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Hays Police Department arrest log, Dec..1-7, 2024

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/12/16/banned-from-sons-football-games-kansas-father-gets-settlement-for-free-speech-retaliation/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Conflict in a small Kansas town that began at youth football games became a nucleus for a threatened free speech lawsuit that prompted a $75,000 payout.

Over the course of about three years, Tim Clark, whose children attend school in the roughly 1,000-person city of Quinter in western Kansas, clashed with coaches, parents and city officials at his son’s football games. The single father, who doesn’t live in Quinter, expressed his frustrations in a 2022 Facebook post complaining about playing time and accusing coaches of favoritism.

Shortly after, city officials banned him for life from attending his son’s sporting events.

Clark recalled the experience during a Kansas Reflector podcast interview alongside his attorney, Max Kautsch.

In October 2022, then-city administrator Greg Thomas, Mayor Jeremy Blackwill and a Gove County sheriff’s deputy confronted Clark in a parking lot outside his son’s football practice. Clark, who was sitting with his young daughter at the time, recorded the incident on his phone — including Thomas calling Clark the “community’s problem.”

“It was overwhelming. It was disheartening,” Clark said during the podcast interview. “It was all the things you could possibly feel, and emotions I don’t think I’ve ever felt before, especially because these three men were standing behind me. One of them’s got a gun. You know, I’m unarmed with my daughter, and they’re threatening to arrest me.”

According to a prepared legal complaint alleging First Amendment retaliation, Clark “faced the prospect of arrest for attending Quinter Parks and Rec events.” The city rescinded the ban on Sept. 27 of this year, the draft complaint said, “but retaliation against Tim continues.” The parties settled the dispute in October for $75,000 before the complaint was filed in court.

The draft complaint named Blackwill, Thomas and the city’s recreation director, Daryl Havlas, as defendants.&nbsp;

Kautsch, who has written&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/max-kautsch/">columns</a>&nbsp;for Kansas Reflector, underscored the labeling of Clark as the “community’s problem” throughout the draft complaint.

“It is not up to the government to label members of the community as a problem,” Kautsch said in a podcast interview. “That obviously shows bias. It shows that there is not a rational basis.”

But city officials didn’t fully accept the settlement agreement.

Mayor Blackwill said the city only paid a $1,500 deductible, and it was the city’s insurance company’s recommendation to offer a settlement “despite heavy protest from the city.”

“The city had no say in this decision,” he told Kansas Reflector in an email. “We still strongly oppose their decision and are currently evaluating our options with other carriers.”

Blackwill, who is also the assistant fire chief for the Quinter Fire Department, said all decisions before the settlement came directly from him.

“We consider this situation behind us,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734448142253.jpeg" alt="Tim Clark, who threatened to sue the small western Kansas town of Quinter for free speech violations after he was banned from his son’s sporting events, sits for a Dec. 12, 2024, interview for the Kansas Reflector podcast. Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Tim Clark, who threatened to sue the small western Kansas town of Quinter for free speech violations after he was banned from his son’s sporting events, sits for a Dec. 12, 2024, interview for the Kansas Reflector podcast. Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/12/16/banned-from-sons-football-games-kansas-father-gets-settlement-for-free-speech-retaliation/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Conflict in a small Kansas town that began at youth football games became a nucleus for a threatened free speech lawsuit that prompted a $75,000 payout.Over the course of about three years, Tim Clark, whose children attend school in the roughly 1,000-person city of Quinter in western Kansas, clashed with coaches, parents and city officials at his son’s football games. The single father, who doesn’t live in Quinter, expressed his frustrations in a 2022 Facebook post complaining about playing time and accusing coaches of favoritism.Shortly after, city officials banned him for life from attending his son’s sporting events.Clark recalled the experience during a Kansas Reflector podcast interview alongside his attorney, Max Kautsch.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1986978171&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast" title="Reflector Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Reflector Podcast</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast/free-speech-challenged-at-small-town-kansas-youth-football-games" title="Sports rant leads to free speech challenge in small Kansas town" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Sports rant leads to free speech challenge in small Kansas town</a></div></div>In October 2022, then-city administrator Greg Thomas, Mayor Jeremy Blackwill and a Gove County sheriff’s deputy confronted Clark in a parking lot outside his son’s football practice. Clark, who was sitting with his young daughter at the time, recorded the incident on his phone — including Thomas calling Clark the “community’s problem.”“It was overwhelming. It was disheartening,” Clark said during the podcast interview. “It was all the things you could possibly feel, and emotions I don’t think I’ve ever felt before, especially because these three men were standing behind me. One of them’s got a gun. You know, I’m unarmed with my daughter, and they’re threatening to arrest me.”According to a prepared legal complaint alleging First Amendment retaliation, Clark “faced the prospect of arrest for attending Quinter Parks and Rec events.” The city rescinded the ban on Sept. 27 of this year, the draft complaint said, “but retaliation against Tim continues.” The parties settled the dispute in October for $75,000 before the complaint was filed in court.The draft complaint named Blackwill, Thomas and the city’s recreation director, Daryl Havlas, as defendants.&nbsp;Kautsch, who has written&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/max-kautsch/">columns</a>&nbsp;for Kansas Reflector, underscored the labeling of Clark as the “community’s problem” throughout the draft complaint.“It is not up to the government to label members of the community as a problem,” Kautsch said in a podcast interview. “That obviously shows bias. It shows that there is not a rational basis.”But city officials didn’t fully accept the settlement agreement.Mayor Blackwill said the city only paid a $1,500 deductible, and it was the city’s insurance company’s recommendation to offer a settlement “despite heavy protest from the city.”“The city had no say in this decision,” he told Kansas Reflector in an email. “We still strongly oppose their decision and are currently evaluating our options with other carriers.”Blackwill, who is also the assistant fire chief for the Quinter Fire Department, said all decisions before the settlement came directly from him.“We consider this situation behind us,” he said.

Banned from son’s football games, Quinter father gets settlement for free speech retaliation

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 6-3 overall on the season with an 84-58 win over Bethel College on Monday evening (Dec. 16) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers led by nine at halftime and then pulled away in the second half to win their 18th-straight game over the Threshers.

The Tigers received a challenge from the Threshers in the first 10 minutes of the game. Bethel led by one, 15-14, at the second media break of the opening half, but the Tigers went on an 18-5 run over a nearly six-minute span to take a 12-point lead. The lead reached 13 a pair of times before the margin came back to nine at halftime.

Bethel hit the opening shot of the second half, a 3-point field goal to get the lead back down to six. But, that was the closest the Threshers would get as the Tigers went on a 16-2 run immediately after to stretch the lead to 20. The lead would eventually stay over 20 points from the 6:26 mark to the end of the game. FHSU reached its largest lead of 27 points with 45 seconds remaining before Bethel hit a free throw to make the final margin 26.

Fort Hays State shot 51.9 percent overall as a team and 50 percent (12-of-24) beyond the 3-point line. FHSU was 18-of-23 at the free-throw line (78.3 percent). The Tigers held Bethel to 34.5 percent shooting overall.

Kaleb Hammeke led FHSU with 15 points, while Dan Mukuna had a near-perfect shooting evening with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Mukuna was 3-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-2 beyond the 3-point line, and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. Muhamed Kante dished out a team-high five assists. Kyle Grill (12) and Shaun Riley (11) also reached double figures in scoring, while Aidan McDowell had nine points all on 3-point field goals. Eli Lawson had a new season high with seven points.

Carmelo Yakubu led the Threshers with 16 points. He was the only Thresher in double figures for scoring. Nick Bonner pulled down six rebounds and dished out a team-high three assists.

The Tigers will have two games this weekend at home against NCAA Division II opponents. The Tigers host MSU Denver on Friday evening (Dec. 20) at 7 p.m. MSU Denver was ranked No. 22 in the latest NABC Top 25 Poll, but new rankings come out on Tuesday. The Roadrunners are 9-1 overall on the season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734444483849.png" alt="&nbsp; FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; FHSU Athletics photo/Gillian Lynch</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 6-3 overall on the season with an 84-58 win over Bethel College on Monday evening (Dec. 16) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers led by nine at halftime and then pulled away in the second half to win their 18th-straight game over the Threshers.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1987424215&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-mbkb-johnson-post-v" title="FHSU MBKB Johnson Post v Bethel College Dec 16, 2024" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU MBKB Johnson Post v Bethel College Dec 16, 2024</a></div></div>The Tigers received a challenge from the Threshers in the first 10 minutes of the game. Bethel led by one, 15-14, at the second media break of the opening half, but the Tigers went on an 18-5 run over a nearly six-minute span to take a 12-point lead. The lead reached 13 a pair of times before the margin came back to nine at halftime.Bethel hit the opening shot of the second half, a 3-point field goal to get the lead back down to six. But, that was the closest the Threshers would get as the Tigers went on a 16-2 run immediately after to stretch the lead to 20. The lead would eventually stay over 20 points from the 6:26 mark to the end of the game. FHSU reached its largest lead of 27 points with 45 seconds remaining before Bethel hit a free throw to make the final margin 26.Fort Hays State shot 51.9 percent overall as a team and 50 percent (12-of-24) beyond the 3-point line. FHSU was 18-of-23 at the free-throw line (78.3 percent). The Tigers held Bethel to 34.5 percent shooting overall.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1987424215&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-mbkb-johnson-post-v" title="FHSU MBKB Johnson Post v Bethel College Dec 16, 2024" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU MBKB Johnson Post v Bethel College Dec 16, 2024</a></div></div>Kaleb Hammeke led FHSU with 15 points, while Dan Mukuna had a near-perfect shooting evening with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Mukuna was 3-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-2 beyond the 3-point line, and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. Muhamed Kante dished out a team-high five assists. Kyle Grill (12) and Shaun Riley (11) also reached double figures in scoring, while Aidan McDowell had nine points all on 3-point field goals. Eli Lawson had a new season high with seven points.Carmelo Yakubu led the Threshers with 16 points. He was the only Thresher in double figures for scoring. Nick Bonner pulled down six rebounds and dished out a team-high three assists.The Tigers will have two games this weekend at home against NCAA Division II opponents. The Tigers host MSU Denver on Friday evening (Dec. 20) at 7 p.m. MSU Denver was ranked No. 22 in the latest NABC Top 25 Poll, but new rankings come out on Tuesday. The Roadrunners are 9-1 overall on the season.

🏀Tigers Defeat Bethel 84-58

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A large number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6ef6cfdd5dd6508da22b3c3a1d2f6718">mysterious drones</a>&nbsp;have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have both gone out on drone hunts, hoping for answers. The FBI, Homeland Security, state police and other agencies are investigating.

Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-1bf2b36e8617d46da711dae602708be2">don’t appear to be a threat to public safety</a>, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft — and to be allowed to shoot them out of the sky.

What's the deal with the drones in New Jersey?

Dozens of witnesses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">have reported seeing drones</a>&nbsp;statewide since mid-November, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

Murphy, a Democrat, said Monday that equipment supplied by the federal government has yielded little new information. He declined to describe the equipment except to say it was powerful and could even “mitigate” the drones, though he added that’s not currently legal on U.S. soil.

The state tallied 12 sightings Saturday and just one on Sunday.

Murphy urged Congress to give states more authority to deal with the drones.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-8bfe84cf2678400181292b75f9193395">growing anxiety</a>&nbsp;among some residents is not lost on the Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Trump for not dealing with the matter more aggressively.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday said the federal government has yet to identify any public safety or national security risks from reported drone sightings in the northeast, saying officials believe they were lawfully flown drones, planes or even stars.

“There are more than 1 million drones that are lawfully registered with the Federal Aviation Administration here in the United States,” Kirby said. “And there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones that are lawfully in the sky on any given day. That is the ecosystem that we are dealing with.”

The federal government has deployed personnel and advanced technology to investigate the reports in New Jersey and other states, and is evaluating each tip reported by citizens, he said. The FBI received more than 5000 tips in recent weeks, he added, with only “about 100” deemed credible enough to require additional investigation.

The Department of Homeland Security and FBI said they have no evidence that the aircraft pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”

Speculation has nevertheless raged online, with some expressing concerns that the drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents.

Officials stress that ongoing investigations have found no evidence to support such concerns, but U.S. Rep Chris Smith, a Republican, on Saturday echoed such speculation.

“The elusive maneuvering of these drones suggests a major military power sophistication that begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities — or worse — by violent dictatorships, perhaps maybe Russia, or China, or Iran, or North Korea,” he said.

On Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder cast doubt on the idea that the drones are engaged in intelligence gathering, given how loud and bright they are. He said about 1 million drones are registered drones in the U.S. and about 8,000 flying on any given day.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh has said the aircraft are not U.S. military drones.

In Boston, city police arrested two men accused of operating a drone “dangerously close” to Logan Airport on Saturday night.

Authorities said an officer using drone monitoring technology detected the aircraft and the location of the operators. A third man fled police and remains at large.

Authorities said the two men face trespassing charges and could face more charges and fines.

Drones flying around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-mystery-new-jersey-york-b37fda04755803392178b1f39b76ccd8">Wright-Patterson Air Force Base</a>&nbsp;near Dayton, Ohio, forced base officials to close its airspace for about four hours late Friday into early Saturday, said Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson.

It was the first time drones had been spotted at the base, one of the largest in the world, and no sightings have been reported since, Purtiman said Monday. He said the drones had no impact on any facilities on the base.

Trump has said he believes the government knows more than it’s saying.

“Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on Truth Social. Kim said he’s heard no support for the notion the government is hiding anything. He said a lack of faith in institutions is playing a key part in the saga.

“Nothing that I’m seeing, nothing that I’ve engaged in gives me any impression of that nature. But like, I get it, some people won’t believe me, right? Because that’s the level of distrust that we face," Kim said Monday.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut last week called for the drones to be “shot down."

Rep. Smith urged the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to bring down one or more drones to try to figure out who deployed them.

The objects could be downed over the ocean or in an unpopulated area on land, Smith said Saturday.

“Why can't we bag at least one of these drones and get to the bottom of it?” Smith said.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said members of the public must not try to shoot down drones, as that would violate state and federal laws.

Drone sightings were also reported in New York, where a permit is required. Mayor Eric Adams said the city was investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials.

The runways at Stewart International Airport — about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of the city — were shut down for about an hour Friday night because of drone activity, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

“This has gone too far,” she said in a statement.

The governor called on Congress to strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones and give more investigative authority to state and local law enforcement.

Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; and Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734228753383.png" alt="Image courtesy Senator Andy Kim" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Senator Andy Kim</figcaption>
 </figure>TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A large number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6ef6cfdd5dd6508da22b3c3a1d2f6718">mysterious drones</a>&nbsp;have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">DHS, <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FAANews</a>, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofDefense</a> released the following joint statement on the ongoing response to reported drone sightings. ⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/ihGcGbjOEy">pic.twitter.com/ihGcGbjOEy</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1868853164151120317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have both gone out on drone hunts, hoping for answers. The FBI, Homeland Security, state police and other agencies are investigating.Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-1bf2b36e8617d46da711dae602708be2">don’t appear to be a threat to public safety</a>, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft — and to be allowed to shoot them out of the sky.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump on drones: &quot;They happen to be over Bedminster. They&#39;re very close to Bedminster. I think maybe I won&#39;t spend the weekend in Bedminster. I&#39;ve decided to cancel my trip.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/twHoUM2lLw">pic.twitter.com/twHoUM2lLw</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868835001409667172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>What's the deal with the drones in New Jersey?</h2>Dozens of witnesses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">have reported seeing drones</a>&nbsp;statewide since mid-November, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.Murphy, a Democrat, said Monday that equipment supplied by the federal government has yielded little new information. He declined to describe the equipment except to say it was powerful and could even “mitigate” the drones, though he added that’s not currently legal on U.S. soil.The state tallied 12 sightings Saturday and just one on Sunday.Murphy urged Congress to give states more authority to deal with the drones.<h2>Do the drones pose a threat?</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-8bfe84cf2678400181292b75f9193395">growing anxiety</a>&nbsp;among some residents is not lost on the Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Trump for not dealing with the matter more aggressively.White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday said the federal government has yet to identify any public safety or national security risks from reported drone sightings in the northeast, saying officials believe they were lawfully flown drones, planes or even stars.“There are more than 1 million drones that are lawfully registered with the Federal Aviation Administration here in the United States,” Kirby said. “And there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones that are lawfully in the sky on any given day. That is the ecosystem that we are dealing with.”The federal government has deployed personnel and advanced technology to investigate the reports in New Jersey and other states, and is evaluating each tip reported by citizens, he said. The FBI received more than 5000 tips in recent weeks, he added, with only “about 100” deemed credible enough to require additional investigation.<h2>Who is operating the drones?</h2>Authorities say they do not know.The Department of Homeland Security and FBI said they have no evidence that the aircraft pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”Speculation has nevertheless raged online, with some expressing concerns that the drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents.Officials stress that ongoing investigations have found no evidence to support such concerns, but U.S. Rep Chris Smith, a Republican, on Saturday echoed such speculation.“The elusive maneuvering of these drones suggests a major military power sophistication that begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities — or worse — by violent dictatorships, perhaps maybe Russia, or China, or Iran, or North Korea,” he said.On Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder cast doubt on the idea that the drones are engaged in intelligence gathering, given how loud and bright they are. He said about 1 million drones are registered drones in the U.S. and about 8,000 flying on any given day.Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh has said the aircraft are not U.S. military drones.<h2>Drone operators arrested</h2>In Boston, city police arrested two men accused of operating a drone “dangerously close” to Logan Airport on Saturday night.Authorities said an officer using drone monitoring technology detected the aircraft and the location of the operators. A third man fled police and remains at large.Authorities said the two men face trespassing charges and could face more charges and fines.<h2>Ohio Air Force base closes airspace</h2>Drones flying around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-mystery-new-jersey-york-b37fda04755803392178b1f39b76ccd8">Wright-Patterson Air Force Base</a>&nbsp;near Dayton, Ohio, forced base officials to close its airspace for about four hours late Friday into early Saturday, said Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson.It was the first time drones had been spotted at the base, one of the largest in the world, and no sightings have been reported since, Purtiman said Monday. He said the drones had no impact on any facilities on the base.<h2>Officials urge action against the drones</h2>Trump has said he believes the government knows more than it’s saying.“Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on Truth Social. Kim said he’s heard no support for the notion the government is hiding anything. He said a lack of faith in institutions is playing a key part in the saga.“Nothing that I’m seeing, nothing that I’ve engaged in gives me any impression of that nature. But like, I get it, some people won’t believe me, right? Because that’s the level of distrust that we face," Kim said Monday.Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut last week called for the drones to be “shot down."Rep. Smith urged the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to bring down one or more drones to try to figure out who deployed them.The objects could be downed over the ocean or in an unpopulated area on land, Smith said Saturday.“Why can't we bag at least one of these drones and get to the bottom of it?” Smith said.Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said members of the public must not try to shoot down drones, as that would violate state and federal laws.<h2>Drones spotted over New York City</h2>Drone sightings were also reported in New York, where a permit is required. Mayor Eric Adams said the city was investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials.The runways at Stewart International Airport — about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of the city — were shut down for about an hour Friday night because of drone activity, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.“This has gone too far,” she said in a statement.The governor called on Congress to strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones and give more investigative authority to state and local law enforcement.___Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; and Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed.

🎥Homeland Security, FBI and Trump issue new statements on drone mystery

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A Fort Hays State University student is introducing an interactive story stroll in Larned this spring, combining story time with health.

The story stroll will feature about 10 podiums managed by the Jordaan Memorial Library. These will provide a place for stories and encourage physical and mental health.

Ryssa Schlaefli is a junior at FHSU and previously had assistant professor Jessica Phelan as a teacher. She has also served as a mentor for Phelan's class through an internship.

"We started working on a grant, Phelan asked me if I would write a story for the story stroll," Schlaefli said.

Schlaefli said working on the Golden Belt Community Foundation grant and writing the first story for the project are not tied to extra credit or her internships.

Schlaefli's story follows a blue flower who feels sad and struggles with self-acceptance. With the help of supportive flowers in the flower bed, she learns to embrace and love herself despite her imperfections.

"Flowers look very different, but they're all beautiful. That's what the story is about," she said.

Each podium will display a page of the story along with self-reflection questions and instructions, guiding readers through the story stroll while encouraging them to explore their emotions.

"Health is more than just physical. It's mental as well. We need those conversations between parents and children,"&nbsp;Schlaefli said.

Jordaan Memorial Library, in collaboration with Schlaefli and Phelan, received a $3,000 grant from the Golden Belt Community Foundation.

Phelan said there are two possible locations for the story stroll, but there has been no official decision as the city of Larned has shown support.

The story stroll project is designed primarily for families and children in the Larned area. It aims to encourage families to be physically active together.

"A huge part of that is having a support system, resources, and purpose for doing the activity," Phelan said.

The podiums will feature stories that can be updated regularly and utilized for promotional events.

The podiums, designed to be hip-height and diagonal for easy access by children, will be mounted on metal stands with a protective barrier. The final design is still in development.

While Schlaefli writes the initial story, the mission is for local fourth-grade classes to create their own stories to be featured in the story stroll.

"This is above and beyond just a regular internship," Phelan said.

Schlaefli is majoring in health promotion and fitness instruction, with a focus on community health. During winter break, she plans to finalize her story and finish its illustrations.

Schlaefli said if the opportunity arises, she would also like to bring a story stroll to Hays.

"If a grant opened up that would allow us to do something like that, then definitely yes," she said.

Phelan, a health promotion and fitness instructor at FHSU from Larned, said Sunflower Electric in Great Bend will install the podiums for the story stroll.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733928542298.jpeg" alt="Early rendering of a podium for the Larned story stroll. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Early rendering of a podium for the Larned story stroll. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731093059976.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Fort Hays State University student is introducing an interactive story stroll in Larned this spring, combining story time with health.The story stroll will feature about 10 podiums managed by the Jordaan Memorial Library. These will provide a place for stories and encourage physical and mental health.Ryssa Schlaefli is a junior at FHSU and previously had assistant professor Jessica Phelan as a teacher. She has also served as a mentor for Phelan's class through an internship."We started working on a grant, Phelan asked me if I would write a story for the story stroll," Schlaefli said.Schlaefli said working on the Golden Belt Community Foundation grant and writing the first story for the project are not tied to extra credit or her internships.Schlaefli's story follows a blue flower who feels sad and struggles with self-acceptance. With the help of supportive flowers in the flower bed, she learns to embrace and love herself despite her imperfections."Flowers look very different, but they're all beautiful. That's what the story is about," she said.Each podium will display a page of the story along with self-reflection questions and instructions, guiding readers through the story stroll while encouraging them to explore their emotions."Health is more than just physical. It's mental as well. We need those conversations between parents and children,"&nbsp;Schlaefli said.Jordaan Memorial Library, in collaboration with Schlaefli and Phelan, received a $3,000 grant from the Golden Belt Community Foundation.Phelan said there are two possible locations for the story stroll, but there has been no official decision as the city of Larned has shown support.The story stroll project is designed primarily for families and children in the Larned area. It aims to encourage families to be physically active together."A huge part of that is having a support system, resources, and purpose for doing the activity," Phelan said.The podiums will feature stories that can be updated regularly and utilized for promotional events.The podiums, designed to be hip-height and diagonal for easy access by children, will be mounted on metal stands with a protective barrier. The final design is still in development.While Schlaefli writes the initial story, the mission is for local fourth-grade classes to create their own stories to be featured in the story stroll."This is above and beyond just a regular internship," Phelan said.Schlaefli is majoring in health promotion and fitness instruction, with a focus on community health. During winter break, she plans to finalize her story and finish its illustrations.Schlaefli said if the opportunity arises, she would also like to bring a story stroll to Hays."If a grant opened up that would allow us to do something like that, then definitely yes," she said.Phelan, a health promotion and fitness instructor at FHSU from Larned, said Sunflower Electric in Great Bend will install the podiums for the story stroll.

Nwester: FHSU student, library to introduce story strolls to Larned families

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A 15-year-old student opened fire inside a study hall at a small Christian school in Wisconsin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-school-shooting-498c8ad26d299602553201ad639a4a5c">killing a teacher and teenager</a>&nbsp;and prompting a swarm of police officers responding to a second grader's 911 call.

The girl also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-shooting-wisconsin-things-to-know-3df4f40327e70aa863c4b5b36fd0a04b">wounded six others in Monday's shooting</a>&nbsp;at Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. A teacher and three students were taken to a hospital with less serious injuries, and two of them were later released.

“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened," Barnes said.

Police said the shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived and died en route to a hospital. Barnes declined to offer additional details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.

Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school — prekindergarten through high school — with approximately 420 students in Madison, the state capital.

Barbara Wiers, the school's director of elementary and school relations, said when they practice safety routines, leaders always announce that it's a drill. That didn’t happen Monday, just a week before Christmas break.

“When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” she said.

Wiers said the school does not have metal detectors but uses other security measures including cameras.

A motive for the shooting was not immediately known, nor was it clear if the victims were targeted, Barnes said.

“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he told reporters.

Barnes said police were talking with the shooter’s father and other family members, who were cooperating, and searching the shooter's home.

“He lost someone as well," Barnes said of the shooter's father. "And so we’re not going to rush the information. We’ll take our time and make sure we do our due diligence.”

The first 911 call to report an active shooter came in shortly before 11 a.m. First responders who were in training just 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) away dashed to the school for an actual emergency, Barnes said. They arrived three minutes after the initial call.

Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Police blocked off roads around the school, and federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement. No shots were fired by police.

Children and families were reunited at a health clinic about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the school. Parents pressed children against their chests while others squeezed hands and shoulders as they walked side by side.

Abundant Life asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post. Wiers said they're still deciding whether they will resume classes this week.

Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.

“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” Highman said. “There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”

In a statement, President Joe Biden cited the tragedy in calling on Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law and certain gun restrictions.

“We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” Biden said. He spoke with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and offered his support.

Evers said it's “unthinkable” that a child or teacher would go to school and never return home.

The school shooting was&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/newtown">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.

The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.

Firearms were the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/">leading cause of death</a>&nbsp;among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.

Rhodes-Conway said the country needs to do more to prevent gun violence.

“I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” she said.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A 15-year-old student opened fire inside a study hall at a small Christian school in Wisconsin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-school-shooting-498c8ad26d299602553201ad639a4a5c">killing a teacher and teenager</a>&nbsp;and prompting a swarm of police officers responding to a second grader's 911 call.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FALCSMadison%2Fposts%2Fpfbid021XqZpznjnXn97m8wTgZnvMsjwz5QqTnF2c3PEr89bitSD21jmBY3wMsqDhpcSrr7l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="240" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The girl also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-shooting-wisconsin-things-to-know-3df4f40327e70aa863c4b5b36fd0a04b">wounded six others in Monday's shooting</a>&nbsp;at Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. A teacher and three students were taken to a hospital with less serious injuries, and two of them were later released.“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened," Barnes said.Police said the shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived and died en route to a hospital. Barnes declined to offer additional details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school — prekindergarten through high school — with approximately 420 students in Madison, the state capital.Barbara Wiers, the school's director of elementary and school relations, said when they practice safety routines, leaders always announce that it's a drill. That didn’t happen Monday, just a week before Christmas break.“When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” she said.Wiers said the school does not have metal detectors but uses other security measures including cameras.A motive for the shooting was not immediately known, nor was it clear if the victims were targeted, Barnes said.“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he told reporters.Barnes said police were talking with the shooter’s father and other family members, who were cooperating, and searching the shooter's home.“He lost someone as well," Barnes said of the shooter's father. "And so we’re not going to rush the information. We’ll take our time and make sure we do our due diligence.”The first 911 call to report an active shooter came in shortly before 11 a.m. First responders who were in training just 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) away dashed to the school for an actual emergency, Barnes said. They arrived three minutes after the initial call.Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.Police blocked off roads around the school, and federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement. No shots were fired by police.Children and families were reunited at a health clinic about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the school. Parents pressed children against their chests while others squeezed hands and shoulders as they walked side by side.Abundant Life asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post. Wiers said they're still deciding whether they will resume classes this week.Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” Highman said. “There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”In a statement, President Joe Biden cited the tragedy in calling on Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law and certain gun restrictions.“We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” Biden said. He spoke with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and offered his support.Evers said it's “unthinkable” that a child or teacher would go to school and never return home.The school shooting was&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/newtown">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.Firearms were the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/">leading cause of death</a>&nbsp;among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.Rhodes-Conway said the country needs to do more to prevent gun violence.“I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” she said.___

Police: Wisconsin school shooter was 15-year-old girl

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — In a freewheeling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club, President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Monday he would consider pardoning embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams, declared the country was “not going to lose" the polio vaccine and weighed in on the flurry of drone sightings over New Jersey.

Holding court with reporters for the first time since he won the election and secured a second term, Trump also called on the Biden administration to stop selling off unused portions of the southern border wall, threatening legal action.

“We’re going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on building the same wall we already have,” he railed. “It’s almost a criminal act.”

Trump's performance Monday underscored how he has already forced his return to the center of the national political conversation, weeks before he is to be sworn-in for another term. He used the session, which was notably less combative than many of his exchanges with the press during the campaign, to test-drive policy ideas, attack his enemies and issue warnings of what is to come.

That even included the threat of a lawsuit against famed Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, whose final survey before the election badly underestimated Trump's support in the state that he won.

“In my opinion it was fraud and election interference," Trump claimed of the survey. Selzer announced that she would end her polling operation last month.

Separately,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abc-trump-lawsuit-defamation-stephanopoulos-04aea8663310af39ae2a85f4c1a56d68">ABC News announced</a>&nbsp;days ago that had it agreed to pay $15 million toward Trump's presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit he had filed over anchor George Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping a writer.

Continuing his threats of legal action, Trump railed Monday against the Biden administration over the border wall sales, saying he has spoken to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other Texas officials about a potential restraining order.

Congress last year required the Biden administration to dispose of the unused border wall pieces. The measure, included in the massive National Defense Authorization Act, allows for the sale or donation of the items to states on the southern border, providing they are used to refurbish existing barriers, not install new ones. Congress also directed the Pentagon to account for storage costs for the border wall material while it has gone unused.

“I’m asking today, Joe Biden, to please stop selling the wall,” Trump said.

While Trump described the handover between Biden and his incoming team as “a friendly transition,” he also took issue with efforts to allow some members of the federal workforce to continue working from home. Trump said that if government workers don’t come back into the office under him, they will be dismissed.

Trump also weighed in on Adams, who is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aoc-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-investigations-419eb7135ac7d52edbf32f7e45d0f5da">federal fraud and corruption charges</a>. Asked if he would consider pardoning Adams, Trump responded: “Yeah I would,” adding that he was not familiar with all of the specifics of the charges Adam is facing, while at the same time seeking to diminish them.

Adams has been accused of accepting flight upgrades and other luxury travel perks valued at $100,000 along with illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nyc-mayor-adams-investigations-f384ecdbf6a7b6664bd898e7ebce6e0f">pleaded not guilty</a>. Multiple members of his administration have also come under investigation.

Adams office did not immediately return an emailed request for comment on Trump's remarks.

Trump was pressed repeatedly on the future of vaccines, amid concerns over his decision to choose the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">anti-vaccine</a>&nbsp;advocate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which regulates the shots.

Trump again declined to dismiss the long-debunked theory that vaccines cause autism and said Kennedy would be examining that already well-studied question. But he also assured the public that one of the most successful vaccines would not be barred by his administration.

“You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine,” he said, calling himself “a big believer in it.”

“That’s not going to happen," he said.

Trump also weighed in on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-jersey-what-to-know-e6f565f5d51d9d47ad140e7e7d131842">the mysterious drone sightings</a>&nbsp;over parts of New Jersey and the eastern U.S. that have sparked speculation and concern over where they are coming from.

Taking a conspiratorial tone, Trump insisted that, “the government knows what is happening."

“Our military knows and our president knows and for some reason they want to keep people in suspense,” he said, without offering evidence and refusing to say whether he had been briefed on the sightings.

Trump has spent the weeks since his victory building out his incoming administration and speaking with what he said were well over 100 word leaders.

But he again played coy on whether that list included Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I’m not going to comment on the Putin question," he said.

In addition to meetings with foreign leaders, Trump also talked about a recent dinner with Apple CEO Tim Cook as well as the heads of major pharmaceutical companies, which Kennedy joined. The outreach, he said, made this transition feel markedly different from 2016, when his win shocked the Washington establishment.

“The first time everybody was fighting me,” he said. “This time everyone wants to be my friend.”

Trump was joined at the appearance by SoftBank Group CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/masayoshi-son">Masayoshi Son</a>, who announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-softbank-investment-us-8df47668f894b5d922839d98887bbb0e">the Japanese company is planning to invest $100 billion in U.S. projects over the next four years</a>.

It was a win for Trump, who has used the weeks since the election to promote his policies, negotiate with foreign leaders and try to strike deals.

In a post on his Truth Social site last week, Trump had said that anyone making a $1 billion investment in the United States “will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals.”

Trump has repeatedly boasted that he has done more in his short transition period than his predecessor did in all four years.

“There’s a whole light over the entire world," he said Monday. “There’s a light shining over the world."

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — In a freewheeling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club, President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Monday he would consider pardoning embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams, declared the country was “not going to lose" the polio vaccine and weighed in on the flurry of drone sightings over New Jersey.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump: &quot;The first term everybody was fighting me, this term everybody wants to be my friend. I don&#39;t know. My personality changed or something.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/oQLM42KDld">pic.twitter.com/oQLM42KDld</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868708246871064845?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump is joined by SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son in announcing the Japanese bank&#39;s $100 billion investment in the U.S. over four years. <a href="https://t.co/Hl0T0iy1W5">pic.twitter.com/Hl0T0iy1W5</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868697162273489079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump on TikTok ban: &quot;We&#39;ll take a look at TikTok. I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/NNN0edUAqe">pic.twitter.com/NNN0edUAqe</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868699567346036762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump on conversation with Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@netanyahu</a>: &quot;I&#39;ll be very available on January 20...I gave warning that if these hostages aren&#39;t back home by that date, all hell&#39;s going to break out.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gmlWyWmxg5">pic.twitter.com/gmlWyWmxg5</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868699046925197671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump on drones: &quot;The government knows what is happening. Look, our military knows where they took off from. If it&#39;s a garage they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went. For some reason they don&#39;t want to comment.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JdITHAv4KJ">pic.twitter.com/JdITHAv4KJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868704259031617901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Holding court with reporters for the first time since he won the election and secured a second term, Trump also called on the Biden administration to stop selling off unused portions of the southern border wall, threatening legal action.“We’re going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on building the same wall we already have,” he railed. “It’s almost a criminal act.”Trump's performance Monday underscored how he has already forced his return to the center of the national political conversation, weeks before he is to be sworn-in for another term. He used the session, which was notably less combative than many of his exchanges with the press during the campaign, to test-drive policy ideas, attack his enemies and issue warnings of what is to come.That even included the threat of a lawsuit against famed Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, whose final survey before the election badly underestimated Trump's support in the state that he won.“In my opinion it was fraud and election interference," Trump claimed of the survey. Selzer announced that she would end her polling operation last month.Separately,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abc-trump-lawsuit-defamation-stephanopoulos-04aea8663310af39ae2a85f4c1a56d68">ABC News announced</a>&nbsp;days ago that had it agreed to pay $15 million toward Trump's presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit he had filed over anchor George Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping a writer.Continuing his threats of legal action, Trump railed Monday against the Biden administration over the border wall sales, saying he has spoken to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other Texas officials about a potential restraining order.Congress last year required the Biden administration to dispose of the unused border wall pieces. The measure, included in the massive National Defense Authorization Act, allows for the sale or donation of the items to states on the southern border, providing they are used to refurbish existing barriers, not install new ones. Congress also directed the Pentagon to account for storage costs for the border wall material while it has gone unused.“I’m asking today, Joe Biden, to please stop selling the wall,” Trump said.While Trump described the handover between Biden and his incoming team as “a friendly transition,” he also took issue with efforts to allow some members of the federal workforce to continue working from home. Trump said that if government workers don’t come back into the office under him, they will be dismissed.Trump also weighed in on Adams, who is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aoc-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-investigations-419eb7135ac7d52edbf32f7e45d0f5da">federal fraud and corruption charges</a>. Asked if he would consider pardoning Adams, Trump responded: “Yeah I would,” adding that he was not familiar with all of the specifics of the charges Adam is facing, while at the same time seeking to diminish them.Adams has been accused of accepting flight upgrades and other luxury travel perks valued at $100,000 along with illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nyc-mayor-adams-investigations-f384ecdbf6a7b6664bd898e7ebce6e0f">pleaded not guilty</a>. Multiple members of his administration have also come under investigation.Adams office did not immediately return an emailed request for comment on Trump's remarks.Trump was pressed repeatedly on the future of vaccines, amid concerns over his decision to choose the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">anti-vaccine</a>&nbsp;advocate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which regulates the shots.Trump again declined to dismiss the long-debunked theory that vaccines cause autism and said Kennedy would be examining that already well-studied question. But he also assured the public that one of the most successful vaccines would not be barred by his administration.“You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine,” he said, calling himself “a big believer in it.”“That’s not going to happen," he said.Trump also weighed in on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-jersey-what-to-know-e6f565f5d51d9d47ad140e7e7d131842">the mysterious drone sightings</a>&nbsp;over parts of New Jersey and the eastern U.S. that have sparked speculation and concern over where they are coming from.Taking a conspiratorial tone, Trump insisted that, “the government knows what is happening."“Our military knows and our president knows and for some reason they want to keep people in suspense,” he said, without offering evidence and refusing to say whether he had been briefed on the sightings.Trump has spent the weeks since his victory building out his incoming administration and speaking with what he said were well over 100 word leaders.But he again played coy on whether that list included Russian President Vladimir Putin.“I’m not going to comment on the Putin question," he said.In addition to meetings with foreign leaders, Trump also talked about a recent dinner with Apple CEO Tim Cook as well as the heads of major pharmaceutical companies, which Kennedy joined. The outreach, he said, made this transition feel markedly different from 2016, when his win shocked the Washington establishment.“The first time everybody was fighting me,” he said. “This time everyone wants to be my friend.”Trump was joined at the appearance by SoftBank Group CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/masayoshi-son">Masayoshi Son</a>, who announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-softbank-investment-us-8df47668f894b5d922839d98887bbb0e">the Japanese company is planning to invest $100 billion in U.S. projects over the next four years</a>.It was a win for Trump, who has used the weeks since the election to promote his policies, negotiate with foreign leaders and try to strike deals.In a post on his Truth Social site last week, Trump had said that anyone making a $1 billion investment in the United States “will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals.”“GET READY TO ROCK!!!” he wrote.Trump has repeatedly boasted that he has done more in his short transition period than his predecessor did in all four years.“There’s a whole light over the entire world," he said Monday. “There’s a light shining over the world."

🎥 Highlights of Trump's first press conference since the election

HARVEY COUNTY — A man is dead after a weekend hunting accident south of Burrton.

The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to the 8200 block of South Prairie Lake Road.

Reports indicated three people were hunting in a duck blind when one individual accidentally discharged a shotgun. The gunshot fatally wounded one hunter. No one else was injured.

Aaron Snook, 41, of Goddard, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigation, ruling the death accidental. No foul play was suspected.

HARVEY COUNTY —A man died in a hunting accident on Saturday in Harvey County.

The man was&nbsp;was shot by another person he was hunting with south of Burrton, according to Harvey County spokesman Kyle McCaskey.

 The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The death was ruled accidental, according to McCaskey.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details including the name of the victim.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

HARVEY COUNTY — A man is dead after a weekend hunting accident south of Burrton.The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to the 8200 block of South Prairie Lake Road.Reports indicated three people were hunting in a duck blind when one individual accidentally discharged a shotgun. The gunshot fatally wounded one hunter. No one else was injured.Aaron Snook, 41, of Goddard, was pronounced dead at the scene.The Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigation, ruling the death accidental. No foul play was suspected.-----------HARVEY COUNTY —A man died in a hunting accident on Saturday in Harvey County.The man was&nbsp;was shot by another person he was hunting with south of Burrton, according to Harvey County spokesman Kyle McCaskey. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The death was ruled accidental, according to McCaskey.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details including the name of the victim.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died in hunting accident

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Hays man was arrested earlier this month on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child.

24-year-old Jonathon Alexander Weigel of Hays was arrested on a criminal threat charge, according to Brian Dawson, deputy Hays Police chief.

Upon further investigation, police found that Weigel had allegedly solicited inappropriate photos from a 15-year-old Ellis County girl, Dawson said.

He is also now facing charges of interference with a law enforcement officer and sexual exploitation of a child, Dawson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734392604975.png" alt="Weigel photo Ellis County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Weigel photo Ellis County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Hays man was arrested earlier this month on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child.24-year-old Jonathon Alexander Weigel of Hays was arrested on a criminal threat charge, according to Brian Dawson, deputy Hays Police chief.Upon further investigation, police found that Weigel had allegedly solicited inappropriate photos from a 15-year-old Ellis County girl, Dawson said.He is also now facing charges of interference with a law enforcement officer and sexual exploitation of a child, Dawson said.

Hays man allegedly solicited inappropriate photos from teen

Exactly 32 years ago this month, I decided I couldn’t work with my existing employer. Although we knew no one in Hays, we moved to Hays from South Florida.

My wife was immediately happy. She became involved in the community and became active in our church. For the first time in 10 years, she was relieved not to have to live with an absent husband, struggling with two residences and medical school.

Our kids (2, 4, and 6) had transitioned beautifully, immediately finding new friends. At that time, there were no hospital-employed physicians, and the hospital had just transitioned to its new campus, Hays Medical Center. It was a great asset and attracted me to the community in the first place. We loved this community and wanted to stay and start our own independent practice.

We had one problem. It’s called a restrictive covenant. This covenant could have prevented me from staying in this area and practicing dermatology. We decided to fight to stay in Hays.

At that time, the director of medical recruitment of Hays Medical Center testified that we needed at least three dermatologists to service the needs of Hays and the surrounding community.

Our fight eventually ended up at the Supreme Court. We lost. It cost me a lot of money, but I was able to stay in Hays. I believed then, and I believe even more strongly now, that restricting physicians by way of a restrictive covenant is against public welfare.

Fast-forward 30 years. I just read with interest the post from Mr. Herrman regarding the hospital's current status. I agree that the turnover of staff is always a problem at any hospital or physician's office. He acknowledged the difficulty in recruiting physicians to Western Kansas.

Unfortunately, HMC, over the last year, has lost or will lose many physicians. These physicians will be forced to move away from Western Kansas due to restrictive covenants if they want to continue practicing medicine.

Some of these doctors would have chosen to stay in Western Kansas if given the opportunity.

At the same time, HMC is attempting to rebuild these departments. It has filed a lawsuit trying to prevent Dr. Grove from practicing in Tribune, Kansas (165 miles away). If HMC was really interested in providing general surgical care in Greeley County, why restrict his access?

Another lawsuit has been filed by Dr Rodriguez against HMC. He also wants to provide oncology care in Western Kansas. How can HMC operate a cancer center if there is only one remaining oncologist?

Unfortunately, restrictive convents are indeed a common practice amongst physician groups and hospitals.

The covenants at HMC include multiple different physician specialties as well as other staff members, all controlled by one nonprofit corporation. The intent is to reduce competition, but unfortunately, at the same time, they restrict access to health care throughout most of Northwest Kansas if a physician chooses or is forced to leave.

Mr. Herrman sent out an email a couple of weeks ago to all HMC associates stating “noncompete covenants are “standard in health care,” “required” in its contracts, and “provides assurance to our patients that the hospital and its clinics have the medical staff and expertise to provide for their oftentimes complex medical needs.”

Noncompete covenants are standard in the health care industry. However, what he fails to state is that not all contracts are as broad as the ones HMC chooses to enforce on its previously employed physicians. More importantly, HMC is not required to enforce them.

Does the last statement imply that previously employed physicians do not have the “expertise to provide for their oftentimes complex medical needs”? So, in other words, he’s doing western Kansas a favor by denying those physicians from practicing medicine in this region?

The intent of all restrictive covenants is to preserve a financial asset. We doctors do not consider patients financial assets. We develop very deeply personal relationships with our patients.

No. 1: Why insist on enforcing a restrictive covenant?

If contract negotiations fail, for whatever reason, should that tenured physician be restricted from practicing medicine in the entire region?

After all, we are in a doctor-shortage area. Doctor recruitment to Western Kansas is, unfortunately, nearly impossible. I am not aware of any full-time physicians taking the place of these lost physicians. I have heard about the use of locum tenens for replacement.

In the last 30 years, exactly, 1.5 full-time dermatologists have entered our area. Dr. Schaeffer, who grew up in Salina, and Dr. Hibbs, my daughter. You see, trying to recruit to Western Kansas is very difficult.

No. 2: Why have the local community leaders, elected representatives of our district, our state, elected representatives to our U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and our governor been completely silent about their opinion on the enforcement of this draconian policy?

Enforcement of a policy that prevents respected and established physicians who are living and contributing to their community to leave or stop practicing medicine should be reevaluated. It is certainly against public welfare at a time when access to health care is extremely difficult, especially in underserved areas.

Does anybody believe a doctor previously employed at HMC should be restricted access to all patient care in western Kansas?

No. 3: Does anyone think locum tenens can replace seasoned experience physicians? Filling the empty positions with a locum tenens, who by definition are temporary doctors, is not the answer. They are also much more expensive than permanent physicians.

I sure wish I had a solution to this problem, as I have raised my family and hope to see my grandkids grow up here in Hays. Over the last 30 years, I have developed very strong bonds with many of the physicians that have been forced to leave this area. We certainly need a strong hospital.

I will continue to do everything in my power to support HMC. It is my prayer that HMC can rebuild the physicians and staff they have lost.

However, enforcement of restrictive covenants, which prevent our local trusted physicians from practicing their skills here in Western Kansas, makes absolutely no sense to me.

Nearly all these departing physicians require a hospital to continue practicing their skills. Why would they negotiate themselves into such a dead-end position?

—Don Tillman D.O., Great Plains Dermatology

Exactly 32 years ago this month, I decided I couldn’t work with my existing employer. Although we knew no one in Hays, we moved to Hays from South Florida.My wife was immediately happy. She became involved in the community and became active in our church. For the first time in 10 years, she was relieved not to have to live with an absent husband, struggling with two residences and medical school.Our kids (2, 4, and 6) had transitioned beautifully, immediately finding new friends. At that time, there were no hospital-employed physicians, and the hospital had just transitioned to its new campus, Hays Medical Center. It was a great asset and attracted me to the community in the first place. We loved this community and wanted to stay and start our own independent practice.We had one problem. It’s called a restrictive covenant. This covenant could have prevented me from staying in this area and practicing dermatology. We decided to fight to stay in Hays.At that time, the director of medical recruitment of Hays Medical Center testified that we needed at least three dermatologists to service the needs of Hays and the surrounding community.Our fight eventually ended up at the Supreme Court. We lost. It cost me a lot of money, but I was able to stay in Hays. I believed then, and I believe even more strongly now, that restricting physicians by way of a restrictive covenant is against public welfare.Fast-forward 30 years. I just read with interest the post from Mr. Herrman regarding the hospital's current status. I agree that the turnover of staff is always a problem at any hospital or physician's office. He acknowledged the difficulty in recruiting physicians to Western Kansas.Unfortunately, HMC, over the last year, has lost or will lose many physicians. These physicians will be forced to move away from Western Kansas due to restrictive covenants if they want to continue practicing medicine.Some of these doctors would have chosen to stay in Western Kansas if given the opportunity.At the same time, HMC is attempting to rebuild these departments. It has filed a lawsuit trying to prevent Dr. Grove from practicing in Tribune, Kansas (165 miles away). If HMC was really interested in providing general surgical care in Greeley County, why restrict his access?Another lawsuit has been filed by Dr Rodriguez against HMC. He also wants to provide oncology care in Western Kansas. How can HMC operate a cancer center if there is only one remaining oncologist?Unfortunately, restrictive convents are indeed a common practice amongst physician groups and hospitals.The covenants at HMC include multiple different physician specialties as well as other staff members, all controlled by one nonprofit corporation. The intent is to reduce competition, but unfortunately, at the same time, they restrict access to health care throughout most of Northwest Kansas if a physician chooses or is forced to leave.Mr. Herrman sent out an email a couple of weeks ago to all HMC associates stating “noncompete covenants are “standard in health care,” “required” in its contracts, and “provides assurance to our patients that the hospital and its clinics have the medical staff and expertise to provide for their oftentimes complex medical needs.”Noncompete covenants are standard in the health care industry. However, what he fails to state is that not all contracts are as broad as the ones HMC chooses to enforce on its previously employed physicians. More importantly, HMC is not required to enforce them.Does the last statement imply that previously employed physicians do not have the “expertise to provide for their oftentimes complex medical needs”? So, in other words, he’s doing western Kansas a favor by denying those physicians from practicing medicine in this region?The intent of all restrictive covenants is to preserve a financial asset. We doctors do not consider patients financial assets. We develop very deeply personal relationships with our patients.My questions are:No. 1: Why insist on enforcing a restrictive covenant?If contract negotiations fail, for whatever reason, should that tenured physician be restricted from practicing medicine in the entire region?After all, we are in a doctor-shortage area. Doctor recruitment to Western Kansas is, unfortunately, nearly impossible. I am not aware of any full-time physicians taking the place of these lost physicians. I have heard about the use of locum tenens for replacement.In the last 30 years, exactly, 1.5 full-time dermatologists have entered our area. Dr. Schaeffer, who grew up in Salina, and Dr. Hibbs, my daughter. You see, trying to recruit to Western Kansas is very difficult.No. 2: Why have the local community leaders, elected representatives of our district, our state, elected representatives to our U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and our governor been completely silent about their opinion on the enforcement of this draconian policy?Enforcement of a policy that prevents respected and established physicians who are living and contributing to their community to leave or stop practicing medicine should be reevaluated. It is certainly against public welfare at a time when access to health care is extremely difficult, especially in underserved areas.Does anybody believe a doctor previously employed at HMC should be restricted access to all patient care in western Kansas?No. 3: Does anyone think locum tenens can replace seasoned experience physicians? Filling the empty positions with a locum tenens, who by definition are temporary doctors, is not the answer. They are also much more expensive than permanent physicians.I sure wish I had a solution to this problem, as I have raised my family and hope to see my grandkids grow up here in Hays. Over the last 30 years, I have developed very strong bonds with many of the physicians that have been forced to leave this area. We certainly need a strong hospital.I will continue to do everything in my power to support HMC. It is my prayer that HMC can rebuild the physicians and staff they have lost.However, enforcement of restrictive covenants, which prevent our local trusted physicians from practicing their skills here in Western Kansas, makes absolutely no sense to me.Nearly all these departing physicians require a hospital to continue practicing their skills. Why would they negotiate themselves into such a dead-end position?—Don Tillman D.O., Great Plains Dermatology