By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

As artificial intelligence blurs the line between fact and fiction, Fort Hays State University hosted a panel on Thursday to avoid online media manipulation and misinformation.

Panelists included journalist Lynn Ann Huntington; FHSU information literacy librarian Robyn Hartman; FHSU learning commons coordinator Andy Tincknell; FHSU communication studies instructor Brittney Reed; and Hays Public Library Kansas Room Coordinator Jeremy Gill.

The event was part of the Hays Public Library's How-To Series. Audience members engaged with the panelists, beginning with the question, “How do we determine what’s real and what’s not?”

"It's a 50/50 coin toss whether we can really identify whether something is fake or real," Tincknell said, referencing a study from the Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery. "It's getting tough, and it's going to get tougher."

Tincknell said technology meant to detect false information is lagging behind the rapid improvements in how effectively misinformation can deceive the public.

Hartman encouraged people to slow down when consuming news online and recommended using the SIFT method, short for stop, investigate the source, find better coverage and trace the context.

The panel noted the same approach applies to videos and images, highlighting Google’s reverse image search tool as a way to trace the origin of visual content.

Reed added another useful approach is consensual validation, which is checking multiple sources on a topic to confirm the same set of facts.

"If you're just seeing it from one source, I will often tell my students to take that with a grain of salt," she said. "You want to find several sources that are saying the same thing, particularly when it's information that seems too crazy to be true. Be looking into those other avenues."

One audience member asked Reed whether she honestly expected most people to spend that much time verifying information. Huntington replied, “It depends on how badly they want to know the truth.”

Huntington said traditional editors serve as “gatekeepers,” filtering out weak stories, but online platforms no longer provide that oversight, leaving users to act as their own editors.

The panel also warned of relying on AI for research, noting that it can generate convincing false citations and articles, and might require further research to verify information independently.

Several panelists discussed their experiences with AI in the classroom. Hartman said some students have asked her to help find articles, only to discover that they never existed.

"I ask, 'Where did you get the title of this?' and they eventually confess that they used AI for sources they could use. It's close, maybe the author has written on that topic, but then AI says, 'Here's a book that they wrote,' and that author has not written that book," she said.

Panelists did note some benefits of AI, particularly when it’s used as a tool for brainstorming rather than a source of definitive answers.

Reed said one thing missing in today’s digital age is peer accountability on online platforms and urged people to hold each other responsible for what they share.

"We get this online disinhibition where we don't have to face the consequences of posting something that was incorrect," Reed said. "That's a message we need to share with each other to try to shift the culture a little bit."

FHSU panel urges critical thinking to combat misinformation

REXFORD – McCarty Family Farms has been honored as the 2025 Dairy Producers of the Year at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. 

The award, presented on October 1, recognizes the McCarty family’s long-standing commitment to producing high-quality milk while advancing animal welfare, regenerative farming practices, and community stewardship.

Owned and operated by fourth-generation dairymen Ken, Mike, Dave, and Clay McCarty, with their father Tom McCarty playing a key role in the operation, the family farm exemplifies the balance between innovation and tradition. 

Having established their roots in Pennsylvania in 1914 and relocating their operation to northwest Kansas with the opening of their dairy in 2000, the McCartys have grown into one of the most respected dairy families in the nation, overseeing the world’s largest registered herd of Holsteins. The McCartys operate five dairy sites: three in Kansas, one in Nebraska, and a partnership dairy, MVP Dairy, in Ohio.

McCarty Family Farms North, located in Rexford, is their newest location, completed in 2023, and stands as their most innovative dairy facility to date. 

Eight inverted six-row, tunnel-ventilated free-stall barns house 10,000 Holsteins, which are milked on two 120-stall carousels. Each stall is sand-bedded, and more than 95% of the sand is reclaimed and reused through a flush system and solids separation process. 

The site is also home to the newest addition to McCarty Family Farms’ sustainability efforts—an anaerobic digester. This system processes approximately 260,000 gallons of manure daily, breaking it down into methane gas that is injected into a nearby utility company pipeline. The remaining liquids and solids are repurposed as nutrient-rich fertilizer.

McCarty Family Farms has also invested heavily in on-site processing. In 2012, the family established an evaporative milk condensing plant, marking the beginning of their direct relationship with Danone North America. To support continued growth, the processing plant was expanded and upgraded in 2023 with the addition of ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies. Today, McCarty Family Farms produces Non-GMO Project Verified milk exclusively for Danone North America.

Beyond their commitment to responsible farming, the McCartys also prioritize education and transparency through the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, established in 2024 and named in honor of their late mother. The 8,000-square-foot nonprofit center connects visitors to the story of dairy, from soil to yogurt cup. Guests can view the farm’s 120-cow carousel parlor, ride a guided shuttle through the barns, and explore interactive displays. Serving the community and the agricultural industry, the Learning Center provides research projects, internships, and leadership experiences for the next generation of agricultural leaders.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as Dairy Producers of the Year by World Dairy Expo,” said Ken McCarty. “This award reflects not only the hard work of our family, but also the dedication of our incredible team and partners who share our commitment to innovation, animal care, and sustainability.”

Ken McCarty also emphasized the family’s long-term vision. “As fourth-generation farmers, we take seriously the responsibility of nourishing families while caring for the land and animals entrusted to us. This recognition inspires us to keep building on that legacy—producing nutritious food, advancing sustainable practices, and creating connections with the communities we serve.”

World Dairy Expo’s annual Recognition Awards celebrate individuals and families who make remarkable contributions to the dairy industry and their communities. McCarty Family Farms was honored alongside Industry Person of the Year, Jim Mulhern, and International Person of the Year, Juan F. Moreno.

About McCarty Family Farms Founded in 1914, McCarty Family Farms has evolved into a multi-state dairy operation grounded in the values of integrity, innovation, and stewardship. With locations in Kansas and Ohio, the family’s mission is to produce high-quality, nutritious milk while prioritizing cow care, environmental responsibility, and strong community partnerships. Through the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, the family also provides education and transparency to consumers, helping to build trust and understanding of modern dairy farming.

Rexford's McCarty Family Farms named Dairy Producers of the Year at World Dairy Expo

By&nbsp;MARK JOSLYN Insight Kansas

It’s not about defeating Sharice Davids.&nbsp;After all, a Democrat occupying one of the four congressional seats is nothing new. It’s not about appeasing Trump. Republicans’ penchant to gerrymander predates his involvement. It’s about Johnson County.

For decades, JoCo outpaced statewide Republican support. For example, when Eisenhower carried Kansas with a whopping 69 percent of the vote, JoCo surpassed that mark with 72.5 percent. When Reagan reached 66 percent, JoCo secured 72.4 percent.

Even in Democrat years, JoCo never wavered. When FDR won the state for a second time, JoCo delivered 57.7 percent of its vote to Republican nominee, and Kansas Governor, Alf Landon. When Kansans chose Democrat Lyndon Johnson, a majority of JoCo voters favored Barry Goldwater.&nbsp;The first signs of change came in 2008.

JoCo’s Republican vote share lagged the statewide average by almost 3 points, the largest such gap since 1917, the last time the county supported a Democrat for president.&nbsp;By 2016 the gap ballooned to 10 points and expanded in 2020 when the county finally flipped blue. Democrat advances appeared down the ballot too.

In 2018, Laura Kelley thumped Kris Kobach in JoCo by 17 points, though statewide it was a 5-point race. In her reelection bid, Kelley realized nearly 60 percent of JoCo’s vote and the county’s state House and Senate Democrat delegations increased.

JoCo’s majority support was pivotal in Sharice Davids’ defeat of incumbent Kevin Yoder for the Third District. Her county vote share has since grown to 55 percent.&nbsp;

For the first time in Kansas history a Democrat Senate candidate won JoCo, though Roger Marshall prevailed statewide. In 2022, Senator Jerry Moran vote share in JoCo dropped to 46.7 percent, down from 62.1 percent a decade before.

And in 2024, Byron Roberson became the first Democrat elected JoCo sheriff in nearly a century. The changes have rattled Republicans who recognize further decline could be costly. 

Trump’s call to redraw the maps mid-decade thus comes at an opportune time, giving Republican leaders cover to once again use their redistricting leverage. 

By dividing the county, and merging its parts with strong GOP districts, a gerrymander reduces JoCo Democrats to a fragmented minority, their influence diminished by the dilution of their voting power.&nbsp;

A gerrymander also weakens JoCo’s ascendant political structure. No longer able to organize an efficacious majority around shared priorities, JoCo Democrats would have to rebuild a broader, layered infrastructure that spans the diverse interests of suburban and rural communities.&nbsp;

With their base fractured, Democrats may struggle to unify their message, energize supporters, and build strong leadership.

Should Republican leaders pull it off, a gerrymander will, at minimum, blunt Democratic momentum, diminish Davids’ margins, and facilitate GOP actions against a weakened JoCo operation.&nbsp;

But it’s a tightrope, requiring a special session, supermajorities, considerable arm-twisting, and the risks of legal challenges.&nbsp;Whether it’s perceived as an assault on democratic principles or smart political strategy depends on one’s partisan leanings.

State legislatures do have the authority to redraw districts. And both parties appear ready to exercise that power.

JoCo’s outsized influence in the state’s electoral calculus and notable shift toward Democrats makes this a weighty moment for Republican leaders.&nbsp;

Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: The fight over maps is really a fight over JoCo. 

<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

📷 Pa's Pumpkin Patch opens for 2025 season

A  taco/nacho bar fundraiser for the Hays Buffaloes Special Olympics basketball team and Lakin Eckroat (for Special Olympics bowling) to go to USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota in June of 2026 will be held on Monday, Oct. 20 at Thirsty's The Venue, 2704 Vine, Hays.

Tickets are being sold for $12 and can be purchased from myself by emailing me Activities Director Tiffany Schulte at tschulte@arcofcentralplains.org, Facebook Messenger (Buffalo Adventures page), or calling 785-639-4181.

 The ticket covers the taco/nacho bar and there are set times every 20 minutes starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 7:40 p.m. 

There will also be raffle prizes on display on the stage at Thirsty's starting Oct. 13 and those tickets are $10 each. No need to be present to win. There will be a live drawing on Oct. 20 at 7:50 p.m. on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ARCACTIVITIES">Buffalo Adventures</a> Facebook page.

This fundraiser is supporting the Hays Buffaloes Special Olympics basketball team and Lakin Eckroat (for Special Olympics bowling)&nbsp;

These athletes have been working very hard to prepare for the trip. They practice every week and have been helping with fundraising. Most of them have never been to USA Games and are very excited for the opportunity. 

This is the first time ever that an entire Hays team gets to participate. Special Olympics holds this event every four years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fundraiser for Hays Buffaloes headed to Special Olympics USA Games 2026

Our strength lies in our shared commitment: that by giving a little, we can do a lot for those in need.&nbsp;

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming 100 Who Care, Ellis County meeting on&nbsp;Tuesday, October 14. This month, we will be hearing from these three wonderful nonprofits making a difference in our community:&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Big Brothers Big Sisters:&nbsp;Focused on fostering meaningful one-to-one mentoring relationships that unlock the potential and promise of our youth. Their impactful work not only transforms lives but also strengthens families and creates brighter futures. We are fortunate to have this valuable program right here in Ellis County.

• Jana’s Campaign:&nbsp;Committed to preventing gender and relationship violence through early education and awareness. What started as a local initiative in Ellis County has grown into a vital nationwide service that saves lives, empowers individuals, and builds safer, healthier communities.

• First Call for Help:&nbsp;Dedicated to alleviating the effects of poverty by connecting individuals and families with essential resources and support during times of crisis. Their efforts bring hope, stability, and practical solutions to members of Ellis County, helping to strengthen our community as a whole.

A special thank you goes out to our Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 team — Landon, Abigail, Sierra, and Hunter — as well as our current steering team members, Jack, Jessie, and Brandy. The LDRS 310 class focuses on developing leadership skills through hands-on community engagement, and our 100 Who Care program is proud to serve as a real-world platform where these emerging leaders can apply their learning to support and strengthen Ellis County.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, snacks and beverages will be provided by&nbsp;POPt Popcorn&nbsp;and&nbsp;A&amp;A Coors, meeting space is graciously hosted by the&nbsp;Sternberg Museum.&nbsp; If you are unable to attend, please feel free to drop off your donation at Wayne Voss State Farm, 2707 Vine St., Ste 13, Hays. Notify Brandy ahead of time with your voting preference, and she will be happy to vote by proxy on your behalf.&nbsp;

At&nbsp;100 Who Care,&nbsp;Ellis County, we come together because we believe in the power of collective giving to create real, positive change in our community. Please consider inviting a friend to join us as we strive to grow our membership beyond 100 and make an even greater impact.

Finally, stay tuned for some exciting news — we will be launching an online payment platform early in 2026 to make giving even easier!&nbsp;Thank you for your continued passion and support.&nbsp;

Generosity is the heartbeat of 100 Who Care — where every gift counts, every member matters, and every cause benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;We look forward to seeing you on October 14!

Public invited to 100 Who Care, Ellis County meeting on Oct. 14 in Hays

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Field bindweed, a perennial vine in the morning glory family, infests millions of acres in the Great Plains. This weed significantly reduces crop yield and quality, reduces land value, interferes with harvest by entangling crop plants, and increases production costs associated with control practices. Earlier research in Hays, KS, over the span of 12 years, indicated that dense stands of field bindweed induced 20% to 50% cereal crop yield loss and 50% to 80% row crop yield reduction.

In North America, field bindweed was first reported in Virginia in 1739. It was possibly brought to Kansas in infested wheat seed from the Ukrainian region of Russia between 1870 and 1875. In 1877 and 1888, it was reported near Topeka and Nebraska, respectively.

Growth and development Seeds near the soil surface will germinate throughout the growing season following rainfall. Seedling emergence primarily occurs in the spring, usually in early to mid-April in Kansas, and continues growing until November or until temperatures drop to 20°F or lower; at these temperatures, its growth may be retarded, but the vines do not die.

Seedlings quickly develop a deep taproot and numerous lateral roots about six weeks after emergence. Once lateral roots grow, the plant has a perennial growth habit. Growth ceases during severe drought, but new top growth appears after adequate rainfall. 

May 15 to June 15 is the heaviest bloom period in west-central Kansas, with the seed usually maturing from June 15 to July 15. However, field bindweed can continue to bloom under favorable conditions and produce seed during July and August.

Roots and food reserves Field bindweed stores a large quantity of carbohydrates deep into its root system, which provides energy for below- and above-ground growth. Roots can have a lateral spread of approximately 10 feet in one season and may penetrate 18 to 20 feet. In two or three growing seasons, roots may extend to a diameter of 17 to 18 feet. In areas with average annual precipitations of 30 inches or more, field bindweed roots have been found 30 feet below the surface.

However, on upland soils near Hays, where annual precipitation averages 23 inches, few roots were found below 6 feet. Also, more than 60% of the total weight of roots is reported to be in the top two feet of soil. Buds formed along lateral roots can develop into shoots, which become new plants when they surface.

Dispersal mode Field bindweed spreads by root segments and seeds, both of which can be spread by road maintenance and equipment. Root segments with buds are dispersed by tillage implements and are capable of starting new plants when the soil has adequate moisture.

· Vines, wrapped around tools and those that pass through harvesting equipment, drop field bindweed seeds.

· Seeds are collected with harvested grain and often planted with crop seed.

· Seeds in grain or hay fed to livestock pass through animals undigested and spread with manure.

· Seed is transported by drainage water, birds, animals, machinery, and vehicles.

Management Because field bindweed has long seed viability and tremendous food reserves stored in roots, a long-term management program is required for its successful control. A single application of an herbicide will not eradicate established stands.

Information provided by K-State Weed Management Specialist.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: World of Weeds

STOCKTON — The Stockton FFA will be holding their annual Goblin's Glory Halloween extravaganza on Sat., Oct. 25 at the Stockton High School gyms.

The events will start with a soup supper at 6 p.m. followed by the kids costume contest at 6:30 p.m. for ages 6 and younger and 7 to 12. Games and bingo will also begin at 6:30 p.m. with the merchandise auction starting at 7 p.m.

The Goblin's Glory King and Queen crowning is at 8 p.m.

Stockton FFA Goblin's Glory Halloween extravaganza is Oct. 25

&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

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 18 is now offering services in Ellis County and surrounding areas through its new office at Hays First United Methodist Church, 302 W. Eighth St., Room 205, and it is now seeing clients.

Chris Deitering, department service officer, will help to expand access to resources for injured veterans by providing free assistance to veterans and their families, including help with VA and federal claims, survivor and burial benefits, membership assistance, and disaster relief, a news release said.

Deitering’s office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

According to the news release, “The DAV is a nonprofit that remains committed to the nation's injured heroes and former federal employees of all generations to ensure they are not alone on their road to recovery by aiding service members in the transition to civilian life, fighting for their rights on Capitol Hill, and funding rehabilitation programs.”

Disabled American Veterans has new office in Hays church

Thomas More Prep-Marian Parents Teachers Friends Soup Supper is Sunday, October 26 from 4-7 p.m.&nbsp; We will have chili, green bean dumpling soup, sandwiches and cinnamon rolls.&nbsp;Carry out is available. 

It is a free will offering with proceeds to support classroom and student scholarships.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thomas More Prep-Marian PTF Soup Supper fundraiser is Oct. 26

The Hays Public Library is hosting a special book talk with Kansas author George Frazier, as he discusses his latest release,&nbsp;Riverine Dreams: Away to the Glorious and Forgotten Grassland Rivers of America, published by the University of Chicago Press.

The event is set for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, in the HPL Kansas Room.

Prepare for tales of strange riverine forests left over from the ice age, leviathan fish migrations, modern grizzlies roaming the plains, endangered plants as rare as mastodon ivory, an audacious plan to return 10,000 bison to a Great Plains biosphere reserve, and of course, river otter mayhem.

If you thought you knew about the wild lands of Kansas and the surrounding states, get ready for some surprises. Grassland rivers are the most unheralded gems of the entire American backcountry, and Frazier will tell us about the “Grassland River revival” he discovered while exploring eight of the wildest stretches of rivers that remain.

The Hays Public Library is coordinating with Russell Specialty Books and Gifts for this event.

You can find out more about this and other library programs at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 785-625-9014.

Hays Public Library to host Kansas author George Frazier Oct. 11

PAWNEE ROCK — To commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Heartland Center for Spirituality and Heartland Farm invite the public to a special viewing of The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code, followed including discussion led by Dr. Leo Oliva. The event will take place on Sunday, October 12, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Great Bend Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse.

Dr. Oliva, a retired history professor from Fort Hays State University, will offer historical insights into the Doctrine of Discovery and engage with attendees during a Q&amp;A session.

Originating from 15th-century Papal Bulls, the Doctrine of Discovery laid the groundwork for colonial expansion, legitimizing the seizure of Indigenous lands, the suppression of native cultures, and brutality toward and enslavement of African and other peoples. The Doctrine continues to influence U.S. and international property law to this day.

Dr. Oliva graduated from FHSU before seeking both his master’s degree in American History and doctorate in American Studies from the University of Denver. He is the author of eight books and many articles and served as the editor of the Santa Fe Trail quarterly, Wagon Tracks, for 25 years. Dr. Oliva’s areas of interest include the Santa Fe Trail, frontier military history, the conquest of Indigenous nations and their lands, and Kansas history since 1959. Dr. Oliva was a member of the Humanities Kansas Speakers’ Bureau and has presented more than 400 programs on various historical topics.

 In March 2025, FHSU honored Dr. Oliva with a distinguished professorship in history in his name.

Join us for this free event will be held in the auditorium at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse, located at 3600 Broadway, Great Bend. Light refreshments will be available, and voluntary donations are welcome.

To RSVP, please email your name and the number of attendees to ann.axman@heartlandspirituality.org or hfarminfo@oppeace.org.

Retired FHSU professor to discuss Doctrine of Discovery commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Donation accepted Oct. 17-31 for annual Hays Coat Drive 

Area Pizza Hut fundraisers today for HPD Officer Scott Heimann family 

The decision has far-reaching implications affecting the treatment of immigrants suspected of civil immigration violations in six midwestern states, including Missouri

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>

The warrantless arrests of 11 immigrant restaurant workers in Liberty earlier this year violated a 2022 consent decree, a federal judge ruled.

The arrests of the workers at El Potro Mexican Café in February were among the first in the Kansas City area to draw widespread media attention.

The Liberty cases became part of a broader filing, challenging government tactics under the second Trump administration on behalf of 26 immigrant plaintiffs.

The case did not question the government’s right to make arrests on immigration violations. But it questioned whether it had violated the prior consent agreement by making warrantless arrests.

On Oct. 7, a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division,&nbsp;<a href="https://immigrantjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/214-Nava-v-DHS-Mem-Opinion_10-07-25.pdf" target="_blank">ruled in favor of the immigrant workers</a>.

Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to lift any conditions on the release of 22 immigrants, including 11 people who had been detained after the Liberty raid.

The other 11 people were detained in Chicago through warrantless arrests in their neighborhood or vehicles, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://immigrantjustice.org/press-release/federal-judge-extends-consent-decree-prohibiting-ice-from-arresting-people-without-warrants-or-probable-cause/" target="_blank">National Immigrant Justice Center</a>, which helped bring the case.

The decision has far-reaching implications and is a huge win for due process, said&nbsp;<a href="https://sharma-crawford.com/" target="_blank">Rekha</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://sharma-crawford.com/" target="_blank">Sharma-Crawford</a>, a Kansas City-based immigration attorney representing the Liberty workers.

The Liberty restaurant workers now are out on bond, an option that has become nearly impossible in recent months for detainees taken into ICE custody.

“Their deportation cases, at least for the time being, would have to be dismissed because they were all arrested unlawfully,” Sharma-Crawford said.

In addition to Missouri and Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Kentucky are also under the consent decree, known for the name of one of the original plaintiffs, Margarito Castañon Nava.

<a href="https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/judge_display.php?LastName=Cummings" target="_blank">Cummings</a>&nbsp;also ordered the Department of Homeland Security to reissue its warrantless arrest policy nationwide and certify that any officers who violated the consent decree were retrained.

Also, ICE will need to report to the court the names and arrest documents for anyone else who had been arrested without a warrant on immigration violations since June in the Northern District of Illinois, and to continue making similar reports monthly.

In some of the cases, federal officials were accused of creating warrants after they had already arrested the individuals on the civil violations of being without lawful immigration or citizenship status.

Cummings also extended the consent decree to Feb. 2, 2026.

It had been set to expire May 12, 2025, had further violations not been found.

The date change “corresponds to the number of days between the date that ICE unequivocally ceased its compliance with the Agreement (June 11, 2025) and the date of this Memorandum Opinion and Order to provide plaintiffs with the full three-year term of the Agreement for which they bargained,” according to the judge’s ruling.

The Department of Homeland Security also was ordered to pay the plaintiffs’ attorney fees.

The case was brought by the National Immigrant Justice Center and the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois.

“Today’s decision makes clear that DHS and ICE — like everyone else — must follow the Constitution and the law,” said ACLU of Illinois Deputy Legal Director Michelle Garcia, co-counsel, in a statement.

“The federal government’s reckless practice of stopping, harassing and detaining people — and then finding a justification for the action must end,” Garcia said. “The Trump administration’s destructive mass deportation scheme is not a reason to toss aside bedrock constitutional principles, disregard federal law or court orders.”

The ruling comes as the federal government ramps up the presence of immigration agents in Chicago, and President Donald Trump is threatening to send in the National Guard to maintain order in the face of protests in Portland.

The Department of Homeland Security has not issued a statement yet on the court’s decision.

The Liberty workers were detained after more than a dozen agents with Homeland Security Investigations entered the restaurant looking for a worker suspected of a child sex crime.

But communication problems, possibly exacerbated by language barriers, led to the federal agents entering a private office space, despite the lack of a warrant, and collecting employment documents.

Twelve workers were handcuffed and detained. One of the immigrants was later removed from the U.S.

The judgment is being noted by local immigrant rights advocates as an example of&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/03/immigration-court-kansas-city-deportation-legal-counsel/" target="_blank">strategic legal filings</a>&nbsp;designed to force the government to stay within the law.

More than 3,000 people in the Kansas City area have been trained in know-your-rights sessions by&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/" target="_blank">Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation</a>, or AIRR.

During the training, an emphasis is placed on witnesses filming federal agents during a raid to document that policies and the law are being followed, rather than focusing on the immigrants.

AIRR also stresses that witnesses refrain from name-calling of federal agents, as such video might be necessary to submit in cases like the one just decided in the Illinois court.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/09/ice-arrests-immigrant-workers-liberty/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

Federal judge rules against ICE in the warrantless arrests of 11 KC-area workers

SEDGWICK COUNTY—The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatalcrash that occurred&nbsp;just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp; vehicle was northbound on Greenwich Road at Kansas 254. The driver failed to yield the right of way.

An eastbound vehicle struck struck the northbound vehicle. Investigators did not release names of those involved or additional information early Sunday.&nbsp; Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP investigating fatal 2-vehicle crash

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Their faces stare down from every street corner in Israel on posters now sun-faded and ripped. Their stories, told by anguished family members, are almost as well-known as celebrities. They are civilians and soldiers, fathers and sons. Some were at the Nova music festival, where almost 400 people were killed and dozens kidnapped.

The latest ceasefire, which began Friday, marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, when some 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped.

The fighting has killed 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children, and displaced around 90% of the Gaza population of some 2 million. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the United Nations and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties in Gaza.

There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-hostages-d37b0d5bb5ce4340f3a8a48533948da0">currently 48 hostages being held in Gaza</a>, including the body of one soldier from a previous war. Israel has determined that at least 25 of the hostages were killed on Oct. 7, 2023, or died while in captivity. It is unclear how many of the remaining around 20 hostages are still alive and will return to Israel. There is only one remaining female hostage, who Israel believes was killed in captivity.

With the start of the ceasefire on Friday, the remaining hostages are expected to be released within 72 hours. Israel is set to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

Here is a look at 22 hostages Israel believes are still alive.

Matan Angrest, an Israeli soldier, was kidnapped from his military tank in southern Israel. He is the oldest of four children from Kiryat Bialik, outside of Haifa. His family has been among the most vocal protesters and very critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Tuesday's two-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack, his mother, Anat Angrest, addressed her son at a rally. “I know you’re in pain, and I can’t hug you. I hear you whisper, ‘Come for me, Mom,’ and I can’t protect you," she said.

The fraternal twins were taken from their homes in kibbutz Kfar Aza, on the border with Gaza, during the Oct. 7 attack. Seventeen others were also abducted from Kfar Aza, but the Berman twins are the only hostages from the kibbutz who remain in captivity. The family has heard from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-02-01-2025-bb560151db1437d0b35ac1d568457a46">hostages who returned in a previous deal</a>&nbsp;that, as of February, the brothers were alive but being held separately.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-iran-ceasefire-hostages-a54bb1fa663c33f4153a727ec1e396ee">Liran Berman, their older brother</a>, said it’s the longest the two have ever spent apart. In Kfar Aza, the twins lived in apartments across from each other. Gali is more outgoing, while Ziv is more reserved and shy with a sharp sense of humor, their brother said.

Elkana Bohbot was kidnapped from the Nova music festival. In the past year, Hamas has published multiple videos of Bohbot, filmed under duress, including one where he has a fake telephone conversation with his wife, Rivka; their son, Reem; his mother and his brother — pleading with them to help him get out of Gaza. His son made binoculars in kindergarten which he often uses to go out and “look for his father,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-hostages-trump-99529bfc998abe2c1851fbfbf2f728ab">according to Bohbot’s mother, Ruhama</a>.

Braslavski was working as a security guard at the Nova festival. He attempted to help festival goers evacuate and was wounded in both hands before being kidnapped, witnesses said. In August, the Islamic Jihad militant group released a video of a skeletal Braslavski sobbing and pleading for his life, adding that injuries to his foot prevent him from standing. The videos of Braslavski and Evyatar David digging his own grave horrified Israelis, sparking some of the largest attendance in months at weekly protests.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-hostages-hunger-videos-c9951a33a7f8d47d4ad77705d1267fbd">His father, Ofir, said</a>&nbsp;Rom is usually a strong, happy-go-lucky kid, and that video is the first time he’s seen his son cry.

Nimrod Cohen was kidnapped from a tank where he was stationed as a soldier in southern Israel. Cohen is obsessed with Rubik's cubes, his family said, and a burned Rubik's cube was found in the tank he was abducted from. This year, his mother, Viki Cohen,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-passover-hostages-gaza-afc2e5c267a64cbd7bd8a0cd505534b8">illustrated a Passover haggadah</a>, the text laying out the rituals and story recited during the Passover holiday, in honor of hostages, partly because her family has stopped celebrating holidays since the attack. “We don’t gather as a family, because it reminds us how much he is missing,” Cohen said. The only time the extended family gathers is at protests, she said.

The youngest of four Cunio brothers, Ariel was kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz with his girlfriend, Arbel Yehoud, and her brother, Dolev, a married father of four who was later killed in captivity. According to news reports, Cunio and Yehoud had returned from an extended trip to South America weeks before the attack and had just adopted a puppy. Yehoud was released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-01-30-2025-3cc7131495a60ce2bda73ca691abb7c8">during the ceasefire in January</a>.

David Cunio, brother of Ariel Cunio, was kidnapped with his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-hostages-cunio-captivity-869241bb259b00a8f98817edf89b0bc8">Sharon, and their 3-year-old twins</a>&nbsp;from the Nir Oz kibbutz. Sharon’s sister Danielle and her 5-year-old daughter, who were visiting, also were kidnapped. All were released in November, except for David Cunio. In July, Sharon shared a photo of the twins marking their fifth birthday, their second without their father, writing on Facebook that the girls have changed so much while he’s been in captivity that “they’re not the same little girls he knew.”

Evyatar David was taken hostage at the Nova music festival along with his childhood friend, Guy Gilboa-Dalal. In August, Hamas released a video of David, gaunt and pale, who said he was digging his own grave. The condition of the hostages in the videos horrified Israelis and led tens of thousands of protesters to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-war-witkoff-hostage-tel-aviv-b90fe087e8254179667e0cd6094cd438">take to the streets</a>&nbsp;and demand a ceasefire deal, in one of the largest turnouts for the weekly hostage protests in months.

Guy Gilboa-Dalal was among those abducted from the Nova music festival, while his brother managed to escape. In the past year, he’s appeared in two videos released by Hamas. In one, he appears alongside his childhood friend, David, with militants filming them pleading for their freedom in a vehicle while they watch three other hostages on stage being released to the Red Cross.

Maksym Harkin was abducted from Nova, which was the first festival he had ever attended, according to his family. Harkin was born in Ukraine and moved to Israel with his family, where he lived in Tirat HaCarmel in the north. He has a 3-year-old daughter and was the primary provider for his mother and 11-year-old brother. Just before he was taken, his mother said he sent a final text message that said, “I love you.” In July, Hamas released a video of him filmed under duress several months prior.

Eitan Horn, originally from Kfar Saba, was visiting his brother Iair at the Nir Oz kibbutz on Oct. 7. Both were kidnapped. For most of the war, the two were held with three other hostages in a filthy cell underground. In early February, militants filmed the emotional interaction between the brothers as they were told that Iair would be released and Eitan would stay in Gaza. Since his release,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-palestinian-hamas-hostages-humanitarian-aid-b8d65cfaaabf7f747301bcdac1f5314f">Iair Horn has campaigned for his brother</a>&nbsp;and the other hostages, flying frequently to the United States and meeting with politicians.

Bipin Joshi arrived in Israel from his native Nepal a month before the attack. He is the only non-Israeli hostage believed to be alive in Gaza. He came to Israel on a student exchange to work and study agriculture at kibbutz Alumim on the Gaza border. Ten of the 17 Nepali students in the program were killed during the attack. Joshi, who was able to throw a number of live grenades out of the bomb shelter where they were hiding, was injured and kidnapped. Joshi’s sister, 17-year-old Pushpa Joshi,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nepal-israel-hamas-hostage-db2badc65a3dcc8a7b61e22076aa6772">regularly travels eight hours each direction</a>&nbsp;on buses to Kathmandu from her home in western Nepal to lobby officials to secure her brother’s release. In August, his family traveled to Israel to meet with President Isaac Herzog and join families demonstrating in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square.

Segev Kalfon was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, where he was last seen attempting to flee militants along the highway. Before the attack, he worked at his family’s bakery in Dimona, in southern Israeli. The middle child of three, Kalfon had recently been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a condition his family has highlighted in urging his release. Kalfon’s family received a sign of life from him after the last ceasefire, when some of the hostages said they were held with him for months. Kalfon’s family has focused on religious rituals in their fight for his release, including traveling to the grave of prominent rabbis and dedicating a Torah scroll in his honor.

Bar Kupershtein was working at the Nova festival as a security guard when he was abducted. Witnesses said Kupershtein stayed at the festival to try to provide first aid to people who had been shot and injured. Kupershtein was the main financial support for his family after his father was severely injured in an accident several years ago, his aunt, Ora Rubinstein, told reporters. She said that his father worked with a physical therapist to regain the ability to speak, so he could meet with politicians to advocate for his son’s release. He has told the family that he will walk again when his son comes home, she said.

Local

Region

Sports

Announcements