By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Friday's annual fall art walk is the 41st for the Hays Arts Council and will feature&nbsp;"To the Stars," a national exhibition of the Society of Layerists in Multi-Media, which can be seen in the arts center.

Among the art walks, the fall event traditionally draws the largest number of participants, with college students back in town, school starting and vacation season ending.

The layerists society's members include local and regional artists, including Kathleen Kuchar, Hays, who helped Meder organize the national exhibition with 82 pieces.

"It's a mixed bag. This group has a very holistic (approach) and the concept of layering ideas. A lot of the work is not objective. It's color, and it's form. It's richly textured. There are some more representational things," Brenda Meder, Hays Arts Council executive director, said, "but it's just an explosion of color. A lot of good moments and messages run through their work."

Hays will be host to a conference of the layerists society next month.

For the first time, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1805 Vine, will join in the art walk as it shares its recently painted interior of traditional Romanesque art and design within modern structural architecture.

"It's really exciting to see how this all comes together," Meder said.&nbsp;

The church will be open to the public from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Other exhibitions include live music, wood carvings, paintings and drawings, quilt and fiber art, prints, photography, stained glass, ceramics,&nbsp; original hat designs and book signings by the authors.

The Hays Symphony will kick off its season with a concert in the downtown pavilion at 7:30 p.m. featuring "Summer Pops: A Night at the Movies."

Most of the exhibitions are in downtown Hays businesses and at Fort Hays State University and are available from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The K-State Research and Extension Master Gardeners will welcome visitors to open houses at their perennial/pollinator and vegetable trial gardens at the Agricultural Research Center, 1232 240th Ave., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

"A really broad, fabulous array of what the arts are in our community. There are the visual arts, there are the performing arts and there are the literary arts," Meder said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Friday's annual fall art walk is the 35th for Meder. It will also be her last art walk as she eases into retirement.

A public retirement reception, hosted by the board of directors, will be in the Hays Arts Center, 112 E. 11th, where the walk's anchor attraction will also be featured.

"It'll be fun," Meder said, "but if people come just to see me, then I haven't done my job."

A complete list of all the stops, some of which will also be open Saturday, is available on the Hays Arts Council's <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/916bb38b-09bf-4c28-bf9f-4da5a0b67707/downloads/b7015556-b3d3-4f94-9fcf-09c48f41d231/Fall%20Walk%20online%20copy.pdf?ver=1755449801447">website</a>.

🎙 Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk to feature mixed media artists

Karen Runnion, the sister of Kelvin Bullock, said he was last seen in Hays and urged farmers to check fields, unused barns and wooded areas because he is homeless.

Runnion said that Bullock also goes by the names of KB and Pud.&nbsp;

Hays man still missing

Kat's Hallmark announced today via Facebook that it will be closing in early 2026.

We absolutely love our community and have truly cherished our time 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴. Creating a warm and welcoming gift boutique in the historic JC Penney’s building has been a dream come true!

&nbsp;After 𝟏𝟎 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 of sharing Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, greeting cards, treasured gifts and home décor with our customers, friends and family, we will be closing our doors in early 2026. This decision comes from what is best for our family, as life—and the industry we’ve been blessed to be a part of—continues to take new turns.&nbsp;&nbsp;

So what does this mean for you? It means we’re going to make this holiday season one to remember! We’re bringing in lots of fun, trendy new gift lines along with the timeless favorites we’ve all grown to love.

We are beyond excited to enjoy these next few months with you — our wonderful community that has supported us every step of the way.

Kat's Hallmark announces it will close in 2026

Congratulations to James Rome from Ellis and Dustin Roths from Hays on becoming finalists in the Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway at National Radio Day at Eagle on Wednesday. The golf cart will be given away at this year’s OKTOBERFEST on Friday, September 26!&nbsp; 

Special thanks to A &amp; A Coors Yuengling for this great giveaway!

Eagle Radio finalists named for Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway

Congratulations to John Kaba and Darin Myers from Hays, our latest finalists in the Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Their names were selected as finalists at National Radio Day at Eagle on Wednesday, Aug 20. &nbsp; 

Special thanks to Briney Motorsports, Advantage Glass Plus, Commercial Sign Company, and A &amp; A Coors Miller of Hays!

Eagle Radio finalists named for Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway

FHSU crime log: Aug. 15-21, 2025

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

Free Community Shred Day offered by Bank of Hays

Great Plains/Land Pride BSB City of Lucas Maupin BBQ Bluestem Quarry &amp; Stoneworks Lynn's Glass Works Kansas Power Pool Leach &amp; Naegeie Rentschler Family Mortuaries Ellsworth County Medical Center Home Oil Service Russell Regional Hospital Brant's Market Garden of Eden Insurance Smart Lucas/Sylvan News Lucas Area Community Theater Wilson Communications Russell County CVB/ED United Ag Service Lucas Liquor Standing Dog Studio Down Home Web Solutions

3 Kansas juveniles injured after pickup, semi crash

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A Hugoton man allegedly battered a woman while on the dance floor at Chuck's, 507 W. Seventh St.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said 24-year-old David Cruz-Soto was arrested on alleged charges of aggravated sexual battery and interference with law enforcement after he resisted arrest.

Scheibler said officers were dispatched to the bar at about 12:51 a.m. on Aug. 16 after a woman reported being battered. The woman said a Hispanic man allegedly came up behind her, touched her inappropriately and then put his arm around her neck, choking her.

Scheibler said the woman was able to get away and officers found the suspect inside the establishment. He said the victim did not suffer injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Hugoton man allegedly batters woman in Hays bar

&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

Hays High Sept. 4 soccer game cancelled

The Hays City Commission and the Russell City Council will have a joint meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Russell City Hall, 133 W. Eighth St., Russell.

The topic of discussion will be the joint development of the R9 water supply.

Hays, Russell city leaders to discuss R9 development Aug. 27 in Russell

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

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Countryside Estates MHP, Hays KS public water supply system located in Ellis County.

This advisory does not affect customers who receive water from the City of Hays or the Ellis County Rural Water public water supplies.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

The advisory took effect on August 20, 2025 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 of a loss of pressure due to water main breaks. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) 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 308-629-7874, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:

<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/1/01000198c7cf103e-b5dd857c-0c66-491f-97af-6acfb416de7f-000000/K-ttGxp_qLoiwLVNNGSosH35J2YOwLctNbOZJYIYxBE=419">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 Countryside Mobile Home Estates in Hays

Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Smith Center public water supply system located in Smith County. 

The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the City of Smith Center indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind notice following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 785-282-3812 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage:&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/1/01000198c7d5cfe1-90876970-fc05-4764-9a29-d719ffec7777-000000/4h5BJoIFe_zZg571dAAEBXrYQlO7Ky8M127R5fpYU-0=419">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>.

Boil Water Advisory for Smith Center rescinded

LOGAN — The 47th annual Logan Labor Day Celebration will take place Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the Logan Golf Course, located 1.25 miles east of Logan on Highway 9. 

Sponsored by the Hansen Museum with funds from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, this family-friendly tradition is free and open to all.

Festivities kick off at 10:00 a.m. with the Dane G. Bales Jr. Memorial Car Show, a community favorite since 1998. This year’s featured vehicle is Michael Ghumm’s stunning 1955 Pontiac Chieftain. Arrive before 4:00 p.m. to admire everything from sleek classic coupes and muscle cars to antique pickups and eye-catching hot rods.

Sand Volleyball Tournament – Gather your friends for some friendly competition! Teams must include three men and three women, all 16 years or older. First-place winners receive 50% of the purse plus t-shirts; second place earns meal tickets and t-shirts; third place takes home t-shirts. Register online at hansenmuseum.org/labor-day-celebration or on-site by 10:30 a.m. the day of the event. The tournament begins at 11:00 a.m.

Family Fun All Day – From 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., kids can bounce, climb, and race on the inflatable obstacle course, take a turn on the 9-hole mini golf course, or enjoy the bouncy house. At 2:00 p.m., the Siruta Pedal Pullers State-Sanctioned Kid’s Tractor Pull begins—winners advance to compete at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

Food &amp; Refreshments – Satisfy your appetite with tasty offerings from the Logan Junior Class Food Booth, The Corn Kettle, and Buck’s Snow Shack—serving lunch, supper, and snacks in between.

Museum Exhibit: ASTRONAUT – The Hansen Museum will be open from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m., offering the perfect afternoon break from the Labor Day Celebration. Festivities at the golf course slow down between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m., making it a great time to stop by and experience ASTRONAUT—an interactive, hands-on exhibit where you can train for space travel, “launch” into orbit, and explore life aboard the International Space Station. Free and fully accessible, this exhibition is a must-see for all ages.

Evening Entertainment &amp; Fireworks – At 5:30 p.m., the stage comes alive with the high-energy sounds of The Innocence from Kearney, Nebraska. Their diverse playlist ranges from Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl to Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk, offering something for every musical taste and keeping the crowd entertained right up until sunset. The evening wraps up with a spectacular fireworks display by Rainbow Fireworks of Inman, Kansas—lighting up the night sky for miles.

Join us for a day full of cars, competition, family fun, great food, live music, and fireworks at the 47th Annual Logan Labor Day Celebration. 

For more information, call the Hansen Museum at 785-689-4846 or visit www.hansenmuseum.org. 

Admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Logan hosts 47th-annual Labor Day celebration August 31

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post

A new interdenominational organization for moms will hold its first meeting from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at North Oak Community Church, 3000 Oak St.

“The MomCo. is a faith-based community of moms with children of any age who meet together to be an encouragement and support to one another in our walk through motherhood and our relationship with Jesus,” said Alicia Kumer, one of the group’s leaders.

She said the organization was once known as MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and was geared to moms of younger children. But the new organization invites moms of all ages, Kumer said. Moms with grown children and grandmothers are welcome to attend and sometimes even become “mentor moms” to some of the younger members, she said.

Free childcare will be provided. Kumer said it will be helpful if moms could call the church at 785-628-8887 to let organizers know how many children will be accompanying them.

She said the group will meet the second Saturday of the month from September through May. More information is available by calling the above number.

New faith organization for moms to hold first meeting

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

The advisory was issued because the city could not maintain the minimum required chlorine residual. Failure to maintain required chlorine residual levels may put the system at risk for bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from Bunker Hill indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 785-324-0187 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage:&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/1/01000198c2eb1475-e44be482-7acb-4a59-9654-aac15d8075e0-000000/crrMNb5Fe6KxUw_3j5x8BG3gtor4MSL8HURsnWw8hzo=418">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service</a>.

Boil Water Advisory rescinded for Bunker Hill

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement arrested four men earlier this month who were seeking to have sex with 14-year-old girls as part of a broader law enforcement operation to combat human trafficking occurring in communities north and east of Kansas City, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.

The following suspects have been charged with felony attempted enticement of a child.

- Nicholas M. Meisenhelter, 32, of Shawnee, Kan.

- Simon Gomez-Cruz, 22, of Kansas City, Kan. He also is under investigation by federal authorities for possible immigration law violations.

- Jorge Arguello-Benitez, 48, of Kansas City, Mo.

- Elpidio Lopez-Alonzo, 23, of Kansas City, Mo.

The suspects believed they were corresponding with a 14-year-old girl online, who turned out to be under-cover Clay County Sheriff’s Office detectives. When they attempted to meet the girl in person, deputies arrested them instead.

In the operation on Aug. 7 and 8, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office was part of a coalition of Northland law enforcement agencies who combined efforts to fight this crime. The Clay, Clinton, Platte, and Ray County sheriffs and the Kearney Police Department each hosted a proactive counter-trafficking operation in their jurisdiction. They were assisted substantially by the Cameron Police, Richmond Police, Kansas City International Airport Police, Kansas City, Kan., Police, and Riverside Police Departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Social Services - State Technical Assistance Team, and Homeland Security Investigations. Technical assistance was provided by the Bourbon County (KS) Sheriff, Butler County (KS) Sheriff, Goodyear (AZ) Police, Greenwood County (KS) Sheriff, Mesa (AZ) Police and Peoria (AZ) Police.

This operation was designed from the beginning to reduce the demand for victimization of victim-survivors of sex trafficking in these communities, connect to and provide critical services and support to these potential victims, and especially deter any suspect attempting to prey upon children who have been enslaved by the commercial sex industry. The total results for this operation were:

- Seven suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex with a child

- Three suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex

- Two suspects arrested for promoting prostitution for recruiting a person to engage in prostitution. One suspect in this case was ultimately booked for kidnapping and sexual assault after excellent work by the investigators revealed additional crimes that were occurring in another jurisdiction. A victim-survivor was recovered and placed into aftercare.

- Eight potential sex trafficking survivors met with local advocates from Value Unconditional and Relentless Pursuit Outreach and Recovery, with technical assistance provided by ICTSOS, a Wichita-based anti-human-trafficking organization. Many of them are now receiving advocacy and aftercare support.

Sex sting arrest: 2 Kan. men thought they were meeting 14-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;took a field trip Thursday to the U.S. Park Police operations facility in Washington, where he addressed about 300 National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officials and praised his military crackdown on crime and immigration in the city.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-washington-dc-federal-immigration-deportation-81e3493e73e8af1ecce47af23d9911f4">White House said there have been 630 arrests</a>, including 251 people who are in the country illegally, since Aug. 7, when Trump began ordering federal agents into the city. Trump has been ratcheting up the intensity since then, seizing control of the D.C. police department on Aug. 11 and deploying more National Guard troops, mostly from Republican-led states.

Trump suggested that operations in Washington could be drawn out and serve as a model for others around the country.

“We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to go on to other places, but we’re going to stay here for a while,” he said.

Trump says he’ll ask Congress for money to support his DC federal intervention and plans to beautify Washington

“We’re going back to Congress for some money and we’re going to redo a lot of the pavement, the medians,” he said at the U.S. Park Service facility. “The graffiti is going to come down real fast.”

He didn’t say when he’d send the request to Congress or how much money he’ll be asking for.

Trump said he’ll be redoing parks in the city with new grass and new sprinkler systems, and replacing signage throughout the capital.

He said he knows a lot about grass because he owns a lot of golf courses.

“We have a life and grass has a life, and the grass here died about 40 years ago,” Trump said. “Let’s say, at the end of a year, this place will be maxed out in terms of beauty.”

Trump says he’s there to thank National Guard forces

Standing outside the U.S. Park Police facility as Trump arrived were approximately 300 men and women with various agencies, including DEA, ATF, US Marshals, National Guard and the FBI. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were also on hand.

Trump said he came to thank National Guard troops, and he talked about efforts to quickly reduce crime as well as removing graffiti, fixing medians and repairing roads.

“We’re going to have the best capital ever,” he said. “It’s going to look better than it ever did.”

🎥President Trump's field trip to thank police and troops in DC

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a drug bust at a Kansas home.

Based on an intensive investigation by the Brown&nbsp; County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force,&nbsp; a search warrant was applied for and granted for a residence at 645 West 13th Street in Horton, Kansas, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Just after 7:30 p.m. August 19, deputies initiated the search warrant at that residence.&nbsp; Approximately 7 grams of Methamphetamine, Over 2 pounds of Marijuana, various meth pipes, bongs, marijuana pipes, scales, grinders, baggies&nbsp; and numerous&nbsp; firearms were located as well as a .22 pistol which was&nbsp; confirmed stolen out of Michigan and&nbsp; seized as evidence.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Up onconclusion of the warrant, Gayleen Koon&nbsp;&nbsp; 43 Horton was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of DrugParaphernalia, Distribution of Meth 3.5&lt;100 Grams, Distribution ofMarijuana 450 Grams&gt;30 KG and No Drug Tax Stamp.&nbsp; Horton police assisted with the investigation.

Deputies seize meth, marijuana and stolen gun at Kansas home

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced on Thursday that the measles outbreak affecting southwest Kansas has officially ended. 

Two full incubation periods, for a total of 42 days, have passed since the last confirmed case was reported. As there is not an active outbreak in southwest Kansas, KDHE is no longer recommending the early measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination dose for infants 6-11 months old. Health care providers should now refer to the standard childhood schedule for MMR administration.

As of August 21, 2025, 87 cases of measles have been confirmed in the outbreak, which began in January 2025. More than 80 percent of the cases were children, and over 90 percent of the cases were not vaccinated against measles. Eight people were hospitalized over the course of the outbreak.&nbsp;

“We are deeply grateful to all of the public health, health care and laboratory professionals who partnered with us and worked tirelessly throughout this measles outbreak,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“Your compassion, skill and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe did not go unnoticed and are appreciated beyond measure.”&nbsp;

The end of the recent outbreak does not mean the threat of measles is over. Since there are many ongoing outbreaks of measles in North America and around the world, it is possible that there will be additional cases of measles introduced into Kansas this year. KDHE and local health departments will continue to monitor for new cases and health care providers should remain vigilant and test for measles if their patients have compatible symptoms. As the new school year begins, officials urge all residents to ensure they and their families are up to date on vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine, which remains the most effective defense against measles.&nbsp;

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs. During a measles outbreak, about one in five children who get sick will need hospital care, and one in 20 will develop pneumonia. Rarely, measles can lead to swelling of the brain and death. It can also cause pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and babies with low birth weight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Providers should report any suspected cases to the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317, option 5, immediately, preferably while the patient is still with the provider.

For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records and answers to common questions, visit the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce66aa2c-4e2d5390-ca08-47bc-96b5-ce5a2d53c995-000000/vSz8VSaNW-mB1JhdMnc6I9MDfKnnaJRF4I1FdGOz2UI=419">KDHE Measles Resource Hub</a>.

KDHE: Measles outbreak is over after 90 cases in Kansas

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — At least 600 employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are receiving permanent termination notices in the wake of a recent court decision that protected some CDC employees from layoffs but not others.

The notices went out this week and many people have not yet received them, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 2,000 dues-paying members at CDC.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday did not offer details on the layoffs and referred an AP reporter to a March statement that said restructuring and downsizing were intended to make health agencies more responsive and efficient.

AFGE officials said they are aware of at least 600 CDC employees being cut.

But “due to a staggering lack of transparency from HHS,” the union hasn’t received formal notices of who is being laid off,” the federation said in a statement on Wednesday.

The permanent cuts include about 100 people who worked in violence prevention. Some employees noted those cuts come less than two weeks after a man fired at least 180 bullets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emory-university-shooting-atlanta-407f755f2db20dbab7d04981614f1428">into the CDC’s campus</a>&nbsp;and killed a police officer.

“The irony is devastating: The very experts trained to understand, interrupt and prevent this kind of violence were among those whose jobs were eliminated,” some of the affected employees wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apha.org/publications/public-health-newswire/public-health-newswire/articles/shooting-at-cdc" target="_blank">blog post</a>&nbsp;last week.

On April 1, the HHS officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">sent layoff notices</a>&nbsp;to thousands of employees at the CDC and other federal health agencies, part of a sweeping overhaul designed to vastly shrink the agencies responsible for protecting and promoting Americans’ health.

Many have been on administrative leave since then — paid but not allowed to work — as lawsuits played out.

A federal judge in Rhode Island last week issued a preliminary ruling that protected employees in several parts of the CDC, including groups dealing with smoking, reproductive health, environmental health, workplace safety, birth defects and sexually transmitted diseases.

But the ruling did not protect other CDC employees, and layoffs are being finalized across other parts of the agency, including in the freedom of information office. The terminations were effective as of Monday, employees were told.

Affected projects included work to prevent rape, child abuse and teen dating violence. The laid-off staff included people who have helped other countries to track violence against children — an effort that helped give rise to an international&nbsp;<a href="https://endviolenceagainstchildrenconference.org/" target="_blank">conference</a>&nbsp;in November at which countries talked about setting violence-reduction goals.

“There are nationally and internationally recognized experts that will be impossible to replace,” said Tom Simon, the retired senior director for scientific programs at the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention.

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

Union: Hundreds of CDC employees receive permanent layoff notices

FORD COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Thursday released additional details on its investigation into a student athlete found unconscious in rural Ford County on Thursday, Aug. 7.

An 18-year-old female student, now age 19, was found around 5:35 p.m. Aug. 7, in a field after a Dodge City Community College cross-country practice. She was taken to a local hospital, and was then flown to a Wichita hospital to be treated for heat-related injuries.

The KBI joined the investigation at the request of the Ford County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 12, when aspects of the case appeared suspicious. After further investigation, investigators did not find evidence that a criminal act occurred.

The student continues to receive treatment for her injuries at a Wichita hospital. She is currently in serious condition.

SW Kan. student athlete remains hospitalized after heat-related injuries

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—A suspect in Saturday’s double-homicide in the 1600 block of Washington Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas has been arrested and charged, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas Police.

With the assistance of U.S. Marshals, 119-year-old Jimi L. St. Clair,&nbsp; was taken into custody Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. 

St. Clair, is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail awaiting extradition to Wyandotte County where he has been charged with two counts of second degree murder in the shooting deaths of&nbsp; Victor Loza, 23, Bonner Springs and Tyler Wheeler, 26, of Kansas City, Kansas.

St. Clair has also been charged with one count of attempted second degree murder for the woman who was wounded in the shooting.

U.S. Marshals help catch Kansas double-homicide suspect

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

Black SUVs whizzing by were the first hint an immigration raid might be imminent.

A Kansas City man riding his bike along the Trolley Track Trail felt his initial fear confirmed when a Waldo area construction site came into view.

He saw handcuffed laborers, men he assumed to be Latino, being questioned by other men in tactical gear.

“My full intent was to stop and let them know that someone was watching,” said the man, who didn’t want to be&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/editorial-standards/#unnamedsources" target="_blank">publicly identified</a>.

He wasn’t the only one who saw what many assumed was an immigration raid in the heart of Waldo in mid-July.

Others shared their outrage on social media. And the man riding his bike took photos and a video that showed some of the men wore tactical gear marked U.S. Marshals Service.

The construction workers were released when a small crowd of bystanders gathered, some drawn from businesses along Wornall Road. Tensions quickly escalated as bystanders began yelling and cursing. At least one agent who identified himself as a U.S. marshal cursed back, said the man who took photos.

The incident is now part of a growing list being documented by local advocates for immigrant rights. They’re tracking dozens of possible immigration actions, watching for patterns and trying to tamp down unsubstantiated rumors before they spread.

The Waldo incident has not been confirmed as an immigration raid.

So far, only about a dozen incidents in the Kansas City area have been verified as immigration enforcement actions since President Donald Trump took office in late January, according to Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, or&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/" target="_blank">AIRR</a>.

Many more reported incidents could not be verified, or simply turned out to be someone receiving a ticket for a traffic violation, with no issues involving immigration.

Amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, civil rights advocates nationally and locally are&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/blog/2025/02/06/how-know-your-rights-workshops-are-empowering-immigrants/" target="_blank">emphasizing training</a>&nbsp;for bystanders and a heightened attention to nonviolent protests.

Janet Murguía understands that Latinos and other allies are angry about reports of federal officials arresting people at workplaces, in their homes and even when they go, as directed, to immigration court.

“But that outrage needs to be targeted in the right ways,” said Murguía, the president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">UnidosUS</a>. “It cannot give more fuel to this administration to … bring in more law enforcement.”

UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. The group held its&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/04/mass-deportation-latino-civil-rights-kansas-city-unidosus/" target="_blank">annual convention</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.

Training in nonviolence while advocating for immigrant rights was a recurring theme during the conference.

The actions of even one rambunctious protester can quickly escalate and incite others. Often unsubstantiated rumors spread quickly via social media.

The Department of Homeland Security reports escalating numbers of attacks on federal immigration agents and other federal partners, which can include the U.S. Marshals Service.

A June&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/07/dhs-releases-statement-violent-rioters-assaulting-ice-officers-los-angeles-ca-and" target="_blank">DHS release</a>&nbsp;following the outbreak of protests in Los Angeles said there had been a 413% increase in assaults against federal agents from the same time last year. It also said that agents and their families had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/11/anarchists-and-rioters-portland-illegally-dox-ice-officers-and-federal-law" target="_blank">doxed</a>, which has been a reason that the government has given to defend the use of face masks.

The fact that a bystander had a child present during the July arrests of 11 workers at two area El Toro Loco restaurants was also called out in a Homeland Security statement.

“ICE was carrying out a criminal federal search warrant to rescue victims of human trafficking. Extremists and activists, one with their child in tow, tried to interfere with law enforcement by storming the restaurant, calling law enforcement Nazis, and attempting to keep officers from leaving the scene,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.

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