By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

After the death of Charlie Kirk, a Fort Hays State University student is reviving a Turning Point USA Chapter to turn tragedy into dialogue.

"The initial inspiration was definitely what happened on the 10th," Tyler Preisser, president of FHSU Turning Point USA, said. "The biggest reason was that there were so many kids actually interested after what happened."

After Kirk’s assassination, Turning Point USA <a href="https://x.com/tpusa/status/1968825732974399957?s=46">announced on its official X page that by Sept. 18, more than 62,000 high school and college students across the country had requested to start a chapter or join an existing one</a>.

The FHSU chapter has about 45 members and is planning its next event for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Memorial Union. The event will feature an open-mic discussion, inviting students and community members to share and debate their viewpoints respectfully.

On Sept. 30, Turning Point and College Republicans hosted Former Gov. Jeff Colyer, who reflected on his career and outlined his plans for Kansas' future.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/af650bef-0c19-4f73-b418-bded940b0b7a">SEE RELATED STORY: Former Gov. Jeff Colyer shares vision for Kansas at FHSU</a>

The club hopes to start a podcast, bring in more political speakers and have sessions in the quad to engage with others and answer questions.

"It's OK for us to disagree on things and still coexist and be friends. ... It's also to carry on Charlie's legacy and what he was trying to do," Preisser said.

Preisser said Turning Point had a presence at FHSU in the past but faded due to poor management. The group now has several officers and is collaborating with other organizations, including the FHSU Young Democrats, to encourage open discussions.

"We don't just want to have a big meeting with a bunch of people who agree with us. That's not the point," Preisser said. "The point is to share differing opinions, perspectives, beliefs on life and also be able to humanize each other."

Preisser said the surge of interest led him to partner with the FHSU College Republicans to officially register the group, aiming to involve younger students to keep the organization active for years to come. This is Preisser’s final year at the university.

"I have always been involved in the conservative movement, as well as being a Christian. I've watched Charlie Kirk since I was a freshman in high school," he said.

You can follow FHSU Turning Point on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581456397454">Facebook</a>.

Turning Point USA chapter returns to FHSU

Kansas Department of Transportation

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place Sept. 17 in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

The following project was approved from the Aug. 29 construction letting.

Ellis County bridge among projects approved by Kansas Dept. of Transportation

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

Last week I researched the relationship between milkweed and Monarch butterflies and felt comfortable saying that plant makes those orange-winged wonders toxic to predators. While true in many cases, I discovered in my own flower bed that some common garden critters devour those fluttering visitors without ill effect. For example, Charlotte, our resident yellow orb garden spider devoured one within a couple days after trapping it in her giant web and still lives.

Some of my friends can’t talk about spiders let alone enjoy watching them, but this variety of garden spider is a a garden good guy. Along with jumping spiders, they make friendly, non-venomous neighbors with entertaining antics. As a bonus, orb weavers eat insects like grasshoppers that I don’t want gnawing holes in leaves, tomatoes, and other produce. In fact, this one established her expansive web in a grasshopper-rich section of our flower bed. We watched several incidents over the summer where she’d capture a bristly-legged destruction machine, wrap it in silk, and then leisurely dine al fresco.

As moon phases repeated, Charlotte’s web changed, I researched this species and learned they recycle webs. When the silk fibers thin and weaken, these dramatic hour glass-shaped female yellow and black, long-legged arachnids eat old silk and recycle its protein into a new one. An identifying marker of its trap is a zig-zag patch somewhere near mid-section, which researchers suggest adds strength for catching large prey like grasshoppers and big butterflies. True to form, our girl’s webs incorporated that signature design.

Depending on food supply, Charlotte appears thin or plump. Her combined head and thorax were more than an inch-and-a-half long with even longer legs when I noticed her in June. She hasn’t grown noticeably bigger so the insects she eats simply sustain her. At one time, I thought a much smaller, plain-clothed male orb weaver visited and left her producing an egg sac, but, thankfully, baby spiders never emerged. Hordes of them might have altered my opinion about sharing space.

All this said, Charlotte caused distress several days ago. We love watching migrating monarchs in September and October. Some years, scores stop by, but this year has been slow. Six visiting at a time constitutes a good day. Apparently, one decided to sample nasturtiums near our orb weaver’s silken strands. Like grasshoppers and moths entrapped earlier, this transient wonder entangled itself in that complex netting.

By the time I found the monarch, Charlotte had encased it in silken fiber and was dining at her convenience. So what about those orange wings and milkweed-induced toxins? Was my pretty spider dying? Off to the keyboard to see what wisdom entomologists might impart. Apparently, these spiders safely consume monarchs either by eating around concentrated glycosides or by processing them without ill-effect. I searched for uneaten orange wings but saw none discarded amongst the dense greenery surrounding Charlotte’s web.

While I hope to send every monarch that visits our flowers safely to Mexican highlands to over-winter, I can’t blame Charlotte for harvesting the equivalent of a Thanksgiving turkey dinner. After all, a girl’s gotta protect her figure.

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Learning something new

<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

FHSU is hiring a Skilled Trades Technician position in the Energy Division

Training available for the right responsible and reliable individual

This position performs operation, maintenance and repair of industrial equipment as in boilers, generators, pumps and valves. Work involves all aspects of boiler operation and steam distribution to include general maintenance and repair of related Energy Division/Power Plant equipment. Follow written and oral procedures, reading and recording gauges and water testing.

Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a High School Diploma or equivalent as well as one year of experience in a skilled craft area. Ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the university.

Many perks and excellent benefits! Application Process: To apply for this position, please visit FHSU Careers. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

Required Application Documents: Applicants must submit a resume.

Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.

Find more details and application instructions at: <a href="https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS">https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS</a>

HaysMed honors 162 associates with service awards

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

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

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Five candidates, including the three incumbents, participated in Monday night's Hays City Commission Forum at the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.

Reese Barrick, Sandy Jacobs, David Koshiol, Shaun Musil and David Vilaysing answered questions ranging from the budget and the R9 long-term water project, to low-income housing and economic development needs.

Candidates Samuel Allen, Justin Choitz and Candace Hathaway were not present for the forum. Kelly Ancar will be on the ballot for both a city and school board seat, but she has said she is only pursuing a school board seat.

Each of the three incumbents, Barrick, Jacobs and Musil, said they were running again in part to see the R9 water line, long-delayed by the judicial system, go online.&nbsp;

"I believe it's going to happen," said Musil, a Nex-Tech sales representative. "Our community and region is going to continue to grow. We're not taking away from Kinsley. We bought the water. ... We have by far the lowest water usage rate per person in the state, and we will continue to do that."&nbsp;

"We're getting extremely close to bringing sustainable water to Hays for the next 75 years," Sternberg Museum of Natural History Executive Director Barrick said. "In the recent past, we've had discussions with the governor's office, which has made water a priority for her administration. ... I think we need to have more discussions with the people of Edwards County and let them know we are being good neighbors."&nbsp;

"We've done everything by the book from day one," retired banker Jacobs said. "We're using water sustainably. ... The legal system is failing us. ... We've won everything substantive that Edwards County sues for."

"If I were elected," answered Vilaysing, "the first thing I would do is sit down and meet with all the parties involved to figure out where we're at and develop the game plan to push forward. ..."not just 10 years down the road but within the next four years."

 Vilaysing, a retired Hays Police officer, owns a private company that trains first responders across the country in effective communications.

Koshiol, a plumber for Auman Company, said he had changed his original stance on the situation, feeling that Hays was taking water from someone else. 

After looking at other possibilities, Koshiol said he doesn't see any other viable options.

"I think, at this point, we should leave it at litigation until it is settled. I think we've spent enough on this project," Koshiol said.

There was mostly consensus among the candidates that the city budget is streamlined, with no unnecessary spending.

Barrick said "priorities may shift," while Jacobs said "efficiencies can always be found." Vilaysing wanted to "get more out of the resources the city already has."

Koshiol specifically mentioned the bike lanes, saying he hears a lot of negative comments about the street markings.

"I know they're spoken about highly in public, but behind the scenes, I don't know many people who appreciate them.

"We can stop maintaining them," Koshiol said, "and it's just a little more money we can utilize for something that the bulk of the community will use."&nbsp;

Musil turned his focus to parks, noting that the ARC Park is the most utilized.

"I think we need to reprioritize on what we're putting in the parks, and it is something we're going to be talking about very soon," Musil said. "...&nbsp;I think we need to look at what we're maintaining and what we're sticking in the parks."

The lone audience applause of the night came when Vilaysing said he thought city commissioners should do their job without payment.&nbsp;

In January 2024, commissioners began receiving a <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/504ead11-c223-4107-8986-c7caca66fa41">$10,000 annual pay increase</a>. Their vote for the increase was unanimous.&nbsp;

"We did it in an effort to attract younger people, who are probably working, to run for the commission," Jacobs said.

Koshiol said he didn't think the pay was necessary, but understood the "carrot and stick approach" to young people.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR YOUNG FAMILIES

Although there are some projects that have moved forward in the affordable housing area, including the former Washington Grade School, Barrick said, "we do have some issues."

He said, "just getting started building houses will allow us to build more affordable housing in the future."&nbsp;

Jacobs thinks the city is already causing affordable housing to be built "as it can," but "we need to first really understand what affordable housing means. Asking a developer to build affordable housing in today's market with the cost of goods is just impossible. ... What we're doing today is causing housing to be built, which is freeing up (other) housing in our community."&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Koshiol said there are a number of options for the city. He suggested working with a land bank, flipping foreclosed homes, or purchasing vacant lots to invest in the community.

"We're trying to grow, but we're forgetting the bulk of our community,"&nbsp;Koshiol said. "The working class, the elderly, and our young adults are having a hard time finding a place that's affordable here."

Several development groups have come before the city asking for a letter of support in applying for federal or state funds to build affordable housing, but the developers have been turned down by those agencies, Musil said.&nbsp;

"Our goal is to build more houses and hopefully that opens up housing that is more affordable," he said. ... "City staff is working on (affordable housing planning) now, but it's a lot harder than it seems."

The most recent housing built in Hays is priced for the top 25 percent of income earners, Vilaysing said.&nbsp;

"The RHIDs (Reinvestment Housing Incentive District) leave it open to the developer to build whatever they want. I would suggest putting in a stipulation that you get the RHID if you build 'x' number of houses, and then you build one more house which meets the income qualifications of the medium to low-income people of the city of Hays," Vilaysing said.

He also suggested bringing modular homes into the city.

Each of the commissioners agreed the city should continue funding support for local nonprofits.

Musil said he'd like the total to be more, but that would "probably require a mill levy increase."

The&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7d615ae1-9b48-4ebd-9200-7c593c85db69">Hays mill levy has remained at 25 mills</a> or less for 17 years.&nbsp;

The forum was live-streamed by the FHSU Tiger Media Network and presented by the American Democracy Project, FHSU Student Government Association, FHSU Docking Institute of Public Affairs, Tiger Media Network and the Chamber in Hays.

City commission candidates talk housing, budget, R9 water project

&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

Area Pizza Hut fundraisers today for HPD Officer Scott Heimann family 

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Transportation is seeking input from the public on regional transportation priorities at Local Consult meetings across the state in October.

“Local Consult meetings are a great opportunity for those who use our highways to give feedback on the projects and improvements that are most important to them,” said District Three Engineer Jeff Stewart. “That feedback is important to help KDOT prioritize and identify projects that will best serve our communities.”

People in northwest Kansas (District 3) are invited to participate:

COLBY - 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 15: City Limits Convention Center, 2227 S. Range Ave.

Attendees will also hear about transportation investments being made in their area and learn about various grant funding programs available through KDOT.

STATEWIDE VIRTUAL MEETING - 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28:&nbsp;Please register in advance – visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.gov%2Flocal-consult-2025%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010199b9b4cec1-ff7a1d38-9138-4660-892b-63a458da4a6a-000000/VkUsBu5dZMEJq9oy5o7thBvm6cxFG-rjCzjWj8hCUgY=425">https://www.ksdot.gov/local-consult-2025</a>&nbsp;to attend the virtual meeting.

Local Consult meetings occur every two years to provide Kansans opportunities to ask questions and speak with local, state and federal officials about transportation needs across the state.

For more meeting or project information, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOT.Engagement@ks.gov">KDOT.Engagement@ks.gov</a>.

Local Consult meeting in Colby on Oct. 15 to focus on regional transportation priorities

The Healing Hearts Grief Support Group will have its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Please use the south entrance.

The speaker will be Dr. Tim Davis, chair of the social work department at Fort Hays State University. Davis will discuss grief and its long-term effects and then will facilitate the meeting's share and support session.&nbsp;

The Healing Hearts group welcomes any adult who has lost a loved one of any age. The group’s facilitator is Dr. Kate McGonigal, who teaches in the Sociology Department at Fort Hays State University.

Social work professor to address grief support group

By KENDRA FRASIER Cottonwood Extension District

Medicare can be challenging to navigate. 

If you are eligible, you know that enrolling in hospital insurance, Part B, supplemental coverage, and a drug plan can be overwhelming. 

The good news is that if you aren’t pleased with your current coverage, open enrollment allows you to make some changes. For example, you can review your current drug plan and see if it will be your best option next year. Since Part D plans tend to change yearly, it’s smart to see what that means for your coverage and costs.

The Cottonwood Extension District is here to help. Certified Senior Health Insurance Counselors in Kansas (SHICK) offer free, unbiased, and confidential Part D assistance to help you find the best drug plan. If you want to compare drug plans, switch plans, or shop around, we are available to visit with you and see what works best for your situation. Open Enrollment is from October 15 – December 7, and you can schedule an appointment today in Hays or Ellis with a certified counselor.

When you schedule an appointment with the Cottonwood District, you will receive a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug -Coverage Worksheet. Medicare beneficiaries need to list all prescription drugs taken, dosage, and 30-day quantity on the worksheet. Bring the worksheet, your Medicare card, and recent letters from Social Security or Medicare to your appointment. 

To schedule your appointment in Hays or Ellis, please call 785-628-9430.

Or if you are in surrounding areas such as Great Bend, Hoisington, Ellinwood, or Claflin, please call 620-793-1910 to schedule an appointment with Michelle Beran.

Karissa Frasier, M.S., is a Certified Community Health Worker for Cottonwood Extension District in Hays. You may reach her at 785-628-9430 or by email at&nbsp;krfrasier@ksu.edu.

FRASIER: Medicare Part D Open Enrollment

HPD Officer Scott Heiman to be honored by Breakfast for a Cause fundraiser

The Thursday, Sept. 9 Hays City Commission meeting has been canceled.

Thursday's Hays City Commission meeting canceled

When the Missouri Western State University football team takes the field next Saturday, it will honor one young man from Kansas City.

14-year-old Julius Byers suffered an injury on the first play of his high school football career, which left him partially paralyzed. Byers dreamed of playing football at MoWest.

President Elizabeth Kennedy says Byers story caught her attention and others within the athletics department.

"When he was in 8th grade, because he’s a freshman now at high school, but when he was in 8th grade he actually came to MoWest for a visit day, and got to see us, got to learn about us, got to probably see our stadium and what not, and came home from that field trip telling his dad he was going to play football at Missouri Western,” Kennedy tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Byers suffered his injury during a game against Lee's Summit High School.&nbsp; Three fractures in his neck, a concussion, and an incomplete spinal cord injury that has left both of his arms paralyzed.

Kennedy says during next week's game against Pittsburgh State, Byers will be at the game, serving as an honorary captain for the team

"He’ll have the opportunity to be on the field I believe, and it’s all about hey there are other people that care about you, people that you’ve not met, people that you just need to know are thinking of you and praying for you, and hoping that you have a good recovery,” Kennedy says. “And just sometimes offering hope in that regard can be very uplifting to people.”

Kennedy and head football coach Tyler Fenwick visited Byers and his family, gifting him with a jersey as well as surprising him with the honor of being named a captain.

Kennedy says they always talk at MoWest about being a family, and doing the right thing, and this is one of the ways they can prove it.

"We have tangible acts that we do to show people that we care,” Kennedy explains.

Kennedy says it was it was an amazing opportunity to show the family, they aren't alone

"Sometimes in circumstances like this it can feel very isolating and very lonely for families like this is their own private journey,” Kennedy says. “But just to let them know that you have other people, people that don’t even know you, are pulling for you and rooting for you, and that should hopefully be some inspiration for everyone.”

University honors KC area teen seriously injured in football game

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-funk">JOSH FUNK</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a>,&nbsp; AP Transportation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Airlines Writers

The federal government shutdown has entered its second week, and already shortages of air traffic controllers have strained operations and disrupted flights at some U.S. airports.

Reagan National Airport became the latest this week to report delays because of staffing issues on Wednesday. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-government-shutdown-air-traffic-3c6f0add8d591119b583b5cc4c581bdf">earlier in the week</a>&nbsp;there were also problems at airports in Chicago, Newark, Denver and Nashville, and the tower even had to shut down for several hours in Burbank, California.

Experts, as well as union leaders representing air traffic controllers and security screeners, warn that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-traffic-controllers-duffy-shutdown-stress-3bc9c88f7b2af413dee41720f6980b5d">the impact</a>&nbsp;could grow significantly worse if the shutdown continues and employees start to miss paychecks.

Here is what to know about your rights as a passenger and what you can do if delays and cancellations start piling up:

It is better to be stuck at home or in a hotel than to be stranded in an airport terminal, so use the airline’s app or flight websites to make sure that your flight is still on before heading to the airport. This&nbsp;<a href="https://nasstatus.faa.gov/" target="_blank">FAA site</a>&nbsp;can be checked to see if there are widespread delays at your airport.

Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, suggests also closely monitoring the news if you have upcoming travel plans.

“A deal, in theory, could come through Congress any day now, and that could put all of this doubt lingering over air travel to an end pretty quickly,” Potter said.

If you are already at the airport, it is time to find another flight. Get in line to speak to a customer service representative, and call or go online to connect to the airline’s reservations staff. It also helps to reach out on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, because airlines might respond quickly there.

Airlines will rebook you on a later flight for no additional charge. The good news right now is that this is not a peak travel time, so travelers stand a better chance of finding seats. But the busy holiday season is right around the corner, and at those peak times, passengers might have to wait days for a seat on a new flight.

If these problems do become more widespread, you might consider whether it makes sense to travel by train, car or bus instead. But there is really no way to predict when and where a staff shortage might happen, and the ongoing shortage of controllers is so critical that even a small number of absences can cause problems.

Potter said the shutdown is different from when a single airline is having problems and travelers can just pick another carrier. This is creating problems for entire airports at once.

“As these problems expand and spread the longer the shutdown drags on, it’s unlikely that there will be one airline running on time if the rest of the them are failing,” he said. “It’s going to affect the entire system over time.”

Can I ask to be booked on another airline?

You can, but airlines aren’t required to put you on another carrier’s flight. Some airlines, including the biggest ones except Southwest and the discount airlines, say they can put you on a partner airline. But even then it is often hit or miss.

Jeff Klee, the CEO of CheapAir.com, has recommended researching alternate flights while you wait to talk to an agent.

If you no longer want to take the trip, or have found another way of getting to your destination, the airline is legally required to refund your money, even if you bought a non-refundable ticket. It doesn’t matter why the flight was canceled.

“If the airline cancels your flight, you can say, ‘Alright. I will take a refund and get my money back,’ ” Potter said. “The important piece is that you get your payment returned to you. You’re not just settling for an airline voucher that may expire in a year or less.”

You are also entitled to a refund of any bag fees, seat upgrades or other extras that you didn’t get to use.

U.S. airlines are not required to pay additional cash compensation and cover lodging and meals for passengers who are stranded, even if a flight cancellation or a severe delay is the airline’s fault.

The Biden administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airlines-compensation-biden-administration-rules-3e1d8f6c47328c274161a4cdb0910c64">proposed a rule</a>&nbsp;that would have changed that and required airlines to pay passengers for delays and cancellations in more circumstances, with compensation proposed between about $200 and as high as $775. But the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-compensation-52d65b39d2cf063c43885e71bf88317c">scrapped that last month</a>, and the airlines praised him for doing so.

Each airline is different. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a site that lets consumers see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard" target="_blank">commitments that each carrier makes</a>&nbsp;for refunds and covering other expenses when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.

Travel insurance might help if you bought a policy when you booked or used a travel credit card that offers that product, but Potter said you shouldn’t assume you will be covered even if you have insurance. Check the fine print to see if you are covered in situations like this when a shortage of workers causes flight disruptions.

If many flights are canceled, airline agents will soon be overwhelmed by requests. If you’re traveling in a group with someone who has a higher status in the airline’s loyalty program, call using their frequent flyer number. You may get quicker service.

You also can try calling your airline’s international support number, which is usually listed online and may have shorter wait times.

Be nice. The agent is likely helping other frustrated travelers, too, and yelling won’t make them more willing to help. Remember, the cancellation isn’t their fault.

What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled during the US government shutdown

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in vehicle crash and fire that left a passenger dead is due back in court on Thursday.&nbsp;

Christian Sheppard, 33 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder and is scheduled to attend a arraignment hearing before Judge Tyler Roush, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He may enter a plea in the case.

On Dec. 29, police responded to a collision in the 200 block of N. Charles Street in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders found the vehicle that struck a tree and fence and caught fire. A passenger, identified as 32-year-old Chekiel Wright, died, and the driver, later identified as Sheppard was seriously injured.

On May 21, police arrested Sheppard.&nbsp; He met the requirement of a $250,000 bond and was released from custody, according to online jail records.

Arraignment hearing for Kansas driver in fatal crash and fire 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted down legislation Wednesday that would have put a check on President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;ability to use deadly military force against drug cartels after Democrats tried to counter the administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">extraordinary assertion of presidential war powers</a>&nbsp;to destroy vessels in the Caribbean.

The vote fell mostly along party lines, 48-51, with two Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, voting in favor and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voting against. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the measure.

It was the first vote in Congress on Trump’s military campaign, which according to the White House has so far&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-venezuela-drug-cartels-unlawful-combatants-1848b02febe08acacb82979d7da47dfb">destroyed four vessels</a>, killed at least 21 people and stopped narcotics from reaching the U.S.. The war powers resolution would have required the president to seek authorization from Congress before further military strikes on the cartels.

The Trump administration has asserted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">drug traffickers</a>&nbsp;are armed combatants threatening the United States, creating justification to use military force. But that assertion has been met with some unease on Capitol Hill.

Some Republicans are asking the White House for more clarification on its legal justification and specifics on how the strikes are conducted, while Democrats insist they are violations of U.S. and international law. It’s a clash that could redefine how the world’s most powerful military uses lethal force and set the tone for future global conflict.

The White House had indicated Trump would veto the legislation, and even though the Senate vote failed it gave lawmakers an opportunity to go on the record with their objections to Trump’s declaration that the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels.

“It sends a message when a significant number of legislators say, ‘Hey, this is a bad idea,’” said Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat who pushed the resolution alongside Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California.

Wednesday's vote was brought under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was intended to reassert congressional power over the declaration of war.

“Congress must not allow the executive branch to become judge, jury and executioner,” Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has long pushed for greater congressional oversight of war powers, said during a floor speech.

Paul was the only Republican to publicly speak in favor of the resolution before the vote, but a number of GOP senators have questioned the strikes on vessels and said they are not receiving enough information from the administration.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, acknowledged “there may be some concern” in the Republican conference about the strikes. However, Republican leaders argued against the resolution on the Senate floor Wednesday, calling it a political ploy from Democrats.

“People were attacking our country by bringing in poisonous substances to deposit into our country that would have killed Americans,” said Sen. Jim Risch, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Fortunately most of those drugs are now at the bottom of the ocean.”

Risch thanked Trump for his actions and added that he hoped the military strikes would continue.

What has the administration told Congress about the strikes?

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee received a classified briefing last week on the strikes, and Cramer said he was “comfortable with at least the plausibility of their legal argument.” But he added that no one representing intelligence agencies or the military command structure for Central and South America was present for the briefing.

“I’d be more comfortable defending the administration if they shared the information,” he said.

Kaine also said the briefing did not include any information on why the military chose to destroy the vessels rather than interdict them or get into the specifics of how the military was so confident that the vessels were carrying drugs.

“Maybe they were engaged in human trafficking, or maybe it was the wrong ship,” Schiff said. “We just have little or no information about who was onboard these ships or what intelligence was used or what the rationale was and how certain we could be that everyone on that ship deserved to die.”

The Democrats also said the administration has told them it is adding cartels to a list of organizations deemed “narco-terrorists” that are targets for military strikes, but it has not shown the lawmakers a complete list.

“The slow erosion of congressional oversight is not an abstract debate about process,” Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a floor speech. “It is a real and present threat to our democracy.”

Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;visited the Republican Conference for lunch Wednesday to emphasize to senators that they should vote against the legislation. He told the senators the administration was treating cartels like governmental entities because they have seized control of large portions of some Caribbean nations, according to Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota.

“These drug trafficking organizations are a direct threat to the safety and security of the United States to unleash violence and criminality on our streets, fueled by the drugs and the drug profits that they make,” Rubio told reporters at the Capitol. “And the president is the commander in chief, has an obligation to keep our country safe.”

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