By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Two minor changes were made to the draft 2026 budget during the Hays City Commission work session Thursday.

The Rural Opportunity Zone expenditure was adjusted down due to a smaller-than-anticipated number of program applications, said Toby Dougherty, city manager.

City staff also upped the estimate on transient guest taxes by $42,000 for 2026.&nbsp;

"This is something we receive quarterly so it may be hard to get a good grasp on trends," Dougherty said. "But (staff) feels confident enough based off our last couple of disbursements."&nbsp;

The current transient guest tax in Hays, paid by those staying at motels and Airbnbs, is 8.25%.

There was no discussion of the outside agency requests, which included a new additional request from ACCESS public transportation operated by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas. ACCESS is<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/607b329e-6b85-472d-b51e-171347751383"> asking the city for another $82,500</a>, as well as <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1c896b49-4c58-4425-a998-474c7c4b6da4">county monies</a>, to help replace reduced state funding.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Mason Ruder, vice-mayor, noted there were no new large projects slated for 2026.

"I appreciate this budget," Ruder said. "We want to make sure we're not overextending ourselves, while still taking care of our employees and our the projects we do have."

The top project priorities next year are improvements to Oak Street between 27th and 29th Streets, and 22nd Street from Vine to Canterbury.

A revenue-neutral public hearing, followed by the budget public hearing, will be held during the Sept. 11 city commission meeting.&nbsp;

The mill levy for Hays remains at 25 mills for the 17th consecutive year. Total assessed valuation is up 2.5%.

Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, presented a resolution and an engineering services agreement to establish a benefit district for&nbsp;32 lots in the Covenant Estates First Addition in west Hays. The developer,&nbsp;Covenant&nbsp;Land &amp; Developing Inc., has petitioned the city for street, stormwater, water, and&nbsp;sanitary sewer improvements through the use of a benefit district.

The engineer’s estimate for total construction costs of the improvements is $2.9 million. Seventy percent&nbsp;of the costs will be special assessed, with&nbsp;the remaining 30% being paid by the developer.&nbsp;No city capital would be expended.

A $221,000 engineering agreement with&nbsp;Sloan Engineering and Consulting, Hays, has been prepared for the infrastructure improvements in Phase 1.

Both items will move on to the Aug. 14 meeting.

High Plains Mental Health Center made a $49,964 request to the city for a portion of opioid settlement funds. The state distributes the opioid funds to municipalities and must be allocated for opioid and substance use disorder abatement. 

City staff recommended the mental health center be granted $45,481 to purchase social detoxification treatment chairs and infusion pumps for its new <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c63c3c89-fd3c-4923-8d01-509e92168ce0">Crisis Intervention Center</a>&nbsp;under construction in Hays. It will serve 28 western Kansas counties.&nbsp;

"This (center) will take a lot of pressure off hospital emergency rooms and jails," said Craig Poe, executive director of High Plains Mental Health Center.

The grant request will be considered at the next commission meeting.&nbsp;

Mayor Sandy Jacobs was absent from the work session.

Revised 2026 draft budget shows an uptick in transient guest tax revenues for Hays

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Ellis County Undersheriff Tim Deines about the typical duties of a sheriff's deputy.

🎙Post Podcast: A deputy's duties explained by Ellis Co. Undersheriff Tim Deines

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/06/housing-progress-in-kansas-may-slow-with-state-federal-cuts-to-programs/?emci=885c385e-2d73-f011-8dc9-6045bda9d96b&amp;emdi=142a19e4-6c73-f011-8dc9-6045bda9d96b&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A cheese manufacturing plant in western Kansas created hundreds of new jobs, but developers needed help building enough housing for the plant’s workers.

The state program that helped fund 40 homes in a 227-home workforce housing development project in Dodge City did not receive any funding from the Kansas Legislature in its most recent session.

“We’re concerned,” said Ryan Vincent, executive director of the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, a public nonprofit charged with administering state and federal housing assistance.

“Historically, we’ve received some funding for moderate-income housing for a decade plus,” he said during a Tuesday webinar focused on updates about the state of housing in Kansas.

The housing industry in Kansas faces a rollback of funding on the state and federal levels, rising building costs, inflation and tariffs, which could affect the progress made to address a dire need for housing in communities across the state.

“I think a little bit of the challenge is that there’s this perception from the Statehouse, from lawmakers, policymakers that, ‘Well, we’ve given you money. We’ve given you enough to fix the problem,’” Vincent said.

But they’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg, he said.

Typically, the Legislature allocates $2 million on average in the state budget to the housing corporation’s moderate-income program. The program helps fund homeownership and rental opportunities for Kansans who earn too much to qualify for federally subsidized housing but still struggle to afford market-rate housing.

In Dodge City, the Hilmar Cheese Company, one of the world’s largest cheese manufacturers and whey suppliers, is driving economic growth and employment opportunities, said Emily Sharp, communications director for the state housing corporation.

Upon opening in March, the plant employed nearly 250 people, according to Gov. Laura Kelly’s Office.

“Which is really exciting,” Sharp said, “but it also means that there is a huge need for housing to support all those workers, and all of those industries and the development and growth that’s happening there.”

The project will eventually bring hundreds of homes for the plant’s workers, ranging in price from $197,000 to $232,000. More than 90 homes are complete so far. The development will consist of 127 single-family homes, 25 townhomes, 10 tiny homes and eight “barndominiums,” which are metal homes known for their cheap price point and durability.

In Cottonwood Falls, developers converted an old school into 10 moderate-income units. Some of the first tenants in the development were Kansas Highway Patrol troopers, Sharp said.

The way the housing corporation sees it, without state funding for the moderate-income program, projects like those in Dodge City and Cottonwood Falls will be more difficult to build.

Regions outside Kansas’ metro areas need about 4,000 houses built annually, according to the housing corporation’s 2021 state needs analysis.

“If we want our employers to be able to expand, if we want our downtowns to be revitalized, if we want our communities to ultimately be successful, we need the economic impact of housing,” Vincent said.

Legislators began discussing housing at the Statehouse before the 2025 session began in January, said Erin Beckerman, general counsel for the housing corporation.

Those talks led to a proposal from Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican and chair of the House Commerce Committee, to eliminate the affordable housing tax credit entirely, which the House passed. The Senate modified the bill, eliminating one of the two credit options and capping the amount the corporation can dole out to $25 million in 2025 and $8.8 million in the subsequent years until the credit sunsets in 2028.

It was the most significant legislation this year, in the corporation’s eyes, Beckerman said.

The scrutiny of the affordable housing tax credit will continue with an audit report, which is expected to examine the amount of tax credits used since 2022 and revisit the elimination during the 2026 legislative session.

“We are still seeing questions about that program, like the ones raised by the Legislative Post audit committee, just about how the program works and what value it brings to the state in comparison to the fiscal impact of providing those tax credits,” Beckerman said.

The audit is expected to be finished and presented to the Legislative Post Audit Committee this fall.

Beckerman said she also anticipates legislative discussions on whether to restore funding to the moderate-income housing program.

On the federal level, the Trump administration’s budget request proposed consolidating several housing-related programs into a single block grant and cutting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s budget in half. Those proposals would eliminate a grant program the Kansas housing corporation uses for developments and its first-time homebuyer program.

“There’s a lot of difference between what the administration, the Senate and the House have proposed,” Beckerman said, “so it’s hard to say where the funding may end up.”

Correction: A previous version of this story did not include the full costs of new homeownership options in Dodge City.&nbsp;

Housing progress in Kansas may slow with state, federal cuts to programs 

BUNKER HILL –&nbsp;Smoky Hills PBS is honored to announce a generous grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.&nbsp; This grant was awarded earlier this spring, during a time when our future was full of promise.&nbsp; However, with the recent elimination of all federal funding for public media, the landscape has dramatically shifted.&nbsp;

This grant is more than support — it is a beacon of hope.&nbsp;

 In this period of uncertainty, funding from partners like the Dane G. Foundation is essential to our survival and our ability to continue serving the communities that rely on us.&nbsp; It allows us to continue providing meaningful children’s programming and producing local stories that reflect the heart of our communities.&nbsp; 

We are truly grateful for the foundation’s belief in our mission and in the power of public media to educate, connect, and inspire.

“This grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation is more than financial support – it’s a lifeline,” said Betsy Schwien, general manager of Smoky Hills PBS. “In a time of great uncertainty, this gift allows us to continue delivering educational content to children, telling the stories of our local communities, and remaining a vital resource to families across central and western Kansas.”

To learn more about how you can support Smoky Hills PBS and help keep local programming alive, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;or follow the station on social media. (@SmokyHillsPBS)

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation is committed to providing opportunities for the people of Northwest Kansas to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.&nbsp; The foundation advances its mission by investing in the areas of education, health care, economic development, community social services and security, conservation and environment, arts and culture and community beautification.&nbsp;

Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in Central and Western Kansas.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS is available&nbsp;over the air with an antenna, on many cable systems, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, and Dish Network, HULU + LIVE TV, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime. You can also access Smoky Hills PBS via the FREE mobile app for Android and iPhone devices and is also available to stream by clicking here:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream/">video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream</a>.

More information on Smoky Hills PBS and its programs and projects are available at SmokyHillsPBS.org or by calling 1-800-337-4788.

Dane G. Hansen Foundation awards vital grant to Smoky Hills PBS

<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

&nbsp;Kansas House Democrats announced at the beginning of the summer that they were hitting the road for their inaugural Fight Back Tour, a statewide initiative aimed at engaging directly with Kansans, listening to community concerns, and outlining their vision for the future of the state.&nbsp;

“This tour is about showing up and fighting back against the extremism we're seeing at all levels of government, but especially in Topeka,” said House Democratic Leader Brandon Woodard. “The Kansas House Democrats are committed to listening to Kansans who are not feeling heard right now and taking action. When all is said and done, the Kansas House Democrats will have traveled to 14 different cities throughout the state, energizing hundreds of Kansans for the future of state politics.”&nbsp;

The Fight Back Tour features Democratic legislators traveling across Kansas to meet with constituents, highlight legislative priorities, and discuss ways to protect and expand the rights and opportunities of working families. Kansas House Democrats are working in collaboration with local county parties, stakeholders, and advocacy groups in each community to engage Kansans and amplify voices from every corner of the state.&nbsp;

The Kansas House Democrats' Fight Back Tour is heading to Hays, Kansas, on Friday, August 15.&nbsp;

● Hays: Aug. 15, 6–8 p.m.&nbsp;at Glassman Bird Law, Hays&nbsp;

The Hays event will feature a social hour with local legislators from 6:00 to 7 p.m., followed by remarks and a Q&amp;A session with State Representatives from 7 to 8 p.m.&nbsp;

Additional information and RSVP forms can be found on the Kansas House Democrats website https://www.kansashousedemocrats.com/fight-back-tour-2025&nbsp;

Remaining Fight Back Tour Dates and Locations:&nbsp;

● Aug. 15 – Hays, KS&nbsp; ● Aug. 21 – Kansas City, KS&nbsp; ● Aug. 27 - Manhattan, KS&nbsp; ● Aug. 28 – Leavenworth, KS&nbsp; ● Aug. 29 - Emporia, KS&nbsp; ● Sept. 23 - Lenexa, KS&nbsp;

2 adults, 3 children hospitalized after I-70 rollover crash

WICHITA, KAN, – A Northwest Kansas businessman pleaded guilty to various charges related to defrauding clients of his accounting firm by falsely claiming money he had stolen was being used to pay business expenses.

According to court documents, Quintin Flanagin, 45, of Colby pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of false statements, and one count of money laundering.

Flanagin, a certified public accountant (CPA), used his status as a signatory on the accounts of his clients’ business, Diamond M. Farms, to make unauthorized transactions between December 2021 and August 2022. 

He wrote multiple checks and initiated wire transfers totaling approximately $409,710 to Middle Finger Ranch under the guise of being payments for farm operations. Middle&nbsp;Finger Ranch is a fictitious business name that Flanagin connected to his personal bank account. Flanagin actually used the illegally obtained funds to pay for the construction on his new home.

Flanagin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

NW Kan. CPA, creator of ‘Middle Finger Ranch,’ admits to fraud scheme

Will the new Hays High School open in time for the first day of school on Aug. 20?

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Dustin Armbruster talks with Shawn Henderson, Hays High principal about the new USD&nbsp;489 building.&nbsp;

🎙Post Podcast: Will Hays High School open in time for the first day of classes?

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman with teacher Morgan Berkgren about the national winners of the KidWind Challenge from schools in Oakley.&nbsp;

🎤Forward Ever: National KidWind Challenge winners from Oakley

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

Hungry for bierocks? Place your order with the Cancer Council of Ellis County for their BIEROCK FUNDRAISER until Monday, September 1, 2025. These delicious bierocks are made by Cervs on Main Street. 

To place your order call the Cancer Council at 785-625-6653 or mail your order to 701 Riley St., Hays KS 67601. 

Orders must be paid for at time of order. 

Pick up will be Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the south side of Main Street Cervs, 1601 Main Street.

Cost is $30 for ½ dozen or $50 for a dozen; with cheese $35 for ½ dozen or $60 for a dozen.

The Cancer Council of Ellis County is a local organization that has been helping Ellis County residents dealing with cancer for 39 years.

Bierocks fundraiser underway for Cancer Council of Ellis County

Farmers, are you needing to pick a new variety of wheat, or wanting to learn more about the Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus complex?

Then make plans to attend the Pre-Plant Wheat School on Wednesday, August 20 at the Great Bend Event Center, 3111 10th Street.

Registration and supper will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the program will conclude about 8 p.m.

According to Cottonwood District Extension Agent Stacy Campbell, some topics of discussion by Extension specialists will be wheat variety performance and selection, wheat streak mosaic virus complex and there will always be time for Q &amp; A.

Pre-registration is requested by Friday, August 15 to ensure a meal, call 785-628-9430, email Theresa tam3@ksu.edu or scan the QR Code.

Pre-plant wheat school offered for local farmers

&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

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Bunker Hill public water supply system located in Russell County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

The advisory took effect on August 7 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. 

KDHE officials issued the advisory because the city cannot currently maintain the minimum required chlorine residual due to an equipment malfunction. Failure to maintain required chlorine residual levels may put the system at risk for bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-324-0187, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F468%2FDisruption-in-Water-Service%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198866eb699-91059f6d-714c-40dc-a9e2-9ae7ad45c5e4-000000/aVlpUXP4H9xS0ZuVrbIVFgUf4DmGd1qNh7XicgLXPLs=417">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety &amp; lodging program at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kda.fsl@ks.gov">kda.fsl@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 785-564-6767.

Boil Water Advisory issued for Bunker Hill by KS Dept. of Health and Environment

Following a recent water main break at the intersection of Sixth and Main, the City of Hays has finalized a repair plan and will begin work on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Repairs to the damaged infrastructure and the roadway are expected to take up to two weeks.

During the repair period, the intersection of Sixth and Main will be closed.

Main Street will be closed near the intersection, and the 100 block of West Sixth Street will also be inaccessible to through traffic.

Traffic signs will be placed to alert motorists of the closures and direct them to alternate routes.

"We appreciate the community's patience as we work to repair the damage," said Director of Water Resources Jeff Crispin. "Our crews will be working diligently to restore the infrastructure and the roadway as quickly and safely as possible."

The project will address the damage to both the underground infrastructure and the street surface caused by the break.

The City of Hays reminds all residents and visitors to exercise caution when traveling near the construction zone and to follow all posted detour signs. For updates follow the City of Hays on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Nextdoor, TikTok and LinkedIn, or visit HaysUSA.com.

Repairs to Hays' Main St. following water main leak begin today

Herzogfest weekend is August 8 and 9 in Victoria. On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Brenton Hoffman, committee president and vice-president Jennifer Bernes about the German-themed event.&nbsp;

🎙Celebrate Herzogfest in Victoria this weekend

Beginning Tuesday, 13th Street east of Canterbury Drive in Hays will return to one-way traffic - westbound ONLY - for a mill and overlay of roadway until further notice. 

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Public Works office at 785-628-7350.

13th St. east of Canterbury in Hays returns to 1-way traffic Tuesday

HOXIE – The Main Street Arts Council is excited to announce the final performances of the 2025 Main Street Summer Theater Festival, which will take place in Oakley on August 8 and 9. 

These performances of Disney’s Dare to Dream Jr. will bring the festival’s incredible run to a close after an amazing summer of inspiring youth theater across northwest Kansas.

The Main Street Summer Theater Festival has been a celebration of local talent, with performances in six different towns, all showcasing the creativity and hard work of young performers. Oakley will host the last two performances, giving attendees one final chance to experience this magical production of Disney’s Dare to Dream Jr., featuring beloved songs from Encanto, Frozen II, Coco, and more.

Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. Oakley High School Auditorium, 118 W 7th St., Oakley

In addition to the festival’s final performances, we are also thrilled to announce a special Broadway guest performance by Desi Oakley, a Wichita native and renowned Broadway performer. Desi will be performing live in Hoxie on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, as part of the festival’s 10th-anniversary celebration.

Desi Oakley has an extensive Broadway career, having starred in productions such as Wicked, Waitress, and Chicago. Her concert will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the talent of this Broadway star in a local, intimate setting.

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. Hoxie High School Auditorium, 1625 Queen Ave., Hoxie

We invite everyone to attend both the final festival performances in Oakley and Desi Oakley’s Broadway concert to celebrate the culmination of this incredible summer of youth theater and professional talent.

For more information about the festival, tickets for the remaining performances, or to reserve your seat for Desi Oakley’s concert, visit <a href="https://www.mainstreetartscouncil.com/msstf2025">www.mainstreetartscouncil.com/msstf2025</a>.

Final summer theater performances in Oakley, Broadway guest Desi Oakley in Hoxie

Aug. 9-10 Shady Bend 2-Day Golf Tournament;&nbsp;Shady Bend Golf Course, Osborne;&nbsp;9:00 a.m. 4-Man Scramble. To enter call or text Eric Mans at 785-346-4654

Aug. 12 Mommy &amp; Me Tea;&nbsp;Second Street Café, 715 N. 2nd St, Natoma; 6:00 p.m.; Come on in for an elegant, fun and fanciful tea party; Call 785-346-4772

Aug. 16 See You at the Library;&nbsp;Osborne Public Library, 325 W. Main St., Osborne; BRAVE Books See You at the Library Story Hour 11:00 a.m.

Families will gather in libraries across the country for this nationwide event to celebrate faith, freedom, and the power of storytelling. Together, we’ll rediscover what libraries are meant to be: places that spark imagination, shape character, and speak truth to the next generation. We’ll read books that inspire faith and conviction Spark meaningful conversations And build community with families who care about what really matters Bring your kids. Invite your friends. Let’s fill the library with stories and values that matter.

Aug. 20 Dinner Club at the Second Street Café;&nbsp;Second Street Café, 715 N. 2nd St., Natoma;&nbsp;Enjoy a 7-course meal every third Wednesday at 7:00 at the Second Street Cafe Dinner Club; For more information call 785-346-4772

A super fun day for the whole family in Alton. Starting at 7:00 a.m. at the Front Porch Event Center for coffee and rolls followed by a full day – car and bike shows, cake and pie contests, parade, free watermelon, money dig, food stands, Bull City Olympics, water balloon volleyball, bouncy houses, jam sessions, drawings, Jamie Campbell, comedian, Bull City Newlywed Game, cornhole tournament…it all ends with a free street dance featuring Kill Creek Rising! For more information, check out the Alton Jubilee Facebook page.

Aug. 24 Community Church Service in the Park;&nbsp;10:30 a.m. at the Alton City Park; Sponsored by Mt. Ayr Friends Church and Alton United Methodist Church

Aug. 24 2-Person Golf Tournament;&nbsp;Downs Golf Course, KS-181, Downs;&nbsp;9:00 a.m.; Hosted by Knights of Columbus; Contact Brady Cline at 785-545-6183

Aug. 30 Natoma City Wide Garage Sale, Natoma

August events for Osborne County

2025 Alton Jubilee set for Aug. 23-24

WASHINGTON (AP) — The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan shook hands Friday at a White House peace summit before signing an agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict.

President Donald Trump was in the middle as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan flanked him on either side. As the two extended their arms in front of Trump to shake hands, the U.S. leader reached up and clasped his hands around theirs.

The two countries in the South Caucasus signed agreements with each other and the U.S. that will reopen key transportation routes while allowing the U.S. to seize on Russia’s declining influence in the region. The deal includes an agreement that will create a major transit corridor to be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, the White House said.

Trump said at the White House on Friday that naming the route after him was “a great honor for me” but “I didn’t ask for this.” A senior administration official, on a call before the event with reporters, said it was the Armenians who suggested the name.

Trump has sought to be known as a peacemaker and made no secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel Peace Prize. Friday’s signing adds to a series of peace and economic agreements brokered by the U.S. this year.

Both leaders said the breakthrough was made possible by Trump and his team.

“We are laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past,” Pashinyan said, calling the agreement a “significant milestone.”

“President Trump in six months did a miracle,” Aliyev said.

Trump remarked on how long the conflict went on between the two countries. “Thirty-five years they fought, and now they’re friends and they’re going to be friends a long time,” he said.

That route will connect Azerbaijan and its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, which are separated by a 32-kilometer-wide (20-mile-wide) patch of Armenian territory. The demand from Azerbaijan had held up peace talks in the past.

For Azerbaijan, a major producer of oil and gas, the route also provides a more direct link to Turkey and onward to Europe.

Trump indicated he'd like to visit the route, saying, “We're going to have to get over there."

Asked how he feels about lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trump said “very confident."

Aliyev and Pashinyan on Friday joined a growing list of foreign leaders and other officials who have said Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in helping ease long-running conflicts across the globe.

The peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda helped end the decadeslong&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congo-rwanda-drc-peace-deal-m23-trump-5e5b52100729ad6587a6f267c6c79ae0">conflict in eastern Congo</a>, and the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-india-pakistan-kashmir-trade-e3cedcad801ce78c85194fcbf3b917f0">mediated a ceasefire</a>&nbsp;between India and Pakistan, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thailand-cambodia-border-clash-ceasefire-36da6c2ba1a1c33a16ca6ddf1cb82bda">Trump intervened in clashes between Cambodia and Thailand</a>&nbsp;by threatening to withhold trade agreements with both countries if their fighting continued. Yet peace deals in Gaza and Ukraine have been elusive.

US takes advantage of Russia's waning influence

The signing of a deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics, also strikes a geopolitical blow to their former imperial master, Russia. Throughout the nearly four-decade conflict, Moscow played mediator to expand its clout in the strategic South Caucasus region, but its influence waned quickly after it launched the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1">full-scale invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;in February 2022. The Trump-brokered deal would allow the U.S. to deepen its reach in the region as Moscow retreats, senior U.S. administration officials said.

The Trump administration began engaging with Armenia and Azerbaijan in earnest earlier this year, when Trump’s key diplomatic envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Aliyev in Baku and started to discuss what a senior administration official called a “regional reset.”

Negotiations over who will develop the Trump Route — which will eventually include a rail line, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber optic lines — will likely begin next week, and at least nine developers have expressed interest already, according to the senior administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

Separate from the joint agreement, both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/armenia">Armenia</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a>&nbsp;signed deals with the United States meant to bolster cooperation in energy, technology and the economy, the White House said.

Trump previewed much of Friday’s plan in a social media post Thursday evening, in which he said the agreements would “fully unlock the potential" of the South Caucasus region.

“Many Leaders have tried to end the War, with no success, until now, thanks to ‘TRUMP,’” Trump said on his Truth Social site.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has lasted for decades

The two nations were locked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/armenia-azerbaijan-aliyev-pashinyan-abu-dhabi-72cf31b11dd3dfe2e47fafce6f325251">in conflict for nearly four decades</a>&nbsp;as they fought for control of the Karabakh region, known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh.

The area was largely populated by Armenians during the Soviet era but is located within Azerbaijan. The two nations battled for control of the region through multiple violent clashes that left tens of thousands of people dead over the decades, all while international mediation efforts failed.

Most recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-armenia-explosions-nagornokarabakh-73df9b8b03c3748868e2e358b67bd018">Azerbaijan reclaimed all of Karabakh in 2023</a>&nbsp;and had been in talks with Armenia to normalize ties. Azerbaijan’s insistence on a land bridge to Nakhchivan had been a major sticking point, because while Azerbaijan did not trust Armenia to control the so-called Zangezur corridor, Armenia resisted control by a third party because it viewed it as a breach of sovereignty.

But the prospect of closer ties with the United States, as well as being able to move in and out of the landlocked nation more freely without having to access Georgia or Iran, helped entice Armenia on the broader agreement, according to U.S. officials.

Meanwhile, Russia stood back when Azerbaijan reclaimed control of Karabakh in the September 2023 offensive, angering Armenia, which has moved to shed Russian influence and turn westward. Azerbaijan, emboldened by its victory in Karabakh, also has become increasingly defiant in its relations with Moscow.

Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard and Will Weissert contributed to this report.

Trump seals peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. —Investigators have positively identified the individual whose body was located in the Missouri River on Wednesday evening as&nbsp;32-year-old Dusenge Y. Mukiza of Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

&nbsp;An autopsy revealed no evidence of trauma or foul play.

Just after 8:30p.m. a couple who were fishing called 911 and reported seeing a body in the water near 210 Highway and Edwards Road. 

When deputies arrived, they found Mukiz'a body of the man on the north side of the river. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Water Patrol Division assisted with recovering the body.

Body found by couple fishing in river identified as Kansas man

Merit-based selection adherents keen to keep status quo, reformists want direct elections

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — Campaigns for and against a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution allowing direct election of justices to the Kansas Supreme Court have begun the one-year charge to the August 2026 primary election where the issue will be decided.

While Attorney General Kris Kobach lauded the potential switch to statewide elections at an Americans for Prosperity-Kansas dinner in Wichita, a panel of skeptics brought together by Kansas Appleseed outlined Wednesday for an audience on the University of Kansas campus the reasons it would be a mistake to abandon the existing merit-based selection process.

Retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier, who served on the high court from 2003 to 2020, said opening the process up to expensive popular elections financed by special interests was contrary to the idea of an independent judiciary. Vague language of the amendment in terms of the process for electing justices to had yet to be clarified by the Legislature, she said.

“It is exceedingly vague,” she said. “It will be decided by the Legislature. Do you trust them?”

Mark Tallman, who lobbied for three decades at the Capitol and continues to work with the Kansas Association of School Boards, said the state Constitution mandated the Legislature make suitable provision for the financing of public education. Four major lawsuits over the past 60 years delved into constitutionality of school aid and the Supreme Court weighed into each of those disputes, he said.

He said the current school funding formula for K-12 public schools was due to expire in 2027 and substantive changes could trigger more lawsuits likely to work their way to the Supreme Court.

“Those who have been active in our association fundamentally believe that the system works and we shouldn’t risk change,” Tallman said.

Teresa Woody, litigation director of the advocacy organization Kansas Appleseed, said it would be impossible for elections of Supreme Court justices to be anything other than partisan brawls. She said the current system properly relied on candidates submitting applications, the selection of three finalists by an independent commission and appointment of new justices by a Kansas governor.

“It will work much better than the best iteration of a (proposed) constitutional amendment in really protecting Kansans’ rights,” Woody said. “Judges are there to interpret the law, not to make the law.”

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