By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Hays Police Department executed a search warrant Thursday at a child care in Hays after reports of&nbsp;alleged child endangerment and potential drug use, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.

He said the search was part of an ongoing investigation.

Scheibler said police officers and officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment executed the warrant in the 2500 block of Donald Drive following reports made earlier in the week.

Scheibler said an officer sustained minor injuries from a dog bite during the search. No arrests have been made.

On Friday, the police department requested KDHE issue an emergency suspension to close the facility during the ongoing investigation,&nbsp;Scheibler said.

No names of potential suspects have been released.

Scheibler said all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Hays Police Department executed a search warrant Thursday at a child care in Hays after reports of&nbsp;alleged child endangerment and potential drug use, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.He said the search was part of an ongoing investigation.Scheibler said police officers and officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment executed the warrant in the 2500 block of Donald Drive following reports made earlier in the week.Scheibler said an officer sustained minor injuries from a dog bite during the search. No arrests have been made.On Friday, the police department requested KDHE issue an emergency suspension to close the facility during the ongoing investigation,&nbsp;Scheibler said.No names of potential suspects have been released.Scheibler said all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;

Hays child care searched after report of suspected drug use on premises

Bayer is reportedly considering dropping signature product as litigation costs mount and company fails in effort to obtain legal shelter from lawmakers

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

German chemical giant Bayer received no relief from runaway litigation costs associated with Roundup herbicide Tuesday when the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $611 million judgment that its product causes cancer.

The decision, in a case&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=WD87059&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0001_WAP" target="_blank">involving three plaintiffs</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22AC-CC00043&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#header" target="_blank">sued in Cole County</a>, is one of the reasons the company, which acquired Roundup as a product when it merged with Monsanto, in 2018, is considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.producer.com/news/bayer-says-it-could-halt-roundup-weedkiller-sales-over-legal-risks/" target="_blank">dropping the product entirely</a>. The company faces 67,000 lawsuits claiming the main ingredient, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with many of those cases awaiting trial in St. Louis County, where the company has its Bayer Crop Science headquarters.

The company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/18/missouri-house-debate-shows-gop-split-over-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">failed to win passage</a>&nbsp;of a bill intended to shield it from litigation in Missouri. The bill narrowly passed the House but lobbying missteps, including a campaign targeting some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/political-attacks-stiffen-opposition-to-missouri-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">most conservative members</a>&nbsp;of the state Senate, doomed it. The company did win passage of similar legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/04/14/bill-protecting-pesticide-availability-prevails-in-north-dakota-senate/" target="_blank">in North Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXrKePs5Wk" target="_blank">in Georgia</a>.

In November 2023, a Cole County jury awarded $1.6 billion to three plaintiffs who claimed their cancer was caused by glyphosate exposure while using Roundup. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green reduced the $500 million punitive damages awarded to each plaintiff, instead reducing each award by varying amounts.

Green did not change the amounts awarded for actual damages, which ranged from $5.6 million to $38 million and totaled $61.1 million.

With post-judgment interest, the total Bayer owes is now in excess of $700 million.

“We’re certainly pleased with the court of appeals decision that vindicates the jury’s verdict and the trial court’s judgment,” said attorney Matthew Clement of Jefferson City, who represented the plaintiffs in the case. “We’re happy that nothing happened in the legislature, this year at least, that will affect future cases and and will continue to litigate our cases like we had been.”

In a statement issued through Bayer spokesman Brian Leake, the company said it would continue to appeal the case.

“We continue to believe that the trial court committed significant errors by allowing inadmissible and prejudicial testimony into the courtroom which poisoned the jury against the company,” the statement read.

Bayer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take its appeal of a 2024 Missouri case awarding $1.25 million in damages to John Durnell of St. Louis. The Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February and on April 1 the Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.

The U.S. Supreme Court has given parties until June 9 to file arguments on whether it should accept the case.

“The overwhelming weight of science as well as the assessments of the EPA and leading health regulators and scientists worldwide that support the safety and non-carcinogenicity of Roundup and we will continue to defend our products in court,” the company stated.

Bayer has paid out at least $10 billion for jury awards and settlements and earlier this year said it had an additional $6 billion set aside. That fund will be depleted quickly if decisions like the one upheld Tuesday are allowed to stand and the company suffers more losses like a&nbsp; $2.1 billion judgment handed down in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/georgia-jury-orders-monsanto-parent-to-pay-nearly-2-1-billion-in-roundup-weedkiller-lawsuit#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A,to%20attorneys%20representing%20the%20plaintiff." target="_blank">by a jury in Georgia</a>.&nbsp;

According to a report from Reuters, Roundup produced $2.8 billion in revenue for Bayer in 2024.

The bill protecting glyphosate from litigation passed the Georgia legislature a few weeks after the $2.1 billion award.

Gov. Mike Kehoe, at a news conference after lawmakers adjourned earlier this month, blamed defeat of the Missouri legislation on trial attorneys who have made “tens of millions of dollars” off the lawsuits.

“If, for some reason, that particular product is not produced anymore in the United States, farmers are still going to need that type of product, that type of weed control, and so that, glyphosate I think is what it’s called, will be produced somewhere,” Kehoe said. “And if it is, it won’t be produced in this country, and farmers will not have the same protections and liability recourse back on the companies who make it, if it’s made in China or somewhere overseas.”

Bayer is also being sued by shareholders in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/05/investors-awarded-class-action-status-in-new-bayer-lawsuit/" target="_blank">class action lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over its decision to spend $68 billion to acquire Monsanto in 2018. The lawsuit alleges Bayer misled investors over the risks of the acquisition and failed to properly perform due diligence before buying Monsanto,

When Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018, its stock price was about $30 a share. On Tuesday afternoon, the company’s shares were selling for $7 apiece.

In the appeal of the Cole County decision, Bayer argued that Green made numerous errors in the trial and in rulings on post-trial motions. The company’s lawyers’ main points challenged the admissibility of testimony about a case over EPA evaluations of glyphosate; surprise findings from an expert; the use made of medical billing records; and whether the punitive damages were unconstitutionally duplicative.

At the heart of most glyphosate cases, and the target of legislation, is the label and whether it includes a proper notice that glyphosate may cause cancer.

“The misconduct complained about in the complaints in the three California cases Monsanto relies on, and in (one plaintiff’s) petition, includes allegations that despite scientific evidence that Roundup was carcinogenic, Monsanto continued to sell Roundup, and that Monsanto failed to warn of the dangerous effects of using Roundup,” Judge Cynthia Martin wrote in the Western District opinion delivered Tuesday.

In a discussion of whether the punitive damage award should have been reduced more, Martin wrote that “Monsanto’s degree of reprehensibility was high.”

Martin noted that the evidence shows that while the EPA has registered Roundup “for sale since 1974, Monsanto has been aware since 1985 that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has the potential to cause cancer.”

Each of the plaintiffs suffered damages because Monsanto sold a product that was “unreasonably dangerous when used as reasonably anticipated” without altering the labeling to provide a warning.

“Monsanto’s awareness,” Martin wrote, “of studies demonstrating the possibility of a causal relationship between glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and cancer, particularly NHL, and then its decision to double down on its defense of Roundup in lieu of changing the product’s formulation or adding a warning label regarding the risk posed by Roundup demonstrates, at best, Monsanto’s indifference to or reckless disregard of the health of its customers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593022262288.png" alt="Post File photo" />
 <figcaption>Post File photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Bayer is reportedly considering dropping signature product as litigation costs mount and company fails in effort to obtain legal shelter from lawmakers</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>German chemical giant Bayer received no relief from runaway litigation costs associated with Roundup herbicide Tuesday when the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $611 million judgment that its product causes cancer.The decision, in a case&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=WD87059&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0001_WAP" target="_blank">involving three plaintiffs</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22AC-CC00043&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#header" target="_blank">sued in Cole County</a>, is one of the reasons the company, which acquired Roundup as a product when it merged with Monsanto, in 2018, is considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.producer.com/news/bayer-says-it-could-halt-roundup-weedkiller-sales-over-legal-risks/" target="_blank">dropping the product entirely</a>. The company faces 67,000 lawsuits claiming the main ingredient, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with many of those cases awaiting trial in St. Louis County, where the company has its Bayer Crop Science headquarters.The company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/18/missouri-house-debate-shows-gop-split-over-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">failed to win passage</a>&nbsp;of a bill intended to shield it from litigation in Missouri. The bill narrowly passed the House but lobbying missteps, including a campaign targeting some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/political-attacks-stiffen-opposition-to-missouri-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">most conservative members</a>&nbsp;of the state Senate, doomed it. The company did win passage of similar legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/04/14/bill-protecting-pesticide-availability-prevails-in-north-dakota-senate/" target="_blank">in North Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXrKePs5Wk" target="_blank">in Georgia</a>.In November 2023, a Cole County jury awarded $1.6 billion to three plaintiffs who claimed their cancer was caused by glyphosate exposure while using Roundup. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green reduced the $500 million punitive damages awarded to each plaintiff, instead reducing each award by varying amounts.Green did not change the amounts awarded for actual damages, which ranged from $5.6 million to $38 million and totaled $61.1 million.With post-judgment interest, the total Bayer owes is now in excess of $700 million.“We’re certainly pleased with the court of appeals decision that vindicates the jury’s verdict and the trial court’s judgment,” said attorney Matthew Clement of Jefferson City, who represented the plaintiffs in the case. “We’re happy that nothing happened in the legislature, this year at least, that will affect future cases and and will continue to litigate our cases like we had been.”In a statement issued through Bayer spokesman Brian Leake, the company said it would continue to appeal the case.“We continue to believe that the trial court committed significant errors by allowing inadmissible and prejudicial testimony into the courtroom which poisoned the jury against the company,” the statement read.Bayer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take its appeal of a 2024 Missouri case awarding $1.25 million in damages to John Durnell of St. Louis. The Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February and on April 1 the Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.The U.S. Supreme Court has given parties until June 9 to file arguments on whether it should accept the case.“The overwhelming weight of science as well as the assessments of the EPA and leading health regulators and scientists worldwide that support the safety and non-carcinogenicity of Roundup and we will continue to defend our products in court,” the company stated.Bayer has paid out at least $10 billion for jury awards and settlements and earlier this year said it had an additional $6 billion set aside. That fund will be depleted quickly if decisions like the one upheld Tuesday are allowed to stand and the company suffers more losses like a&nbsp; $2.1 billion judgment handed down in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/georgia-jury-orders-monsanto-parent-to-pay-nearly-2-1-billion-in-roundup-weedkiller-lawsuit#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A,to%20attorneys%20representing%20the%20plaintiff." target="_blank">by a jury in Georgia</a>.&nbsp;According to a report from Reuters, Roundup produced $2.8 billion in revenue for Bayer in 2024.The bill protecting glyphosate from litigation passed the Georgia legislature a few weeks after the $2.1 billion award.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748460279946.png" alt=" State Sen. Brad Hudson of Cape Fair speaks at a news conference Feb. 25 about flyers sent to his constituents attacking his opposition to a bill limiting lawsuits against Bayer over its herbicide Roundup. Joining Hudson, from left, are Sens. Nick Schroer of Defiance, Ben Brown of Washington, Joe Nicola of Independence, Mike Moon of Ash Grove, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, Jill Carter of Joplin and David Gregory of Chesterfield (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Brad Hudson of Cape Fair speaks at a news conference Feb. 25 about flyers sent to his constituents attacking his opposition to a bill limiting lawsuits against Bayer over its herbicide Roundup. Joining Hudson, from left, are Sens. Nick Schroer of Defiance, Ben Brown of Washington, Joe Nicola of Independence, Mike Moon of Ash Grove, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, Jill Carter of Joplin and David Gregory of Chesterfield (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Mike Kehoe, at a news conference after lawmakers adjourned earlier this month, blamed defeat of the Missouri legislation on trial attorneys who have made “tens of millions of dollars” off the lawsuits.“If, for some reason, that particular product is not produced anymore in the United States, farmers are still going to need that type of product, that type of weed control, and so that, glyphosate I think is what it’s called, will be produced somewhere,” Kehoe said. “And if it is, it won’t be produced in this country, and farmers will not have the same protections and liability recourse back on the companies who make it, if it’s made in China or somewhere overseas.”Bayer is also being sued by shareholders in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/05/investors-awarded-class-action-status-in-new-bayer-lawsuit/" target="_blank">class action lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over its decision to spend $68 billion to acquire Monsanto in 2018. The lawsuit alleges Bayer misled investors over the risks of the acquisition and failed to properly perform due diligence before buying Monsanto,When Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018, its stock price was about $30 a share. On Tuesday afternoon, the company’s shares were selling for $7 apiece.In the appeal of the Cole County decision, Bayer argued that Green made numerous errors in the trial and in rulings on post-trial motions. The company’s lawyers’ main points challenged the admissibility of testimony about a case over EPA evaluations of glyphosate; surprise findings from an expert; the use made of medical billing records; and whether the punitive damages were unconstitutionally duplicative.At the heart of most glyphosate cases, and the target of legislation, is the label and whether it includes a proper notice that glyphosate may cause cancer.“The misconduct complained about in the complaints in the three California cases Monsanto relies on, and in (one plaintiff’s) petition, includes allegations that despite scientific evidence that Roundup was carcinogenic, Monsanto continued to sell Roundup, and that Monsanto failed to warn of the dangerous effects of using Roundup,” Judge Cynthia Martin wrote in the Western District opinion delivered Tuesday.In a discussion of whether the punitive damage award should have been reduced more, Martin wrote that “Monsanto’s degree of reprehensibility was high.”Martin noted that the evidence shows that while the EPA has registered Roundup “for sale since 1974, Monsanto has been aware since 1985 that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has the potential to cause cancer.”Each of the plaintiffs suffered damages because Monsanto sold a product that was “unreasonably dangerous when used as reasonably anticipated” without altering the labeling to provide a warning.“Monsanto’s awareness,” Martin wrote, “of studies demonstrating the possibility of a causal relationship between glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and cancer, particularly NHL, and then its decision to double down on its defense of Roundup in lieu of changing the product’s formulation or adding a warning label regarding the risk posed by Roundup demonstrates, at best, Monsanto’s indifference to or reckless disregard of the health of its customers.”

Appeals court upholds $611M judgment in Roundup liability case

Greensboro, N.C. - The American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings have named Fort Hays State starting pitcher Ty Riley a first team All-Central Region performer, announced Wednesday (May 28) by the coaches association.

It is the third All-Region honor for the Tiger senior this season, joining his first team honor from the D2CCA and his second team recognition from the NCBWA. Riley was also named an honorable mention All-American earlier Wednesday by the D2CCA.

The Friday night starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.

The Bentonville, Ark. native ranked 10th in Division II in hits allowed per nine innings (6.22), while his 11.17 strikeouts per nine innings ranked 22nd in the country and his nine wins were second-most in the MIAA.

Riley struck out 16 batters in a game against Colorado-Colorado Springs, second-most in a game by a DII pitcher this season. He racked up seven quality starts and tossed an MIAA-best four complete games, including one nine-inning shutout.

He is the first Tiger to earn All-Region status from the ABCA since 2014 (Clayton Garland).

Riley was one of seven MIAA athletes listed on the first team and one of 13 overall to be named All-Region.

NCAA Div. II Central All-Region First Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas Monticello - AR 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State - KS 2B - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana University - SD 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn - KS IF - Ike Mezzenga - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK OF - Alex Rodgers - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary - ND DH - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN UT - Chase Keeton - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK P - Ty Riley - Sr. - Fort Hays State - KS P - Maddox Long - 5th - Harding - AR P - Nathan Culley - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN P - Kolby Dougan - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State - AR

NCAA Div. II Central All-Region Second Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Jeremy Schork - Sr. - Henderson State - AR 1B - Tyler Sardelli - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR 2B - Luke Farrar - Sr. - Henderson State - AR} 3B - Logan Lacey - Jr. - Harding - AR SS - Cole Dawson - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR IF - Aidan Byrne - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Trevor Winterstein - Sr. - Augustana University - SD OF - Vance Tobol - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO OF - Zach Stroh - Sr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Drew Townsend - Sr. - Missouri Southern - MO DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO UT - Josh Dykhoff - Jr. - Minnesota Crookston - MN P - Dax Sharp - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK P - Will Kates - Jr. - Northwestern Oklahoma State - OK P - Maddox Thornton - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS P - Jeremy Adorno - Sr. - Southern Arkansas - AR RP - JD McReynolds - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO

Region Position Player of the Year: Caden Robertson, Central Oklahoma Region Pitcher of the Year: Maddox Long, Harding

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748450651642.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsGreensboro, N.C. - The American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings have named Fort Hays State starting pitcher Ty Riley a first team All-Central Region performer, announced Wednesday (May 28) by the coaches association.It is the third All-Region honor for the Tiger senior this season, joining his first team honor from the D2CCA and his second team recognition from the NCBWA. Riley was also named an honorable mention All-American earlier Wednesday by the D2CCA.The Friday night starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.The Bentonville, Ark. native ranked 10th in Division II in hits allowed per nine innings (6.22), while his 11.17 strikeouts per nine innings ranked 22nd in the country and his nine wins were second-most in the MIAA.Riley struck out 16 batters in a game against Colorado-Colorado Springs, second-most in a game by a DII pitcher this season. He racked up seven quality starts and tossed an MIAA-best four complete games, including one nine-inning shutout.He is the first Tiger to earn All-Region status from the ABCA since 2014 (Clayton Garland).Riley was one of seven MIAA athletes listed on the first team and one of 13 overall to be named All-Region.NCAA Div. II Central All-Region First Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas Monticello - AR 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State - KS 2B - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana University - SD 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn - KS IF - Ike Mezzenga - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK OF - Alex Rodgers - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary - ND DH - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN UT - Chase Keeton - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State - OK P - Ty Riley - Sr. - Fort Hays State - KS P - Maddox Long - 5th - Harding - AR P - Nathan Culley - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN P - Kolby Dougan - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State - ARNCAA Div. II Central All-Region Second Team Pos. - Player - Cl. - School - State C - Jeremy Schork - Sr. - Henderson State - AR 1B - Tyler Sardelli - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR 2B - Luke Farrar - Sr. - Henderson State - AR} 3B - Logan Lacey - Jr. - Harding - AR SS - Cole Dawson - Jr. - Arkansas Tech - AR IF - Aidan Byrne - Gr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Trevor Winterstein - Sr. - Augustana University - SD OF - Vance Tobol - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO OF - Zach Stroh - Sr. - Minnesota State-Mankato - MN OF - Drew Townsend - Sr. - Missouri Southern - MO DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO UT - Josh Dykhoff - Jr. - Minnesota Crookston - MN P - Dax Sharp - Sr. - Central Oklahoma - OK P - Will Kates - Jr. - Northwestern Oklahoma State - OK P - Maddox Thornton - Gr. - Pittsburg State - KS P - Jeremy Adorno - Sr. - Southern Arkansas - AR RP - JD McReynolds - Sr. - Central Missouri - MO Region Position Player of the Year: Caden Robertson, Central Oklahoma Region Pitcher of the Year: Maddox Long, Harding

⚾ Coaches name Riley first team All-Region

MARSHALL, Minn. - Fort Hays State baseball pitcher Ty Riley was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) honorable mention All-America list, announced Wednesday (May 28).

The first team All-Central Region starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.

Riley is the first Tiger to earn All-America status since 2015 (Kevin Czarnecki) and is the first starting pitcher to earn the honor since 2006 (Bobby Lewton).

He was one of seven MIAA players listed on the All-America list this season.

The CCA All-America and All-Region baseball teams, which are selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC) from schools playing Division II baseball, were first established in 2007. This is the ninth year in which the program is solely sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

2025 CCA NCAA DIVISION II BASEBALL PITCHER &amp; PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ron Lenz Pitcher of the Year: Ian Korn, Seton Hill University (Pa.) Ron Lenz Player of the Year: Brevin McCool, Lubbock Christian University (Texas)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM C - Adam Paniagua - Sr. - Regis (Colo.) 1B - Christian Castaneda - Sr. - CSU Pueblo 2B - Andrew Graham - Jr. - MSU Denver 3B - Brevin McCool - Sr. - Lubbock Christian (Texas) SS - Javon Hernandez - Sr. - Jefferson (Pa.) OF - Noah Blythe - Sr. - Hawaii Pacific OF - Cameron Cartwright - Jr. - Colorado Mesa OF - Mackenzie Wainwright - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) DH - Jake Entrekin - Sr. - Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) UT (non-pitcher) - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana (S.D.) UT (pitcher) - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State SP - Ryan Humphreys - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.) SP - Ian Korn - Jr. - Seton Hill (Pa.) SP - Maddox Long - Sr. - Harding (Ark.) SP - Dawson Montesa - So. - Adelphi (N.Y.) RP - Hayden Simmerson - So. - Catawba (N.C.)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM C - Cole Stanford - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) 2B - Mikey Kocen - Sr. - Lewis (Ill.) 3B - Cole Fowler - Sr. - Lynn (Fla.) SS - Drew Schmidt - So. - University of Texas-Tyler OF - Jacob Guerrero - Sr. - Angelo State (Texas) OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma OF - Paul Schoenfeld - Sr. - Colorado Mesa DH - Sal Carricato - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) UT (non-pitcher) - Thomas Matuszewski - Fr. - Jefferson (Pa.) UT (pitcher) - Cole Calnon - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho)| SP - C.J. Williams - Sr. - Tampa (Fla.) SP - Kolton Casson - Fr. - Carson-Newman (Tenn.) SP - Ernesto Lugo-Canchola - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) SP - Kolby Dougan - Sr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) RP - Zach Yates - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas-Monticello 1B - Charlie Bussey III - So. - Francis Marion (S.C.) 2B - McGwire Turner - So. - Montevallo (Ala.) 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn (Kan.) OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State| OF - Andrews Opata - Jr. - North Georgia OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary (N.D.) DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri UT (non-pitcher) - Kory Schmidt - Sr. - West Texas A&amp;M UT (pitcher) - Billy Morris - Jr. - D'Youville (N.Y.) SP - Matty Brown - Fr. - North Greenville (S.C.) SP - Nathan Culley - Sr. - Minnesota State SP - Jayden Dentler - Sr. - Grand Valley State (Mich.) SP - Dalton Neuschwander - Sr. - West Florida RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State (Ark.)

2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA HONORABLE MENTION}Ivan Dahlberg (C, Illinois Springfield); Jacob Houtz (1B, Mansfield); Luke Farrar (2B, Henderson State); Jackson Crider (3B, Drury); J.D. Urso (SS, Tampa); Bryce LaRocca (OF, Mississippi College); KW Quilici (OF, Cal State Monterey Bay); Grant Sherrod (OF, Lander); Chase Pendley (DH, Angelo State); Bryce McFeely (Utility Non-Pitcher, Westmont); Gage Gillott (Utility Pitcher, Slippery Rock); Keegan Batka (SP, Davenport); Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion (SP, Francis Marion); Ryan Markwardt (SP, Lubbock Christian); Ty Riley (SP, Fort Hays State); Nick Niebur (RP, UT Tyler)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748450242314.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsMARSHALL, Minn. - Fort Hays State baseball pitcher Ty Riley was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) honorable mention All-America list, announced Wednesday (May 28).The first team All-Central Region starter turned in a stellar senior season, ranking third in Division II with a school-record 115 strikeouts. The righty posted an ERA of 3.11 and a record of 9-1 across 16 outings (15 starts). The MIAA co-Pitcher of the Year posted an opposing batting average of .188, second-best in the MIAA.The Bentonville, Ark. native ranked 10th in Division II in hits allowed per nine innings (6.22), while his 11.17 strikeouts per nine innings ranked 22nd in the country and his nine wins were second-most in the MIAA.Riley struck out 16 batters in a game against Colorado-Colorado Springs, second-most in a game by a DII pitcher this season. He racked up seven quality starts and tossed an MIAA-best four complete games, including one nine-inning shutout.Riley is the first Tiger to earn All-America status since 2015 (Kevin Czarnecki) and is the first starting pitcher to earn the honor since 2006 (Bobby Lewton).He was one of seven MIAA players listed on the All-America list this season.The CCA All-America and All-Region baseball teams, which are selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC) from schools playing Division II baseball, were first established in 2007. This is the ninth year in which the program is solely sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.2025 CCA NCAA DIVISION II BASEBALL PITCHER &amp; PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ron Lenz Pitcher of the Year: Ian Korn, Seton Hill University (Pa.) Ron Lenz Player of the Year: Brevin McCool, Lubbock Christian University (Texas)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM C - Adam Paniagua - Sr. - Regis (Colo.) 1B - Christian Castaneda - Sr. - CSU Pueblo 2B - Andrew Graham - Jr. - MSU Denver 3B - Brevin McCool - Sr. - Lubbock Christian (Texas) SS - Javon Hernandez - Sr. - Jefferson (Pa.) OF - Noah Blythe - Sr. - Hawaii Pacific OF - Cameron Cartwright - Jr. - Colorado Mesa OF - Mackenzie Wainwright - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) DH - Jake Entrekin - Sr. - Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) UT (non-pitcher) - Jack Hines - Sr. - Augustana (S.D.) UT (pitcher) - Louis Magers - Jr. - Minnesota State SP - Ryan Humphreys - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.) SP - Ian Korn - Jr. - Seton Hill (Pa.) SP - Maddox Long - Sr. - Harding (Ark.) SP - Dawson Montesa - So. - Adelphi (N.Y.) RP - Hayden Simmerson - So. - Catawba (N.C.)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM C - Cole Stanford - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 1B - Dagen Brewer - Jr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) 2B - Mikey Kocen - Sr. - Lewis (Ill.) 3B - Cole Fowler - Sr. - Lynn (Fla.) SS - Drew Schmidt - So. - University of Texas-Tyler OF - Jacob Guerrero - Sr. - Angelo State (Texas) OF - Caden Robertson - Sr. - Central Oklahoma OF - Paul Schoenfeld - Sr. - Colorado Mesa DH - Sal Carricato - Sr. - Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) UT (non-pitcher) - Thomas Matuszewski - Fr. - Jefferson (Pa.) UT (pitcher) - Cole Calnon - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho)| SP - C.J. Williams - Sr. - Tampa (Fla.) SP - Kolton Casson - Fr. - Carson-Newman (Tenn.) SP - Ernesto Lugo-Canchola - Sr. - Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) SP - Kolby Dougan - Sr. - Pittsburg State (Kan.) RP - Zach Yates - Sr. - Westmont (Calif.)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM C - Chaz Poppy - Sr. - Arkansas-Monticello 1B - Charlie Bussey III - So. - Francis Marion (S.C.) 2B - McGwire Turner - So. - Montevallo (Ala.) 3B - Jacob Steele - Sr. - Central Missouri SS - Jett Buck - Sr. - Washburn (Kan.) OF - Wesley Mitchell - Sr. - Southeastern Oklahoma State| OF - Andrews Opata - Jr. - North Georgia OF - Isaac Pegors - So. - University of Mary (N.D.) DH - Dayvin Johnson - Sr. - Central Missouri UT (non-pitcher) - Kory Schmidt - Sr. - West Texas A&amp;M UT (pitcher) - Billy Morris - Jr. - D'Youville (N.Y.) SP - Matty Brown - Fr. - North Greenville (S.C.) SP - Nathan Culley - Sr. - Minnesota State SP - Jayden Dentler - Sr. - Grand Valley State (Mich.) SP - Dalton Neuschwander - Sr. - West Florida RP - Payton Byrd - Sr. - Henderson State (Ark.)2025 CCA ALL-AMERICA HONORABLE MENTION}Ivan Dahlberg (C, Illinois Springfield); Jacob Houtz (1B, Mansfield); Luke Farrar (2B, Henderson State); Jackson Crider (3B, Drury); J.D. Urso (SS, Tampa); Bryce LaRocca (OF, Mississippi College); KW Quilici (OF, Cal State Monterey Bay); Grant Sherrod (OF, Lander); Chase Pendley (DH, Angelo State); Bryce McFeely (Utility Non-Pitcher, Westmont); Gage Gillott (Utility Pitcher, Slippery Rock); Keegan Batka (SP, Davenport); Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion (SP, Francis Marion); Ryan Markwardt (SP, Lubbock Christian); Ty Riley (SP, Fort Hays State); Nick Niebur (RP, UT Tyler)

⚾ FHSU's Riley named honorable mention All-America

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

TOPEKA — President Donald Trump appointed former Kansas Republican Rep. Patrick Penn, who resigned from his House seat earlier this month, as the deputy undersecretary for the department’s food, nutrition and consumer services.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, appointed by Trump in February, announced Penn’s new position&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/27/secretary-rollins-announces-new-slate-presidential-appointments-usda-food-and-nutrition-service-farm" target="_blank">Tuesday</a>, along with a slate of other state-level leadership designations.

“President Trump is putting Farmers First, and so is the incredible team we are building at the Department of Agriculture,” Rollins said in a press release. “Our latest additions to the USDA family are personally invested in ensuring farmers and rural America prosper.”

Penn resigned from the Wichita-area House seat he held since 2021 on&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-republican-state-rep-patrick-penn-of-wichita-plans-to-quit-house/">May 14</a>, submitting letters to Republican party and state officials. A special precinct election to select a representative to fill the vacant 85th district seat is set for Wednesday. Penn’s term was set to expire January 2027.

Penn is a former Army signal officer who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was first elected to the Kansas Legislature in 2020, where he was dedicated to pushing Second Amendment legislation, including repeated attempts to pass a firearm education program bill.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers 16 food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps, and emergency food assistance.

Penn voted during the 2025 legislative session in favor of prohibiting SNAP beneficiaries from purchasing candy and soft drinks with their food assistance dollars. Also during the 2025 legislative session, Penn was involved in a handful of disruptive moments. In March, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/11/kansas-democrats-liken-bill-to-expand-inspector-generals-authority-to-ag-power-grab/">questioned a Democratic lawmaker’s motives</a>&nbsp;during debate on the House floor. In February, while on the House floor, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/13/kansas-republicans-allude-to-shooting-former-democratic-representative-in-exchange-on-house-floor/">alluded to a hypothetical act of violence</a>&nbsp;against a former Hutchinson Democratic representative.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748436728464.jpeg" alt=" Former Kansas Rep. Patrick Penn, seen here during a March 5, 2024, debate in the House, was appointed to a position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture shortly after vacating his House seat. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Former Kansas Rep. Patrick Penn, seen here during a March 5, 2024, debate in the House, was appointed to a position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture shortly after vacating his House seat. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — President Donald Trump appointed former Kansas Republican Rep. Patrick Penn, who resigned from his House seat earlier this month, as the deputy undersecretary for the department’s food, nutrition and consumer services.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, appointed by Trump in February, announced Penn’s new position&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/27/secretary-rollins-announces-new-slate-presidential-appointments-usda-food-and-nutrition-service-farm" target="_blank">Tuesday</a>, along with a slate of other state-level leadership designations.“President Trump is putting Farmers First, and so is the incredible team we are building at the Department of Agriculture,” Rollins said in a press release. “Our latest additions to the USDA family are personally invested in ensuring farmers and rural America prosper.”Penn resigned from the Wichita-area House seat he held since 2021 on&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-republican-state-rep-patrick-penn-of-wichita-plans-to-quit-house/">May 14</a>, submitting letters to Republican party and state officials. A special precinct election to select a representative to fill the vacant 85th district seat is set for Wednesday. Penn’s term was set to expire January 2027.Penn is a former Army signal officer who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was first elected to the Kansas Legislature in 2020, where he was dedicated to pushing Second Amendment legislation, including repeated attempts to pass a firearm education program bill.The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers 16 food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps, and emergency food assistance.Penn voted during the 2025 legislative session in favor of prohibiting SNAP beneficiaries from purchasing candy and soft drinks with their food assistance dollars. Also during the 2025 legislative session, Penn was involved in a handful of disruptive moments. In March, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/11/kansas-democrats-liken-bill-to-expand-inspector-generals-authority-to-ag-power-grab/">questioned a Democratic lawmaker’s motives</a>&nbsp;during debate on the House floor. In February, while on the House floor, he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/13/kansas-republicans-allude-to-shooting-former-democratic-representative-in-exchange-on-house-floor/">alluded to a hypothetical act of violence</a>&nbsp;against a former Hutchinson Democratic representative.

Trump appoints former Kansas legislator to USDA post

After back-to-back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">explosions</a>, SpaceX launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-launch-accident-e69d04467e2def65d2bc6b0e9645d715">mega rocket Starship</a>&nbsp;again on Tuesday evening, but fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart.

The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket blasted off on its ninth demo from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas. Residents voted this month to organize as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-starbase-texas-city-7863bf3bac65e9718eef19b27978933b">an official city</a>.

CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s SpaceX hoped to release a series of mock satellites following liftoff, but that got nixed because the door failed to open all the way. Then the spacecraft began spinning as it skimmed space toward an uncontrolled landing in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly,” or burst apart. “Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” the company said in an online statement.

Musk noted in a post on X it was a “big improvement” from the two previous demos, which ended in flaming debris over the Atlantic. Despite the latest setback, he promised a faster launch pace moving forward, with a Starship soaring every three to four weeks for the next three flights.

It was the first time one of Musk's Starships —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-astronauts-artemis-01ac3c0ec59bfc8b2612c987a72d91f3">intended for moon</a>&nbsp;and Mars travel — flew with a recycled booster. There were no plans to catch the booster with giant chopsticks back at the launch pad, with the company instead pushing it to its limits. Contact with the booster was lost at one point, and it slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in pieces as the spacecraft continued toward the Indian Ocean.

Then the spacecraft went out of control, apparently due to fuel leaks.

“Not looking great with a lot of our on-orbit objectives for today,” said SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot. The company had been looking to test the spacecraft’s heat shield during a controlled reentry.

Communication ceased before the spacecraft came down, and SpaceX ended its webcast soon afterward.

The previous two Starships never made it past the Caribbean. The demos earlier this year ended just minutes after liftoff, raining wreckage into the ocean. No injuries or serious damage were reported, although airline travel was disrupted. The Federal Aviation Administration last week cleared Starship for another flight, expanding the hazard area and pushing the liftoff outside peak air travel times.

Besides taking corrective action and making upgrades, SpaceX modified the latest spacecraft’s thermal tiles and installed special catch fittings. This one was meant to sink in the Indian Ocean, but the company wanted to test the add-ons for capturing future versions back at the pad, just like the boosters.

NASA needs SpaceX to make major strides over the next year with Starship — the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built — in order to land astronauts back on the moon. Next year’s moonshot with four astronauts will fly around the moon, but will not land. That will happen in 2027 at the earliest and require a Starship to get two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back off again.

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

After back-to-back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">explosions</a>, SpaceX launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-launch-accident-e69d04467e2def65d2bc6b0e9645d715">mega rocket Starship</a>&nbsp;again on Tuesday evening, but fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Liftoff of Starship! <a href="https://t.co/aXAwLkRbuK">pic.twitter.com/aXAwLkRbuK</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1927509601001341037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket blasted off on its ninth demo from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas. Residents voted this month to organize as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-starbase-texas-city-7863bf3bac65e9718eef19b27978933b">an official city</a>.CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s SpaceX hoped to release a series of mock satellites following liftoff, but that got nixed because the door failed to open all the way. Then the spacecraft began spinning as it skimmed space toward an uncontrolled landing in the Indian Ocean.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As if the flight test was not exciting enough, Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s…&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1927523399552631088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly,” or burst apart. “Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” the company said in an online statement.Musk noted in a post on X it was a “big improvement” from the two previous demos, which ended in flaming debris over the Atlantic. Despite the latest setback, he promised a faster launch pace moving forward, with a Starship soaring every three to four weeks for the next three flights.It was the first time one of Musk's Starships —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-astronauts-artemis-01ac3c0ec59bfc8b2612c987a72d91f3">intended for moon</a>&nbsp;and Mars travel — flew with a recycled booster. There were no plans to catch the booster with giant chopsticks back at the launch pad, with the company instead pushing it to its limits. Contact with the booster was lost at one point, and it slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in pieces as the spacecraft continued toward the Indian Ocean.Then the spacecraft went out of control, apparently due to fuel leaks.“Not looking great with a lot of our on-orbit objectives for today,” said SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot. The company had been looking to test the spacecraft’s heat shield during a controlled reentry.Communication ceased before the spacecraft came down, and SpaceX ended its webcast soon afterward.The previous two Starships never made it past the Caribbean. The demos earlier this year ended just minutes after liftoff, raining wreckage into the ocean. No injuries or serious damage were reported, although airline travel was disrupted. The Federal Aviation Administration last week cleared Starship for another flight, expanding the hazard area and pushing the liftoff outside peak air travel times.Besides taking corrective action and making upgrades, SpaceX modified the latest spacecraft’s thermal tiles and installed special catch fittings. This one was meant to sink in the Indian Ocean, but the company wanted to test the add-ons for capturing future versions back at the pad, just like the boosters.NASA needs SpaceX to make major strides over the next year with Starship — the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built — in order to land astronauts back on the moon. Next year’s moonshot with four astronauts will fly around the moon, but will not land. That will happen in 2027 at the earliest and require a Starship to get two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back off again.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

🎥SpaceX Starship rocket breaks up again after last 2 attempts ended in explosions

SPARTENBURG,
S.C. – An fun moment Tuesday night as the Texas Rangers High-A
affiliate Hub City Spartanburgers hosted the Chicago White Sox High-A affiliate
Winston-Salem Dash.

The
game featured a couple of Hays’ natives. Dylan Dreiling for the Spartanburgers and Carson Jacobs for the Dash.

Dreiling is a Hays High grad who starred at Tennessee. Jacobs is a TMP-Marian alum.

Jacobs struck out Dreiling in their only minor league encounter and pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts for his second win of the season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748433311164.png" alt="Former TMP-Marian standout Carson Jacobs faces former Hays High standout Dylan Dreiling in a minor league baseball game Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Spartanburg, S.C. (Courtesy Hub City Spartanburgers)" />
 <figcaption>Former TMP-Marian standout Carson Jacobs faces former Hays High standout Dylan Dreiling in a minor league baseball game Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Spartanburg, S.C. (Courtesy Hub City Spartanburgers)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsSPARTENBURG,
S.C. – An fun moment Tuesday night as the Texas Rangers High-A
affiliate Hub City Spartanburgers hosted the Chicago White Sox High-A affiliate
Winston-Salem Dash.The
game featured a couple of Hays’ natives. Dylan Dreiling for the Spartanburgers and Carson Jacobs for the Dash.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=258&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPITHaysKS%2Fvideos%2F1908160173328119%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="258" 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>Dreiling is a Hays High grad who starred at Tennessee. Jacobs is a TMP-Marian alum.Jacobs struck out Dreiling in their only minor league encounter and pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts for his second win of the season.

⚾ "Hays, Kansas on Hays, Kansas"

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

WILSON—After 37 years of being a quirky stop on Interstate 70 where you can find popcorn, wine, Kansas books, T-shirts or handpainted limestone, Kansas Originals is facing closure.

Kansas Originals owns its building, but not the land on which it sits. The land was owned by Service Oil Company, but has been purchased by a new owner. The new owner has decided to develop the location as a truck stop and is insisting that the Kansas Originals building be demolished or moved.

Although the store could be relocated, Marge Lawson, co-founder of the nonprofit that created Kansas Originals, said the store is doomed without easy access to I-70.

"Through tumultuous months, with serveral owners, and waiting for two years through a maze of what might be and assurances from local agencies that we are safe, we received legal notice that we must move out and move or tear our building down by Nov. 30 of this year," Kansas Originals said in a letter to the Hays Post.

The letter continued, "It is heartbreaking and unimaginable because we didn't just buy this place and business, we built it with years of total dedication—no 40-hour weeks but 50 and 60 hours, late nights and weekends. We served our artists, craftsmen, travelers and the general public by staying open 362 days a year."

Kansas Originals is not your average souvenir shop off the interstate. It's not kich.

The Post Rock Opportunities Foundation, which is the nonprofit that supports Kansas Originals, shared the history behind the trading post on the Plains.

Thirty-seven years ago, a dedicated group of people from five counties banded together and formed the Post Rock Opportunities Foundation. 

"Led by a pastor who wouldn't give up, and movers and shakers from throughout the area working countless hours, Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery became a reality," the letter said. "Our mission is to provide marketplaces for the work of Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers, especially those who are 62 or over, low-income, disabled, minorities or women in business."

The Presbyterian Church provided a $50,000 grant from its One Great House of Sharing to construct the building. Other donors and volunteers followed the church's lead.

Kansas Originals opened on July 27, 1991, during the Wilson Czech Festival.

By 1993, the building was full. The foundation used a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and a loan from the Northcentral Regional Planning Commission to double the size of the building.

According to the foundation, more than 1,000 corporations, businesses, and individuals have supported the nonprofit through grants, sponsorships and monetary donations.

"Our artists and craftsmen donate to the cause by giving artwork for fundraisers," the letter said.

The Smoky Hill Foundation, Merrill Foundation, Kansas Arts Commission and Dane G. Hansen Foundation are among the Kansas Originals' supporters.

"It was because of the selfless acts of so many who put us before their interests that we were able to succeed. Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery and the Post Rock Opportunties Foundation were never created to make any one person or group of people wealthy, it was created to sustain a group of people that would not have had the opportunity for success that Kansas Originals provided," the letter said.

Kansas Originals has been a point of curiosity for people from around the world. A map at the store is packed with push pins marking the homes of visitors from all 50 states and more than 50 countries.

Volunteers says visitors love to take photos with the "The Wizard of Oz" characters and Rusty Rojo, the Orginals' 7-foot chicken.

"The foundation has showcased the work of over 1,960 artists, craftsmen, food producers and authors. It has been our pride and our joy and our honor to serve the talented Kansans and to enable them to have their art, crafts and food products spread across the United States from our spot on the prairie," the letter said.

Some of the Hays area products that have been featured in the store include Popt Popcorn from Hays, Pat's Beef Jerky from Liebenthal, and Patsy's D's Barbecue Sauce from Russell.

One of the most dedicated artists and devoted representatives has been a part of the foundation since it was organized. She served on the board of directors and still brings in paintings and photo albums to sell. She will be 99 in August.

"A comment by the son of one of our many elderly craftspeople, who stopped by the other day to pick up her remaining items after she passed away, tugged at my heart when he told us, 'You gave her a purpose in life. She had a place to come, and she loved coming here,'" the letter said.

The foundation also wanted to honor the memory of Pastor Tom Henstock, who worked tirelessly to keep the dream of Kansas Originals alive and made a significant financial donation upon his passing.

"We were so excited that we were going to be able to make improvements to our building, but instead our future has become uncertain and bleak," the letter said.

The Kansas Originals volunteers fear the sale of the property on which their building sits means the end of the store.

"Without a miracle or intervention from people who care, our dedicated staff will lose their employment," the letter said. "The attractions and businesses in Wilson and Lucas and throughout the region that we so vigorously promote to our millions of travelers will no longer receive that support, and many of our Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers will no longer have a place to sell their work.

"The Tourist Information Center and Kansas Wine Room will be gone. All the history, creating income for the elderly, low-income, disabled and women in business, is scheduled to come to a crashing end."

"We don't want our story to end. We welcome any suggestions, ideas or solutions anyone might have to keep the Post Rock Opportunites and Kansas Originals alive and thriving," the Kansas Originals volunteers and staff said in their letter.

For more information or to send suggestions, email info@kansasoriginals.com or call 785-658-2602.

You can also find more on the <a href="https://www.kansasoriginals.com/">Kansas Originals website</a> and follow the store on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansasoriginals">Facebook</a>.

Kansas Originals is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and is&nbsp;at 233 Highway 232, Wilson, KS, 67490.

Look for the big red and blue Kansas Originals sign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372872819.jpeg" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWILSON—After 37 years of being a quirky stop on Interstate 70 where you can find popcorn, wine, Kansas books, T-shirts or handpainted limestone, Kansas Originals is facing closure.Kansas Originals owns its building, but not the land on which it sits. The land was owned by Service Oil Company, but has been purchased by a new owner. The new owner has decided to develop the location as a truck stop and is insisting that the Kansas Originals building be demolished or moved.Although the store could be relocated, Marge Lawson, co-founder of the nonprofit that created Kansas Originals, said the store is doomed without easy access to I-70."Through tumultuous months, with serveral owners, and waiting for two years through a maze of what might be and assurances from local agencies that we are safe, we received legal notice that we must move out and move or tear our building down by Nov. 30 of this year," Kansas Originals said in a letter to the Hays Post.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372916376.jpeg" alt="Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>The letter continued, "It is heartbreaking and unimaginable because we didn't just buy this place and business, we built it with years of total dedication—no 40-hour weeks but 50 and 60 hours, late nights and weekends. We served our artists, craftsmen, travelers and the general public by staying open 362 days a year."Kansas Originals is not your average souvenir shop off the interstate. It's not kich.The Post Rock Opportunities Foundation, which is the nonprofit that supports Kansas Originals, shared the history behind the trading post on the Plains.Thirty-seven years ago, a dedicated group of people from five counties banded together and formed the Post Rock Opportunities Foundation. "Led by a pastor who wouldn't give up, and movers and shakers from throughout the area working countless hours, Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery became a reality," the letter said. "Our mission is to provide marketplaces for the work of Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers, especially those who are 62 or over, low-income, disabled, minorities or women in business."The Presbyterian Church provided a $50,000 grant from its One Great House of Sharing to construct the building. Other donors and volunteers followed the church's lead.Kansas Originals opened on July 27, 1991, during the Wilson Czech Festival.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372963942.jpeg" alt="Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Handcrafted items for sale at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By 1993, the building was full. The foundation used a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and a loan from the Northcentral Regional Planning Commission to double the size of the building.According to the foundation, more than 1,000 corporations, businesses, and individuals have supported the nonprofit through grants, sponsorships and monetary donations."Our artists and craftsmen donate to the cause by giving artwork for fundraisers," the letter said.The Smoky Hill Foundation, Merrill Foundation, Kansas Arts Commission and Dane G. Hansen Foundation are among the Kansas Originals' supporters."It was because of the selfless acts of so many who put us before their interests that we were able to succeed. Kansas Originals Market &amp; Gallery and the Post Rock Opportunties Foundation were never created to make any one person or group of people wealthy, it was created to sustain a group of people that would not have had the opportunity for success that Kansas Originals provided," the letter said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748373004933.jpeg" alt="Dozens of titles on Kansas and the Great Plains or by Kansas authors at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Dozens of titles on Kansas and the Great Plains or by Kansas authors at Kansas Originals. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Originals has been a point of curiosity for people from around the world. A map at the store is packed with push pins marking the homes of visitors from all 50 states and more than 50 countries.Volunteers says visitors love to take photos with the "The Wizard of Oz" characters and Rusty Rojo, the Orginals' 7-foot chicken."The foundation has showcased the work of over 1,960 artists, craftsmen, food producers and authors. It has been our pride and our joy and our honor to serve the talented Kansans and to enable them to have their art, crafts and food products spread across the United States from our spot on the prairie," the letter said.Some of the Hays area products that have been featured in the store include Popt Popcorn from Hays, Pat's Beef Jerky from Liebenthal, and Patsy's D's Barbecue Sauce from Russell.One of the most dedicated artists and devoted representatives has been a part of the foundation since it was organized. She served on the board of directors and still brings in paintings and photo albums to sell. She will be 99 in August.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748373079913.jpeg" alt="University of Kansas and Kansas State University merchandise at Kansas Originals. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>University of Kansas and Kansas State University merchandise at Kansas Originals. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"A comment by the son of one of our many elderly craftspeople, who stopped by the other day to pick up her remaining items after she passed away, tugged at my heart when he told us, 'You gave her a purpose in life. She had a place to come, and she loved coming here,'" the letter said.The foundation also wanted to honor the memory of Pastor Tom Henstock, who worked tirelessly to keep the dream of Kansas Originals alive and made a significant financial donation upon his passing."We were so excited that we were going to be able to make improvements to our building, but instead our future has become uncertain and bleak," the letter said.The Kansas Originals volunteers fear the sale of the property on which their building sits means the end of the store."Without a miracle or intervention from people who care, our dedicated staff will lose their employment," the letter said. "The attractions and businesses in Wilson and Lucas and throughout the region that we so vigorously promote to our millions of travelers will no longer receive that support, and many of our Kansas artists, craftsmen and food producers will no longer have a place to sell their work."The Tourist Information Center and Kansas Wine Room will be gone. All the history, creating income for the elderly, low-income, disabled and women in business, is scheduled to come to a crashing end."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748372812386.png" alt="The Kansas Originals building and sign that faces Interstate 70. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Originals building and sign that faces Interstate 70. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"We don't want our story to end. We welcome any suggestions, ideas or solutions anyone might have to keep the Post Rock Opportunites and Kansas Originals alive and thriving," the Kansas Originals volunteers and staff said in their letter.For more information or to send suggestions, email info@kansasoriginals.com or call 785-658-2602.You can also find more on the <a href="https://www.kansasoriginals.com/">Kansas Originals website</a> and follow the store on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansasoriginals">Facebook</a>.Kansas Originals is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and is&nbsp;at 233 Highway 232, Wilson, KS, 67490.Look for the big red and blue Kansas Originals sign.

Kansas Originals faces demolition of its building, fears closure

7:15 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;May 29, 2025 Editor's note clarification: The headline of this story was changed to clarify that&nbsp;The Animal Hospital&nbsp;at the Crossroads in Phillipsburg and Plainville are for sale. The businesses have not been sold as of the time of this post.

The Animal Hospital at the Crossroads in Phillipsburg and in Plainville stopped offering general appointments and large animal services on May 9 and 23.

Emergency services at both clinics ended on May 5, according to a Facebook post by The Animal Hospital.

Dr. Lauren Mack will step back from full-time practice and provide only limited, consultative services going forward. The clinics are for sale to new owners.

Mack said in the social media post that it is time to prioritize family as veterinary challenges continue in the region.

"The demand of veterinary practice in a rural area is all-consuming and although I have taken great pride in this journey, it is simply not sustainable," Mack said.

You can view the full post <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19MTiUoYSF/">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748361436413.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>7:15 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;May 29, 2025 Editor's note clarification: The headline of this story was changed to clarify that&nbsp;The Animal Hospital&nbsp;at the Crossroads in Phillipsburg and Plainville are for sale. The businesses have not been sold as of the time of this post.Hays PostThe Animal Hospital at the Crossroads in Phillipsburg and in Plainville stopped offering general appointments and large animal services on May 9 and 23.Emergency services at both clinics ended on May 5, according to a Facebook post by The Animal Hospital.Dr. Lauren Mack will step back from full-time practice and provide only limited, consultative services going forward. The clinics are for sale to new owners.Mack said in the social media post that it is time to prioritize family as veterinary challenges continue in the region."The demand of veterinary practice in a rural area is all-consuming and although I have taken great pride in this journey, it is simply not sustainable," Mack said.You can view the full post <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19MTiUoYSF/">here</a>.

The Animal Hospital announces Phillipsburg, Plainville locations for sale

Hays
High’s Trey Oakley shot a 3-over-par 74 and qualified for Wednesday's final round of
the 5A State Golf Championship at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course in Emporia.
Oakley was tied for 20th after Tuesday's first round. Teammate Cooper Johnson shot an 84 and just missed advancing.


Andover Central’s Colt Farrow, St. James Academy’s Jacob Fratzel and Bishop
Carroll’s Max Farber all had rounds of 4-under 67 and led after day one.

TMP-Marian’s
Heuer Brungardt and Chase Drennon both advanced to the second day at the 2A state tournament at the Turkey Creek&nbsp; Golf Course in McPherson.

Brungardt shot a 9-over-par 70 and was in tie for 14th place, Drennon was tied for
28th after a 13-over 83.


The Hoxie and Hill City teams both advanced. Hoxie sat in third place and Hill City in fifth. 
Hoxie’s Noah Dowell led after day one with a 2-under-par 68 and was the only golfer to
break par.


Hill City was led by AJ Deges who was tied for 22nd after an 11-over-par 81.

Jaren Frickey of Ellis advanced at 1A at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City.
Frickey was tied for 15th after a 13-over-par 84.


The Railers finished 11th in the team standings and did not
advance.





<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748430775811.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsHays
High’s Trey Oakley shot a 3-over-par 74 and qualified for Wednesday's final round of
the 5A State Golf Championship at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course in Emporia.
Oakley was tied for 20th after Tuesday's first round. Teammate Cooper Johnson shot an 84 and just missed advancing.
Andover Central’s Colt Farrow, St. James Academy’s Jacob Fratzel and Bishop
Carroll’s Max Farber all had rounds of 4-under 67 and led after day one.TMP-Marian’s
Heuer Brungardt and Chase Drennon both advanced to the second day at the 2A state tournament at the Turkey Creek&nbsp; Golf Course in McPherson.

Brungardt shot a 9-over-par 70 and was in tie for 14th place, Drennon was tied for
28th after a 13-over 83.
The Hoxie and Hill City teams both advanced. Hoxie sat in third place and Hill City in fifth. 
Hoxie’s Noah Dowell led after day one with a 2-under-par 68 and was the only golfer to
break par.
Hill City was led by AJ Deges who was tied for 22nd after an 11-over-par 81.Jaren Frickey of Ellis advanced at 1A at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City.
Frickey was tied for 15th after a 13-over-par 84.
The Railers finished 11th in the team standings and did not
advance.

⛳ Area golfers advance to day 2 of state championships

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced Tuesday that he’s planning to pardon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/julie-todd-chrisley-fraud-tax-evasion-sentence-ea5d65c638f06cce3bd82fcfc2c5647c">TV stars</a>&nbsp;Todd and Julie Chrisley, famous for “Chrisley Knows Best,” a reality show that followed their tight-knit family and extravagant lifestyle that prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities.

The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. They were also found guilty of tax evasion, obscuring their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that authorities said included high-priced cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel.

Prosecutors said the couple walked away from their responsibility for repayment when Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy and left $20-plus million in unpaid loans. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and Todd Chrisley got 12 years behind bars. The couple was also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution.

“Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope that we can do it by tomorrow,” Trump said in a call with their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, according to a video posted online by a White House aide. In a social media post, the aide declared, “Trump Knows Best!”

“They’ve been given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I’m hearing,” the president added a few moments later of the couple.

A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss decisions that hadn't yet been made public, said the pardons would be forthcoming.

The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers. On Monday, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sheriff-bribery-conviction-trump-pardon-3a35152ebb86d4ab4a2d3d018c0bda8e">pardoned</a>&nbsp;Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted on fraud and bribery charges. The president posted online that Jenkins and his family “have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ.”

The president has also moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-grants-president-donald-j-trump-2025-present">pardon Paul Walczak</a>, a Florida health care executive imprisoned on tax charges, whose mother helped expose the contents of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-diary-aimee-harris-fa1081c11b34a18f7d216f9cac8bf4e6">diary kept by Ashley Biden</a>, daughter of former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>. And, in April, he pardoned Nevada Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-las-vegas-nevada-73278936d0baa571db1174aaf275d4c2">Michele Fiore</a>, who was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she used money meant for a statue honoring a slain police officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-indictment-fiore-council-judge-assembly-nevada-e7a7066c545cd0196cae734629713f4b">for personal costs</a>, including plastic surgery.

The Chrisleys’ attorney, Alex Little, said the pardon “corrects a deep injustice and restores two devoted parents to their family and community.”

“President Trump recognized what we’ve argued from the beginning: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and high profile. Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias,” Little said in a statement.

Little's statement added, “Todd and Julie’s case is exactly why the pardon power exists. Thanks to President Trump, the Chrisley family can now begin healing and rebuilding their lives.”

Before the Chrisleys became reality television stars, they, and a former business partner, submitted false documents to banks in the Atlanta area to obtain fraudulent loans, prosecutors said during their trial. They accused the couple of spending lavishly, then using new fraudulent loans to pay off old ones.

A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last summer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/julie-todd-chrisley-fraud-tax-evasion-appeal-983ca240f0a631e075ef5dd911ebfe26">upheld the Chrisleys’ convictions</a>&nbsp;but found a legal error in how the trial judge had calculated Julie Chrisley’s sentence by holding her accountable for the entire bank fraud scheme. The appellate panel sent her case back to the lower court for resentencing.

Savannah Chrisley spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where she talked about her parents’ imprisonment. She said then that they were “persecuted by rogue prosecutors” — echoing Trump’s rhetoric about the criminal justice system as he faced investigations and criminal cases of his own.

She said Trump had been targeted for his politics, and said her parents likewise were targeted because of their conservative beliefs and high profile.

“I’ll never forget what the prosecutors said in the most heavily Democratic county in the state, before an Obama-appointed judge. He called us the ‘Trumps of the South,’” Savannah Chrisley said in her remarks at the convention, adding, “He meant it as an insult but, let me tell you, boy, do I wear it as a badge of honor.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669079805529.png" alt="Todd Chrisley, left, and his wife, Julie Chrisley, pose for photos at the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 2, 2017, in Las Vegas.. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)" />
 <figcaption>Todd Chrisley, left, and his wife, Julie Chrisley, pose for photos at the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 2, 2017, in Las Vegas.. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced Tuesday that he’s planning to pardon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/julie-todd-chrisley-fraud-tax-evasion-sentence-ea5d65c638f06cce3bd82fcfc2c5647c">TV stars</a>&nbsp;Todd and Julie Chrisley, famous for “Chrisley Knows Best,” a reality show that followed their tight-knit family and extravagant lifestyle that prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">BREAKING! President Trump calls <a href="https://twitter.com/_ItsSavannah_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ItsSavannah_</a> to inform her that he will be granting full pardons to her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley! Trump Knows Best! <a href="https://t.co/j5WPMOOQ7L">pic.twitter.com/j5WPMOOQ7L</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1927470034688839944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. They were also found guilty of tax evasion, obscuring their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that authorities said included high-priced cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel.Prosecutors said the couple walked away from their responsibility for repayment when Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy and left $20-plus million in unpaid loans. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and Todd Chrisley got 12 years behind bars. The couple was also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution.“Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope that we can do it by tomorrow,” Trump said in a call with their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, according to a video posted online by a White House aide. In a social media post, the aide declared, “Trump Knows Best!”“They’ve been given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I’m hearing,” the president added a few moments later of the couple.A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss decisions that hadn't yet been made public, said the pardons would be forthcoming.The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers. On Monday, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sheriff-bribery-conviction-trump-pardon-3a35152ebb86d4ab4a2d3d018c0bda8e">pardoned</a>&nbsp;Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted on fraud and bribery charges. The president posted online that Jenkins and his family “have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ.”The president has also moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-grants-president-donald-j-trump-2025-present">pardon Paul Walczak</a>, a Florida health care executive imprisoned on tax charges, whose mother helped expose the contents of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-diary-aimee-harris-fa1081c11b34a18f7d216f9cac8bf4e6">diary kept by Ashley Biden</a>, daughter of former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>. And, in April, he pardoned Nevada Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-las-vegas-nevada-73278936d0baa571db1174aaf275d4c2">Michele Fiore</a>, who was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she used money meant for a statue honoring a slain police officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-indictment-fiore-council-judge-assembly-nevada-e7a7066c545cd0196cae734629713f4b">for personal costs</a>, including plastic surgery.The Chrisleys’ attorney, Alex Little, said the pardon “corrects a deep injustice and restores two devoted parents to their family and community.”“President Trump recognized what we’ve argued from the beginning: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and high profile. Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias,” Little said in a statement.Little's statement added, “Todd and Julie’s case is exactly why the pardon power exists. Thanks to President Trump, the Chrisley family can now begin healing and rebuilding their lives.”Before the Chrisleys became reality television stars, they, and a former business partner, submitted false documents to banks in the Atlanta area to obtain fraudulent loans, prosecutors said during their trial. They accused the couple of spending lavishly, then using new fraudulent loans to pay off old ones.A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last summer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/julie-todd-chrisley-fraud-tax-evasion-appeal-983ca240f0a631e075ef5dd911ebfe26">upheld the Chrisleys’ convictions</a>&nbsp;but found a legal error in how the trial judge had calculated Julie Chrisley’s sentence by holding her accountable for the entire bank fraud scheme. The appellate panel sent her case back to the lower court for resentencing.Savannah Chrisley spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where she talked about her parents’ imprisonment. She said then that they were “persecuted by rogue prosecutors” — echoing Trump’s rhetoric about the criminal justice system as he faced investigations and criminal cases of his own.She said Trump had been targeted for his politics, and said her parents likewise were targeted because of their conservative beliefs and high profile.“I’ll never forget what the prosecutors said in the most heavily Democratic county in the state, before an Obama-appointed judge. He called us the ‘Trumps of the South,’” Savannah Chrisley said in her remarks at the convention, adding, “He meant it as an insult but, let me tell you, boy, do I wear it as a badge of honor.”___Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed.

🎥Trump phone call of pardon for reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.

In a 58-second video posted on the social media site X, Kennedy said he removed COVID-19 shots from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for those groups. No one from the CDC was in the video, and CDC officials referred questions about the announcement to Kennedy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

U.S. health officials, following recommendations by infectious disease experts, have been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.

The idea of changing the recommendations is not completely out of the blue. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-acip-kennedy-d9777cba947f5f52705af04d95e5f7fa">CDC advisory panel</a>&nbsp;is set to meet in June to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among its options are suggesting shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated.

But Kennedy, a leading anti-vaccine advocate before becoming health secretary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-rfk-kennedy-trump-covid-fda-novavax-b50f4d6fbcca378eb89b059bc8a91477">decided not to wait</a>&nbsp;for the scientific panel's review. He said that annual COVID-19 booster shots have been recommended for kids “despite the lack of any clinical data” to support that decision.

Some physicians and public health leaders expressed concern that HHS officials disregarded a scientific review process that has been in place for decades, in which experts — in public meetings — review current medical evidence and hash out the pros and cons of policy changes.

“It's a dangerous precedent. If you can start doing that with this vaccine, you can start doing that with any vaccine you want — including mumps-measles-rubella,” said Osterholm, referring to another vaccine that Kennedy has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-messaging-criticism-vaccine-1a2cbdc14eb0c256695fdfac00cbfb6d">voiced doubts</a>&nbsp;about.

He and others said the announcement raises an array of questions, including whether health insurance companies will keep covering COVID-19 vaccinations and how hard it will be now for people who want the shots to get them.

“The reason we give vaccines to healthy people is to keep them safe,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.

More than 1.2 million people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19, most of them elderly. But children haven't been spared: The coronavirus has been the underlying cause in more than 1,300 childhood deaths since the pandemic began, according to CDC data.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Jay Battacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health, appeared in the video with Kennedy.

Earlier this year, during the nomination process, Kennedy gave&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/childhood-vaccines-schedule-kennedy-trump-hhs-4d5e6c52c602f5edbcd837748605e9d0">assurances</a>&nbsp;to wavering Republicans that he would not alter the federal vaccine schedule.

But since then, Kennedy and other Trump administration appointees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-rfk-kennedy-trump-covid-fda-novavax-b50f4d6fbcca378eb89b059bc8a91477">have made big changes</a>&nbsp;to the system for approval and use of vaccines.

They added restrictions to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/novavax-covid19-vaccine-fda-a477c1aa612ceb293e70d904b46611b0">a recent vaccine approval</a>. Last week, the FDA announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5">routine COVID-19 vaccine approvals</a>&nbsp;will be limited to seniors and younger people with underlying medical risks, pending new research for healthy adults and children.

Among the confusion created by Tuesday's announcement, experts said, was the implication that the coronavirus isn't dangerous to pregnant women.

During the height of the pandemic, deaths of women during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnancy-deaths-cdc-maternal-mortality-fbb4950245b517b4f4d57517b62556d9">soared</a>&nbsp;to their highest level in 50 years. Indeed, pregnancy was on the list of health conditions that would qualify someone for a COVID-19 vaccination under FDA’s new guidance “framework” announced last week.

Vaccination has been recommended for pregnant women, in part, because it's a way to pass immunity to newborns who are too young for vaccines and are vulnerable to infections.

“To say that they are not at any risk is simply incorrect,” said Dr. Sean O'Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said: “The science has not changed. It is very clear that COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability, and it can cause devastating consequences for families.”

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from <a href="https://twitter.com/CDCgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CDCgov</a> recommended immunization schedule. Bottom line: it’s common sense and it’s good science. We are now one step closer to realizing <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’s promise to Make America Healthy Again. <a href="https://t.co/Ytch2afCLP">pic.twitter.com/Ytch2afCLP</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1927368440811008138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a 58-second video posted on the social media site X, Kennedy said he removed COVID-19 shots from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for those groups. No one from the CDC was in the video, and CDC officials referred questions about the announcement to Kennedy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.U.S. health officials, following recommendations by infectious disease experts, have been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.The idea of changing the recommendations is not completely out of the blue. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-acip-kennedy-d9777cba947f5f52705af04d95e5f7fa">CDC advisory panel</a>&nbsp;is set to meet in June to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among its options are suggesting shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated.But Kennedy, a leading anti-vaccine advocate before becoming health secretary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-rfk-kennedy-trump-covid-fda-novavax-b50f4d6fbcca378eb89b059bc8a91477">decided not to wait</a>&nbsp;for the scientific panel's review. He said that annual COVID-19 booster shots have been recommended for kids “despite the lack of any clinical data” to support that decision.Some physicians and public health leaders expressed concern that HHS officials disregarded a scientific review process that has been in place for decades, in which experts — in public meetings — review current medical evidence and hash out the pros and cons of policy changes.“It's a dangerous precedent. If you can start doing that with this vaccine, you can start doing that with any vaccine you want — including mumps-measles-rubella,” said Osterholm, referring to another vaccine that Kennedy has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-messaging-criticism-vaccine-1a2cbdc14eb0c256695fdfac00cbfb6d">voiced doubts</a>&nbsp;about.He and others said the announcement raises an array of questions, including whether health insurance companies will keep covering COVID-19 vaccinations and how hard it will be now for people who want the shots to get them.“The reason we give vaccines to healthy people is to keep them safe,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.More than 1.2 million people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19, most of them elderly. But children haven't been spared: The coronavirus has been the underlying cause in more than 1,300 childhood deaths since the pandemic began, according to CDC data.Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Jay Battacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health, appeared in the video with Kennedy.Earlier this year, during the nomination process, Kennedy gave&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/childhood-vaccines-schedule-kennedy-trump-hhs-4d5e6c52c602f5edbcd837748605e9d0">assurances</a>&nbsp;to wavering Republicans that he would not alter the federal vaccine schedule.But since then, Kennedy and other Trump administration appointees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-rfk-kennedy-trump-covid-fda-novavax-b50f4d6fbcca378eb89b059bc8a91477">have made big changes</a>&nbsp;to the system for approval and use of vaccines.They added restrictions to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/novavax-covid19-vaccine-fda-a477c1aa612ceb293e70d904b46611b0">a recent vaccine approval</a>. Last week, the FDA announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5">routine COVID-19 vaccine approvals</a>&nbsp;will be limited to seniors and younger people with underlying medical risks, pending new research for healthy adults and children.Among the confusion created by Tuesday's announcement, experts said, was the implication that the coronavirus isn't dangerous to pregnant women.During the height of the pandemic, deaths of women during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnancy-deaths-cdc-maternal-mortality-fbb4950245b517b4f4d57517b62556d9">soared</a>&nbsp;to their highest level in 50 years. Indeed, pregnancy was on the list of health conditions that would qualify someone for a COVID-19 vaccination under FDA’s new guidance “framework” announced last week.Vaccination has been recommended for pregnant women, in part, because it's a way to pass immunity to newborns who are too young for vaccines and are vulnerable to infections.“To say that they are not at any risk is simply incorrect,” said Dr. Sean O'Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said: “The science has not changed. It is very clear that COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability, and it can cause devastating consequences for families.”___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

🎥COVID vaccine removed from immunization schedule for healthy kids

Hays hit a high of 57 Monday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

Hays received .1 inches of rain as of 9 a.m. today and a total of 1.9 inches from the weekend. Hays has received 2.81 inches in the month of May. The low for Monday night was 51.

On average, Hays receives 3.33 inches of rain in May and 7.92 inches of moisture year to date by the end of May.&nbsp;

The forecast for today is patchy fog then mostly cloudy, with a high of 66 and low of 50. Winds are expected to be around 6 mph.

Showers are likely Wednesday with a high of 65. The chance of showers continues on Thursday.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719872287576.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostHays hit a high of 57 Monday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.Hays received .1 inches of rain as of 9 a.m. today and a total of 1.9 inches from the weekend. Hays has received 2.81 inches in the month of May. The low for Monday night was 51.On average, Hays receives 3.33 inches of rain in May and 7.92 inches of moisture year to date by the end of May.&nbsp;The forecast for today is patchy fog then mostly cloudy, with a high of 66 and low of 50. Winds are expected to be around 6 mph.Showers are likely Wednesday with a high of 65. The chance of showers continues on Thursday.&nbsp;

Hays receives weekend rain; showers forecast to continue Wednesday

Taco Riendo announced on May 23 via Facebook that it will be closing as of June 15.

We will start by saying this: everything we have experienced this year in the restaurant has been amazing. We realized that we have many loyal customers and that they really appreciate us for the people that we are, and obviously for our food. It has been difficult to make this decision, but everything that begins one day must come to an end. For us, our time has come. I, the owner of the restaurant, already got a new job, and we want to start a new way of living. We want to give ourselves this opportunity. We hope that our customers understand, but we will continue being available for carnivals and parties, e.g., weddings, birthdays and much more. Our closing day will be June 15. Thank you for all your support. God bless you forever, friends and family of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tacoriendohaysks?__cft__[0]=AZUcuE5EMc58VzuGHYI9En00DRJRu2tV73RzcTQkE4_XCbkAZx1988KmxSYPAWqDs00zUsA1EifotGZJZblBxNBCFPeyn5t46M1230TyjscW2E8AZC8D7BK4dOSInngTnL6eAeWqEWZITcjD9c0km6Kd5k4FRKK0aLrZ4RLiHL9kI90cPLH7r-k7HIvOSN_l9wc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Taco Riendo LLC, Mexican Food</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748358663112.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostTaco Riendo announced on May 23 via Facebook that it will be closing as of June 15.The restaurant said on Facebook:We will start by saying this: everything we have experienced this year in the restaurant has been amazing. We realized that we have many loyal customers and that they really appreciate us for the people that we are, and obviously for our food. It has been difficult to make this decision, but everything that begins one day must come to an end. For us, our time has come. I, the owner of the restaurant, already got a new job, and we want to start a new way of living. We want to give ourselves this opportunity. We hope that our customers understand, but we will continue being available for carnivals and parties, e.g., weddings, birthdays and much more. Our closing day will be June 15. Thank you for all your support. God bless you forever, friends and family of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tacoriendohaysks?__cft__[0]=AZUcuE5EMc58VzuGHYI9En00DRJRu2tV73RzcTQkE4_XCbkAZx1988KmxSYPAWqDs00zUsA1EifotGZJZblBxNBCFPeyn5t46M1230TyjscW2E8AZC8D7BK4dOSInngTnL6eAeWqEWZITcjD9c0km6Kd5k4FRKK0aLrZ4RLiHL9kI90cPLH7r-k7HIvOSN_l9wc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Taco Riendo LLC, Mexican Food</a>.