Property matters will dominate the next Great Bend City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 17. The body will consider a pair of items relating to property use in the city.

Kevin and Jeff Keller have expressed interest in constructing a single-family residence on the lot located at 2261 Prairie Rose Drive. The property is within a Rural Housing Incentive District. The proposed dwelling will be consistent in design and character with existing homes in the neighborhood. The city of Great Bend will convey title to the buyers and will hold $10,000 in escrow, which will be returned once a certificate of occupancy is issued. Building permits must be obtained within 90 days of the closing date, and a certificate of occupancy must be obtained within 365 days of the permit issuance.

In other action, Great Bend Lodging has submitted a final plat for property located at 3017 10th Street, next to the Events Center, for the future development of a hotel and associated restaurant uses. The Great Bend Planning Commission heard about the plat during a Jan. 26 public hearing. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the final plat to the council. Proposed improvements of the final plat include the relocation of the existing sanitary sewer line further south on the property and extending it to the east. This will create a larger developable lot for the restaurant. To guarantee the completion of the improvements, the owners have submitted a letter of credit in the amount of $60,000, which will ensure installation of the new sewer line and removal of the existing line.

The Feb. 17 Great Bend City Council meeting will begin Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Great Bend City Council to consider pair of property-related items at Monday meeting

Sunday Patchy dense fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Sunday Night Increasing clouds, with a low around 42. South wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

President's Day Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. South southwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South southeast wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Breezy.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 68. Breezy.

Sunday's weather

EDWARDS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Edwards County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Honda Civic driven by Aaron JG&nbsp;Pineda, 29, Garden City,&nbsp;was stuck on the railroad tracks on 310th Avenue just north of U.S. 50.&nbsp; An eastbound Amtrak train struck the car.

Pineda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;McKillip Funeral Home.&nbsp; The conductor, engineer and an additional 113 occupants on board the train were not injured.

Kan. man dead after Amtrak train strikes car stuck on the tracks 

PAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 2a.m. Saturday in Pawnee County&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chrysler 300 driven by Jon Myles Woelk&nbsp; Blakely, 36, Rozell, was westbound on K156 Highway three miles west of the U.S. 183 Junction.

The car traveled off the roadway to the left and the driver corrected.&nbsp; The vehicle returned to the road and rolled into the ditch.

&nbsp;Blakely was pronoumced dead at the scene and was transported to Beckwith Mortuary. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Pawnee Co. man dies after rollover accident

Scholar's Bowl season is underway at Holy Family School. The team traveled to Chase on Feb. 9&nbsp; for a preseason competition and gained valuable experience.&nbsp; 

HFS will host a Scholars' Bowl on Monday, Feb. 23, beginning at 3 p.m.&nbsp; Teams who will participate in this 5th and 6th grade meet will be from Jefferson, Riley, Eisenhower, Lincoln, Park, CKCA, St. Joseph from Ellinwood, and Holy Family.&nbsp; The competition will be Round Robin with eight&nbsp;teams playing each other for a total of seven rounds. Questions will be from the areas of Social Studies, ELA, Math, Science, Fine Arts, Miscellaneous, Sports and Current Events.&nbsp; 

The public is invited to attend and decide for themselves if they are smarter than a 5th or 6th grader!

Great Bend's Holy Family School hosting Scholars' Bowl on Feb. 23

In preparation for paving activities at the drag strip, the city of Great Bend is restricting public access to the Expo complex for approximately one month. Entrances at G Ave., SW 50 Ave. and SW 60 Ave. will be blocked and gated with only authorized personnel allowed into the complex.

These measures are necessary to limit traffic in the area and prevent disturbances during the paving process. Updates from the city of Great Bend will be provided when the entrances are re-opened.

The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association (SRCA) Drag Strip has been a herald national venue for drag racing, hosting the first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals in 1955 before being recognized as a Kansas Historical Site in 1994.

The latest information, photographs and videos about the SRCA Drag Strip project can be found by following SRCA and City of Great Bend pages on Facebook.

For questions related to the temporary closure of the Expo complex, please contact the city at (620) 793-4111.

Expo Complex west of Great Bend to be closed for drag strip paving activities

Saturday Showers, mainly before 3pm. High near 54. North wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Saturday Night Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

President's Day Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Breezy.

Saturday's weather

High school seniors and current Kansas college students have until Friday, March 13, 2026, to apply for one of two $1,000 scholarships from Kansas Wheat honoring industry leaders Herb Clutter and David Radenberg. The scholarships - each worth $1,000 - continue a proud tradition of supporting the future of the Kansas wheat industry.&nbsp;

“Inspired by the enduring legacies of Herb Clutter and David Radenberg, Kansas Wheat is proud to help empower the next generation of the Kansas wheat industry,” said Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat. “Through these scholarships, we honor the passion of these industry leaders and help to provide opportunities for future leaders in agriculture.”

Administered by the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG), the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship per year to a college or university-bound incoming freshman from Kansas pursuing a career in the field of agriculture. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must plan to be a full-time student at any two or four-year Kansas college or university.&nbsp;

Recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership qualities and career objectives focused around the field of agriculture. The scholarship will be toward tuition for the student’s college or university education. The scholarship is non-renewable.

The Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship was established in 2009 to honor Herb Clutter’s influential role in organizing leadership groups on behalf of Kansas wheat producers, and is supported by the generosity of the Herb Clutter family. Herbert W. Clutter was a farmer from Holcomb and the first president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, which was established in 1948. Clutter encouraged Kansas wheat farmers to organize as a strong, unified voice, which led to the formation of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers in 1952. He encouraged research in education and industrial uses of wheat, improved variety development and methods to produce the best product at the lowest cost. Clutter’s efforts led to the formation of the Kansas Wheat Commission by the Kansas legislature in 1957.

Apply for the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship by completing the scholarship application at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ltmgbu9PHUVJQLcHc1FbyQobf4rIxWNtKTkmHSTXU0RiEQUj5kB4klbnzn9s6fysqDqU8ZMsm0JgJlU0SVfmNNa_7mGUm2wnKBFc_c-u7o53WTlZHNnMyPa86sYB0orRDR43Sdm5YaRMWTpaRYAmCKVZy3jcRmfL&amp;c=owdcjLTH5zgrKv6gYOzUkpwsrFqoGnOoq_SiDdrN4vg_jFd7YRCVYA==&amp;ch=xUmKekgMH454hYN-SCF-72Fw0S-bU3W0bGNcKhhZlnmvURRFMXU0gQ==">kswheat.com/clutter</a><a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ltmgbu9PHUVJQLcHc1FbyQobf4rIxWNtKTkmHSTXU0RiEQUj5kB4klbnzn9s6fysqDqU8ZMsm0JgJlU0SVfmNNa_7mGUm2wnKBFc_c-u7o53WTlZHNnMyPa86sYB0orRDR43Sdm5YaRMWTpaRYAmCPbTGCZnoXo3&amp;c=owdcjLTH5zgrKv6gYOzUkpwsrFqoGnOoq_SiDdrN4vg_jFd7YRCVYA==&amp;ch=xUmKekgMH454hYN-SCF-72Fw0S-bU3W0bGNcKhhZlnmvURRFMXU0gQ==">.</a>&nbsp;The application includes a 400-500 word essay discussing why the applicant has chosen to pursue a career in agriculture. The selection committee will use this essay, along with the student’s application, in determining the scholarship winner.&nbsp;

The David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship to a current undergraduate or graduate student from Kansas who is pursuing a career in the field of agriculture. Preference will be given to students pursuing a career related to the improvement of wheat, including but not limited to wheat genetics, wheat agronomics, wheat breeding, plant pathology, Extension and bioinformatics.&nbsp;

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at any two- or four-year college or university in Kansas. Incoming freshmen or transfers are not eligible.&nbsp;

David Radenberg was a lifelong wheat farmer in Claflin, Kansas, where his family has farmed for more than 100 years. He represented central Kansas on the Kansas Wheat Commission from April 2011 to March 2020, including serving as chairman from August 2018 to May 2019. Radenberg was also a founding board member of the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation.

During his tenure as a commissioner, he supported wheat research and international marketing efforts, including attending the 31st annual Latin American Millers Conference in Lima, Peru, in 2013. At the time, he expressed how he enjoyed sharing with millers, bakers and merchandisers about the research investments Kansas farmers are making to provide a better-quality product.&nbsp;

In 2013, Radenberg also visited multiple Pacific Rim countries to promote U.S. wheat. The contrast between third-world poverty he saw in thriving modern cities left an impression on him and reinforced his support of wheat research to help feed a hungry world.

Apply for the David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship by completing the scholarship application at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ltmgbu9PHUVJQLcHc1FbyQobf4rIxWNtKTkmHSTXU0RiEQUj5kB4ksKzjcNSeaPwUPMrsrE-qfnfqUF2eeYSDGSzP-EZ_lBq98mLtzMm4vmaI9zKDTVsMUKUqYkbavL0rXttLh15XMJ3G85_n26wa6WKulTI0CHS&amp;c=owdcjLTH5zgrKv6gYOzUkpwsrFqoGnOoq_SiDdrN4vg_jFd7YRCVYA==&amp;ch=xUmKekgMH454hYN-SCF-72Fw0S-bU3W0bGNcKhhZlnmvURRFMXU0gQ==">kswheat.com/radenberg</a>. The application includes a 400-500 word essay discussing why the applicant has chosen to pursue a career in agriculture. The selection committee will use this essay, along with the student’s application and a statement of financial need, in determining the scholarship winner.

For both scholarships, the application and associated documents must be submitted to Kansas Wheat at 1990 Kimball Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502, by Friday, March 13, 2026. Learn more or download the scholarship applications at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ltmgbu9PHUVJQLcHc1FbyQobf4rIxWNtKTkmHSTXU0RiEQUj5kB4ksKzjcNSeaPwb62cDzdCEYCU7ESNfN7JWcumY5V-fntPC-mNswGXC4TwON7Ys8o6XFNXopfqmQ79V18KU6IN3hO5T7URAeOTG3sZUcLbn5r8sy1AfVvrQys=&amp;c=owdcjLTH5zgrKv6gYOzUkpwsrFqoGnOoq_SiDdrN4vg_jFd7YRCVYA==&amp;ch=xUmKekgMH454hYN-SCF-72Fw0S-bU3W0bGNcKhhZlnmvURRFMXU0gQ==">https://kswheat.com/growers/outreach/</a>. More information is also available by contacting 785-539-0255 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kawg@kswheat.com">kawg@kswheat.com</a>.

Applications open for Kansas Wheat scholarships honoring industry leaders

Panther Sports Powered by:&nbsp;Equity Bank. Sponsored in part by:&nbsp;GB Tarp Company, Advance Truck &amp; Diesel, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance, Innovative Livestock Services, The Fieldhouse, Marmie Auto Group, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Freedom Claims Management, Great Bend Rec, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, Chris Ramsey - Shelter Insurance, Mitch Haney &amp; Associates, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Scott's Welding Service, Kern Floor Service, Nex-Tech, Comfort Pro, The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, People's Bank &amp; Trust, Sutherlands, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, Stone Sand Company and Stone Waste Management, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, Damm Pipe Testing, Great Bend Redi Mix, Insurance Planning, Edward Jones, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Mpire Realty, American Plains Coop, Cody Crook - Red Cedar Land Company, GB Tires, Animal Medical Center, Barton Community College, Dr. Chad Ohnmacht DDS, &amp; Watkins Calcara Chartered.

Additional Information: Great Bend Panther fans have a new way to follow their teams this year.&nbsp; The service features a live video stream of every home and away game, complete with the familiar B1043 The Point radio play-by-play patched in. Fans will be able to watch the action live from anywhere or go back and re-watch games at their convenience.

Cost: Fans may purchase access for $10 per game or buy a $100 season pass for the entire school year. A portion of the proceeds from the video stream will be donated back to USD 428, helping support Panther students and programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WATCH: Panther Basketball vs Garden City TONIGHT

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Krista Schneider of the Olmitz Park Project.

🎥  Forward Ever: Olmitz Park Project

By TISA MASON FHSU president

In the quiet hours before the Kansas sun touches the horizon, Gabrielle Davis is already immersed in her studies. It’s 5 a.m., and while most of the neighborhood is still asleep, Gabrielle is navigating the complex anatomy and pharmacology content she must master in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. 

Across the state line in Arapahoe, Nebraska, Janine Van Niekerk, serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in a rural nursing home,&nbsp;is balancing a similarly delicate act.

Janine and Gabrielle are pioneers. As members of the inaugural BSN hybrid (combined on-campus and online) program cohort at Fort Hays State University, they represent a shift in nursing education—one built for people with a deep connection to their hometowns and families, coupled with a purposeful commitment to ensure their rural communities have access to highly trained, compassionate nursing care.

For both women, nursing is a profound calling rooted in an ethic of care. 

Gabrielle, an LPN at the HaysMed walk-in clinic, represents the deep roots of Kansas healthcare. A third-generation nurse, she was inspired by her grandmother, mother, and an uncle, a physician. “I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse,” Gabrielle says. “Especially watching my mom. She is the nurse that I aspire to be.”

Gabrielle’s resilience was forged during the COVID-19 pandemic. While still in high school, she completed her courses via Zoom and then worked until 10 p.m. at a nursing home in Atwood to help cover staffing shortages. She continues to work there one weekend a month because of the deep bond she shares with the residents. “I don’t want to give up my residents,” she says. “A lot of them I call grandparents. They consider me their grandchild.”

This same dedication drives Janine Van Niekerk. Originally from South Africa, the 45-year-old mother of six now lives in a rural area of Nebraska. 

For her, the FHSU hybrid program provided a way forward that seemed almost tailored to her life. She began her general education courses while still living abroad and was moved by the university's support during her transition back to the States. “Everyone was so helpful in helping me register, so patient in going through my credits,” Janine recalls. “I knew FHSU was the right choice.”

The stories of Janine and Gabrielle are individual threads in a much larger tapestry. Fort Hays State University serves as a primary engine for the Kansas nursing workforce with a simple priority: getting nurses to rural Kansas. The university doesn’t just graduate students; it delivers them where the need is most acute.

Currently, approximately 70% of FHSU BSN graduates and more than 90% of family nurse practitioners go straight to work in rural communities. With 80% of total nursing graduates staying in Kansas, FHSU is a proven, high-yield investment in our state’s future. 

Beyond the classroom, FHSU serves as a regional hub for healthcare excellence, providing guaranteed&nbsp;admission to Kansas community college students and serving as a vital training ground for HaysMed, EagleMed, and 25 critical access hospitals.

The hybrid BSN program is the latest tool in this mission, combining the convenience of online learning with the rigor of on-campus clinical clusters. For Janine, whose husband travels for work, this flexibility is a necessity. “For me, time is vital,” she says. “The hybrid gives me more flexibility with my schedule and everything I’m responsible for.”

Janine’s passion is fueled by a desire to rectify disparities she sees in rural healthcare. “I’m very disappointed in the healthcare system, the more I learn, especially in rural areas,” she explains, noting the high costs of basic lab tests and clinic fees. “Ultimately, what I’ve decided now to do is look into being a legal nurse consultant, so that I can help rectify the wrongs that are so very evident in healthcare.”

Gabrielle similarly integrates her clinical training into the margins of a busy life, studying between serving patients and after shifts. She finds a spiritual anchor in her daily routine. “Before I go to work, I pray about my day,” she says. “I pray for good patient outcomes. I pray that all my patients are safe and healthy. That helps me, or else I get very burned out.”

As the first BSN cohort to navigate this hybrid path, Janine and Gabrielle are doing more than just earning a degree; they are helping FHSU refine the program for future generations. 

Gabrielle is already looking toward the finish line in May 2027 with plans to eventually teach. “It opens up a whole new universe of opportunities,” she says. “We are helping them (the FHSU Hybrid BSN Program) figure out their trials and errors for the future of the program.”

For Tanya Smith, BSN Coordinator and Professor of Nursing, the pride in her first Hybrid BSN cohort is apparent.

“The students are very dedicated to the program and have shown resilience despite growth challenges along the way,” she said. “Each student has had becoming a BSN-prepared RN as a personal goal.”

FHSU’s Hybrid pathway has been the route to achieving this goal.

“The students have expressed many thanks to the Department of Nursing for creating this learning path for the BSN degree,” Tanya shared. “As we continue to grow the Hybrid BSN cohort, we are excited to partner with community hospitals across the state to ensure students are receiving clinical experiences close to home.”

The journey of these program pioneers reflects the heart of the FHSU mission. Through grit and a commitment to innovation, they are preparing to meet their communities' healthcare needs with expertise and empathy. Their progress is a testament to the power of a program designed&nbsp;with people, place, and purpose at its core.

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 

The Barton Community College wrestling team qualified five individuals for the NJCAA Wrestling Championships Saturday at the NJCAA South Central District Championships held inside the Dennis Lesh Sports Arena in Pratt, Kansas. The Cougars produced six top-eight finishers on the day while finishing ninth in the 12-team field with 61.5 points.

Four Barton wrestlers secured automatic bids led by&nbsp;S'Ron Hill&nbsp;(184 pounds), who finished runner-up to headline Barton's four automatic qualifiers.&nbsp;Brennen Pfannenstiel&nbsp;(149) added a sixth-place finish, while&nbsp;Shane Todd&nbsp;(133) and&nbsp;Derek Truman&nbsp;(174) each secured seventh-place finishes to earn automatic bids. Joining the group at nationals will be&nbsp;Julian Orrantia&nbsp;(125), who received one of the district's nine wildcard selections.

With the performances, Barton will send the five representatives to the NJCAA Wrestling Championships scheduled for March 6-7 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

S'Ron Hill&nbsp;(184) led the Cougars with a runner-up finish, posting a 3-1 record on the day. Hill opened the tournament with a 13-2 major decision over Braxton Robertson (Carl Albert), marking his seventh major decision of the season and setting a new program record for most in a single season after previously sitting in a four-way tie. He followed with a 1:11 fall against Tyler Medelros (Murray State) and a 7-4 decision over Drew Withington (Pratt0 to advance to the title bout. In the finals, Hill dropped a tightly contested 1-0 decision to David Sample of Cowley.

Brennen Pfannenstiel&nbsp;(149) secured his automatic bid with a sixth-place finish, concluding 2-3 in a loaded bracket. Pfannenstiel started with an 18-2 tech fall over Darrioius Perkins (Fort Hays Tech Northwest) and added a 6:19 fall against Noah Bailey (Cloud County). After falling to No. 4-ranked Zach Dawson (NEO) and Kaiden Cue (Carl Albert), Pfannenstiel wrapped up his day dropping the fifth place match by a 18-11 decision to Kade Carter (Murray State).

Shane Todd&nbsp;(133) battled to a seventh-place finish, compiling a 3-2 mark. Todd recorded three falls on the day, defeating Roberto Burkettsantos (Neosho County), Gavin Wehr (Murray State), and Trace Brisendine (Fort Hays Tech Northwest), the latter securing his automatic berth in the seventh-place bout. His only setbacks came against No. 5-ranked Logan Crawford (NEO) and Luke Potter (Cloud County).

Derek Truman&nbsp;(174) also punched his ticket with a seventh-place finish, going 2-2. After an opening-round loss, Truman responded with a 1:21 fall over Ian Mitchell (NOC) before ultimately securing his nationals bid with a 1:18 flattening against Robert Cazares (Colby) in the seventh-place match.

Julian Orrantia&nbsp;(125) will join the group at nationals after receiving on e of the district's wildcard selections. Orrantia finished 0-2 at the district championships, competing against Jackson martin (Labette) and Dakota Fenwick (Carl Albert).

Also earning placings in their respective brackets were&nbsp;Gabe Swoyer&nbsp;(157) and&nbsp;Joshua "AJ" Almanza&nbsp;(165), each finishing eighth. Swoyer posted a 2-3 record on the day, while Almanza, competing four weight classes above his natural spot, concluded his tournament 0-3.

Barton wrestling qualifies five for NJCAA National Tournament, places ninth at South Central District Championships

The Barton Community College men's basketball team turned Saturday afternoon into a track meet on hardwood, erupting for 66 first-half points and riding the offensive surge to a 124-108 victory at Garden City Community College.

In a game with seven ties and eight lead changes, the first half was a blur of baskets before Barton grabbed control with a 13-0 run capped by&nbsp;Blake Rucker&nbsp;and&nbsp;Jayden Ramirez&nbsp;three-pointers.&nbsp;Aris Rodriguez&nbsp;later supplied the exclamation point, picking off a pass and finishing a steal-and-dunk to give Barton its first 19-point cushion with 3:31 left in the half.

The Cougars carried a 66-53 advantage into the locker room and stretched the lead back to as many as 19 in the second half. Garden City trimmed the deficit to eight late, but Barton closed the final two minutes on an 8-0 burst to secure the 124-108 win and avenge the Broncbusters' 16-point victory prior to the holiday break.

The sixth straight victory moves Barton to 13-7 in Jayhawk Conference play, sitting alone in second place at 18-8 overall. Garden City drops to 11-8 in league action and 17-9 on the season. The Cougars now turn their attention to Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. road trip to El Dorado to face frontrunner and 17th-ranked Butler Community College (14-5, 18-7).

Season and career bests dotted the stat sheet, highlighted by Barton's program second-best 41 made free throws on 50 attempts.

Rodriguez delivered a career performance, pouring in a personal-best 39 points on 14-of-25 shooting while going 10-of-13 at the line and swiping a career-high six steals.

Noah Williams&nbsp;was nearly automatic at the stripe, finishing 12-of-13 and tallying 24 points with seven rebounds. Ramirez matched his collegiate high with 22 points, converting 13-of-15 free throws while handing out five assists.&nbsp;Brian Sullivan, Jr.&nbsp;also equaled his career best with 14 points and added four rebounds.

Majok Chuol&nbsp;recorded his first collegiate double-double, posting career highs with 13 points and 10 rebounds, eight of those coming on the offensive glass.

Garden City placed six in double-figures, led by the bench production from Nico Doume's 22 points and Xaiver Johnson's 17 points, Jamir Westry chipped in another 12 from the reserves, while Michael Solaja knocked down his first four three-pointers en route to 16 points. Dasean Lewis and Zaire Lott rounded out the Broncbusters' balanced scoring effort with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Cougars outlast Garden City 124-108 in Jayhawk shootout 

A pair of extra sessions were needed Saturday afternoon inside Conestoga Arena before the Barton Community College women's basketball team earned a measure of redemption with an 80-76 double-overtime victory over Garden City Community College.

In a tightly contested battle that featured just two double-digit leads early, neither side created separation the rest of the afternoon.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2025-26/bios/spray_mersadie_hjys">Mersadie Spray</a>'s clutch free throws with 13 seconds left forced overtime, and her go-ahead left-wing three with 3:22 remaining in the second extra session put Barton in front for good. The Cougars finished it off at the line, converting 7-of-8 over the final two minutes before coming up with the decisive defensive stop in the closing seconds.&nbsp;

Matching its longest three-game winning streak of the season, the Cougars improve to 10-10 in conference play and 12-14 overall, avenging an earlier buzzer-beating loss to Garden City in the first meeting inside the Fleske Fieldhouse. The Broncbusters meanwhile drop to 10-9 in league action and 15-9 on the season. Barton will close its two-game road trip Wednesday night against conference-leading No. 2 Butler Community College in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the Power Plant.

Sluggish out of the gates, Barton watched Garden City sprint to its largest lead of the afternoon at 13-2 with 2:35 remaining in the opening stanza.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2025-26/bios/donanu_regina_7r9r">Regina Donanu</a>'s jumper at the 5:23 mark accounted for the Cougars lone field goal during the early stretch before a 7-3 close trimmed the deficit to 16-9 at the first quarters end.

The Broncbusters pushed the margin back to double figures early in the second quarter, but that would be the final double-digit advantage. Barton's offense found its rhythm midway through the period, stringing together a 15-5 run, keyed in part by&nbsp;Christal Long's five straight points, as the Cougars pulled even at 28-28 heading into the locker room.

Barton wasted little time grabbing its first lead immediately out of the locker room, as Spray opened the half with a bucket to make it 30-28. After Garden City answered, Spray and Donanu sparked a 6-0 run to give the Cougars their largest lead of the night at six midway through the third before the Broncbusters closed on a 9-4 stretch, trimming Barton's edge to 40-39 entering the fourth.

Donanu's three-point play and a pair of&nbsp;Kaosara Yunus&nbsp;free throws quickly stretched the margin back to six, but Garden City answered with a 7-0 run to take a 50-47 lead with 5:10 remaining.&nbsp;Alaina Eck's response from beyond the arc tied it at 50, igniting a stretch of six lead changes over the final four minutes. Spray's clutch free throw with 13 seconds left forced overtime, as Donanu's off balance look at the horn rimmed out.

In the first overtime, Barton struck fast with a 7-2 burst behind four-straight from&nbsp;Mary Akinde&nbsp;and Donanu's second old-fashion three-point play of the afternoon to grab the edge. Garden City countered with a 4-0 run to even it at 66-66, with Spray's potential game-winner attempt at the horn rolled off to send it to a second extra session.

Tied at 70 with 3:40 remaining in double overtime, Spray buried a left-wing three to push Barton in front for good. Eck's following pair at the stripe stretched the cushion to five. The Broncbusters answered twice, trimming it to one following a four-point play and splitting perfect trips at the line just before the final minute. Spray went 1-of-2 at the line with 13-seconds left to make it a two-point game, before the Cougar defense forced Garden City's 23rd turnover in the closing seconds, sending&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2025-26/bios/greer_kodi_2zvh">Kodi Greer</a>&nbsp;to the line to seal the 80-76 victory and cap Barton's 7-of-8 stretch at the stripe over the final 2:34.

Barton overcame 28 turnovers by controlling the glass with a plus-12 rebounding advantage which led to 13-second chance points off 12 offensive rebounds. The Cougars converted 31-of-36 attempts at the free throw line (86.1%) and finished 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. Garden City shot 41.8% from the floor and held a 38-22 edge in points in the paint.&nbsp;

Donanu led a trio of Cougars in double figures with a team-high 28 points on 11-of-23 shooting, going a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Spray added 16 of her 18 points in second half action, while knocking down 9-of-10 at the stripe, highlighted by the late pair that forced overtime. Eck chipped in 11 points and three steals.

Long anchored the interior with 12 rebounds, while Akinde battled through early foul trouble to contribute eight points and five boards.

Sokhna Ndiaye poured in a game-high 36 points with five rebounds to lead a trio of Broncbusters in double figures. Marshea Fisher added 15 points and five assists, while London Turner finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Lady Cougars earn double-overtime revenge with 80-76 road win at Garden City

TESERO, Italy (AP) — Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has won his ninth gold medal, setting a Winter Games record. The 29‑year‑old anchored Sunday’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay in cross-country skiing for his fourth gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics. He had shared the record with three retired Norwegian athletes. He now stands alone at the top.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin sees her 11th-place giant slalom at the Milan Cortina Olympics as proof she is back in the fight. The 30-year-old believes she took a step forward after a shaky performance during the slalom portion of the women's combined earlier in the Games. The gap between Shiffrin and the podium was just 0.3 seconds, which she said is a sign she's starting to regain speed in an event that left her shaken following a frightening crash in late 2024. Next up for Shiffrin is the slalom, her strongest event.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The NBA is trying its fourth All-Star Game format in four years this weekend as it attempts again to answer one of the bigger existential questions in professional basketball. How do you get both the players and their fans to care about this midseason showcase? The newest scheme appears to be the most promising yet, at least according to people like Victor Wembanyama who still believe this game should matter. A team of veteran All-Star Americans, a team of younger U.S. players and a third team representing the rest of the world will play in a round-robin tournament Sunday, setting up a final.

LONDON (AP) — Premier League teams Fulham, Leeds, Sunderland and Wolverhampton have avoided upsets to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup. Arsenal hosted third-tier struggler Wigan later Sunday. Fulham rallied to win 2-1 at second-tier Stoke with Harrison Reed slotting in a late winner. Habib Diarra’s penalty earned Sunderland a 1-0 win at second-tier struggler Oxford. Midfielder Santiago Bueno’s goal gave Wolves a 1-0 victory at fourth-tier Grimsby and Leeds needed penalty kicks to win at second-tier Birmingham. On Saturday, third-tier Mansfield pulled off an upset by knocking out Premier League Burnley.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes teams are tanking more aggressively this season than the league has ever seen before, and he is considering many possible remedies to ensure real competition, from taking away draft picks to making wholesale changes to the draft and the lottery. Silver immediately addressed the hottest topic in NBA circles Saturday in his annual address during All-Star weekend at Intuit Dome, making it clear that the NBA will do almost anything to make sure its teams earnestly compete. He also said the NBA still expects to make decisions on expansion this year, starting with discussion at the Board of Governors meeting next month.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron chases an unprecedented third straight Daytona 500 win Sunday when he attempts to make NASCAR history. He'll be trying to win NASCAR's season opener for the third consecutive year in a backup car after he damaged his primary in a qualifying race. He starts near the back in 39th, but he says that does not scare him. Byron has won here with a backup before. He has also won by staying patient and avoiding trouble, not by leading lots of laps. The field also has big storylines. Kyle Busch starts on the pole while stuck in a long winless skid and Brad Keselowski races while recovering from a broken leg.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The chief of the U.S. Ski Team says Lindsey Vonn is preparing to fly back to her home country a week after her terrifying head-over-heels crash in the Olympic downhill. Sophie Goldschmidt told The Associated Press on Sunday that the team’s medical staff has been coordinating Vonn’s recovery since the crash and subsequent helicopter evacuation at the Milan Cortina Games and would try to accompany her home. Vonn has had multiple surgeries in Italy to repair a complex tibia fracture in her left leg. Goldschmidt says they have a great team helping her and she’ll go back to the U.S. for further surgery.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Controversy is swirling in curling at the Winter Olympics. It centers on whether the Canadian men’s and women’s teams are cheating by double-touching stones after they are released on the ice. It comes as the historic curling powerhouse finds its ego bruised. Its mixed doubles team didn’t even play for a medal, and both teams cannot afford to lose more matches if they want a reach the medal matches.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Italian skier Federica Brignone captured her second gold medal in four days at her home Winter Olympics by winning the women’s giant slalom. Mikaela Shiffrin finished off the podium again. The 35-year-old Brignone won the super-G on Thursday for her first gold at an Olympics. She led Sunday after the first run of the giant slalom and finished 0.62 seconds ahead of defending champion Sara Hector of Sweden and Thea Louise Stjernesund of Norway following the second run. Shiffrin, the U.S. standout, placed 11th. It completes a stunning comeback for the popular Brignone, who was world champion in the GS in February last year before breaking multiple bones in her left leg in March.

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Anthony Kim won LIV Golf Adelaide on Sunday for his first victory in nearly 16 years, capping a remarkable career comeback with a closing 9-under 63 for a three-shot margin. The 40-year-old American stepped away from competitive golf for 12 years amid drug and alcohol struggles, and needed to play a qualifying tournament last month just to get another season on the LIV Tour. Kim won for the first time since the PGA Tour's 2010 Houston Open. The three-time PGA Tour winner's best previous LIV finish was a tie for 25th. Kim finished at 23 under. Jon Rahm, tied for the third-round lead with Bryson DeChambeau, was second after a 71.

Final	(11)North Carolina	79	Pittsburgh	65	

Final	(19)Vanderbilt	82	Texas A&amp;M	69	

Sunday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Jayhawk Conference Men's Standings Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CONF&nbsp; &nbsp;ALL Butler&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 14-5&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;18-7 Barton&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 13-7&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;18-8 Independence&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 12-7&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;14-11 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 12-7&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;16-9 Cowley&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11-7&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 16-8 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;11-8&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;16-9 Seward County&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11-9&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;16-10 Coffeyville&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;11-9&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;17-9 Cloud County&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;9-10&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;14-11 Fort Hays Tech&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 8-10&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;13-11 Hutchinson&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6-14&nbsp; &nbsp; 11-15 Colby&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-16&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-20 Pratt&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-17&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6-19 Saturday, February 14 Barton 124, Garden City 108 Coffeyville 76, Colby 72 Dodge City 88, Pratt 77 Cloud County 75, Hutchinson 55 Butler 94, Seward County 93 Neosho County 86, Independence 79 Sunday, February 15 Cowley @ Fort Hays Tech&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wednesday, February 18 Barton @ Butler Colby @ Hutchinson Garden City @ Cowley Cloud County @ Pratt Independence @ Seward County Dodge City @ Fort Hays Tech&nbsp; Saturday, February 21 Independence @ Barton Butler @ Cowley Fort Hays Tech @ Cloud County Colby @ Pratt Hutchinson @ Coffeyville Dodge City @ Garden City &nbsp;

Jayhawk Men's Standings, Scores, Schedule

Jayhawk Conference Women's Standings Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CONF&nbsp; &nbsp; ALL Butler&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 18-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;24-1 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 16-3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;21-3 Hutchinson&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;16-4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 21-5 Coffeyville&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;13-7&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;19-7 Seward County&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 12-8&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;17-9 Colby&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 11-8&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 14-11 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10-9&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 15-9 Barton&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10-10&nbsp; &nbsp;12-14 Cowley&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;7-11&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;11-13 Cloud County&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 6-13&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 10-14 Fort Hays Tech&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-16&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-22 Pratt&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-18&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 6-19 Independence&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-17&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 5-20 Saturday, February 14 Barton 80,&nbsp; Garden City 76 2OT Colby 65, Coffeyville 46 Dodge City 82, Pratt 56 Hutchinson 89, Cloud County 62 Butler 86, Seward County 65 Sunday, February 15 Cowley @ Fort Hays Tech Wednesday, February 18 Barton @ Butler Colby @ Hutchinson Garden City @ Cowley Cloud County @ Pratt Independence @ Seward County Dodge City @ Fort Hays Tech Saturday, February 21 Independence @ Barton Butler @ Cowley Fort Hays Tech @ Cloud County Colby @ Pratt Hutchinson @ Coffeyville Dodge City @ Garden City &nbsp;

Jayhawk Women's Standings, Scores, Schedule

Sunday, February 15 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NBA All Star Game Monday, February 16 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Tuesday, February 17 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:45PM B104- H.S. Basketball - Liberal G&amp;B @ Great Bend 5:45PM KHOK - H.S. Basketball - Hillsboro G&amp;B @ Hoisington 5:45PM Hits 106.9 - H.S. Basketball - Haven G&amp;B @ Larned&nbsp;&nbsp; Wednesday, February 18 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:15PM B104 - Cougar Basketball - Barton W&amp;M @ Butler 7:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Kansas @ Oklahoma St.&nbsp; Thursday, February 19 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Friday, February 20 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:45PM B104- H.S. Basketball - Great Bend G&amp;B @ Dodge City 5:45PM KHOK - H.S. Basketball - Larned G&amp;B @ Hoisington 5:45PM Hits 106.9 - H.S. Basketball - Larned G&amp;B @ Hoisington Saturday, February 21 11:30AM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Cincinnati @ Kansas 1:45PM B104 - Cougar Basketball - Independence W&amp;M @ Barton 7:00PM&nbsp;1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - Houston @ NY Knicks Sunday, February 22 2:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NBA Basketball - Denver @ Golden State Monday, February 23 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 7:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Houston @ Kansas Tuesday, February 24 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:45PM KHOK - H.S. Basketball - Hoisington G&amp;B @ Halstead 5:45PM Hits 106.9 - H.S. Basketball - Larned G&amp;B @ Smoky Valley Wednesday, February 25 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:15PM B104 - Cougar Basketball - Seward County W&amp;M @ Barton

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

HOUSTON (AP) — Emanuel Sharp had 23 points and six rebounds as No. 3 Houston rallied from an early deficit to beat Kansas State 78-64 on Saturday for the Cougars’ sixth straight win.

Sharp scored 14 points on 4 of 10 shooting in the first half as Houston (23-2, 11-1 Big 12) built a 33-19 halftime lead.

Milos Uzan added 12 points and eight assists, and Kingston Flemings finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for the Cougars, which won their 18th straight at home.

P.J. Haggerty scored 23 points to lead Kansas State (10-15, 1-11). Haggerty surpassed 2,000 points in his collegiate career in the first half, becoming the fifth current Division I player to achieve the milestone.

Nate Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Taj Manning added 10 points for Kansas State. The Wildcats shot 35% from the field, 8 of 26 (31%) from 3-point range, and made 16 of 25 (64%) from the free-throw line.

The Wildcats raced to a 15-6 lead about 8 ½ minutes into the game on a 3-pointer by Haggerty, but Houston responded to finish the half on a 27-4 run. Sharp had nine points and Uzan added seven points in the spurt. Kansas State shot 1 for 15 from the floor to end the half.

Kansas State got no closer than 10 points in the second half.

The Wildcats have lost six consecutive games overall and have lost six straight on the road. Kansas State dropped to 0-6 against ranked teams this season.

Houston: Plays Monday at No. 5 Iowa State, the first of three straight games against Top-10 opponents.

No. 3 Houston downs Kansas State 78-64

Ellsworth Boys 58 Hoisington 50; Ellsworth Girls 52 Hoisington 34

HOISINGTON SPORTS ON 100.7 EAGLE COUNTRY SPONSORED BY... EQUITY BANK, USD #431 HOISINGTON, EHLER CHEVROLET, CARDINAL PHARMACY, TOWN &amp; COUNTRY SUPERMARKET, SUPERIOR ESSEX, FIRST KANSAS BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, MPIRE REALTY NIKKI HENDERSON, CLARA BARTON MEDICAL CENTER, HOISINGTON VETERINARY HOSPITAL, HOISINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB, AMERICAN LEGION POST 286, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENISTRY, HOISINGTON RECREATION COMMISSION, CENTRAL CHIROPRACTIC, DR. TYLER SCHREMMER, AND BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

Western Athletic Conference Boys Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Conf.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;All Hays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 15-4 Great Bend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;4-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;11-8 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;9-9 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10-9 Liberal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-5&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-16 Thursday, February 12 Dodge City 73, Guyman OK 47 Friday, February 13 Great Bend 71, Garden City 56 Hays 65, Liberal 41 Saturday, February 14 Woodward OK @ Garden City Tuesday, February 17 Liberal @ Great Bend Dodge City @ Garden City Thursday, February 19 Garden City @ Hays Guymon OK @ Liberal Friday, February 20 Great Bend @ Dodge City Southwestern Heights @ Liberal&nbsp;&nbsp;

WAC Boys Scores, Standings, Schedule

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Amazon’s smart doorbell maker Ring has terminated a partnership with police surveillance tech company Flock Safety.

The announcement follows a backlash that erupted after a 30-second Ring ad that aired during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-ads-ai-telehealth-glp1-9ccfc8c730981fd91f44a5bec24e2242">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;featuring a lost dog that is found through a network of cameras, sparking fears of a dystopian surveillance society.

But that feature, called Search Party, was not related to Flock. And Ring’s announcement doesn’t cite the ad as a reason for the “joint decision” for the cancellation.

Ring and Flock said last year they were planning on working together to give Ring camera owners the option to share their video footage in response to law enforcement requests made through a Ring feature known as Community Requests.

“Following a comprehensive review, we determined the planned Flock Safety integration would require significantly more time and resources than anticipated,” Ring’s statement said.

“The integration never launched, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety.”

Flock reiterated that it never received Ring customer videos — and that ending the planned integration was a mutual decision that allows both companies to “best serve their respective customers.” In a statement, Flock added that it “remains dedicated to supporting law enforcement agencies with tools that are fully configurable to local laws and policies.”

Flock is one of the nation’s biggest operators of automated license-plate reading systems. Its cameras are mounted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">in thousands of communities</a>&nbsp;across the U.S., capturing billions of photos of license plates each month. The company has faced public outcry amid the Trump administration’s aggressive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-patrol-surveillance-drivers-ice-trump-9f5d05469ce8c629d6fecf32d32098cd">immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;crackdown. But Flock maintains that it does not partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or contract out with any subagency of the Department of Homeland Security for direct access to its cameras. The company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">paused pilot programs</a>&nbsp;with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations last year.

Still, Flock says it doesn’t own the data captured by its cameras, its customers do. So if a police department, for example, chooses to collaborate with a federal agency like ICE, “Flock has no ability to override that decision,” the company notes on its website.

Beyond the Flock partnership, Amazon has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-worst-show-ai-0ce7fbc5aff68e8ff6d7b8e6fb7b007d">other surveillance concerns</a>&nbsp;over its Ring doorbell cameras.

In the Super Bowl ad, a lost dog is found with Ring’s Search Party feature, which the company says can “reunite lost dogs with their families and track wildfires threatening your community.” The clip depicts the dog being tracked by cameras throughout a neighborhood using artificial intelligence.

Viewers took to social media to criticize it for being sinister, leaving many wondering if it would be used to track humans and saying they would turn the feature off.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that focus on civil liberties related to digital technology, said this week that Americans should feel unsettled over the potential loss of privacy.

“Amazon Ring already integrates biometric identification, like face recognition, into its products via features like ‘Familiar Faces’ which depends on scanning the faces of those in sight of the camera and matching it against a list of pre-saved, pre-approved faces,” the Foundation wrote Tuesday. “It doesn’t take much to imagine Ring eventually combining these two features: face recognition and neighborhood searches.”

Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts also urged Amazon to discontinue its “Familiar Faces” technology.

In a published letter addressed to Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy, Markey wrote that the backlash to the Super Bowl commercial “confirmed public opposition to Ring’s constant monitoring and invasive image recognition algorithms.”

Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash

Another shutdown for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-democrats-demands-ff3aadec8eeab250aea5bf8a8ecdb960">parts of the federal government</a>&nbsp;is underway&nbsp;as a fight over proposed restrictions on President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda drags on.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired on Saturday. Democrats say they will not help approve more money until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-enforcement-democrats-homeland-security-trump-bcde78c38605732106fb77e46373dc9a">the new limits</a>&nbsp;are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis last month.

The White House has been negotiating with the Democrats, but the two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-funding-shutdown-democrats-trump-4e9c4cebd45396e77f8333fd6cc31944">failed to reach a deal</a>&nbsp;by the end of the week. That meant a lapse in funding for the department.

Unlike the record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day shutdown</a>&nbsp;last fall, the closures will be narrowly confined.

Only agencies under the DHS umbrella, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, are affected. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, some federal workers could begin to miss paychecks.

But the work of ICE and CBP will mostly continue unabated, despite Democrats' demands for changes at those agencies. President Donald Trump's tax and spending cut law from 2025 provided ICE with about $75 billion and CBP with about $65 billion — money they can keep tapping for the Republican's deportation operations.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dhs-shutdown-tsa-travel-airports-delays-ff8b225c6ff8d57172fd301a550057b3">Services like airport screening</a>&nbsp;could suffer if the shutdown drags on for weeks.

At TSA, about 95% of employees are deemed essential. They will continue to scan passengers and their bags at the nation’s commercial airports. But they will work without pay until the funding lapse is resolved, raising the possibility that workers will being calling out or taking unscheduled leave. Many TSA workers already faced financial stress last year.

“Some are just now recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day shutdown” said Ha Nguyen McNeill, a senior official performing the duties of TSA administrator. “Many are still reeling from it.”

Why is a Homeland Security shutdown happening?

Essentially, it's because Trump acquiesced to Democrats' request that homeland security funding be stripped from a broader spending package to allow more time for negotiation over demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;such as a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification. DHS was temporarily funded only through Friday.

The rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means most federal programs are unaffected by the latest shutdown, including food assistance, and pay for most federal workers and for service members will continue uninterrupted.

Other agencies affected are the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The vast majority of employees at the Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard will continue their work, though they could also miss a paycheck depending upon the shutdown's length.

At FEMA, the shutdown will disrupt the agency's ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs. Some workers will be furloughed, limiting the agency's ability to coordinate with state and local partners. Training for first responders at the National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Maryland will be disrupted.

It’s up to each federal agency to designate which of its employees are “essential” or “excepted,” both of which mean the same thing in this case. They keep working during a shutdown, typically without getting paid until government funding is back in place.

Some examples of “essential” employees are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-culture-pentagon-hegseth-dei-tansgender-4c5f94c1235d29240b22677e3d66f0ed">military personnel</a>, security screeners at airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deployment-trump-portland-national-guard-lawsuit-8a0323d49b708ebf905527f897352832">law enforcement officers</a>. There can be a wide range, from positions deemed critical for public safety to those authorized by law to continue even without new funding.

Most of the more than 270,000 people employed by DHS are deemed essential, meaning that they stay on the job even during a shutdown. For the fall 2025 shutdown, more than 258,000 DHS employees were in that category, and about 22,000 — or 5% of the agency's total employee base — were furloughed.

Lawmakers have been particularly concerned about the potential impact on the TSA and airports.

Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota warned that “there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” similar to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">last year's shutdown</a>. As staffing shortages grow, airports may reduce the number of open security lanes or close checkpoints altogether to relieve pressure on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">an already strained workforce</a>.

During last year’s lapse in funding, unpaid TSA workers increasingly called in sick or stayed home as missed paychecks made it harder for workers to cover basic expenses. The strain was visible on the ground: About a month into the shutdown, TSA closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport.

“The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce,” the agency said at the time.

New details on the U.S. Homeland Security shutdown

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are searching for suspects in a deadly nightclub shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of 28th and Southwest Boulevard working off duty for a nightclub/bar business there when they heard the sound of gunfire inside the bar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchins.

At the same time 911 received calls for a shooting inside the business.&nbsp;On arrival officers were led inside the business where they located 3 adult female shooting victims. 

Officers began rendering aid and called for EMS to come in.&nbsp;EMS declared one shooting victim deceased at the scene. EMS&nbsp; then transported the other two&nbsp; victims to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital one of the two victims was declared deceased, and the other victim has what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries, according to Becchina.

While officers were at the scene they were notified of a 4th shooting victim, an adult male, who arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. That victim is reported to be in critical condition.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene now and are investigating. They are talking to people who were at the scene when officers arrived and canvassing for additional witnesses.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates the victims were inside the business when there was an interaction with one or more suspects that escalated and led to shots being fired which struck the victims.&nbsp;There is no information at this time regarding suspect description. Police did not release the names of the victims.

2 women dead, 2 others injured in KC nightclub shooting

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/adriana-morga">ADRIANA MORGA</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been a confusing time for people with student loans. Collections restarted, then were put on hold. At the same time, borrowers had to stay on top of changes to key forgiveness plans.

Last year, the long-contested SAVE plan introduced by the Biden administration ended with a settlement agreement. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” introduced new borrowing limits for graduates and raised challenges to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. While several changes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan borrowers</a>&nbsp;will take effect this summer, other key questions remain unresolved.

More than 5 million Americans were in default on their federal student loans as of September, according to the Education Department. Millions are behind on loan payments and at risk of default this year.

Borrowers “genuinely struggle to afford their loans and then to hear that the administration is making it more expensive and taking away some of the tools and resources that help folks afford their loans is really, it’s panic-inducing,” said Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at Protect Borrowers.

Local

Sports

State

Contests