A&nbsp; pharmacy construction project will begin on Jan. 12 at Irwin Army Community Hospital. It will last through mid-March, to replace fire shutter doors and enhance patient and staff safety during emergency evacuations. According to Fort Riley while pharmacy operations will continue, patient interactions and prescription pickup will temporarily move to the lobby area in front of the pharmacy, and patients should expect longer wait times during construction.

&nbsp;The IACH pharmacy will offer extended hours on Saturday, Jan. 10, and Sunday, Jan. 11, to support patients ahead of construction.&nbsp;

A&nbsp; pharmacy construction project will begin on Jan. 12 at Irwin Army Community Hospital. It will last through mid-March, to replace fire shutter doors and enhance patient and staff safety during emergency evacuations. According to Fort Riley while pharmacy operations will continue, patient interactions and prescription pickup will temporarily move to the lobby area in front of the pharmacy, and patients should expect longer wait times during construction.&nbsp;The IACH pharmacy will offer extended hours on Saturday, Jan. 10, and Sunday, Jan. 11, to support patients ahead of construction.&nbsp;

Construction project slated at IACH

GEARY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6:30a.m. Thursday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1991 Chevy S10 driven by Terry J. Riley, 21, Melbourne, Florida, was eastbound on Interstate 70 took the Marshall&nbsp; Field exit to Fort Riley. The driver attempted to turn left onto Marshall Drive and the pickup began to spin due to road conditions. The pickup struck a 2021 Jeep Compass driven by Blake L. Frederick, 19, Melbourne, Florida, who was stopped on Marshall Drive waiting to enter Interstate 70 eastbound.

EMS transported a passenger in the Jeep identified as Sarah L.&nbsp;Johnson, 19, Kingston, North Carolina, to&nbsp;Stormont Vail Hospital-Flint HIlls. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6:30a.m. Thursday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1991 Chevy S10 driven by Terry J. Riley, 21, Melbourne, Florida, was eastbound on Interstate 70 took the Marshall&nbsp; Field exit to Fort Riley. The driver attempted to turn left onto Marshall Drive and the pickup began to spin due to road conditions. The pickup struck a 2021 Jeep Compass driven by Blake L. Frederick, 19, Melbourne, Florida, who was stopped on Marshall Drive waiting to enter Interstate 70 eastbound.EMS transported a passenger in the Jeep identified as Sarah L.&nbsp;Johnson, 19, Kingston, North Carolina, to&nbsp;Stormont Vail Hospital-Flint HIlls. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Woman hospitalized after pickup, SUV crash

Abilene, Kan.&nbsp;- The Eisenhower Presidential Library will host a special Lunch &amp; Learn program,&nbsp;"Ike's Essential Leadership Qualities,"&nbsp;on&nbsp;January 22, 2026, at 12 p.m. CST.&nbsp;The hybrid program will be held in the Library building indoor courtyard and online via&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hcmbltcab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f3mB5AyULJN2eKAEVPdXS4WNqqUdC3tCiei2wxXa7j4_afucHMgnwFjlr8thReSOXBE1xAX1a8xG2fDULzeFXPKb0qBnJDDpFheKLALLrb4x8D5dZOpk3e-11Bn4X6DNG2CbTl7v0TGqsREKGj7u-AKQP_tQoPyevyyfPsOxAwJZIlUqGQmSzg==&amp;c=vaNxCXl5oLPtPz900O7BOPt5mq1g7EZIgQwHuEEhHpw3w-McFTjJ2w==&amp;ch=RENq96YuhEdR5McKt-fAOwb0H1uGfIayVlzgb4hQ_M9xKWECGH7Hkg==">YouTube Livestream</a>. Guests are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 a.m. A light box-lunch will be provided on a first come, first served basis.

The program will feature&nbsp;Daniel J. Vermilya, a Park Ranger at the Eisenhower National Historic Site, who will delve into the leadership philosophy of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The discussion is based on an article Eisenhower penned for&nbsp;Reader's Digest&nbsp;in June 1965, where he outlined "a handful of known qualities which I am convinced are the essence of leadership."

Attendees will explore the specific characteristics Eisenhower deemed vital for effective leaders and hear illustrative stories from his long and distinguished military and political career. This program offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into the principles that guided one of the 20th century's most influential figures.

Vermilya coordinates educational programming and special events at Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA. With over 15 years of service with the National Park Service, he has also worked at Antietam National Battlefield, Monocacy National Battlefield, and Gettysburg National Military Park.

Eisenhower Presidential LibraryAbilene, Kan.&nbsp;- The Eisenhower Presidential Library will host a special Lunch &amp; Learn program,&nbsp;"Ike's Essential Leadership Qualities,"&nbsp;on&nbsp;January 22, 2026, at 12 p.m. CST.&nbsp;The hybrid program will be held in the Library building indoor courtyard and online via&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hcmbltcab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001f3mB5AyULJN2eKAEVPdXS4WNqqUdC3tCiei2wxXa7j4_afucHMgnwFjlr8thReSOXBE1xAX1a8xG2fDULzeFXPKb0qBnJDDpFheKLALLrb4x8D5dZOpk3e-11Bn4X6DNG2CbTl7v0TGqsREKGj7u-AKQP_tQoPyevyyfPsOxAwJZIlUqGQmSzg==&amp;c=vaNxCXl5oLPtPz900O7BOPt5mq1g7EZIgQwHuEEhHpw3w-McFTjJ2w==&amp;ch=RENq96YuhEdR5McKt-fAOwb0H1uGfIayVlzgb4hQ_M9xKWECGH7Hkg==">YouTube Livestream</a>. Guests are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 a.m. A light box-lunch will be provided on a first come, first served basis.The program will feature&nbsp;Daniel J. Vermilya, a Park Ranger at the Eisenhower National Historic Site, who will delve into the leadership philosophy of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The discussion is based on an article Eisenhower penned for&nbsp;Reader's Digest&nbsp;in June 1965, where he outlined "a handful of known qualities which I am convinced are the essence of leadership."Attendees will explore the specific characteristics Eisenhower deemed vital for effective leaders and hear illustrative stories from his long and distinguished military and political career. This program offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into the principles that guided one of the 20th century's most influential figures.Vermilya coordinates educational programming and special events at Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA. With over 15 years of service with the National Park Service, he has also worked at Antietam National Battlefield, Monocacy National Battlefield, and Gettysburg National Military Park.

Ike's Essential Leadership Qualities Celebrating America 250! 

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767885141352.png" alt="" />
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Riley County Arrest Report January 8

MANHATTAN, KS (January 7, 2026)&nbsp;The Junction City, Manhattan and Wamego Chambers of Commerce have released the 4th Annual 20 under 40 class of young professionals making a difference in their communities.

Winners of 2026’s 20 under 40 will be recognized at a special reception in their honor at 5 p.m., Jan. 22, at the Museum of Art + Light.&nbsp;If you would like to attend the reception honoring the 2026 top young professionals, go&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://business.manhattan.org/ap/Events/Register/vP31qQbr">here</a>.&nbsp;

“We are incredibly honored to recognize such a distinguished group,” said Jason Smith, president and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our membership has been committed to engaging young professionals for the past several years and we feel very strongly that one way to engage is to recognize achievement.”

Winners were nominated from the three counties that make up the Manhattan MSA (Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary). Nominees were then asked to complete an application that outlined their achievements in their profession as well as work in the community. From the nearly 75 nominees and over 60 applicants, an appointed committee selected the final 20.

MANHATTAN, KS (January 7, 2026)&nbsp;The Junction City, Manhattan and Wamego Chambers of Commerce have released the 4th Annual 20 under 40 class of young professionals making a difference in their communities.Winners of 2026’s 20 under 40 will be recognized at a special reception in their honor at 5 p.m., Jan. 22, at the Museum of Art + Light.&nbsp;If you would like to attend the reception honoring the 2026 top young professionals, go&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://business.manhattan.org/ap/Events/Register/vP31qQbr">here</a>.&nbsp;“We are incredibly honored to recognize such a distinguished group,” said Jason Smith, president and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our membership has been committed to engaging young professionals for the past several years and we feel very strongly that one way to engage is to recognize achievement.”Winners were nominated from the three counties that make up the Manhattan MSA (Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary). Nominees were then asked to complete an application that outlined their achievements in their profession as well as work in the community. From the nearly 75 nominees and over 60 applicants, an appointed committee selected the final 20.The 2026 winners are:<ul>
 <li>Lindsay Adams, CGN Advisors</li><li>Garric Baker, Baker McMillan Architects</li><li>Kevin Bryant, Kevin Bryant State Farm</li><li>Erica Buckwalter, Sunset Zoo</li><li>Christy Chase, Anderson Knight Architects</li><li>Ashley Fuhrman, Wareham Hall</li><li>Spencer Jones, Jones Family Angus/Flint Hills Stockyards</li><li>Ellen Knackendoffel, The Trust Company</li><li>Doran Herbel, WTC Fiber</li><li>Grant Hill, Kansas State University</li><li>Claudia Hissong, Kansas Farm Bureau</li><li>Jessica Hollenbeck, Crossroads Real Estate &amp; Auction</li><li>Tyler Holloman, Frontier Development Group</li><li>Logan Hoover, Addair Law, Chtd.</li><li>Jordan McCann, Junction City Mainstreet</li><li>Daphne McNelly, Flint Hills ATA Bus</li><li>Zach Mitchell, McCownGordon Construction</li><li>Tiffany Oppelt, TheraPie</li><li>Garrett Seuser, USD 379</li><li>Casey Woltje, Ebert Construction Co., Inc.</li>
 </ul>

Fourth annual 20 under 40 class is announced

Mrs. Tristyn Tow, TR Resource Teacher and&nbsp; Alyssa Higbie, MHS CTE Agriculture/Greenhouse Teacher have been named recipients of the state’s Horizon Award, according to USD 383.

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Kansas Horizon Award, a program recognizing the outstanding teaching skills of new educators. The 32 educators, 16 secondary and 16 elementary, chosen for this award will be honored at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference. Tristyn is one of the 16 elementary educators. 

The Kansas Horizon Award program, sponsored by KSDE, allows all school districts in the state to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding.

 Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each of the state’s four regions that correspond to the state’s U.S. congressional districts.Recipients of award were notified of their selection by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.

Mrs. Tristyn Tow, TR Resource Teacher and&nbsp; Alyssa Higbie, MHS CTE Agriculture/Greenhouse Teacher have been named recipients of the state’s Horizon Award, according to USD 383.The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Kansas Horizon Award, a program recognizing the outstanding teaching skills of new educators. The 32 educators, 16 secondary and 16 elementary, chosen for this award will be honored at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference. Tristyn is one of the 16 elementary educators. The Kansas Horizon Award program, sponsored by KSDE, allows all school districts in the state to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding. Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each of the state’s four regions that correspond to the state’s U.S. congressional districts.Recipients of award were notified of their selection by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.

USD 383 Horizon Award winners

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a chase and arrest in Wabaunsee County.

On Tuesday, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Alma Police Department, and the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office participated in what can only be described as an ambitious but poorly executed attempt to escape the long arm of the law, according to a media release from the Wabaunsee County Sheriff.

The incident began with a stolen vehicle traveling on Interstate 70, which exited into Alma, drove through Alma, exited Alma, and then continued back north until it encountered the firm but fair reminder that roads end yet consequences continue. The vehicle wrecked out near the intersection of K-99 and Fairfield Road, at which point the suspect bailed on foot. 

This classic maneuver is commonly referred to as “I’ll just run into the countryside and see what happens" and what happened next was 'tons of cops everywhere and all at once."&nbsp;

The suspect ran and attempted to hide in a cow pond yet was quickly met by Kansas State Troopers, Alma City Marshal Mike Baker in a scuba suit, and Deputies of the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office.

 Ok, so Marshal Mike was not wearing a scuba suit, yet that would have been like, totally rad. Making a special appearance was surprise guest hero and homeowner Mr. Anthony Maike, who stepped up to protect his property armed with a super sick boom stick reminding everyone involved that trespassing in rural Kansas is not recommended and we LOVE the 2nd Amendment here in Wabaunsee County Kansas 

The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Dylan Woodcox, of Abilene, Kansas, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Wabaunsee County Jail on requested charges including Flee and Elude, Driving a Stolen Vehicle, active warrants out of Dickinson County, not having a driver's license and littering (probably idk) further charges will be forwarded to the Wabaunsee County Attorney.&nbsp; No injuries were reported.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767446104379.png" alt="Woodcox from an earlier arrest in Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Woodcox from an earlier arrest in Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a chase and arrest in Wabaunsee County.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F714418798162100%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>On Tuesday, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Alma Police Department, and the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office participated in what can only be described as an ambitious but poorly executed attempt to escape the long arm of the law, according to a media release from the Wabaunsee County Sheriff.The incident began with a stolen vehicle traveling on Interstate 70, which exited into Alma, drove through Alma, exited Alma, and then continued back north until it encountered the firm but fair reminder that roads end yet consequences continue. The vehicle wrecked out near the intersection of K-99 and Fairfield Road, at which point the suspect bailed on foot. This classic maneuver is commonly referred to as “I’ll just run into the countryside and see what happens" and what happened next was 'tons of cops everywhere and all at once."&nbsp;The suspect ran and attempted to hide in a cow pond yet was quickly met by Kansas State Troopers, Alma City Marshal Mike Baker in a scuba suit, and Deputies of the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office. Ok, so Marshal Mike was not wearing a scuba suit, yet that would have been like, totally rad. Making a special appearance was surprise guest hero and homeowner Mr. Anthony Maike, who stepped up to protect his property armed with a super sick boom stick reminding everyone involved that trespassing in rural Kansas is not recommended and we LOVE the 2nd Amendment here in Wabaunsee County Kansas The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Dylan Woodcox, of Abilene, Kansas, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Wabaunsee County Jail on requested charges including Flee and Elude, Driving a Stolen Vehicle, active warrants out of Dickinson County, not having a driver's license and littering (probably idk) further charges will be forwarded to the Wabaunsee County Attorney.&nbsp; No injuries were reported.&nbsp;

🎥 Sheriff: Kan. stolen car suspect was hiding in cow pond

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas State University has resolved a student complaint about the presence of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within its student government following pressure from legislative leadership to investigate.

The Legislature passed a provision in 2025 requiring state agencies, including state universities, to eliminate DEI-related positions, mandates, programs, activities, training requirements, grants and contracts&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/dei-barred-in-kansas-government-universities-beginning-aug-1/" target="_blank">by Aug. 1</a>.

Universities and agencies scrubbed their websites of DEI terminology, reassigned or eliminated staff positions, refocused clubs and departments, examined contracts and removed pronouns from email signatures.

But a student was not satisfied with K-State’s efforts and sent an anonymous report to legislative leadership in July outlining complaints. The Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s higher education institutions, informed K-State of potential issues within the university’s student government.

Among the issues was language within the university’s Student Governing Association’s constitution that required planning diversity training for student government members. The association also has power to allocate funds to clubs that could involve DEI-related topics. The student senate repealed the training requirement at its Sept. 4 meeting.

Marshall Stewart, chief of staff for K-State’s president, told the State Finance Council on Tuesday that K-State did not realize it was out of compliance at the time of the complaint and worked hard to course correct. The State Finance Council is made up of Gov. Laura Kelly and legislative leadership.

Stewart said students took the matter seriously and resolved to no longer disperse money or make appointments that could be in conflict with the state’s anti-DEI law.

“Universities are big, complex organizations, and I’m not going to say if you go deep enough and look hard enough you’re not going to find some things,” Stewart said. “But if you do find them, we ask that people share those with us.”

Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth organization,&nbsp;<a href="https://yaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/KState-OCR-Complaint-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">complained to the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office</a>&nbsp;in March that K-State’s wasn’t complying with federal anti-DEI efforts. The organization’s letter mentioned the Student Governing Association and other K-State departments by name. However, it did not produce a formal investigation, according to U.S. Department of Education records.

Tuesday’s issue is a carryover from that March complaint and the State Finance Council’s July meeting. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican and candidate for governor, had charged state officials with investigating the anonymous report, which was sent to his office.&nbsp;

Adam Proffitt, the secretary of administration, who must certify all agencies and universities are in compliance with the state’s anti-DEI law, presented his findings Tuesday to the council.

He said his legal team worked with K-State, and he was satisfied with the university’s updated report. Masterson commended the university’s effort but expressed interest in crafting additional anti-DEI provisions in the upcoming legislative session.

University leaders recently appeared before the House Committee on Government Efficiency to detail efforts to extricate DEI from college campuses. Legislators on the committee expressed interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/17/kansas-efficiency-committee-targets-dei-curricula-in-college-classrooms/" target="_blank">censoring related college curricula</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761597779503.png" alt="Senate President Ty Masterson appears in the Senate chamber on March 26, 2025, in Topeka, Kansas. He is one member of the State Finance Council, and in his role there,&nbsp;he has encouraged investigating Kansas State University for its compliance with the state’s anti-DEI law. (Photo by Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Senate President Ty Masterson appears in the Senate chamber on March 26, 2025, in Topeka, Kansas. He is one member of the State Finance Council, and in his role there,&nbsp;he has encouraged investigating Kansas State University for its compliance with the state’s anti-DEI law. (Photo by Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas State University has resolved a student complaint about the presence of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within its student government following pressure from legislative leadership to investigate.The Legislature passed a provision in 2025 requiring state agencies, including state universities, to eliminate DEI-related positions, mandates, programs, activities, training requirements, grants and contracts&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/dei-barred-in-kansas-government-universities-beginning-aug-1/" target="_blank">by Aug. 1</a>.Universities and agencies scrubbed their websites of DEI terminology, reassigned or eliminated staff positions, refocused clubs and departments, examined contracts and removed pronouns from email signatures.But a student was not satisfied with K-State’s efforts and sent an anonymous report to legislative leadership in July outlining complaints. The Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s higher education institutions, informed K-State of potential issues within the university’s student government.Among the issues was language within the university’s Student Governing Association’s constitution that required planning diversity training for student government members. The association also has power to allocate funds to clubs that could involve DEI-related topics. The student senate repealed the training requirement at its Sept. 4 meeting.Marshall Stewart, chief of staff for K-State’s president, told the State Finance Council on Tuesday that K-State did not realize it was out of compliance at the time of the complaint and worked hard to course correct. The State Finance Council is made up of Gov. Laura Kelly and legislative leadership.Stewart said students took the matter seriously and resolved to no longer disperse money or make appointments that could be in conflict with the state’s anti-DEI law.“Universities are big, complex organizations, and I’m not going to say if you go deep enough and look hard enough you’re not going to find some things,” Stewart said. “But if you do find them, we ask that people share those with us.”Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth organization,&nbsp;<a href="https://yaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/KState-OCR-Complaint-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">complained to the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office</a>&nbsp;in March that K-State’s wasn’t complying with federal anti-DEI efforts. The organization’s letter mentioned the Student Governing Association and other K-State departments by name. However, it did not produce a formal investigation, according to U.S. Department of Education records.Tuesday’s issue is a carryover from that March complaint and the State Finance Council’s July meeting. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican and candidate for governor, had charged state officials with investigating the anonymous report, which was sent to his office.&nbsp;Adam Proffitt, the secretary of administration, who must certify all agencies and universities are in compliance with the state’s anti-DEI law, presented his findings Tuesday to the council.He said his legal team worked with K-State, and he was satisfied with the university’s updated report. Masterson commended the university’s effort but expressed interest in crafting additional anti-DEI provisions in the upcoming legislative session.University leaders recently appeared before the House Committee on Government Efficiency to detail efforts to extricate DEI from college campuses. Legislators on the committee expressed interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/17/kansas-efficiency-committee-targets-dei-curricula-in-college-classrooms/" target="_blank">censoring related college curricula</a>.

K-State resolves student’s DEI complaint, temporarily satisfying Kansas legislators

Editor's note: The Kansas Department of Labor did not publish separate reports for the October and November due to the government shutdown.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in November. This is unchanged from 3.8% in September and unchanged from 3.8% in November 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.4% in November.

The unemployment rate in Riley County is down from 3.3 percent in&nbsp; September to 2.5 percent in November. The rate in Geary County dropped from 4.5 percent in September to 4 percent. The rate is also down significantly in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,800 from October. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,800 over the month, while government remained unchanged. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(+1,500 jobs). The largest decrease was in leisure and hospitality&nbsp;(-300 jobs).

Since November 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 3,500. This change is due to an increase of 5,400 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,900 government jobs.

Technical Note:This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for November 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week including November 12.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767798967014.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Editor's note: The Kansas Department of Labor did not publish separate reports for the October and November due to the government shutdown.Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in November. This is unchanged from 3.8% in September and unchanged from 3.8% in November 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.4% in November.The unemployment rate in Riley County is down from 3.3 percent in&nbsp; September to 2.5 percent in November. The rate in Geary County dropped from 4.5 percent in September to 4 percent. The rate is also down significantly in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,800 from October. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,800 over the month, while government remained unchanged. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(+1,500 jobs). The largest decrease was in leisure and hospitality&nbsp;(-300 jobs).Since November 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 3,500. This change is due to an increase of 5,400 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,900 government jobs.Technical Note:This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for November 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week including November 12.

Jobless rate continues downward trend in Riley County

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767798329072.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Riley County Arrest Report January 7

Susan Adamchak will be the mayor of Manhattan while Karen McCulloh has been chosen mayor pro tem for the next year. The city commission reorganized Tuesday night.

New commissioners Jim Morison, Larry Fox and Andrew Von Lintel took their oaths of office.

Adamchak said that she plans to continue the practice of hosting a monthly coffee with the commissoner.&nbsp;

In other business the commission learned that the the MLK Jr. celebation will extend from Jan. 17 - 24 at the Manhattan Arts Center. There will be a community celebration on Jan. 17.

America 250 nationwide commemoration activities will occcur this year. There will be support for communiy centered America 250 efforts in Manhattan

Susan Adamchak will be the mayor of Manhattan while Karen McCulloh has been chosen mayor pro tem for the next year. The city commission reorganized Tuesday night.New commissioners Jim Morison, Larry Fox and Andrew Von Lintel took their oaths of office.Adamchak said that she plans to continue the practice of hosting a monthly coffee with the commissoner.&nbsp;In other business the commission learned that the the MLK Jr. celebation will extend from Jan. 17 - 24 at the Manhattan Arts Center. There will be a community celebration on Jan. 17.America 250 nationwide commemoration activities will occcur this year. There will be support for communiy centered America 250 efforts in Manhattan

Manhattan City Commission begins a new year

Junction City Fire Department Release

&nbsp; The Junction City Fire Department has posted the following information on social media about the passing of Retired Fire Chief and former Junction City Commissioner Mike Ryan. 

"It is with deep respect and heartfelt sorrow that we announce the passing of our respected brother and retired Fire Chief Mike Ryan. Chief Ryan served our department and community with unwavering dedication and commitment for over 34 years, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and leadership. Mike also served as the mayor of Junction City, as well as a city commissioner.   He was very involved in KS legislature and with Junction City Professional Firefighters Local 3309. "

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703096938704.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City Fire Department Release&nbsp; The Junction City Fire Department has posted the following information on social media about the passing of Retired Fire Chief and former Junction City Commissioner Mike Ryan. "It is with deep respect and heartfelt sorrow that we announce the passing of our respected brother and retired Fire Chief Mike Ryan. Chief Ryan served our department and community with unwavering dedication and commitment for over 34 years, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and leadership. Mike also served as the mayor of Junction City, as well as a city commissioner. He was very involved in KS legislature and with Junction City Professional Firefighters Local 3309. "

Junction City Fire announces passing of Former Fire Chief and City Commissioner Mike Ryan

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged violent attack in Manhattan.

Just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;filed a report for a stabbing at in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 A 23-year-old man was listed as the victim when it was reported a 20-year-old female suspect known to him stabbed him during an argument.

 Elysia Bowles, 20, of Randolph, was arrested at approximately 4:29 a.m. in Manhattan on requested charges of aggravated assault. Bowles met the condition of a $5,000 and is no longer in custody, according to the RCPD.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged violent attack in Manhattan.Just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;filed a report for a stabbing at in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. A 23-year-old man was listed as the victim when it was reported a 20-year-old female suspect known to him stabbed him during an argument. Elysia Bowles, 20, of Randolph, was arrested at approximately 4:29 a.m. in Manhattan on requested charges of aggravated assault. Bowles met the condition of a $5,000 and is no longer in custody, according to the RCPD.

 RCPD: Woman accused of stabbing man during argument

There were no arrests reported on January 5.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;There were no arrests reported on January 5.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767711871570.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Riley County Arrest Report January 5, 6

(View or share the&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F9o-lFh0Asso&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2026%2F01%2Finfluencers-are-pushing-illegal-trick-fix-your-credit-report%3Futm_source%3Dgovdelivery">YouTube&nbsp;version</a>&nbsp;of this video.)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Looking for some life hacks or advice about managing money? There’s no shortage of online influencers ready to help. But not all advice is good advice (or truthful). And in some cases, what they’re telling you might be more than a bad idea — it might be illegal.

Credit matters. What’s in your&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/understanding-your-credit">credit report</a>&nbsp;can be used to decide things like whether someone will loan you money, give you credit, offer you insurance, rent or sell you a home, or even hire you. If there’s a lot of negative information in your credit report, you also might&nbsp; have to pay more in interest to borrow money.

Some online influencers are telling people they have a fix: file a false identity theft report about a debt they owe. That’s advice&nbsp;not&nbsp;to take. Filing a false identity theft report may leave you worse off — and it’s a crime that could get you a fine, imprisonment, or both.

The truth is, credit repair companies can’t legally remove information from your credit report if it’s accurate and current. But there are things you can do for free to improve your credit. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/creditrepair">ftc.gov/creditrepair</a>.

Not sure what’s in your credit report?&nbsp;All three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) have permanently extended a program that lets everyone in the U.S. check their credit report from each once a week for free at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.annualcreditreport.com%2Findex.action&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Farticles%2Ffixing-your-credit-faqs">AnnualCreditReport.com</a>.

That’s in addition to the free copy each nationwide credit bureau is required to give you once every 12 months if you ask for it at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.annualcreditreport.com%2Findex.action&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Farticles%2Ffixing-your-credit-faqs">AnnualCreditReport.com</a>&nbsp;or by calling 1-877-322-8228.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767643285916.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1148762580?h=766e6b0a7f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Federal Trade Commission(View or share the&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F9o-lFh0Asso&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2026%2F01%2Finfluencers-are-pushing-illegal-trick-fix-your-credit-report%3Futm_source%3Dgovdelivery">YouTube&nbsp;version</a>&nbsp;of this video.)&nbsp;&nbsp;Looking for some life hacks or advice about managing money? There’s no shortage of online influencers ready to help. But not all advice is good advice (or truthful). And in some cases, what they’re telling you might be more than a bad idea — it might be illegal.Credit matters. What’s in your&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/understanding-your-credit">credit report</a>&nbsp;can be used to decide things like whether someone will loan you money, give you credit, offer you insurance, rent or sell you a home, or even hire you. If there’s a lot of negative information in your credit report, you also might&nbsp; have to pay more in interest to borrow money.Some online influencers are telling people they have a fix: file a false identity theft report about a debt they owe. That’s advice&nbsp;not&nbsp;to take. Filing a false identity theft report may leave you worse off — and it’s a crime that could get you a fine, imprisonment, or both.The truth is, credit repair companies can’t legally remove information from your credit report if it’s accurate and current. But there are things you can do for free to improve your credit. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/creditrepair">ftc.gov/creditrepair</a>.Not sure what’s in your credit report?&nbsp;All three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) have permanently extended a program that lets everyone in the U.S. check their credit report from each once a week for free at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.annualcreditreport.com%2Findex.action&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Farticles%2Ffixing-your-credit-faqs">AnnualCreditReport.com</a>.That’s in addition to the free copy each nationwide credit bureau is required to give you once every 12 months if you ask for it at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.annualcreditreport.com%2Findex.action&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Farticles%2Ffixing-your-credit-faqs">AnnualCreditReport.com</a>&nbsp;or by calling 1-877-322-8228.

Federal Trade Commission: Influencers push this illegal trick to “fix” your credit report

The Butler Family Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its Fall 2025 grant cycle, awarding funding to nonprofit organizations across Manhattan, Kansas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Seattle, Washington.

Established in 2018 through the generosity of the late Bernie Butler’s family, the Butler Family Community Foundation partners with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF) to support initiatives that foster wellness, education, innovation, and creativity in the family’s three hometown communities.

Together, these grants reflect the Foundation’s commitment to investing in communities through projects that align with its core values, including:

Greater Manhattan Community FoundationThe Butler Family Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its Fall 2025 grant cycle, awarding funding to nonprofit organizations across Manhattan, Kansas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Seattle, Washington.Established in 2018 through the generosity of the late Bernie Butler’s family, the Butler Family Community Foundation partners with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF) to support initiatives that foster wellness, education, innovation, and creativity in the family’s three hometown communities.This fall, the Foundation awarded:<ul>
 <li>17 grants in Manhattan, KS</li><li>17 grants in Minneapolis, MN</li><li>21 grants in Seattle, WA</li><li>8 grants to other states</li>
 </ul>Together, these grants reflect the Foundation’s commitment to investing in communities through projects that align with its core values, including:<ul>
 <li>Investing in hometown communities</li><li>Advocating for progressive thinking and practices</li><li>Supporting sustainable projects</li><li>Championing grassroots efforts for change</li><li>Promoting inclusivity and diversity</li><li>Embracing an entrepreneurial spirit</li><li>Encouraging creativity and artistic pursuits</li><li>Ensuring equal access to healthy lifestyles and living</li>
 </ul><h2>Grant Recipients — Fall 2025</h2>Manhattan, Kansas<ul>
 <li>Light MHK - $10,000</li><li>Kansas Public Radio - $20,000</li><li>Yuma Street Cultural Center - $90,000</li><li>Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills - $20,000</li><li>Fairy Godmothers - $10,000</li><li>Meadowlark Hills Good Samaritan Fund - $10,000</li><li>KSU Business Scholarship - $10,000</li><li>KSU Rise Up - $10,000</li><li>No Stone Unturned - $5,000</li><li>Riley County Genealogical Society - $5,000</li><li>Common Table - $10,000</li><li>Flint Hills Breadbasket - $5,000</li><li>Be Able - $8,000</li><li>Call Me Mister - $5,000</li><li>Laundry Love - $2,000</li><li>Crisis Center - $10,000</li><li>Manhattan Public Library - $2,500</li>
 </ul>Total Awarded in Manhattan: $232,500Minneapolis, Minnesota: $220,000Seattle, Washington: $274,500Other: $18,000<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

Fall 2025 Butler Family Community Foundation Grant Recipients Announced

The Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) has opened an exclusive temporary exhibit on Saturday, January 10. Grassland Mini-Golf&nbsp;invites guests to discover the rich ecology of the tallgrass prairie as they play through nine minigolf holes. Score a hole-in-one and discover a story about prairie plants, animals, and the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem.

Each of the nine minigolf holes is designed by the FHDC staff to introduce guests to a part of the endangered Flint Hills ecosystem and educate them about the importance of preserving the prairie.“What better way to introduce people to the Flint Hills ecosystem than with a fun-filled 9-hole minigolf course,” said Stephen Bridenstine, FHDC Director.&nbsp;“This exhibit will have you thinking on your feet as you aim for that hole-in-one. And when you combine it with our&nbsp;Stepping into the Prairie&nbsp;immersive exhibit, it is guaranteed fun for the whole family.”

Visitors can also solve several prairie puzzler brain teasers to improve their score.Thank you to our sponsors,&nbsp;The Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation, and Visit Manhattan.In addition to&nbsp;Grassland Mini-Golf, the Flint Hills Discovery Center is pleased to bring back&nbsp;Stepping into the Prairie. This one-of-a-kind exhibit uses high-definition projectors, surround sound speakers, and motion sensing devices to create a virtual Flint Hills environment that reacts to guests in the space. The exhibit features the sights and sounds of the tallgrass prairie, digitally recreated to produce an immersive educational experience.

Stepping into the Prairie&nbsp;is funded in part by Kansas Tourism, through the Tourism Attraction Sub-grants for Kansas (TASK), and the Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation.

Grassland Mini-Golf&nbsp;with&nbsp;Stepping into the Prairie&nbsp;is open during regular hours January 10 through May 10. Regular admission&nbsp;rates apply.

Flint Hills Discovery CenterThe Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) has opened an exclusive temporary exhibit on Saturday, January 10. Grassland Mini-Golf&nbsp;invites guests to discover the rich ecology of the tallgrass prairie as they play through nine minigolf holes. Score a hole-in-one and discover a story about prairie plants, animals, and the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem.<ul>
 <li>Navigate the night to meet nocturnal animals and hit the ball through the tree.</li><li>Putt, putt, putt the ball gently down the stream, using the rocks to guide the way.</li><li>Step back in time to discover a Mosasaur Fossil but be careful not to get bit.</li><li>Herd the ball into the barn down on the ranch.</li><li>and more!</li>
 </ul>Each of the nine minigolf holes is designed by the FHDC staff to introduce guests to a part of the endangered Flint Hills ecosystem and educate them about the importance of preserving the prairie.“What better way to introduce people to the Flint Hills ecosystem than with a fun-filled 9-hole minigolf course,” said Stephen Bridenstine, FHDC Director.&nbsp;“This exhibit will have you thinking on your feet as you aim for that hole-in-one. And when you combine it with our&nbsp;Stepping into the Prairie&nbsp;immersive exhibit, it is guaranteed fun for the whole family.”Visitors can also solve several prairie puzzler brain teasers to improve their score.Thank you to our sponsors,&nbsp;The Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation, and Visit Manhattan.In addition to&nbsp;Grassland Mini-Golf, the Flint Hills Discovery Center is pleased to bring back&nbsp;Stepping into the Prairie. This one-of-a-kind exhibit uses high-definition projectors, surround sound speakers, and motion sensing devices to create a virtual Flint Hills environment that reacts to guests in the space. The exhibit features the sights and sounds of the tallgrass prairie, digitally recreated to produce an immersive educational experience.Stepping into the Prairie&nbsp;is funded in part by Kansas Tourism, through the Tourism Attraction Sub-grants for Kansas (TASK), and the Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation.Grassland Mini-Golf&nbsp;with&nbsp;Stepping into the Prairie&nbsp;is open during regular hours January 10 through May 10. Regular admission&nbsp;rates apply.

Grassland Mini-Golf at the Flint Hills Discovery Center

Junction City native and former Kansas State Wildcat running back DJ Giddens wrapped up his rookie season on Sunday with the Indianapolis Colts. Giddens carried the ball eight times for 30 yards in a 38–30 loss to the Houston Texans.

For the season, Giddens ran the ball 26 times for 96 yards, averaging 3.69 yards per carry.

Giddens graduated from Junction City High School in the spring of 2021. He played three seasons at Kansas State before foregoing his senior year and was selected with the 151st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Colts finished the season with a record of 8-9 and missed the playoffs.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767633623530.jpeg" alt="DJ Giddens vs Texans - Photo - Indianapolis Colts" />
 <figcaption>DJ Giddens vs Texans - Photo - Indianapolis Colts</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony GorgesJC/Little Apple PostJunction City native and former Kansas State Wildcat running back DJ Giddens wrapped up his rookie season on Sunday with the Indianapolis Colts. Giddens carried the ball eight times for 30 yards in a 38–30 loss to the Houston Texans.For the season, Giddens ran the ball 26 times for 96 yards, averaging 3.69 yards per carry.Giddens graduated from Junction City High School in the spring of 2021. He played three seasons at Kansas State before foregoing his senior year and was selected with the 151st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.The Colts finished the season with a record of 8-9 and missed the playoffs.&nbsp;

Junction City native and former K-State Wildcat DJ Giddens finishes off rookie season with the Colts

By DANIEL WHEATON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-12-16/college-graduates-job-search-economy-student-loans-midwest">Kansas News Service</a>

As Ryan Jenkins was finishing his last semester of college, all he could do was watch while the jobs he was hoping to apply for were being cut.

Jenkins, then a student at St. Louis University, always wanted to work in local government, but federal funding cuts and the shrinking of government agencies meant there were fewer jobs to apply for.

“We just feel like the door is being closed in front of us,” Jenkins said, describing cuts to agencies carried out this spring by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Graduation came, and, from the 16 applications he submitted, Jenkins got no offers.

The Midwest Newsroom spoke to a dozen recent college graduates in six states about their experiences in the job market. These would-be entry level workers described using elaborate spreadsheets to track dozens of job applications, lost opportunities from federal cuts and hiring processes that made them question their self-worth.

While most of the 2025 spring graduates who spoke with The Midwest Newsroom ended up finding full-time jobs, graduates described hiring processes with limited communication.

The lack of communication is a point of tension for Generation Z, who have heard of peers submitting hundreds of applications and hearing nothing back.

For the past year, recent college graduates have faced a job market flooded with more applicants and fewer jobs. For the months where data is available, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an estimated 685,000 jobs were created. During that same period last year, 1,384,000 jobs had been added to payrolls, which represents a decrease of 51%.

Recently, job creation has slowed, with a net loss of jobs in June and August of this year. Jobs are represented in thousands.

In normal economic conditions, it usually takes a college graduate about six months to find their first job, according to Iowa State University economics professor Peter Orazem. The graduates who spoke to The Midwest Newsroom described searches that lasted beyond that six-month mark, which for some, means a student loan bill coming due without a full-time salary. Most federal student loans include an automatic six-month grace period after graduation.

“Any group that has relatively less work experience or less education gets hurt more when you start moving into an economic slowdown,” Orazem said. “And we’ve certainly seen a slowdown in the demand for workers in the last year or so.”

As another cohort of students enters its last semester of college, most are trying to stay positive.

In December, aspiring newspaper columnist Caroline Siebels-Lindquist, was finishing up a podcast for her capstone project. She will graduate with a journalism degree from Drake University in spring 2026 and is about to begin searching for her first full time job.

From the headlines, LinkedIn posts and hearing from other recent grads, Siebels-Lindquist said she knows the job hunt won’t be easy.

“A lot of my senior peers are quite nervous,” she said.

To deal with that anxiety, Siebels-Lindquist plans on leaning on her mentors and peers — and, if all else fails, going back to a summer job managing canoes at a summer camp in the Boundary Waters.

“Miracles happen,” Siebels-Lindquist said. “Keep the faith.”

In July, Jenkins had an interview for the AmeriCorps VISTA program that would have placed him with Delmar Main Street, an organization that supports economic development in the St. Louis neighborhood that has historically been a racial and economic divide in the city.

Jenkins said the hiring manager got a call and had to pause the interview, but she didn’t turn off her camera.

“I can still see everything going on that’s nonverbal and I could tell something was up, just from her expression, and just by the length of time that she put herself on mute,” Jenkins said. “I just knew something was up.”

After the call, the hiring manager apologized and told Jenkins why she had to pause the interview. The funding for the position had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/us/politics/doge-cost-americorps-community-service.html" target="_blank">cut</a>.

AmeriCorps VISTA was among many of the government agencies&nbsp;<a href="https://corpsnetwork.org/we-must-act-now-to-save-americorps/" target="_blank">hollowed out</a>&nbsp;by the Department of Government Efficiency. While the department still exists, the cancellation of grants has limited the organization’s ability to fund positions.

Jenkins, whose family members were once city clerks and firefighters, said he found the experience disheartening, as he wanted to work in a government job to help his community.

He said he wasn’t mad at AmeriCorps, but the experience led him to pause his job search for a few weeks to recover from the setback.

“I feel like I’m being told I can’t, and not even that I can’t, but they don’t want me,” Jenkins said.

According to an August&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2025/aug/recent-college-grads-bear-brunt-labor-market-shifts" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, college graduates between the ages of 23 and 27 are seeing higher unemployment rates — from 3.25% in 2024 to 4.59% in 2025.

“This 1.34 percentage point increase represents more than just a statistical noise; it reflects a significant shift in how the economy is absorbing newly educated workers,” Federal Reserve researchers Serdar Ozkan and Nicholas Sullivan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2025/aug/recent-college-grads-bear-brunt-labor-market-shifts" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;earlier this year.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers, or NACE, surveyed employers and universities to gauge the labor market for recent graduates. While the class of 2024 was entering a stable job market for new workers, signs that the job market was tightening for the class of 2025 appeared earlier this year.

“However, once the spring came, those numbers dropped to about flat,” Shawn VanDerziel, the president and CEO of NACE, said. “We knew it was going to be a very tough job market for that class.”

According to NACE’s 2026 Job Outlook report, 51% of employers ranked the job market as “fair” or “poor,” a significant change from the 2023 report when only 37% said the same thing.

With fewer jobs available, competition increases.

Abigale Baines, a University of San Diego graduate from a northern Chicago suburb, estimated she applied for more than 50 jobs after she graduated in May of 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Originally hoping to become an immigration lawyer, her interests shifted to working in social work or in the nonprofit sector.

The many rejection emails she received, she said, all felt similar.

“Maybe they are all going to ChatGPT and are saying, like, ‘Hi, can you please give us a let-them-down-easy job application rejection email?’ and ChatGPT just has one format that it likes, and so it sends that to everybody, and nobody makes any tweaks to it,” she said.

Looking back on her search, Baines estimated that about a third of employers responded quickly with a rejection but said many potential employers didn’t respond at all.

While it wasn’t in her field, Baines found a job as an administrative assistant with Lodge Financial, a mortgage broker for corporations in Skokie, Illinois.

Baines said she was thankful her parents can empathize with her situation.They had graduated during a tight labor market in the 1980s. Her father worked at a dude ranch and her mother was a waitress.

“The economy was in a complete downturn, and then it just took a couple years, and then things turned around and, you know, they were able to build a career,” she said.

It took advice from peers, professors and a fourth-grade teacher for Jonah Zacks to figure out what he wanted his career to be after graduating from college.

Zacks, then a computer science and economics major at Washington University in St. Louis, said he always knew he wanted a career that would make other people’s lives better. Thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.civicsunplugged.org/" target="_blank">Civics Unplugged</a>, he found a method for asking if a job would fulfill that desire.

“I need to find the ‘you-shaped hole’ in any given situation,” Zacks said. “And what that means is looking closely at myself and being really clear with myself about what assets, what abilities, I bring to the table.”

As graduation neared this year, the options for such jobs in the public sector began to dry up due to federal cuts. That’s when it became clear to Zacks: His place was still in the classroom — as a teacher instead of a student.

He applied to Teach for America and now teaches math in Spanish to middle schoolers at the George Washington Carver Dual Language School in Kansas City.

“You have to teach everything,” Zacks said. “You have to teach kids how to approach the world, how to confront challenges, how to keep themselves organized, how to take notes, and also how to see the content that you’re trying to teach in the context of a wider world.”

Zacks said he infuses civic ideals into his classroom, such as putting activities to a vote and encouraging students to focus on finding solutions rather than complaining.

While Zacks’ job search story was not as arduous as others shared with The Midwest Newsroom, he said the increase of automation and the lack of face-to-face communication concerned him.

“The more you can connect with your other humans, the happier, the more effective you are going to be, the better your quality of life is going to be,” Zacks said. “And that was really how I approached my job search.”

The first clue of a souring job market that Maddi Cave noticed was seeing last year’s graduates announcing their first jobs months after graduation.

One student had won awards from the Public Relations Student Society of America, but her job search lasted months.

“She was top of her game, had all the accolades, and she didn’t get a job till February. And I was like: ‘Oh no, I’m kind of scared,’” Cave said.

Cave, then a Drake University student studying public relations and strategic political communications, decided to lean on networking to speed up the job search.

Over the course of more than 30 meetings with Drake alumni and people in her field, she heard similar advice:

Cave said she did all of those things for months, and applied to more than 80 jobs. She heard back from only 12 employers.

“I’m sure that the advice that I was getting at one time would have really set me above my peers, but I had been doing that for these jobs and genuinely hearing crickets,” Cave said.

Job boards were often misleading, Cave said, such as listing a position as entry-level with entry-level pay but asking for years of experience.

“So it got harder and harder to listen to the advice with a straight face when, again, they meant well, but it was not even remotely working,” Cave said.

As her search went on, Cave began to question whether employers were posting jobs in good faith. In a tracking spreadsheet, she began noting if the job appeared in multiple places or if she got some sort of message telling her that her submission was accepted. In the rare instances when a person told her the application was on LinkedIn, she would follow up.

“For the record, none of those emails I ever got a response from,” Cave said.

The sheer lack of response from employers began to worry Cave, but friends, family and fellow alumni encouraged her to keep applying.

As graduation neared, she decided to hold off on applying and moved with her fiance to Green Bay, Wisconsin. There she landed a part-time social media internship with a grocery company during the summer, which allowed her the flexibility to keep searching.

In mid-September, Cave got the call she was waiting for.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prevea.com/" target="_blank">Prevea Health</a>, a Wisconsin health care system, wanted to interview her for a public relations position.

Cave described the hiring process as night and day compared to the job search.

“In our conversations, they weren’t just asking me a list of super generic questions. They were asking about my work,” Cave said. “So they had obviously looked at it, which was totally new to me.”

After months of hearing crickets from employers, Cave said she felt respected by the organization.

On Oct. 7, her 10-month search for a job finally came to a close.

“The fact that they even just treated me like a good candidate would have been enough to, like, fuel my fire for another month or so of job searching,” Cave said. “But then I actually got the job, and I was like, this is even better.”

Job searching has always been difficult and emotionally taxing, the graduates told The Midwest Newsroom, but with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2025-07-17/minimum-wage-is-not-enough-to-afford-to-rent-decent-housing-in-the-midwest-report-says" target="_blank">rising cost of living</a>, the job search has a new sense of urgency. Nearly half of Americans said they find groceries, utility bills, health care, housing and transportation difficult to afford, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/poll-affordability-cost-of-living-00678076" target="_blank">POLITICO Poll</a>&nbsp;conducted in November by Public First.

Jenkins’ break came in September, more than 10 months after he started the search, when an economic development coordinator position opened up in Fairview Heights, Illinois, in the St. Louis metro area. His first day was Sept. 22.

Still, with job creation being low, Generation Z will continue to compete with itself and others as workers have fewer options.

“We’re doing the best with what we have,” Baines, the University of San Diego graduate, said. “Please empathize with me.”

Cave said that some of the cultural pushback her generation is facing as they start their careers could be connected to changes in the culture of work. Generation Z is vocal about pushing back on expectations around unpaid overtime or enduring harassment at the workplace.

“What would be the point of working all the time if you never get to use any of your time or money to actually enjoy life, the things that are enjoyable about being a human?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/midwest-newsroom" target="_blank">Midwest Newsroom</a>&nbsp;is an investigative and enterprise journalism collaboration that includes Iowa Public Radio, KCUR, Nebraska Public Media, St. Louis Public Radio and NPR.

There are many ways you can contact us with story ideas and leads, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/midwest-newsroom/contact-us" target="_blank">you can find that information here</a>.

The Midwest Newsroom is a partner of&nbsp;<a href="https://thetrustproject.org/trust-indicators/" target="_blank">The Trust Project</a>. We invite you to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/midwest-newsroom/ethics-and-practices" target="_blank">review our ethics and practices here</a>.

To report this story, Daniel Wheaton published a call-out story in late October asking for recent graduates to talk about their experiences finding their first full-time jobs. From those responses, he conducted interviews asking graduates to recount their experiences and reflect on finding work in a tight labor market. He used the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data to compare the macroeconomic conditions with the individual experiences of recent graduates.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2025-10-30/class-of-2025-hows-the-job-search-going-the-midwest-newsroom-wants-to-know" target="_blank">Class of 2025: How’s the job search going? The Midwest Newsroom wants to know</a>&nbsp;(Midwest Newsroom | October 2025)

<a href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2025/aug/recent-college-grads-bear-brunt-labor-market-shifts" target="_blank">Recent College Grads Bear Brunt of Labor Market Shifts</a>&nbsp;| (St. Louis Federal Reserve Blog, Aug. 25, 2025)

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By&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/18/kansas-board-of-regents-works-to-incorporate-critique-of-tenure-workforce-policy-changes/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Dissenters point to ‘rigid’ post-tenure reviews, short timeline for making improvement

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents agreed to weigh feedback from professors, administrators and legislators before voting on systemwide faculty tenure and workload policies designed to bring accountability and transparency to academic personnel decisions at the state’s six public universities.

Since the Board of Regents released drafts of the policies in November, complaints surfaced that allowing the firing of university professors after two consecutive unsatisfactory annual evaluations was “overly rigid” and didn’t take into account “extenuating circumstances,” such as an employee’s personal crisis.

In addition, concern was expressed the workload policy conflicted with standards of the American Association of University Professors or with academic program accreditation guidelines.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766432718726.jpeg" alt="Matt Crocker, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, says faculty tenure and workforce policies under consideration for the state’s six public universities must take into account the necessity of guaranteeing the public receives proper return on investments in higher education. Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Matt Crocker, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, says faculty tenure and workforce policies under consideration for the state’s six public universities must take into account the necessity of guaranteeing the public receives proper return on investments in higher education. Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/18/kansas-board-of-regents-works-to-incorporate-critique-of-tenure-workforce-policy-changes/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Dissenters point to ‘rigid’ post-tenure reviews, short timeline for making improvement</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents agreed to weigh feedback from professors, administrators and legislators before voting on systemwide faculty tenure and workload policies designed to bring accountability and transparency to academic personnel decisions at the state’s six public universities.Since the Board of Regents released drafts of the policies in November, complaints surfaced that allowing the firing of university professors after two consecutive unsatisfactory annual evaluations was “overly rigid” and didn’t take into account “extenuating circumstances,” such as an employee’s personal crisis.In addition, concern was expressed the workload policy conflicted with standards of the American Association of University Professors or with academic program accreditation guidelines.Objections were raised about membership of post-tenure review committees and whether the university committee deciding to place a faculty member on a one-year improvement plan would be the same group that performed the follow-up evaluation. Another issue was that one year could be an unrealistic period of time for a faculty member to correct deficiencies in research productivity, officials said.“We’re appreciative of that input because it is beneficial and helpful as we look at trying to stand up this policy,” said Board of Regents member Alysia Johnston, who has a background in community college administration.She said the goal was implementation of umbrella policies applicable to the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University.The Board of Regents engaged in general discussion of the draft policies Wednesday and could take formal action on both in January.During the past few years, members of the Legislature have taken greater interest in university workload and tenure decisions. In 2024, a Kansas House committee welcomed to the Capitol a tenured faculty member at Emporia State who recommended retroactive elimination of tenure at state universities. The idea was opposed by K-State president Richard Linton and KU chancellor Doug Girod.<h2>Return on investment</h2>Rusty Monhollon, vice president of academic affairs for the Board of Regents, said the systemwide tenure and workload policies were the result of persistent calls for greater transparency and accountability regarding faculty appointments.“It’s my own sense that very few faculty would be opposed to greater accountability because the work they do is good. They are very productive and they would stand up under scrutiny,” he said.Monhollon, a former executive director of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, said tenure was awarded to faculty following extensive vetting of each person’s teaching, research and service performance over a period of years. Tenure was mistakenly viewed by the public as a lifetime appointment, he said.Academic freedom, a pivotal component of faculty tenure across the United States, was essential to success of colleges or universities, he said.“Tenure is there to protect faculty to pursue research or to take on topics that are controversial,” Monhollon said. “If those protections aren’t in place for faculty, I think we lose that ability of faculty to take on difficult challenges, maybe pursue paths that are a bit unconventional, that many times bear the kind of results that really advance society and benefit all of us.”Matt Crocker, a Manhattan businessman appointed to the Board of Regents in October, said changes to workload and tenure expectations at state universities should recognize the value in making certain taxpayers received proper return on public investments in higher education. He serves as CEO of SPS Companies, which includes Steel and Pipe Supply Co.He said Monhollon’s comments about protecting academic freedom raised the question: “Protect them from whom?”“If an individual’s not working in line with the mission of the university, I’m not sure that’s really something we want to protect,” Crocker said. “I don’t think we want to mix a lot of concepts together inadvertently as we look through these policies.”<h2>Revised expectations</h2>Under the proposed reforms, the Board of Regents would adopt academic workload expectations and require post-tenure review of faculty at research-centered KU, WSU and K-State and the regional universities in Pittsburg, Emporia and Hays. The core obligation of all faculty in the system would be teaching, research and service, but instruction of students would be the most significant factor in assessments.Faculty at K-State, WSU and KU would be expected to have teaching loads ranging from 40% to 55%. The three regional universities would have teaching loads of 60% to 75%. Research expectations for tenured professors would be specific to each discipline.The faculty would have personalized work plans that were revised annually. Tenured faculty would be reviewed by a university committee every five years. Proponents of reform say collection of data on faculty would serve to better identify professors who excelled and those who fell short. The process could replace subjective elements of faculty evaluations with tangible evidence of research, teaching and service.Each university would retain control of post-tenure faculty reviews and the provisions of self-improvement programs for faculty. Individuals could be placed in one-year remediation programs. The policy would enable universities to dismiss faculty who failed the follow-up review.The universities would submit to the Board of Regents annual reports on tenure that included information on tenure awards and denials, the number of faculty placed on improvement plans as well as faculty resignations and dismissals. Biennial reports prepared for the Board of Regents would document faculty credit hour production, graduation rates, publications and research funding.Johnston, who chairs the Board of Regents’ academic affairs committee, said she anticipated reports on tenure and workload to prove state universities in Kansas maintained high expectations of tenured faculty.“I hope, with greater transparency, the data will prove just that,” she said. “I believe it will show that this is a rigorous process.”