigations pages. A link to the report will also be posted on NTSB Newsroom Twitter.The preliminary report will contain factual information gathered during the initial phase of the investigation. A final report is expected to be released within 12 - 24 months. "

NTSB statement regarding Hutch gas explosion investigation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Fort Hays State baseball senior Cade Flaherty&nbsp;has been named this week's MIAA Pitcher of the Week, announced Tuesday (Feb. 25) by the league office.

Flaherty tossed a complete game five-hitter Sunday afternoon (Feb. 23), helping the Tigers sweep Arkansas-Fort Smith in the first conference series of the season. The senior matched his career high with 10 strikeouts in the game while allowing Lion hitters to post a batting average of .172. Flaherty allowed more than one runner in an inning only once.

This is the second time Flaherty has earned the conference's weekly honor in his career, also doing so last February (2/19/24). He is the second Tiger to earn a weekly recognition from the league office this season after Elliott Herrmann&nbsp;was named the first MIAA Hitter of the Week of 2025. Fort Hays State is the only school in the conference to earn both a Hitter of the Week and Pitcher of the Week recognition so far this season.

The Tigers will return to Larks Park for its next nine games beginning this weekend (Feb. 28-March 2) when FHSU hosts Missouri Western. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740514584420.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU&nbsp; AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. - Fort Hays State baseball senior Cade Flaherty&nbsp;has been named this week's MIAA Pitcher of the Week, announced Tuesday (Feb. 25) by the league office.Flaherty tossed a complete game five-hitter Sunday afternoon (Feb. 23), helping the Tigers sweep Arkansas-Fort Smith in the first conference series of the season. The senior matched his career high with 10 strikeouts in the game while allowing Lion hitters to post a batting average of .172. Flaherty allowed more than one runner in an inning only once.This is the second time Flaherty has earned the conference's weekly honor in his career, also doing so last February (2/19/24). He is the second Tiger to earn a weekly recognition from the league office this season after Elliott Herrmann&nbsp;was named the first MIAA Hitter of the Week of 2025. Fort Hays State is the only school in the conference to earn both a Hitter of the Week and Pitcher of the Week recognition so far this season.The Tigers will return to Larks Park for its next nine games beginning this weekend (Feb. 28-March 2) when FHSU hosts Missouri Western. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.

⚾ Flaherty earns MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors

WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal employees across the country, many of whom have worked from home since the COVID-19 pandemic, were back at agency offices Monday under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyouts-to-all-federal-employees-f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e">President Donald Trump’s return-to-office mandate</a>.

Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;scouring government agencies for suspected waste, delivered a warning Monday to workers on his platform X.

“Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave,” Musk wrote.

Lee Zeldin, Trump’s new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Monday on X, formerly Twitter, “Full-time, COVID-era remote work is DONE under @POTUS leadership.”

In a video he posted, Zeldin said average attendance at EPA headquarters on Mondays and Fridays last year was less than 9% of employees.

“Our spacious, beautiful EPA headquarters spans two city blocks in D.C. across five buildings,” Zeldin said. “But our hallways have been too vacant, desks empty and cubicles filled with unoccupied chairs.”

It appears at least some federal agencies are not prepared for all remote workers to return to the office.

In an email to U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid employees on Friday obtained by The Associated Press, agency officials noted that some regional offices in Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco were not ready for workers to return. The message also noted that employees who live more than 50 miles from regional offices in some major cities would not be required to return to the office Monday.

“We should treat it like the first day of school — plan a little time in your calendar to get oriented, find your way around, and figure out how to connect in the conference rooms, etc.,” the email said. “There will, no doubt, be some who get lost or are late to class or have to scramble to find a seat because of a snafu.”

The email also noted that while some workers would begin reporting to offices Monday, others would begin relocating back to offices in phases through April and beyond.

Mike Galletly, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 4016, said the information technology workers he represents at the U.S. Department of Agriculture across the country have been struggling to comply with the back-to-office mandate.

“For my bargaining unit members, it’s been a whole lot of work scrambling to find hardware for people, monitors, docking stations,” Galletly said. “You have an office that up until this month normally seated four people. Now they have to seat eight people.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is directing its remote employees to return to offices, even if they were hired into a remote role.

Federal workers with the department received the formal notice Monday in an email that was sent to employees who work more than 50 miles from a regional office. It says they will need to report to an office by April 28.

The federal government employed more than 3 million people as of November of last year. That accounted for nearly 1.9% of the nation’s entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740092856543.png" alt="Billionaire Elon Musk&nbsp;appeared at a conservative gathering outside Washington on Thursday waving a chainsaw in the air, showing openness to auditing the Federal Reserve and accusing Democrats of “treason.”Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Billionaire Elon Musk&nbsp;appeared at a conservative gathering outside Washington on Thursday waving a chainsaw in the air, showing openness to auditing the Federal Reserve and accusing Democrats of “treason.”Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal employees across the country, many of whom have worked from home since the COVID-19 pandemic, were back at agency offices Monday under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyouts-to-all-federal-employees-f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e">President Donald Trump’s return-to-office mandate</a>.Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;scouring government agencies for suspected waste, delivered a warning Monday to workers on his platform X.“Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave,” Musk wrote.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Mondays and Fridays all of last year, <a href="https://twitter.com/EPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EPA</a> HQs only had 8.9% daily attendance. Not under <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’ watch. It’s time for our talented staff to return to work in the office full-time. Part of being good stewards of tax dollars means showing up every day to do our job. <a href="https://t.co/4A7m0B1BVo">pic.twitter.com/4A7m0B1BVo</a>&mdash; Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) <a href="https://twitter.com/epaleezeldin/status/1891833502506553812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lee Zeldin, Trump’s new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Monday on X, formerly Twitter, “Full-time, COVID-era remote work is DONE under @POTUS leadership.”In a video he posted, Zeldin said average attendance at EPA headquarters on Mondays and Fridays last year was less than 9% of employees.“Our spacious, beautiful EPA headquarters spans two city blocks in D.C. across five buildings,” Zeldin said. “But our hallways have been too vacant, desks empty and cubicles filled with unoccupied chairs.”It appears at least some federal agencies are not prepared for all remote workers to return to the office.In an email to U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid employees on Friday obtained by The Associated Press, agency officials noted that some regional offices in Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco were not ready for workers to return. The message also noted that employees who live more than 50 miles from regional offices in some major cities would not be required to return to the office Monday.“We should treat it like the first day of school — plan a little time in your calendar to get oriented, find your way around, and figure out how to connect in the conference rooms, etc.,” the email said. “There will, no doubt, be some who get lost or are late to class or have to scramble to find a seat because of a snafu.”ADVERTISEMENTThe email also noted that while some workers would begin reporting to offices Monday, others would begin relocating back to offices in phases through April and beyond.Mike Galletly, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 4016, said the information technology workers he represents at the U.S. Department of Agriculture across the country have been struggling to comply with the back-to-office mandate.“For my bargaining unit members, it’s been a whole lot of work scrambling to find hardware for people, monitors, docking stations,” Galletly said. “You have an office that up until this month normally seated four people. Now they have to seat eight people.”The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is directing its remote employees to return to offices, even if they were hired into a remote role.Federal workers with the department received the formal notice Monday in an email that was sent to employees who work more than 50 miles from a regional office. It says they will need to report to an office by April 28.The federal government employed more than 3 million people as of November of last year. That accounted for nearly 1.9% of the nation’s entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center.—-

Federal workers return to offices amid threat from Elon Musk

CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.

Trooper Peterson checked the speed of&nbsp; a driver traveling 109mph northbound toward Concordia and was still at 91mph entering a 55mph zone in city limits, according to a statement from the Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C.

"Speed limits exist for a reason—reaction time, stopping distance, and safety for everyone on the road. Slow down. Troopers are out working hard to keep Kansas roadways safe."&nbsp; The driver was given a ticket for $438.00.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740481785060.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.Trooper Peterson checked the speed of&nbsp; a driver traveling 109mph northbound toward Concordia and was still at 91mph entering a 55mph zone in city limits, according to a statement from the Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C."Speed limits exist for a reason—reaction time, stopping distance, and safety for everyone on the road. Slow down. Troopers are out working hard to keep Kansas roadways safe."&nbsp; The driver was given a ticket for $438.00.

KHP: Driver caught traveling 109mph in a 70mph zone

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Freshly made, crispy and golden, Pecking Order is bringing a new take on fried chicken with a bold new identity to Hays.

Pecking Order, 2401 Vine St., opens Wednesday under the direction of Chef Austin Petz and the team from his other establishment, Verdant Bistro.

"We needed to come in and create a whole new identity. I find that extremely important when doing restaurants," Petz said. "This is a whole new management and whole new ball game at the end of the day."

Petz emphasized a new era for the establishment as he takes it under his wing with a complete interior and menu transformation.

The interior has been reimagined, moving from the previous bright pink and green color scheme to a fresh, modern design that better reflects the new brand.

Petz said he is bringing to Pecking Order a menu expansion to include high-quality ingredients and chef-curated recipes.

"All of our chicken sandwiches are going to be really great, but what is going to stand out very differently than all the others is going to be our Pecking chicken roll," he said.

The Pecking chicken roll is a chicken tender in a hot dog bun that Petz said is more affordable for customers.

Other menu items include classic chicken sandwiches, Pecking chicken sandwiches, fancy chicken sandwiches, jumbo nuggets, wings and drumsticks. Spice options range from mild to extra hot.

Other plans for Pecking Orders include 50-cent wing deals, limited-time offers to keep things fresh, student discounts and an in-store kiosk for quicker service.

Petz said preparing to open Pecking Orders has been challenging, with delays due to weather conditions and tight budgeting. With the numerous changes, he hopes to change how customers approach the chicken joint.

"I hear tremendously that there's not a lot of parking here and that's absolutely true. What we're trying to do is push people more towards carry out, delivery and take out," Petz said.

Petz is striving to distinguish Pecking Order from past ownership and Kluckin' Chicken but acknowledges the contributions of Jacob Proffitt.

"I want to give him a lot of credit. He's been a great guy through this entire process, and he's done a lot for this community," he said.

In addition to Pecking Order and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Verdant.Bistro">Verdant Bistro</a>, Petz also owns <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565800494586">Tiger Station</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555862908901">Shirley’s German To Go</a>, which he acquired in a package deal.

Kluckin’ Chicken closed on Jan. 1 due to financial struggles, declining customer interest and branding challenges, prompting a complete rebrand that Petz aims to establish as a standout in Hays.

Pecking Order is open&nbsp;from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.&nbsp;

You can order online at Pecking Order's <a href="https://peckingorderchicken.square.site/">website </a>and follow the restaurant on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572178404623">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740086569785.jpeg" alt="Seating and interior of Pecking Order in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Seating and interior of Pecking Order in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostFreshly made, crispy and golden, Pecking Order is bringing a new take on fried chicken with a bold new identity to Hays.Pecking Order, 2401 Vine St., opens Wednesday under the direction of Chef Austin Petz and the team from his other establishment, Verdant Bistro."We needed to come in and create a whole new identity. I find that extremely important when doing restaurants," Petz said. "This is a whole new management and whole new ball game at the end of the day."Petz emphasized a new era for the establishment as he takes it under his wing with a complete interior and menu transformation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740086599196.jpeg" alt="The front counter of Pecking Order in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The front counter of Pecking Order in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The interior has been reimagined, moving from the previous bright pink and green color scheme to a fresh, modern design that better reflects the new brand.Petz said he is bringing to Pecking Order a menu expansion to include high-quality ingredients and chef-curated recipes."All of our chicken sandwiches are going to be really great, but what is going to stand out very differently than all the others is going to be our Pecking chicken roll," he said.The Pecking chicken roll is a chicken tender in a hot dog bun that Petz said is more affordable for customers.Other menu items include classic chicken sandwiches, Pecking chicken sandwiches, fancy chicken sandwiches, jumbo nuggets, wings and drumsticks. Spice options range from mild to extra hot.Other plans for Pecking Orders include 50-cent wing deals, limited-time offers to keep things fresh, student discounts and an in-store kiosk for quicker service.Petz said preparing to open Pecking Orders has been challenging, with delays due to weather conditions and tight budgeting. With the numerous changes, he hopes to change how customers approach the chicken joint."I hear tremendously that there's not a lot of parking here and that's absolutely true. What we're trying to do is push people more towards carry out, delivery and take out," Petz said.Petz is striving to distinguish Pecking Order from past ownership and Kluckin' Chicken but acknowledges the contributions of Jacob Proffitt."I want to give him a lot of credit. He's been a great guy through this entire process, and he's done a lot for this community," he said.In addition to Pecking Order and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Verdant.Bistro">Verdant Bistro</a>, Petz also owns <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565800494586">Tiger Station</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555862908901">Shirley’s German To Go</a>, which he acquired in a package deal.Kluckin’ Chicken closed on Jan. 1 due to financial struggles, declining customer interest and branding challenges, prompting a complete rebrand that Petz aims to establish as a standout in Hays.Pecking Order is open&nbsp;from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.&nbsp;You can order online at Pecking Order's <a href="https://peckingorderchicken.square.site/">website </a>and follow the restaurant on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572178404623">Facebook</a>.

Pecking Order brings chef-driven fried chicken to Hays

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored a season-high 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help Kansas defeat Colorado 71-64 on Monday night.

Dickinson made 13 of 18 shots and 6 of 10 free throws for the Jayhawks (19-9, 10-7 Big 12 Conference), who fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since Feb. 8, 2021, after losing three of five before arriving in Boulder. It was the 12th double-double this season for Dickinson.

KJ Adams had 15 points for Kansas and Rylan Griffen scored 10.

Bangot Dak had 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting to lead the Buffaloes (11-17, 2-15), who had won two of three following a 13-game losing streak. Julian Hammond III scored 11.

Kansas only trailed in the game for 20 seconds, but the Buffaloes wouldn't go away.

Dickinson had 15 points by halftime to help the Jayhawks take a 37-32 lead.

Colorado took its only lead when Hammond scored in the paint to make it 39-38 with 15:39 remaining. Dickinson answered with a jumper and a three-point play and Kansas never trailed again. The Buffaloes managed to even the score twice and trailed 62-60 after Hammond nailed a 3-pointer with 4:12 left. They would get no closer.

The Jayhawks move a half-game behind 25th-ranked BYU for fifth place in the conference with three games left in the regular season.

Kansas has won three in a row and 22 of the last 23 matchups with the Buffaloes and leads the all-time series 126-40.

Kansas will host No. 10 Texas Tech on Saturday. Colorado plays at Kansas State on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740481039517.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored a season-high 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help Kansas defeat Colorado 71-64 on Monday night.Dickinson made 13 of 18 shots and 6 of 10 free throws for the Jayhawks (19-9, 10-7 Big 12 Conference), who fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since Feb. 8, 2021, after losing three of five before arriving in Boulder. It was the 12th double-double this season for Dickinson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740481039517.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>KJ Adams had 15 points for Kansas and Rylan Griffen scored 10.Bangot Dak had 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting to lead the Buffaloes (11-17, 2-15), who had won two of three following a 13-game losing streak. Julian Hammond III scored 11.Kansas only trailed in the game for 20 seconds, but the Buffaloes wouldn't go away.Dickinson had 15 points by halftime to help the Jayhawks take a 37-32 lead.Colorado took its only lead when Hammond scored in the paint to make it 39-38 with 15:39 remaining. Dickinson answered with a jumper and a three-point play and Kansas never trailed again. The Buffaloes managed to even the score twice and trailed 62-60 after Hammond nailed a 3-pointer with 4:12 left. They would get no closer.The Jayhawks move a half-game behind 25th-ranked BYU for fifth place in the conference with three games left in the regular season.Kansas has won three in a row and 22 of the last 23 matchups with the Buffaloes and leads the all-time series 126-40.Kansas will host No. 10 Texas Tech on Saturday. Colorado plays at Kansas State on Sunday.___

🏀 Hunter Dickinson posts double-double to lead Kansas over Colorado

WASHINGTON (AP) —Just hours after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management had directed agencies that responses to its email were optional, Musk again threatened federal workers in a post on X, his social media platform.

He wrote: “Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”

President Donald Trump backed Musk earlier Monday, two days after OPM initially sent an email asking federal workers to list five things they accomplished last week. Several government agencies, including the FBI and State Department, have told their employees not to respond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740270477857.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Just hours after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management had directed agencies that responses to its email were optional, Musk again threatened federal workers in a post on X, his social media platform.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740450405222.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>He wrote: “Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739917649688.png" alt="--File photo Elon Musk during his address to the World Government's Summit last week" />
 <figcaption>--File photo Elon Musk during his address to the World Government's Summit last week</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump backed Musk earlier Monday, two days after OPM initially sent an email asking federal workers to list five things they accomplished last week. Several government agencies, including the FBI and State Department, have told their employees not to respond.

Musk vows yet again to fire federal workers who don’t respond to his email

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays Post

Tyler Stein says there’s nothing more exhilarating than swimming well at the state swim meet.

But he found out this weekend that watching youngsters he is coaching excel in the pool might be even better.

At this past weekend’s Class 5-1A Swimming and Diving State Championships in Lenexa, Coach Stein’s Hays High boys’ swim team closed out a historical season by breaking two school records.

“This was completely different as a coach,” said Stein, a former all-state swimmer in high school in his first year as the Indians’ coach. “I was concerned about them and not about myself, and to see how excited they were after breaking those records was so cool. It’s something they will remember the rest of their lives.”

In the final race of the day – the 400-yard freestyle relay – Hays High clipped more than five seconds off its time from the previous day in the preliminaries.

Their time of 3 minutes, 30.5 seconds in the finals erased the old school record of 3:34.17 that had stood for 12 years.

That not only was good enough to win the consolation finals with their ninth-place finish, but it also would have earned them the seventh-place medal had they been swimming in the medal round.

At state, the top eight times from the first day of competition advance to the last day’s medal round, while the 9th- through 16th-place times swim the consolation finals.

The Indians’ 400-yard relay foursome of senior Marshall Sook, sophomore Cedric Durr, and juniors Karsen Flaska and Chase Zadina turned in its best time to date (3:35.03) in Friday’s prelims.

That was the ninth-best prelim time that saw them finish just one place out of making the medal round. They then shattered the school record the next day.

“To erase that many seconds off a relay time in one day’s time is insane,” Stein said. “They were so pumped.”

Those same four swimmers also broke the school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay, placing 11th overall at state with a time of 1:34.39. That bettered the old mark of 1:34.93 set in 2014.

Sook closed out an unforgettable senior season, swimming personal-best times in two individual events – placing 13th overall in the 50-yard freestyle in 22.98 seconds and 12th in the 100-yard freestyle in 51.54.

Despite not having any swimmers in the top eight, the Indians still placed 14th in team scoring among the 44 participating schools.

“We had five swimmers competing at state, and some of those teams were triple that size – or more,” Stein said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. It was another reminder of how amazing this season was for us.”

And anyone associated with the 2025 season would have to agree.

Stein, a Fort Hays State University student majoring in finance, took over the Indians’ head coaching job just a few weeks before the start of the season.

Under his guidance, the Indians started to swim better every meet, bettering their times each time out.

Just one year ago, the Indians took just one relay team to state after reaching a state-consideration time.

This year’s team closed out the regular season with an impressive showing at the Western Athletic Conference Championships, finishing second in team scoring with their small roster while winning eight of the 11 events and bringing home 14 gold medals.

Throughout those last few weeks, the Indians qualified all three relay teams for state, along with Sook’s two individual events.

Junior Noah Schaeffer joined Flaska, Zadina and Durr on the 200-yard medley relay team at state that just missed the consolation finals with their 19th-place finish in the prelims.

“I’m excited for that relay team next year to see what they will be able to do,” Stein said, “because they will all be back.”

First, though, he is looking forward to coaching the HHS girls’ team this spring.

It’s safe to say that Stein has discovered something even more rewarding than winning a race himself.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740434197551.jpeg" alt="Members of Hays High’s 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that broke school records at the state meet are from left: Chase Zadina, Karsen Flaska, Cedric Durr and Marshall Sook. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Members of Hays High’s 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that broke school records at the state meet are from left: Chase Zadina, Karsen Flaska, Cedric Durr and Marshall Sook. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays PostTyler Stein says there’s nothing more exhilarating than swimming well at the state swim meet.But he found out this weekend that watching youngsters he is coaching excel in the pool might be even better.At this past weekend’s Class 5-1A Swimming and Diving State Championships in Lenexa, Coach Stein’s Hays High boys’ swim team closed out a historical season by breaking two school records.“This was completely different as a coach,” said Stein, a former all-state swimmer in high school in his first year as the Indians’ coach. “I was concerned about them and not about myself, and to see how excited they were after breaking those records was so cool. It’s something they will remember the rest of their lives.”The Indians saved the best for last.In the final race of the day – the 400-yard freestyle relay – Hays High clipped more than five seconds off its time from the previous day in the preliminaries.Their time of 3 minutes, 30.5 seconds in the finals erased the old school record of 3:34.17 that had stood for 12 years.That not only was good enough to win the consolation finals with their ninth-place finish, but it also would have earned them the seventh-place medal had they been swimming in the medal round.At state, the top eight times from the first day of competition advance to the last day’s medal round, while the 9th- through 16th-place times swim the consolation finals.The Indians’ 400-yard relay foursome of senior Marshall Sook, sophomore Cedric Durr, and juniors Karsen Flaska and Chase Zadina turned in its best time to date (3:35.03) in Friday’s prelims.That was the ninth-best prelim time that saw them finish just one place out of making the medal round. They then shattered the school record the next day.“To erase that many seconds off a relay time in one day’s time is insane,” Stein said. “They were so pumped.”Those same four swimmers also broke the school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay, placing 11th overall at state with a time of 1:34.39. That bettered the old mark of 1:34.93 set in 2014.Sook closed out an unforgettable senior season, swimming personal-best times in two individual events – placing 13th overall in the 50-yard freestyle in 22.98 seconds and 12th in the 100-yard freestyle in 51.54.Despite not having any swimmers in the top eight, the Indians still placed 14th in team scoring among the 44 participating schools.“We had five swimmers competing at state, and some of those teams were triple that size – or more,” Stein said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. It was another reminder of how amazing this season was for us.”And anyone associated with the 2025 season would have to agree.Stein, a Fort Hays State University student majoring in finance, took over the Indians’ head coaching job just a few weeks before the start of the season.Under his guidance, the Indians started to swim better every meet, bettering their times each time out.Just one year ago, the Indians took just one relay team to state after reaching a state-consideration time.This year’s team closed out the regular season with an impressive showing at the Western Athletic Conference Championships, finishing second in team scoring with their small roster while winning eight of the 11 events and bringing home 14 gold medals.Throughout those last few weeks, the Indians qualified all three relay teams for state, along with Sook’s two individual events.Junior Noah Schaeffer joined Flaska, Zadina and Durr on the 200-yard medley relay team at state that just missed the consolation finals with their 19th-place finish in the prelims.“I’m excited for that relay team next year to see what they will be able to do,” Stein said, “because they will all be back.”First, though, he is looking forward to coaching the HHS girls’ team this spring.It’s safe to say that Stein has discovered something even more rewarding than winning a race himself.

🏊‍♂️ Indian swimmers enjoy strong finish to record-breaking season

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barely a week after mass firings at the Food and Drug Administration, some probationary staffers received unexpected news over the weekend: The government wants them back.

Beginning Friday night, FDA employees overseeing medical devices, food ingredients and other key areas received calls and emails notifying them that their recent terminations had been "rescinded effective immediately," according to messages viewed by The Associated Press.

Four FDA staffers impacted by the decisions spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because they planned to continue working for the agency and weren't authorized to discuss its internal procedures.

The reversal is the latest example of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's chaotic approach to cost-cutting, which has resulted in several agencies firing, and then scrambling to rehire, employees responsible for nuclear weapons, national parks and other government services.

The FDA reinstatements followed pushback by lobbyists for the medical device industry, which pays the agency hundreds of millions of dollars annually to hire extra scientists to review products. The industry's leading trade group said Monday "a sizable number" of device reviewers appear to be returning to FDA.

"This would be welcome news, and I appreciate the administration for acting quickly," AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker said in an emailed statement. "We all share the same goal — an efficient, effective FDA review process that helps advance the medical technologies American patients depend on."

FDA staffers said entire teams of five or more medical device reviewers had been reinstated.

In the agency's food program, at least 10 staffers responsible for reviewing the safety of new ingredients were offered their jobs back, according to a food staffer who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss internal agency matters.

The FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, Jim Jones, resigned last week, citing "the indiscriminate firing" of nearly 90 staffers in his division, according to a copy of his resignation letter obtained by the AP. The food program recently underwent a major restructuring to better oversee essential products like infant formula and baby food.

The FDA hasn't released official numbers on the terminations, but former FDA officials have pegged the number at roughly 700, with more than 220 coming from the medical device center. That would represent roughly 10% of the program's total staffing.

The FDA did not respond to requests Monday about how many employees were being reinstated.

Like other agencies, the FDA terminations went to employees in their probationary period, typically the first two years of federal employment. But that approach resulted in firings across key areas where the agency has been working to beef up staffing, including rapidly evolving fields like artificial intelligence and digital health. The cuts also included agency leaders who were recently hired for senior roles.

"The disarray caused by the wholesale termination of a wide swath of device center staff was counterproductive and appears to have caused a variety of unintended and negative results," said Steve Silverman, a former FDA device official who now runs a consulting firm. "It's encouraging to see a shift in the opposite direction that recognizes the critical expertise of these staffers."

Many reviewers have advanced degrees in specialized medical and technological fields. They can typically earn more in the private sector than in government.

Last week, the lobbying group AdvaMed pushed back on the firings, calling on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse course. The group warned that the cuts would result in slower approvals for companies and fewer new treatment options for patients.

"FDA will lose hundreds of new employees, the best and most innovative hires under our most recent agreement," Whitaker wrote in a statement posted online. He noted that the hiring of FDA device reviewers is largely financed through an ongoing five-year agreement between the FDA and medical device companies.

More than half the device program's $791 million budget last year came from industry fees, according to federal figures. In return, the FDA is obligated to meet certain benchmarks for quickly and predictably reviewing applications for new and updated devices.

FDA staffers who were reinstated said their immediate supervisors received no explanation or advance notice on the decisions. Instead, staffers received calls or emails from the FDA's "Office of Talent Solutions," informing them that their access to FDA computer systems and offices had been restored.

"We are so grateful to still have you working for the FDA and serving the American public!" the emails concluded.

A week earlier, the same employees received emails stating that they were "not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the agency's current needs."

Nearly half the FDA's budget, or about $3.3 billion, comes from fees paid by drugmakers, device and tobacco companies. The result is that broad cuts to those programs won't add much toward Musk's stated goal of shrinking the federal budget.

But the financial support of industry fees did not appear to help staffers in other parts of the agency.

FDA's tobacco center — which reviews new products like electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches — is 100% funded by industry fees. But there did not appear to be an effort to rehire the estimated 100 or so employees fired from that center.

AP Health Writer JoNel Aleccia contributed to this story.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738862484363.png" alt="File photo Elon Musk-courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Elon Musk-courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Barely a week after mass firings at the Food and Drug Administration, some probationary staffers received unexpected news over the weekend: The government wants them back.Beginning Friday night, FDA employees overseeing medical devices, food ingredients and other key areas received calls and emails notifying them that their recent terminations had been "rescinded effective immediately," according to messages viewed by The Associated Press.Four FDA staffers impacted by the decisions spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because they planned to continue working for the agency and weren't authorized to discuss its internal procedures.The reversal is the latest example of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's chaotic approach to cost-cutting, which has resulted in several agencies firing, and then scrambling to rehire, employees responsible for nuclear weapons, national parks and other government services.The FDA reinstatements followed pushback by lobbyists for the medical device industry, which pays the agency hundreds of millions of dollars annually to hire extra scientists to review products. The industry's leading trade group said Monday "a sizable number" of device reviewers appear to be returning to FDA."This would be welcome news, and I appreciate the administration for acting quickly," AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker said in an emailed statement. "We all share the same goal — an efficient, effective FDA review process that helps advance the medical technologies American patients depend on."FDA staffers said entire teams of five or more medical device reviewers had been reinstated.In the agency's food program, at least 10 staffers responsible for reviewing the safety of new ingredients were offered their jobs back, according to a food staffer who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss internal agency matters.The FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, Jim Jones, resigned last week, citing "the indiscriminate firing" of nearly 90 staffers in his division, according to a copy of his resignation letter obtained by the AP. The food program recently underwent a major restructuring to better oversee essential products like infant formula and baby food.The FDA hasn't released official numbers on the terminations, but former FDA officials have pegged the number at roughly 700, with more than 220 coming from the medical device center. That would represent roughly 10% of the program's total staffing.The FDA did not respond to requests Monday about how many employees were being reinstated.Like other agencies, the FDA terminations went to employees in their probationary period, typically the first two years of federal employment. But that approach resulted in firings across key areas where the agency has been working to beef up staffing, including rapidly evolving fields like artificial intelligence and digital health. The cuts also included agency leaders who were recently hired for senior roles."The disarray caused by the wholesale termination of a wide swath of device center staff was counterproductive and appears to have caused a variety of unintended and negative results," said Steve Silverman, a former FDA device official who now runs a consulting firm. "It's encouraging to see a shift in the opposite direction that recognizes the critical expertise of these staffers."Many reviewers have advanced degrees in specialized medical and technological fields. They can typically earn more in the private sector than in government.Last week, the lobbying group AdvaMed pushed back on the firings, calling on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse course. The group warned that the cuts would result in slower approvals for companies and fewer new treatment options for patients."FDA will lose hundreds of new employees, the best and most innovative hires under our most recent agreement," Whitaker wrote in a statement posted online. He noted that the hiring of FDA device reviewers is largely financed through an ongoing five-year agreement between the FDA and medical device companies.More than half the device program's $791 million budget last year came from industry fees, according to federal figures. In return, the FDA is obligated to meet certain benchmarks for quickly and predictably reviewing applications for new and updated devices.FDA staffers who were reinstated said their immediate supervisors received no explanation or advance notice on the decisions. Instead, staffers received calls or emails from the FDA's "Office of Talent Solutions," informing them that their access to FDA computer systems and offices had been restored."We are so grateful to still have you working for the FDA and serving the American public!" the emails concluded.A week earlier, the same employees received emails stating that they were "not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the agency's current needs."Nearly half the FDA's budget, or about $3.3 billion, comes from fees paid by drugmakers, device and tobacco companies. The result is that broad cuts to those programs won't add much toward Musk's stated goal of shrinking the federal budget.But the financial support of industry fees did not appear to help staffers in other parts of the agency.FDA's tobacco center — which reviews new products like electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches — is 100% funded by industry fees. But there did not appear to be an effort to rehire the estimated 100 or so employees fired from that center.___AP Health Writer JoNel Aleccia contributed to this story.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

FDA moves to rehire medical device, food safety staffers fired earlier

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple announced Monday that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas.

The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the U.S. Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with Monday’s investment commitment, came as Trump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China.

“We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Cook said in a company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-will-spend-more-than-500-billion-usd-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.

Apple outlined several concrete moves in its announcement, the most significant of which is the construction of a new factory in Houston — slated to open in 2026 — that will produce servers to power Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI features. The company claims this factory will create “thousands of jobs.”

The announcement is similar to one Apple made in early 2018 — during the first Trump administration — that promised to create 20,000 new jobs as part of a $350 billion spend in the U.S. Trump was also mulling a tariff then that could have affected iPhones at the time, but he didn’t end up targeting those devices during his first administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740416399652.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Apple announced Monday that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740428118054.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the U.S. Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with Monday’s investment commitment, came as Trump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China.“We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Cook said in a company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-will-spend-more-than-500-billion-usd-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.Apple outlined several concrete moves in its announcement, the most significant of which is the construction of a new factory in Houston — slated to open in 2026 — that will produce servers to power Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI features. The company claims this factory will create “thousands of jobs.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740416459994.png" alt="Apple suppliers already manufacture silicon in 24 factories across 12 states. Pictured: Texas Instruments’ new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Lehi, Utah.-image courtesy Apple" />
 <figcaption>Apple suppliers already manufacture silicon in 24 factories across 12 states. Pictured: Texas Instruments’ new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Lehi, Utah.-image courtesy Apple</figcaption>
 </figure>The announcement is similar to one Apple made in early 2018 — during the first Trump administration — that promised to create 20,000 new jobs as part of a $350 billion spend in the U.S. Trump was also mulling a tariff then that could have affected iPhones at the time, but he didn’t end up targeting those devices during his first administration.

Apple announces historic $500 billion investment in US

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daniel-bongino">Dan Bongino</a>, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who has penned best-selling books, ran unsuccessfully for office and gained fame as a conservative pundit with TV shows and a popular podcast, has been chosen to serve as FBI deputy director.

President Donald Trump announced the appointment Sunday night in a post on his Truth Social platform, praising Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country.” He called the announcement “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice.”

The selection places two staunch Trump allies atop the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency at a time when Democrats are concerned that the president could seek to target his adversaries. Bongino would serve under Kash Patel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-patel-justice-department-8fa2f99b7915ee18def9fdf61150741f">who was sworn in as FBI director at the White House on Friday</a>&nbsp;and who has signaled his intent to reshape the bureau, including by relocating hundreds of employees from its Washington headquarters and placing greater emphasis on the FBI’s traditional crime-fighting duties.

The deputy director serves as the FBI’s second-in-command and is traditionally a career agent responsible for the bureau’s day-to-day law enforcement operations. Bongino, like Patel, has never served in the FBI, raising questions about their experience level when the U.S. is facing escalating national security threats.

The two are inheriting an FBI gripped by turmoil as the Justice Department over the past month has forced out a group of senior bureau officials and made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-justice-department-jan-6-ff003e46ea48c4e8be710d1ba2eb2d02">highly unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents</a>&nbsp;who participated in investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Bongino served on the presidential details for then-Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, before becoming a popular right-wing figure. He became one of the leading personalities in the Make America Great Again political movement to spread false information about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">the 2020 election</a>, which Trump and allies have continued to maintain was marred by widespread false&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">even though such claims have been widely rejected</a>&nbsp;as false by judges and former Trump attorney general William Barr.

For a few years following Rush Limbaugh’s death in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-63a666e68368c60ac11af1377714a46c">he was chosen for a radio show</a>&nbsp;on the same time slot of the famous commentator.

Bongino worked for the New York Police Department for several years in the 1990s before joining the Secret Service. He began doing commentary on Fox News more than a decade ago, and had a Saturday night show with the network from 2021 to 2023. He is now a host of The Dan Bongino Show, one of the most popular podcasts, according to Spotify.

Bongino ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and for congressional seats in 2014 and 2016 in Maryland and Florida, after moving in 2015. He lost the three races.

During an interview last fall, Bongino asked Trump to commit to forming a commission to reform the Secret Service, calling it a “failed” agency and criticizing it for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/attempted-assassination-of-donald-trump">two assassination attempts</a>&nbsp;last year.

“That guy should have been nowhere near you,” Bongino said about the man who authorities say camped outside Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, before he was spotted with a rifle.

During the same interview, Trump praised the Secret Service agent who saw the rifle’s barrel coming out of a bush.

Patel and Bongino will succeed the two acting FBI leaders, Brian Driscoll and Robert Kissane, who have led the bureau since the departure in January of former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-wray-fbi-farewell-trump-patel-partisanship-afe159a6e112e68dd5319ceac905d517">Director Christopher Wray</a>, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and held the job for the next seven years before resigning at the end of the Biden administration to make way for his chosen success.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740405860491.png" alt="Bongino photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Bongino photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daniel-bongino">Dan Bongino</a>, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who has penned best-selling books, ran unsuccessfully for office and gained fame as a conservative pundit with TV shows and a popular podcast, has been chosen to serve as FBI deputy director.President Donald Trump announced the appointment Sunday night in a post on his Truth Social platform, praising Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country.” He called the announcement “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/dbongino?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dbongino</a> for being named Deputy Director of the FBI! Dan’s experience in law enforcement as an NYPD officer and a Special Agent in the Secret Service makes him an excellent choice to serve alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi. I… <a href="https://t.co/n5VizLUYAC">pic.twitter.com/n5VizLUYAC</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1893846825347457509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The selection places two staunch Trump allies atop the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency at a time when Democrats are concerned that the president could seek to target his adversaries. Bongino would serve under Kash Patel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-patel-justice-department-8fa2f99b7915ee18def9fdf61150741f">who was sworn in as FBI director at the White House on Friday</a>&nbsp;and who has signaled his intent to reshape the bureau, including by relocating hundreds of employees from its Washington headquarters and placing greater emphasis on the FBI’s traditional crime-fighting duties.The deputy director serves as the FBI’s second-in-command and is traditionally a career agent responsible for the bureau’s day-to-day law enforcement operations. Bongino, like Patel, has never served in the FBI, raising questions about their experience level when the U.S. is facing escalating national security threats.The two are inheriting an FBI gripped by turmoil as the Justice Department over the past month has forced out a group of senior bureau officials and made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-justice-department-jan-6-ff003e46ea48c4e8be710d1ba2eb2d02">highly unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents</a>&nbsp;who participated in investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.Bongino served on the presidential details for then-Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, before becoming a popular right-wing figure. He became one of the leading personalities in the Make America Great Again political movement to spread false information about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">the 2020 election</a>, which Trump and allies have continued to maintain was marred by widespread false&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">even though such claims have been widely rejected</a>&nbsp;as false by judges and former Trump attorney general William Barr.For a few years following Rush Limbaugh’s death in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-63a666e68368c60ac11af1377714a46c">he was chosen for a radio show</a>&nbsp;on the same time slot of the famous commentator.Bongino worked for the New York Police Department for several years in the 1990s before joining the Secret Service. He began doing commentary on Fox News more than a decade ago, and had a Saturday night show with the network from 2021 to 2023. He is now a host of The Dan Bongino Show, one of the most popular podcasts, according to Spotify.Bongino ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and for congressional seats in 2014 and 2016 in Maryland and Florida, after moving in 2015. He lost the three races.During an interview last fall, Bongino asked Trump to commit to forming a commission to reform the Secret Service, calling it a “failed” agency and criticizing it for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/attempted-assassination-of-donald-trump">two assassination attempts</a>&nbsp;last year.“That guy should have been nowhere near you,” Bongino said about the man who authorities say camped outside Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, before he was spotted with a rifle.During the same interview, Trump praised the Secret Service agent who saw the rifle’s barrel coming out of a bush.Patel and Bongino will succeed the two acting FBI leaders, Brian Driscoll and Robert Kissane, who have led the bureau since the departure in January of former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-wray-fbi-farewell-trump-patel-partisanship-afe159a6e112e68dd5319ceac905d517">Director Christopher Wray</a>, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and held the job for the next seven years before resigning at the end of the Biden administration to make way for his chosen success.

Kan. U.S. Senator congratulates media personality picked as FBI deputy director

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;STEVE PEOPLES,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-tucker">ERIC TUCKER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/amanda-seitz">AMANDA SEITZ</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Confusion and chaos loom as hundreds of thousands of federal employees begin their workweek on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-trump-federal-workers-f44257ce4cf8c04c96c8ce0ce262842f">facing a deadline</a>&nbsp;from President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief, Elon Musk, to explain their recent accomplishments or risk losing their jobs.

Musk’s unusual demand has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-federal-workers-trump-demand-firings-06553df358086db05917d3c50f3699d6">resistance from several key U.S. agencies</a>&nbsp;led by the president’s loyalists — including the FBI, State Department, Homeland Security and the Pentagon — which instructed their employees over the weekend not to comply. Lawmakers in both parties said that Musk’s mandate may be illegal, while unions are threatening to sue.

Trump over the weekend called for Musk to be more aggressive in his cost-cutting crusade through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and posted a meme on social media mocking federal employees who “cried about Trump and Elon.”

Musk’s team sent an email to hundreds of thousands of federal employees on Saturday giving them roughly 48 hours to report five specific things they had accomplished last week. In a separate message on X, Musk said any employee who failed to respond by the deadline — set in the email as 11:59 p.m. EST Monday — would lose their job.

Mass confusion followed on the eve of the deadline as some agencies resisted the order, others encouraged their workers to comply, and still others offered conflicting guidance.

One message on Sunday morning from the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., instructed its roughly 80,000 employees to comply. That was shortly after the acting general counsel, Sean Keveney, had instructed some not to. And by Sunday evening, agency leadership issued new instructions that employees should “pause activities” related to the request until noon on Monday.

“I’ll be candid with you. Having put in over 70 hours of work last week advancing Administration’s priorities, I was personally insulted to receive the below email,” Keveney said in an email viewed by The Associated Press that acknowledged a broad sense of “uncertainty and stress” within the agency.

Keveney laid out security concerns and pointed out some of the work done by the agency’s employees may be protected by attorney-client privilege: “I have received no assurances that there are appropriate protections in place to safeguard responses to this email.”

Democrats and even some Republicans, including Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, were critical of Musk’s ultimatum.

“If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, please put a dose of compassion in this,” Curtis, whose state has 33,000 federal employees, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages. ... It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut and you have to be cruel to do it as well.”

Newly confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-patel-fbi-justice-department-518329110ea230e2989095bfcbe34c59">FBI Director Kash Patel</a>, an outspoken Trump ally, instructed employees to ignore Musk’s request, at least for now.

“The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures,” Patel wrote in an email confirmed by the AP. “When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-us-attorney-federal-prosecutor-martin-trump-58e8b630e5a450cf10982e5fe9011a56">Ed Martin</a>, interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, sent his staff a message Sunday that may have caused more confusion.

“Let me clarify: We will comply with this OPM request whether by replying or deciding not to reply,” Martin wrote in the email obtained by the AP, referring to the Office of Personnel Management.

“Please make a good faith effort to reply and list your activities (or not, as you prefer), and I will, as I mentioned, have your back regarding any confusion,” Martin continued. “We can do this.”

Officials at the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security were more consistent.

Tibor Nagy, acting undersecretary of state for management, told employees in an email that department leadership would respond on behalf of workers. “No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command,” Nagy wrote in an email.

Pentagon leadership instructed employees to “pause” any response to Musk’s team, according to an email from Jules Hurst, the deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

The Homeland Security Department, meanwhile, told employees that “no reporting action from you is needed at this time” and that agency managers would respond, according to an email from R.D. Alles, deputy undersecretary for management.

Thousands of government employees have already been forced out of the federal workforce — either by being fired or through a “deferred resignation″ offer — during the first month of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s second term</a>. There is no official figure available for the total firings or layoffs so far, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">the AP has tallied</a>&nbsp;hundreds of thousands of workers who are being affected. Many work outside of Washington.

Musk on Sunday called his latest request “a very basic pulse check.”

“The reason this matters is that a significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all!” Musk wrote on X. “In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks. In other words, there is outright fraud.”

He has provided no evidence of such fraud. Separately, Musk and Trump have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-payments-deceased-false-claims-doge-ed2885f5769f368853ac3615b4852cf7#">falsely claimed</a>&nbsp;in recent days that tens of millions of dead people over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments.

Meanwhile, thousands of other employees are preparing to leave the federal workforce this coming week, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-job-cuts-trump-doge-31e3ed62f5f35a5e5a4a07fd8708232f">probationary civilian workers at the Pentagon</a>&nbsp;and all but a fraction of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-trump-musk-foreign-aid-firings-a3af8ce6ef17878b718c8e2ed3bf98e4">U.S. Agency for International Development staffers</a>&nbsp;through cuts or leave.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740270477857.png" alt="Musk’s team sent an email to federal employees on Saturday giving them roughly 48 hours to report five specific things they had accomplished last week.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Musk’s team sent an email to federal employees on Saturday giving them roughly 48 hours to report five specific things they had accomplished last week.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;STEVE PEOPLES,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-tucker">ERIC TUCKER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/amanda-seitz">AMANDA SEITZ</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Confusion and chaos loom as hundreds of thousands of federal employees begin their workweek on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-trump-federal-workers-f44257ce4cf8c04c96c8ce0ce262842f">facing a deadline</a>&nbsp;from President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief, Elon Musk, to explain their recent accomplishments or risk losing their jobs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739917649688.png" alt="-File photo Elon Musk during his address to the World Government's Summit last week" />
 <figcaption>-File photo Elon Musk during his address to the World Government's Summit last week</figcaption>
 </figure>Musk’s unusual demand has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-federal-workers-trump-demand-firings-06553df358086db05917d3c50f3699d6">resistance from several key U.S. agencies</a>&nbsp;led by the president’s loyalists — including the FBI, State Department, Homeland Security and the Pentagon — which instructed their employees over the weekend not to comply. Lawmakers in both parties said that Musk’s mandate may be illegal, while unions are threatening to sue.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Defense Department Statement on OPM Mail Guidance. <a href="https://t.co/fq8V7ltI2A">pic.twitter.com/fq8V7ltI2A</a>&mdash; Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1893749113876787235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump over the weekend called for Musk to be more aggressive in his cost-cutting crusade through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and posted a meme on social media mocking federal employees who “cried about Trump and Elon.”Musk’s team sent an email to hundreds of thousands of federal employees on Saturday giving them roughly 48 hours to report five specific things they had accomplished last week. In a separate message on X, Musk said any employee who failed to respond by the deadline — set in the email as 11:59 p.m. EST Monday — would lose their job.Mass confusion followed on the eve of the deadline as some agencies resisted the order, others encouraged their workers to comply, and still others offered conflicting guidance.One message on Sunday morning from the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., instructed its roughly 80,000 employees to comply. That was shortly after the acting general counsel, Sean Keveney, had instructed some not to. And by Sunday evening, agency leadership issued new instructions that employees should “pause activities” related to the request until noon on Monday.“I’ll be candid with you. Having put in over 70 hours of work last week advancing Administration’s priorities, I was personally insulted to receive the below email,” Keveney said in an email viewed by The Associated Press that acknowledged a broad sense of “uncertainty and stress” within the agency.Keveney laid out security concerns and pointed out some of the work done by the agency’s employees may be protected by attorney-client privilege: “I have received no assurances that there are appropriate protections in place to safeguard responses to this email.”Democrats and even some Republicans, including Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, were critical of Musk’s ultimatum.“If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, please put a dose of compassion in this,” Curtis, whose state has 33,000 federal employees, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages. ... It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut and you have to be cruel to do it as well.”Newly confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-patel-fbi-justice-department-518329110ea230e2989095bfcbe34c59">FBI Director Kash Patel</a>, an outspoken Trump ally, instructed employees to ignore Musk’s request, at least for now.“The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures,” Patel wrote in an email confirmed by the AP. “When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-us-attorney-federal-prosecutor-martin-trump-58e8b630e5a450cf10982e5fe9011a56">Ed Martin</a>, interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, sent his staff a message Sunday that may have caused more confusion.“Let me clarify: We will comply with this OPM request whether by replying or deciding not to reply,” Martin wrote in the email obtained by the AP, referring to the Office of Personnel Management.“Please make a good faith effort to reply and list your activities (or not, as you prefer), and I will, as I mentioned, have your back regarding any confusion,” Martin continued. “We can do this.”Officials at the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security were more consistent.Tibor Nagy, acting undersecretary of state for management, told employees in an email that department leadership would respond on behalf of workers. “No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command,” Nagy wrote in an email.Pentagon leadership instructed employees to “pause” any response to Musk’s team, according to an email from Jules Hurst, the deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.The Homeland Security Department, meanwhile, told employees that “no reporting action from you is needed at this time” and that agency managers would respond, according to an email from R.D. Alles, deputy undersecretary for management.Thousands of government employees have already been forced out of the federal workforce — either by being fired or through a “deferred resignation″ offer — during the first month of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s second term</a>. There is no official figure available for the total firings or layoffs so far, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">the AP has tallied</a>&nbsp;hundreds of thousands of workers who are being affected. Many work outside of Washington.Musk on Sunday called his latest request “a very basic pulse check.”“The reason this matters is that a significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all!” Musk wrote on X. “In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks. In other words, there is outright fraud.”He has provided no evidence of such fraud. Separately, Musk and Trump have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-payments-deceased-false-claims-doge-ed2885f5769f368853ac3615b4852cf7#">falsely claimed</a>&nbsp;in recent days that tens of millions of dead people over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments.Meanwhile, thousands of other employees are preparing to leave the federal workforce this coming week, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-job-cuts-trump-doge-31e3ed62f5f35a5e5a4a07fd8708232f">probationary civilian workers at the Pentagon</a>&nbsp;and all but a fraction of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-trump-musk-foreign-aid-firings-a3af8ce6ef17878b718c8e2ed3bf98e4">U.S. Agency for International Development staffers</a>&nbsp;through cuts or leave.

Key federal agencies fight Musk over latest demand in cost-cutting crusade

An event coming in March will celebrate inclusion with dance.

Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas is a vibrant dance recital in Hays.

The free event, which will take place on March 2 at the Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center at Fort Hays State University, begins with raffle sales at 4 p.m. and ends with the show at 5 p.m.

DSNWK, Styles Dance Centre and two high school students are leading the event to raise funds and awareness for individuals with disabilities.

Hays High School senior Allison Dreiling and Thomas More Prep-Marian senior Macara Rohr have long participated in Dancing Together and are now choreographing and planning the event.

"Music is such a good thing for individuals with disabilities, and it just reaches a different part of their brain. They all love it so much," Dreiling said.

"Getting to see their faces is so much fun," Rohr said. "Getting to be more a part of it was a big thing for me."

Dancing Together includes a raffle with donated baskets from local businesses and community members. Proceeds benefit DSNWK's Spring Fling, an annual gathering for individuals with disabilities across 18 counties.

Raffle prizes include coolers, sneakers and gift cards. Tickets are priced at $1 each, $5 for six and $20 for 25.

Styles Dance Centre owner Alyssa DeChant said the event originated from a Fort Hays State University leadership class. It has since grown into an annual tradition and is Rohr's chosen class project with assistance from Dreiling.

"It really is inspiring. It's truly my favorite show of our season," DeChant said.

The Dancing Together event has been in the works since December and brings together participants ages 5 to 60 as they prepare to take the stage for their big performance.

Alison Krier of DSNWK said their clients were excited when they learned about the practice. They asked about it daily until they arrived at the center to rehearse in large and small groups.

"They have a blast when they get here. They're very excited," Krier said. "They enjoy meeting all of the different partners that they get assigned with, being able to have a fun day out of classes and day services."

Steve Keil, DSNWK's development director, enjoys watching connections form between the dancers and the individuals his organization serves.

"Inclusion is a real possibility. Inclusion is part of how we should be as a community and society," Keil said.

You can follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dsnwk">DSNWK </a>and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stylesdancecentre">Styles Dance Centre</a> on Facebook.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740066284241.jpeg" alt="Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants at rehearsal at the Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Courtesy Photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants at rehearsal at the Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Courtesy Photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostAn event coming in March will celebrate inclusion with dance.Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas is a vibrant dance recital in Hays.The free event, which will take place on March 2 at the Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center at Fort Hays State University, begins with raffle sales at 4 p.m. and ends with the show at 5 p.m.DSNWK, Styles Dance Centre and two high school students are leading the event to raise funds and awareness for individuals with disabilities.Hays High School senior Allison Dreiling and Thomas More Prep-Marian senior Macara Rohr have long participated in Dancing Together and are now choreographing and planning the event."Music is such a good thing for individuals with disabilities, and it just reaches a different part of their brain. They all love it so much," Dreiling said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740066387362.jpeg" alt="Dancing Together for&nbsp;Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Dancing Together for&nbsp;Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740066430674.jpeg" alt="Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>"Getting to see their faces is so much fun," Rohr said. "Getting to be more a part of it was a big thing for me."Dancing Together includes a raffle with donated baskets from local businesses and community members. Proceeds benefit DSNWK's Spring Fling, an annual gathering for individuals with disabilities across 18 counties.Raffle prizes include coolers, sneakers and gift cards. Tickets are priced at $1 each, $5 for six and $20 for 25.Styles Dance Centre owner Alyssa DeChant said the event originated from a Fort Hays State University leadership class. It has since grown into an annual tradition and is Rohr's chosen class project with assistance from Dreiling."It really is inspiring. It's truly my favorite show of our season," DeChant said.The Dancing Together event has been in the works since December and brings together participants ages 5 to 60 as they prepare to take the stage for their big performance.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740066473719.jpeg" alt="Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740066574376.jpeg" alt="Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Alison Krier of DSNWK said their clients were excited when they learned about the practice. They asked about it daily until they arrived at the center to rehearse in large and small groups."They have a blast when they get here. They're very excited," Krier said. "They enjoy meeting all of the different partners that they get assigned with, being able to have a fun day out of classes and day services."Steve Keil, DSNWK's development director, enjoys watching connections form between the dancers and the individuals his organization serves."Inclusion is a real possibility. Inclusion is part of how we should be as a community and society," Keil said.You can follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dsnwk">DSNWK </a>and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stylesdancecentre">Styles Dance Centre</a> on Facebook.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740066643347.jpeg" alt="Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740066680000.jpeg" alt="Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Dancing Together for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas participants rehearsing at Styles Dance Centre in Hays. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>

Dancing Together for DSNWK set for March 2 in Hays

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ellen-knickmeyer">ELLEN KNICKMEYER</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration moved its fast-paced dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development toward what appeared to be its final phases, telling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-musk-doge-7ec0a2b4032d4782d41c00164003b5de">all but a fraction of staffers</a>&nbsp;worldwide that they were on leave as of Monday and notifying at least 1,600 of the U.S.-based staffers they were being fired.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738896794184.jpeg" alt="File photo-Members of Congress protest USAID cuts earlier this month -Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo-Members of Congress protest USAID cuts earlier this month -Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ellen-knickmeyer">ELLEN KNICKMEYER</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration moved its fast-paced dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development toward what appeared to be its final phases, telling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-musk-doge-7ec0a2b4032d4782d41c00164003b5de">all but a fraction of staffers</a>&nbsp;worldwide that they were on leave as of Monday and notifying at least 1,600 of the U.S.-based staffers they were being fired.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740351671351.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The move was the latest and one of the biggest steps in what President Donald Trump and cost-cutting ally Elon Musk say is their goal of gutting the six-decade-old aid and development agency in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-federal-workers-trump-demand-firings-06553df358086db05917d3c50f3699d6">broader campaign to slash the size of the federal government</a>.The move comes after a federal judge on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-foreign-aid-staffing-cuts-lawsuits-d1ec029b4d14c37c25abc5dc07066471">allowed the administration to move forward</a>&nbsp;with its plan to pull thousands of USAID staffers off the job in the United States and around the world. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected pleas in a lawsuit from employees to keep&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-foreign-aid-trump-rubio-48f8460804d33bdaa18d7765c4b24f9e">temporarily blocking</a>&nbsp;the government’s plan.“As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally,” according to the notices sent to USAID workers that were viewed by The Associated Press.At the same time, the agency said in the notices to staffers that it was beginning a firing process called reduction in force that would eliminate 2,000 U.S.-based jobs. A version of the notice posted later on USAID's website put the number of positions to be eliminated lower, at 1,600.The administration gave no explanation for the discrepancy. USAID and the State Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.Within hours of that notice, individual staffers began reporting receiving the notices of their upcoming dismissal under the reduction in force.The Trump appointee running USAID, deputy administrator Pete Marocco, has indicated he plans to keep about 600 mostly U.S.-based staffers on the job in the meantime, in part to arrange travel for USAID staffers and families abroad.The move escalates a monthlong push to dismantle the agency, which has included closing its headquarters in Washington and shutting down thousands of aid and development programs worldwide following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-department-trump-foreign-aid-bf047e17ef64cb42a1a1b7fdf05caffa">freeze on all foreign assistance</a>. A judge later temporarily blocked the funding freeze. Trump and Musk contend that USAID's work is wasteful and furthers a liberal agenda.Lawsuits by government workers' unions, USAID contractors and others say the administration lacks the constitutional authority to eliminate an independent agency or congressionally funded programs without lawmakers' approval.The Trump administration efforts upend decades of U.S. policy that aid and development work overseas serves national security by stabilizing regions and economies and building alliances.The notices of firings and leaves come on top of hundreds of USAID contractors receiving no-name form letters of termination in the past week, according to copies that AP viewed.The blanket nature of the notification letters to USAID contractors, excluding the names or positions of those receiving them, could make it difficult for the dismissed workers to get unemployment benefits, workers noted.A different judge in a second lawsuit tied to USAID said this past week that the administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-foreign-aid-freeze-judge-f995a8ccf69fc62826f69442196e94ed">kept withholding foreign aid</a>&nbsp;despite his order temporarily blocking the funding freeze and must restore the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-aid-usaid-pepfar-africa-hiv-396263cd9e7281af7d543d3c68fa465a">funding to programs worldwide</a>.The separate ruling from Nichols, a Trump appointee, on Friday also cleared the way for the administration to start the clock on a planned 30-day deadline for USAID staffers and their families to return home if they want their travel paid for by the government.The judge said he was satisfied by Trump administration assurances that workers abroad would be allowed to stay in their jobs while on leave beyond the 30 days even if they chose to remain overseas.Foreign staffers fear that continued problems with funding flows and the gutting of most of the headquarters staff will make a safe and orderly return difficult, especially those with children in school, houses to sell and ill family members.USAID's notice Sunday said it was “committed to keeping its overseas personnel safe” and pledged not to cut off USAID staffers abroad from agency systems and other support.