By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, was in Hays Monday campaigning for governor in 2026.

Holscher stopped by the Eagle Media Center for an interview with Hays Post.

Holscher recounted a story of her 12-year-old daughter spotting her teacher working a weekend shift at Target during the “Brownback experiment.”

"I explained to her that we were in the midst of the 'Brownback crisis' and that her teacher probably wasn't making enough money to pay her bills. My daughter looked at me and said, 'You go fix that,'" Holscher said.

Holscher describes herself as a public school product and said fully funding general and special education remains one of her top priorities.

"We put a lot of demands on our school and teachers with pretty high expectations," Holscher said. "But the fact of the matter is, we often do not provide the funding for those expectations."

Holscher said that although general education has been adequately funded in recent years, with room for improvement, special education still falls short, forcing districts to shift money and limiting the best curriculum schools can offer.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ddb7029-9e09-4f6a-8c1f-c0c5f03f27ed">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 proposes mill levy increase; sees special ed costs rise</a>

She also pointed to her own advocacy efforts, noting that she marched to protest school underfunding before joining the Legislature and later earned a substitute teaching license after the COVID-19 pandemic to help cover staffing shortages.

Another priority for Holscher is making Kansas more affordable, which she said depends on improving access to housing, child care, health care and education.

On housing, Holscher said Kansas faces a statewide crisis in urban and rural areas. She said even newly built apartments remain out of reach for many residents.

"My team and I are looking at what's working in other states and putting together plans in that regard. If people can't pay their bills or afford housing, that's going to hurt our economy," she said.

Holscher said water preservation has been a concern since her youth, recalling that her first high school speech and debate topic focused on the looming depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer.

"My first year in the Legislature, I was actually assigned to the water committee. We put together a great plan to address water issues that was under Brownback, and it didn't get funded. Here we are still trying to figure out what to do," she said.

After speaking with farmers and agricultural experts, she highlights possibly shifting to low-water-use crops and upgrading irrigation equipment as possible steps.

Holscher said she was not familiar with the R9 Ranch project in any real depth.

Holscher said affordable, accessible health care is central to her affordability agenda and criticized the privatization of the KanCare program.

"That essentially inserted a middleman into the process that now takes millions of dollars. That's money that's going to an entity versus actually helping our people in terms of health care," Holscher said.

Holscher said federal policies have also strained the health care system, and about 26 hospitals statewide are at risk of closing. She said expanding Medicaid would help keep those hospitals open and reduce long-term emergency and transport costs, especially in rural Kansas.

"A lot of times, I hear legislators from the rural areas who say, 'Well, people choose to live here. They knew what it was going to be like.' I don't think people anticipated that we'd be facing this type of health care crisis," she said.

She added Medicaid expansion would also improve access to mental health services.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7fca52b8-e7e6-4d85-b43f-2016ae4336d4">Gov. Laura Kelly stopped in Hays during her Kansas Budget tour in October, warning that the state could face a $700 million deficit by fiscal year 2029 if current trends continue.</a>

Holscher said her experience managing budgets larger than the state’s during her time at Sprint Corp. made her uneasy with the Legislature’s approach to budgeting. This past year marked her first on the Senate Budget Committee.

To avoid future deficits, she proposed new revenue sources rather than cuts, including Medicaid expansion and legalizing medicinal cannabis.

"[Medicinal cannabis is] a huge revenue stream that we have not tapped into. All the states around us are, and we are losing money to other states," she said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f5d35a9a-1874-4311-9ccb-7147a97b8a39">Kelly formally endorsed state Sen. Ethan Corson’s gubernatorial campaign on Monday, saying she believes he can appeal to Republicans, Democrats and independents in 2026.</a>

Holscher said Kelly is “another voter” who can support whoever she wants, adding endorsements do not determine election outcomes.

"What makes the big difference is your policies," she said. "I'm the only Democrat in this field that wins in red areas. ... I'm the only Democrat in this race and the entire Legislature that wins in red districts and has actually defeated Republican incumbents. That's the toughest thing to do."

Holscher added she has received more than 135 endorsements from leaders across Kansas.

She also highlighted her work on affordability legislation, statute-of-limitations reform for sexual violence victims, the introduction of the purple alert system, and her co-founding of the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus as key accomplishments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763414678318.jpeg" alt="Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostSen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, was in Hays Monday campaigning for governor in 2026.Holscher stopped by the Eagle Media Center for an interview with Hays Post.Holscher recounted a story of her 12-year-old daughter spotting her teacher working a weekend shift at Target during the “Brownback experiment.”"I explained to her that we were in the midst of the 'Brownback crisis' and that her teacher probably wasn't making enough money to pay her bills. My daughter looked at me and said, 'You go fix that,'" Holscher said.Holscher describes herself as a public school product and said fully funding general and special education remains one of her top priorities."We put a lot of demands on our school and teachers with pretty high expectations," Holscher said. "But the fact of the matter is, we often do not provide the funding for those expectations."Holscher said that although general education has been adequately funded in recent years, with room for improvement, special education still falls short, forcing districts to shift money and limiting the best curriculum schools can offer.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ddb7029-9e09-4f6a-8c1f-c0c5f03f27ed">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 proposes mill levy increase; sees special ed costs rise</a>She also pointed to her own advocacy efforts, noting that she marched to protest school underfunding before joining the Legislature and later earned a substitute teaching license after the COVID-19 pandemic to help cover staffing shortages.Affordability and housingAnother priority for Holscher is making Kansas more affordable, which she said depends on improving access to housing, child care, health care and education.On housing, Holscher said Kansas faces a statewide crisis in urban and rural areas. She said even newly built apartments remain out of reach for many residents."My team and I are looking at what's working in other states and putting together plans in that regard. If people can't pay their bills or afford housing, that's going to hurt our economy," she said.WaterHolscher said water preservation has been a concern since her youth, recalling that her first high school speech and debate topic focused on the looming depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer."My first year in the Legislature, I was actually assigned to the water committee. We put together a great plan to address water issues that was under Brownback, and it didn't get funded. Here we are still trying to figure out what to do," she said.After speaking with farmers and agricultural experts, she highlights possibly shifting to low-water-use crops and upgrading irrigation equipment as possible steps.Holscher said she was not familiar with the R9 Ranch project in any real depth.Health care and mental healthHolscher said affordable, accessible health care is central to her affordability agenda and criticized the privatization of the KanCare program."That essentially inserted a middleman into the process that now takes millions of dollars. That's money that's going to an entity versus actually helping our people in terms of health care," Holscher said.Holscher said federal policies have also strained the health care system, and about 26 hospitals statewide are at risk of closing. She said expanding Medicaid would help keep those hospitals open and reduce long-term emergency and transport costs, especially in rural Kansas."A lot of times, I hear legislators from the rural areas who say, 'Well, people choose to live here. They knew what it was going to be like.' I don't think people anticipated that we'd be facing this type of health care crisis," she said.She added Medicaid expansion would also improve access to mental health services.State budget<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7fca52b8-e7e6-4d85-b43f-2016ae4336d4">Gov. Laura Kelly stopped in Hays during her Kansas Budget tour in October, warning that the state could face a $700 million deficit by fiscal year 2029 if current trends continue.</a>Holscher said her experience managing budgets larger than the state’s during her time at Sprint Corp. made her uneasy with the Legislature’s approach to budgeting. This past year marked her first on the Senate Budget Committee.To avoid future deficits, she proposed new revenue sources rather than cuts, including Medicaid expansion and legalizing medicinal cannabis."[Medicinal cannabis is] a huge revenue stream that we have not tapped into. All the states around us are, and we are losing money to other states," she said.Gov. Kelly's endorsement&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f5d35a9a-1874-4311-9ccb-7147a97b8a39">Kelly formally endorsed state Sen. Ethan Corson’s gubernatorial campaign on Monday, saying she believes he can appeal to Republicans, Democrats and independents in 2026.</a>Holscher said Kelly is “another voter” who can support whoever she wants, adding endorsements do not determine election outcomes."What makes the big difference is your policies," she said. "I'm the only Democrat in this field that wins in red areas. ... I'm the only Democrat in this race and the entire Legislature that wins in red districts and has actually defeated Republican incumbents. That's the toughest thing to do."Holscher added she has received more than 135 endorsements from leaders across Kansas.She also highlighted her work on affordability legislation, statute-of-limitations reform for sexual violence victims, the introduction of the purple alert system, and her co-founding of the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus as key accomplishments.

Gubernatorial candidate Cindy Holscher seeks to fully fund education

COLBY — The 2025 Colby Community College Hall of Fame class has been announced and includes All-American distance runner Wesley Banguria Kiptoo, former instructor and administrator Gracemary Melvin, and former livestock judging coach Dr. Don Woodburn.

A reception will be held in their honor beginning at about 5:30 p.m. at the conclusion of the men's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Colby Event Center. A brief ceremony is also scheduled at halftime of the men's game.

The CCC Hall of Fame was established in 2012. In June each year, a committee selects individuals or couples who have made substantial contributions to the college through their personal time, effort, and interest, or have significantly impacted the lives of others after being part of Colby Community College.&nbsp;Previous inductees are listed at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.colbycc.edu/hof">www.colbycc.edu/hof</a>.

One of the most decorated CCC athletes ever, Kiptoo has continued to shine on the national stage, building on an unprecedented distance running career that began with the Trojans in 2018.

During his two seasons in Colby, the Eldoret, Kenya, native was named the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Male Athlete of the Year after winning every race of the 2019 season, including the NJCAA Division I National Championship, where his 22:55 finish made him just the fourth runner in NJCAA history to break 23 minutes. He also captured individual titles at the Region VI Championships, the Fort Hays State Tiger Open, the Emporia State Invitational, and the Colorado College Invitational.

Kiptoo earned four USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors, the most ever by a Colby athlete, and set an 8K course record of 23:11.8 at Fort Hays State. His accomplishments helped elevate CCC’s cross-country program to consistent national prominence.

Following Colby, Kiptoo transferred to Iowa State University and became one of the most accomplished runners in program history. He won the 2021 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter national championship, earned seven All-America honors, and captured seven Big 12 Conference titles across cross country and track events. Kiptoo also finished second overall at the 2021 NCAA Cross-Country Championships and helped Iowa State to a runner-up team finish, its best in nearly three decades. 

Twice named the Big 12 Men’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year, he graduated in 2021 holding school records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters, as well as the outdoor 10,000 meters and steeplechase.

That same year, he launched his professional career by signing with HOKA NAZ Elite in Flagstaff, Ariz. Since joining the team, he has captured several major road-race titles, including three consecutive Pittsburgh Half Marathon crowns, victories at the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, and the Philadelphia Distance Run. Along the way, he has recorded personal bests of 1:00:34 for the half-marathon and 2:08:54 for the full marathon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In October 2025, Kiptoo distinguished himself as the second American finisher at the Chicago Marathon.

Melvin began her career at CCC in the summer of 1970 as an instructor in the business department. Over the next two decades, she became a respected member of the faculty known for her professionalism, compassion, and dedication to students.

In 1991, she was appointed dean of instruction, a position she held until her retirement in 2005. During her tenure, the college expanded healthcare offerings and added academic programs, including dental hygiene, and oversaw a period of enhanced classroom technology. She played a significant role when CCC joined five other western Kansas community colleges to cost-share and form EduKan, one of the nation's first consortia to offer online education.

“I loved working at CCC as an instructor and the academic dean,” Melvin said. “The people I worked with were great. The students were wholesome, for lack of a better word, and the town was very supportive.”

In recognition of her outstanding service to the College and the community, Melvin was awarded the&nbsp;Colby Community College Honorary Associate Degree in 2011.

A native of the Midwest, Melvin earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Fort Hays State University. Outside of education, she was co-owner of a Hallmark store in the early 1970s and later The Golf Shop in the late 1980s.

 She has also been a licensed real estate professional since 1983. She continues her career with Coldwell Banker Executive Realty, where she is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Kansas Association of Realtors, and Western Kansas Association of Realtors, and serves as chair of the Professional Standards Committee.

Deeply involved in her community, Melvin participates in several groups within St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and continues to contribute to professional and civic organizations in western Kansas.

Family remains the cornerstone of her life. She is the mother of three sons, Lonnie, Lucas (and his wife Angela), and Len, and the proud grandmother of eleven. Her family now includes four great-grandchildren, with another expected soon. “I could talk about them forever,” she said, “so I will leave it at that.”

Arriving at Colby Community College in 1972 as an instructor of agriculture and coach of the livestock judging team, Woodburn led CCC students to national prominence during his six-year tenure.

Under his leadership, Colby teams participated in approximately 10 regional and national shows per year, winning first place in 28 contests over a six-year period.

“I had the opportunity when I was at Colby to work with the finest young livestock people in the world,” Woodburn said. “I was the coach, but they were the judges.”

After leaving Colby in 1978, Woodburn’s career spanned more than four decades across higher education and the livestock industry. He served as an animal science instructor and judging coach at Auburn University (1978-79) and Colorado State University (1979-81). After relocating to California, he was dean of agriculture at Los Angeles Pierce College (1981-83); vice president of Lassen Community College (1983-89); and professor of animal science at California State University, Fresno (1989-91).

Woodburn also led the California Pork Company as chief executive officer from 1991 to 1995, before returning to academia as dean of the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (1995-2004). 

He later served as president of Coffeyville Community College (2004-2011) and Dodge City Community College (2011-2016). During his presidential tenures, he raised and contributed millions of dollars for institutional growth and student success. In recognition of his impact at Dodge City, the Student Union was renamed the Don Woodburn Student Union.

A native of Roswell, N.M., Woodburn’s early passion for agriculture was evident long before his professional success. In eighth grade, he was named the outstanding history student and exhibited the grand champion steer at the New Mexico State Fair. As a high school student, he won the state FFA public speaking contest, was named the outstanding chapter member, and served as a student Rotarian.

While attending community college, he exhibited four champion steers at national shows, including the Arizona National, Cow Palace, Great Western, and San Antonio Livestock Show. He continued his education at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he participated in football and livestock judging, earning top individual honors at several national competitions. Notably, he achieved high individual honors in cattle, sheep, and oral reasons at the Houston competition, and a top-10 individual finish at the National Finals in Chicago.

Throughout his career, Woodburn judged livestock shows for close to 20 years at regional and national levels and served as president of the National Community and Junior College Livestock Judging Coaches Association, where he authored the organization’s bylaws. He was also part of a research team at Colorado State University that contributed to changes in USDA feeder cattle grading standards.

His honors include the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Exemplary Service Award, Garden City Community College Outstanding Student Service Award, and recognition for his leadership in higher education and community development. A longtime member of Rotary International and multiple chambers of commerce, Woodburn also served as president of the South Platte Chamber of Commerce.

Woodburn and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 55 years and are the proud parents of four children, 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549457638.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Colby Community CollegeCOLBY — The 2025 Colby Community College Hall of Fame class has been announced and includes All-American distance runner Wesley Banguria Kiptoo, former instructor and administrator Gracemary Melvin, and former livestock judging coach Dr. Don Woodburn.A reception will be held in their honor beginning at about 5:30 p.m. at the conclusion of the men's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Colby Event Center. A brief ceremony is also scheduled at halftime of the men's game.The CCC Hall of Fame was established in 2012. In June each year, a committee selects individuals or couples who have made substantial contributions to the college through their personal time, effort, and interest, or have significantly impacted the lives of others after being part of Colby Community College.&nbsp;Previous inductees are listed at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.colbycc.edu/hof">www.colbycc.edu/hof</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549199752.jpeg" alt="Wesley Banguria Kiptoo. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Wesley Banguria Kiptoo. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Wesley Banguria KiptooOne of the most decorated CCC athletes ever, Kiptoo has continued to shine on the national stage, building on an unprecedented distance running career that began with the Trojans in 2018.During his two seasons in Colby, the Eldoret, Kenya, native was named the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Male Athlete of the Year after winning every race of the 2019 season, including the NJCAA Division I National Championship, where his 22:55 finish made him just the fourth runner in NJCAA history to break 23 minutes. He also captured individual titles at the Region VI Championships, the Fort Hays State Tiger Open, the Emporia State Invitational, and the Colorado College Invitational.Kiptoo earned four USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors, the most ever by a Colby athlete, and set an 8K course record of 23:11.8 at Fort Hays State. His accomplishments helped elevate CCC’s cross-country program to consistent national prominence.Following Colby, Kiptoo transferred to Iowa State University and became one of the most accomplished runners in program history. He won the 2021 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter national championship, earned seven All-America honors, and captured seven Big 12 Conference titles across cross country and track events. Kiptoo also finished second overall at the 2021 NCAA Cross-Country Championships and helped Iowa State to a runner-up team finish, its best in nearly three decades. Twice named the Big 12 Men’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year, he graduated in 2021 holding school records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters, as well as the outdoor 10,000 meters and steeplechase.That same year, he launched his professional career by signing with HOKA NAZ Elite in Flagstaff, Ariz. Since joining the team, he has captured several major road-race titles, including three consecutive Pittsburgh Half Marathon crowns, victories at the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, and the Philadelphia Distance Run. Along the way, he has recorded personal bests of 1:00:34 for the half-marathon and 2:08:54 for the full marathon.&nbsp;&nbsp;In October 2025, Kiptoo distinguished himself as the second American finisher at the Chicago Marathon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549261408.jpeg" alt="Gracemary Melvin. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Gracemary Melvin. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Gracemary MelvinMelvin began her career at CCC in the summer of 1970 as an instructor in the business department. Over the next two decades, she became a respected member of the faculty known for her professionalism, compassion, and dedication to students.In 1991, she was appointed dean of instruction, a position she held until her retirement in 2005. During her tenure, the college expanded healthcare offerings and added academic programs, including dental hygiene, and oversaw a period of enhanced classroom technology. She played a significant role when CCC joined five other western Kansas community colleges to cost-share and form EduKan, one of the nation's first consortia to offer online education.“I loved working at CCC as an instructor and the academic dean,” Melvin said. “The people I worked with were great. The students were wholesome, for lack of a better word, and the town was very supportive.”In recognition of her outstanding service to the College and the community, Melvin was awarded the&nbsp;Colby Community College Honorary Associate Degree in 2011.A native of the Midwest, Melvin earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Fort Hays State University. Outside of education, she was co-owner of a Hallmark store in the early 1970s and later The Golf Shop in the late 1980s. She has also been a licensed real estate professional since 1983. She continues her career with Coldwell Banker Executive Realty, where she is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Kansas Association of Realtors, and Western Kansas Association of Realtors, and serves as chair of the Professional Standards Committee.Deeply involved in her community, Melvin participates in several groups within St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and continues to contribute to professional and civic organizations in western Kansas.Family remains the cornerstone of her life. She is the mother of three sons, Lonnie, Lucas (and his wife Angela), and Len, and the proud grandmother of eleven. Her family now includes four great-grandchildren, with another expected soon. “I could talk about them forever,” she said, “so I will leave it at that.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549327440.jpeg" alt="Cathy and Don Woodburn. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Cathy and Don Woodburn. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Don WoodburnArriving at Colby Community College in 1972 as an instructor of agriculture and coach of the livestock judging team, Woodburn led CCC students to national prominence during his six-year tenure.Under his leadership, Colby teams participated in approximately 10 regional and national shows per year, winning first place in 28 contests over a six-year period.“I had the opportunity when I was at Colby to work with the finest young livestock people in the world,” Woodburn said. “I was the coach, but they were the judges.”After leaving Colby in 1978, Woodburn’s career spanned more than four decades across higher education and the livestock industry. He served as an animal science instructor and judging coach at Auburn University (1978-79) and Colorado State University (1979-81). After relocating to California, he was dean of agriculture at Los Angeles Pierce College (1981-83); vice president of Lassen Community College (1983-89); and professor of animal science at California State University, Fresno (1989-91).Woodburn also led the California Pork Company as chief executive officer from 1991 to 1995, before returning to academia as dean of the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (1995-2004). He later served as president of Coffeyville Community College (2004-2011) and Dodge City Community College (2011-2016). During his presidential tenures, he raised and contributed millions of dollars for institutional growth and student success. In recognition of his impact at Dodge City, the Student Union was renamed the Don Woodburn Student Union.A native of Roswell, N.M., Woodburn’s early passion for agriculture was evident long before his professional success. In eighth grade, he was named the outstanding history student and exhibited the grand champion steer at the New Mexico State Fair. As a high school student, he won the state FFA public speaking contest, was named the outstanding chapter member, and served as a student Rotarian.While attending community college, he exhibited four champion steers at national shows, including the Arizona National, Cow Palace, Great Western, and San Antonio Livestock Show. He continued his education at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he participated in football and livestock judging, earning top individual honors at several national competitions. Notably, he achieved high individual honors in cattle, sheep, and oral reasons at the Houston competition, and a top-10 individual finish at the National Finals in Chicago.Throughout his career, Woodburn judged livestock shows for close to 20 years at regional and national levels and served as president of the National Community and Junior College Livestock Judging Coaches Association, where he authored the organization’s bylaws. He was also part of a research team at Colorado State University that contributed to changes in USDA feeder cattle grading standards.His honors include the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Exemplary Service Award, Garden City Community College Outstanding Student Service Award, and recognition for his leadership in higher education and community development. A longtime member of Rotary International and multiple chambers of commerce, Woodburn also served as president of the South Platte Chamber of Commerce.Woodburn and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 55 years and are the proud parents of four children, 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Colby Community College to honor 2025 Hall of Fame class

WASHINGTON (AP) —China is buying more U.S. Soybeans. The additional haul of 792,000 metric tons this week pushes Beijing’s total purchase to about 1 million metric tons following a leaders’ summit in late October. The purchase figures were released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Trump said Tuesday that China was “pretty much on schedule” in buying U.S. farm products but also told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to call Beijing and “speed it up.”

The purchases since late October have broken China’s boycott of U.S. soybeans, which were hurting farmers. But they’re still a far cry from the 12 million metric tons of beans that Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins says Chinahas agreed to buy this harvest season.

Beijing has never confirmed a purchase deal with detailed quantities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759021668596.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —China is buying more U.S. Soybeans. The additional haul of 792,000 metric tons this week pushes Beijing’s total purchase to about 1 million metric tons following a leaders’ summit in late October. The purchase figures were released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Trump said Tuesday that China was “pretty much on schedule” in buying U.S. farm products but also told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to call Beijing and “speed it up.”The purchases since late October have broken China’s boycott of U.S. soybeans, which were hurting farmers. But they’re still a far cry from the 12 million metric tons of beans that Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins says Chinahas agreed to buy this harvest season.Beijing has never confirmed a purchase deal with detailed quantities.

Good news for farmers: China buys more US soybeans

In the wide, rural plains of Kansas, where small towns and farming communities form the backbone of our state, access to health care for children is far from guaranteed.

That’s why the Children’s Health Act of 2000 matters deeply here in Ellis County and the surrounding region, even if it wasn’t written with rural Kansas specifically in mind.

The act, signed into law in October 2000, set out to expand research on childhood conditions such as Autism, birth defects, developmental disabilities, environmental health, children’s health in clinical trials, and traumatic brain injuries; strengthen safety standards for clinical, child-care, and related services for children.

These are clearly goals worth pursuing in rural communities, where children face a unique barrier—less access to pediatric specialists, distance from providers, and higher populations of uninsured or underinsured families.

What impact does this have on rural Kansas? The act helped highlight children’s health nationwide, not just in urban areas.

By authorizing new research and directing federal attention to childhood health and conditions, this legislation laid the groundwork for later efforts to close health care gaps between rural and urban populations.

Yet while research foundations were strengthened, rural Kansas continues to struggle with the practical reality of delivering care.

Many surrounding clinics and hospitals in neighboring communities are stretched thin.

Efforts to recruit professionals and keep services flowing are increasingly difficult for smaller clinics and hospitals.

Even in our county and neighboring counties, doctor shortages, including pediatric care physicians, require a plethora of families in western Kansas to travel long distances—100 miles—to access specialty care for their children.

Not to mention that providers may set appointments weeks or months in advance, ready access to care is often limited to the area where families live.

Drive across western or central Kansas, and you’ll see the quiet strength of our rural counties—hard-working families and individuals supporting their communities. Yet behind this strength lies a silent, pervasive challenge that families face.

This challenge is shared not just by families but also by the physicians and health care professionals who serve them.

Rural doctors often carry enormous responsibility, acting as both primary care providers and, at times, de facto specialists due to the shortage of pediatricians and other specialists.

The Children’s Health Act helped shed light on children’s health, but it also highlighted the immense burden placed on rural practitioners.

They must juggle large geographic areas, long hours and limited resources, all while striving to deliver quality care to every child who walks in their door.

Burnout and recruitment hurdles are constant threats, making it harder to retain the dedicated professionals rural Kansas needs.

The effects ripple through entire communities: when doctors are stretched thin or clinics close, families lose trusted relationships, and children lose continuity of care.

These gaps make it harder to detect developmental issues early or manage chronic conditions, compounding the disadvantages rural children already face. It’s not just a matter of distance; it’s a matter of opportunity and outcomes for the next generation.

There are steps we can take. Expanding telemedicine programs can help bridge distances and bring specialists into rural homes virtually.

State and federal incentives to recruit and retain health care workers in rural areas are essential — from loan forgiveness to housing support. 

Medical schools must also play a role in encouraging students from rural backgrounds to return home to practice medicine and in ensuring that all trainees understand the rewards and challenges of rural care.

Ultimately, the Children’s Health Act was a start, but not a solution. We need to keep children’s health at the forefront of policy and investment — and that means supporting the physicians and clinics that are the lifeblood of rural health care.

Our rural families deserve to see their children grow up healthy, with the same opportunities as any child in America—regardless of their ZIP code. 

We owe it to our neighbors, our future, and the spirit of rural Kansas to make children’s health not just a legislative priority, but a lived reality.

Ensuring healthy futures for our children—and supporting the doctors who care for them—will strengthen the fabric of our rural communities for generations to come.

— Gabrielle E. Gibbs of Russell, Master’s in social work student, Fort Hays State University

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>In the wide, rural plains of Kansas, where small towns and farming communities form the backbone of our state, access to health care for children is far from guaranteed.That’s why the Children’s Health Act of 2000 matters deeply here in Ellis County and the surrounding region, even if it wasn’t written with rural Kansas specifically in mind.The act, signed into law in October 2000, set out to expand research on childhood conditions such as Autism, birth defects, developmental disabilities, environmental health, children’s health in clinical trials, and traumatic brain injuries; strengthen safety standards for clinical, child-care, and related services for children.These are clearly goals worth pursuing in rural communities, where children face a unique barrier—less access to pediatric specialists, distance from providers, and higher populations of uninsured or underinsured families.What impact does this have on rural Kansas? The act helped highlight children’s health nationwide, not just in urban areas.By authorizing new research and directing federal attention to childhood health and conditions, this legislation laid the groundwork for later efforts to close health care gaps between rural and urban populations.Yet while research foundations were strengthened, rural Kansas continues to struggle with the practical reality of delivering care.Many surrounding clinics and hospitals in neighboring communities are stretched thin.Efforts to recruit professionals and keep services flowing are increasingly difficult for smaller clinics and hospitals.Even in our county and neighboring counties, doctor shortages, including pediatric care physicians, require a plethora of families in western Kansas to travel long distances—100 miles—to access specialty care for their children.Not to mention that providers may set appointments weeks or months in advance, ready access to care is often limited to the area where families live.Drive across western or central Kansas, and you’ll see the quiet strength of our rural counties—hard-working families and individuals supporting their communities. Yet behind this strength lies a silent, pervasive challenge that families face.This challenge is shared not just by families but also by the physicians and health care professionals who serve them.Rural doctors often carry enormous responsibility, acting as both primary care providers and, at times, de facto specialists due to the shortage of pediatricians and other specialists.The Children’s Health Act helped shed light on children’s health, but it also highlighted the immense burden placed on rural practitioners.They must juggle large geographic areas, long hours and limited resources, all while striving to deliver quality care to every child who walks in their door.Burnout and recruitment hurdles are constant threats, making it harder to retain the dedicated professionals rural Kansas needs.The effects ripple through entire communities: when doctors are stretched thin or clinics close, families lose trusted relationships, and children lose continuity of care.These gaps make it harder to detect developmental issues early or manage chronic conditions, compounding the disadvantages rural children already face. It’s not just a matter of distance; it’s a matter of opportunity and outcomes for the next generation.There are steps we can take. Expanding telemedicine programs can help bridge distances and bring specialists into rural homes virtually.State and federal incentives to recruit and retain health care workers in rural areas are essential — from loan forgiveness to housing support. Medical schools must also play a role in encouraging students from rural backgrounds to return home to practice medicine and in ensuring that all trainees understand the rewards and challenges of rural care.Ultimately, the Children’s Health Act was a start, but not a solution. We need to keep children’s health at the forefront of policy and investment — and that means supporting the physicians and clinics that are the lifeblood of rural health care.Our rural families deserve to see their children grow up healthy, with the same opportunities as any child in America—regardless of their ZIP code. We owe it to our neighbors, our future, and the spirit of rural Kansas to make children’s health not just a legislative priority, but a lived reality.Ensuring healthy futures for our children—and supporting the doctors who care for them—will strengthen the fabric of our rural communities for generations to come.— Gabrielle E. Gibbs of Russell, Master’s in social work student, Fort Hays State University

Opinion: Hidden struggle for children’s health in rural Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) —A widely used Internet infrastructure company said that it has resolved an issue that led to outages impacting users of everything from ChatGPT and the online game, “League of Legends," to the New Jersey Transit system early Tuesday.

Around 10 a.m. ET, Cloudflare said it was “continuing to monitor for errors to ensure all services are back to normal.”

Others platforms that experienced outages Tuesday included the social media site X, Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase, and the Moody's credit ratings service. Moody's website displayed an Error Code 500 and instructed individuals to visit Cloudflare's website for more information.

New Jersey Transit said parts of its digital services including njtransit.com, may be temporarily unavailable or slow to load.

Cloudflare, based in The San Francisco, provides internet infrastructure that protects websites from online threats and helps them run more smoothly.

Last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-azure-downdetector-service-disruption-0deffbd09c09ca4640c2f5452a9e483e">Microsoft</a>&nbsp;had to deploy a fix to address an outage of their Azure cloud portal that left users unable to access Office 365, Minecraft and other services. The tech company wrote on its&nbsp;<a href="https://azure.status.microsoft/en-us/status">Azure status page</a>&nbsp;that a configuration change to its Azure infrastructure caused the outage.

And&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-east-internet-services-outage-654a12ac9aff0bf4b9dc0e22499d92d7">Amazon</a>&nbsp;experienced a massive outage of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-to-know-about-the-amazon-web-services-outage-0000019a02c5dea7a7ba2fcda5bc0000">cloud computing service</a>&nbsp;in October. The company resolved the issue, but the outage took down a broad range of online services, including social media, gaming, food delivery, streaming and financial platforms.

NEW YORK (AP) —Internet infrastructure provider Cloudflare says it is deploying a fix for an issue that caused global outages for ChatGPT, social media platform X, transit infrastructure and other prominent internet services.

Cloudflare said on its status page earlier Tuesday that it identified an issue that was impacting multiple customers. There were reports of widespread 500 errors as well as Cloudflare Dashboard and API failing.

In the process of remediating the issue, Cloudflare said it had to temporarily disable certain services for United Kingdom users.

“We have made changes that have allowed Cloudflare Access and WARP to recover. Error levels for Access and WARP users have returned to pre-incident rates. We have re-enabled WARP access in London,” the company wrote on its status page. “We are continuing to work toward restoring other services.”

Others that are experiencing issues include Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase, online game League of Legends, Moody's and NJ Transit. Moody's website displayed an Error Code 500 and instructed individuals to visit Cloudflare's website for more information.

The San Francisco-based Cloudflare provides internet infrastructure that protects websites from online threats.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763470230468.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —A widely used Internet infrastructure company said that it has resolved an issue that led to outages impacting users of everything from ChatGPT and the online game, “League of Legends," to the New Jersey Transit system early Tuesday.Around 10 a.m. ET, Cloudflare said it was “continuing to monitor for errors to ensure all services are back to normal.”Others platforms that experienced outages Tuesday included the social media site X, Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase, and the Moody's credit ratings service. Moody's website displayed an Error Code 500 and instructed individuals to visit Cloudflare's website for more information.New Jersey Transit said parts of its digital services including njtransit.com, may be temporarily unavailable or slow to load.Cloudflare, based in The San Francisco, provides internet infrastructure that protects websites from online threats and helps them run more smoothly.Last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-azure-downdetector-service-disruption-0deffbd09c09ca4640c2f5452a9e483e">Microsoft</a>&nbsp;had to deploy a fix to address an outage of their Azure cloud portal that left users unable to access Office 365, Minecraft and other services. The tech company wrote on its&nbsp;<a href="https://azure.status.microsoft/en-us/status">Azure status page</a>&nbsp;that a configuration change to its Azure infrastructure caused the outage.And&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-east-internet-services-outage-654a12ac9aff0bf4b9dc0e22499d92d7">Amazon</a>&nbsp;experienced a massive outage of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-to-know-about-the-amazon-web-services-outage-0000019a02c5dea7a7ba2fcda5bc0000">cloud computing service</a>&nbsp;in October. The company resolved the issue, but the outage took down a broad range of online services, including social media, gaming, food delivery, streaming and financial platforms.--------------------NEW YORK (AP) —Internet infrastructure provider Cloudflare says it is deploying a fix for an issue that caused global outages for ChatGPT, social media platform X, transit infrastructure and other prominent internet services.Cloudflare said on its status page earlier Tuesday that it identified an issue that was impacting multiple customers. There were reports of widespread 500 errors as well as Cloudflare Dashboard and API failing.In the process of remediating the issue, Cloudflare said it had to temporarily disable certain services for United Kingdom users.“We have made changes that have allowed Cloudflare Access and WARP to recover. Error levels for Access and WARP users have returned to pre-incident rates. We have re-enabled WARP access in London,” the company wrote on its status page. “We are continuing to work toward restoring other services.”Others that are experiencing issues include Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase, online game League of Legends, Moody's and NJ Transit. Moody's website displayed an Error Code 500 and instructed individuals to visit Cloudflare's website for more information.The San Francisco-based Cloudflare provides internet infrastructure that protects websites from online threats.Last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-azure-downdetector-service-disruption-0deffbd09c09ca4640c2f5452a9e483e">Microsoft</a>&nbsp;had to deploy a fix to address an outage of their Azure cloud portal that left users unable to access Office 365, Minecraft and other services. The tech company wrote on its&nbsp;<a href="https://azure.status.microsoft/en-us/status">Azure status page</a>&nbsp;that a configuration change to its Azure infrastructure caused the outage.And&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-east-internet-services-outage-654a12ac9aff0bf4b9dc0e22499d92d7">Amazon</a>&nbsp;experienced a massive outage of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-to-know-about-the-amazon-web-services-outage-0000019a02c5dea7a7ba2fcda5bc0000">cloud computing service</a>&nbsp;in October. The company resolved the issue, but the outage took down a broad range of online services, including social media, gaming, food delivery, streaming and financial platforms.

This is why parts of the internet stopped working Tuesday

Kansas Department of Transportation

TOPEKA —&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place Oct. 22, 2025, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689603343931.jpeg" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
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 </figure>Kansas Department of Transportation TOPEKA —&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place Oct. 22, 2025, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.District Three — Northwest<figure>
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KDOT announces approved October bids for northwest Kansas

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Monday announced that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained 10 illegal aliens with serious criminal histories during targeted enforcement operations conducted in October and November, according to a media release from the Attorney General's office.

The individuals were identified and taken into federal custody pursuant to the KBI’s authority under the 287(g) program, an agreement that allows designated KBI personnel to perform immigration enforcement under ICE supervision.&nbsp;

“Had my office not obtained 287(g) authority and investigated these cases, these dangerous illegal aliens would have continued to live in Kansas communities hiding in plain sight,” Kobach said.&nbsp;

The individuals detained are illegal aliens convicted of serious offenses, including:

They are citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Somalia, and Ethiopia.&nbsp;

“Each of these offenders had been tried and convicted of a sex offense, a drug offense, or a violent offense. Anyone without citizenship who commits serious crimes against Kansans should not be allowed to stay in our communities,” KBI Director Tony Mattivi said.

The detentions occurred between Oct. 24 and Nov. 14 with KBI agents working in Hutchinson, Newton, Garden City, and Dodge City.

KBI transferred the detainees to ICE custody where they face federal immigration proceedings, including removal from the United States.&nbsp;

The KBI entered a 287(g) agreement – which refers to Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act – with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in February. Under the terms of the agreement, a limited number of KBI agents received ICE training authorizing the agents to serve and execute warrants for some immigration violations and to issue immigration detainers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763421696187.png" alt="Photos KBI" />
 <figcaption>Photos KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Monday announced that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained 10 illegal aliens with serious criminal histories during targeted enforcement operations conducted in October and November, according to a media release from the Attorney General's office.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKBIKansas%2Fvideos%2F1394147885562719%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The individuals were identified and taken into federal custody pursuant to the KBI’s authority under the 287(g) program, an agreement that allows designated KBI personnel to perform immigration enforcement under ICE supervision.&nbsp;“Had my office not obtained 287(g) authority and investigated these cases, these dangerous illegal aliens would have continued to live in Kansas communities hiding in plain sight,” Kobach said.&nbsp;The individuals detained are illegal aliens convicted of serious offenses, including:<ul>
 <li>Second-degree murder</li><li>Indecent liberties with a child (ages 14-16)</li><li>Annoying/molesting children under 18 (California Statute)</li><li>Aggravated battery</li><li>Distribution of narcotics (opiates, heroin, and other controlled substances)</li><li>Aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm</li><li>Cultivation and distribution of controlled substances&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>They are citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Somalia, and Ethiopia.&nbsp;“Each of these offenders had been tried and convicted of a sex offense, a drug offense, or a violent offense. Anyone without citizenship who commits serious crimes against Kansans should not be allowed to stay in our communities,” KBI Director Tony Mattivi said.The detentions occurred between Oct. 24 and Nov. 14 with KBI agents working in Hutchinson, Newton, Garden City, and Dodge City.KBI agents detained:<ol>
 <li>Jose Luis Gomez Sr. (Mexico) – Distribution of opiates/narcotics</li><li>Alonzo Mendez (Mexico) – Indecent liberties with a child 14–16</li><li>Gilberto Taracena Monte (Guatemala) – Annoy/molest child under 18</li><li>Diego Nevarez (Mexico) – Distribution/possession with intent to distribute heroin (multiple cases)</li><li>Jose Rivera-Avila (Mexico) – Aggravated assault, criminal discharge of firearm</li><li>Bashir Omar (Somalia) – Second-degree intentional murder</li><li>Nigisti Geberemedehni Beyene (Ethiopia) – Aggravated battery</li><li>Yuliesky Hernandez-Padron (Cuba) – Aggravated robbery</li><li>Jose Eduardo Garcia-Peralta (Mexico) – Distribution of opiates/narcotics</li><li>Ramiro Erik Flores-Hernandez (Mexico) – Cultivation/distribution of controlled substances&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>KBI transferred the detainees to ICE custody where they face federal immigration proceedings, including removal from the United States.&nbsp;The KBI entered a 287(g) agreement – which refers to Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act – with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in February. Under the terms of the agreement, a limited number of KBI agents received ICE training authorizing the agents to serve and execute warrants for some immigration violations and to issue immigration detainers.

Attorney General: 10 dangerous illegal aliens captured in Kansas

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a> Associated Press

Vital federal funding is on the way for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-government-shutdown-education-10b7ea5cfcc2ae10c37533a09a1d1d0f">Head Start</a>&nbsp;centers that were thrown into crisis by the government shutdown, but it could take time before some children who rely on the federal program can return to preschool.

Some centers that missed out on federal payments had to furlough staff. Others had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-closed-snap-government-shutdown-64504360d4d668d268b6eb314e6cb47a">shut down entirely</a>, destabilizing thousands of needy families around the country. And operators fear it could take weeks more for overdue payments to be processed.

Even when agencies receive long-delayed grant money, centers will have to rehire staff members and bring back families — both of which may have grown wary of instability in the program, which relies almost entirely on federal grants.

“The damage has been done in a lot of ways,” Massachusetts Head Start Association Executive Director Michelle Haimowitz said. “We know that it’s going to take some time to fill back up.”

About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-snap-wic-head-start-e6176d2683f74b7011d861b48a47d3f1">140 Head Start programs</a>&nbsp;representing 65,000 slots didn’t receive their annual grants during the 43-day shutdown, which concluded when President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">signed a government funding bill</a>&nbsp;Wednesday night.

Head Start serves children from low-income families from birth to age 5. The program offers a variety of services to families, such as early learning, support for children with disabilities, free meals and health screenings.

With the shutdown over, the federal Office of Head Start will expedite funding and contact affected Head Start programs to share when they can expect federal money, said Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program.

Head Start operators anticipate that could take weeks.

Federal workers are returning to “a mountain of work” that will take time to process, Haimowitz said. That doesn’t just include sending out missed grant awards — other paperwork for a range of technical issues has been delayed since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-office-closures-hhs-trump-00b1a6b33ef918cb66e59b7ffb07ac13">layoffs at the Office of Head Start</a>&nbsp;earlier this year, she said.

“Those delays have just been piling up since April, with no fault to the existing civil servants at the Office of Head Start,” Haimowitz said. “They just have half the capacity that they had just a few months ago.”

Families prepare for the worst-case scenario

Depending on how quickly federal workers can send out funds, the backlog in grant renewals could spill over and affect Head Start agencies that are supposed to receive funding in December, operators said. Some of the families who attend those centers are already making preparations for that worst-case scenario.

Gena Storer, who works as a home health aide in Xenia, Ohio, is trying to “make as much money as I possibly can” in case her daughter’s Head Start center closes. The center staff told parents hours before the government reopened that they still expect to shutter temporarily on Dec. 1 if funding is delayed, Storer said.

If the center closes, Storer’s 4-year-old daughter, Zarina, will stay at home until it reopens. Storer will then need to adjust her work hours to make sure she can be home with Zarina while her fiance works 12-hour shifts at a Target distribution center.

Uncertainty about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-shutdown-reopening-food-aid-a11b6c83934d9c718cc413fc1f9435d3">SNAP federal food aid payments</a>&nbsp;has also added stress for Storer’s family. Storer had been working extra hours through the shutdown to help provide for her 72-year-old mother, who also uses SNAP benefits.

“If my mom didn’t have us to help her, what would she do?” the 31-year-old said.

For Storer, Head Start has been more than a reliable option for child care. Zarina used to receive speech therapy to address her lack of speaking. But since starting Head Start in September, Storer said she’s noticed her daughter becoming more talkative and outgoing because she learns from having conversations with her classmates.

Programs pay out-of-pocket to keep doors open

Programs that stayed open without a guarantee of reimbursement by the federal government could also face further financial strains. At Louis Russ’ home day care in Knox County, Indiana, he and his wife are planning a pop-up toy shop out of their garage to offset money they might lose by staying open.

Russ and his wife started operating a day care out of their home in April and partnered soon after with East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, a nonprofit that serves children of migrant farmworkers across 10 states. Six out of the eight children in Russ’ home day care are Head Start-funded.

East Coast Migrant Head Start Project was one of the programs affected by a funding lapse, which resulted in more than 1,000 children being shut out of their centers. Russ and his wife also stopped receiving their Head Start payments at the end of October, but the decision to keep their home open was a “no brainer,” Russ said. Offering the children consistency during an otherwise unpredictable time was important to them, he said.

“Staying open and keep taking the children we have, that was the easy part,” he said. “Figuring out how we’re going to stay open if this goes on too long, that’s the tricky part.”

It’s been tense operating the program without knowing when funding will be released. Russ and his wife already took a pay cut, and they have another employee on the payroll. About three-quarters of their budget is payroll, Russ said, but other expenses like groceries and maintenance needs can stack up quickly without an income.

“Our program, being so new, we were running pretty bare bones as is,” Russ said. “And especially in child care, which doesn’t have a huge profit margin, there’s only so much wiggle room when things like this happen.”

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a> Associated PressVital federal funding is on the way for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-government-shutdown-education-10b7ea5cfcc2ae10c37533a09a1d1d0f">Head Start</a>&nbsp;centers that were thrown into crisis by the government shutdown, but it could take time before some children who rely on the federal program can return to preschool.Some centers that missed out on federal payments had to furlough staff. Others had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-closed-snap-government-shutdown-64504360d4d668d268b6eb314e6cb47a">shut down entirely</a>, destabilizing thousands of needy families around the country. And operators fear it could take weeks more for overdue payments to be processed.Even when agencies receive long-delayed grant money, centers will have to rehire staff members and bring back families — both of which may have grown wary of instability in the program, which relies almost entirely on federal grants.“The damage has been done in a lot of ways,” Massachusetts Head Start Association Executive Director Michelle Haimowitz said. “We know that it’s going to take some time to fill back up.”About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-snap-wic-head-start-e6176d2683f74b7011d861b48a47d3f1">140 Head Start programs</a>&nbsp;representing 65,000 slots didn’t receive their annual grants during the 43-day shutdown, which concluded when President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">signed a government funding bill</a>&nbsp;Wednesday night.Head Start serves children from low-income families from birth to age 5. The program offers a variety of services to families, such as early learning, support for children with disabilities, free meals and health screenings.With the shutdown over, the federal Office of Head Start will expedite funding and contact affected Head Start programs to share when they can expect federal money, said Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program.Head Start operators anticipate that could take weeks.Federal workers are returning to “a mountain of work” that will take time to process, Haimowitz said. That doesn’t just include sending out missed grant awards — other paperwork for a range of technical issues has been delayed since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-office-closures-hhs-trump-00b1a6b33ef918cb66e59b7ffb07ac13">layoffs at the Office of Head Start</a>&nbsp;earlier this year, she said.“Those delays have just been piling up since April, with no fault to the existing civil servants at the Office of Head Start,” Haimowitz said. “They just have half the capacity that they had just a few months ago.”<h2>Families prepare for the worst-case scenario</h2>Depending on how quickly federal workers can send out funds, the backlog in grant renewals could spill over and affect Head Start agencies that are supposed to receive funding in December, operators said. Some of the families who attend those centers are already making preparations for that worst-case scenario.Gena Storer, who works as a home health aide in Xenia, Ohio, is trying to “make as much money as I possibly can” in case her daughter’s Head Start center closes. The center staff told parents hours before the government reopened that they still expect to shutter temporarily on Dec. 1 if funding is delayed, Storer said.If the center closes, Storer’s 4-year-old daughter, Zarina, will stay at home until it reopens. Storer will then need to adjust her work hours to make sure she can be home with Zarina while her fiance works 12-hour shifts at a Target distribution center.Uncertainty about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-shutdown-reopening-food-aid-a11b6c83934d9c718cc413fc1f9435d3">SNAP federal food aid payments</a>&nbsp;has also added stress for Storer’s family. Storer had been working extra hours through the shutdown to help provide for her 72-year-old mother, who also uses SNAP benefits.“If my mom didn’t have us to help her, what would she do?” the 31-year-old said.For Storer, Head Start has been more than a reliable option for child care. Zarina used to receive speech therapy to address her lack of speaking. But since starting Head Start in September, Storer said she’s noticed her daughter becoming more talkative and outgoing because she learns from having conversations with her classmates.<h2>Programs pay out-of-pocket to keep doors open</h2>Programs that stayed open without a guarantee of reimbursement by the federal government could also face further financial strains. At Louis Russ’ home day care in Knox County, Indiana, he and his wife are planning a pop-up toy shop out of their garage to offset money they might lose by staying open.Russ and his wife started operating a day care out of their home in April and partnered soon after with East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, a nonprofit that serves children of migrant farmworkers across 10 states. Six out of the eight children in Russ’ home day care are Head Start-funded.East Coast Migrant Head Start Project was one of the programs affected by a funding lapse, which resulted in more than 1,000 children being shut out of their centers. Russ and his wife also stopped receiving their Head Start payments at the end of October, but the decision to keep their home open was a “no brainer,” Russ said. Offering the children consistency during an otherwise unpredictable time was important to them, he said.“Staying open and keep taking the children we have, that was the easy part,” he said. “Figuring out how we’re going to stay open if this goes on too long, that’s the tricky part.”It’s been tense operating the program without knowing when funding will be released. Russ and his wife already took a pay cut, and they have another employee on the payroll. About three-quarters of their budget is payroll, Russ said, but other expenses like groceries and maintenance needs can stack up quickly without an income.“Our program, being so new, we were running pretty bare bones as is,” Russ said. “And especially in child care, which doesn’t have a huge profit margin, there’s only so much wiggle room when things like this happen.”___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Families brace for continued gaps in Head Start service despite government reopening

Marian Joyce Kleweno, 81,
passed away on November 13, 2025 at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on November 19, 1943 in
Catherine, Kansas the daughter of Sam and Frieda (Meis) Delaney.

Marian was a homemaker. She
attended Brown Mackey College in 1961-1962. She also worked as the Postmaster
and at the ASCS office. She married Larry Kleweno on March 6, 1965, in Bazine,
Kansas. He passed away on October 14, 2020.

Survivors include her daughter,
Laura Kleweno of Ness City; son, Linn (Jennifer) Kleweno of Bazine; brother,
Dean Delaney of Ness City; sister-in-law, Dianne Delaney of Ness City; 2 granddaughters,
Taylor (Jarrett) Simon and Samantha Kleweno.&nbsp;
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Neal
Delaney; sister-in-law, Kathleen Delaney; niece, Shelly Delaney Wesley; and
nephews, Micheal Slack, Barry Landauer, John Kevin Landauer, and Roman “Jr.”
Wiehbrink.

Funeral service will be on
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 10:00 a.m., at the Bazine Methodist Church,
Bazine, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial in the Bazine
Cemetery, Bazine, Kansas. Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at
Fitzgerald Funeral Home, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may
be given to the Bazine Methodist
Church or Cedar Village Long Term Care.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for
the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763402811857.jpeg" alt="Marian Joyce Kleweno" />
 <figcaption>Marian Joyce Kleweno</figcaption>
 </figure>Marian Joyce Kleweno, 81,
passed away on November 13, 2025 at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; She was born on November 19, 1943 in
Catherine, Kansas the daughter of Sam and Frieda (Meis) Delaney.Marian was a homemaker. She
attended Brown Mackey College in 1961-1962. She also worked as the Postmaster
and at the ASCS office. She married Larry Kleweno on March 6, 1965, in Bazine,
Kansas. He passed away on October 14, 2020.Survivors include her daughter,
Laura Kleweno of Ness City; son, Linn (Jennifer) Kleweno of Bazine; brother,
Dean Delaney of Ness City; sister-in-law, Dianne Delaney of Ness City; 2 granddaughters,
Taylor (Jarrett) Simon and Samantha Kleweno.&nbsp;
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Neal
Delaney; sister-in-law, Kathleen Delaney; niece, Shelly Delaney Wesley; and
nephews, Micheal Slack, Barry Landauer, John Kevin Landauer, and Roman “Jr.”
Wiehbrink.Funeral service will be on
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 10:00 a.m., at the Bazine Methodist Church,
Bazine, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial in the Bazine
Cemetery, Bazine, Kansas. Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at
Fitzgerald Funeral Home, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.Memorial contributions may
be given to the Bazine Methodist
Church or Cedar Village Long Term Care.Words of sympathy and support may be left for
the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Marian Joyce Kleweno

Edna Marie Wolf-Billinger, 94, Hays, died Thursday, November
13, 2025 at HaysMed.

She was born November 4, 1931 on the family farm near
Munjor, the daughter of Alvis and Mary (Unrein) Jacobs.&nbsp; On August 22, 1950, she was united in
marriage to Marcellus Wolf in LaCrosse, and they celebrated 43 years of
marriage before he preceded in death on December 20, 1993.&nbsp; She then married Peter J. 'Pete' Billinger,
Jr. on April 12, 1996, in Russell, and they celebrated 28 years of marriage
before he preceded her in death on October 16, 2024.

Edna was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church,
loved doing various crafts including pottery, painting, and crocheting, and she
was a talented seamstress.&nbsp; She enjoyed bowling,
Bingo, and playing cards, but most of all, she was a wonderful grandma who
loved her family. 

Survivors include two sons Wesley Wolf and wife Carolyn of
Yoder and Terry Wolf of Antonino, her daughter Linda Thyfault of Hays, her
daughter-in-law Betty Wolf of Hays, two brothers Alvis Jacobs, Jr. and wife
Renee of Clovis, NM and Richard Wolf and wife Karleen of Russell, seven
grandchildren Katrina Schmidt (Eric), John Wolf (Wendy), Michelle Brannam
(Dustin), Christina Byler (Dustin), Jessica Schmeidler (Austin), Robin Hart
(Josh), and Renee Wolf (Chris Cole), 17 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces
and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands
Marcellus and Pete, her son Rick Wolf, her daughter-in-law Karen Wolf, one
brother Cecil Jacobs, three sisters, Alverna Kisner, Bernida Kisner, and
Delorse Leiker, and her grandson Kristopher Thyfault.

Private family burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in
Schoenchen.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp;
Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, and
condolences and memories of Edna may be shared with her family at
www.haysmemorial.com &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763220859442.jpeg" alt="Edna Marie Wolf-Billinger" />
 <figcaption>Edna Marie Wolf-Billinger</figcaption>
 </figure>Edna Marie Wolf-Billinger, 94, Hays, died Thursday, November
13, 2025 at HaysMed.She was born November 4, 1931 on the family farm near
Munjor, the daughter of Alvis and Mary (Unrein) Jacobs.&nbsp; On August 22, 1950, she was united in
marriage to Marcellus Wolf in LaCrosse, and they celebrated 43 years of
marriage before he preceded in death on December 20, 1993.&nbsp; She then married Peter J. 'Pete' Billinger,
Jr. on April 12, 1996, in Russell, and they celebrated 28 years of marriage
before he preceded her in death on October 16, 2024.Edna was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church,
loved doing various crafts including pottery, painting, and crocheting, and she
was a talented seamstress.&nbsp; She enjoyed bowling,
Bingo, and playing cards, but most of all, she was a wonderful grandma who
loved her family. Survivors include two sons Wesley Wolf and wife Carolyn of
Yoder and Terry Wolf of Antonino, her daughter Linda Thyfault of Hays, her
daughter-in-law Betty Wolf of Hays, two brothers Alvis Jacobs, Jr. and wife
Renee of Clovis, NM and Richard Wolf and wife Karleen of Russell, seven
grandchildren Katrina Schmidt (Eric), John Wolf (Wendy), Michelle Brannam
(Dustin), Christina Byler (Dustin), Jessica Schmeidler (Austin), Robin Hart
(Josh), and Renee Wolf (Chris Cole), 17 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces
and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands
Marcellus and Pete, her son Rick Wolf, her daughter-in-law Karen Wolf, one
brother Cecil Jacobs, three sisters, Alverna Kisner, Bernida Kisner, and
Delorse Leiker, and her grandson Kristopher Thyfault.Private family burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in
Schoenchen.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.&nbsp;
Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, and
condolences and memories of Edna may be shared with her family at
www.haysmemorial.com &nbsp;

Edna Marie Wolf-Billinger

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Media

The traditional link between rig activity and energy production has weakened recently, with output at record highs despite reduced rig counts. A government report offers two reasons, from different sides of the ledger. Operators are getting more efficient at producing with fewer rigs, and they're reining in resources due to low prices. Production is through the roof, with weekly records now commonplace. The average number of active rigs per month has declined steadily from a recent peak of 750 rigs in December 2022 to 517 rigs this October.

The tallies from Baker Hughes this week increased three oil rigs, and dropped by three gas rigs, for a total of 549 active drilling rigs nationwide. The counts in Oklahoma and North Dakota were each down one, Louisiana was up one, and New Mexico was up two rigs.

Some movement of rigs, but not of the rig count, in Kansas. Independent Oil and Gas reports eight active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, up four from last week, and nine rigs west of Wichita, which is down four. The total is unchanged for the week and the month, but down 43 percent from a year ago. Drilling was underway or about to begin Friday on leases in Ellis and Finney counties.

Independent Oil and Gas Service lists producing wells in Ellis, Russell and Stafford Counties out of 18 well completions west of Wichita.&nbsp; Also on the list are a pair of wells in Gove County and one in Haskell County.

Regulators okayed eleven new drilling permit locations across Kansas, 598 so far this year. Last year at this time there were 985 new drilling locations approved. There are five new permits in eastern Kansas, and six in the western half of the state, including one in Ellis County and two in Gove county.

For the last five weeks, crude-oil production in the United States has exceeded 13.6 million barrels a day, and all but one of those weeks set a record. This week, output is over 13.8 million, rising a startling 211,000 barrels a day from last week's all-time high. Four-week average production is just under 13.7 million barrels a day, up 100,000 daily barrels from the previous record set last week.

Inventories rose 6.4 million barrels to more than 427 million as of November 7th. EIA reports stockpiles remain 2.2 million barrels lower than a year ago, and are four percent below the five-year seasonal average. Crude imports are down more than ten percent from a week ago at 5.2 million barrels per day. Crude exports dropped by nearly half to 2.8 million.

The Supreme Court in New Mexico could soon determine if its residents have a constitutional right to pollution control. The high court will hear an appeal brought by environmental, youth and activist groups, who argue that oil and gas permitting, alongside a failure to enforce pollution laws, violates the so-called pollution control clause of the state constitution. That clause was added by voters as an amendment in 1971.

The previous government in Canada proposed a cap on greenhouse gas pollution in the oil and gas sector, hoping to drop emissions to 35% compared to 2019. The new government is now hinting it will scrap the cap, which opponents said would actually cap ALL oil and gas output. The Climate Competitiveness Strategy in the nation's new budget proposal would instead prioritize effective carbon markets, enhanced methane regulations, and new technology.

Governments across Europe and the Middle East are rushing to ensure the sprawling oil operations of Russian energy giant Lukoil can keep running when US sanctions kick in.&nbsp; The U.S. Treasury nixed a deal to acquire the company's worldwide assets by what the government calls the Kremlin's puppet.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle MediaThe traditional link between rig activity and energy production has weakened recently, with output at record highs despite reduced rig counts. A government report offers two reasons, from different sides of the ledger. Operators are getting more efficient at producing with fewer rigs, and they're reining in resources due to low prices. Production is through the roof, with weekly records now commonplace. The average number of active rigs per month has declined steadily from a recent peak of 750 rigs in December 2022 to 517 rigs this October.The tallies from Baker Hughes this week increased three oil rigs, and dropped by three gas rigs, for a total of 549 active drilling rigs nationwide. The counts in Oklahoma and North Dakota were each down one, Louisiana was up one, and New Mexico was up two rigs.Some movement of rigs, but not of the rig count, in Kansas. Independent Oil and Gas reports eight active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, up four from last week, and nine rigs west of Wichita, which is down four. The total is unchanged for the week and the month, but down 43 percent from a year ago. Drilling was underway or about to begin Friday on leases in Ellis and Finney counties.Independent Oil and Gas Service lists producing wells in Ellis, Russell and Stafford Counties out of 18 well completions west of Wichita.&nbsp; Also on the list are a pair of wells in Gove County and one in Haskell County.Regulators okayed eleven new drilling permit locations across Kansas, 598 so far this year. Last year at this time there were 985 new drilling locations approved. There are five new permits in eastern Kansas, and six in the western half of the state, including one in Ellis County and two in Gove county.For the last five weeks, crude-oil production in the United States has exceeded 13.6 million barrels a day, and all but one of those weeks set a record. This week, output is over 13.8 million, rising a startling 211,000 barrels a day from last week's all-time high. Four-week average production is just under 13.7 million barrels a day, up 100,000 daily barrels from the previous record set last week.Inventories rose 6.4 million barrels to more than 427 million as of November 7th. EIA reports stockpiles remain 2.2 million barrels lower than a year ago, and are four percent below the five-year seasonal average. Crude imports are down more than ten percent from a week ago at 5.2 million barrels per day. Crude exports dropped by nearly half to 2.8 million.The Supreme Court in New Mexico could soon determine if its residents have a constitutional right to pollution control. The high court will hear an appeal brought by environmental, youth and activist groups, who argue that oil and gas permitting, alongside a failure to enforce pollution laws, violates the so-called pollution control clause of the state constitution. That clause was added by voters as an amendment in 1971.The previous government in Canada proposed a cap on greenhouse gas pollution in the oil and gas sector, hoping to drop emissions to 35% compared to 2019. The new government is now hinting it will scrap the cap, which opponents said would actually cap ALL oil and gas output. The Climate Competitiveness Strategy in the nation's new budget proposal would instead prioritize effective carbon markets, enhanced methane regulations, and new technology.Governments across Europe and the Middle East are rushing to ensure the sprawling oil operations of Russian energy giant Lukoil can keep running when US sanctions kick in.&nbsp; The U.S. Treasury nixed a deal to acquire the company's worldwide assets by what the government calls the Kremlin's puppet.

News from the Oil Patch: More bang for fewer bucks

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen learned his fate on Friday.

Judge Quentin Pittman sentenced 22-year-old Samuel Loredo to 174 months in prison with Lifetime Post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In October, Loredo pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the District Attorney's office.

Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732189301713.png" alt="Loredo photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Loredo photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen learned his fate on Friday.Judge Quentin Pittman sentenced 22-year-old Samuel Loredo to 174 months in prison with Lifetime Post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In October, Loredo pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the District Attorney's office.Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Years in prison for Kan. man in sex assault of runaway 14-year-old

DENVER (AP) — Wil Lutz kicked five field goals, including&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Broncos/status/1990218327000797565">a 35-yard game-winner</a>&nbsp;as time expired Sunday, pushing the Denver Broncos past the Kansas City Chiefs 22-19 for their eighth straight victory.

The Broncos (9-2) all but buried the Chiefs (5-5) in the AFC West, which Kansas City has won ever year since 2016. Chiefs coach Andy Reid fell to 27-5 following a bye week, counting the playoffs and his time with Philadelphia.

Bo Nix set up the game-winning kick with a 32-yard pass to Troy Franklin that got Denver to the Kansas City 15 with under a minute remaining.

Patrick Mahomes gave Kansas City its only lead on a 21-yard touchdown toss to Travis Kelce — the veteran tight end's 84th career TD, one more than previous Chiefs franchise record-holder Priest Holmes. That put the Chiefs up 19-16, but Harrison Butker's extra point was blocked by Frank Crum.

The Broncos tied it at 19-all on Lutz's 54-yarder with 4:10 remaining.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763340605602.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Denver Broncos" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Denver Broncos</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Wil Lutz kicked five field goals, including&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Broncos/status/1990218327000797565">a 35-yard game-winner</a>&nbsp;as time expired Sunday, pushing the Denver Broncos past the Kansas City Chiefs 22-19 for their eighth straight victory.The Broncos (9-2) all but buried the Chiefs (5-5) in the AFC West, which Kansas City has won ever year since 2016. Chiefs coach Andy Reid fell to 27-5 following a bye week, counting the playoffs and his time with Philadelphia.Bo Nix set up the game-winning kick with a 32-yard pass to Troy Franklin that got Denver to the Kansas City 15 with under a minute remaining.Patrick Mahomes gave Kansas City its only lead on a 21-yard touchdown toss to Travis Kelce — the veteran tight end's 84th career TD, one more than previous Chiefs franchise record-holder Priest Holmes. That put the Chiefs up 19-16, but Harrison Butker's extra point was blocked by Frank Crum.The Broncos tied it at 19-all on Lutz's 54-yarder with 4:10 remaining.Denver's defense forced Kansas City to go three-and-out when Ja'Quan McMillian sacked Mahomes on third-and-10 from the Chiefs 36.The Broncos chewed up the final 2:59 by driving 58 yards in 10 plays. They won their 11th straight game at Empower Field, where they haven't lost since October 2024.Kelce's TD followed a 46-yard pass-interference flag at the Denver 29 on cornerback Riley Moss on an underthrown pass from Mahomes to Hollywood Brown. That came on third-and-19 from the Kansas City 29.The Broncos' eight-game winning streak is their longest since 2012, when Peyton Manning led Denver to 11 consecutive victories. As a result, the Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the AFC West is in jeopardy.Jaleel McLaughlin, playing in place of injured starter J.K. Dobbins, who underwent season-ending foot surgery last week, bullied his way in from 4 yards out to break a 6-6 tie in the third quarter.The Chiefs seized the momentum, however, when Mahomes found Tyquan Thornton for a 61-yard gain to the Denver 11. That set up Kareem Hunt's 2-yard run that tied it at 13. That was KC's first touchdown at Empower Field in 11 quarters.Both offenses struggled to move the ball against stingy defenses, and the first half featured four short field goals and ended in a 6-6 tie.<h2>Injuries</h2>Chiefs: LG Kingsley Suamataia left in the third quarter to be checked for a concussion.Broncos: Rookie WR Pat Bryant was evaluated for a concussion after his 48-yard catch with 26 seconds left in the third quarter. ... The Broncos were without several starters, including CB Pat Surtain II (pectoral), ILB Alex Singleton (testicular cancer) and Dobbins (left foot), who will miss the rest of the regular season.<h2>Up next</h2>Chiefs: Visit the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday.Broncos: After a bye, visit the Washington Commanders on Nov. 30.