USD 428 proudly recognizes the dedication and service of 70 staff members who have reached significant career milestones in 2026. Together, these individuals represent an extraordinary 920 years of combined service to USD 428, our students, and the community—an incredible reflection of the experience, commitment, and care our staff bring to their work each day.

The district’s Career Milestone Program celebrates both licensed and classified employees in five-year increments, recognizing the meaningful contributions staff members make throughout their careers. At the March Board of Education meeting, the Board honored employees reaching 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service, recognizing their dedication to supporting students, families, and colleagues across the district.

“Quality education is built on relationships, and many of the individuals we’re honoring this year have spent decades investing in the success of our students and community,” said Superintendent Khris Thexton. “Their commitment, professionalism, and pride in their work help shape the culture of USD 428 and make our schools stronger every day.”

As part of the recognition, milestone recipients receive a token of appreciation—such as a milestone t-shirt, jacket, or bag—to commemorate their years of service.

USD 428 extends heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all milestone recipients for their unwavering service and dedication. For a full list of 2025 Milestone recipients from 5 to 35 years, please visit www.greatbendschools.net.

Staff Celebrating Career Milestones in 2026:

40 Years of Service: · Susan Stambaugh – Vocal Music Director

35 Years of Service: · Shelly Post - Preschool Coordinator

30 Years of Service: · Jana Miessler - BCSS · Traci Miller - Instructional Coach, Riley · Shannon Wedel - Elementary Art Teacher · Greg Wells - Teacher, GBMS

25 Years of Service: · Linda Basye - EL Teacher · Jolene Kirmer - Teaching &amp; Learning Secretary · Pamela Jordan - Teacher, Jefferson · Lisa Turner - Teacher Assistant, Jefferson

20 Years of Service: · Janet Dowson - Substitute Coordinator · Karen Ekberg - Teacher, Lincoln · Mary Elliott - Para, Ellinwood · Jeremy Foster - Teacher, GBHS · Sarah Irwin – Speech Language Pathologist, BCSS · Holly Oyedeji - Teacher, GBMS · Amy Paden - Custodian, LPP/DEC

15 Years of Service: · Arellanes Gladis · Tami Cale · Peggy Haag · Rosalinda Loera · Renee Nicholson · Marie Younger

10 Years of Service: · Jared Bashor · Signe Cook · Dayami Cortez · Lisa Daniels · Hanna Degenhardt · Janae Donham · Tabitha Gray · Maria Hernandez · Chris Jeska · Meagan Ketch · Sandra Lopez · Melissa Lutt · Clarissa McCormick · Cristina Montes · Nina Ralston · Priscilla Rose · Jason Shomber · Sandra Smith · Eric Steiner · Kelly Strayer · Lori Tennis · Tara Weeks · Lacy Wolters

5 years of Service: · Kaitlyn Barkow · Kelsey Barrett · Joseph Bliven · Keshia Causey · Ashley Davis · Kristy Ferguson · Kristina Frost · Lilia Guyton · Amy Haxton · Casey Jording · Robin Linsner · Nora Lopez-Aquino · Brandy Maneth · Sheree Marshall · Tonya Miller · Krystal Santy · Shara Stettinger · Amy Turner · Patty Vasquez · Sarah Vaughn · Emily Young

920 YEARS: USD 428 honors 70 staff members for Career Milestones

As the arrival of spring brings sunshine and the urge to declutter, Great Bend-based Fuller Industries Inc. is joining professional cleaning organizations worldwide to celebrate International Cleaning Week, March 22–28, 2026.

A longtime member of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, Fuller Industries is utilizing the week to highlight the essential role cleaning plays in public health, environmental sustainability, and professional advocacy.

"Cleaning week is recognized annually during the fourth week in March, and it is a good encouragement to deep clean our homes, closets, cars and offices," said Joe Mann, general manager of Fuller Industries. "This week also emphasizes the value of cleaning for employees, employers, and stakeholders across the industry."

International Cleaning Week 2026, organized by ISSA, honors cleaning professionals and advances industry standards. Fuller joins with Magna Dry of Central Kansas and Office Products Incorporated, both of Great Bend, in marking this occasion.

"International Cleaning Week reflects our shared commitment to excellence and the remarkable impact of cleaning and facility professionals worldwide," said ISSA Executive Director Kim Althoff.

While International Cleaning Week officially kicks off on March 22, the official start of spring on March 20 serves as the traditional catalyst for many to begin their "spring-cleaning" rituals. Fuller and other cleaning professionals suggest that while the process can seem tedious, homeowners can make the task more manageable by following a structured plan.

Spring-Cleaning Checklist To help residents get started, Fuller Industries recommends a room-by-room approach:

Inside the Home: · Safety First: Use the transition to daylight saving time to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

· Window Care: Clean the interior of windows to increase natural light and maintain glass quality

· Appliance Maintenance: Clean the interior and exterior of washers and dryers to improve efficiency.

· Eco-Friendly Tips: Use washable rags or old T-shirts instead of paper towels and recycle empty cleaning bottles.

Outside the Home: · Gutter Maintenance: Remove debris from gutters and downspouts to prevent water damage (professionals are recommended for ladder work).

· Garage Organization: Sweep out winter dust and donate or discard unused items to reduce clutter.

· Yard Cleanup: Remove sticks, leaves, and pet waste accumulated over the winter months.

Fuller products recommended for the job by Todd Clark of Magna-Dry of Central Kansas, a company that uses Fuller products extensively, include:

· Fuller solvent-based stainless-steel cleaner.

· Fulleroso, a lavender multi-purpose cleaner and deodorizer.

· Heavy-duty degreasers for tougher jobs.

"All products are highly concentrated, which helps keep costs down. A rule of thumb: adding too much chemical is never good," Clark said.

Office Products Incorporated in Great Bend carries Fuller merchandise for spring cleaning needs. OPI's downtown showroom features a selection of carpet/floor cleaners, window cleaners, bathroom cleaners, multi-surface cleaners, and hand soaps/disinfectants. They also carry various brushes and static floor sweepers.

In addition, OPI has a catalog from which they can order other Fuller products.

"Together, let's celebrate and highlight the important role the cleaning industry plays in keeping people safe and healthy," Mann said.

For more information, call Fuller at 620-792-1711, Magna-Dry at 620-282-2267 or OPI at 620-793-8479.

About Fuller Industries Inc. Based in Great Bend, Kan., with a rich heritage dating back over a century to the Fuller Brush Man, Fuller Industries is a leading American manufacturer of industrial products, including cleaning chemicals and supplies, as well as brooms, mops, brushes and more. Fuller serves manufacturing, commercial, institutional and agricultural clients across the Western Hemisphere. Call 620-792-1711 or visit Fullerindustriesllc.com.

Fuller Industries and local businesses celebrate International Cleaning Week

Thursday evening, just before 7:30 p.m., the Great Bend Police Department (GBPD) was dispatched to 3318 24th&nbsp;Street in response to reports there was a subject in the area with a rifle who had fired&nbsp;multiple shots. The initial complaint was that he may have been firing in the air and then possibly shooting towards a neighbor.&nbsp;The individual&nbsp;with the gun&nbsp;was later identified as 35-year-old Ryan Lang.

Upon the first officer's arrival, Lang shot in their direction, striking a tree and the patrol vehicle. Additional officers quickly arrived on scene, blocking nearby roads and establishing a perimeter around the property. Lang shot approximately three more times. The first round struck a civilian vehicle parked in the 2300 block of Polk Street. A second shot was aimed at an officer setting the perimeter at the intersection of 24th and Polk, and the round passed just over the top of their patrol vehicle. A third shot was believed to be fired into the air.

While on scene, officers learned Lang had also shot and struck at least two other vehicles that&nbsp;had&nbsp;driven through the area prior to officers’ arrival. Lang continued moving around the property with the rifle, circulating between the front yard, porch and inside the residence as&nbsp;GBPD officers and&nbsp;Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies maintained the perimeter.

After an approximately 90-minute standoff, Lang was seen exiting the house without the rifle. Officers,&nbsp;deputies, and a K-9 from the Barton County Sheriff's Office advanced toward Lang, but he retreated inside the residence. Officers and&nbsp;deputies followed Lang inside where he was taken into custody after a Taser electronic control device was utilized to temporarily immobilize him.

Lang was transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked and confined in lieu of bond for&nbsp;Attempted&nbsp;Murder,&nbsp;Aggravated&nbsp;Assault of a&nbsp;Law&nbsp;Enforcement&nbsp;Officer (LEO),&nbsp;Criminal&nbsp;Discharge of a&nbsp;Firearm,&nbsp;Criminal&nbsp;Damage to&nbsp;Property,&nbsp;Interference with LEO and&nbsp;Possession of a&nbsp;Controlled&nbsp;Substance.&nbsp;

Officers returned to the scene Friday to canvass for any additional damage. Citizens who live in or who drove through the area last night and sustained damage to their property are encouraged to contact the GBPD. The police department was assisted on this incident by the Barton County Sheriff's Office and the Great Bend Fire Department.

This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with related information is encouraged to contact&nbsp;Crime&nbsp;Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or the GBPD at 620-793-4120 or online at p3tips.com.

Great Bend Police release details from Thursday's shooting incident on 24th St.

By ELLE HUTCHINSON Barton County Media Consultant

Following last week’s discussion of County Day at the Capitol, the Barton County Commission provided an update on several legislative topics that continue to develop in Topeka.

County Day at the Capitol, held March 3, gave counties from across Kansas an opportunity to engage with legislators, share local initiatives, and participate directly in statewide policy conversations. For the first time, Barton County hosted its own informational table, highlighting projects such as Travel 389, the recent courthouse renovation, and other county initiatives through informational displays and rotating photo presentations.

Commissioner Barb Esfeld also provided an update on legislative discussions surrounding property tax policy, including testimony she delivered regarding House Bill 2745 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616. Speaking on behalf of Barton County and the Kansas Legislative Policy Group, Commissioner Esfeld emphasized that local officials support efforts to provide property tax relief, while also encouraging lawmakers to carefully consider how proposed changes may impact counties across Kansas.

She noted that many of the proposals continue to evolve as legislators work through potential revisions. The discussions in Topeka reflect a shared goal among state and local leaders to address property tax concerns while maintaining fairness and stability within the overall tax structure.

Commissioners also acknowledged the work being done by legislators during the session, noting the significant amount of time and effort required to analyze complex policy issues and develop potential solutions.

In addition to the Commission’s participation, Barton County Treasurer Jim Jordan and Paige Volkel represented Barton County at the County Treasurers’ Association table, connecting with visitors and sharing information about county services.

The Commission expressed appreciation for the opportunity to represent Barton County at the Capitol and to contribute to ongoing conversations that impact communities across the state.

Barton Commission provides legislative update following County Day at the Capitol

Great Bend's Charles Atkinson, director of the United Soybeans Board representing Kansas, was appointed as a representative to The&nbsp;Center for Food Integrity board of directors. Below is a release from CFI.

Bryan Malenius, director of reputation strategy for public affairs at Chick-fil-A, is the new president of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) Board of Directors.

Malenius is among a new slate of officers and board members who represent the diversity of today’s food and agriculture value chain. Each brings unique perspectives to CFI’s mission of building trust in today’s food system and the evolving expectations facing the food system – particularly around transparency, credibility and public trust.

“Food and agriculture are facing a period of unprecedented scrutiny and complexity,” said Malenius. “In this environment, trust is essential. I’m honored to serve as board president to support CFI’s strategic initiatives as it partners with industry leaders to navigate these challenges with credibility, transparency and a deeper understanding of the values shaping public expectations.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Previously serving as vice president, Malenius has been on the board since 2021.&nbsp;

“Bryan understands the expectations of today’s public and the realities facing food and agriculture,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. “His expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we advance key initiatives to help organizations earn and sustain public trust in an increasingly dynamic environment.”

In addition, the board named Nathan Capps as vice president. Capps is the science and technical director for Bush Brothers &amp; Company. Jill Manata, the senior vice president of sustainability affairs for Dairy Management, Inc., was elected secretary/treasurer. Elected as an at-large executive committee member is Sara Payne, chief marketing and communications officer for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The CFI Board of Directors includes industry leaders Charles Atkinson, an agriculture producer from Great Bend, who represents&nbsp;the United Soybean Board; Grady Bishop, senior director of livestock sustainability at Elanco Animal Health; Ryan Brown, senior director, food safety, quality and regulatory for Cargill Food North America; Kristen Coady, senior vice president and chief communications officer at Dairy Farmers of America (DFA); Marc Cool, global seed policy lead for Corteva Agriscience; Charles Leftwich, vice president of food safety and quality assurance for Sysco Corporation; Sarah Ludmer, chief wellbeing and sustainable business officer for WK Kellogg Co.; Matt Perin, director and head of government relations and regulatory affairs for Kroger; Jessica Sobel, vice president of strategic growth initiatives at Freshpet; Cameron Wallace, vice president, head of strategy at Compeer Financial; and Alex Wibholm, chief operating officer for the National Pork Board. David Fikes, executive director of the FMI Foundation and immediate past CFI board president, will continue to serve on the board as a voting member.

CFI 2026 emeritus members are Doug Buhler, associate vice president for research and innovation at Michigan State University; Jason Clay, senior vice president, markets and food, and executive director, markets institute at World Wildlife Fund (WWF); Craig Wilson, executive vice president at IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group; Ian Reece, former managing director and senior credit officer for food and agribusiness at Rabobank International and chairman of CFI’s Foundation for Food Integrity; and Monica Massey, CEO of the American Cider Association.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Arnot continues as CFI CEO, a role he has held since CFI’s inception. Kelly Leighton, who most recently served as CFI’s vice president of Growth and Engagement, was named CFI executive director in January.

“CFI exists to help the food system earn trust – especially when the public conversation gets harder,” said Leighton. “This board reflects the full food and agriculture value chain and brings the leadership needed to move from polarization to progress. In 2026, CFI will continue to serve as a trusted, neutral table where research, values and real-world decision-making come together to drive credible action.”

Now in its 19th year, CFI is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build trust in today’s food system. CFI represents the diversity of the food and agriculture value chain through its many members and partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

To learn more about CFI leadership, membership and strategic initiatives, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.foodintegrity.org/">www.foodintegrity.org</a>&nbsp;or contact CFI at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:learnmore@foodintegrity.org">learnmore@foodintegrity.org</a>.

Great Bend's Atkinson appointed as representative to CFI board of directors.

Barton Community College, The Barton Community College Foundation, and the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce will host a Chamber After Hours, a casual community networking event, on Thursday, March 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 320.

This casual evening gathering offers a great opportunity for community members, alumni, and local business leaders to connect, enjoy appetizers, and hear the latest updates from Barton Community College. Guests will learn about current initiatives, alumni engagement opportunities, and ways the College and Foundation are supporting Barton students and programs.

The After Hours is designed to strengthen connections between Barton, its alumni, and the surrounding communities while celebrating the partnerships that help the college thrive. The event is free and open to the public.

Ellinwood Chamber Afterhours featuring BCC and Barton Foundation

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Kathleen Cook, Fort Hays State University Director of Academic Success about the Schmidt Foundation Scholarships.

🎥  Forward Ever: FHSU director of Academic Success

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

National politicians often garner the headlines, but decisions
made by elected officials at the local level often carry more impact. Several city,
county, school, and other elected positions will be up for grabs in the 2026
General Election on Nov. 3. The primary for those races is set for Tuesday,
Aug. 4. Barton County Election Official Bev Schmeidler said the deadline to
file as a candidate is approaching fast.

“The filing deadline is June 1 at noon, which is a Monday
this year,” she said. “We just have to have all the paperwork by then. If it’s
a state-level office, they go to Topeka to file. This is a gubernatorial year,
so we will elect a governor, lieutenant governor, and there will be a lot of
state offices on the ballots. It would be great to have a great turnout at the
polls for the election.”

Local elections will include four seats on the Great Bend City
Council, as well as seats on the Hoisington and Ellinwood councils. Ellinwood
Hospital will have two board seats up for grabs. Barton County Commission
districts 1, 4, and 5 are up for election. Incumbents Duane Reif and Tricia
Schlessiger have already refiled for Districts 1 and 4, respectively, and
Johnathan Robinson has filed in District 5, which is currently occupied by Donna
Zimmerman. Clerks positions in all 22 Barton County townships will also be on
the Aug. 4 ballot, as will precinct committee spots for both the Republican and
Democratic parties. The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation
is July 14 at 5 p.m. Early voting can begin as early as July 15.

“Whether you come vote early or you vote at a polling place
on Election Day, you can declare one of those parties if you are unaffiliated,”
Schmeidler said. “You can’t change your party on the poll site, but you can
declare if you’re unaffiliated.”

Larger numbers of voters tend to turn out in even-numbered
years. Nearly 60 percent of Barton County voters turned out in 2016, which
included a presidential race. That number dropped to 24 percent in 2017. Forty-nine
percent showed up in a gubernatorial year in 2018, then fewer than 25
percent voted in 2019. Sixty-eight and 63 percent voted in 2020 and 2024, respectively, which included presidential races.

Other state and national seats to be decided in the Nov. 3 general
election include one U.S. Senator, four U.S. Representatives, Kansas secretary
of state, attorney general, treasurer, and commissioner of insurance, 125 state
representatives, and several judicial positions.

Local political candidates already filing for office ahead of June 1 deadline

Join the Great Bend Rec for a fantastic PAWesome Easter Egg Hunt for your four-legged canine friends. The event will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at Veteran’s Memorial Park next to the Dog Park.

Easter eggs will have pet-friendly treats inside of them or vouchers for larger prizes. The hunt will be divided into 2-sections, Small Dog Breed Hunt and Large Dog Breed Hunt. For everyone’s safety, all dogs must always be on a leash.

Registration for the event begins at 1 p.m., and the egg hunt will begin at 1:15 p.m. A fee of $5.00 per dog will be collected with proceeds going to improvements at the dog park.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled.

For more information about this program and other programs the Great Bend Rec offers, please visit our website at www.greatbendrec.com or call the Recreation Commission office at 793-3755 ext. 110.

Great Bend Rec's PAWesome Easter Egg Hunt for dogs is March 28

Released Sherman, Augustus C. Jr. on Barton County District Court warrant #BT2024CR0237 for Failure to Appear by posting $10,000.00 Surety Bond with Ace Bail Bonds. Transferred to another Agency.

Released Finnigan., Swen on Barton County District Court Warrant #BT2021CR0471 for Serve Sentence. Transferred to Kansas Department of Corrections.

Released Smith, Jerry W. Jr. on Kansas Department of Corrections A&amp;D Warrant AD-17752 for Parole Violation and Barton County District Court case 25-734 for Distribution of Methamphetamine (1009&gt;=1 Kg), Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm with Transfer to Kansas Department of Corrections.

Released Driscoll, Beverly on Barton County District Court Warrant #BT2024CR0307 for Serve Sentence. Released on Time Served.

Released Serpan, Shane on Barton County District Court case #26-215 for Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Turn Signals, and Drug Tax Stamp. Released by Order of the C.A.

Booked Bivins, Brigitte E on Barton County District Warrant #BT2026CR0062 for Violation Offender Registration Act. Bond set at $40,000 c/s.

Released Stevenson, Dietre A. on a Barton County District Court warrant #BT2026CR0080 for Domestic Battery after posting the $1,000.00 surety bond through ACE Bail Bonds.

Released Mattox, Christopher W. on Barton County District Court case #26-209 for Possession of Methamphetamine, Driving Under the Influence, Speeding, and Driving in Left Lane after posting the $10,000.00 surety bond through ACE Bail Bonds.

Booked Aumiller, Ryan A. on Barton County District Court warrants #BT2025CR0310 for Failure to Appear, and #BT2025CR0311 for Failure to Appear; bonds set at NO BOND.

Booked in Kelly, Parker S. on Great Bend Municipal Court case # 26-265 for Battery Domestic Violence &amp; Possession of Marijuana. Bond is set at $1,000.00 cash/surety.

Barton County Sheriff's Office Booking activity (3/12)

Friday Sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 41. South southeast wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. South wind 13 to 15 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.

Sunday A slight chance of rain before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of snow after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Windy, with a north northwest wind 22 to 27 mph increasing to 34 to 39 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Windy.

Monday Sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday's weather

Now is the time to recognize those who go above and beyond! You can nominate a School Hero! On the fourth Tuesday of each month, Eagle Media will select a Hero to recognize! The winner will also receive $500! Nominate a School Hero is presented by: <a href="https://opikan.com/">OPI</a> (Office Products Incorporated) &amp; Golden Belt Printing.&nbsp;

Any adult who works at a school in Barton County is eligible to be nominated. Admin, Teachers, Para's, Coaches, Maintenance, Cafeteria, etc.

Nominate a School Hero! Presented by: OPI & Golden Belt Printing

Big Bend Custom Engraving, Freedom Claims Management, Great Bend Redi Mix, Francis Financial, Medial Park Pharmacy, R&amp;R Roofing, Allstaff Chartered, Miller Plastics, Rosencrants Bemis Water Well Service, Great Bend Rec, Jimlo Glass Center, Haz Mat Response

Make a Difference Contest 

Opening Round -
Saturday, March 7th (Games Played at Higher Seed) #5 Seward County 82, #12 Colby 66 #6 Cowley 61, #11
Hutchinson 60 #10 Fort Hays Tech NW 76, #7 Independence 74 #8 Cloud County 86, #9 Garden City 66

Quarterfinal
Round - Tuesday, March 10th (Games Played at Higher Seed) Barton 96, Cloud County 95 Butler 101, Fort Hays Tech NW 87 Cowley 76, Dodge City 69 Seward County 84, Coffeyville 75

Semifinal Round -
Friday, March 13th (Fleske Fieldhouse - Great Bend) Barton 102, Seward County 83 Butler 105, Cowley 104

Championship -
Saturday, March 14th (Fleske Fieldhouse - Great Bend) 5:00 PM - Barton vs Butler

Region 6 Men's Basketball Tournament Scores and Schedule

Berean Academy 61, Pittsburg St Mary’s-Colgan 35

--------------------------------------------------------------

Hanover 51, Hutchinson Central Christian 31

Friday State Tournament Scores

Opening Round - Saturday, March 7th (Games Played at Higher Seed) #5 Seward County 84, #12 Fort Hays Tech Northwest 52 #6 Colby 58, #11 Pratt 42 #7 Barton 88, #10 Cloud County 64 #8 Garden City 91, #9 Cowley 80&nbsp;&nbsp; Quarterfinal Round - Tuesday, March 10th (Games Played at Higher Seed) Butler 93, Garden City 62&nbsp; Dodge City 69, Barton 60 Hutchinson 74, Colby 65 Coffeyville 87, Seward County 62 Semifinal Round - Friday, March 13th (Fleske Fieldhouse-Great Bend) Butler 65, Coffeyville 62 Hutchinson 69, Dodge City 57

Championship - Saturday, March 14th (Fleske Fieldhouse-Great Bend) 3:00 PM - Butler vs Hutchinson

Region 6 Women's Basketball Tournament Scores and Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kingston Flemings scored 21 points, fellow freshman Chris Cenac Jr. had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and fifth-ranked Houston rolled past poor-shooting and lackluster No. 14 Kansas 69-47 in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday night.

The second-seeded Cougars (28-5) held the third-seeded Jayhawks without a field goal for more than 10 minutes at point in the game, ultimately breezing into another championship matchup with second-ranked Arizona on Saturday night.

Houston beat the Wildcats 72-64 last year for its first Big 12 Tournament title.

Darryn Peterson had 14 points to lead the Jayhawks (23-10), who had beaten the Cougars in their only regular-season matchup. But the Jayhawks were a whole lot better that night in Allen Fieldhouse than they were at T-Mobile Center, where they were 6 for 31 from the field in the second half and shot 24.6% overall in their lowest-scoring game of the season.

With the relentless defense that's become a hallmark of coach Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars controlled the game right from the start, making things especially difficult for Kansas big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller in the paint.

Most of the Jayhawks' offense came from Peterson, the potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. He had 12 at the break.

Things really unraveled for Kansas in the second half, though.

Houston forced Bill Self's team into missing its first 16 shots while going on a 22-2 run of its own spanning halftime. Even the bucket that mercifully ended the drought, a dunk by Bidunga with 10:42 to go, nearly rattled its way back out of the basket.

Houston led 51-31 at that point before coasting into its second consecutive championship game.

Houston lost to the No. 1 seed Wildcats at home on Feb. 21 in their only meeting of the regular season.

Kansas will likely be a No. 4 seed when the NCAA Tournament is revealed on Sunday.

No. 5 Houston routs No. 14 Kansas 69-47 to set up another Big 12 title game with No. 2 Arizona

Saturday, March 14 12:15PM KHOK - 2A State Championship - Ellinwood Girls vs Sacred Heart 4:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Big 12 Championship - Arizona vs Houston 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - ACC Championship - Virginia vs Duke 5:00PM B104 - Region 6 Men's Championship - Barton vs Butler Sunday, March 15 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City vs Chicago White Sox Monday, March 16 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Tuesday, March 17 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Wednesday, March 18 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 8:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - LA Lakers @ Houston Thursday, March 19 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Friday, March 20 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Saturday, March 21 2:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City vs Colorado Rockies Monday, March 23 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Texas Rangers Tuesday, March 24 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 1:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Texas Rangers Wednesday, March 25 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - Atlanta @ Detroit

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

Tuesday, March 10 Arizona State 83, Baylor 79 Cincinnati 73, Utah 66 BYU 105, Kansas State 91 Oklahoma State 92, Colorado 83 Wednesday, March 11 Iowa State 91, Arizona State 42 UCF 66, Cincinnati 65 OT BYU 68, West Virginia 48 TCU 95, Oklahoma State 88 Thursday, March 12 Iowa State 75, Texas Tech 53 Arizona 81, UCF 59 Houston 73, BYU 68 Kansas 78, TCU 73 Friday, March 13 (Semi-Finals) Arizona 82, Iowa State 80 Houston 69, Kansas 47 Saturday, March 14 (Championship) 5:00 Arizona vs Houston

Big 12 Tournament Scores and Schedule

The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering rewriting its rules to try barring President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending the LA Olympics in 2028. It's a move that could also have implications for the World Cup being hosted by the U.S. this summer. The proposal is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting of the global drug-fighting watchdog’s executive committee. It marks the latest maneuver to come out of a yearslong refusal of the U.S. government to pay its annual dues to WADA. The refusal is part of the American government’s unanimous, bipartisan protest of the agency’s handling of a case involving Chinese swimmers and other issues.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Police are searching for a man whom they say killed two people about a mile from the TPC Sawgrass. That has led The Players Championship to delay opening the gates to the public by a couple hours for operational concerns. The third round began on time. St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick says the suspect from the Friday night shooting has a criminal history and knew both victims. He identifies the suspect as Christian Barrios. He says the suspect came onto the TPC Sawgrass and stole a car that later crashed in the woods about an hour north of Sawgrass.

HOUSTON (AP) — The United States is heading to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic after a “different level of focus” helped this All-Star-studded team rebound from a shocking loss. The Americans beat Canada 5-3 on Friday night for a spot in the semifinals Sunday against the Dominican Republic. The big win came after an 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play left them needing help to advance to Friday's game. Said Yankees star Aaron Judge: “Guys really locked in. We saw a different level of focus at our workout the other day and then even pregame today. It felt like the boys were locked and ready to go.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Arizona beats Iowa State 82 to 80 in a Big 12 Tournament semifinal after Jaden Bradley hits a last-second jumper. On Friday night, Bradley drives right in a tie game and creates space for the winning shot. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd praises Iowa State and calls it an epic battle. Anthony Dell’Orso scores 26 off the bench and hits six threes. Ivan Kharchenkov adds 17, and Tobe Awaka posts a double-double. Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic hits eight threes and scores 28. The teams trade buckets all night in front of a record crowd.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sixth-ranked UConn and No. 13 St. John’s are ready for the rubber match. This time, with a Big East championship at stake. After dominating conference play and splitting their two regular-season matchups, the original league rivals are poised to square off again in a highly anticipated tournament title game Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Neither team has trailed through two rounds in New York City this week. So with all due respect to the rest of the conference, this rematch felt inevitable all along.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ludvig Aberg is leading The Players Championship after a 63 that he made look easy. Everything seemed to be hard for Scottie Scheffler, and the world's No. 1 player narrowly made the cut. Aberg had two eagles, chipped in twice and finished with a final birdie to lead by two shots over Xander Schauffele. Aberg is a Swede who went to Texas Tech and now lives in the area. He loves the Stadium Course but hasn't played it this year until tournament week. Schauffele hit all 14 fairways for his 65. Cameron Young shot 67 and was three behind.

SHANGHAI (AP) — Kimi Antonelli stepped up when his Mercedes teammate George Russell hit trouble in qualifying to become the youngest-ever driver on pole position for a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Russell won the sprint race earlier in the day and seemed tough to beat but stopped on track in qualifying and limped back to the pits with technical problems. Russell’s team got the car going again with seconds to spare for him to set a time. It was only good enough for second on the grid, 0.222 of a second off Antonelli. The Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will start third and fourth.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A turf war over a football team is developing between two Midwestern states with a long rivalry. Indiana has made a serious bid to lure the storied Chicago Bears across the border. The Bears want to leave Soldier Field, their home for 50 years. They previously proposed a $5 billion campus featuring a domed stadium in suburban Arlington Heights. But Indiana has a new law that would allow for financing and building a stadium in Hammond to lease to the Bears. Illinois lawmakers have responded with legislation that would give property and sales tax breaks to any so-called megaproject — such as a Bears stadium — of at least $100 million.

NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert says progress is being made toward a new collective bargaining agreement and that there is an urgency to get a deal done by Monday to avoid disruptions to the upcoming season. The union agreed there has been positive movementand there seems to be a sense of urgency on both sides. The sides have spent nearly 48 hours discussing a new CBA since first getting together in person on Tuesday — the day the league had originally said there would need to be at least a handshake agreement for the season to start on time.

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss the rest of the NHL season. The team provided an injury update on Matthews a little under 24 hours since he was knocked out of a game against Anaheim on a knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas. The Leafs said Matthews has a Grade 3 MCL tear and a bruised quadriceps muscle and would be evaluated again in two weeks. Gudas was suspended for five games after a hearing with the league's Department of Player Safety.

Final	Chicago White Sox	4	Chicago Cubs	2	

Final L.A. Angels 5 Cleveland 2

Final	Cincinnati	1	San Francisco	0

Final OT	St. Louis	3	Edmonton	2

Saturday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Tuesday March 10 Class 2A Girls @ Tony's Pizza Events Center - Salina Ellinwood 55, Rossville 48 Class 1A-DII Boys @ White Auditorium - Emporia Lebo 46, Victoria 40 Class 1A-DI Boys @ Kansas Wesleyan University - Salina Central Plains 57, Canton-Galva 34 Wednesday, March 11 Class 1A-DI Girls @ Friends University - Wichita Pretty Prairie 39, Hodgeman County 35 Class 1A-DI Girls @&nbsp;Tony's Pizza Events Center - Salina Little River 57, Central Plains 27 Class 3A Girls @ United Wireless Arena - Dodge City Holcomb 45, Ellsworth 32&nbsp; Thursday, March 12 Class 2A Girls @ White Auditorium - Emporia Ellinwood 50, Eureka 47 Class 1A-DI Boys @ United Wireless Arena - Dodge City South Central 49, Central Plains 30 Saturday, March 14 Class 2A Girls @ White Auditorium - Emporia - Championship 12:30 Ellinwood (27-1) vs Salina-Sacred Heart (24-4) Class 1A-DI Boys @ United Wireless Arena - Dodge City - 3rd Place 3:30 Central Plains (25-3) vs Norwich (23-5)&nbsp; &nbsp;

Area State Tournament Scores/Schedule

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Barton Men 102 Seward County 83

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer

Kansas State hired longtime Belmont coach Casey Alexander to take over its basketball program on Friday, three days after losing in the Big 12 Tournament and about a month after firing coach Jerome Tang under controversial circumstances.

Alexander, who led the Bruins to 166 wins and four conference titles in seven seasons, agreed to a five-year deal that will pay him $3.3 million for the upcoming season. He will receive a $50,000 base increase each year, topping out at $3.5 million in 2030-31.

“I’m incredibly excited to join the team at K-State and can’t wait to get the journey started,” Alexander said. “K-State has such a rich tradition and a wildly passionate fan base and I’m grateful for the opportunity provided by (athletic director) Gene Taylor to be a part of it.”

The school said a formal introductory news conference would come at a later date.

The 53-year-old Alexander is 303-180 in 15 years as a head coach, including stops at Stetson and Lipscomb before his successful run at Belmont. The Bruins won the regular-season Missouri Valley title this season before losing to Drake in the conference tournament.

Alexander had played for Belmont and got his start there as an assistant coach.

“We had significant interest in our job from numerous talented and successful coaches from around the country," Taylor said. “What was evident throughout the search was the positive reputation of K-State basketball, and of the coaches we talked with, Casey emerged as the one who best fit our program. He is known nationally as a tremendous evaluator of talent and one of the best offensive minds in the college game.”

Kansas State announced it was firing Tang on Feb. 15, four days after a 29-point loss to Cincinnati.

After the game, a despondent Tang said that his players “do not deserve to wear this uniform" and that "there will be very few of them in it next year." The sound byte quickly made headlines, and the school ultimately fired Tang for cause, saying that he had embarrassed the school.

Tang is disputing the “for cause" nature of his dismissal, which would void an $18.7 million buyout. He's retained noted sports business attorneys Tom Mars and Bennett Speyer to represent him in the case.

Matthew Driscoll served as the interim coach for the remainder of the season, which ended with a 105-91 loss to BYU in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday. The Wildcats finished 12-20, their worst record since going 9-20 during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season in their penultimate year under Bruce Weber.

It was an abrupt fall from grace for Tang, who led Kansas State to the Elite Eight in his debut season four years ago.

Alexander was born and raised in Tennessee and has few Midwest ties, but the opportunity to coach for a Big 12 program that has a sizeable NIL budget and robust support from the school administration proved to be too good to pass up.

He also has a track record of rebuilding programs. Stetson won just eight games prior to his arrival, and two years later, Alexander went 15-16 with the Hatters. Lipscomb won 12 games before Alexander was hired, and his last two seasons there included a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a 29-win season that ended with a loss in the NIT championship game.

Alexander won at least 20 games in each of his seven seasons with Belmont.

“Coach Alexander is an outstanding fit for K-State, and we are thrilled to welcome him as the next head coach of our men’s basketball program,” Kansas State president Richard Linton said. “He has built a culture of winning throughout his career, leading with integrity, purpose and a deep commitment to his student-athletes. We are excited to welcome Casey, his wife and their family to Manhattan."

Kansas State hires Belmont's Casey Alexander as coach to replace the fired Jerome Tang

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach launched a statewide public awareness campaign to address the growing fentanyl crisis that is taking a devastating toll on our communities.

More than 1,500 Kansans have already lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses, and the threat continues to rise. This deadly drug is not only consumed by those who seek it out, but is increasingly laced into other substances, a social event, with friends, online, or unknowingly consuming pills that contain fentanyl. Since an overdose can happen anywhere at any time, it’s critical to have easy access to Naloxone to save a life.

Each distribution box contains naloxone -&nbsp;2 doses per box.

To maximize access, we have collaborated with 40 colleges and universities across Kansas to place these boxes in visible, public, temperature-controlled locations where community members could easily find and use them.

Every host site receives ongoing support, including box refills and assistance asneeded,&nbsp;from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and DCCA. Throughout the program, Emily’s Hope tracks distribution data toevaluate impact and guide future efforts.

<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/reports-resources/emily-s-hope-naloxone-distribution-program?fbclid=IwY2xjawQdBilleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCZGtWNnBXaHREREJCdmZhc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmrKcrsqrxJ1He_Glz-i0Gt229RZ6DnW96Wtt3oIlyUu_BDZtLwS4cgBKoZB_aem_gsRusthn-mjqRIEqfF55HA">Click here to</a> find a box near you.

Kansas AG's statewide campaign to address the growing fentanyl crisis

KANSAS CITY – A Missouri man has been indicted with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information.&nbsp; The indictment was returned by a grand jury under seal and was made public this week after the arrest and initial appearance of the defendant, according to the United State's Attorney.

Seth Chambers, 35, a former United States Marine Corps. Intelligence Analyst, was employed as a civilian contractor and stationed in Iraq during the time frame alleged in the indictment.&nbsp;The indictment states that, as part of his duties, he held a security clearance that authorized him to view classified material up to a TOP SECRET level and therefore had access to national defense and classified information.

According to court documents, on two separate occasions, the defendant willfully transmitted SECRET level documents to two separate individuals who were not entitled or authorized to receive it.&nbsp; 

The first transmission occurred on Dec. 10, 2022, when the defendant transmitted a white paper containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents and was sent to an individual in Maryland.&nbsp; The second transmission of a document containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents occurred on April 20, 2023, and was sent to an individual believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.

If convicted, under federal statutes, Chambers is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole on each count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher and Trial Attorneys Nicolas Hunter and Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by FBI Kansas City Field Office.&nbsp;

Former U.S. intelligence analyst accused of sending classified info to China

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jaimie-ding">JAIMIE DING</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Math nerds and dessert enthusiasts unite to celebrate Pi Day every March 14, the date that represents the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi.

Representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, pi is approximately equal to 3.14159 — but its digits go on forever. In school, you might have used it to calculate the area of a circle or the volume of a cylinder. But the applications of pi are endless and part of every corner of our world.

The holiday was created in 1988 by Larry Shaw, a physicist at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco.

“He had a very open and expansive view of the world and saw an opportunity with this number, mathematical concept, to invite people into the joy of mathematical learning,” said Sam Sharkland, program director of public programs at the museum, who worked with Shaw before he died in 2017.

While it began as a small staff celebration featuring pie, it soon turned into a grand procession where hundreds of visitors marched around the pi shrine, each carrying a digit. Attendees often show up early to claim their favorite digit for the parade. One woman who has the symbol tattooed on her neck comes every year and marches near the front with a pi flag, Sharkland said.

The celebration begins at 1:59 p.m., signifying the next three digits of pi.

Here are a few ways pi is being used on the cutting edge of science.

In Artur Davoyan’s field of mechanical and aerospace engineering, pi is so fundamental that it would be hard to pinpoint one use case for it, he said.

Pi is part of “literally every single formula that you would use to do any calculation, like for spacecraft motion, for materials and how they work, or propulsion systems,” said Davoyan, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

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