By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Russell celebrated the near completion of the Flintwood Senior Housing project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

Russell Mayor Jim Cross began the ceremony with introductions before attendees toured two of the housing units. He said the project was made possible through a partnership between the city, the county and Housing Opportunities Inc.

"It seemed like it was taking forever. Still not totally done because the weather was a culprit for us, but this project is just the beginning," Cross said.

The senior housing development includes 24 duplex units for residents 55 and older, along with a shared community space available for rent. Callie Miller, executive director of Housing Opportunities, said Flintwood is intended to provide safe and affordable housing for future residents.

"All of our units are wheelchair accessible, so they have wider doorways and hallways," Miller said.

The units are at 326 S. Main St.,&nbsp;facing each other with parking spaces between them.

Housing Opportunities is a nonprofit organization that primarily serves seniors. Miller said at the time of the ceremony, nine units remained available.

While a regular unit features a standard duplex layout with a storm shelter in the garage, the Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant units include lower-pile carpet, lowered countertops and cabinets, and lower light switches.

The bathroom also includes an ADA-compliant shower, with the entire space functioning as a storm shelter.

"Housing Opportunites Inc will be the property manager for this. We will handle all the applications, tenants and maintenance," Miller said.

Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and Reid Petty, representing Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, also attended the event.

"Flintwood represents something deeply important, the ability for seniors to remain in the community," Bowers said. "I strongly believe that in rural Kansas, housing stability projects like this one protect not only our lives, but our livelihoods, and it must remain a priority."

Waymaster said the project was also made possible by $1.5 million in infrastructure funding from unused American Rescue Plan Act dollars that were reallocated.

"Housing has been one of the overwhelming concerns when we're talking about economic development, especially in rural parts of the state," Waymaster said.

Reid said Moran extended his congratulations to Russell on the achievement.

The development marks Housing Opportunities' 20th project across seven counties. Cross said he hopes to see more housing developments for all Russell residents, from younger adults to seniors.

You can learn more about Housing Opportunities on its <a href="https://www.housingopportunities.net/">website</a>.

Russell celebrates arrival of Flintwood Senior Housing project

Sarah Miller from Victoria was the winner of the What kind of margarita are you? contest sponsored by Fuzzy's Taco Shop in Hays.

The voting resulted in a close tie between the Tiger-Rita and the Berry/Mango Rita.

Come check out Fuzzy's Taco Shop at 4310 Vine St, Hays, KS 67601!

What kind of margarita are you? contest winner

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

I recently agreed to see if a skunk needed evicted from beneath a friend’s empty home that is for sale. She said she was in the house the other day and it smelled terribly “skunky” inside, making her think one might be living under the porch. 

My glasses have transition lenses that turn really dark in the sunlight, so as I blindly peered into the darkness beneath the porch, I wondered aloud how bad the situation might turn if I suddenly came face-to-face (and hopefully not face-to-butt) with the resident skunk.

I’ve had some interesting adventures involving skunks in traps, the worst of which led to a drive home in my underwear so I didn’t totally contaminate the inside of my truck. 

Looking back, I can call them interesting now, but at the time my descriptions were slightly different. Skunks are fairly laid-back critters, and if caught in an enclosed trap or in a cage trap covered with a tarp, can often be carted away in the trap and unceremoniously dumped somewhere without incident.

Some years ago, as a new trapper I caught one in a large cage trap set for bobcats, possibly a first for both me and the skunk. 

As I slowly approached the cage, the silly thing ran to the back and began an acrobatics display fit for a circus. First up one side, across the back by its front claws then down the other side it went, twirling like a little black and white ballerina. With great effort and a long stick, I got the cage door propped open, then turned and ran, 'cause I knew Pepe’ would be charging the open door for his freedom. At a safe distance I turned to watch, and there it still hung like Spiderman on the inside of the cage.

 My next plan involved rushing the cage, arms flailing and shouting at the top of my lungs, hoping to scare the critter out the open front door. It didn’t take me long to see how this would turn disastrous and the maneuver was called off in mid-charge.

 I had other traps to check, so I opted to leave for awhile, then just stop on my way back through and reset the trap after Pepe’ had vamoosed. A half hour later I found it still in the trap, curled up in a fuzzy little black and white ball in the back corner of the cage. I finally just left and the thing vanished sometime overnight.

Another encounter took place just a short distance from town where I had a large skunk caught in a foothold coyote trap. Despite most people’s thinking, foothold traps usually cause a critter no more than a sore foot for awhile, but this skunk appeared to be stone cold dead. I stood and marveled at its beautiful silky fur as it rippled in the wind, and tried to figure what had caused its demise. It had the trap completely covered so I needed to push it aside to remove it. 

Both the skunk and the trap were going to stink already, and not anxious to drive home again in my stocking feet or underwear, I found a nice sturdy stick to roll it out of the way. I don’t know who was most surprised, the sleeping skunk when I poked it with the stick or me when it suddenly jumped to its feet! This encounter did not end in disaster (for me) but it gave new meaning to the old cliché’ “Things are not always as they seem.”

I’ve never understood how the term “skunked” came to mean basically getting nothing, as in getting “skunked” on a fishing trip. They are amazing little creatures that are very good at doing what God created them to do. Their fur is soft and silky; their essence is prized by trappers and the perfume industry and they’re actually fun to watch as they waddle along. But if you ever get “skunked” by messing with one, I guarantee you’ll get way more than nothing! 

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Skunks I have met

<a href="https://news.ku.edu/">KU News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — Nearly 9,600 undergraduate students at the University of Kansas earned honor roll distinction for the fall 2025 semester.&nbsp;

The honor roll comprises undergraduates who meet requirements in the College of Liberal Arts &amp; Sciences and in the schools of Architecture &amp; Design, Business, Education &amp; Human Sciences, Engineering, Health Professions, Journalism &amp; Mass Communications, Music, Nursing, Pharmacy, Professional Studies and Social Welfare.

Honor roll criteria vary among the university’s academic units. Students must complete a minimum number of credit hours to be considered for the honor roll.

<a target="_blank" href="https://news.ku.edu/university-kansas-fall-2025-honor-roll-kansas-students-0">Students from Kansas are listed online, sorted by county, then city</a>. A list of all KU students on the fall 2025 honor roll is also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://news.ku.edu/news/article/university-of-kansas-announces-fall-2025-honor-roll">available</a>. Please reach out to KU News Service if you need assistance compiling names of students from your coverage area.

KU announces fall 2025 honor roll

Julia Wagner is a Gorham native and 2016 graduate of Victoria High School who earned a bachelor's degree in biology (Summa cum laude) in 2020 and a master's degree in biological sciences in 2022 from Fort Hays State University.

While at FHSU, she competed in track and field in shot put and hammer throw, and received multiple academic honors, including four dean's list recognitions, four all-academic honors award and four Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards.&nbsp;

She graduated in December with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Saint Mary through the Stefani Physical Therapy Program and has accepted a full-time position at Rebound Physical Therapy in Topeka.

Gorham native graduates with physical therapy doctorate

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

A bill currently before the Kansas House would ban required diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) courses at the state’s public colleges and universities. Supporters argue that institutions should offer “more diverse academic opportunities that are not against a student’s political, religious, moral or ethical beliefs.” On its face, this claim appears to champion intellectual openness. In practice, however, it misunderstands the purpose of higher education and deprives students of the rigorous learning environment that universities are designed to provide.

Higher education is not meant to function as an echo chamber for students’ pre-existing worldviews. Its central mission has always been to expand knowledge, foster critical thinking, and encourage engagement with complexity. College is one of the few structured environments where young adults can test their assumptions, encounter unfamiliar perspectives, and engage in reflection supported by research rather than insulated by comfort. Shielding students from ideas that challenge their beliefs undermines this mission entirely.

This understanding of higher education’s mission traces directly to our country’s founding. Several Founders explicitly argued that a democratic society requires citizens capable of reasoning through complex ideas. Thomas Jefferson, for example, maintained that education must cultivate critical thinkers who can meaningfully participate in civic life. He warned that democratic freedom depends on an informed, analytically capable public.

This civic purpose is not only a long-standing academic principle—it aligns with public sentiment in Kansas. According to the 2025 Kansas Speaks survey, 55.8% of Kansans believe the primary goal of higher education is to create an educated citizenry, while only 34.1% say workforce development should be the dominant aim. These findings affirm that Kansans value universities as institutions that cultivate analytical citizens capable of democratic engagement, not as ideological safe havens designed to avoid friction with personal beliefs.

Courses addressing race, gender, culture, and inequality play a crucial role in this intellectual development. They draw on decades of peer-reviewed research in political science, sociology, psychology, history, and education. Despite false reports to the contrary, DEI courses do not require students to adopt a particular political ideology; rather, they teach students how systems, data, and lived experiences intersect to produce real-world outcomes. Students are free to&nbsp;disagree with the interpretations presented, but disagreement is most meaningful when it emerges from informed engagement rather than avoidance.

Kansans also signal broad support for the underlying value of diversity in public life. The 2025 Kansas Speaks data show that 59.8% agree that Kansas government becomes stronger when elected officials are more diverse, compared with only 8.2% who disagree. This belief—that diversity enhances institutional strength—undermines the notion that engaging with difference is inherently divisive or ideological. If diversity strengthens government, it follows that young adults benefit from learning how to navigate, understand, and appreciate diverse perspectives before they enter civic and professional life.

The legislators’ concern—that students should not be confronted with material that challenges their beliefs—reflects a fundamental misconception about what universities are for. Higher education does not exist to affirm; it exists to question. It does not exist to soothe; it exists to stimulate growth. Students will carry their political, religious, and ethical commitments with them throughout their education, but the university’s role is to equip them with the analytical tools to understand those commitments in a broader context.

The Founders made clear that democratic governance requires citizens who are able to confront rather than avoid difficult questions. Jefferson and Adams both argued that education must develop citizens prepared for the moral and political complexities of republican life—not individuals shielded from discomfort. Their belief was that democratic institutions survive only when the populace can wrestle with complexity and evaluate competing claims.

Kansas should be investing in opportunities that broaden students’ horizons, not narrowing them. Intellectual diversity is not achieved by restricting academic content; it is achieved by engaging with it fully, especially when it invites discomfort.

Insight Kansas: Higher education should challenge students, not shield them

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

The Russell FFA Chapter has experienced remarkable growth and success since welcoming advisor Beth Pfeifer in fall 2025. With her leadership and a dedicated officer team, membership has more than tripled—growing from just 16 members in 2024-25 to an impressive 50 members this year.

Leading the chapter are President Stephanie King, Vice President Payton Maske, Secretary Ian Strobel, Treasurer Xzephren Donner, Reporter Aiden Yarmer, Sentinel Xzander Donner, and Student Council Representative Madison Rupp. This team has guided members through numerous district competitions throughout the year.

Recent highlights include the Northwest District Speech Contest in Phillipsburg, where Madison Rupp qualified for state competition with her Senior speech on Regenerative Ranching and Payton Maske’s speech on the growing popularity of meat goats earned her third place in the Freshman Division.

The chapter will celebrate FFA Week with a variety of exciting activities to encourage student body engagement. An alumni and faculty breakfast will thank local supporters, while themed dress-up will give students the chance to win FFA bucks to use towards drinks and snacks. The week's highlight will be the highly anticipated faculty "Kiss the Pig" contest.

Looking ahead, the chapter has an exciting spring planned. Members will travel to Topeka for Farm Bureau Advocacy Day, with a stop at Hildebrand Farms Dairy on the return trip. The chapter will host a Farm Safety Day on Monday, March 30th at the Russell FFA farm. Additionally, they're partnering with a local business to establish a pollinator habitat, with plans to eventually add beehives, demonstrating their commitment to agricultural sustainability and environmental stewardship.

The Russell FFA Chapter's momentum continues to build, proving that dedicated leadership and engaged members can transform a program and inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Eagle Radio Auction live now!

BUNKER HILL — The tradition continues as Smoky Hills PBS will provide live coverage of the 2026 Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships. 

The event is begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27 through the semi-finals, and continues Sat., Feb. 28 at 9 a.m.&nbsp;at Gross Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Fort Hays State University, Hays.

Smoky Hills PBS will once again showcase both boys' and girls' competitions, continuing a long-standing commitment to local sports and its tradition of bringing live broadcast coverage of high school sports to viewers across central and western Kansas.

Every match will be broadcast live, co-hosted by Eagle Radio's Mike Holliday. You can find&nbsp;3-2-1A and Hays High School state wrestling results on <a href="https://hayspost.com/">Hays Post</a>.&nbsp;

A rebroadcast of the championship finals will air on&nbsp;Sunday, March 1&nbsp;at noon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Our production crew and our many volunteers take great pride in delivering live, reliable coverage of this championship every year," said Les Kinderknecht, senior producer/director at Smoky Hills PBS. "Covering the 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships is about celebrating the athletes, the schools, and the communities that support them."

3-2-1A state wrestling championships to air live on Smoky Hills PBS

Get your tickets today and then join us&nbsp;as we kick off the Hays Concert Series with a special Lovegrass Music Festival Fundraiser on Saturday, March 14 at the Hays Community Theatre.

Tickets are on sale now at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.list-manage.com/RcpvPPY0b4A?e=ad2f5727f7&amp;c2id=464001e5eac1dfb0bc25eb093087c2fd">https://www.lovegrassmusicfestival.com/benefit</a>

This special night will feature two incredible bands who are not only entertaining but also special to Lovegrass —&nbsp;80 Proof Alice&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rudy and the Lost Boys&nbsp;— plus a silent auction, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres, all in support of Lovegrass Music Festival.

Your attendance helps us raise funds for our upcoming summer concert series, continue our mission of bringing bluegrass arts to rural Kansas, and support our capstone Lovegrass Music Festival this August.&nbsp;

Doors at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. at the&nbsp; Hays Community Theatre, 121 E. 8th, Hays. Suggested donation is $25.

Come enjoy great music, support the arts, and help keep bluegrass thriving in Kansas. We can’t wait to see you there!

Lovegrass Concert Series fundraiser is March 14 in Hays; tickets now available online 

This month’s Science Café presentation, “AI for Advancing Research Across Diverse Disciplines,” is sponsored by FHSU’s Science and Mathematics Education Institute (SMEI) and will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 at The Venue in Thirsty’s Brew Pub &amp; Grill, 2704 Vine.

Dr. Anas Hourani, FHSU Associate Professor of Computer Science in the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, will provide an overview of how artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques are transforming research across diverse disciplines by enabling knowledge extraction from large-scale data.

Please note, while drinks will be available for purchase, no food will be served&nbsp;during Science Café.

Science Café presentations are free and open to the public. Questions can be directed to Cari Rohleder at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cbrohleder@fhsu.edu">cbrohleder@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or 785-628-4743 or by visiting:

<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.7LNxDHQVpzCjONIZ4OYIqgHG-2B9GDc8KXBqj4fLXNv8t-2BV6Hb4Q5M0d-2FSyU8hjsQrSc6LVzLLvmFtB9JY8b1rMg-3D-3DI8e2_1ix3pnygukYWZfKiCJpm8BsHsayWXlw0ucteiDEo46fRc0p9DVWJmv2prlqkbHR6S2dsrJiXPEopagJAn55fgrGOya21Ubchf288oY8AFP4iYaBJwhylwdd5l9F7UOfOxhHfie4Psr7PgSLQuwklupqp6-2Bhxxpc08UdaGL7sxv8fcxRSUu4Oi8fMbn7NlB3xF2IVmdUY0rkyJEMwMnz-2BKSGQGMdt0NrU5sqrW-2BrUn39-2B7lX0fgeFEdloM2R-2FhDWQ7RuK85zg2QmPOUmYRoNb2lnw4sIKHCvntK4Eon0Yd0-2FVuaLhx23DMcs7mizek9UY5rDXOQsq8phghkThfnMdZa-2B1GZ1UVXL0RrEqAMv7E23OCuZRncxaF9kkUJP2rIIN">www.facebook.com/FHSUScienceCafe</a>

FHSU’s upcoming Science Café set for Monday, Feb. 23

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

VICTORIA - Victoria Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fries, Fridays, February 27, March 13, and March 27 beginning at 5:00 pm at the Victoria VFW Hall.

Victoria K of C Lenten fish fries start Feb. 27

Please save the date for "Vessel of Survival," an MFA thesis exhibition by Jonah Simmons, presented in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree at Fort Hays State University.

The exhibition features sculptural ceramic works that explore themes of endurance, vulnerability, and material transformation, drawing from personal narrative as well as broader social and cultural frameworks.

Exhibition:&nbsp;Vessel of Survival Artist:&nbsp;Jonah Simmons, MFA Candidate (Ceramics) Dates:&nbsp;July 14–17 Reception:&nbsp;Friday, July 17, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Location:&nbsp;Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Fort Hays State University

'Vessel of Survival' ceramics exhibition to be presented in July at FHSU

Annual Hays Lions Club pancake feed fundraiser is March 10

Hays USD 489 kindergarten round-up set for next week

First Call for Help seeks Meals on Wheels drivers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9">Supreme Court on Friday struck down</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-liberation-day-d3458da225c1fdfade97ed494b23e868">biggest and boldest tariffs</a>. But the justices left a $133 billion question unanswered: What's going to happen to the money the government has already collected in import taxes now declared unlawful?

Companies have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/costco-tariffs-supreme-court-trump-illegal-86203801e7a0f690d333c087b9db844f">lining up for refunds</a>. But the way forward could prove chaotic.

When the smoke clears, trade lawyers say, importers are likely to get money back — eventually. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride for awhile," said trade lawyer Joyce Adetutu, a partner at the Vinson &amp; Elkins law firm.

The refund process is likely to be hashed out by a mix of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, the specialized Court of International Trade in New York and other lower courts, according to a note to clients by lawyers at the legal firm Clark Hill.

"The amount of money is substantial," Adetutu said. "The courts are going to have a hard time. Importers are going to have a hard time.’’

Still, she added, “it’s going to be really difficult not to have some sort of refund option’’ given how decisively the Supreme Court repudiated Trump’s tariffs.

In its 6-3 opinion on Friday, the court ruled Trump’s attempt to use an emergency powers law to enact the levies was not valid. Two of the three justices appointed by Trump joined the majority in striking down the first major piece of his second-term agenda to come before them.

At issue are double-digit tariffs Trump imposed on almost every country in the world last year by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court ruled that the law did not give the president authority to tax imports, a power that belongs to Congress.

The U.S. customs agency has already collected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ieepa-tariffs-supreme-court-12487645072a1e1a387db60081509f3c">$133 billion in IEEPA tariffs</a>&nbsp;as of mid-December. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-refunds-81432b8fecf6c3183f3aba84a0c07edb">consumers hoping for a refund</a>&nbsp;are unlikely to be compensated for the higher prices they paid when companies passed along the cost of the tariffs; that's more likely to go to the companies themselves.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh dinged his colleagues for dodging the refund issue: “The Court says nothing today about whether, and if so how, the Government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers.’’

Borrowing a word that Justice Amy Coney Barrett — who sided with the majority — used during the court’s November hearing on the case, Kavanaugh warned that “the refund process is likely to be a ‘mess.’"

“I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years,” Trump told reporters at a press conference Friday, in which he decried the court's decision and said he was “absolutely ashamed” of some justices who ruled against his tariffs. "We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.''

The end of the IEEPA tariffs could help the economy by easing inflationary pressures. The tariff refunds — like other tax refunds — could stimulate spending and growth. But the impacts are likely to be modest.

Most countries still face steep tariffs from the U.S. on specific sectors, and Trump intends to replace the IEEPA levies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-ieepa-a3e43fe91fa8335eac383921bed55f7e">using other options</a>. The refunds that do get issued will take time to roll out — 12 to 18 months, estimates TD Securities.

The U.S. customs agency does have a process for refunding duties when importers can show there’s been some kind of error. The agency might try to build on the existing system to refund Trump’s IEEPA tariffs, said trade lawyer Dave Townsend, a partner with the law firm Dorsey &amp; Whitney.

And there has been a precedent for courts making arrangements to give companies their money back in trade cases. In the 1990s, the courts struck down as unconstitutional a harbor maintenance fee on exports and set up a system for exporters to apply for refunds.

But the courts and U.S. customs have never had to deal with anything like this — thousands of importers and tens of billions of dollars at once.

“Just because the process is difficult to administer doesn’t mean the government has the right to hold on to fees that were collected unlawfully,″ said trade lawyer Alexis Early, partner at the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Ryan Majerus, a partner at King &amp; Spalding and a former U.S. trade official, said it's hard to know how the government will deal with the massive demand for refunds. It might try to streamline the process, perhaps setting up a special website where importers can claim their refunds.

But Adetutu warns that “the government is well-positioned to make this as difficult as possible for importers. I can see a world where they push as much responsibility as possible onto the importer’’ — maybe forcing them to go to court to seek the refunds.

Many companies, including Costco, Revlon and canned seafood and chicken producer Bumble Bee Foods, filed lawsuits claiming refunds even before the Supreme Court ruled, essentially seeking to be at the head of line if the tariffs were struck down.

There are likely to be more legal battles ahead. Manufacturers might, for example, sue for a share of any refunds given to suppliers that jacked up the price of raw materials to cover the tariffs.

“We may see years of ongoing litigation in multiple jurisdictions,’’ Early said.

Consumers, though, are unlikely to enjoy a refund windfall. The higher prices they’ve had to pay would likely be hard to attribute to a specific tariff. Should they pursue refunds anyway? Early wouldn’t advise wasting money on legal fees, but said: “In America, we have the ability to file a lawsuit for anything we want.’’

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat and Trump antagonist, is demanding a refund on behalf of his state's 5.11 million households. In a letter addressed to Trump and released by Pritzker's gubernatorial campaign, the governor said the tariffs had cost each Illinois household $1,700 — or $8.7 billion. Pritzker said failure to pay will elicit "further action.''

Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine submitted a payment request to the federal government for $2.1 billion to recoup the costs of the tariffs, his office announced Friday.

“As Nevada’s chief investment officer, I have a responsibility to try to recoup every single dollar that the Trump Administration takes from Nevada families," Conine said in a statement.

What about refunds after Supreme Court tariffs decision 

KANSAS CITY—Kansas City , Missouri police know some heroes have four legs.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, police responded to a call for a toddler found wandering barefoot on the street, according to a social media report from KCMO Police.. While trying to figure out the toddler’s identity and family, a dog kept nudging at the officers.

To officers, the dog was trying to tell them something. When the dog walked away, the officers followed their instincts and the dog.

The dog led officers to a house. That house was the toddler’s home.

The toddler was reunited with family, though there is an investigation as to what happened.

🎥Dog helps Kansas City police find wandering toddler's home 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sam-mednick">SAM MEDNICK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/samy-magdy">SAMY MAGDY</a>

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Arab and Muslim nations on Saturday sharply condemned comments by the U.S. ambassador to Israel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-huckabee">Mike Huckabee</a>, who said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East.

Huckabee made the comments in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include essentially the entire Middle East, and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land.

Huckabee responded: “It would be fine if they took it all.” Huckabee added, however, that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds.

His comments sparked immediate backlash from neighboring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, which in separate statements called them extremist, provocative and not in line with the U.S. position.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry described Huckabee’s comments as “extremist rhetoric” and “unacceptable,” and called for the State Department to clarify its position on them.

Egypt’s foreign ministry called his comments a “blatant violation” of international law, adding that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.”

“Statements of this nature — extremist and lacking any sound basis — serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions,” the League of Arab States said.

There was no immediate comment from Israel or the United States.

Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognized borders. Its frontiers with Arab neighbors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-borders-history-syria-gaza-war-golan-5fdf8fdbe2ec2cee7b9cf7f78fbb1c8c">have shifted</a>&nbsp;as a result of wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements.

During the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b4f60251019e4716956fdbdaac78593c">six-day 1967 Mideast war</a>, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-egypt-peace-treaty-hamas-war-rafah-46df917a975ed4c4f88d5de01a8508e0">peace deal with Egypt</a>&nbsp;following the 1973 Mideast war. It also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-settlements-disengagement-20th-anniversary-5db86a29bbbe2f41e5bb7059098fd450">unilaterally withdrew from Gaza</a>&nbsp;in 2005.

Israel has attempted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-bank-israel-settlement-palestinians-cabinet-328429d96099bc33275035b85244797a">deepen control</a>&nbsp;of the occupied West Bank in recent months. It has greatly expanded construction in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-west-bank-palestinians-annexation-settlements-b17255e2fbb44a79a4871fafea4dabe8">Jewish settlements</a>, legalized outposts and made significant bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-gaza-annex-west-bank-284f2db5b5e549cfecb6b24b26d98460">will not allow Israel</a>&nbsp;to annex the West Bank and has offered strong assurances that he’d block any move to do so.

Palestinians have for decades called for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem its capital, a claim backed by much of the international community.

Huckabee has long opposed the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people. In an interview last year, he said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-ambassador-congress-mike-huckabee-trump-gaza-a448937b9550f0f89c6d96d330286f6f">does not believe</a>&nbsp;in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as “Palestinians.”

In the latest interview, Carlson pressed Huckabee about his interpretation of Bible verses from the book of Genesis, where he said God promised Abraham and his descendants land from the Nile to the Euphrates.

“That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” Carlson said.

Huckabee replied: “Not sure we’d go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land.”

Israel has encroached on more land since the start of its war with Hamas in Gaza.

Under the current ceasefire, Israel withdrew its troops to a buffer zone but still controls more than half the territory. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw further, though the ceasefire deal doesn’t give a timeline.

After Syrian President Bashar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-7f65823bbf0a7bd331109e8dff419430">Assad was ousted</a>&nbsp;at the end of 2024, Israel’s military seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Israel said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border.

And Israel still occupies five hilltop posts on Lebanese territory following its brief war with Hezbollah in 2024.

US ambassador causes uproar over statement on Israel 

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/kevinhardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>

Outrage erupted last month when Oklahoma City residents learned of plans to convert a vacant warehouse into an immigration processing facility.

Making&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/2026/01/27/oklahomans-denounce-potential-ice-processing-center-at-okc-city-council-meeting/" target="_blank">matters worse</a>&nbsp;was the secrecy of the federal government: City leaders received no communication from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aside from a mandated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okc.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/city-manager/ltr-from-dhs-to-okc-about-okc-detention-center.pdf" target="_blank">disclosure</a>&nbsp;related to historic preservation.

Planning a major development without city input is antithetical to the in-depth, sometimes arcane permitting, planning and zoning process in Oklahoma City. Mayor David Holt, a former Republican state senator, said those land use decisions are among the most crucial of any municipal government.

“For any entity to be able to open a detention center in our communities, potentially next to neighborhoods or schools, regardless of your views on immigration policy or enforcement, is very challenging, because that’s a very high-impact use, and that’s the kind of thing that we would expect to talk about,” he told Stateline.

Communities across the country are facing similar prospects as ICE undertakes a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/21/nx-s1-5674887/ice-budget-funding-congress-trump" target="_blank">massive expansion</a>&nbsp;fueled in large part by the record $45 billion approved for increased immigration detention by Congress last summer.

During President Donald Trump’s second term, ICE is holding a record number of detainees —&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2026/02/05/immigration-detention-passed-70000-in-january/" target="_blank">more than 70,000</a>&nbsp;as of January — across its own facilities as well as in contracted local jails and private prisons. ICE<a href="https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt971/files/inline-documents/merrimack-detention-reengineering-initiative.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;documents</a>&nbsp;from last week show plans for acquiring and renovating 16 processing sites that hold up to 1,500 people each and eight detention centers that hold up to 10,000 each, for a total capacity of 92,600 beds. The agency also has plans for some 150 new leases and office expansions across the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/ice-expansion-across-us-at-heres-where-its-going-next/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us" target="_blank">Wired reported</a>.

But ICE’s plans to convert industrial buildings — often warehouses — into new detention facilities have recently faced fierce opposition over humanitarian and economic concerns. From Utah to Texas to Georgia, local governments have sought to block these massive facilities. But with limited legal authority, city and state officials have turned to the court of public opinion to deter private developers and the federal government.

Holt, who is the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a nonpartisan organization representing the more than 1,400 leaders of cities with populations of 30,000 or more, said cities have little legal recourse over the ICE facilities.

“We all have a clear, unified position that really crosses party lines,” he said, “and then we also have a clear understanding of how limited our options are.”

Local leaders often cite the U.S. Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artVI-C2-1/ALDE_00013395/" target="_blank">supremacy clause</a>, which says federal laws supersede conflicting state laws. That leaves cities with limited influence over projects that could take industrial space off tax rolls, cause new strains on city services and raise serious humanitarian concerns given the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, including the high-profile killings of two Americans in Minnesota.

Facing bipartisan opposition, the out-of-state owner of the Oklahoma City warehouse ultimately decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/briefs/proposed-oklahoma-city-ice-facility-is-off-the-table/" target="_blank">end talks</a>&nbsp;of selling or leasing its warehouse to the federal government.

Similar public pressure has proved effective in reversing plans in several other cities: In late January, a Canadian firm said it would not proceed with a planned sale of a Virginia warehouse after it faced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/us/politics/ice-warehouse-detention-canada.html" target="_blank">calls for a boycott</a>&nbsp;from Canadian politicians and businesses. In Mississippi, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker announced the federal government would&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenatorWicker/status/2019820750900002820" target="_blank">“look elsewhere”</a>&nbsp;after he spoke with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE. Wicker, a Republican who said he supports immigration enforcement, echoed local&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2026/2/wicker-proposed-ice-facility-threatens-byhalia-mississippi-economy-and-infrastructure" target="_blank">economic concerns</a>&nbsp;of a project planned in Byhalia.

Some officials have welcomed the new facilities: Missouri Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Alford has&nbsp;<a href="https://alford.house.gov/uploadedfiles/1.16.2026_ice_facility_letter.pdf" target="_blank">lobbied</a>&nbsp;to land a detention and processing center in his district. And last week, a Maryland county approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbaltv.com/article/washington-county-dhs-ice-resolution-hagerstown-detention-center/70300009" target="_blank">resolution</a>&nbsp;expressing its “full support” for ICE, which is considering purchasing a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washco-md.net/news/washington-county-statement-on-u-s-department-of-homeland-security-notice-concerning-proposed-ice-facility/" target="_blank">warehouse</a>&nbsp;there, despite local protests. But most communities have fought them.

Neither DHS nor ICE responded to Stateline’s questions.

Holt said the discussion resembles other local development concerns where NIMBY — short for Not in My Backyard — is a common description of opponents.

“There are plenty of people who are very law-and-order and supporters of law enforcement who don’t want a jail next to their house,” he said. “That’s why it’s got such broad opposition: NIMBYism is the most powerful force sometimes in American politics and nobody wants a detention center next to their home, their business or their school.”

After learning that ICE planned to take over a vacant warehouse within its city limits, the Kansas City Council in January swiftly approved a five-year ban on nonmunicipal detention facilities.

Kansas City Council member Andrea Bough, who is also a private development attorney, said the move was both political and legal: The city wanted to send a clear signal opposing ICE facilities, but it also wants to exert its local authority over planning and zoning.

She acknowledged the legal hurdle posed by the supremacy clause, but said there was enough ambiguity over the city’s ability to regulate land use that it may take the issue to the courts.

“Some would say local building codes and zoning regulations do not apply to the federal government,” she said. “That’s something I think we would probably in this situation be willing to fight until we had clear guidance on that.”

Following weeks of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/david-hudnall/article314486671.html" target="_blank">pressure</a>, the Kansas City firm that owns the 920,000-square-foot warehouse announced Thursday it was no longer “actively engaged with the U.S. Government or any other prospective purchaser,” the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article314676617.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Jackson County, which includes portions of Kansas City and the potential detention facility, is considering a similar ban. And across the state line, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is considering a similar&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/wyandotte-county/article314647328.html" target="_blank">two-year moratorium</a>.

But there are clear limitations on cities’ ability to stop federal projects, said Nestor Davidson, a professor who teaches land use and local government law at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

“The federal government can assert immunity from certain state and local laws, including zoning, but it’s complicated, and there are nuances,” he said.

Still, Davidson said some case law has shown cities may have stronger legal footing for zoning rules that are broad and not directly targeted at specific federal government projects.

“I expect to see litigation,” he said. “I think you’re going to see these conversations play out as land use fights often do: both in a legal venue and in a political venue.”

Kansas City’s moratorium has sparked interest among local activists who have pressured elected officials in other cities across the country to act. But many local officials are adamant that federal law ties their hands.

In a legal opinion provided to the Orlando City Council in Florida, City Attorney Mayanne Downs rejected “suggestions of actions we can supposedly take,” including moratoriums or using zoning ordinances to block ICE detention centers.

“However well motivated these suggestions are, the law is very clear: ICE, as an agency of our federal government, ICE is immune from any local regulation that interferes in any way with its federal mandate,” Downs wrote to the mayor and city commissioners.

ICE is reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/02/06/u-s-reps-maxwell-frost-darren-soto-tell-kristi-noem-not-to-open-ice-facility-in-central-florida/" target="_blank">considering</a>&nbsp;a new $100 million processing center in southeast Orlando.

The county commission in Orange County, which includes Orlando, discussed the issue last week after receiving similar legal advice. County Commissioner Nicole Wilson said the board is even more constrained because of a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/180" target="_blank">Florida law&nbsp;</a>limiting certain local governments’ ability to regulate development through 2027.

After being advised against passing a moratorium, the board agreed with Wilson’s follow-up suggestion to draft a resolution expressing its opposition. That will be considered at a future meeting.

“It doesn’t sound like it has the teeth that a moratorium would have, but it essentially gives an awareness that we’ve established a position in opposition to this type of facility in Orange County,” Wilson told Stateline.

An attorney by trade, Wilson said the case law regarding federal projects largely centers on disputes about post offices, which she said is not an appropriate comparison to the massive detention centers currently contemplated.

“A post office has the same water consumption and sewage as probably a lot of other uses,” she said. “If you take a warehouse that was designed for 25,000 widgets and put 15,000 humans in it, you’ve got a very different set of local needs and services that are being used and being taxed and being burdened.”

Communities have often opposed various other federal projects, such as federal courthouses. But the federal government generally takes the time to listen to local concerns and communicate building plans with communities, said Jason Klumb, a former regional administrator with the U.S. General Services Administration, which manages the federal government’s real estate.

“Generally, GSA has had kind of a good neighbor approach, understanding that they have requirements for federal facilities, and some of those facilities may not always be popular,” said Klumb, an Obama appointee.

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