By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Western Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, of which Hays is a part, had almost $34,000 in payments withheld because of an overpayment in Medicaid funds.

The issue affected 153 of the state's school districts. The total owed by all of the districts was more than $11 million, with the Wichita school district owing $3 million.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b64d3ce7-d2bf-4101-bb82-184fc359928a">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas school district repay Medicaid dollars after contractor error</a>

The West Central Kansas Co-op serves Hays, Russell, LaCrosse, Ellis, and Victoria, as well as private schools in these communities.

Kyle Carlin, co-op director, said the issue affected seven years of payments.

He said an error was identified in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's calculation of data shared with its Medicaid contractor,&nbsp;Public Consulting Group.

Of the 35 payments that were reviewed, the local co-op had eight payments that were affected.

"We have not received an answer to why the error impacted some districts more than others, nor why it did not affect all of the payments," Carlin said in an email.

The total adjustment was&nbsp;$33,972, which was withheld from payments made to the co-op this summer.&nbsp;

"We were lucky compared to other districts. The overall impact to our budget was minimal," he said. "The unexpected cost was absorbed by our end-of-year cash balance, and did not affect any local decisions regarding staffing or district contributions to WCKSEC."

Secretary Janet Stanek from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told the Legislative Budget Committee on Aug. 26 that she was offering no excuses, explained that previous administrations had cut staff and the program was “under-resourced," according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/" target="_blank">Kansas Reflector.</a>

“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.”

Local special education co-op pays back Medicaid funding after contractor error

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Navigating the unknown for the stocker operator and fueling performance from the inside out are among topics planned for the 2025 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 25. The conference will take place at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit, Manhattan.

Registration is $25 and due Sept. 11. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register, go to <a href="https://www.asi.k-state.edu/events/stockerfieldday/">asi.ksu.edu/stockerfieldday</a>. For more information, contact Katie Smith at 785-532-1267 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:katiesmith@ksu.edu">katiesmith@ksu.edu</a>.

“The 26th&nbsp;annual K-State Beef Stocker Field Day is geared towards providing the most updated information to beef producers as possible” said Dale Blasi, K-State professor of animal sciences and industry, and beef cattle extension specialist. “The morning session will dive deep into the current beef market and what might be coming down the road. Attendees will learn more about K-State’s work devoted to growing beef cattle and beef x dairy calves.”

The day will start with a welcome at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m. This year’s event is sponsored by Kemin.

BOOR: Beef Stocker Field Day is Sept. 25

Kanas Department of Agriculture

MANHATTAN — Grain growers in central Kansas who plan to campaign for a seat on one of the state’s five grain commodity commissions — corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers — should be gathering petition signatures now to meet the November 30, 2025, filing deadline. Voting will take place in January-February 2026. The 2026 election will cover districts IV, V, VI — or the central third of Kansas.

District IV:&nbsp;Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Smith, and Washington counties. District V:&nbsp;Barton, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Marion, McPherson, Rice, Rush, Russell, and Saline counties. District VI:&nbsp;Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Sedgwick, Stafford, and Sumner counties.

To be eligible to run, candidates must have been actively engaged in growing that commodity (corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers) within the preceding five years and must reside in and represent the district where they maintain their primary residence. To be included on the 2026 ballot, candidates must gather 20 signatures from eligible growers, with no more than five signatures from any one county.&nbsp;Eligible growers are Kansas residents who will be at least 18 years old by January 1, 2026, and who have actively grown corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers or wheat for the last three years.&nbsp;

Candidates may choose to collect signatures either on paper or online, or by using a combination of both. The online petition portal is available at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fportal.kda.ks.gov%2Fenrollment%2FCommoditiesCandidatePetition%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019905a74353-ec5af454-d3bb-42d7-b320-f147aca725f8-000000/ltbTL_9mNMdn8VlNsCFhGK5qMJZ_JHVfzl10QT4lmOg=420">https://portal.kda.ks.gov/enrollment/CommoditiesCandidatePetition</a>.&nbsp;After creating an account, candidates will receive a unique URL to share with eligible signors, who can then provide their contact information and sign the petition electronically. Paper candidate registration packets are also available from the Kansas Department of Agriculture or the grain commodity commissions.&nbsp;

Commodity commissions are grower-led organizations committed to supporting the economic viability of their industries and fostering continuous improvement in their respective commodities. Commissioners serve three-year terms, which will begin on April 1, 2026. They oversee how check-off funds are invested in areas of market development, education, promotion, and research.

For more information on Kansas commodity commissions, including voter registration, please visit the Kansas Department of Agriculture website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2FCommodityCommissions%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019905a74353-ec5af454-d3bb-42d7-b320-f147aca725f8-000000/2QiKKWMoiTlzVbSkL5yJ4n405ApUxq3gCcrfX-SmTVs=420">www.agriculture.ks.gov/CommodityCommissions</a>.

Ellis County grain growers eligible to run for commodity commission seat

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Hays USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson about progress on the bond projects during the summer on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: USD 489 summer bond projects update

Hays Catholic Schools (Thomas More Prep-Marian and Holy Family Elementary) will proudly celebrate the 100th anniversary of Homecoming this September, marking a century of tradition, community, and faith. The milestone event will honor generations of alumni, students, faculty, and families who have carried forward the spirit of Catholic education in Hays since 1908.

“This centennial celebration is not only about looking back at our history,” said Travis Grizzell, advancement director for Hays Catholic Schools, “it’s about giving thanks for the generations who built this community of faith and excellence, and recommitting ourselves to the future of Catholic education in Hays. The cornerstone represents the faith and commitment of those who literally laid the foundation for our beautiful building on this historic campus. The fact that Hays Catholic Schools is here 100 years later speaks volumes about our dedicated alumni and faith community.”

Homecoming Week Schedule of Events

Monday, Sep. 15 – All-School Mass: Students, faculty, and staff gather for a Mass to open Homecoming week.

Tuesday, Sep. 16 – Float building Day: Each class gathers at its float construction site to prepare for Friday’s parade.

Wednesday, Sep. 17 – Halftime Rehearsal: Band and Homecoming royalty candidates rehearse at Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field.

Thursday, Sep. 18 – A pep rally will be held at Al Billinger Fieldhouse to close the school day. In the evening, a bonfire, blessing, and candidate introductions will take place on campus, with food trucks and snowcones available for students, families, and community members.

Friday, Sep. 19 – Morning: Alumni and guests are invited to tour the TMP-Marian campus.

10:00 a.m.: A Hays Chamber Ribbon Cutting ceremony will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school’s cornerstone setting and the first Hays Catholic Schools Homecoming in 1925.

5:30 p.m.: Homecoming Parade, beginning at the TMP-Marian campus and traveling down Main Street.

Evening: Halftime of the football game will feature the crowning of Homecoming royalty, recognition of Homecoming Grand Marshals, and presentation of the Point of Light Award and Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Saturday, Sep. 20 – Morning: A Mass for deceased alumni will be held in the Marian Chapel.

Noon: The traditional Dutch Lunch will be served in the TMP-Marian Dining Hall, offering fellowship and reunion among generations of alumni.

For more information, please contact the TMP-Marian Advancement Office at 785-625-9434 or advancement@tmpmarian.org.

Hays Catholic Schools to celebrate 100th anniversary of homecoming

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/people/steve-kraske">STEVE KRASKE, HALLE JACKSON</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2025-09-02/in-kansas-and-missouri-red-meat-allergies-caused-by-tick-bites-are-on-the-rise">KCUR Public Radio</a>

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/halle-jackson"></a>An allergy to red meat caused by tick bites is on the rise in Kansas and Missouri, public health experts say.

It’s called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/lone-star-ticks-increase-climate-crisis" target="_blank">alpha-gal syndrome</a>, a condition that can develop after a bite from a lone star tick. Individuals with the disease can develop a variety of symptoms, including hives, nausea, shortness of breath or anaphylactic shock, two to six hours after eating red meat or other mammal products such as cow’s milk or gelatin.

Dr. Rex Archer, a professor of public health at Kansas City University and former director of the Kansas City Health Department, says the condition is on the rise as a result of climate change. Warmer summers allow tick populations in Kansas and Missouri to thrive.

However, reporting the condition to state and local health officials in Kansas and Missouri isn’t mandatory, which makes it hard to know exactly how many people are impacted.

“This is an extremely underreported disease because, unfortunately, it's not yet mandated by CDC to be reported by states,” Archer told KCUR’s Up To Date. “And many of the states that have the highest prevalence of the tick that can cause or spread this disease are not reporting it or mandating it.”

In Missouri, MU Extension is working to develop education and resources for people with alpha-gal syndrome. The group is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.missouri.edu/news/mu-extension-wants-your-input-on-alpha-gal-syndrome" target="_blank">conducting a survey</a>&nbsp;of people about their experiences.

In Kansas, Missouri, red meat allergies caused by tick bites on rise

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

There has been an increase of insect infestations this growing season around the state. 

Two of the more widespread pests have been lepidoptera larvae (worms): the fall armyworm and the armyworm. These pests could become problematic for our fall planted wheat and alfalfa.

Fall armyworm (FAW) Adults are a light brown/dark brown mottled color and are typical of the noctuid moths, which mainly hide during the day and fly around depositing eggs at night. Adults cause no problems other than depositing the eggs from which the voracious feeding larvae hatch. These larvae feed on just about anything green and have been a problem this year, mainly in brome fields and other grassy areas in eastern Kansas. Larvae can be identified by the four dark spots, in the form of a square, on the top of the eighth abdominal segment.

In our area there are significant populations of FAW feeding in sorghum heads and as wheat planting approaches, fall armyworm problems are possible. However, reportedly, FAWs do not overwinter in Kansas. Thus, we may have one more generation of FAWs, but hopefully, most adults have emerged by the middle of September and migrate to overwintering sites without causing any damage to wheat, says Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomologist.

Armyworms (ARW) Adults are mostly light brown with a white spot on each forewing. Larvae are darker with several conspicuous light-colored stripes on both sides of their bodies, and they present a somewhat different problem than the FAW, because they do overwinter in Kansas. Therefore, the larvae may be around when the 2025 planted crop germinates.

Thus, planting as late as possible is important, as is destroying all volunteer wheat well before wheat planting begins. This is also important because it is the female moth that initiates the infestation by where she deposits her eggs, and she won't deposit any eggs unless she detects some greenery for a potential food source for the developing larvae. 

From past experience with armyworm infestations, they may continue to feed until temperatures dip into the mid-20s °F for a couple of hours. Armyworms seem to overwinter mostly as mature larvae, but it has been reported that they can also overwinter as pupae and/or adults. Thus, fall armyworms should not be a problem for the fall-planted wheat crop, but armyworms might be, especially in early-planted fields, says Whitworth.

Army cutworms One other worm to consider is the Army cutworm. These moths migrate back into Kansas in the fall, looking for any greenery on which to deposit their eggs. So, they will not be the same problem as armyworms, as their feeding will be ending this fall, but the army cutworms will just be starting their feeding and culminate in the common "Miller moths" in the spring.

The best ways to help mitigate an infestation in fall-planted wheat from any of these worms are to plant as late as possible and destroy all volunteer wheat well before any wheat is planted in your area.

Information provided by Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomology 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&nbsp;scampbel@ksu.edu&nbsp;or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Worrisome worms for wheat producers

<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

Life can change in an instant. If tragedy struck your family today, would you be able to cover your mortgage, childcare, and other critical expenses without your spouse’s income?

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, and local Farmers Insurance agent Chelsy Proehl-Kofoid, located at 2703 Hall in Hays, is encouraging families to have the hard conversations now—before it’s too late.

“In today’s world, most households rely on two incomes just to make ends meet,” said Proehl-Kofoid. “If one income disappears unexpectedly, the financial burden can be devastating—not just in the short term, but for years to come.”

Life insurance is more than a safety net—it’s a plan to help your family maintain stability during one of the most difficult times of their lives. It can help cover:

Long-term financial stability for your children

“I’ve heard people say, ‘The community will help if something happens,’” Proehl-Kofoid shared. “And while that may be true, that generosity only goes so far. The reality is, your family needs a secure, personal plan to fall back on.”

Chelsy and her team at Farmers offer a unique approach to identifying how much coverage makes sense based on your family’s needs, your current budget, and your long-term goals. It’s not one-size-fits-all—it’s personalized peace of mind.

“Planning for the unexpected is a gift you give your loved ones,” said Proehl-Kofoid. “We’re here to help you make the best decision possible for your family’s future.”

If you’ve been putting off the conversation, now is the perfect time to talk. Stop by Chelsy’s office at 2703 Hall in Hays, or call to schedule a no-obligation life insurance review. A short conversation today could protect everything you care about tomorrow.

🏈🎥 Hays opens the season at Derby

Hays received .2 inches of rain as of 5:30 this morning at the Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall.

It was still raining at the time of the measurement.

This is the first rainfall Hays has received this month.

Hays receives, on average, 2.24 inches of rain in September and 19.84 inches of rain year to date by the end of September.&nbsp;

Hays has received about 16.9 inches of rain year to date.

Ellis County is not listed on the U.S. Drought Monitor map as reported on Thursday.

Hays has a 40% chance of showers this afternoon. The forecast is for partly cloudy skies and highs in the 70s during the weekend.

A slight chance of rain returns Monday and Monday night with a high of 79.

Highs in the mid- to upper 80s are forecast for next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Hays receives rain this morning; cool temps forecast through weekend

&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

By&nbsp; LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post

The Healing Hearts Grief Support Group will have a special guest speaker at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18. 

The meeting will be in the new Hays Senior Center location inside the Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury Dr. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Attendees are asked to use the south entrance. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Kenneth Windholz, a clinical psychotherapist, will speak on the topic “Visitation Dreams.” Windholz teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the Psychology Department at Fort Hays State University. He has authored book chapters and articles on neuropsychology. He has served as the president of the Kansas Association of Masters in Psychology, is the current president of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Kansas Board of Directors, and serves as the faculty sponsor for NAMI on the FHSU campus.

Dr. Kate McGonigal, the Healing Hearts group facilitator, said Windholz’s appearance is a celebration of the “new beginning” for Healing Hearts. It did not meet while the Senior Center was relocating to its new home. The group will continue meeting at 6:30 the third Thursday night of each month in its new home, she said.

Healing Hearts is a grief support group for adults who have lost a loved one. McGonigal said, “We want anyone who is experiencing grief to join us for one meeting, or for however meetings they wish, as they navigate the road to coping with the death of someone they loved. We focus on healing and coping from close personal losses.”

McGonigal is an associate professor of sociology at Fort Hays State University, where she has taught since 2004. She teaches the Death &amp; Dying class at FHSU, with an emphasis on caregivers and caregiving.&nbsp;

More information about the Healing Hearts group is available by contacting her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:klmcgonigal@fhsu.edu">klmcgonigal@fhsu.edu</a>.

Grief support group to have guest speaker Sept. 18

To celebrate the beautiful brand new Hays High Auditorium, all former HHS music students are invited to join in performing in an alumni choir, band, and orchestra concert on September 27. 

Previous directors Matt Rome, Johnny Matlock, Elise Peterson, and Joan Crull will join our current directors to conduct in this concert. 

Alumni sought for reunion concert to celebrate new Hays High auditorium

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance will hold its first meeting of the fall at noon Wednesday, Sept. 10, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 E. 13th, Hays.

Ellis County Ministerial Alliance to meet Sept 10

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post

Kansans for Life is bringing a traveling memorial exhibit to Hays on Monday, Sept. 22, and is seeking volunteers to help with the event that day.

Father Andy Hammeke, chaplain at Comeau Catholic Campus Center in Hays, said in a news release that about 50 volunteers are needed. The exhibit, called “Aftermath,” will have 19,467 models of babies on display.

This was the number of babies aborted in Kansas in 2023, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Vital Statistics Report, which was published in December 2024, the most recent report available. This number represents a 58 percent increase from 2022 and a 148 percent increase from 2021, according to the report.

The exhibit will be on display at the Hays Downtown Pavilion, 117 E. 10th St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

“Sometimes when we hear how many abortions have taken place, the&nbsp;number is hard to comprehend.&nbsp; But a good image can help make the numbers strike&nbsp;closer to home,” Hammeke said.&nbsp;“These won't be bloody images or images of dead babies.&nbsp; Simply lots and lots of baby&nbsp;models.”&nbsp;The exhibit is suitable for fifth graders and older, he said.

The exhibit will also provide pro-life information, including resources for women who have had an abortion. In addition to Hays, the exhibit will be traveling to 11 other Kansas cities.

According to the website, volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the exhibit, greet visitors, and staff the information table. Volunteers may get more information and sign up at <a href="https://aftermathks.com/">aftermathks.com</a>.

Kansans for Life seeks volunteers for event coming to Hays

Fort Hays State University Communications

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s (KWEC) 12th annual Butterfly Festival will be held on Saturday, September 20, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Each year, millions of monarch butterflies undertake their annual fall flight to Mexico. Nets and tags will be available during the event for those who want to capture and tag monarch butterflies.

Participants head out into the flower-filled fields and shelter belt around KWEC to capture monarchs, with tagging leaders stationed along the trail to help with the tagging process. For the past several years, monarchs tagged at the event were recovered at three Mexico roost sites.

On the way to Mexico, data collected from tagged monarchs helps support the research of Monarch Watch. Tagging helps answer questions about the origins of monarchs that reach Mexico, the timing and pace of migration, mortality during the migration, and changes in geographic distribution.

Egg. Larva. Pupa. Butterfly. That's magic!&nbsp;Steve Craig will have a butterfly magic show that makes learning this basic science fun using magic, puppets, and humor. The Butterfly Magic show is designed for family audiences - enjoy the metamorphosis at shows at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:15 a.m. Make sure to claim free tickets on your arrival at the festival.

Larned-based Kellie Honey Farm will be present with a demonstration hive on display in the exhibit hall to educate about the importance of honeybees.

Grassland Groupies, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the conservation of grassland ecosystems, will be at the festival. Depending on the availability of insects, they may have their Bumblebutt Petting Station, an all-male (so they won't sting), bumble bee interaction display, or a walk-in butterfly tent.

KWEC will also feature an invertebrate zoo, with giant walking stick insects, butterflies, caterpillars, chrysalises, fluorescing scorpions, a tarantula, and more.

Kids can make a butterfly tealight lantern at the craft station and a monarch butterfly rest stop to assist the butterflies migrating through your own backyard. Race through a pollinator obstacle course and earn a temporary butterfly tattoo. Use a sling shot to shoot seed bombs full of potential pollinator blooms out into our prairie and take home your own packet of seeds.

Explore the Melody Marsh, an interactive play area in the KWEC Pollinator Garden. The garden provides wildflower planting ideas to use at home and features a variety of native and adaptable plants that serve as hosts for different species of caterpillars and provide nectar sources for pollinators, including butterflies, birds, beetles, and more.

Pollinator seed packets will be available for free until they run out.

Partnering with the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and the annual Butterfly Festival, the Central Kansas Partnership's Suicide Prevention Task Force Walk and Remembrance Ceremony will occur early in the morning at 7:15 a.m. to ensure it is completed by the time the festival is set to begin.

Each individual will be able to write the loved one's name on a painted butterfly to stake in the ground during the festival for attendees to see. The task force will also have a booth during the festival, sharing information on suicide prevention.

For more information, contact KWEC at 1-877-243-9268 or visit: <a href="https://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>.

Annual Butterfly Festival set for Sept. 20 at Kansas Wetlands Education Center 

Catch all of the live action of Hays High and TMP Marian sports this school year on <a href="https://team1sports.com/eagleradio/">HaysPost.com</a>.

To purchase your season-long or single game pass, go to <a href="https://team1sports.com/eagleradio/">HaysPost.com</a> today.

Purchase your pass for live action Hays High, TMP sports on Hays Post this season 

 City crews will be working to repair a water main break in the 500 block of West 17th Street on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Please use caution and consider alternate routes if you're traveling through the area. We appreciate your patience as we work to get this repaired quickly.

The City of Hays Water Resources Department apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Water main break repair today in 500 block of W. 17th, Hays

Girl Scout sign-up event set for Thursday in Hays

Celebrate Family Day with Pizza Make & Take in Hays

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop in rural Brown County.

Just after 9p.m. September 4, a sheriff's&nbsp; deputy was on routine patrol on U.S. 75 Highway when he encountered a vehicle with only one operating headlight, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

The deputy made contact with the driver, 38-year-old&nbsp; Josiah Williams from Topeka. It was discovered that his drivers license had been revoked.&nbsp; 

The passenger of the vehicle 31-year-old Paige Keefe of Omaha had a $500 Failure to Appear Warrant out of Ford County Kansas.&nbsp; K-9 Carla alerted on the vehicle and cocaine, a scale, baggies and other items of interest were located and taken as evidence.&nbsp;

Three children were also present at the time of stop.

Williams was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated Endangerment of a Child, Distribution of a Stimulant, Possession of Stimulant, No Drug Tax Stamp, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Keefe was arrested on charges of Aggravated Endangerment of a Child, Possession of Stimulant and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Couple accused of selling cocaine in Kansas had kids in the car

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging two former Wyandotte County District Court bookkeepers with stealing $900,000 from the Court, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Julia Roberts, 65, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Vicki Robinson, 63, of Bonner Springs were indicted on one count of wire fraud conspiracy as well as individual counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

As part of their duties, Roberts and Robinson were responsible for collecting and depositing funds into the Wyandotte County Clerk Office’s bank account.

Roberts and Robinson are accused of devising a scheme to steal incoming cash between January 2018 and February 2023. They allegedly concealed the ongoing thefts by using the clerk of court’s signature on fraudulent checks that they generated without authorization. 

According to court documents, the fraudulent checks appeared to be facially valid and were drawn on and deposited into the county clerk office’s bank account, creating a corresponding debit and credit—which eliminated fluctuation in the deposit amount on the bank statements but concealed the stolen cash in the Court’s accounting system.

Roberts and Robinson made their initial court appearances on September 3, 2025, and September 5, 2025, respectively, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

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

2 Kan. county court bookkeepers charged in $900K fraud scheme

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump hosted a dinner Friday night for members of Congress in the newly paved White House Rose Garden, telling them they were the first gathering of what he dubbed the “Rose Garden Club.”

The president held a microphone as he addressed about 100 people, mostly House Republicans along with some GOP senators, thanking them for their support of his legislation.

“We call it the Rose Garden Club. And it’s a club for senators, for congresspeople and for people in Washington, and frankly, people that can bring peace and success to our country,” Trump said.

Trump said he intended for the tech executives he dined with Thursday night, including Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to be the first ones to enjoy the space. That dinner was moved indoors due to rain.

“I had the high-tech guys here, and they didn’t want to have rain on top of their beautiful heads,” Trump told the lawmakers.

Among the changes Trump has made to renovate and remake the White House has been his decision to pave over the grassy lawn in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/trump-rose-garden-paved-over-photo-gallery-732b9521b69c10c12ce448f12e27401c">the Rose Garden</a>, where he set up tables, chairs and umbrellas that look strikingly similar to the outdoor setup at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

See photos of White House dinner at new ‘Rose Garden Club’

CHICAGO (AP) — At a Catholic school in Pope Leo XIV’s hometown, fifth graders read comic books about Carlo Acutis' life titled “Digital Disciple.” They draw pictures of what the teenage Italian computer whiz might have had as his cellphone wallpaper. They discuss the miracles that allegedly occurred thanks to Acutis' intercession.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brzb_VN86Ng">Click here to view</a> the web camera on the Acutis Tomb

In the lead-up to Acutis' canonization on Sunday, it's all Acutis, all the time at the Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish and school in Chicago. The parish was the first in the United States to take its name from Acutis, who died in 2006 at age 15 and is about to become history's first millennial saint.

In recent years, Acutis has shot to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-saint-catholic-millennial-assisi-francis-f3abea4be1c4e57adbe1633733fd671d">near rock star-like fame</a>&nbsp;among many young Catholics, generating a global following the likes of which the Catholic Church hasn’t seen in ages. Much of that popularity is thanks to a concerted campaign by the Vatican to give the next generation of faithful a relatable, modern-day role model, an ordinary kid who used his technological talents to spread the faith.

He’s not a towering world figure like Mother Teresa or St. John Paul II, but rather a “saint next door,” said the Rev. Ed Howe, the pastor at Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish in Chicago’s Northwest Side.

“He’s someone who I think a lot of young people today say, ‘I could be the saint next door,'" Howe said.

Leo, a Chicago native, will declare Acutis a saint on Sunday in his first canonization ceremony, alongside another popular Italian, Pier Giorgio Frassati, who also died young. Both ceremonies had been scheduled for earlier this year, but were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-saint-acutis-posponed-9fdb99acaf0296974dc6216851c9167a">postponed following Pope Francis' death</a>&nbsp;in April.

It was Francis who had fervently willed the Acutis sainthood case forward, convinced that the church needed someone like him to attract young Catholics to the faith while addressing the promises and perils of the digital age.

Acutis was precociously savvy with computers long before the social media era, reading college-level textbooks on programming and coding as a youngster and making websites that at the time were the domain of professionals. But he limited himself to an hour of video games a week, apparently deciding long before TikTok that human relationships were far more important than virtual ones.

“Carlo was well aware that the whole apparatus of communications, advertising and social networking can be used to lull us, to make us addicted to consumerism and buying the latest thing on the market,” Francis wrote in a 2019 document. “Yet he knew how to use the new communications technology to transmit the Gospel, to communicate values and beauty.”

Leo inherited the Acutis cause, but he too has pointed to technology —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-vision-papacy-artificial-intelligence-36d29e37a11620b594b9b7c0574cc358">especially artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;— as one of the main challenges facing humanity.

Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, in London to a wealthy but not particularly observant Catholic family. They moved back to Milan soon after he was born and he enjoyed a typical, happy childhood, albeit marked by his increasingly intense religious devotion.

In October 2006, at age 15, he fell ill with what was quickly diagnosed as acute leukemia. Within days, he was dead. He was entombed in Assisi, which known for its association with another popular saint, St. Francis.

In a remarkably quick process, Acutis was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-sainthood-pope-francis-4b0149a3a2ca7a5be5cc6b87698bb931">beatified in 2020</a>, and last year Francis approved the second miracle needed for him to be made a saint.

In the years since his death, young Catholics have flocked by the millions to Assisi, where through a glass-sided tomb they can see the young Acutis, dressed in jeans, Nike sneakers and a sweatshirt, his hands clasped around a rosary. Those who can’t make it in person can watch the comings and goings on a webcam pointed at his tomb, a level of internet accessibility not afforded even to popes buried in St. Peter’s Basilica.

For his admirers, Acutis was an ordinary kid who did extraordinary things, a typical Milan teen who went to school, played soccer and loved animals. But he also brought food to the poor, attended Mass daily and got his less-than-devout parents back to church.

“When I read his story for the first time, it was just like shocking to me, because from a very early age, he was just really drawn to Jesus Christ and he would go to Mass all the time,” said Sona Harrison, an eighth grader at the St. John Berchmans’ school, which is part of the Acutis parish. “I feel like he’s a lot more relatable, and I definitely feel like I’m closer to God when I read about him.”

Acutis earned the nickname “God’s Influencer,” because he used technology to spread the faith. His most well-known tech legacy is the website he created about so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html">Eucharistic miracles</a>, available in nearly 20 different languages. The site compiles information about the 196 seemingly inexplicable events over the history of the church related to the Eucharist, which the faithful believe is the body of Christ.

Acutis was known to spend hours in prayer before the Eucharist each day, a practice known as Eucharistic adoration.

“This was the fixed appointment of his day,” his mother, Antonia Salzano, said in a documentary that was airing Friday night at the U.S. seminary in Rome.

Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a history professor at the University of Notre Dame, said Acutis’ enormous popularity was clearly the result of a concerted church campaign, pushed strongly by his grief-stricken mother. But she said that is nothing new, and that in the 2,000-year history of the church, saints have very often been pushed ahead to respond to a particular need at a particular time.

“It doesn’t detract from the holiness of the person being honored to say that there are choices that are made” about which cases move forward, she said in a phone interview.

Sprows Cummings said that the Acutis phenomenon caught on because he's attractive to both young people and the institutional church, for using technology in a positive way to spread his profound belief in Eucharistic miracles at a time when many Catholics don’t believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.

“Canonization is about marketing,” said Sprows Cummings, author of “A Saint of Our Own: How the Quest for a Holy Hero Helped Catholics become American.”

“Which stories are going to get told? Who is going to get remembered through this amazingly efficient way of remembering holy people?”

Acutis and his story are ever-present here at the parish named for him. During Mass this week before the canonization, students processed into the chapel under an Acutis banner carrying things he might have carried: a soccer ball, laptop and knapsack.

Howe, the parish pastor and priest of the Congregation of the Resurrection, pulled items out of the knapsack to explain Acutis' story to the youngest students seated up front: A can of food he might have given to a homeless person, a set of rosary beads he might have prayed with.

“He fed the poor, he cared for the poor,” said 9-year-old David Cameron, who called Acutis “a great man.” Cameron, a fan of Sonic, Minecraft and Halo, also found inspiration in Acutis' love of video games — and awe at Acutis' restraint.

“He played video games for like only one hour a week, which I don’t think I can do,” he said.

Nicole Winfield reported from Vatican City.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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