By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Bob and Pat Community Center celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday morning with a standing-room-only crowd.

Among the dignitaries on hand were Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, and Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, Hays City Commission members, Ellis County Commission members and Melissa Schoenberger, early childhood specialist with the Kansas Children's Cabinet.

The $6 million new center, 2510 Canterbury, includes a child care center, a senior center, a kitchen, multiple conference rooms and a large multipurpose community room.

The Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund granted the project $3.5 million. The center was also supported by the city of Hays, county and private funding, including donations from the Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation and Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

HaysMed donated the land on which the community center sits.

The child care center, which includes a storm shelter, has a maximum capacity of 83 spots.

"They say that wisdom comes from experience and the future is in the hands of our youth," said Sarah Wasinger, president/CEO of the Chamber in Hays, who hosted the ribbon cutting. "Today, we stand in a beautiful facility that convenes these two together.

"This community center will provide an intentional space that better supports meaningful opportunities and activities for all of our senior citizens as well as families needing a nurturing environment for child care," she said.

Wasinger has facilitated the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County, which has worked to increase the number of child care spots available in the community.

In 2021, Ellis County needed more than 700 child care spots. With the opening of the child care facility in the community center, operated by Bright Minds Academy, 472 spots are needed.

"Quality and affordable child care is important for our families, and it drives our local economy by keeping our talented workforce engaged in important work," Wasinger said.

Moran said, "I am here to express pride in a community that I still call my hometown. ... The decisions that have been made to create this community center and create the features and services that it has mean that Hays and Ellis County, and this part of Kansas, have a bright future."

He said communities across the state all need housing and child care, and the community center and the Grove will be something that other communities will look to replicate.

"I know lots of times we look to Washington, D.C., to be the solution. Too often it is the problem and not the solution," Moran said. "But mostly good things happen when people in the community say we are going to roll up our sleeves and go to work and make sure this problem, this challenge is solved."

Moran paid tribute to Bob and Pat Schmidt, for whom the center is named. Although the Schmidts are no longer alive, their efforts to ensure good things happen in their hometown continue, he said.

"This is a great community and this facility, this community center," Moran said, "represents the best of people in Kansas and the best of people across the nation. Congratulations on being a great place to live, a great place to raise a family and a great place to retire to."

Hays Mayor Sandy Jacobs said one of her promises when she ran for city commission was to give the community's seniors a better place to gather.

"Today, we cut the ribbon on a facility that truly reflects who we are," she said. "A community that values connection, care and the well-being of all generations."

She highlighted the opportunities for learning across generations, with the child care facility and the senior center in the same building.

Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams thanked the many contributors to the project.&nbsp;

In near tears, he quoted Helen Keller, who said, "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."

Gary Shorman, board chairman for the Schmidt Foundation, said, "When I went to work for Bob [Schmidt], it didn't take long to figure out that community was so important, whether that be working to get the United Way started, Pat working with the arts council and it went on and on and on, program after program, project after project."

"Bob and Pat would be the last ones who would want their names on this building," Shorman said. "They did it because they wanted to help the community and help it grow and represent to others how important it was to give."

"As you gather together, remember those good things that we have in our community, because, on the way out, Mary Ann and I were saying, 'It's great to have a community where you can get together and celebrate the good things we have in our community,'" Shorman said.

"It is what makes us special here in Hays. It's what makes this community strong."

Ribbon cut on Bob, Pat Schmidt Community Center in Hays

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

September is the best time to give cool-season grasses in Kansas a boost, but homeowners should take note of an important fact before choosing which variety to plant.&nbsp;

Not all grass seed is created equal.&nbsp;

Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini urges homeowners to read the label on the bag of seed before re-seeding the lawn.&nbsp;

“Depending on the seed quality,” she said, “you could be planting weeds along with the desired grass.”&nbsp;

She adds: “Check the percentage of weed seed listed. This will tell you how much weed you will be introducing if you plant this seed mix. For example, if this number is 0.5% weed seed, approximately 12-16 weeds will be planted per square foot.”&nbsp;

Domenghini suggests looking for seed that lists weed seed at less than 0.01%, but 0% is best.&nbsp;

“Check the listing for ‘Other Crop’ on the label, as well, and choose a grass seed with a low percentage,” Domenghini said, noting that ‘Other Crop’ includes any species grown intentionally such as turf and pasture grasses.&nbsp;

Some species of grassy weeds qualify as ‘Other Crop’ and legally do not have to be named if they constitute less than 5% of the contents. ‘Other Crop’ can also include more desirable species that won’t impact the lawn.&nbsp;

“But,” Domenghini notes, “without knowing what is included, it’s best to choose a seed where this number is as close to zero as possible. Quality seed typically has 0.01% ‘Other Crop’ or less.”&nbsp;

Domenghini shared more tips for seeding fall lawns:&nbsp;

· Use recommended seeding rates and distribute well. Seeding at a rate higher than recommended can cause issues with disease and environmental stress.&nbsp;

· Good seed to soil contact is critical. Aeration prior to seeding is one way to promote this. Topdressing and raking to cover seed are other good methods.&nbsp;

· Light, frequent irrigation is necessary the first few weeks after planting and may be required several times daily. Soil should remain moist, but not waterlogged.&nbsp;

· Minimize traffic on the area until seedlings are ready to be mowed. Begin mowing once seedlings reach 3-4 inches tall.&nbsp;

Overseeding an existing lawn&nbsp;

· Prior to planting, mow the area low (1 to 1 ½ inches) to reduce competition with seedlings and help improve seed contact with soil.&nbsp;

· Water light, but often, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged.&nbsp;

Fertilize cool-season grasses&nbsp;

· Use a quick-release source of nitrogen.&nbsp;

· Apply 1 to 1 ½ pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.&nbsp;

· Soil should be moist, but not saturated.&nbsp;

· Holes should be 2-3 inches apart and 2 ½ to 3 inches deep.&nbsp;

· Cores can be left on surface and will break down naturally.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Giving cool-season grasses a boost for fall

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, KAYS Radio's Jeff Leiker talks with Adam Conkey of historic Fort Hays about early schools at the fort.

🎙 Post Podcast: Adam Conkey of historic Fort Hays

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners approved six resolutions and ordinances&nbsp; Thursday for general obligation bonds and temporary notes to finance several new development projects.&nbsp;

The water meter, police department, and interstate projects will be city-funded, but will not increase city taxes.

The Grove funding is not a direct cost to the city and will also not raise city taxes.

"You're authorizing the bonds to be used to pay the costs of improvements," Kim Rupp, finance director, told the commission. "It also allows us to levy for debt service, if necessary."

The city of Hays has an AA bond rating, which is very good for a city in Kansas outside of the metro areas, Rupp said.

Rezoning Request for Lincoln School property

The commission also approved a rezoning request for the proposed Lincoln School apartment complex, 1906 Ash, from a public and institutional district to a residential multi-family district.

The owner of the property, Hays developer Michael Graham, is proposing remodeling the 100-year-old former elementary school into 26-28 apartments and also constructing seven four-plexes in the surrounding area east of the school

Tallgrass RHID and the Grove updates

Grow Hays Executive Director, Doug Williams, presented a review of the&nbsp; Tallgrass Reinvestment Housing Incentive District and gave an update on the construction progress of the Grove,&nbsp;which is south of HaysMed on Canterbury Drive.

Enplanements at the Hays Regional Airport have more than doubled over the past decade, and 2025 is expected to be another record year, with an estimated 17,000 passenger boardings.&nbsp;

Jamie Salter, airport director, presented a low bid for enlarging the paved parking lot to 164 spaces from the current 101. Parking in the terminal lot is free.

The low bid came from Morgan&nbsp;Brothers Construction Inc. of La Crosse, for&nbsp; $248,019. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

🎙 City of Hays moves forward with financing for new development projects, improvements

QUINTER — Suicide prevention awareness event at Quinter High School track, Sat., Sept. 13,&nbsp;6:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Register for the awareness event by scanning the QR code above.&nbsp;

We hope to see everyone there for a day of connection, wellness and support.&nbsp;

At the event there will also be an opening prayer at 8 p.m., baskets for kids' raffle, silent auction and many other items to purchase.&nbsp;

Suicide prevention awareness event hosted by Quinter High School Sept. 13

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

As crops are actively growing, it is critical to regularly monitor fields.

 For example, most of the Kansas corn crops are in the tasseling (VT) to grain filling (R1-R4) stages right now, which are the critical stages for determining final yield. During the transitional phase from vegetative to reproductive development (VT), any possible stresses such as drought, flooding, disease, pests, and nutrient deficiencies during this window may lead to fewer kernels per ear, lighter test weight, and ultimately lower crop yield. Therefore, proper monitoring during this phase can help with early stress detection and crop yield estimation.

Thanks to modern precision agriculture technologies such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly called ‘drones,’ fields can be monitored more rapidly, frequently, and more precisely compared to traditional visual inspection by walking the field. Drones can detect the pattern and uniformity of crop growth and identify the problem areas more quickly and precisely.

What is drone-based remote sensing? Drone-based remote sensing involves using a drone equipped with a sensor (camera) to collect images and information by flying over your farm or field without touching the crop or ground. The camera senses light color reflectance from below across a range of wavelengths, both visible and invisible to human eyes. Visible light includes red, green, and blue light. However, it is near infrared (NIR) light, which is not visible, that can be used to detect plant growth and vigor.

When the plant is green and healthy, it reflects more NIR light and absorbs red light for photosynthesis. However, when a plant is stressed or less green, the reflection pattern of NIR is just the opposite, as it reflects less NIR light. Such light reflectance values from plant canopies are also used in various equations to calculate vegetation indices (VIs) to assess plant health, greenness, biomass, etc.

Using these thresholds, crop growth can be monitored, and areas of the field that need specific attention can be identified to support decision-making. 

However, one issue with NDVI maps at the later growth stage of the crop is ‘NDVI Saturation’. This is the crop growth stage at which NDVI reaches the peak level, and it remains the same even when chlorophyll content changes. In this case, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) indices can be more reliable, as it is more sensitive than NDVI to small changes in chlorophyll content.

Visual inspections by walking around the field are quite challenging as they are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and potentially less precise/accurate when limited to a small area of the field. Moreover, such visual inspection or scouting is even more impossible for crops like corn, as they are tall, dense, and have a closed canopy when they reach tasseling and begin grain filling.

Therefore, drone-collected imagery at the later growth stage of the crop can help to understand the temporal and spatial variability in crop growth and vigor and yield estimation. 

Information provided by Deepak Joshi, Precision Ag Extension Specialist.

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

CAMPBELL: Crop monitoring with drone-based remote sensing technology

<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

Register to become a finalist for the Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway at Mr. K’s Foodtown in Plainville this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

&nbsp; While you’re there getting registered to become a finalist for a CF Moto U Force 4 seat UTV, make sure to check all of the specials Manager Kim Rounsley has throughout the store.&nbsp;

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

Become Miller Lite UTV giveaway finalist Saturday at Mr. K’s Foodtown in Plainville

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Kris Munsch on the&nbsp; Ice House Entrepreneurship Program.

🎤 Forward Ever: Kris Munsch on Ice House Entrepreneurship Program

Congratulations to Chad Stoeklein from Ellis and Chuck Staab from Hays on becoming finalists in the Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway at Doghouse Liquor on Thursday.

1. Lance Armbruster – Wild West Festival – 7-2-2025 2. Curtis Wellbrock – Wild West Festival – 7-2-2025 3. Ryan Cellmer – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 7-5-2025 4. Barry Gilliland – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 7-5-2025 5. Debbie Windholz – Malay’s Market – 7-12-2025 6. Darren Dunn – Malay’s Market – 7-12-2025 7. Bernita Augustine – American Shooters – 7-19-2025 8. Doug Kutina – American Shooters – 7-19-2025 9. Connie Steinle – Stop2Shop/Wilson Wine &amp; Spirits – 7-25-2025 10. Halie Eck - Stop2Shop/Wilson Wine &amp; Spirits – 7-25-2025 11. Kevin Prester - Stop2Shop/Wilson Wine &amp; Spirits – 7-25-2025 12. Tom Quenzer - Stop2Shop/Wilson Wine &amp; Spirits – 7-25-2025 13. Taylor Lunsford – A &amp; A Coors Yuengling Pub Crawl – 7-26-2025 14. Craig Karlin - A &amp; A Coors Yuengling Pub Crawl – 7-26-2025 15. Garrett Dreiling – Lewis Automotive – 8-16-2025 16. Ruthmary Muir – Lewis Automotive – 8-16-2025 17. Dustin Roths – National Radio Day at Eagle – 8-20-202520. 18. James Rome – National Radio Day at Eagle – 8-20-2025 19. Bryan Schoepf – LoKal Country Bar – 8-22-202520.&nbsp; 20. Melissa Pinkney – LoKal Country Bar – 8-22-2025 21. Ann Gottschalk – Brogden GMC – 8-23-2025 22. Kirk Pfannenstiel – Brogden GMC – 8-23-2025

The golf cart will be given away at this year’s OKTOBERFEST on Friday, Sept. 26!&nbsp;

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

Keep listening to Eagle Radio and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist. Watch the Hays Post for announcement of finalists.

 Doghouse Liquor finalists named for Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway

Kiwanis Club of Thomas County/Colby

The Kiwanis Club of Thomas County/Colby is proud to share the official opening and ribbon cutting for the Kenton Krehbiel Inclusive Playground to be hosted on Saturday, Aug. 30 starting at 10:00 a.m.

&nbsp;A project that kicked off last summer is coming to completion and the public is invited to join in the celebration. Joint forces came together over the past year to bring Colby’s first accessible playground to fruition while honoring a member of the community.&nbsp;

Fundraising efforts for the renovation of Villa High Park kicked off in June of 2024 and with the devoted efforts of a local parent group, community volunteers, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, the City of Colby and the Thomas County Community Foundation the funds were completely raised in March of 2025. Over $500,000 was raised by community events, business and individual donations, and finalized with grant funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Demolition was completed by the City of Colby in April 2025, construction was started by Cunningham Recreation in July and finished the initial installation in August.&nbsp; Road, bathroom and parking improvements are still in the plans for the City of Colby.

&nbsp;The playground features accessible equipment with a Pour in Place (PIP) surface that allows for easy access of mobility devices. This playground is the first step in giving accessibility for all kids to be able to play.

“I’ve honestly been speechless and wrapped in my feels to see Kynlee be able to play with her friends! I keep telling her it’s not a dream, she really has a park she gets to play at now!” shared Melissa White, one of the parent advocates who helped bring this idea to the community.&nbsp;

The ribbon cutting will include a hamburger/hotdog feed, face painting and a presentation to rename the park after long-time Kiwanis member, Kenton Krehbiel.

Participants are asked to leave parking around the pond for accessible vehicles only. Adjacent business parking lots and Terrace Drive are available for additional parking.

Rick Dickman from the Kiwanis Club shared “The Kenton Krehbiel Inclusive Playground serves as a testament, that when a small group of individuals with a common vision can come together along with generous outpouring of community support, we are able to bring our fondest dreams to reality.”&nbsp;

More information regarding the event and the playground can be found on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561395121623">Facebook</a> page: Kenton Krehbiel Inclusive Playground at Villa High Park.&nbsp;

Ribbon cutting Saturday for accessible playground in Colby 

&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

The Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway will be at Nate's Liquor, located just off 13th and Vine, Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stop by to register to become a finalist for a CF Moto U Force 4 seat UTV from A&amp;A Coors-Miller and Briney Motorsports.&nbsp;

Friday-only specials at Nate's include Miller Lite 18-pack cans or bottles for just $18.49. 30-packs are $25.99. 24-pack 16-ounce cans are $27.99.

Check out the many more storewide specials!

Become a Miller Lite UTV giveaway finalist today at Nate's Liquor

Economic impact of Heart of America Housing Incentive District lunch Sept. 9

Due to the observance of the Labor Day on Monday, September 1, 2025, refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows:&nbsp;

Monday, September 1, 2025 and Tuesday, September 2, 2025 will be collected on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.&nbsp;

There will be no changes to Wednesday, September 3, Thursday, September 4, and Friday, September 5 routes.&nbsp;

Although collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed by the week’s end. It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recyclables will be encountered around the holidays.&nbsp;

Please make sure your polycarts and recyclables are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.&nbsp;

City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

No trash/recycling collection in Hays on Labor Day

Check out the new Hays High School during Friday's tours, ribbon cutting

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

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

Sponsored by the St. Anthony Altar Society&nbsp;

Fundraiser for the St Anthony Park and Playground

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A passerby found a small plane off the roadway Saturday morning near Vinland at N 700 and E 1700 road, approximately two miles north of Baldwin City, according to the Douglas County Sheriff. Nobody was with the plane when it was found. 

The Kansas Highway Patrol arrived and according to their investigation, the incident occurred just after 2:30a.m. Saturday.&nbsp;

A 1978 Cessna&nbsp;Single Engine Fixed Wing aircraft piloted by Arnold&nbsp;Nguyen, 26, Kansas City,&nbsp; Missouri,&nbsp;landed long and failed to stop on a runway.

The aircraft then crossed the roadway to the north and struck a tree. The pilot was not injured. There were no passengers on the plane, according to the KHP.

KHP: Small plane lands, failed to stop and struck a tree

A late Tennessee sheriff who inspired a Hollywood movie about a law enforcement officer who took on organized crime killed his wife in 1967 and led people to believe she was murdered by his enemies, authorities said Friday.

Authorities acknowledged that the finding will likely shock many who grew up as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/05dd8ca5cdfb43e8a710e0b427183e0c">Buford Pusser</a>&nbsp;fans and watched 1973's “Walking Tall,” which immortalized him as a tough but fair sheriff with zero tolerance for crime. The movie was remade in 2004, and many officers joined law enforcement because of his story, according to Mark Davidson, the district attorney for Tennessee’s 25th judicial district.

There is enough evidence that if Pusser, the McNairy County sheriff who died in a car crash seven years after his wife's death, were alive today, prosecutors would present an indictment to a grand jury for the killing of Pauline Mullins Pusser, Davidson said. Investigators also uncovered signs that she suffered from domestic violence.

Prosecutors worked with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which began reexamining decades-old files on Pauline's death in 2022 as part of its regular review of cold cases, agency director David Rausch said. Agents found inconsistencies between Buford Pusser's version of events and the physical evidence, received a tip about a potential murder weapon and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-sheriff-wife-exhumed-8f7eed563cd72177231e4edbbc7808cf">exhumed Pauline's body</a>&nbsp;for an autopsy.

“This case is not about tearing down a legend. It is about giving dignity and closure to Pauline and her family and ensuring that the truth is not buried with time,” Davidson said in a news conference streamed online. “The truth matters. Justice matters. Even 58 years later. Pauline deserves both.”

Evidence does not back up sheriff's story

The case dates to Aug. 12, 1967. Buford Pusser got a call in the early morning hours about a disturbance. He reported that his wife volunteered to ride along with him as he responded. Buford Pusser said that shortly after they passed New Hope Methodist Church, a car pulled up and fired several times into the vehicle, killing Pauline and injuring the sheriff. Buford Pusser spent 18 days in the hospital and required several surgeries to recover. The case was built largely on his own statement and closed quickly, Rausch said.

During the reexamination of the case, Dr. Michael Revelle, an emergency medicine physical and medical examiner, studied postmortem photographs, crime scene photographs, notes made by the medical examiner at the time and Buford Pusser's statements. He concluded that Pauline was more likely than not shot outside the car and then placed inside it.

He found that cranial trauma suffered by Pauline didn't match crime scene photographs of the car's interior. Blood spatter on the hood outside the car contradicted Buford Pusser's statements. The gunshot wound on his cheek was in fact a close-contact wound and not one fired from long range, as Buford Pusser described, and was likely self-inflicted, Revelle concluded.

Pauline's autopsy revealed she had a broken nose that had healed prior to her death. Davidson said statements from people who were around at the time she died support the conclusion that she was a victim of domestic violence.

Brother says investigation gave him closure

Pauline's younger brother, Griffon Mullins, said the investigation gave him closure. He said in a recorded video played at the news conference that their other sister died without knowing what happened to Pauline and he is grateful he will die knowing.

“You would fall in love with her because she was a people person. And of course, my family would always go to Pauline if they had an issue or they needed some advice and she was always there for them,” he said. “She was just a sweet person. I loved her with all my heart.”

Mullins said he knew there was some trouble in Pauline's marriage, but she wasn't one to talk about her problems. For that reason, Mullins said he was “not totally shocked.”

Asked about the murder weapon and whether it matched autopsy findings, Rausch recommended reading the case file for specifics.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation plans to make the entire file, which exceeds 1,000 pages, available to the public by handing it over to the University of Tennessee at Martin once it finishes with redactions. The school will create an online, searchable database for the case. Until then, members of the public can make appointments to review it in person or can purchase a copy, said university Chancellor Yancy Freeman Sr.

Officials: ‘Walking Tall’ sheriff likely murdered his wife in 1967

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Seventy percent of Kansas school districts are repaying amounts from hundreds to millions of dollars after a Medicaid calculation error by a state contractor, a Kansas official testified this week.&nbsp;

Secretary Janet Stanek from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told the Legislative Budget Committee on Tuesday that 153 of the 286 school districts had to repay funds from fiscal year 2016 to 2023.

Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20250826_03.pdf" target="_blank">school districts owe $11.2 million</a>&nbsp;to Medicaid, with most owing less than $50,000 each, Stanek said. Wichita Public Schools owes the most at $11.3 million and 19 districts owe less than $1,000.&nbsp;

The $11.2 million was 4.4% of the Medicaid payments made during that time period, Stanek said.

Districts bill Medicaid in two ways, one for claims reimbursement In which providers bill for services like physical or speech therapy, and the other for administrative claims, which cover the cost of providing services at schools, she said.

It was the second method that was incorrectly calculated by Public Consulting Group, a KDHE contractor, Stanek said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gary Menke, chief financial officer for Topeka Public Schools, said the administrative claims calculation is complicated. It involves payments for support services the district provides to students to make sure they receive Medicaid services.

“It takes an army of people to get a student that needs those services pulled away from instruction, ready if they have to move to another building or facility for services, then you’ve got to get them back from those services,” he said. “Those are the dollars they are talking about.”

Topeka Public Schools owed just more than $424,000, which Menke said the district elected to repay in four installments to be deducted from a quarterly Medicaid reimbursement the district receives.&nbsp;

While the repayment isn’t a hardship for the school district because Menke said he’s wary of budgeting Medicaid funds until final amounts are set, that $400,000 still would have covered multiple special education teacher salaries, which average about $61,000 annually.

Wichita Public Schools owed over $3 million, and the district’s Medicaid coordinator Deanna Beard told the committee that she would like to see more transparency in the process and&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20250826_04.pdf" target="_blank">Medicaid funding expanded for schools</a>.&nbsp;

“Currently, districts are excluded from key components of the calculation, such as the numerator used to verify Medicaid-eligible students who received services,” she said. “This lack of information from KDHE prevented us from validating data and any ability to identify errors early.”

In an emailed statement, a representative for the Wichita district said it elected to repay the amount in four installments.&nbsp;

“Unforeseen financial needs such as this are an example of why WPS maintains unrestricted reserves,” the statement said. “These reserves will have to backfill the shortfall the audit finding repayment has created for the 2025-26 budget year.”

Stanek, who said she was offering no excuses, explained that previous administrations had cut staff and the program was “under-resourced.” In addition, schools had quite a lot of turnover at the same time the contractor PCG had turnover.&nbsp;

Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, asked whether anything in the contract allowed Kansas to hold PCG responsible for the error.&nbsp;

Stanek said nothing in the contract allows that but the state&nbsp; isworking with PCG and have asked for a corrective action plan.&nbsp;

“But I can tell you, PCG has stepped up, and we are holding them more accountable,” Stanek said. “We are going to look at adding positions to manage – even though you have a consultant or a contractor, as you know, somebody’s got to manage them too – and I would say it was loose, and that’s on us.”

Kansas school districts repay Medicaid dollars after contractor error

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. — Nine people on a church bus were injured in an accident just 3:30p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F550 owned by&nbsp;Olivet Baptist Church of Westwood and driven by a 61-year-old Merriam, Kansas, man was northbound on Interstate 29 one half mile south of Faucett.&nbsp; The front passenger side tire blew out.&nbsp; The vehicle began to skid and then the back passenger side tire blew out. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a ditch and overturned.

EMS transported 9 passengers including two 14-year-old girls, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl all from Kansas City, Kansas and a 16-year-old Lee's Summit boy to North Kansas City Hospital; a 15-year-old Merriam, Kansas girl, a 16-year-old Shawnee, Kansas boy; a 14-year-old&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas girl and a 44-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, woman to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.&nbsp; The driver was not injured.

There were 30 people on the bus at the time of the accident.&nbsp;Interstate 29 was closed for several hours but reopened while first responders worked the scene. The highway was&nbsp; open again just after 7 p.m. Friday.

8 Kansas City area students injured in church bus crash 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/paul-wiseman">PAUL WISEMAN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lindsay-whitehurst">LINDSAY WHITEHURST</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has audaciously claimed virtually unlimited power to bypass Congress and impose sweeping taxes on foreign products.

Now a federal appeals court has thrown a roadblock in his path.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-appeals-court-b714cfc8dff51289b1d5291f46d71f3f">ruled Friday</a>&nbsp;that Trump went too far when he declared national emergencies to justify imposing sweeping import taxes on almost every country on earth. The ruling largely upheld a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade-court-0392dbd59f548e49ad4f64254ae3f94a">May decision</a>&nbsp;by a specialized federal trade court in New York. But the 7-4 appeals court decision tossed out a part of that ruling striking down the tariffs immediately, allowing his administration time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The ruling was a big setback for Trump, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-chickening-out-taco-trade-tariff-chinau-69569d771c28ef972f80b87bac0d54d6">erratic trade policies</a>&nbsp;have rocked financial markets,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-36df035fc02b45e498cc50f213536e79">paralyzed businesses with uncertainty</a>&nbsp;and raised fears of higher prices and slower economic growth.

The court’s decision centers on the tariffs Trump slapped in April on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">almost all U.S. trading partners</a>&nbsp;and levies he imposed before that on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade-china-mexico-canada-inflation-753a09d56cd318f2eb1d2efe3c43b7d4">China, Mexico and Canada</a>.

Trump on April 2 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933">Liberation Day, he called it</a>&nbsp;— imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs of up to 50% on countries with which the United States runs a trade deficit and 10% baseline tariffs on almost everybody else.

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