By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

For 53 years, Lucy Boucher has opened her home to children in Hays, preparing them for the world while forming lasting ties with families.

"They're just so charming. Look at this little guy here. He doesn't want to leave my side. I've had him ever since he was an infant," Boucher said regarding one of her day care children who was present for the interview.

Boucher started her day care while raising her own children before gradually expanding to care for more, typically from infancy through school age.

"I started out with two and then from there I went up to 10 kids, counting my own kids," she said.

Over the years, she has cared for hundreds of children and built lasting relationships that led to invitations to graduations and weddings. Her own children grew up helping with the day care after school.

Boucher said she remains motivated because she enjoys making children smile and getting them ready for school, with no plans to step away from this role.

"I just take it one day at a time," she said.

Boucher said since she began, children’s behavior and parents’ involvement have changed, with parents becoming less engaged over time, likely because they are in a hurry, she said.

Boucher said children do not listen as well as they once did, but she still has fun with them, often caring for more of them during the summer.

"We play music all the time, I take them outside, and I teach them their letters, numbers and colors. All the stuff they need to know before they go to school," she said.

Boucher voiced concern that large day care centers are pushing out independent providers in the area. She advised those considering the line of work to stay committed, saying many quit too quickly due to the workload.

"They can't handle it. It's a lot because you have to prepare meals and other things every day. Some people don't like to do that," she said.

Boucher was nominated as the August Child Care Champion by Dana Stanton, child care program specialist with the Northwest Kansas Economic Incentive Center.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0f64ddb1-ba92-40fa-a22f-94a557aaf629">Nominate a Child Care Champion here.</a>

Child Care Champion shapes children's lives for more than 50 years

Schoenchen Community Center&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-7 p.m.

Sauerkraut Soup, Green Bean Dumpling Soup Noodles, Ham &amp; Beans, German Sausage Homemade Bread Pies, Kuchens &amp; Cakes Tea or Coffee

Sponsored by the St. Anthony Altar Society&nbsp;

Fundraiser for the St Anthony Park and Playground

50/50 RAFFLE (Need not be present to win)

German Feast fundraiser for St. Anthony Park, playground in Schoenchen

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The Hays City Commission will vote on financing for several new development projects during its meeting on Thursday. 

Kim Rupp, finance director, will present ordinances and resolutions in the process of issuing general obligation bonds and temporary notes for the projects, including:&nbsp;

• Automated water meter infrastructure — $3.6 million • Police department and municipal court facility — $6.85 million • The Grove Reinvestment Housing Incentive District — $3.675 million • The Grove economic development grant — $825,000 • Construction of infrastructure at Interstate 70, Exit 161 — $4 million

"This authorizes the bonds to be issued to pay costs of improvements and allows the city to levy for debt service, if necessary," Rupp said.

In a separate discussion, Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, will update the commission on construction at The Grove, which is south of HaysMed on Canterbury Drive, and the associated&nbsp;Reinvestment Housing Incentive District.&nbsp;

Jesse Rohr, public works director, will present a rezoning request for the proposed Lincoln School apartment complex, 1906 Ash, from a public and institutional district to a residential multi-family district.

The owner of the property, Hays developer Michael Graham, is proposing remodeling the former elementary school into apartments and also constructing a residential multi-family housing development on the surrounding property.

A low bid award will be recommended for the Hays Regional Airport terminal passenger parking lot expansion. The airport has been seeing record enplanements, and the parking lot needs to be enlarged for a second time since 2018.

Estimates are for another record high of 17,000 passenger boardings in 2025.

Morgan Brothers Construction of La Crosse was the low bidder at $248,019.&nbsp;

The complete Aug. 28 agenda is available <a href="https://haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08282025-1566">here</a>. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

Hays City Commission to vote on financing plans for new projects

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/45c326ac-a856-480a-b491-0312e5d43c5c">Find our obituary posting policy by clicking here.</a>

Recent obituaries and service times

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, the tenth leading cause of death in Kansas, and the second leading cause of death of Kansans ages 10-44, yet suicide can be prevented. 

Volunteers from Hays and the surrounding area are joining the thousands of people who are gathering this season in towns across the United States to promote suicide prevention and change the conversation around mental health. 

The annual Hays area Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the Greater Kansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at North Frontier Park in Hays.

This gathering will support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s education, research and support for survivors of suicide loss. In addition to raising awareness and funds to fight suicide, the walks give those who attend a chance to connect with others and know they are not alone, whether they walk in memory or in support of a loved one or in honor of their own mental health journey. 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a leader in the fight against suicide — we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

“Suicide touches one in five families in the United States on average, and the data shows that suicide rates are higher in rural areas," said Leigha Dobson, Hays walk chairwoman and AFSP Greater Kansas board member.

 "We hope that by connecting with one another, we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss. Our goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Together, we can encourage those who struggle to seek help and remember they’re not alone.

“We had more than 70 people walk with us last year, and this year, we’re hoping twice that will walk with us towards a future without suicide," Dobson also said.

The Hays area Out of the Darkness Community Walk is just one of the hundreds of events being held nationwide this year. To join this event or make a donation, visit <a href="https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/Hays">afsp.org/hays</a>.

Volunteers in Hays to walk to fight suicide during National Suicide Prevention Month 

THOMAS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 10p.m. Tuesday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 GMC Sierra driven by&nbsp;Jesse Jacoby Coon, 21, Oakley, was eastbound on U.S. 24. approximately two miles East of Kansas 25 Highway. The pickup traveled off the road, entered the north ditch, continued northeast through the ditch and into a pasture where it came to rest against a fence.

EMS transported Coon and a passenger, 10-month-old Lucas Leo Craig Coon to&nbsp;Citizens Medical Center. The driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kan. man, baby hospitalized after pickup crash

The Heartland Community Foundation granted a record $691,954.80 to local nonprofits and community organizations during its fiscal year from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. This is the largest annual distribution in the foundation’s history — nearly $265,000 more than last year’s $426,339.10.&nbsp;

In total, the Heartland Community Foundation awarded 207 grants to 115 organizations, with dollars reaching communities across Ellis County ($320,872.43), Rooks County ($230,204.04), Trego County ($102,752.69), and other counties ($38,125.61). Since 2014, HCF has granted nearly $5.3 million throughout the area.

At the core of Heartland’s mission is the belief that strong nonprofits create strong communities. The community foundation serves as a bridge — connecting local generosity with local needs — and ensures charitable dollars raised are granted back into the region to strengthen nonprofit organizations and build long-term capacity. 

“Seeing nearly $700,000 granted back into our communities this year fills me with both pride and gratitude,” said Sarah Meitner, executive director of Heartland Community Foundation. “These dollars aren’t just numbers on a page — they represent stronger nonprofits, expanded services, and the caring spirit of our donors.”

Grants from Heartland come in many forms: competitive grant cycles, special initiatives like the community giving day — Give Fest, or distributions made directly by organizations from their endowed funds. In every case, the outcome is the same — stronger nonprofits and greater community impact. Granting is also part of Heartland’s larger role as the local expert on charitable giving. By pooling resources and investing gifts for long-term growth, the community foundation amplifies individual&nbsp;giving through the power of collective generosity. 

Donors who give through Heartland gain more than a tax deduction — they receive personal service, confidence that their gifts are stewarded wisely, and assurance that their dollars will have the greatest impact possible. This model means that a single gift becomes part of a larger, permanent endowment that continues giving year after year. As those funds grow, so does the foundation’s ability to support local nonprofits — creating a cycle of generosity that benefits the entire region. 

Recent grants have supported efforts such as expanding food pantries, enhancing library spaces, improving access to healthcare, and strengthening community resources including the senior center, mental health services, economic development initiatives, school needs, playground improvements, and more. These investments not only meet today’s needs but also help build capacity for the future. &nbsp;

Much of this year’s record growth is attributed to Give Fest 2024, a community-wide giving event that mobilized donors across the region.&nbsp;HCF granted more than $160,000 in match dollars during that initiative to local agencies.

&nbsp;Heartland is already preparing for Give Fest 2025, which will be held all day on October 10, with in-person giving events in Hays, Stockton, and WaKeeney. Local nonprofits and community organizations are invited to participate in Give Fest 2025 and showcase their programs to donors across the region and earn some match dollars. Organizations must have a fund at Heartland in order to participate; the deadline to register is September 6, 2025. 

“This milestone shows what’s possible when generosity is pooled and focused on the common good,” Meitner added. “Our goal is not just to meet immediate needs, but to create a foundation of support that will serve these communities for generations.” 

Heartland Community Foundation grants $692K to communities; record-setting year

PLAINVILLE — Iron Insurance Partners, an independent insurance brokerage with offices across Central and Western Kansas, is proud to announce its merger with Plainville Insurance Agency.

This partnership strengthens the agency’s commitment to providing clients with trusted local service and expanded access to coverage options.

Plainville Insurance Agency, founded in 1993 by Paul Gross, has a long history of serving the Plainville community with care and reliability. By joining Iron Insurance Partners, their clients will continue working with the same local team while also benefiting from broader carrier access, advanced risk management services, and specialized expertise across industries including manufacturing, construction, healthcare, municipalities, and agriculture.

“This merger allows us to preserve the relationships and community trust built over decades at Plainville Insurance Agency, while enhancing the resource and coverage options available to clients” said Shawn Myers, CEO, Iron Insurance Partners.

Together, the agencies will offer a full range of personal, commercial, farm, crop, and risk management solutions tailored to the needs of families, businesses, and communities across Kansas.

For more information about Iron Insurance Partners and its services, please visit <a href="https://ironrisk.com/">www.ironrisk.com</a>.

 Iron Insurance Partners announces merger with Plainville Insurance Agency.

<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

Join our new Hays Post Newsletter and receive the top news stories from your community every morning in your email inbox plus one-click access to the latest obituaries.&nbsp;

Sign up for free Hays Post Newsletter

Hays Police Department arrest log: Aug. 17-23, 2025

&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

City of Hays offices will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Hays city offices closed Monday for Labor Day holiday

Girl Scout sign-up event set for Sept. 4 in Hays

Go Truck Go, a free family event, will be on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Early Childhood Connections, 2501 E. 13th across from Hays High School.

Children will get to experience vehicles they see daily. Go Truck Go features an ambulance, fire truck, police car, implements and construction vehicles.

Free food and drinks and free informational booths from area resources.

Go Truck Go to be Sept. 11 at Early Childhood Connections

Special edition of FHSU Science Cafe features dark matter, dark energy

 Eagle Media Center in Hays will be hosting free marketing workshops on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. &nbsp;For more information or to schedule a time to attend, please contact Scarlett at 785-301-2211

Free marketing workshops hosted by Eagle Media on Aug. 27

Phillips County Rod &amp; Custom club is hosting their 3rd annual All Wheels Car Show on Saturday, September 20.&nbsp;

The show is open to muscle cars, hot rods, pickup trucks, semi trucks, rat rods, motorcycles, golf carts, UTVs and more.&nbsp;First 100 car show entries will receive a free goody bag.

There will be food trucks onsite along with several great local restaurants that will be open.

Approximately 30 awards will be presented and given out along with door prizes all day.

There will be a 50/50 raffle drawing and an engine blow contest.

Registration is from 8:00 a.m. – 10 a.m. Car show is from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. with awards at 3 p.m.

For additional information and the latest information, please visit and be sure to like and follow us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/phillipscountyrodandcustomclub/">https://www.facebook.com/phillipscountyrodandcustomclub/</a> or call 785-543-9000 or 785-543-7689.

All Wheels Car Show in Phillipsburg Sept. 20

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 shots Wednesday but limited their use for many Americans — and removed one of the two vaccines available for young children.

The new shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are approved for all seniors. But the Food and Drug Administration narrowed their use for younger adults and children to those with at least one high-risk health condition, such as asthma or obesity. That presents new barriers to access for millions of Americans who would have to prove their risk — and millions more who may want to get vaccinated and suddenly no longer qualify.

Additionally, Pfizer’s vaccine will no longer be available for any child under 5, because the FDA said it was revoking the shot’s emergency authorization for that age group.

Parents will still be able to seek out shots from rival drugmaker Moderna, the other maker of mRNA vaccines, which has full FDA approval for children as young as 6 months. But the company’s Spikevax vaccine is only approved for children with at least one serious health problem.

The revamped vaccines target a newer version of the continuously evolving virus and are set to begin shipping immediately. But it could be days or weeks before many Americans know if they’ll be able to get one, with access dependent on decisions by federal health advisers, private health insurers, pharmacies and state authorities.

The new restrictions — previewed by FDA officials in May — are a break from the previous U.S. policy, which recommended an annual COVID-19 shot for all Americans 6 months and up.

The approach reflects heightened skepticism about the ongoing risks of COVID-19 and the need for yearly booster shots from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who were both outspoken critics of wide-scale vaccinations.

“The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense. This framework delivers all three,” Kennedy wrote on social media.

Novavax's shot is only open to people 12 or older, not younger children – and under the same risk-based restrictions as are now in place for the Moderna and Pfizer options. It's the nation's only traditional, protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Coverage questions and access issues are unresolved

Some medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have objected to the new limits, saying they may block vaccine access for families who want to protect their children. Last week, the group offered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-aap-cdc-33896013e1d7b3ad06dbd0d99d300bff">its own recommendations</a>&nbsp;for kids, saying annual shots are strongly recommended for children ages 6 months to 2 years and advised for older children.

That differs from the latest guidance under Kennedy, which doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age, but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.

In his post Wednesday, Kennedy said the shots will be "available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors.”

But Americans are likely to confront a number of logistical hurdles.

Insurers typically base their vaccine coverage decisions on the recommendations of a panel of advisers to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but some say they will also look to medical professional groups, including the American Medical Association.

Earlier this year, Kennedy dissolved the CDC panel and replaced its members with a number of doctors and researchers who have repeatedly questioned the safety of commonly used vaccines and ingredients. The panel is expected to meet in September, but no specific date has been set and no agenda released.

Depending on the panel’s advice, Americans under age 65 could be expected to provide documentation of a serious medical condition before they can get a shot. Complicating the rollout is the fact that pharmacists — who administer most COVID-19 shots — typically aren’t expected to collect that kind of information. And laws governing their ability to administer routine vaccinations vary by state, where pharmacists are licensed.

Many states limit vaccinations by pharmacists to those recommended by the CDC panel.

Access could also be complicated for healthy adults and children who are interested in getting a shot for extra protection.

If the latest vaccines aren’t covered by their insurance, those patients could be required to pay $150 or more out of pocket if they want one. If they aren't considered considered high-risk, they also might also have to find a doctor or other health professional willing to give the shot “off label."

Shots target a recently dominant coronavirus version

The updated shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax target a coronavirus subtype named LP. 8.1, a version of the virus that is closely related to some newly emerging cousins. Pfizer and Moderna said they expect their shots to be available within days. Novavax's vaccine is expected in the early fall, a spokesman said.

All three shots were initially made available under the FDA’s emergency use authorization, an expedited process to quickly review vaccines and other countermeasures during the pandemic. Pfizer had not yet sought full approval for its doses designed for children under 5, which is the reason that Moderna will be the only provider of shots for the youngest children this year.

In addition to revoking emergency use of Pfizer’s vaccine in young children, Kennedy said Wednesday the government also pulled remaining authorizations for all other COVID-19 vaccines and another therapy from the pandemic years, convalescent plasma, which was used to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients before the first antiviral drugs became available.

COVID-19 vaccines do a good job preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death, which remain a bigger risk for seniors and people with underlying health factors, including heart disease, lung disease and cancer.

Preliminary data from the CDC estimates 47,500 Americans died from COVID-related causes last year. In at least two-thirds of those cases, COVID-19 was listed as the underlying cause of death. For the rest, COVID-19 was a contributing factor.

AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this story.

FDA approves updated COVID-19 shots but limits access for some

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a small plane crash that occurred just north of the Midwest National Air Center near Mosby, according to a statement from the&nbsp;The Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's Office.

Just before noon Wednesday, dispatchers received a call about heavy smoke coming from a field near NE 140th Street and Rhodus Road. Callers believed it may have been from a plane crash. When deputies arrived, they located a Cessna C340 fully engulfed in flames in a soybean field. There were at least two occupants inside, and they have been confirmed deceased.

The plane appeared to have been trying to land at the Midwest National Air Center. Preliminary information indicates it may have come from an airport outside of the St. Louis metro area. Investigators are working to identify the occupants of the plane.

Air traffic was closed until 5 p.m. Wednesday while the investigation is ongoing. Sheriff's Office investigators have notified the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, which will take over the investigation into what caused the crash.

Sheriff: 2 dead after small plane crash near Kansas City

Modest gains on Wall Street lifted the stock market to an all-time high Wednesday ahead of a highly anticipated earnings update from computer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42657a49554bf35fb12fdf48c02287d2">chip giant Nvidia</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.2%, good enough to nudge the benchmark index past the record high it set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% and the Nasdaq composite closed 0.2% higher.

Technology companies led the way higher, outweighing declines in communication services and other sectors.

Investors see Nvidia’s quarterly report, which was due after the bell, as a barometer for the strength of the boom in artificial intelligence because the company makes most of the chips that power the technology. Its heavy weighting also gives Nvidia outsized influence as a bellwether for the broader market. Its shares slipped 0.1%.

“Saying this is the most important stock in the world is an understatement,” said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. “The stock’s average move after an earnings release is plus or minus 7.4%, so just an average move will make an impact on the entire market.”

Several big software companies -- CrowdStrike Holdings, ServiceNow, Palo Alto Networks, Intuit and Salesforce -- rose ahead of the Nvidia results.

The stocks have been mostly in the red so far this quarter amid worries that AI is going to make software creation much easier at the expense of big software companies’ competitive edge.

Cracker Barrel shares climbed 8% after the restaurant company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8b496da282deef3d8d0618c3f9f4db46">scrapped plans to change its logo</a>&nbsp;following an uproar on social media that even drew a comment from President Donald Trump.

Shares in several companies rose after they reported quarterly results that topped analysts' forecasts. Department store chain Kohl’s vaulted 24% and database platform company MongoDB surged 38%. Both companies also raised their full-year guidance.

J.M. Smucker slid 4.4% after the jelly and jam maker's latest quarterly snapshot fell short of analysts’ estimates.

Among other stocks that lost ground: doughnut shop chain Krispy Kreme, which fell 3.5%, and Paramount Skydance, which dropped 6.5% for the biggest decline among S&amp;P 500 companies.

Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.24% from 4.26% late Tuesday.

Crude oil prices rose. European markets finished mostly lower and Asian markets closed mixed overnight.

Trading on Wall Street is off to an uneven start this week following big gains last week on hopes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">interest rate cuts from the Fed</a>.

Markets have been subdued after Trump escalated his fight with the central bank by trying to fire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-reserve-rates-354ddf9b0b2a78eabbe7ebd361bf2e05">Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook</a>. Cook's lawyer said she'll sue Trump’s administration to try to stop him.

Trump has been feuding with the central bank over its cautious interest rate policy. The Fed has held rates steady since late 2024 over worries that Trump's unpredictable tariff policies will reignite inflation. Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling. Still, he is only one of 12 votes that decides interest rate policy.

For now, the situation isn't expected to have a major impact on the Fed's near-term policy.

The two-year Treasury yield, which closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, dropped to 3.62% from 3.68%.

Traders are still betting the Fed will trim its benchmark interest rate at its next meeting in September. Traders see an 90.3% chance that the central bank will cut the rate by a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group.

“It’s kind of a foregone conclusion from the market that we’re going to get the September interest rate cut,” said Jed Ellerbroek, portfolio manager at Argent Capital Management. “The bigger question is probably 'What’s after that?' ”

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate in late 2024 after spending the last several years fighting rising inflation by raising rates. It managed to mostly tame inflation and avoided having those higher rates stall economic growth, thanks largely to strong consumer spending and a resilient job market.

The Fed hit the pause button heading into 2025 over concerns that higher tariffs imposed by Trump could reignite inflation. Lower interest rates make borrowing easier, helping to spur more investment and spending, but that could also potentially fuel inflation. However, concerns are deepening over the jobs market.

Economic data is relatively light this week until Friday, which will bring another update on inflation: the U.S. personal consumption expenditures index. Economists expect it to show that inflation remained at about 2.9% in July, compared with a year ago. Businesses have been warning investors and consumers about higher costs and prices because of tariffs.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-tariff-exports-trade-tension-48ac6d5e172df04832c75d2a57d0a860">Steep tariffs placed by the Trump administration on India</a>&nbsp;over Russian oil purchases took effect Wednesday, bringing the combined tariffs imposed on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-modi-trump-tariffs-relationship-575af0f270713fa6b09f4ed4e2848f21">the U.S. ally</a>&nbsp;to 50%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 15.46 points to 6,481.40. The Dow added 147.16 points to 45,565.23, and the Nasdaq climbed 45.87 points to 21,590.14.

Wall Street edges higher and pushes S&P 500 to another record

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooter opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis and struck children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 people in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-school-shooting-286c32580b1bd05cef08b8e13509e374">act of violence</a>&nbsp;the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and shot dozens of rounds through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School just before 8:30 a.m. Police believe the shooter then killed himself.

The children who died were 8 and 10, and 14 other kids were among the wounded, the chief said. Dozens of youngsters were inside.

Michael Simpson said his 10-year-old grandson, Weston Halsne, was nicked by a bullet as he sat near the church windows. His voice shaking as he left the area around the school, Simpson said the violence during Mass on the third day of school left him wondering whether God was watching over.

“I don’t know where He is,” Simpson said.

The police chief said the shooter was in his early 20s, did not have an extensive known criminal history and is believed to have acted alone, but did not release the name or information on possible connections to the school. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press authorities have identified the shooter as Robin Westman. That official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The police chief said a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors, and that authorities found a smoke bomb but no explosives at the scene.

“The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” O'Hara said at a news conference as church bells rang out. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey lamented that the violence had forever changed the students' families and the city along with them.

“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” Frey said. “These kids were literally praying."

Westman’s uncle, former Kentucky state lawmaker Bob Heleringer, said he did not know the accused shooter well and was confounded by the violence: "It's an unspeakable tragedy.”

“We’re praying for my sister and her other children and also, obviously, for these poor, poor children,” Heleringer said by phone. He said he had last seen Westman at a family wedding three or four years ago.

Bill Bienemann, who lives a couple of blocks away and has long attended Mass at Annunciation Church, said he heard as many as 50 shots over as long as four minutes.

“I was shocked. I said, ‘There’s no way that could be gunfire,’” he said. “There was so much of it. It was sporadic.”

Bienemann’s daughter, Alexandra, said she was an alumna of the kindergarten-to-eighth-grade school, and it made her sick to her stomach to think she might know some of those who were injured.

“It doesn’t make me feel safe at all in this community that I have been in for so long," she said.

Police chief says officers rescued children who hid

The police chief said officers immediately responded to reports of the shooting, entered the church, rendered first aid and rescued some of the children hiding throughout the building as other emergency responders arrived.

The school was evacuated and students’ families later were directed to a “reunification zone” there. Outside, amid a heavy uniformed law enforcement presence, children in dark green uniforms trickled out of the school with adults, giving lingering hugs and wiping away tears.

Aubrey Pannhoff, a 16-year-old student at a different Catholic school, stood crying just outside the police cordon. She had rushed to Annunciation after her own school’s lockdown and prayer service, and she said she was asking God: “Why?”

“It’s little kids,” she said. “It’s just really hard for me to take in.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the violence “horrific” and his state is heartbroken in posts on X. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the shooting. The White House later said Trump spoke with Walz. The governor was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in last year’s election against Trump's running mate, now Vice President J.D. Vance, a Republican.

From the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram of condolences. The Chicago-born Leo, history’s first American pope, said he was praying for relatives of the dead.

Democratic officials from around country were meeting in Minneapolis, and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told the gathering what was happening and said it was “a tragic day for Minnesotans.”

Hennepin Healthcare, the main trauma hospital in Minneapolis, said it received 10 patients, including eight children — aged 6 through 14 — and two adults. Seven were considered to be in critical condition. Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, said it admitted seven children, ages 9 through 16.

A string of fatal shootings in Minneapolis

Monday had been the first day of the school year at Annunciation, a 102-year-old school in a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown Minneapolis. Recent social media posts from the school show children smiling at a back-to-school event, holding up summer art projects, playing together and enjoying ice pops.

Karin Cebulla, who said she had worked at the school and sent her two now-college-aged daughters there, said Wednesday she had “never met such authentic, accepting, loving, gracious people” as she did there.

The gunfire was the latest in a series of fatal shootings in the city in less than 24 hours. One person was killed and six others were hurt in a shooting Tuesday afternoon outside a high school in Minneapolis. Hours later, two people died in two other shootings in the city.

O’Hara, the police chief, said the Annunciation shooting does not appear to be related to other recent violence. Still, Dr. Thomas Wyatt, the Hennepin Healthcare emergency medicine chief, noted the toll of responding to two mass-casualty shootings in 24 hours.

Wednesday's school shooting also followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/active-shooter-calls-hoaxes-arkansas-villanova-iowa-7fae16fae9025cf421acb6115c30c3d3">spate of hoax calls</a>&nbsp;about purported shootings on at least a dozen U.S. college campuses. The bogus warnings, sometimes featuring gunshot sounds in the background, prompted universities to issue texts to “run, hide, fight” and frightened students around the nation as the school year begins.

Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York; Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; Will Weissert and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; Nicole Winfield in Vatican City; and Giovanna Dell’Orto and Steve Peoples in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A gunman opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church and struck a group of children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 in an act of violence the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and shot through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School.

O’Hara said the shooting suspect is dead and in his early 20s and does not have an extensive known criminal history. Officials are looking into his motive.

“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible," said the police chief, who noted that a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors.

The children who died were 8 and 10, he said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the violence “horrific” in a social media post.

Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, said in a statement five children were admitted for care. Hennepin Healthcare, which has Minnesota’s largest emergency department, said it also was caring for patients from the shooting.

Bill Bienemann, who lives a couple of blocks away and has long attended Mass at Annunciation Church, said he heard dozens of shots, perhaps as many as 50, over as long as four minutes.

Bienemann’s daughter, Alexandra, said she attended the school from kindergarten to 8th grade, finishing in 2014. After she heard of the shooting, she said she was shaking and crying, and her boss told her to take the day off.

“It breaks my heart, makes me sick to my stomach, knowing that there are people I know who are either injured or maybe even killed,” Alexandra Bienemann said. “It doesn’t make me feel safe at all in this community that I have been in for so long.”

The school was evacuated, and students’ families later were directed to a “reunification zone” at the school. Outside, amid a heavy uniformed law enforcement presence, were uniformed children in their dark green shirts or dresses. Many were trickling out of the school with adults, giving lingering hugs and wiping away tears.

Local, state, county and federal law enforcement officers and agents converged on the area, a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown Minneapolis. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the “tragic shooting” and that the White House would continue to monitor it.

Dating to 1923, the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school had an all-school Mass scheduled at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to its website. Monday was the first day of school. Recent social media posts from the school show children smiling at a back-to-school event, holding up summer art projects, playing together and enjoying ice pops.

At a meeting of Democratic officials elsewhere in Minneapolis, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin noted the shooting and “unknown amount of victims.”

Local

Region

Sports

Announcements